Best Nursery (Trees, Shrubs) New This Week September 5, 2024 3rd Best in WNC! Best Nursery (Trees, Shrubs) Your votes came through and we really appreciate all of you taking the time to cast a ballot for Painters Greenhouse: 3rd Best Nursery in Western North Carolina!!! We are proud of what we do and what we can offer to all of you! Visit Mountain Xpress or pick up their free print editions to see how all your other favorite businesses and local folks measured up! And visit us for our Fall Season: we are open five days a week for five full weeks, September 11th through October 13th . We have our widest selection yet: abundant veggies and fruits, colorful blooms, beautiful grasses, beneficial natives, and a massive shrub and tree selection!

Weekly Plant Profile New This Week June 2, 2025 String of Turtles Weekly Plant Profile Peperomia prostrata This may be our favorite houseplant. Incredibly easy care, it’s so great for beginners, but also not something you see everywhere and truly lovely! Its beautifully patterned leaves look like teeny turtle shells! String of Turtles is our favorite ‘string of’ houseplant because it is much more tolerant of a range of light and moisture than others. Grow it in everything from a sunny window to a lower shelf receiving no direct or bright light. The variegation in the tiny adorable leaves is best when in indirect/diffused light–so it rivals string of hearts for being able to handle lower light spots. The succulent leaves hold water and therefore can tolerate forgetful plant parents (underwatering is better than overwatering much like most strings). It looks great and works well in small pots (being a slower grower), but can also trail beautifully in hanging containers as it matures. Plus it's an adorable favorite for fairy gardens and terrariums. Find sizes, prices, and availability on our website A very affordable new plant friend!

Hellebores are one the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, their rose-like blossoms signifying spring is on the horizon! New This Week February 20, 2023 Plant of the Week: Hellebores Hellebores are one the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, their rose-like blossoms signifying spring is on the horizon! Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses, are very easy to grow in part shade to full sun conditions, provided they have some shelter from harsh winter winds and receive sunlight in the winter. The plant is extremely low-maintenance, only requiring you to clean off dried leaves occasionally (after the severe cold of this past December, you may need to cut back more frost burnt leaves than usual). The blooms on this evergreen perennial last months (sometimes December-May depending on the cultivar!). HELLEBORE 101: USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 Sun Exposure: Ideally partial shade in summer and direct sun in winter, but highly adaptable Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained Water: Like moisture, but don't let them sit in water. Once established they become more drought tolerant and shouldn't need any supplemental watering. Care: Easy Bloom Time: Mid-winter-late spring Flower Colors : White, pink, purple, or yellow Height: 1-2 feet Spread: 1-2 feet We will have multiple varieties of Hellebores available when we open this spring including Apricot Beauty, Winter Queen, Ashwood, Sunflare, and Dorothy's Dawn!

Silvery Bracts & Buttercup Blooms New This Week March 25, 2026 Grape Honeysuckle 'Kintzley's Ghost' Silvery Bracts & Buttercup Blooms If you like a showy climber, silvery foliage, hummingbirds, and a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant plant—then we have the plant for you! Grape Honeysuckle ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’ Lonicera reticulata ‘ Kintzley’s Ghost’ We recently learned of a new deciduous honeysuckle native to the central US: Grape Honeysuckle ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’. This native cultivar was selected by William “Ped” Kintzley who worked in the greenhouses at Iowa State University in the 1880s. The vine was known only to the Kintzley family until a nurseryman discovered it in the landscape of Ped Kintzley’s grandson in Fort Collins, CO. ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’ has beautiful silvery-blue foliage and an almost all-white bract at the base of tubular, yellow blooms. While not fragrant, the summer blooms are great for pollinators (bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds)! The blooms turn to bright red berries in the fall. No worries here, this vine is not invasive like some other honeysuckles ( Lonicera japonica ). Support this climber on a trellis and allow it grow to its full potential of 8-12’ in height. It’s adaptive to most soils. Once this low-maintenance and deer-resistant vine is established, it can even tolerate drought. For the best show of silvery foliage and yellow blooms, grow it in partial shade to full sun (4-6+ hours of sunlight) and in zones 4-8. References: https://plantselect.org/plantstories/horticultural-heirloom-kintzleys-ghost/ These are high-impact plants ready to make a statement immediately. These ready-to-climb pots are a fantastic investment for years of unique foliage and seasonal blooms. But stock is limited! Grab yours now before this ethereal beauty disappears. Lonicera reticulata 'Kintzley's Ghost®' Deciduous vine (z4-8) full sun-part shade Climbing 8-12' Cultivar of a central US native, propagated in the 1800s by an Iowa gardener named William ''Ped'' Kintzley Deer resistant, not aggressive, adaptable to most soils Unique, spectacular, easy-care

