Pieris japonica, also known as Japanese Pieris, Japanese Andromeda, or Lily-of-the-Valley Plant, is a hardy and versatile evergreen shrub that provides excellent color and interest throughout the season. During the spring season, bell-shaped, lily-of-the-valley-like blooms provide cascading color to signal the beginning of the new season. But this isn’t the only show that Japanese Pieris… Read More
What could be more enjoyable than relaxing in your favorite lawn chair or hammock, your sunglasses on, and a cool beverage in hand, staring at an enchanting array of colorful butterflies milling around their favorite plant? What could possibly be an easier way to accomplish this vision than by planting a simple butterfly bush? About… Read More
Japanese Maples are known for their unique form, delicate and colorful leaves, and smooth bark. These traits give Japanese maples year-round appeal for any garden or landscape, both traditional as well as themed. The amount to choose from is quite overwhelming, as there are more than 300 cultivars available today. With so many options, it’s… Read More
Crape Myrtles were native to China, Japan, and Korea and introduced to Charleston, South Carolina, and the United States in 1790. Crape Myrtles are chiefly known for their colorful long lasting flowers that bloom 60 to 90 days in the summer. Flowers are borne in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crepe-like… Read More
Hydrangea: Summer-Long Color and More No other group of shrubs we know has undergone such a transformation in recent years as Hydrangeas. For generations, Hydrangeas had languished as dependable, if unexciting, shrubs whose large, pale flower heads provided useful filler for the midsummer garden. Then in 2003, a Midwestern plant breeder introduced Endless Summer, a… Read More
American boxwood? English boxwood? Japanese boxwood? What’s the difference?! American boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, has many different cultivars. For example- Graham Blandy (Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’) is an American boxwood variety. Most American boxwood cultivars are cold tolerant, with leaves that are rather long ovals with more pointed tips. English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, is a… Read More
Camellias are large, attractive, broad-leaved evergreen shrubs that are highly prized for their flowers, which bloom from winter to spring There are more than 2300 named cultivars registered with the American Camellia Society. The most commonly used camellias include cultivars of Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), Sasanqua camellia C. sasanqua), tea-oil camellia (C. oleifera), tea camellia… Read More
The winter months are a surprisingly busy time in the garden, with pruning being one of the chores that, if done in the winter months, will pay dividends for the gardener during the rest of the season. Pruning helps plants grow strong and healthy during their growing season. It allows plants to retain their natural… Read More
Winter is a great time to repot houseplants. Plants like to be potted up into larger pots as they grow. Larger containers allow for more soil to nourish the root systems. Plants that have grown in pots for years can become root bound, which can lead to a plants’ demise. Repotting houseplants in the winter… Read More
Indoor gardening or keeping houseplants is a hobby that many outdoor gardeners bewilderingly often do not pursue. Conversely, there are many green thumbs out there who fill their homes and workplaces with plants, yet never touch an outdoor one. With the current trend of blurring of outdoor and indoor living, I’m hoping this strange separation… Read More