Archive for June, 2018

Pest Alert – Giant Hogweed

Giant hogweed plant (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a large, invasive plant that can cause severe burns, blisters and rashes and vision loss in humans. As its name suggests, giant hogweed plant  is enormous growing invasive species that originated from the Caucasus region of Eurasia. It produces large, towering purple stalks of white flower clusters. Don’t pick these […]

Three July Blooming Trees (Other Than Crapemyrtles)

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 foot tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. Often mistaken as a purple-flowering crapemyrtle, vitex is grown where wintry weather is not severe (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Its palmately compound grayish-green leaves, composed of 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets, are […]

‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckias Fill Their Spot

For an old fashion plant ‘Herbstsonne’ (Rudbeckia laciniata) still pops up in many modern day gardens. It is a tall upright growing,  clump-forming perennial black-eyed Susan (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). This vigorous North American perennial grows 4-7+  feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. ‘Herbstsonne’ is also synonymous with the cultivar  ‘Autumn Sun’. Formerly […]

Stunningly Beautiful Three-Flowered Maple

Three flower maple (Acer triflorum), often called trifoliate maple, is native to eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-7). The latter pseudonym is misleading as A. triflorum is actually one of many compound-leafed maples identified as “trifoliate maples”. This small deciduous understory maple typically grows 2o-25 feet tall with a densely-branched, rounded crown. Specimens often grow to 35-40 feet in height range. The […]

American Basswood Tree

American basswood (Tilia americana) is a common deciduous native tree in midwestern and eastern U.S. forests (USDA hardiness zones 2-11). This large majestic tree is remarkably fast-growing but not weak wooded. Basswood is planted as a large residential shade tree, street tree along wide avenues, or tall privacy screen. A mature specimen may grow 50 […]

Multi-Use Bowles’ Golden Sedge

Bowles’ golden sedge (Carex elata ‘Aurea’) is an easy to grow sedge (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Golden sedge was introduced by English plantsman and garden writer E.A. Bowles who discovered it growing in eastern England. Bowles’ Golden sedge grows 1 ½ to nearly 3 feet high (in flower) and 2-3 feet wide. It features bright lemon- […]

Shredded Umbrella Plant For Woodland Gardens

Shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia) is native to China, Korea, and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). The plant is often misidentified as mayapple (Podophyllum). The foliage is exquisitely dissected, similar to a finely dissected Japanese maple leaf. The plant serves a wonderful addition to any shade garden. In mid-spring exquisite umbrella-like foliage emerges covered with hairy silver hairs.  Umbrella-like pubescent leaves are very dissected and […]