Several times a year someone sends me a photo of a tree they believe to be an American chestnut (Castanea dentata, Zones 4–8). Frequently what they actually have sent is a photo of an Asian chestnut species or Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila, Zones 5–9), another species native to the eastern United States. From time to time, I have seen the sprouts of a true American chestnut tree in the wild. American chestnuts have three nuts per bur and canoe-shaped leaves with deeply toothed margins. Their buds are smooth, brown, pointed, and usually askew on the twig. However, the sprouts I’ve seen pale in comparison to what once dominated our eastern forests. The American chestnut once thrived throughout the forests of the eastern United States, leaving its mark on both the landscape and lives of the people who inhabited the region. This tree played a crucial role in the cultural, economic, and ecological tapestry of the South and southeastern United States, making it an integral part of our region’s history. Trees were huge, straight pillars like our native tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera, Zones 4–9)—and on a massive scale (from 50 to 100 feet tall). Learn more about the history of this magnificent species and the current state of American chestnut tree conservation efforts here.
American Wisteria
24.07.2023 - 12:14 / hgic.clemson.edu
Whenever I encounter an introverted gardener, I engage them in conversation with this question: What wisteria do you recommend for my backyard?
Expect to hear either one of these perspectives. On the one hand, the shy gardener will regale you with spoken images of the multitude of spectacular sweetly scented chains of flowers borne by Japanese and Chinese wisterias. On the other hand, you may be scolded for considering Asian wisterias, since these deciduous vines escaped cultivation in the Southeast where they’ve become botanical pythons, strangling trees and occasionally felling them with their sheer weight.
Between these two opposing views lies the American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). This less famous or infamous vine is native from the lowland forests and streambanks of Virginia to Florida. Surprisingly, it was the first wisteria introduced to European gardens, even before the Asian wisterias made their debut.
American wisteria blooms about 3 weeks after the Asian types. Its pendulous, rounded clusters of pale lavender pealike flowers emerge at the branch tips. ‘Amethyst Falls,’ a popular cultivar discovered as a stem mutation by plantsmen Bill and Bob Head in Seneca, SC, produces 4 to 6 in. long clusters of lavender-blue flowers in April and May on a relatively compact frame. It tends to rebloom with greater vigor than the species in mid- and late summer. Other noteworthy cultivars of American wisteria include ‘Longwood Purple,’ which has deeper bluish-purple hues, and ‘Nivea’ with white flowers.
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British View of American Landscape
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American Holly
While the Christmas tree takes the front-and-center stage during this holiday season, supported by a cast of poinsettias, cyclamens, kalanchoes, Christmas cactuses, and amaryllises, hollies often find themselves relegated to wreaths, garlands, and candle adornments. Years ago, I learned from Fred Galle’s tome, “Hollies: The Genus Ilex” (Timber Press, OR 1997), that hollies were quintessential Christmas symbols extensively used for centuries in holiday wreaths and Christmas decorations. Galle wrote that in London in 1851, 250,000 bunches of English hollies (Ilex aquifolium) were sold and adorned houses, churches, street corners, and marketplaces. In some parts of England, residents retained the holly sprigs until the following year because they believed it would protect their homes from lightning strikes.
Weed of the Month- American Burnweed
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Why i love this american landscape
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Hanging Wisteria Ball
Grab a summer ball and some faux flowers for this beautiful project perfect for your summer garden.
Since you asked: apios americana, the potato bean or groundnut
THE WIDELY adaptable groundnut has an impressive native range, in areas from temperate to sub-tropical (see the USDA range map), in Zone 4-9. It will even grow in places like cranberry bogs (growers often consider it a weed). It’s usually found in moist areas, where at least part-day sun is available.I have seen Apios growing in the wild once or twice, and a million years ago in a friend’s garden, too; it was something she inherited, I learned, with her very old house in Connecticut, and it was just always there, climbing enthusiastically by the shed, so she went with the flow.I say “enthusiastically,” and various Apios references say “not well-behaved,” but even though it’s a strong grower, invasives have pushed it from many former haunts, as mentioned.If you have a spot to give it where its enthusiasm is not at issue, as in a space of its own in a fringe area, Apios (which may reach 20 feet, but probably les
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Wisteria Sinensis prolific
Wisteria Sinensis Prolific. This climber is fully hardy, however if you want it to flower in the North East of Scotland, Plant it in a sunny sheltered position.
How to Grow and Care for Wisteria
Can we talk about wisteria for a minute? I mean, a vine in full bloom is like something straight out of a fairy tale.The long, vibrant clusters of blossoms and t