Pruning Hydrangeas
Q: I prune my mophead hydrangeas religiously every spring, and I never get any flowers! What am I doing wrong? A: Mophead or French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla var. macrophylla) are some of...
Category: Shrubs
Fothergilla
Fothergilla species are deciduous, Eastern US natives that are truly spectacular, four-season shrubs. In early April the white, 1½ to 3-inch tall, bottle-brush blooms appear with their delightful,...
Summersweet Clethra
Summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) is a fantastic shrub with all-season garden interest and can be grown throughout South Carolina. This native species, also called sweet pepperbush, flowers...
Ligustrum
Common or European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Chinese privet (L. sinense) have escaped into the wild in South Carolina to become weedy and invasive pests. Birds eat the small, black fruit and...
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla, also called bigleaf or French hydrangea, typically has either pink or blue flowers, although a few cultivars have white flowers. Flower color is determined indirectly by the...
Indian Hawthorn
Indian hawthorns (Rhaphiolepis species and hybrids) are mostly low-growing, evergreen, flowering shrubs. With a dense mounded growth habit, they are ideal low-maintenance plants for use in small...
Viburnum
This large group of plants consists of more than 150 species and numerous named cultivars. Viburnums include deciduous and evergreen shrubs and small trees, mostly native to North America or to...
Photinia (Red Tip)
Photinias are large shrubs that were once used for tall hedging here in the south. The most common photinia is the appropriately named “red tip”, which is easily recognized each spring...
Planting Shrubs Correctly
When to Plant In South Carolina, fall is the best season to plant shrubs for optimal root growth and successful plant establishment. From the fall through the winter, the above-ground structures of...
Site Considerations When Selecting Plants
Planning Before Planting A beautiful and functional landscape owes its success to many considerations. Chiefly among them is a keen assessment and understanding of the conditions particular to the...
Florida Leucothoe
Florida leucothoe (Agarista populifolia), also known as Florida hobblebush or doghobble, is an attractive, evergreen shrub, native from southeastern North Carolina south to Florida and west to...
Common Buttonbush
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is often lauded for its utility rather than its beauty. Its commercial introduction in 1735 was primarily for beekeepers (hence, its other common name of...