As native grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium and cvs., Zones 3–9) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis and cvs., Zones 3–9) increasingly gain traction in gardens, exotics such as miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis and cvs., Zones 4–9) are losing favor because of their invasive tendencies. But not all exotic grasses are troublesome and need to be avoided. Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora and cvs., Zones 5–9) is a natural hybrid of C. arundinacea and C. epigejos, which are both nonnatives and prolific self-sowers, but the hybrid rarely sets fertile seed—a major plus for an exotic grass, right? So why are other reed grasses—‘Karl Foerster’ aside—so underused? To answer that question is to understand the phenomenon of ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (C. × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’).
40 Best Low Maintenance Hedge Plants
21.07.2023 - 01:15 / balconygardenweb.com
Hedges are the best way to create boundaries for your yard, make a small privacy screen, and shelter little plants from harsh winds. Check out the Best Low Maintenance Hedge Plants you can choose to create the perfect fence for your garden.
Botanical Name: Syringa meyeri
A beautiful shrub with purple blossoms, the Korean Lilac is one of the best low-maintenance hedge plants with its velvet-like texture.
Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
The Hydrangea has beautiful clustered blooms of purple, blue, pink, or white with dense leaves and is the perfect hedge plant that needs little maintenance.
Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’
A low-height shrub with amazing bright green-gold foliage, the Dwarf Golden False Cypress is amongst the best hedge plants.
Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides
One of the most gorgeous ones, Jasmine’s lustrous dark leaves, and white blooms are only matched by her amazing fragrance that pulls everyone in.
Botanical Name: Rosa
With prickly stems that spread beautiful white, cream, crimson, purple, orange, and yellow roses, the shrub rose is amongst the best low maintenance hedge plants.
Botanical Name: Choisya ternate
With tiny pearly white star-shaped blooms that give off the scent of orange, the Mexican Orange Blossom is low maintenance and makes a beautiful hedge plant.
Botanical Name: Viburnum dentatum
The Arrowwood Viburnum is a beautiful hedge plant with dark green foliage, black-violet berry-like fruit, and shining white blooms.
Botanical Name: Murraya paniculata
Native to South Asia, this Jasmine is the perfect one with clusters of stunning white flowers that give off a wonderful scent and bloom throughout the year.
Botanical Name: Spiraea
With dense, creamy blooms and dark green leaves
36 Beautiful Mexican Flowers You Must Grow
Explore the rich floral tapestry of this enchanting country with some of the most stunning Mexican Flowers that you must include in your collection!
The Best Flowers for Bumblebees
Like honeybees, bumblebees visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar to take back to their colonies to feed the developing brood.
15 Low-Maintenance Indoor Cacti and Succulents
All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti—and of course, no two species are exactly alike. Many cacti, as well as other succulents, can make great houseplants, and once established, they don't require a lot of water or extra care. While all cacti are different, keep in mind that many will have a dormant period in winter where you reduce watering and lower light levels. Some may bloom gorgeous flowers (although it may require patience).
Best Cut-Flower Roses
This selection of top ten Roses to grow as cut flowers has been chosen for their scent and the length of the vase life. If Roses are picked as the buds are breaking they will last at least a week and if they are picked fully open it will be several days.
Cactus Dahlias Flowering Until November
Dahlias are having a good year due to the summer rain. Slugs permitting my Cactus Dahlias will have given one of the best shows for several years by November when they get cut down and stored. As I expect the flower power will still be present until the first frosts in November I am going to give them a foutnightly tonic of liquid fertiliser and a further mulch.
All About Kordes Roses and Their Best Flowers
When I first started exploring roses, I thought myself to be pretty educated once I knew the difference between a David Austin and a Knock Out. And then I discovered a whole new world of
31 Best Colorful Hedge Plants | Hedges with Colored Leaves
Introducing the Best Colorful Hedge Plants, a vibrant selection of foliage that will add a burst of colors to your landscape. These eye-catching hedges combine beauty and functionality, making them a perfect choice for any garden or outdoor space.
SCBG Plant Sale 2021
Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ was once touted as the perfect, sterile garden or landscape tree. It has now bred prolifically with other pear species and spread so extensively that it is now on South Carolina’s invasive plant list. Now is an excellent time to replace these pest trees with something more ecologically sound. We have several options to choose from at the South Carolina Plant Sale or visit your local nursery to find alternatives. The SCBG plant sale is online again this spring; details are here: https://www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/plant-sale/index.html
90 Best Desert Plants | Best Desert Plants for Landscaping
Check out our list of the Best Desert Plants that will add a ravishing appeal to your home with little upkeep.
Beloved conifers: recap of coziest woody plants
(click any green type to link to the profile of that plant)Golden hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crippsii’Japanese umbrella pine, Sciadopitys verticillataConcolor fir, Abies concolorWeeping Alaska cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’Korean fir, Abies koreanaLacebark pine, Pinus bungeanaFavorite Coniferous ShrubsRussian arborvitae, Microbiota decussataGolden spreading yew, Taxus baccata ‘Repandens Aurea’Dwarf white pine,Pinus strobus ‘Nana’Conifer SlideshowIf you missed it earlier this year, tour the above favorites and more in my slideshow of favorites conifers.Categoriesconifers for beginners trees & shrubs
Best ‘pine’ cones, ever
The Korean fir in the photo was my Charlie Brown-style Christmas tree perhaps a half-dozen years ago, a scrawny potted baby I festooned with a few shiny things and positioned in the cool back mudroom. (By late summer, its cones turn tan-colored, so it didn’t decorate itself the way it had in summer. And you can only loosely call them pine cones: A. koreana is in the Pinaceae or Pine Family, but not a true pine.) After the holiday I heeled it in for the rest of winter, moving it to a permanent spot in spring.This beautiful smallish tree, to perhaps 15 or 20 feet tall (30 tops, I’ve read), has just one drawback: It can’t take the heat. For my location, that’s just fine; its ideal setting is zone 5 or 6, just like here. Various references say it is hard from Zone 5 to 7, or some claim as cold as 4 and warm as 8.