Viburnum obovatum 'Reifler's Dwarf'

There a many reasons why we need to start looking at native plants as replacements for many of our standard landscape plants. From a pest pressure standpoint, natives are often more tolerant of indigenous insects and fungi because they have co-evolved with these pests. It stands to reason that a pest would not kill it's host because they want an ongoing source of food.

Birds and other animals have also co-evolved with these plants are are dependent upon these native species. The diversity of songbirds in natural areas far exceeds the populations in cultivated gardens dominated by exotic plants.

One of my new favorite native shrubs is Small-leaf Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum. Endemic to the coastal plain from South Carolina down to Florida and across to Alabama, this evergreen shrub is perfectly acclimated to our area.

The cultivar 'Reifler's Dwarf' is a small, rounded selection that would be a great substitute for Abelia, Indian Hawthorn or Japanese Hollies in the landscape. It grows to an ultimate height of 4-5' high and wide, but responds well to shearing.

Look at this greenhouse of perfect 'Reifler's Dwarf' Viburnums at Dudley Nursery:The flower buds are a deep rose pink and are formed in the late summer and fall. Around February, the buds open to reveal small white flowers that cover the entire plant. After flowering, purple-black fruit (that the birds happen to love) are formed.

It is like a Yaupon Holly with bigger flowers and a softer texture.

Should I list the attributes of this plant?

• Small, rounded growth habit
• Evergreen leaves
• Multi-season interest (buds, flowers and fruit)
• Native plant
• Easily sheared
• Bird attractant
• New(ish) cultivar for an updated plant palette (are you as tired of Japanese Hollies and Indian Hawthorns as I am?)
  

Indian Hawthorn Choices

I hesitate to endorse an Indian Hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica). Whenever I declare a cultivar to be completely resistant to the dreaded Entomosporium Leaf Spot, I am proved wrong within a week or two.

But I've got my eye on a new cultivar call 'Spring Sonata.' Not only does it look great from a disease-resistance standpoint, but it the foliage is a soft blue-green. This selection, from the Southern Living plant collection, has white flowers in the early spring. Growing to a maximum size of about 5-feet high and wide, this plant is suitable for most gardens. Over the next year, I'm going to evaluate this plant in both the nursery and landscape to see if it is, in fact, a good replacement for 'Alba' and some of the other selections that dominate the market. ('Alba' is a good cultivar as long as you purchase disease-free plants, space them properly and keep the leaves dry.)
The only nursery I know in the area that is growing this cultivar is Parsons Nursery in Georgetown, South Carolina (wholesale only).

I've also got my eye on a couple of cultivars called 'Snow White' and 'Snow.' I've seen some beautiful 'Snow White' plants at Dudley Nursery in Thomson, Georgia and I am hopeful that they are going to perform as well.

I'll keep you posted,
Kari

You Want This Plant: 'Lady in Red' Hydrangea

As an added benefit of scouting nurseries, I get to really study cultivar differences within plant species. For example, over the course of a year, I see hydrangeas grown at nurseries and landscapes at many locations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Over a month, I may examine twelve "crops" of Hydrangeas at twelve different nurseries.

What has been fascinating about this for me is noticing the differences in vigor, disease resistance and flowering is very consistant from nursery to nursery. So even with the variables of soil, fertilizer, irrigation and hardiness zones, certain cultivars always outperform the others. This is not just true for Hydrangeas- I see this in Camellias, Hostas, Roses and all of the other species we favor with wide cultivar selections.

Of the Hydrangeas, there is one cultivar that has been terribly overlooked by gardeners and landscape designers. I think that it never took hold because consumers have come to associate Hydrangeas with blue, volleyball-sized mopheads. 'Lady in Red' does not satisfy that description.

Introduced by Dr. Michael Dirr from the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lady in Red' has many qualities that make it unique and superior to many Hydrangeas on the market.

DISEASE RESISTANCE: Most Hydrangeas are susceptible to Powdery Mildew and leaf spots caused by Colletotrichum and Cercospora. These diseases not only impact the aesthetics of the plants, but also the overall vigor. Plants that become infected with these diseases tend to lose their leaves earlier in the season and have reduced flower size (over time).

