Infolific » Gardening

Hornbeam (Carpinus Coroliniana, C. Betulus, Ostrya Virginiana)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:37:22 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist to well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to shade ATTRIBUTES: Deciduous tree with attractive bark; for specimens, foundations SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall; C. caroliniana blooms in spring, O. virginiana in summer FAVORITES: [...]

Yellowwood (Cladrastis spp.)

Mallory Portman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:19:31 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: While or pink flowers, yellow fall foliage; for specimen SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall FAVORITES: C. lutea and pink-flowered 'Rosea', C. platycarpa, C. sinensis [...]

Grasses (Ornamental, various spp.)

Mallory Portman — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:47:27 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Frost tolerant PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Grassy texture, seed heads; use in beds, as specimens, pots, for fresh or dried arrangements SEASON OF INTEREST: Late spring through fall FAVORITES: Hare's tail grass, quaking grass, 'Black Tip' wheat [...]

The Magic of Mulch

Mallory Portman — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:57:20 +0000

Each time you set out a plant, the final planting step is usually to cover the ground around it with a blanket of mulch. Mulches are organic or inorganic materials that retard evaporation from the soil, smother weeds, and insulate the root zone of plants, keeping them cool in summer [...]

Sun Rose (Helianthemum Hybrids)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:34:20 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Sandy with added organic matter, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Small, rose-shaped flowers on low plants; for dry sites, rock gardens SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall FAVORITES: 'Henfield Brilliant', 'Ben Nevis', 'Annabel', [...]

Magic Lily (Lycoris Squamigero)

Mallory Portman — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:09:12 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid to nearly neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Large pink, red, or yellow trumpet-shaped flowers; for beds, pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Late summer to early fall FAVORITES: L. squamigera, L. radiata and L. [...]

Asarum (A. Conadense; A. Europaeum)

Mallory Portman — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:08:01 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 2 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acidic to neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial to full shade ATTRIBUTES: Handsome mat-forming plants that spread slowly; tor groundcover, beds SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall FAVORITES: A. canadense as woodland groundcover; A. europaeum as [...]

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium Sempervirens)

Mallory Portman — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:30:30 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 7 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Evergreen (eaves and fragrant yellow flowers; for arbors or groundcover SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round evergreen foliage where hardy; flowers in spring TYPE OF VINE: Woody evergreen perennial; climbs [...]

Thyme (Thymus spp.)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:49:56 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Crumbly, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Fragrant creeping herb; white, pink, or lavender flowers; for groundcover SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through foil FAVORITES: T. serpyllum 'Coccineus'; T. vulgaris 'Argentus', 'Aureus'; T. x citriodorus [...]

Watering Your Garden

Mallory Portman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:21:28 +0000

New plants benefit from watering often enough to keep the soil barely moist during their first season in the ground, because they are growing on skimpy roots. After a few weeks or months, depending on the growth rate of the plants, you can water less frequently. Plants with mature, extensive [...]

Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis)

Mallory Portman — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:19:28 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Large, fast-growing plants; use as screen, at back of border, with tall companion plants SEASON OF INTEREST: Midsummer to frost FAVORITES: 'Carmencita' for burgundy leaves; 'Carmencita Pink' for pink flowers; 'Impala' for maroon [...]

Meadow Rue (Thalictrum spp.)

Mallory Portman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:34:33 +0000

Fundamental Facts: HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Feathery rose, purple, while, or yellow flowers, ferny foliage; for beds SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring and summer FAVORITES: T. rochebrvnianum 'Lavender Mist'; T. aquilegi-folium; T. kiusianum [...]

Stonecrop (Sedum Spectabile)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:48:31 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Succulent leaves, pink or white flower clusters; for groundcover, beds, pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round; blooms late summer to fall FAVORITES: 'Autumn Joy', 'Stardust', 'Matrona', 'Variegatum', 'Frosty [...]

Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:23:18 +0000

Fundamental Facts: HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial to full shade ATTRIBUTES: Broad leaves variegated with white or silver; for beds, woodland gardens SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring into summer FAVORITES: 'Berries and Cream', 'Mrs. Moon'; mildew-resistant 'Excalibur' QUIRKS: [...]

Gypsophila spp.

Mallory Portman — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:47:38 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Airy clusters of tiny white or pink biossoms; for cutting, beds SEASON OF INTEREST: Midsummer FAVORITES: Tall white 'Perfecta'; rose-flowered 'Pink Fairy'; spreading G. repens QUIRKS: Tall types must be [...]

Squill

Mallory Portman — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:44:57 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES Cold-hardy plants with dainty blue flowers; for naturalizing, beds, lawns SEASON OF INTEREST: Early spring FAVORITES: Scilla siberica, Pushkinia scilloides, Hyacinthoides italica QUIRKS: Needs a minimum [...]

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:03:59 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist to average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Spring flowers, colorful berries, showy fall foliage; for borders SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall FAVORITES: A. laevis, A. x grandiflora, A. lamarckii, A. canadensis, A. [...]

Grape (Vitis spp. and cvs.)

Mallory Portman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:40:22 +0000

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Summer and fall foliage, fruits, and woody trunks; for shade, privacy SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round TYPE Of VINE: Woody deciduous perennial; climbs by clinging with tendrils [...]

Begonia

Mallory Portman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:33:49 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, fertile PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Season-long flowers, neat plants; use for beds, baskets, and containers SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer to fall FAVORITES: Wax begonia 'Wings', 'Cocktail', and double 'Queen'; tuberous Nonstop hybrids, and Giant [...]

Gardens with Moist Shade

Mallory Portman — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:03:41 +0000

A woodland carpeted with wild flowers in spring is an unforgettable sight. Rich, moist soil coupled with dappled shade can foster not only native woodland treasures but also shade-loving plants from around the world. Woodlands and forests in Europe, Japan, and China have given us some of the most beautiful [...]