Plant Profile: Smokebush ‘Flame’ (Cotinus) ‘Flame’
Karen Smokebush ‘Flame’ is hybrid resulting from a cross between Cotinus coggygria, a native to Asia, and C. obovatus, native to southern US. It is a membe of the cashew family,…
Plant Profile: Beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica)
This cascading deciduous shrub is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Ryuku Islands and is a member of the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae, that also includes mint, beebalm and adjuga.…
How to Prune Clematis
The huge flowers of clematis vines are real eye catchers when they bloom and give a romantic look to most settings. But over the years those flowers will slowly diminish…
Plant Profile: Susanqua camillia (Camellia sasanqua)
The pastel flowers of fall blooming camellias contrasts with the other signs of fall but they never fail to catch my eye and make my spirit soar. True, there are…
Plant Profile: White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
This is a tree that might interest baseball fans as it is the one that provides the wood for baseball bats. But it has other qualities that recommend it. It…
Plant Profile: Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
This graceful native tree offers both flowers in the summer and beautiful autumn coloration. The lily of the valley like flowers hang in rows from clusters of 6-8” spikelets and…
Plant Profile: Juneberry/Snowy Serviceberry (Amelanchier lamarkii)
Juneberry is a triple delight with its spring flowers, June berries, and fantastic autumn foliage. It blooms with spring bulbs and its white flowers touched with pink are beautiful with…
Plant Profile: Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
When we moved from an old historic brick house in Annapolis to the brand new brick house in North Carolina we were not thrilled with the starkness of the look…
Plant Profile: Red maple ‘Schlesingeri’ (Acer rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’)
The red maple announces its presence in early spring with a huge haze of red, produced by a myriad of tiny red flowers borne on the tips of the twigs…
Plant Profile: Japanese Maple Osakazuki (Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’)
Japanese maples in general have much to offer the home garden including small size, interesting texture, and attractive color. The cultivar, ‘Osakazuki’, is noted for its fabulous autumn color and…