What Grows There :: Hugh Conlon, Horticulturalist, Garden Advisor, and Photographer

Houseplants Improve Your Home Atmosphere

Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2020

Houseplants decorate as well as clean the air at work and in homes or apartments, particularly when windows are closed over the winter months. Doctors tell us that an environment filled with lots of plants help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve mind function, particularly our ability to concentrate.

Here are six easy care foliage plants that filter indoor air:

1. Ferns – non-hardy ferns, not the ones we plant outdoors, come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and shades of green. Textural and elegant, many ferns look good in almost any home decor. Two of the best are long-lived Asparagus fern* (Asparagus sprengeri) and birds nest fern (Asplenium nidus), the latter with attractive long spear-like glossy fronds. Keep room humidity high around ferns by daily misting and setting them on a pebble tray.

2. Dracaena – reliable carefree houseplants that tolerate low light, low humidity, and infrequent watering. Dracaenas come in all sizes, from 3-inch pot plants to towering specimens. Many offices select dracaena varieties as foliage plants, such as corn plant (D. fragrans) with wide, long leaves that arc gracefully from the stalk, and dragon tree (D. marginata) that can grow to the ceiling. Dracaenas ares the perfect addition to desks and tabletops.

3. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) – decorative striped leaves and occasional flowers make these attractive plants favorites in most homes. Plants can be neglected for long periods and still be happy.

4. Bromeliads, members of the pineapple family, are stylish easy care plants that adapt to modern home environments. Bromeliads produce colorful, long-lasting blooms and sword-like green leaves. There are so many to choose from and their colorful flowers come in shades of red, pink, orange and yellow.

5. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) – easy to grow and care for indoor plant that displays small glossy leaves on stems which can grow up to 3 feet high. It grows well in either low or bright lighting and with frequent or much less frequent amounts of water.

6. Snake plants (Sanservieria), also called “Mother-in Law” tongue are houseplants that you can’t kill (or you’ve got to try harder). There are several kinds available. Shop at your local independent garden center that has a good selection.

* not a true fern, a member of lily family (Liliaceace)

Growing Cyclamen In The Home

Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2020

Cyclamens, the non-hardy forms, have become popular gift plants. Cyclamens are incorrectly labelled as tropical houseplants at garden shops. Many people enjoy this flowering plant for long as possible and toss it once blooming has stopped.

Cyclamens enjoy a long blooming period indoors in a cool room and are fussy, a bit of a challenge when you try to rebloom them. In the home cyclamens prefer a bright, indirect sunlight and cool surroundings between 55 – 65 °F. If the thermostat is set at 70 °F or higher, stems start to stretch and flower production declines and ceases. Cyclamens also demand high room humidity. This is best accomplished by sitting the plant on a tray of moist pebbles nearby other plants, or to add a room humidifier. Don’t mist the foliage!

In the spring cyclamens often go dormant. Allow the soil to dry out and clip off all yellowed and dry leaves. Give the plant a rest in a cool dry spot through midsummer. New growth should start to emerge sometime by early fall. Around this time repot into a slightly larger pot containing fresh compost-rich potting soil, begin watering and feeding again.

Repot into a slightly larger pot containing fresh compost-rich potting soil and grow it in the same bright, cool location. Feed cyclamens every two weeks with a weak ¼ solution of a water soluble fertilizers like Peters™ or Miracle-Gro™ or with Schultz’s Houseplant Food™.

Lastly, in the deep South (Florida, along the gulf coast, Texas, and Southern California), cyclamen adorn outdoor planters during mild fall, winter, and early spring when temperatures are in the 40’s and 50’s at night. Non-hardy cyclamens do not tolerate frigid temperatures below 40 °F (4 °C).

Coast Leucothoe a Better Choice

Posted by Hugh on November 16th, 2020

Compared to other doghobble species, coast leucothoe or doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) is a best choice for Southern U.S. landscapes (USDA zones 6 -9). This species is native to open woodland areas of the Southeastern U.S. The species grows along woodland slopes usually nearby a water source. However, its roots do not tolerate perennially damp ground.

