Native and Shade-Loving Spring Wildflowers New This Week April 8, 2024 Plant of the Week: Foamflower Native and Shade-Loving Spring Wildflowers Foamflower, or Tiarella cordifolia, is a Painters favorite among spring wildflowers. And it’s blooming in the forests of WNC right now! Get out and enjoy it in the wild, and then head over here to Painters to bring some home to your own shade garden. Native to the woodlands and forests of the eastern US, foamflower usually grows under deciduous trees in hardwood forests, but you can also find it along streams in mixed wood forests. It appreciates evenly moist soil and full or partial shade. The dense mounding leaves can also make for a nice groundcover or woodland border. The pink-tinged, white blooms grow on long thin stems above a dense mass of lobed foliage. When in bloom, these light and feathery flower-spikes can together resemble a gorgeous foamy assemblage. From the beautiful full leaves at the base to the delicate almost starburst shape of the blooms rising above, foamflower adds an artful architecture to your shade-loving garden. Plus it’s an easy-to-grow native plant. It prefers full or part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Snip the spent flowers after blooming to give the plant a tidier look, if you prefer. Painters has two varieties at two price points this spring. Tiarella cordifolia , Foamflower NATIVE perennial (z4-9) part-full shade, 9-12'' tall, 1-2' wide Thrives in moist, rich, well-drained soil Dainty white-pink blooms early spring Tiarella wherryi , or Wherry’s Foamflower NATIVE perennial (z3-7) part-full shade, 1' tall and wide Wands of airy white-pink blooms late spring Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil; excellent for woodland edging

Camera Roll Tour, 4/1 - 4/7 New This Week April 5, 2026 Shady Business: Spring Blooms for Shade Camera Roll Tour, 4/1 - 4/7 This is just a glimpse of all we have available! Some other ephemerals are not fully rooted, but most pictured here are ready to be transplanted. We also have a limited number of beautiful spring blooming shrubs for part shade, including fothergilla, doghobble, azaleas and more. Click images to enlarge and hover/enlarge for I.D.

For the True Botanical Collector New This Week May 10, 2026 Specialty Carnivorous Plants For the True Botanical Collector We are excited to announce a new stock of locally grown carnivorous plants including beautiful, hard-to-find pitcher plants, sundew and butterwort from a local grower and friend of Painters. Very limited stock--these always go fast! Assorted Bog Pitcher Plants Sarracenia , various Perennial, zones 6-9 Full sun, bright direct light Carnivorous beauty, digests insects for food Elegant flowers bloom spring to summer Thrives in wet, acidic, nutrient-poor soil Sensitive to chemicals in tap water, best to use rainwater or distilled Requires 3-4 months of winter dormancy triggered by cold temperatures (below 50°F) Sarracenia do best when placed at the edge of a water garden or in a water barrel with their roots in the water but crown of the plant above. Growing them indoors is a bit tough - they prefer to basically be ignored with their roots in rain water/pond water year-round. Avoid any fertilizers or other chemicals in the water (which is best in a natural pond/wildlife-friendly water feature anyway). You can cut off dead pitchers and phyllodia (leaves that never open into pitchers but help with photosynthesis) when they are completely brown--if they are still partly green/red and flexible, they are still feeding the plant. Another benefit to growing these outside is then they can eat their own food - feeding pitchers is not typically recommended - it's best to let them attract and digest their preferred insects on their own! Basically, plop the pot in shallow water and ignore it -- other than obsessively photographing it! Spoonleaf & Threadleaf Sundew Drosera intermedia, Drosera filiformis Houseplant, bright direct light Carnivorous sticky leaves curl around trapped insects to digest them Tiny long-lasting pink blooms throughout the year Needs consistently moist soil; good choice for terrariums Can spend summers outdoors in full to part sun Billy brought us a select number of precious sundews - choose from cute little spoons or long octopus-like threadleafs! Butterwort Pinguicula primulaflora IYKYK... these are quite popular amongst collectors and terrarium fanatics, but are often very hard to find. As they age, they build into a spreading clump of bright green-gold leaves which contrast beautifully with their tiny blooms. Again, limited numbers! Houseplant (or tender perennial in zones 7-9), bright indirect light best Carnivorous beauty native to the Southern US coastal plain; shiny leaves, covered in digestive glands, roll inward to consume insects when they land Violet flowers bloom spring-summer Requires constantly moist soil and cooler winter temperatures during dormancy (some folks place their butterworts and flytraps in the fridge for a few months each winter)