To Celebrate Catawba Falls! New This Week April 29, 2024 Plant Feature: Dichondra 'Silver Falls' To Celebrate Catawba Falls! We love this vigorous and reliable accent plant! It has small, rounded and soft, pewter-colored leaves on silver stems that trail over the edge of pots, window boxes, planters, hanging baskets, or even rock walls. Your own cascading falls! It’s heat and drought tolerant and reliably stands up to high temps and even humidity, as long as it’s not overwatered or grown in soggy soil. And it can recover quickly if watered after wilting–which makes for a very forgiving hanging basket or porch pot! 'Silver Falls' in a sweet Part-Shade combo pot Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ can easily be grown in full sun, but will grow in partial sun as well. Providing as much light as possible will encourage denser growth and preserve the silver coloring. Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls' Annual Full sun-part shade 4-6'' tall, 2-3' trailing Silvery circular leaves spill luxuriously from containers in waterfall fashion, lending a romantic, dreamy atmosphere to any space Can be kept indoors in bright light until warm weather arrives Aka silver nickel vine Find it in the Painter's Main Greenhouse Aisle 3 along with an abundance of gorgeous trailing and upright accent plants to add textures and color. Find items for sun and shade; we have a lot of fun components for your baskets and other planters. And while we are celebrating Silver Falls, let’s celebrate our own neighborhood falls… Catawba Falls Trail is reopening to the public with a reopening celebration in one month and we can’t wait! After two years of phased improvements to the trail, we are all thrilled to rediscover and reconnect with this natural treasure. Plan your trips to Painters and then take in this beautiful corner of WNC! Find out more by following the US Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District on Facebook @nfsnc or visit www.g5trailcollective.org/catawbafalls to subscribe to Catawba Falls updates.

Add a touch of the tropics to your garden with these remarkable plants, known for their ability to withstand colder temperatures New This Week June 20, 2023 Plant of the Week: Hardy Banana Tree Add a touch of the tropics to your garden with these remarkable plants, known for their ability to withstand colder temperatures If you've always dreamed of creating a tropical paradise in your garden but thought it was impossible due to your climate, think again! These remarkable plants, known for their ability to withstand colder temperatures, offer a touch of the tropics even in regions where bananas wouldn't typically thrive. The hardy banana plant is a true showstopper. Its large, broad leaves can grow up to two feet wide and six feet long, creating a lush and tropical ambiance in your garden. The vibrant green foliage, deeply veined and elegantly shaped, is a striking sight to behold. Even when not in bloom, the hardy banana's foliage alone is enough to bring a touch of the exotic to your outdoor space. COLD HARDY One of the most remarkable aspects of the Hardy Banana plant is its ability to thrive in Western North Carolina's colder climate. While most banana plants are sensitive to frost and require warm, tropical conditions, the Hardy Banana has developed a remarkable hardiness (zones 5-11). With proper protection during the winter months, such as mulching or wrapping, these plants can survive temperatures as low as -10°F (-23°C). CULTIVATION AND CARE Not only does the Hardy Banana plant bring a touch of the tropics to your garden, but it also requires minimal care. It prefers well-draining soil and benefits from regular watering, particularly during hot and dry periods. These plants also appreciate full sun exposure, though they can tolerate partial shade. Additionally, they can adapt to various soil types and are relatively resistant to pests and diseases. GROWTH & PROPOGATION The Hardy Banana is a fast-growing plant, capable of reaching heights of up to 10 to 20 feet within a single growing season. Its rapid growth makes it an excellent choice for filling empty spaces in your garden or adding a touch of verticality to your landscape. As an added benefit, these plants produce offsets, or "pups," which can be easily divided and replanted to propagate new banana plants. CREATE A TROPICAL OASIS In Western North Carolina, the Hardy Banana plant can be a key element in transforming your outdoor space into a tropical oasis. Pair it with other cold-hardy tropical plants, such as palms, elephant ears, or cannas, to create a stunning display that evokes the feeling of being on a distant island. Combine different textures and heights to add depth and visual interest to your garden. Painters Greenhouse frequently carries Hardy Banana plants during our spring season. Check our Growing List for current prices and sizes: www.paintersgreenhouse.com Growing & Availability Lists | Painters Greenhouse Stay informed about what's growing at Painters Greenhouse with our seasonal growing list. You can also browse our current Tree & Shrub or Houseplant Availability Lists to see which plants are ready for you this week!

