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Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria Alternatives New This Week April 14, 2025 Plant This Not That! Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria Alternatives Who doesn’t absolutely love a gorgeous spring bloom? At the end of a long cold winter, the sight of a full and fragrant cluster of blooms is like coming up for air. This time of year, you may be finding yourself admiring those groupings of spring blooming vines with all the pendulous purple flowers. Wisteria is so lovely! But did you know that most wisteria you see is non-native? Read more about why we should consider alternatives and then find a great list of substitutes below. Both Chinese wisteria ( Wisteria sinensi s) and Japanese wisteria ( Wisteria floribunda ) were introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s as a favored plant for climbing trellises, gazebos, and porches. It provided dense shade and was exceptionally fast growing. "We" thought this was a darling option! Unfortunately the collective "Past Us” was not doing a favor for “Future Us.” We know better now! These non-native wisteria are now considered invasive in at least 19 states. Both are aggressive vines that can reach up to 70 feet with 15 inch stems (or more)! These invasive vines can easily choke or kill native trees by shading out foliage and girding tree trunks. Understory plants and shrubs are smothered or killed beneath the heavy weight or shaded out completely. And these non-native wisterias often outcompete native plants for resources in North Carolina, most commonly in disturbed areas like forest edges. They easily spread by runners and seeds so even with our best intentions, they are incredibly hard to contain. Plus horror stories abound of smashed gutters, split siding, and even structural/foundation issues. The collective present-day "Us” might be looking for less costly and more beneficial alternatives! Fortunately, we have plentiful, gorgeous alternatives! Check out these native perennial vines at Painters this spring: Passiflora incarnata Passionflower vine NATIVE perennial vine (z5-9) full sun-part shade, climbing 6-8' Utterly extraordinary spring blooms, plus edible fruits, known as maypops Thrives in well-drained soil, drought tolerant; spreads by root suckers Important larval host plant with exceptional wildlife value, as beneficial as it is beautiful Bignonia capreolata Crossvine ‘Tangerine Beauty’ NATIVAR perennial vine (z5-9) full-part sun, up to 30' climb Abundant long-lasting tangerine blooms bring hummingbirds galore Easily attaches to most surfaces by tendrils Tolerates partial shade, but best flower production occurs in full sun Campsis radicans Trumpet vine ‘Flava’ NATIVAR perennial vine (z4-10) full sun-part shade, 30-40' climb Attractive orange-yellow summer blooms, adored by hummingbirds Needs a sturdy structure for support; an aggressive spreader, best kept contained Can cause skin irritation on contact; aka cow-itch An aggressive spreader, best kept contained; can cause skin irritation (aka cow-itch) Gelsemium sempervirens Carolina jessamine NATIVE perennial vine (z6-10) full-part sun, 10-20' climb, 4-8' wide Masses of yellow flowers in early spring, adored by hummingbirds Semi-evergreen foliage takes on a burgundy tinge in cool weather Happily grows up trellises or arbors; planter beware: highly toxic if ingested Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle NATIVE perennial vine (z4-9) full sun, 15-25' climb Coral red-yellow trumpet blooms spring to fall, semi-evergreen Blooms bring pollinators, fall berries attract birds A lovely native alternative to more aggressive honeysuckle vines, adored by hummingbirds! Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle ‘Magnifica’ NATIVAR semi-evergreen vine (z4-8) full-part sun, 7-10' climb Sweetly scented, bright orange, tubular blooms; after flowering, red fruits provide food for birds Twines beautifully up trellises or other support; a favorite of hummingbirds! Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle ‘Major Wheeler’ NATIVAR deciduous perennial vine (z4-8) full sun, climbing up to 10' Abundant red trumpet flowers spring-fall; valuable for wildlife, hummingbird magnet! Needs support to climb; not invasive and easy to grow, amenable to pruning Not invasive and easy to grow; beautiful and highly valuable for wildlife In previous seasons, Painters has carried American wisteria (specifically, Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls') and hope to again soon. The native species is not only a nectar source for butterflies and native insects, but it is also the larval host for silver-spotted skipper butterflies. A solid alternative choice! As always, for more current prices, sizes, and varieties, view our Growing List and Availability Pages on our website: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/growinglist

We couldn't do it without them! New This Week May 4, 2022 Thank You to Our Staff We couldn't do it without them! As we head into the busiest weekend of the year, we are well aware that Painters wouldn't function without our small but mighty team. Please take an extra moment while shopping this week to celebrate the hardworking people that work tirelessly to make it all possible! Painters is a unique place - we love that we can keep prices low and make plants more accessible to everyone, and in particular that we grow most of the plants right here, but that means that while we are here to help, our team also wears many other hats! Your patience and understanding is always appreciated as we strive to keep our tables well stocked, our plants watered, and answer your questions. We are SO grateful for our amazing team!