Doghobbles are low-growing evergreen shrubs or ground covers. They exhibit a low, wide spreading form and oval, leathery, toothed dark green leaves. They grow 2-4 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide and are possible substitutes for boxwoods in moderately shady areas. In mid-spring shrubs are covered with showy clusters of urn-shaped white to pink flushed flowers.

One to two hours of direct morning sun is beneficial in northerly areas (zone 6 – 7a). In southerly climes (zones 7b-9), foliage may burn in the winter sun under deciduous shade. The arching dark green glossy foliage often turns bronze in cold habitats. Shrubs withstand heat and humidity. Doghobbles grow in a humus-rich, acidic, well-drained soil.

Flowers form along axillary branches as droopy spikes of white waxy bell flowers that are lightly fragrant. Branches grow zig-zagged at the tips and the lance-shaped, dark-green, glossy foliage turns red-green and purple in winter.

In highly humid regions of the U.S., 1-2 hours of direct early morning sunlight discourages leaf spotting. Doghobbles do not tolerate droughty soils or drying winds. Every 5-6 years, rejuvenate shrubs by cutting them to the ground after flowering.

After spring bloom, feed with any acid based fertilizer recommended to azaleas and rhododendrons. Mulch with acidifying coverings like pine needles and pine chips to keep roots cool and weed-free. Doghobble is highly deer resistant.

Wide plant spacings and good air circulation are keys to avoiding leaf spotting issues. Anthracnose leaf spot, tar spot, powdery mildew, leaf gall, lace bugs, and scale insects are occasional problems. Coast leucothoes tend to be less leafspot susceptible.

Persimmon – Native Fruit Tree

Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2020

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a deciduous U.S. native that grows 35 to 60 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9). Mature trees have a rounded oval crown. Ovate to elliptic, 2-6 inch long leaves, alternative along the stem, are glossy dark green above. Autumn leaves turn yellowish-green, infrequently reddish purple.

Persimmons grow in a wide geographic range from southern New England to the Midwest and south to Florida and Texas. Trees are usually dioecious (separate male and female trees), although some trees have perfect flowers. Tree roots tend to sucker prolifically and form almost impenetrable thickets. Its distinctive thick, dark gray bark is broken into rectangular blocks.

Persimmons are not fussy regarding site selection. Trees grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils, and in full sun to partial shade. Established trees are drought tolerant. Removing suckers by mowing around a tree(s) is the easiest practice. Female trees need a male pollinator in order to set fruit.

Fragrant, white to greenish-yellow flowers which are difficult to spot, bloom in late spring, with the male flowers appearing in clusters and the female flowers appearing solitary. Edible persimmon fruits, about 1-2 inches across, mature in fall, usually following the first hard frost to an orange to reddish-purple color, and may persist on the tree into winter.

Persimmon fruit is quite astringent when green, but upon ripening becomes sweet and may be eaten off the tree. The large seeds are surrounded by sweet orange flesh, which is edible and tasty eaten fresh or used in syrups, jellies, ice creams or pies. Persimmon leaves can be used to make or flavor teas.

Persimmon fruits are globose, with orange-gray, bitter skin and four large sepals at the top. The fruits are eaten by many wild animals, but can be poisonous to horses if eaten in excess. The wood of this hardwood tree is used to make golf club heads, billiard cues and shoe lasts.

Standout Ornamental Grasses Inflorescences

Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2020

Ornamental grasses standout in the landscape most of the year.
These six ornamental grasses showoff spectacular seed heads (inflorescences) in late summer or fall. These grasses are also beautiful and effective landscape screens.

PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana) – are seen planted at the beach, city parks or in your neighbor’s yard. The big feathery plumes sway in a passing breeze. Pampas grass varieties stand tall at 6-12 feet tall (plume included) and the dwarf pampas that reaches to a height of 4-5 feet tall (plume included). Cold hardiness is variable by cultivar.

Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergeri capillaris) – depending on variety the plumes of this native grass turns stunning pink (species) or white (cv. ‘White Cloud’).

MAIDEN GRASS (Miscanthus sinensis)– highly popular ornamental grass available in several varieties. Choose only varieties that produce mostly sterile inflorescences. Foliage is fine textured, with green to silver-green blades that develop golden-bronze tint after first frost. Striped leaf forms are also available. Recommended varieties include ‘Adagio’, ‘Bandwidth’, ‘My Fair Maiden’, ‘Morning Light’.

FEATHER REED GRASS (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) – compact 3-5 feet tall along with narrow growth form. Inflorescences ripen to tawny seed heads in late summer into fall and stand sturdily over the winter months. Several varieties are available, ‘Karl Foerster’ (green leaves), ‘Avalanche’ (yellow variegated leaves), and ‘Overdam’ (white variegated leaves) are very popular.

‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass in Late Summer

FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetum alopecuroides) (USDA zones 4-9)– their small size and bottlebrush type seed head are a perfect size for small to medium size gardens. Selections vary from dwarf varieties like ‘Little Bunny’ or ‘Hamlen’ growing 12-18 inches tall. P. orientale are less hardy and grow up to 3 feet tall (zones 6-9). P. purpureum ‘Prince’ and
P. setaceum ‘Fireworks’ are annual fountain grasses popular in most regions of the U.S. (zones 8-10). Some annual forms grow 6-8 feet tall in one growing season. Their upright stature, arching growth form, and fall seed heads standoff against either green, tan or rose colorful foliage.

SWITCHGRASS (Panicum virgatum) – become real showstoppers in fall with airy plumes atop the dark green late summer foliage. Cool fall temps causes foliage to turn bright yellow, some with dark red streaks. Most Panicum switchgrass grow from 3-5 feet high, including their fall floral heads. Popular forms include ‘Northwind’ and ‘Shenandoah’.

Ground Covers With Colorful Berries in Winter

Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2020

Here are four ornamental ground covers that are laden with colorful berrries in the winter landscape. Two (partridgeberry and wintergreen) grow best in a partial shade woodland environment and two (coralberry and cotoneaster) prefer sunny environs. Berries offer tasty winter food for wildlife such as pheasant, grouse, squirrels and deer. Cut stems loaded with berries can be added to decorative indoor arrangements.

Cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) is a low growing, widely branched deciduous shrub. It typically grows to 3 feet high with a spread of 4 – 6 feet. Tiny pink colored flowers appear in late spring and are visited by bees and other pollinators. In late summer red berries mature and persist into winter. The small glossy green spring-summer leaves (up to 3/4 inches long) turn attractive shades of purple, red and bronze in autumn. C. apiculata ‘Tom Thumb’ is a more compact form of cranberry cotoneaster. (zones 4-7).

Coralberry (Symphoricarpus orbiculatus), aka Indian currant, is a dense, suckering, native deciduousground cover found in Midwestern woodlands and fields (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). Coralberry spreads by runners to form impenetrable thickets in the wild. It mounds up 2-5 feet tall with arching stems. Clusters of white bell-shaped flowers (with a pink tinge) appear in summer. Flowers give way to colorful clusters of tiny coral-red berries (drupes) in autumn. Berries persist throughout the winter offering attractive color to a frosty landscape.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is a rhizomatous, creeping, woody, evergreen groundcover of the heath family found in the woodlands in Eastern North America. Erect stems clad with glossy, leathery, elliptic to oblong, dark green leaves (to 2 inches long) rise up from the rhizomes to 3-6 inches tall. Plants gradually forms an attractive ground cover over time. Waxy, nodding, bell-shaped, white flowers (3/8 inch long) open in the leaf axils in early summer (June-July). Flowers give way to edible bright red berries (3/8 inch diameter) that persist through winter. Fall leaves take on shades of purple. Leaves and fruit emit a wintergreen aroma. (zones 3-8).