Care Tips and 2024 Availability! New This Week March 18, 2024 Plant of the Week: Clematis Care Tips and 2024 Availability! We ❤ clematis for several reasons, namely, because there are SO many beautiful colors and shapes to choose from! We always struggle to decide which to grow each season and are extra excited for this year’s selection. Clematis can be a bit finicky to start in a greenhouse setting, especially in cooler months, but we altered our growing schedule and techniques and the plants look extra healthy and lush as a result! Clematis are most often grown vertically on a trellis or arbor, but many varieties also do well in pots or sprawling over a wall. CLEMATIS GROWING TIPS Clematis has a few specific needs that, once met, ensure a healthy, heavily blooming perennial vine year after year. Clematis are said to like having their “heads in the sun and feet in the shade”. Mulching around the roots will help keep the soil cool, as will the foliage of a low-growing perennial placed in front of this vine. The key is really maintaining moisture around the roots, as well as preventing hot afternoon sun from fading the blooms. Choose an area with plenty of morning and midday sun, but some protection from direct sunlight in mid to late afternoon (or if in sun all day, preferably northern or eastern facing). When planting clematis, make sure to dig a large hole (up to 2 feet wide and deep), and amend the soil to improve drainage and give it some extra nutrition (try mixing ½ compost with existing soil and a bit of bark/soil conditioner). Plant the clematis with the crown of the plant 1-2 inches below the edge of the hole, and then fill the top in with mulch (straw and bark are both fine). Watering deeply once a week will help ensure lots of blooms! Check on which pruning group your clematis is in to know when and how to cut it back for the best blooming results. (Pruning Group 1: prune mid to late spring after flowering has occurred, Pruning Group 2: prune in February and again after the first flush of flowers in early summer, or Pruning Group 3: prune in February.) Don’t panic if you don’t find the time to prune - it just may mean fewer blooms or only one flush for the season. Below are our 2024 varieties and what makes each one special – good luck picking just one! All are sold in one-gallon pots for $18.50. ASAO One of the earliest clematis to bloom. Bold, fragrant, bright pink flowers. A good choice for containers or small gardens with trellising. Deadhead after first flush of flowers to encourage rebloom. Climbing 7-9’. (Pruning Group 2) BELLE OF WOKING A beloved favorite since its introduction in 1875. It still sets the standard for double-bloomers. Silvery flowers mature through slight mauve to light purple/blue. Climbing 7-9’. (Pruning Group 2) NIOBE Deep burgundy, velvety flowers and widely considered the best red bloomer on the market. Climbing 8-10’. (Pruning Group 2) POLISH SPIRIT One of the easiest clematis to grow and perfect for beginners. Extra vigorous, profusely flowering and highly rewarding! Rich purple blooms from summer to fall. Needs a wall or support to climb up to 13’. (Pruning Group 3) DR. RUPPEL Durable, deer resistant, and heavy flowering. More tolerant of shade than most. Beautiful lavender-pink blooms and attractive seed heads. Climbs 10-12’. (Pruning Group 2) DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH Large, luscious, velvety white blooms, fully double in first flush and semi-double in the fall. A treasured favorite since the late 1800s. Larger vines at 8-12’. (Pruning Group 2) WESTERPLATTE Bold and massive, eye-catching blooms range from rich magenta to purple with darker centers. Semi-compact vine at 6-9’. (Pruning Group 2) MISS BATEMAN 6” white blooms with burgundy anthers emerge earlier, blooming in late spring, and then flower again in early fall. Vigorous, yet semi-compact at 6-8’. (Pruning Group 2) NELLY MOSER Giant blooms (up to 8”) are pale pink with candy pink striping and reddish sepals (and per this photo, can vary quite a bit based on sun exposure, bloom age, etc). A favorite since it was introduced in 1897, with profuse blooms in May-June and again in September. Larger vine at 8-10’. (Pruning Group 2) PINK CHAMPAGNE Masses of giant 6-8” flowers are deep rose with gold sepals, and have slightly cupped petals. Bloom in May-June and again in September. Semi compact at 6-8’. (Pruning Group 2) BETTY CORNING ( Clematis viticella) A compact deciduous climber at 5-6’ with small flowers produced on the current year's growth. Fragrant, lilac-purple, bell-shaped flowers bloom summer to fall. (Pruning Group 3) Note: Clematis are toxic to many pets (including horses), so keep your furbabies from munching.

