Few evergreen shrubs grow in the shade. Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) is a compact dwarf evergreen shrub or ground cover which is easy to grow (USDA hardiness zone 5-b to 8). Foliage remains lustrous dark green year-round. Sweetbox grows in partial to full shade, 1 to 2 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Sweetbox – Excellent Evergreen Shrub For Shady Areas
Posted by Hugh on February 28th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering 
Comments Off on Sweetbox – Excellent Evergreen Shrub For Shady AreasChallenging Sourwood Worth A Try
Posted by Hugh on February 25th, 2014
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), aka lily of the valley tree, is one of the most beautiful U.S. native flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). However, attempting to establish one in your landscape may prove challenging. The tree grows in sparse populations from eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and Georgia Piedmont. It grows naturally to 20-30 feet […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fragrant, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Planting tips, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Challenging Sourwood Worth A TryPrune to Rejuvenate Old Foundation Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2014
Eventually, old foundation shrubs around your home grow too tall and spindly and need to be started over. Rather than digging them up, most deciduous and a few broadleaf shrubs respond to rejuvenation pruning. Sorry, evergreen conifers do not respond to this form of pruning. Get started with a sharp pair of pruning loppers or tree […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Nandina, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Prune to Rejuvenate Old Foundation ShrubsGive Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2014
To begin, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) 12 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8, but no one told this to my edgeworthia in zone 6-b. People who see it blooming in my early March […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compost, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Give Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden‘Thunderhead’ Pine
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2014
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’) is a dwarf compact form of Japanese black pine (USDA hardiness zones 5b-8). Expect this slow-growing conifer to reach 5 feet high and 4 feet wide in 10 years. Whereas Japanese black pine grows 60 to 80 feet tall, Thunderhead matures to 20 to 25 feet in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Japanese Black Pine, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Thunderhead’ PineHepaticas Bloom In The Early Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2014
Hepatica (Hepatica spp), from the Latin word “Hepaticus” meaning liver, is sometimes cataloged as “Liverleaf” or “Liverwort” (USDA hardiness zones 4 – 9). It is one of the first spring wildflowers to bloom (March-April). H. americana, native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, bear showy white flowers that are sometimes tinged pink or blue. H. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Hepatica, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hepaticas Bloom In The Early Spring GardenChristmas Ferns Are Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2014
On a woodland hike in the eastern U.S., lush colonies of evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) flourish along the moist slopes (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). This native perennial fern favors either a deep or light shade environment. A vigorous clump may grow 18 – 24 inches in height and width. Set new plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ferns, Ground cover, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas Ferns Are Easy To GrowUrban Trees Reap Cleaner Air
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2014
U.S. Forest Service scientists with the Center for Urban Forest Research report that planting and nurturing street trees in Indianapolis, IN returned 500 percent in benefits from storm water reduction, energy conservation, cleaner air and increased property values. The researchers evaluated more than 117,000 trees the city’s Parks and Recreation Forestry Section manages. It found […]
Posted in Environmental issues, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Soil Conservation, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Urban Trees Reap Cleaner AirNativars – New Cultivars Of Native Plants
Posted by Hugh on January 20th, 2014
Nativar is a new term coined by Dr. Allan Armitage, Professor Emeritus from the University of Georgia. It combines the words “native” and “cultivar”. Nativar refers to a cultivar of a native plant. It attempts to excite the horticultural marketplace about new cultivars of native perennial plants, such as blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.), purple coneflower […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nativars – New Cultivars Of Native PlantsEuropean Hornbeams Serve As Great Garden Sentinels
Posted by Hugh on January 17th, 2014
Upright European hornbeams (Carpinus betulus cvs.) are versatile small to medium-sized deciduous trees that fit most landscape settings. Depending on which cultivar you select, the tree stands with a narrow vertical profile. It grows 35-40 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It’s cookie cutter by design as a street tree or tall narrow hedge. Hornbeams […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hornbeam (Carpinus), plant nutrition, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark Comments Off on European Hornbeams Serve As Great Garden Sentinels
