African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) are easy to grow flowering house plants. Modern day varieties sold at supermarkets and plant shops often bloom 8-9 months a year. Lighting needs are minimal, either from indirect sunlight from an east-facing window or under special “grow lights” 12 hours daily. African violets prefer water at room temperature (65-75 °F). […]
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Are Your African Violets Looking OK?
Posted by Hugh on January 14th, 2014
Posted in African violet (Saintpaulia), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips 
Comments Off on Are Your African Violets Looking OK?For Dry Sites Try Arizona Cypress
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2014
Arizona cypress (Cupressus glabra) is silvery blue needled medium-sized evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). This southwest U.S. native demands full sun and excels in droughty, infertile, and well-drained soils. Conversely, Arizona cypress does not tolerate shade, poor air circulation and flooded soil. Arizona cypress is mostly disease and pest free unless too crowded […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Cupressus (cypress), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on For Dry Sites Try Arizona CypressShagbark Hickory
Posted by Hugh on January 8th, 2014
Most tree lovers don’t plant U.S native shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Instead, they often inherit one when purchasing property. Shagbark hickory is notoriously difficult to transplant and grows very slowly in its early years. Like oaks (Quercus spp.) and beeches (Fagus spp.), hickories are long-lived, often standing tall in an open […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Hickory (Carya spp.), Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Nut Producer, Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Shagbark Hickory2014 Perennial Plant Of the Year: ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass
Posted by Hugh on December 29th, 2013
Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’) is a 4 to 5 feet tall native prairie grass (USDA hardiness zones 4–9). There are many fine switchgrass varieties, but its Northwind’s vertical form and steel blue foliage that makes it a standout. Northwind switchgrass has been selected the 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year. By mid-summer its lacy soft pinkish […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Sand Dune Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2014 Perennial Plant Of the Year: ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2013
Summer Cascade is a new weeping river birch (Betula nigra Summer Cascade™ (PPAF). Its pendulous branching habit represents a unique change for river birch. Its strong weeping nature creates a divine focal point planted next to a pond, deck, or patio. Left unstaked, Summer Cascade’s strong pendulous habit naturally grows into a shrub mound or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch‘Grey Owl’ Juniper Is Tough Carefree Evergreen
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2013
Some people rate junipers as over-planted or bygone landscape plants. Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ is a cultivar of our native Eastern Red Cedar (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). Eastern red cedar is actually a juniper. This flat spreading evergreen develops into a reliable ground cover not plagued with disease and pest problems observed on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Juniper, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Grey Owl’ Juniper Is Tough Carefree EvergreenNorfolk Island Pine Makes Decorative Holiday Tree
Posted by Hugh on December 15th, 2013
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is native to tiny Norfolk Island located in the South Pacific. This tropical evergreen tree is now planted around the world and appears to be hardy in Northern Florida (USDA hardiness zone 9). In the wild this fast-growing tree grows to 80 feet in height. Norfolk Island Pine makes a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Norfolk Island Pine, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Norfolk Island Pine Makes Decorative Holiday TreeWhen To Prune Off Old Foliage Of Evergreen Perennials
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2013
Foliage of many popular evergreen perennials often appear tattered after a long cold winter. Coralbells (Heuchera spp.), foam flowers (Tiarella spp.), monkeygrass (Liriope spp.), fairy wings (Epimedium spp.), creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), periwinkle (Vinca minor), Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis), and Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) are stunning evergreen groundcovers. The solution is simple– just prune them. […]
Posted in Barrenwort (Epimedium), Evergreen, Ferns, Ground cover, Hellebores, Heuchera (coralbells), Liriope, Pachysandra, Perennials, Phlox, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Tiarella (foam flower), Winter flowering Comments Off on When To Prune Off Old Foliage Of Evergreen PerennialsJapanese Umbrella Pine Is Unique Among Evergreens
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2013
Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) is an outstanding evergreen large shrub or medium-sized pyramidal tree. Initially, umbrella pine grows slowly, only 6 to 8 inches annually, but growth rate picks up after 4-5 years. A young 3-foot tall plant may reach 20 to 30 feet tall in 25 years and double that at maturity. Its leaves […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Umbrella Pine Is Unique Among EvergreensLandscape Shrubs Rarely Damaged By Deer
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2013
Deer will eat or nibble on any landscape plant, particularly when they’re starving. Abnormally high deer populations, starved by a shortage of their favorite foods (mast), will feed or browse on almost any plant. This is a survival reaction. To truly protect plants when deer numbers are unusually high, a tall fence or reinforced netting […]
Posted in Abelia, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Aucuba, Bottlebrush buckeye, Boxwood (Buxus), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), common boxwood, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Cotoneaster, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Dogwood (Cornus), Enkianthus, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Foster Holly (Ilex), Fringetree (Chionanthus), Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Juniper, Magnolia stellata, Mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Pieris japonica, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Sumac (Rhus), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Landscape Shrubs Rarely Damaged By Deer