Plus beautiful hard-to-find pitcher plants! New This Week April 28, 2025 Awesome native and non-invasive aquatics Plus beautiful hard-to-find pitcher plants! We are excited to announce a new stock of locally grown carnivorous plants including beautiful, hard-to-find pitcher plants from a local grower! Plus w e've heard from you and this spring we have grown a better selection of marginal aquatics than ever before! If you are new to water gardening, m arginal aquatic plants thrive in shallow water near the edges of ponds and water gardens. Their roots grow under water but their foliage and flowers emerge above. They come in all shapes and sizes and perform several vital functions. They provide habitat for fish and wildlife, provide food for waterfowl, and they can help reduce shoreline erosion. Additionally, some of the marginals we have at Painters can spread out onto the water’s surface from the edge where they are rooted, providing some coverage for fish & creatures and helping to prevent algae development. Marginals are also perfect to soften the pond edges and blend the water garden into the landscape. Check out this list of plants growing at Painters this spring! Painters List of Moisture Lovers and Marginal Aquatic Plants To continue to support the natural ecology here in WNC, Painters Greenhouse has revamped our aquatics program in other ways too*. While we no longer carry typical floating aquatics like water hyacinth or parrot's feather, we have native fairy moss (floater/surface cover) and frogbit (floater/surface cover and very similar to tiny water lilies)! *A lot of the aquatics that are typically sold for water gardening have become invasive in our area with very serious consequences. These non-native aquatics are not just outcompeting other native plants (which is problem enough), but when they grow quickly and form dense mats, they block sunlight and reduce oxygen which harms fish and other native aquatic life. These masses of invasives can also interfere with recreation, and most critically, add to flood risk and clog water supply systems. We certainly don't need to increase our likelihood of flooding or decrease access to clean, plentiful water! Even if you are the most diligent and responsible pond keeper, anything out-of-doors is too often outside of our control. For example, raccoons and bears love to snack on water hyacinth. The seeds pass through their digestive system and are then deposited in their scat (poop). This scat, with its viable seeds, can then be dispersed to new locations spreading water hyacinth in unintended waterways. Additionally, flooding is a significant contributor to the spread of invasive species - if you had invasive aquatics or terrestrial plants that got washed away in Helene, it's very likely that some of them survived.