This week we will be highlighting a couple trees for anyone looking to add some shade to their yard. New This Week June 6, 2022 Trees of the Week: Northern Red Oak and Sun Valley Red Maple This week we will be highlighting a couple trees for anyone looking to add some shade to their yard. Shade trees can help cool your home in summer, add value to your property, shelter for animals, and increase the overall health of your yard. Northern Red Oak - Quercus rubra (pictured above) zones 3-8 Northern Red Oaks have been called "one of the handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America" by naturalist Joseph S. Illick. This native, fast growing tree puts on an average of 24" of growth each year and can reach a height of 20' in just 10 years. Acorns first appear when the tree is approximately 25 years old, but aren't produced in abundance until it reaches 40-50 years. This Oak requires full sun and plenty of room to grow - it reaches 60-75' in height with a spread of 45' at maturity. N. Red Oaks tolerate air pollution, compacted, dry and acidic soil. The leaves are bristled at the ends of the lobes and turn a burgundy color in the fall. Its mature bark is heavily striped with ridges. This tree will serve your home and wildlife for generations! Sun Valley Red Maple - Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley' (Photo: Arborday.org) Sun Valley Red Maple - Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley' zones 4-8 This tree is a cultivar of the native red maple prized for its bright orangey-red fall color. Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, it was bred to be a male selection to eliminate fruit production (no helicopter seed here!). It is tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers moist, slightly acidic conditions. Sun Valley Maples grows fast, similar to the N. Red Oak, it reaches 21' in the first 10 years of growth and you can expect a mature height of 45-50' with a 35-40' spread. Late winter blooms dot the twigs with red as do the newly emerging leaves. Plant as a specimen tree for your lawn, but do note that the shallow root system can buckle sidewalks or driveways if planted too close. For sizes, prices, and current stock, see our Tree and Shrub Availability Page: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/tree-shrub-availability

One of our favorite native plants for shade! New This Week April 3, 2023 Plant of the Week: Dwarf Crested Iris One of our favorite native plants for shade! These gorgeous WNC natives are blooming right now in our woods! Typically only 4-6” in height, Dwarf Crested Iris spread to form a ground cover when in their native habitat of peaty woodland soils and part shade. The showy blooms appear March-May depending on your location, and attract and support hummingbirds and bees. A nice big patch on the Owen's driveway! In the garden they are happiest with our native, acidic soil, and appreciate some leaf mulch to increase organic matter and hold in moisture. Due to their short stature, we love using them in the borders of our shade gardens. Once established, they should require no additional care if soil and light preferences are followed. These lovely spring flowers are deer resistant and add a stunning pop of color to woodland settings. If you aren't fortunate enough to have them in your backyard (like the Owens), or if you simply want more, we have plenty of them available at Painters! Native Area: Eastern United States USDA Growing Zones: 3a–9a Height: 4–9 inches Sun Exposure: Partial shade; tolerates full sun