The NC Botanical Garden is celebrating Buttonbush this year! New This Week January 8, 2023 Buttonbush 2023 NC Wildflower of the Year The NC Botanical Garden is celebrating Buttonbush this year! In 2023, The North Carolina Botanical Garden is celebrating buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis , a large deciduous shrub that occurs throughout central and eastern North America in swamps, depressional wetlands, and along the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes. In mid to late summer, buttonbush explodes with small, fragrant white flowers with long protruding styles that are densely arranged in spherical clusters, resembling little pincushions or fireworks. Buttonbush is also truly a pollinator magnet! Type: NATIVE deciduous shrub USDA Growing Zones: 5-9 Sun Exposure: Full-part sun Size: 5-12' tall, 4-8' wide Fragrant white pincushion blooms bring butterflies and bees in spring; seeds provide food for birds Unusual and handsome, thrives in rich, wet soil, good for water margins, boggy areas, and erosion control Read more about this native shrub from the NC Botanical Garden here: https://ncbg.unc.edu/2023/01/04/2023-wildflower-of-the-year/

The color red is associated with both positive and negative emotions. It is linked to passion and love as well as power and energy (...and sometime anger!). In any form, it elicits a strong response. And in plants, people love it or hate it. It's the color that refuses to blend in. Because it is so eye-catching, it can be used sparingly as an effective accent, or you can "paint the town red" and go all in with lots of scarlet color. Hot colors, like red or orange, are visually advancing colors, meaning they 'jump forward' and can create an appearance of looking closer than in actuality. In a large yard, plant a mass of red at the far edge of your property to visually pull the boundary in. (Pineapple sage, anyone?) Similarly, because the human eye easily locks onto red colors so easily, you have some great ways to use this. You can make it a single focal point to draw the eye exactly where you want people to look: a floral focal point! (Perfect use for the quintessential red geranium.) You could use the red as a frame for a different specimen plant. Or you could repeat the same red plant in a sweeping drift through a garden bed to guide the viewer's eye across the landscape. (Designers often recommend these rivers of color instead of scattering single plants randomly which can make the eyes jump around nervously.) How red behaves also depends on what is sitting next to it. Pair red with its complementary green color and that foliage acts as the perfect stage to make the scarlet blooms absolutely explode. Pair red with more vibrant yellows or lime greens (like a bright sweet potato vine) to create a high-energy, summery vibe that creates a pop of joy. Or for a more sophisticated match, pair red with deep purples, burgundies, and blues (i.e. trailing blue lobelia or an alternanthera) to cool down the aggressive nature of the red and create a rich color combination. And for sure, if you are wanting to view hummingbirds and pollinators from your porch, red is your cheat code. Plant native honeysuckle, beebalm, and annual sages close to windows or patios where you can enjoy the show! Whatever your design choice, make it a red-letter day! Join us at Painters and grab your favorite ruby-hued bloom. Just be careful not to fill your cart too high—you wouldn’t want to get caught red-handed taking the very last one... or would you? (As always, our inventory sells fast. Before you get your beating red heart totally set on one particular plant, check prices, sizes, and current season availability on our Growing & Availability Lists:) RED in Name Sometimes the vibrancy is so undeniable that "red" is the only word bold enough to cover it. Check out these high-energy, head-turning focal points. RED Perennials Bring that bold, scarlet energy back year after year so you can skip the replanting and get straight to the admiring. RED-ish Blooms It turns out that in the botanical world, "red" is sometime more of a vibrant suggestion than a literal description, frequently leaning into those deep magentas and punchy pinks that still pack a scarlet punch. Straight Up Red Annuals The O.G. Red Geranium is an undisputed icon but don't overlook the other scarlet stars that can bring that same heat: Punchy Alternatives Sometimes you need a blaze without screaming fire. Here are a few show-stopper alternatives that are solid standouts, without the crimson hue.