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is grown for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native low-growing groundcover can be found in acidic soils in moist woodlands and on stream banks in the Eastern and Midwest U.S. In the spring woodlands, small four-petaled white tubular flowers are arranged in pairs above the foliage. Bright scarlet red berries follow in late summer, fall and winter. (USDA hardiness zones 4–8).

Fire Chief™ Arborvitae

Posted by Hugh on October 26th, 2020

Fire Chief™ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’) is a compact, globe-shaped evergreen that grows 3-5 foot high and wide (in 10 years) (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It is at its best in full to partial sunlight. Its soft scale-like foliage changes color seasonally. New spring growth emerges orangey-red, turns bright green in summer, and develops a russet-red blush in fall and winter. When planted on a sheltered or shady site, the leaves retain a bright green color year-round.

Its scaly leaves resist burning from harsh summer sun and the frigid winds of winter better than many globe arborvitaes. Branches are flexible and rarely break under a snow load. This super hardy evergreen thrives in containers through the coldest Tennessee winter. Its compact size makes this evergreen shrub an ideal choice for small gardens.

One year after planting, Fire Chief is moderately drought tolerant and requires very little maintenance. Disease and insect problems are rare, although deer may occasionally browse on the foliage.

At local garden centers Fire Chief™ is available as a container-grown shrub from spring thru early fall. This outstanding cultivar performs well in an average well-drained, moderately acidic soil. Before planting enrich the soil with compost and mulch. It is rated as moderately drought tolerant after one year.

Spring pruning is rarely needed except to remove a broken branch or for shaping. Annually feed the shrub with either 10-10-10 or an equivalent granular fertilizer in late winter.

Fire Chief™ arborvitae is grown for its compact globe conifer seasonal accent foliage shrub in a container or a garden setting.

Deciduous Holly For The Fall/Winter Landscape

Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2020

While deciduous hollies (Ilex spp.) are well known among home gardeners, surprisingly few plant them (USDA hardiness zones 3-9 variable by species). In the fall, their branches and twigs are covered in bright red berries. Orange and yellow berried varieties are additional choices. Birds love them, too.

Deciduous hollies do not have prickly leaves like evergreen hollies. Their foliage is soft and non-spiny. Two prominent native species — winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and possumhaw (Ilex decidua) and Japanese winterberry (Ilex serrata) — are planted. Numerous hybrid crosses are also available.

Plant deciduous hollies from spring into early fall in a full to part day sun location (five or more hours best). Deciduous hollies prefer moist, acidic soils, and don’t mind wet ground. Possumhaw grow tall and wide in moderately alkaline soil. Most important with hollies is that female cultivars must be matched to one or more specific male clones (such as ‘Raritan Chief’ (possumhaw), ‘Jim Dandy’ or ‘Southern Gentlemen’ to winterberry hollies, and Apollo’ to ‘Sparkleberry’ holly for best pollination.

Few gardeners take notice of the tiny white flowers in spring. Insect pollinators do frequent the blooms. Bloom varies with the species group. Cultivar heights vary from 2 to 18 feet high and 4 to 10 feet wide. Give individual plants plenty of room.

Two-year established shrubs are moderately drought tolerant, but produce greater numbers of berries if summer rainfall is adequate. Fertilize in March or April with an acidic organic slow-release fertilizer such as Holly-tone® or Osmocote®. No serious insect or disease problems trouble deciduous hollies.

Clip off berry-covered twigs and branches in fall and winter to bring indoors and arrange in tall vases; no need to add water as cut stems will last quite awhile. When shrubs grow too large, cut them back in early spring by one-third or more, even to the ground. Renewal pruned deciduous hollies will quickly emerge from suckers.

Hedges of deciduous hollies attract all kinds of birds to your property and offer nesting and winter protection for our feathered friends. For best accent plant them against a background of needled evergreens, the red winter berries will stand out.