Why we love this vining and climbing houseplant New This Week October 5, 2022 Plant of the Week: Rhaphodapora tetrasperma Why we love this vining and climbing houseplant Often called Monstera Ginny, Monstera Minima, or Mini Monstera for its fenestrated leaves and resemblance to Monstera deliciosa, this houseplant is in an entirely different family and comes from a separate part of the world. What it does have in common with Monstera deliciosa is that it is low-maintenance, a great starter plant that can make a HUGE impact when it matures, and adapts well to life indoors as a houseplant. A Rhaphidophora testrasperma can make a big impact! This is a member of the Rhaphidophora family which also includes other common houseplants such as Rhaphidophora decursiva and Rhaphidohora Hayi. As their common name implies, this unique fenestrated plant is a great option if you are looking for a small vining plant to add to your collection. Indoors, the mini monstera normally tops out at about 6 to 8 feet tall, with leaves that are about 6 to 8 inches long. In its native environment, the mini monstera is a climbing plant, so it will thrive if provided with a support to climb indoors such as a moss pole or trellis. If you have any experience growing other aroids such as monsteras, alocasias, or philodendrons, you will have no problem keeping this mini climber happy. Scientific Name: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Common Names: Mini Monstera, Monstera "Ginny", Monstera minima Family: Araceae Mature Size: 6-8 ft. tall (indoors), 15-20 ft. tall (outdoors) Light: Bright, indirect light Soil Type: Moist but well-draining Lighting: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma requires bright, indirect light. The more light it receives the better and faster it will grow. Avoid direct light on the leaves as they can burn. A spot near an eastern-facing window, or slightly set back from a western or southern-facing window is ideal. If new leaves are smaller or have fewer fenestrations (cut-outs), consider moving your plant to a location with more light. Water: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, like most aroids, likes the top 1-2" of soil to dry out between waterings. Using the finger test- insert your finger into the top 1-2" of soil. Remove your finger and wave it around, do you feel the wind on it or does it feel cooler? Wait to water if it feels cooler/slightly damp. It can be sensitive to frequent over or underwatering. Humidity & temperature: This plant can tolerate standard household humidity (typically around 30-40%) and temperatures (above 68 degrees), though it will absolutely thrive with added humidity! Consider placing it near a humidifier, using a pebble tray, or grouping it with other plants (especially in winter). Soil: A standard aroid mix is great. For home use, we typically recommend a mix of two-part potting soil to one part perlite and one part orchid bark. The additions of perlite and orchid bark keep the soil chunky, well-draining, and aerated. Fertilizer: Fertilize regularly throughout the growing season. Cut back fertilizing in the winter, but if your plant is still putting off new growth don't stop completely. For plants that go dormant in winter, we still recommend using a plant food like super thrive occasionally. Training: This plant is born to climb! It does best if you provide it with a trellis, moss pole, or wall to climb up! Leaving them to hang can cause them to become leggy and their new leaves to be smaller. Common Problems: This plant is not particularly prone to pests but can still be affected by the likes of spider mites, mealy bugs, and more. Preventative treatments like wiping down the leaves with neem oil occasionally and proper watering can go a long way in preventing pests.

A perfect blend of beauty and resilience! And a rare find! New This Week March 9, 2026 Shrub of the Week: Desert Orchid 'El Nino' A perfect blend of beauty and resilience! And a rare find! Do you want to: ...attract more hummingbirds and butterflies? ...bring colorful, fragrant blooms into your garden spring through summer (rebloomer!)? ...plant a shrub that is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant? ...add a new specimen to your landscape that will be a conversation starter and the envy of all your neighbors? If you answered “Yes!” then let me introduce you to the x Chitalpa - Desert Orchid ‘El Niño!’ Chitalpas are a rare hybrid between two different native North American trees: Southern catalpa ( Catalpa bignonioides ) and desert willow ( Chilopsis linearis ). The name “chitalpa” is nothogeneric, or a combination of two parents’ names. The first hybridization of the two took place in the 1960s in Uzbekistan, and the first introduction of Chitalpa in the United States wasn’t until the 1980s. Since then, the Chitalpa has only had a few varieties introduced and remained a rare find. After two decades of research, North Carolina State University’s Mountain Crop Improvement Lab * released ‘El Niño’ in 2023. ‘El Niño’ was selected for superior performance in drought and heat tolerance, repeat blooming of pink-violet flowers on new growth, and a compact growing habit. This showstopper of a shrub grows fast, re-blooms throughout the summer season (it may take a couple years to establish before blooming), and handles both dry and moist soils. With our fickle weather of warm, wet, dry, hot, etc. it’s comforting to know there’s a plant that can handle it all. Photo credit: Proven Winners: https://www.provenwinnerscolorchoice.com/product/el-nino-desert-orchid/ Desert Orchid ‘El Niño’ x Chitalpa Family: Catalpa and Chilopsis are both in the Bignoniaceae family. This family is named after Jean-Paul Bignon a French royal librarian from the 17 th century. Plants in this family are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and often have large, showy, bell-shaped flowers. This family is also known as the trumpetvine family. Native Range: Both parent lineages of the Chitalpa are native to North America. Southern catalpa is found in our Southeastern U.S. region growing along wet areas. Desert willow is native to the arid regions of Southwestern U.S. x Chitalpa ‘El Niño’ was developed in Mills River at the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab. Fun Fact: The orchid-like flowers have a fragrance similar to a mix of vanilla and ripe melon. The showy blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Growing Conditions: Soil: Can tolerate a range of soils, both dry and moist conditions Sunlight: Full to part sun Height/Width: 10-15’ tall and 8-10 wide Zones: 6-9 *If you’re not familiar with Mountain Crop Improvement Lab, they’re located nearby in Mills River – you can check out their work here: https://mcilab.cals.ncsu.edu/ We offer many plants that were bred by Mountain Crop Improvement Lab and we will highlight some of the ones we offer here at the greenhouse and why they’re an improvement in a later post.

