One of our most beautiful native trees, the Eastern redbud’s rosy-pink blooms are a welcome sight in March signaling spring is here. Redbuds are one of our native species that prefer basic soils as demonstrated by how prolific they can be along a road limestone cut. They are, however, tolerant of a variety of soils, …Read More Eastern Redbud
American bladdernut is a densely branched, vigorous small tree/large shrub that is often found on or above floodplains. Spring leaves emerge bright green in the spring and darken to deep green for summer and pale yellow to gold-red in fall. Beautiful clusters of drooping green-white flowers appear in April. The blooms transition to pale green …Read More American Bladdernut
The serviceberry genus includes several native species in the US and Canada with three found in our region. Serviceberries are confused in the nursery trade and seemingly hybridize easily. Most of what you will find at nurseries will be cultivars from crosses between A. arborea and A laevis which are two of the species that …Read More Serviceberry
Muscadine grape is a deciduous climbing vine that forms substantial woody trunks. It will grow over a structure, can be formed into a shrublike mound, or trained to a trellis and pruned for fruit production. This common southeastern grape produces purple-black or bronze fruit that has high acid and sugar content to provide a complex …Read More Muscadine Grape
Passionflower is the Tennessee state wildflower with striking, intricate purple and white flowers that appear in midsummer and extend into early fall. Its unique blooms and edible fruit make it a unique addition to the garden. It does not tolerate wet soils but can be aggressive in ideal soil, spreading vigorously by root suckers. It …Read More Passionflower
Carolina jessamine is one of the best vines you can grow in the southeast with beautiful blooms and fine textured, glossy evergreen leaves. Its bright yellow, fragrant flowers show up sometimes in February as one of our earliest native flowers. Blooms usually peak in late March in our region. An excellent choice for screening and …Read More Carolina Jessamine
Virgin’s bower is a vigorous, deciduous vine with fragrant white flowers that appear from late summer into fall. Its vigorous growth requires attention and pruning to keep it off other plants and to maintain an attractive appearance. It will tolerate a wide range of sun exposure but performs best with morning sun and afternoon shade …Read More Virgin’s Bower
Crossvine is one of the best vines for southeast gardens with beautiful blooms and evergreen foliage. It clings/twines by tendrils that have a small disk that cement themselves to wood or masonry allowing it to climb without the damage that vines like English ivy cause to structures. Its trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red and …Read More Crossvine
The American elderberry produces lovely white flowers in the summer that turn into dark berries in the fall, which are great for making jams and syrups. It also provides good wildlife habitat and is a fast-growing shrub that can add great texture to the garden. Heads up: While cooked berries are edible, the raw berries …Read More Elderberry
Swamp rose has lovely pink flowers that brighten up wet or boggy areas and provide great color from summer to fall. It’s a resilient shrub that attracts pollinators and adds a soft touch to garden landscapes.