Hanging baskets are the perfect way to make the most of your space and add dimension, texture, and color to your yard, porch, or balcony. Here are some of our favorites annual hanging baskets for both sun and shade! Hanging Baskets for Sun GERANIUM A summertime staple, geraniums are versatile and heat tolerant. They have a mounding or semi-trailing habit and are available in a variety of colors. Their preferred location is morning sun and some afternoon shade - they can also thrive in full sun as long as you don't let them fully dry out. To encourage new, full blooms all summer, feed every 10-14 days and deadhead spent blooms. DRAGONWING BEGONIAS The number of begonia varieties out there is truly astounding. One of our favorite full-sun to part shade varieties is Dragonwing Begonia. One of the most popular plants for porch pots and combos, this plant also does great in a hanging basket. With blooms that will flower from spring through frost, and large glossy leaves, it’s no wonder this is a timeless classic. Dragonwing begonias are heat tolerant, can handle a few skipped days of watering, have a nice branching habit, and require no pruning or dead heading. Available in pink or red. Note: we recommend that with all begonias, you avoid watering them in the heat of the day. Water on the leaves can cause sun scorch. We water ours before 10am at the greenhouse. GIANT WAX BEGONIA - BRONZE LEAF OR GREEN LEAF Another favorite begonia, the Giant Wax Begonia, is a hybrid cross between wax and angel wing begonias. It's vigorous, bushy, and heavy-blooming. With a tidier upright habit, it makes for a fabulous 'thriller' component to a combo pot as well as making a full basket on its own. It appreciates full to partial sun and evenly moist soil, and will bloom spring through fall. Big color, big size, big impact! SCAEVOLA (FAN FLOWER) The beautiful trailing habit and abundant fan-shaped flowers of this unique plant are sure to intrigue you and your guests all summer long. Sometimes know as the 'Fairy Fan Flower' this annual will live up to its name as it spills over the side of your hanging basket. In a hot and humid climate this annual will offer blooms from early spring until first frost. Its thick stems provide an extra layer of drought tolerance making it a perfect choice for hanging baskets, which tend to dry out quicker than pots. It does not need to be pinched back, requires little in the way of fertilizing, and can bounce back from a few skipped days of watering (though it will be healthiest if watered daily in full sun spots). PETUNIAS Petunias are a timeless garden favorite, offering big impact with bright blooms in a limitless array of colors from early spring to first frost. While petunias can tolerate part sun they give off their best show in full sun with regular fertilizer. We are continually adding new cultivars to our program each year featuring a range of colors, flower sizes and habits. No variety of petunia is maintenance-free, but some do bloom better if regularly deadheaded. You can typically tell by looking at a petunia basket if it's one that will need more regular cleanup, but most petunias grown and sold today will continue to bloom regardless of deadheading. We do recommend daily watering (sometimes twice daily when hot or windy), and many petunias benefit from being pruned back when they get leggy in the heat of summer--they'll then send out fresh new growth and blooms. CALIBRACHOA (MILLION BELLS) Also known as Million Bells, Calibrachoa is a full-sun annual with a gorgeous mounding and trailing growth habit available in single or double blooming and a multitude of solid, bicolor, and ombre shades. The blooms are similar to that of its cousin, the petunia, but miniature! And what its flowers lack in size they make up for in abundance. These bright blooms also attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your front porch or garden. Like the petunia, million bells enjoy full sun to part sun, but you’ll get the most blooms in 6+ hours of full sun. Calibrachoa's flowers will go strong through the heat of summer and it does not require deadheading to look tidy or keep blooming, but it does need regular fertilizing. Keep their soil lightly moist and avoid consistently wet soil, but don't allow to fully dry out (on super hot and/or windy days, you may have to water twice). PORTULACA (MOSS ROSES) This annual flowering succulent offers some of the brightest