'Lady in Red' is resistant to Powdery Mildew. If a 'Lady in Red' Hydrangea is growing in the center of a group of Powdery Mildew-laden Hydrangeas (let's say 'Claudie' which is one of the worst), it will not get diseased. The same holds true for the leaf spots.

The foliage alone is reason to grow this plant.

FORM: The stems, which are a gorgeous wine-red, are sturdy and upright. This plant does not flop and fall apart like some of the traditional mopheads. The flowers are smaller, so they do not pull the stems down to the ground.

That being said, understand that 'Lady in Red' does not have the LARGE flowers like a blue mophead. And I just know that this is the reason it did not become the blockbuster that 'Endless Summer' has become. We are not a nation of subtleties.

USE IN THE LANDSCAPE: 'Lady in Red' should not be planted alone. This plant is going to be most effective when planted en masse. Trust me on this. Just looking at this pictures taken at a North Carolina nursery (Fair View Nursery) and you see what I mean. You really want five or ten to really make an impact.

And these pictures were taken in late October! Just look at that strong foliage; Hydrangeas are usually slowing down and turning yellow by this time of year. (The fall coloration on this cultivar is a deep, velvety reddish-purple. Divine.)

I could see this plant growing in front of a thick evergreen screen or planted near the foundation of a grey or stone building. Plant a large sweep of Black-eyed Susans or 'Autumn Joy' Sedum in front of the 'Lady in Red' Hydrangeas and I think it would be really impressive.

It is time to re-examine this cultivar.

I think it is a shame that it is not used more in the industry because it has all of the qualities we tell breeders we want: compactness, multi-season interest, flower, disease resistance. Fact is, if it wasn't a Hydrangea, we would all be using it. We've just got an image in our heads of what a Hydrangea is supposed to look like.....and 'Lady in Red' doesn't fit that image.

Love, love, love this plant. And you should, too.

These may be my favorite trees in Charleston

If only you could have walked down King Street today in Charleston. Not the shopping district (absolutely not),but just above Broad Street. That is where you would have found a pair of Ginkgos flanking the entrance to the Charleston Library Society at the peak of their fall display.

And they are two of the grandest trees in Charleston.

They go fairly unnoticed through the year; We are a city that worships the Live Oak. But every year, just as everyone is hanging wreaths and stringing lights, the Gingkos command all the attention.

I particularly love the two Gingkos on King Street because of their surrounding architecture and landscape. There is something to be said for a strong, simple design supported by a Podocarpus hedge, two Gingko trees and a manicured lawn.

And the heavy dose of Spanish Moss hanging from the branches just makes me love them more. (How is that possible?!)

I could go on for days, but I'll let the pictures make you jealous that you weren't here to see it for yourself.Perfection.

Re-thinking Natives

When "native plants" are mentioned, what do you envision?


A free-flowing meadow of grasses and wildflowers? An informal hodgepodge of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs that attract songbirds? An overgrown, impenetrable mixture of vines, shrubs and trees?

..........Well, what about this?

No, this garden is not all natives. But the unifying element, a Yaupon Holly hedge, is indigenous. By tightly shearing it, this evergreen plant becomes a integral part of the design.

Could you have used Boxwoods instead? In my experience they don't do well on the barrier islands (this garden is on the Isle of Palms). Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) has greater salt tolerance and therefore is more vigorous in this situation.
Wow, right?

Perfection

For all of you landscape contractors that are looking for consistency and quality in large, containerized trees, look to Casey Nursery in Goldsboro, North Carolina. These trees, in 15 and 25 gallon pots, are specimen plants. They have the well-developed canopies of field-grown trees with the convenience of container-grown trees. It's a hard-to-find combination.

I love my job

While scouting Dudley Nurseries in Thomson, Georgia last Wednesday and full from a plate of fried turkey (thanks for lunch, y'all!), I took a few minutes to be thankful for the wonderful opportunity I have to work with great people at beautiful nurseries.