New This Week April 12, 2026 Remembering Susie Painter We are so very sorry to share the news of the loss of Susie Painter. If not for Susie and Stephen, none of us would have this beautiful home away from home. Susie worked hard alongside Stephen, with help from their son Zach and many other family members over the years to build Painters from the ground up, and when our family purchased it in 2010, it already had a large following of faithful customers. We hope it brought her some comfort in her final weeks to know her vision continues to grow and bloom and bring joy to so many--she had a lot to be proud of! We hope that these photos of Susie over the years at Painters will bring a smile to the faces of all who knew her.

Plant Spotlight March 26th-30th New This Week March 24, 2025 Hydrangea paniculata ‘Phantom’ Plant Spotlight March 26th-30th One of the most winter hardy of hydrangeas, the 'Phantom' panicle hydrangea is a great choice for many of our mountain micro-climates. It is a vigorous, fast growing, and low maintenance shrub. But the true reason folks adore this plant is the monstrous blooms! This shrub has some of the largest flower heads of its species--up to 15 inches! These huge cone-shaped blooms start out white in mid-summer and mature to pink in the fall. Even better, because it has been cultivated for its sturdy and straight stems, 'Phantoms' are not prone to flopping under the weight of those mighty blooms! Type: Deciduous shrub USDA Growing Zones: 3-8 Sun Exposure: Full sun-part shade Size: 6-10' tall and wide Soil Needs: Thrives in rich, well-drained soil Care: Blooms on new wood so prune as needed in late winter-early spring Define your garden with this lovely statement plant or plant en masse for a stunning effect! Gigantic blooms in a Painters staff member garden Read more about hydrangeas at Painters: selecting, care, pruning, fertilizing and more!

Late Figwort New This Week June 8, 2026 Pollinator Plant Spotlight Late Figwort Late Figwort (aka Simpson’s Honeyplant) Scrophularia marilandica The saying “good things come in small packages” doesn’t relate to the size of late figwort, but it does relate to the blooms! While the plant can stretch up to 10 feet tall (though average height is 4-5 feet) the clusters of blooms are so small you’d barely notice them. If you grab a hand lens on a sunny day you can truly appreciate the small jewel-like flowers ranging in color from yellow, green, purple, brown, maroon and even bright red. It’s what’s on the inside of the bloom that has Xerces Society list figwort as one of the top 100 best plants to feed the bees . According to Xerces Society, figworts are some of the most prolific nectar producers in the plant kingdom and is a high valued late-summer food source for pollinators. While blooming June through September you will see a variety of pollinators visiting—native bees, wasps (especially beneficial predatory wasps), butterflies, and hummingbirds. The sugar content of figwort’s nectar measures between 18-35%! The nectar is secreted into two drops at the base of the flower’s ovary. When a pollinator laps up the nectar, the nectar drops reappear only moments later. This all-you-can-eat buffet for pollinators had beekeepers thrilled in the late 1880s when an Illinois beekeeper James A. Simpson wrote about using S. marilandica as bee pasturage and it was noted a single acre of late figwort could produce 400 to 800 pounds of honey that was prized for being light, clear, and aromatic. Not only does late figwort have the abundance of nectar, but it’s also a plant that can tolerate a wide range of soil and sunlight conditions. Late figwort can handle up to 70% shade to full sun, and enjoys moist soil, but can tolerate dry, well-drained soil. This perennial returns year after year from thickened underground roots and does not become weedy in the garden. The acrid foliage makes late figwort deer and rabbit resistant. This is an all-in-one pollinator plant! Family: Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family includes a range of small herbs to shrubs. Species in this family feature tube-shaped flowers highly adapted to pollinators. Notable members of the family include butterfly bushes, foxgloves, and mulleins. Name: The family’s Latin name originates from the one-time use of this family for scrofula, a bacterial infection in the lymph nodes of the neck. In the 16 th and 17 th centuries, the Doctrine of Signatures was popular – the philosophical concept which claims a plant or animal’s appearance can be used as clues to their medicinal uses. Now comes the stretch…some species of Scrophularia had swollen roots that looked like figs (fruit), figs resembled hemorrhoids, so the plant was believed to cure hemorrhoids, hence the common name. Today scrofulous means morally corrupt. I’m starting to like the common name “Simpson’s Honeyplant” much more! Native Range: Native to Quebec and west to Minnesota, south to Florida and west to Texas. It is found in our mountains of North Carolina. Fun Fact: Flowers are protogynous meaning its female reproductive parts mature before its male parts. This mechanism ensures cross-fertilization by allowing the flower to receive pollen from another plant before releasing its own pollen. Growing Conditions: Soil: Does best in fertile, moist, sandy loam but is adaptable if the soil is well-drained. Does well along the margins of streams, ponds, and woodlands. Sunlight: Prefers partial shade, but will also tolerate full sun. Height/Width: It will grow 4-10 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. Zones: 4-8 References: https://xerces.org/blog/plants-for-pollinators-figwort https://www.honeybeesuite.com/fun-with-figworts-the-sticky-scrophularia/ www.honeybeesuite.com Figworts and their sweet surprise: a treasure trove of nectar - Honey Bee Suite According to the Xerces Society, figworts are some of the most prolific nectar producers in the plant kingdom, attracting many pollinators.