blooms in an array of pinks, oranges, and yellows and is a great choice for someone who prefers low maintenance plants. Its flowers open and close with the sun, so be sure to keep this plant in a full sun spot to enjoy the bright pops of color that emerge anew every morning. Because it is a succulent, this plant can tolerate high heat, drought conditions, and requires less frequent watering than other annuals on this list. This low maintenance plant only requires water when the top 1/2-1" is completely dry. LANTANA Lantana is a profusely flowering plant that will provide a long-lasting show of color. Plus this beauty is a tried-and-true butterfly favorite! Versatile and easy to grow, it requires full sun (6+ hours per day) and is quite tolerant of hot and dry conditions which makes it an excellent choice for a hanging basket. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote new blooms, and if plants become leggy by midsummer, cut back by up to one-third. LOBELIA There truly is no blue more vibrant in the flower world than lobelia! While it's often thought to be difficult, the combination of a good cultivar (we've got you covered) and the right light and watering results in an easy-care basket with stunning blooms all season. We recommend 4-6 hours of morning sun or part shade (avoid prolonged afternoon sun), and keeping the soil lightly moist. Regular feed helps too as it does all blooming baskets. These beauties attract butterflies as well as humans! Hanging Baskets for Shade SWEDISH IVY Purple Swedish Ivy and Variegated Swedish Ivy Popular as a houseplant for years, Swedish Ivy grows well as an annual hanging basket for shady or partially shady spaces. The variegated variety has bicolored foliage, and the purple has glossy green leaves with rich purple undersides. You may find other variations in color as well but these are our favorite for growth habit. They also make great spillers for container combinations. Both purple and variegated have textured and fragrant foliage (some find the scent very strong) with small tubular blooms in optimal conditions. Swedish Ivy is easy to grow, heat tolerant, and nontoxic to pets and humans. STREPTOCARPELLA (FALSE AFRICAN VIOLET) Streptocarpella, also known as a False African Violet, or Nodding Violet, has airy, dainty blooms all season and is loved by hummingbirds and Painter's staff alike! Choose from lilac-blue or white. Streptocarpella is a beautiful, easy-care choice for part shade, filtered sun, or bright indirect light. It's also a great filler with other plants in shady combination pots or baskets. Direct hot sun, cold nights, and even cold water can cause burn on the delicate foliage so wait to put out until it's consistently above 60 degrees day and night. Then after the summer season is over, move it indoors to bright indirect light for a happy houseplant! TUBEROUS BEGONIA There are so many varieties of begonias! Fragrant Falls, Waterfall, Nonstop and many other varieties fall into the group of Tuberous Begonias. Some have large, layered, rose-like blooms and mounding habits, while others have smaller cascading blooms and more open habits--and they come in a range of bloom and leaf colors. They are another popular basket for attracting hummingbirds, and for some reason seem to be a favorite nesting site for wrens! They are a bit particular about their growing conditions--dappled sun, and bright indirect light or a touch of morning sun is best, and like Torenia, avoid letting them sit wet and avoid overcrowding them. Once you find a spot they like, you'll be hard pressed to plant anything else! TRADESCANTIA (WANDERING JEWEL) There are almost as many names as there are varieties of this shade-loving plant. Tradescantia, also commonly known as Wandering Jew, Wandering Dude, and Wandering Jewel among others, is grown as a trailing annual or houseplant. It appreciates lightly moist soil and part shade (morning sun is fine). Darker-leafed varieties can tolerate more sun and can often be grown in full sun if gradually adapted. Pinching back and pruning encourages bushier growth, or you can let them go and watch them reach 3-4' in length by fall! It's the perfect patio plant as it can be overwintered indoors to be enjoyed year after year! We've become known for our massive tradescantia baskets along with our giant ferns, and we try new varieties every chance we get! FUCHSIA Gorgeous, eye-catching blooms brighten up