I'm one of the lucky people in this world that truly loves what they do for a living. When it's icy and windy or hot and muggy, I may question my decision to become a horticulturist.....but most of the time I'm happy as a lark.

After all, not many people get to stand in a greenhouse full of Fragrant Tea Olives (Osmanthus fragrans) that are in full bloom. If you've ever smelled one Tea Olive, then you'd know that over a hundred in an enclosed greenhouse will send you over the moon:
And the fragrance of Mahonia coupled with the glowing yellow flowers will make you pause for a moment in gratitude:
Lastly, everyone always asks what is my favorite flower. This time of year, it has to be Camellia. When the Camellias are in bloom, I get to wander through greenhouses and shade frames surrounded by these flowering shrubs.

Look at this Camellia japonica 'Pink Icicle'. The flowers are absolutely amazing. That pink flower set against a dark Charleston-green leaf is stunning. It has been my favorite cultivar for the last two years.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kari

Tried and True: 'Mine No Yuki' Camellia

Can you imagine a more heavenly sight? On my way from Goldsboro to Charlotte last week I drove past this row of Sasanqua Camellias, turned my car around and stopped to admire. Each shrub is about 6-7 feet high and wide, collectively making an impressive display.

The skirt of petals surrounding each plant adds to the beauty, like a dusting of snow. The flowers of Camellia sasanqua "shatter" into individual petals as they fall from the stems (alternatively, Camellia japonica flowers stay whole).
This cultivar, 'Mine No Yuki,' was selected in the 19th century and the name literally translates to 'Snow on the Mountain.' The white peony-form flowers occur in late fall.

I love this plant.

Love this lawn

A lawn is so tricky. It is often the element that pulls the entire landscape together....or tears it apart.

Like a wine stain on an area rug, a less-than-perfect lawn distracts the eye. Even if every other part of the landscape is gorgeous, a dead spot in the lawn will command all of the attention.

St. Augustine, the lawn of choice in the Lowcountry, can be a total nightmare to maintain. The list of pests is long, with Brown Patch and Chinch Bugs causing the most damage.

Plus, we have come to think of St. Augustine as "shade-loving" rather than "shade-tolerant." While it will take some shade, it prefers the sun.....yet people are always shocked with the grass under the deep shade of Live Oaks is thin and underwhelming.

My new grass choice for this area is 'Zeon' Zoysia. Prepare to be wowed:

This lawn, installed by Islandscape Landscaping, is perfection. It is lush, thick and wonderful. If you did a survey of landscape professionals in the area, they'd choose this grass as their preferred selection.

Low pest pressure, some shade tolerance, and island-friendly (this Glen Gardner-designed landscape is on Sullivan's Island), 'Zeon' Zoysia is worth the extra cost.

And want to know the best part? Chinch bugs aren't pests of 'Zeon' Zoysia. I'm sold.

Fatsias and Camellias at City Nursery Farm

I know I have already written about the Camellias at City Nursery. They are so impressive that I have to tell you all about them again. If you are an architect, designer or landscaper, take notice.

The Sasanqua Camellias (budded and blooming) are incredibly vigorous- from a distance they look like robust Ligustrum shrubs. In the landscape, these Camellias would work as individual specimens (especially the white-flowering 'Autumn Rocket') or in a group to create an instant hedge.

As you can see from these pictures, the entire crop is PERFECT- dark lustrous green leaves, uniform growth habit, fully budded:
And they are big. These 30-gallon Camellias will have an immediate impact in the landscape:On to the Fastia....

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica) are notoriously difficult to grow in a container. If the soil pH is off or they are even slightly overwatered, they develop infections from Phytopthora and Fusarium. Many of the crops I scout consistantly look like this:
On the other hand, the crop at City Nursery has been healthy all year. These plants have well-developed, white roots and lush foliage:And they all look like this. The wholesale price is very good (call me if you want to know) and you can feel confident that you are going to get a high-quality plant.