Why a Butterfly Bush isn't as sweet as it seems... New This Week May 19, 2025 Plant This, Not That! Why a Butterfly Bush isn't as sweet as it seems... Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii (or Buddleia davidii ) Who doesn't want a plant called a Butterfly Bush!? Such savvy marketing leads us astray! Maybe you love Butterfly Bushes for their shape and color and their interesting blooms. Or maybe you love them for their drought tolerance and easy care. Or maybe you really love them because you really love butterflies! (I’m betting this is our main camp!) So why would we ever ask you to NOT plant that next butterfly bush? This one is a hard one! Butterfly bushes are such pretty plants. We love pretty plants! ( Have you SEEN our Instagram feed!?! ) Wandering through our many growing spaces at Painters, one could even presume that pretty is our only game. 😀 But in the many years we’ve been growing and selling plants, we learn more and more the importance of beneficial alongside beauty. We want to appreciate and support diverse wildlife alongside an aesthetically beautiful natural space. And frankly, it’s an easy thing to do once you realize how many plants are both beautiful AND beneficial! Butterfly bushes are undeniably attractive to butterflies with their abundant nectar. They draw adult butterflies with their flower spikes, but butterfly species need resources in all stages of life. Native to China, butterfly bush is not a host plant for any native North American butterfly caterpillars, meaning they cannot use it as a food source. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Also without caterpillars, birds will not survive. The last thing any of us intended when planting that pretty butterfly bush is a decline of local butterfly and bird populations, but that could be an indirect result. While the nectar may feed adults, their young need food too. Buddleia can inadvertently disrupt local ecosystems in other ways too. Each of their many flower spikes can produce up to 40,000 tiny dust-like seeds. Add wind and water and this non-native, easy-to-grow plant becomes quite prolific. Sometimes spreading into edge habitats and outcompeting native plants that our local butterflies and other pollinators rely on for food and shelter throughout their entire life cycle–not just for nectar. By choosing native alternatives, we can offer a more comprehensive and sustainable support system for our local butterfly populations and contribute to the overall health and biodiversity of our WNC environment. There are many stunning native flowering plants that are just as enticing to butterflies and play a critical role in our local food web. Let’s give you some great alternatives! You can create a haven for local butterflies and other pollinators by selecting a native flowering shrub that thrives in your specific site. For sunny locations, Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia ) and Virginia Sweetspire ( Itea virginica ) are beautiful and beneficial options. If you have wetter soil, Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis ) is a great choice with incredibly fun blooms that support a multitude of moths and bees as well as butterflies, as is New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) with its large, airy blooms that are highly beneficial to a range of pollinators. If you are seeking drought tolerant plants that are easy care and you're especially tied to the blue color of many butterfly bushes, Bluebeard ( Caryopteris ) and Lilac Chaste Tree ( Vitex ) are pollinator magnets that perform in dry heat. While not native, and therefore not providing food for caterpillars, they are not invasive and therefore shouldn't push out native food sources. If you choose either of these, we recommend planting a variety of native food sources nearby to ensure caterpillars have needed support (such as the above native shrubs, native hibiscus, Pussy Willow, Joe-Pye, asters and goldenrod). You can also attract and feed a multitude of butterflies by planting drifts of tall perennials such as Anise Hyssop ( Agastache ), Blazing Star ( Liatris ), various Joe-Pye Weed species ( Eutrochium ), and different milkweed species ( Asclepias, etc ). We specifically love the Anise Hyssop because of its gorgeous spike blooms similar to the Butterfly Bush and how full and large it grows during the season. Anise Hyssop