shady spots all season long. And with their bright colors and draping blooms, they are adored by hummingbirds! These plants thrives in consistently moist soil so keep them watered. And they bloom best with regular deadheading and feeding every couple weeks or so. CHINESE LANTERN Aka trailing abutilon or Brazilian bellflower. It can trail up to 6 feet!! The bright red-yellow drooping 'lanterns' bloom all season long, to the delight of butterflies, hummingbirds, and people alike. This plant thrives in rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil and it can handle a bit more sun, but appreciates shade. Plus, it's always a bonus when you can bring it indoors to overwinter (in bright indirect light)! NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS (INCLUDING SUNPATIENS) These hybrid impatiens enjoy part shade, and make a cheery addition to a shady porch. New Guinea impatiens are perfect for someone who likes a tidier look as they do not trail but have a nice upright, mounded habit and will fill out a basket beautifully from spring through autumn. Available at Painters in a variety of colors, you can also consider pairing them with trailing plants like Dichondra Silver Falls or Sweet Potato Vine if you do want to add some spilling plants to your basket. These easy-to-grow plants are low maintenance and require moderate watering. They do appreciate a liquid feed every two weeks or so to continue blooming prolifically. TROPICAL FERNS: BOSTON, MACHO, AND KIMBERLEY QUEEN FERNS And of course, our absolute favorites for shade, and what Painters is known for: FERNS! Read all about choosing your favorite or the best fit for your space in our Blog: Which Tropical Fern is Right for Me? As always find current prices, sizes and availability on our website: Updated from the 2022 Blog: Hanging Baskets for Sun

The grass is always greener on the other side… or is it? Most of our customers who have shady yards are desperate for more sun, and while they may not be able to grow a sunny pollinator garden, there are so many stunning textures, shapes and colors that we love for shady spaces! Ideally, we’d give you a short list of our favorites, but there are so many we love that we decided we needed two weeks to present them all! This week we are focusing on lower-growing plants, most of which put on their show in early to mid spring. Join Dana on Sunday, April 7, 2024, for our first Talk and Tour, as she takes attendees on a tour of our shade plants and discusses favorites, why she loves them, ideal growing conditions and more! LOW-GROWING SHADE PERENNIALS Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides NATIVE perennial (z3-9) part-full shade, 12-18'' tall and wide Glossy, leathery, evergreen foliage; upright, clumping habit Can tolerate dryish, rocky soils Can fade/look stressed in heat of summer or depth of cold winter, but does stay evergreen. Lungwort, Pulmonaria x 'Raspberry Splash' Perennial (z4-9) part-full shade, 12-18'' tall and wide Intensely colorful early spring blooms start out bright pink and mature to rich purple Prized for its gorgeous, mottled, semi-evergreen foliage; excellent groundcover for woodland settings Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil that does not dry out in hot summers; must have protection from afternoon sun GROUNDCOVERS & EDGING Japanese Forest Grass, 'All Gold' Perennial grass (z5-9) full shade-part sun, 12-18'' tall, 20-24'' wide Bright golden-chartreuse color gleams in the shade - lovely flowing texture as well Foliage turns pink-tan in fall Likes well-draining soil; great in containers *May not have this spring 2024. Siberian Bugloss, Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart' & 'Alexander's Great' Perennial (z4-8) full-part shade 'Silver Heart' is 6-12'' tall & 1-2' wide, 'Alexander's Great' is 12-18'' tall & 24-30'' wide Large, silvery, heart-shaped leaves are stunning in gardens & containers Exquisite, petite, bright blue blooms early spring Remarkably tough cultivar, stands up well to heat and humidity; excellent groundcover for moist, well-drained woodland Aka false forget-me-not Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense NATIVE perennial (z4-6) full-part shade, 6-12'' tall, 12-18'' wide Cup-shaped, unique purple-brown flowers appear in spring Attractive groundcover for shady spots - glossy, low growing foliage is slow to spread Woodland Phlox, Phlox divericata 'Blue Moon', 'May