‘Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a multi-season deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an upright, round-topped, spreading, twiggy, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-15 feet tall and as wide. It is native to northern Europe and northwestern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Midwinter Fire’ is […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Stunning Midwinter Fire Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cornus sanguinea, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental bark, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Stunning Midwinter Fire DogwoodEarly Risers In The New Year Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 2nd, 2026
Some flowering bulbs, corms, and tubers are early-bloomers. With the start of calendar year January 2026, several days in the 50’s and 60’s have been forecasted. In our garden, flowers of three perennials are beginning to poke through the soil. That’s besides the early daffodils which are always early-risers but hold off blooming until late […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Galanthus (snowdrops), Ground cover, Hellebores, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Risers In The New Year GardenRe-Blooming Clivia House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2025
Chase away any winter blahs with colorful flowers of clivia (Clivia miniata). This sub-tropical plant should brighten your home. Start by purchasing a plant already budded or in flower. Clivia lives a long time as a potted house plant. An older plant will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Grow in a large, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Clivia, Clivia, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Re-Blooming Clivia House PlantAll About Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2025
Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are one of the most popular houseplants and for good reason. It is incredibly drought-tolerant, able to go for weeks without water, and in low and medium lighting conditions. A majority of species are native to Western and Southern Africa and the Asian subcontinent. They are known under a number of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Container garden, Disease resistant, Dracaena, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies Comments Off on All About Snake PlantsDaphniphyllum
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2025
Daphniphyllum macropodium is a rounded understory broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree native to forested lands in Japan, Korea and China. Daphniphyllum, aka “false daphne”, is recognized for its attractive foliage and unique flowering habit. It stands out for its bold rhododendron-like leaveage. It typically grows to 15-25 feet tall in cultivation; add on 5-10 feet if plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Daphniphyllum macrophyllum, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on DaphniphyllumGrowing Hoyas
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2025
Hoyas, also called wax plant, porcelain flower, honey plant, common waxflower, are an Asian native plant (epiphyte) with fragrant, low-maintenance with lovely flowers that grow in a ball-shaped cluster. These low-maintenance plants produce woody stems with waxy evergreen leaves. Hoyas have become hugely popular among house plant collectors and available at most retail garden centers, box stores, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Light requirement, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing HoyasEastern Prickly Pear Cactus
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2025
Prickly pears are a subgroup of Opuntia, identified by their wide, flat, branching pads. They are also called nopal cactus or paddle cactus. Most prickly pear plants are found in warm, dry climates like the Southwestern U.S., although there are some cold-hardy species such as the Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa). (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Prickly […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cactus, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Native Plant, Native Plant, Opuntia spp, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eastern Prickly Pear CactusGround Covers Maybe You Should Avoid
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2025
Some varieties of groundcovers make good lawn substitutes because they’re vigorous and aggressive growers. Many garden centers and box stores sell many of these garden thugs. Yes, the selling point for these plants is their rapid, low-growing groundcovers that fill in spaces between steppingstones or may be utilized as a lawn alternative. Some non-native species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chameleon plant (Houttuynia), Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Periwinkle (Vinca spp.), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Ground Covers Maybe You Should AvoidArborvitae Fern
Posted by Hugh on September 29th, 2025
Arborvitae Fern (Selaginella braunii) is not a true fern, but it produces spores. This ancient plant is called a club moss and spikemoss. A diverse group of over 700 species, spikemoss is native to China. Its thick lacy fern-like foliage resembles Arborvitae or Cedar. Spikemoss (S. braunii) is a hardy landscape selection that forms a low-growing matting […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spikemoss (Selaginella braunii), Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arborvitae Fern‘Jindai’ Japanese Aster
Posted by Hugh on September 23rd, 2025
Tatarian aster (Crinitaria tataricus) / (Aster tataricus) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower indigenous to eastern Europe, Siberia, and Mongolia (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Its stiff sturdy stems support showy abundant flower clusters comprised of 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, with deep lavender to blue rays and yellow centers. The flat-topped clusters add late season color […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aster, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Jindai aster (Aster tataricus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tatarian aster (Crinitaria), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Jindai’ Japanese Aster