Locally Made and Now For Sale at Painters New This Week May 25, 2026 BioCHAR for Your Plants AND the Planet! Locally Made and Now For Sale at Painters Have you ever heard of Biochar? Maybe. Have you ever found it for sale? Unlikely. BioCHAR is known to some for its gardening benefits, but it can be very hard to come by - especially 100% true bioCHAR. We were recently approached by Suncrest Mulch Yard with their new bioCHAR product, and we are really excited to be the first retailer selling it! So, what is Biochar? Biochar is based off Terra Preta, a dark, fertile soil that was created by indigenous peoples thousands of years ago in South America, and which still remains highly fertile today. Modern biochar is made from a wide variety of organic materials such as agricultural waste, plant residues, wood, bone, etc., and is created via mechanical pyrolysis. Using the heat released by gas combustion, it is cooked at temps between 840-1200F and the finished product can be created in just minutes to hours. Rather than contribute to climate warming, biochar production produces beneficial gasses and acts as a carbon sink, meaning it absorbs excess carbon dioxide and thereby helps to slow climate change. AND, this carbon sequestration can last for over 1,000 years! So, how is it different from charcoal? Charcoal is typically made from wood products, cane sugar, peat, coconut or petroleum. It can be made in a chimney or woodstove by burning wood with minimal to no oxygen at a temp of around 750deg for long periods, or by a more modern pyrolysis method. It is primarily used for cooking, heating, and water filtration, but is not beneficial for garden use and depending on ingredients may even be harmful. Additionally, the creation of charcoal produces gasses that increase atmospheric carbon dioxide - unfortunately adding to the greenhouse effect. So, what's the big deal? We are thrilled to offer Suncrest’s biochar at Painters for your potted plants and gardens! Suncrest biochar is created from sustainably sourced wood, including reclaimed timber downed during Hurricane Helene . Using this wood decreases the risk of forest fires in WNC while creating an amazing environmental product. This may be hard to wrap your head around, but biochar is very porous and has a massive surface area… a few ounces of biochar can have the internal surface area of a football field! How cool would it be to say this product is improving your houseplants and gardens while also benefitting the planet for centuries to come? Garden Benefits: Adding biochar to your soil increases porosity , allowing for increased aeration and easier root penetration, and the large surface area means plenty of room for housing beneficial microbes. Biochar acts like a magnet for macro and micronutrients , making them easily accessible for plants that need them. It also acts like a sponge, significantly increasing the water holding capacity of your soil . It can help with erosion by promoting stable soil aggregates, level your soil pH (biochar is naturally alkaline), and perhaps most importantly, trap and lock away harmful toxins and heavy metals, thereby keeping your soils and plants cleaner. And best of all… biochar requires a one-time application–the benefits will last way longer than you’ll be around! How to use Biochar at home: Biochar works best when ‘activated’ - meaning mixing it into soil or a compost mix and watering it thoroughly. For potted plants, simply mix biochar into the soil at a ratio of 1 part biochar to 9 parts soil and water it in well. For gardens, simply sprinkle the biochar over the soil evenly, mixing it into the top 2-6” of soil with a rake, then water in well to help the soil settle and activate the biochar. 1cf bag of Suncrest Biochar covers about 8-10 sq ft. Suncrest Biochar - 1 bagged cf (comes with instructions)