Breeze' NATIVAR perennial (z3-8) part-full shade Blue Moon is 8-12'' tall & wide, May Breeze is 12-15" tall & wide Clusters of lovely fragrant blooms in spring, adored by pollinators (white or blue) Can naturalize in time, creating a beautiful woodland carpet of flowers in spring Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata NATIVE perennial (z3-9) full sun-part shade, 6-9'' tall and wide Pale blue iris flowers with gold crests in spring; narrow, sword-shaped leaves Grows low and spreads rapidly, good woodland groundcover Fun fact: Irises are named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow Green and Gold, Chrysogonum virginianum NATIVE perennial (z6-8) full-part shade, 3-6'' tall, 18-24'' spread Yellow blooms April-October, with a lull during hottest months A great shade groundcover Seeds provide food for birds; one of the best performers at the WNC Arboretum Allegheny Spurge, Pachysandra procumbens NATIVE perennial (z4-9) full-part shade, 6-10'' tall, 1-2' wide Semi-evergreen, foliage emerges mottled and matures to solid green Fragrant flower spikes in spring A truly lovely native groundcover, but a slow spreader Barrenwort aka Bishop's Hat, Epimedium x perralchicum 'Fröhnleiten' Perennial (z5-9) part-full shade, 4-8'' tall, 1-2' wide A compact cultivar and one of the toughest -- makes an excellent weed-suppressing evergreen groundcover for dry shade Bright yellow flowers in spring; attractive foliage takes on bronze tones in spring and fall Drought tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip' Perennial (z3-10) evergreen, full-part sun, 3'' tall, 9-12'' wide Dwarf variety with smaller, deep maroon leaves Brilliant violet-blue flower stalks in spring Excellent for small spaces; doesn't spread as aggressively as species Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans 'Mahoghany' Perennial (z4-11) evergreen, full sun-part shade, 3-6'' tall, 12-18'' wide Dense, rapidly spreading groundcover Larger leaves emerge black-burgundy and mature to deep mahogany Spikes of lavender-blue blooms in spring Yellow Archangel, Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride' Perennial (z6-10) part-full shade, 8-12 tall, 12-18 wide One of the easiest and loveliest solutions for dry shade; beautiful silver-streaked foliage Tubular butter-yellow blooms late spring Restrained mounding habit, not overly aggressive Spotted Deadnettle, Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' Perennial (z3-8) part-full shade, 6-8'' tall, 2-3' wide Variegated silvery-white, heart-shaped leaves with green margins; beautiful groundcover White blooms spring to summer; cut back after flowering to stimulate new growth Prefers moist, well-drained soil SPRING EPHEMERALS The following ephemerals (native plants with short periods of active growth, often growing only during brief periods when conditions are favorable) put on their show in woodland habitats in early to mid spring. Plant them in part shade and lightly moist, rich soil (think forest floor) for best performance. While their show is short-lived, they're each magical in their own right and often my favorites in the garden each year. We have several other spring wildflower species as well! Native Trilliums - Trillium grandiflorum, cuneatum, erectum, luteum, recurvatum & more NATIVE perennials, hardiness range from zones 3-9, size range from 3-18'' tall & 6-12'' wide Bloom colors can be white, maroon, pale pink or yellow, and species such as T. cuneatum have lovely mottled foliage and sweet-smelling blooms. Go dormant mid-summer Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum NATIVE perennial (z3-8) part-full shade, 12-18'' tall and wide White spring blooms hide beneath umbrella-like foliage One of the first to emerge in spring - unfurling leaves are simply magical Perfect for naturalizing in woodland areas; goes dormant in summer Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum NATIVE perennial (z4-9) part-full shade, 1-2' tall, 1' wide Unique dark purple and green striped spathe blooms in spring are a showstopper Goes dormant mid-summer Clump-forming habit; needs consistently moist soil Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum NATIVE perennial (z4-9) part-full shade, 1' tall and wide Cheery yellow spring flowers atop pretty, lacy foliage - a staff favorite! Self-seeds in optimal conditions Thrives in moist woodlands and stream banks; excellent choice for native rain gardens