EXTRA info: Orange-red berried (Ilex verticillata ‘Aurantiaca’) and (I. v. ‘Afterglow’) grows 6 to 8 feet tall, and fruits fade to orange-yellow. Compact cultivar ‘Red Sprite’ stays about 5 feet tall and both are pollinated with ‘Jim Dandy’.

Claim Jumper™ Katsura Tree

Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2020

B&B Claim Jumper trees (Photo credit: Heritage Nursery, WA)

In American gardens Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) is a fine landscape tree that is becoming more popular. This small – medium – large tree (height depending on cultivar) offers four-seasons of interest.

Katsura tree is indigenous to Japan and China where it can mature into an incredible 50-70 feet tall USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Numerous green leaf forms, including weeping cultivars, are available. Its tiny flowers are dioecious tree (male and female flowers on separate trees) and mostly inconspicuous.

One standout cultivar, Claim Jumper™ katsura, offers a golden or chartreuse look. It is a fine 25-30 feet (8-10 m) tree. The leaves of this small Katsura emerge with a pinkish tinge, and unfurl with a soft golden-yellow color. By mid-summer, leaves in the shade may turn light green while those in sun are pale yellow, giving the tree a two-toned effect. Leaf shape is cordate (heart-shape).

Fast growing when young, a tree averages 1.5 to 2 feet per year or to 20 feet tall in 10-15 years. That’s about the growth rate of a sugar or red maple. Claim Jumper holds this chartreuse leaf color through most of summer. Young trees maintain an upright branching form, almost into middle age.

Katsura trees should be planted a moist well-drained soil and in full sun to part-shade, depending on the region of the U.S. Newly planted 1-2 year old trees are particularly prone to leaf scorch. During its 2-3 years after planting, a young tree is susceptible to long dry spells and should be irrigated, particularly where summers are very hot. Mulch and feed the tree with a slow release fertilizer in early spring.

In warmer Southern climes, Claim Jumper should be protected from the hot afternoon sun from buildings or larger trees on the west or south exposure sides. In autumn, about the time the golden leaves are starting to drop, you will smell a sweet fragrance like cotton candy in the air.

Katsura is rarely troubled by serious pests or disease problems. Many cultivars are sold in limited numbers by full-service garden centers or by rare plant specialty nurseries on-line.

Shumard Oak

Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2020

Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) is stately landscape tree in the red or black oak group (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). The species is native to moist bottomlands and slopes of the southeastern U.S.

Typically, Shumard grows at a moderately fast rate to a height of 40-60 feet (30-40 feet wide) in the landscape. It has a pyramidal or upright-branching with an open canopy and sturdy spreading branches. As the tree ages, it develops a broad open crown.

The 6-8 inch long seasonal leaves are glossy, dark green. Shumard oak leaves resemble those of scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), distinguished by 7-9 deeply cut lobes and are bristle-tipped. Leaves turn brownish red by late autumn.

This medium to large shade tree prefers a spacious sunny location. Insignificant flowers (separate male and female catkins) appear in early spring before the leaves start to emerge. Numerous 1-inch long acorns (take 2 years to mature) provide food for all kinds of wildlife including numerous birds, including woodpeckers, as well as wild turkeys, and squirrels, deer, et al.

Shumard oaks are utilized as shade trees in lawns and street trees. It grows well in wide variety of soils. It is widely adapted to drier limestone soils and high pH levels. However, chlorosis (yellowing of the foliage) sometimes occur in calcareous soils (low in acidicity). Most oaks, including Shumard, demonstrate good drought tolerance within a year or two after planting.

Shumard oaks are durable long-lived trees, but are potentially troubled by a large number of potential diseases and insect pests, including anthracnose, canker, leaf spot, rust, blight, galls, caterpillars, borers, leaf miners, oak lace bug and oak mite.

As a rule, shumard oaks are generally long-lived when properly planted and cared for. Large nursery grown trees may be difficult to transplant and are best moved in late winter or very early spring.