We are a Certified Native-Friendly Supplier New This Week April 9, 2024 Natives at Painters We are a Certified Native-Friendly Supplier It's national Native Plant Month!! At Painters we are proud to promote native plants and foster our collective native ecosystems here in Western North Carolina. A native plant is a plant that grows naturally in a place rather than having been introduced by humans. Unlike many cultivated ornamental plants, native plants have evolved with the local climate and wildlife and provide important food sources and habitats for native animals. When you plant a native plant, you support an entire community of native organisms–birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, fish and other animals that are dependent on native plants for food and shelter. Native plant loss due to the spread of invasive non-native plants poses a serious disruption to ecosystems here in WNC and everywhere. Interest in preserving and supporting our native habitats has become increasingly important to many of our customers and is often the reason new customers seek us out - for our wide range of native plants. But did you know that we are one of very few greenhouses in WNC certified to be on the NC Native Plant Society’s list of native-friendly suppliers, and that we have likely the most diverse selection of natives available to retail customers? (Some of which are supplied by our friends at Carolina Natives Nursery - check out their amazing website, newsletter, and visit their Bee Native Shop if you haven't already!) So what does that mean? Nurseries on the NC Native Plant Society’s list only sell nursery propagated plants, and do not sell any plants listed as Rank 1 or Rank 2 on the NC invasive exotic plants lists . Rank 1 and 2 plants are those that present the most severe threat to native ecosystems. Plants that are not native to our region and that have become aggressive invaders of natural areas pose a serious threat to biological diversity. Also, when we garden with native plants grown in nurseries–rather than collecting wild specimens–it preserves those important wild populations. (And for straight species, using plants grown from seed over clonal material when possible preserves genetic diversity--Painters has greatly increased their native selection grown from seed just this year.) These shared values make Painters an important collaborator with organizations like the NC Native Plant Society and Bee City USA /Xerces Society as we all do our part to be stewards of our natural heritage. These lists are by no means static or complete, so as they are updated, Painters is committed to reviewing our program to stay abreast of changes in our WNC ecosystem. As a result of recent updates to these invasive lists, we are no longer growing: Lysimachia nummularia - Golden Moneywort (Creeping Jenny) Myriophyllum aquaticum - Parrot's Feather Pontedaria crassipes [formerly Eichhornia crassipes ] - Water Hyacinth Pistia stratiotes - Water lettuce Vinca minor - Ralph Shugert (while a less aggressive cultivar, we now carry no vinca) We will always do our best to help our customers find native and non-invasive substitutes wherever possible. And start your research here! We’ve got a lot of great links on our website including: Native Plants at Painters Greenhouse North Carolina Native Plant Society Resources: NC Natives by Season and Color Native Groundcovers of NC Favorite Native Ferns for NC Gardens Native Wildflowers of NC 39 Harmful Ornamental Plants Still Sold in NC and Suggested Alternatives https://plants.ncwildflower.org/plant_galleries/ A phenomenal Native Plants Database where you can search for 25,198 native plants by scientific or common name or choose a particular family of plants: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Native Plants Database North Carolina Botanical Garden Resources: Native Trees and Shrubs for Your Garden* Native Wildflowers for Your Garden* Creating Your Pollinator Garden And More: Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators & Other Beneficial Insects Plants for Birds | Audubon North Carolina

An easy-care, beautiful blooming native that makes a charming groundcover! New This Week March 31, 2025 Mouse-Eared Coreopsis 'Nana' An easy-care, beautiful blooming native that makes a charming groundcover! Mouse-Eared Coreopsis 'Nana' aka Dwarf Tickseed (This season at Painters, we have straight sps as well as nativar "Elfin Gold") Add this great plant to your list of native groundcovers--whether you're just adding to your gardens or doing some restoration planting. A slow spreader to 2' wide per plant, it's a great naturalizer for areas with rocky or poor soils . They do like some drainage, and prefer to have some supplemental watering (some other coreopsis are more drought tolerant, but these do want regular water while getting established and supplemental watering through drier/hotter periods). Spreads via underground stems, allowing for transplant of 'babies' or off shoots to other spots if desired. Simply BEAUTIFUL spring color--a less commonly seen rich gold-- and if you have the time to deadhead the spent blooms, you will continue to have sporadic blooms in summer and another smaller flush in fall (Pro tip: when mostly done with spring flush, just take sheers or a weedwhacker to the entire area as the bloom stalks rise above foliage and you can deadhead them without damaging leaves). Good pollinator support-- butterflies love them . A wonderful edge/border plant, especially impactful planted en masse. Even when not in bloom or sporadic flowering, the foliage forms a nice low mat of dense shiny leaves. Stays partially green year-round, but more leaves flush in the growing season. Check out these photos from a staff member's garden--year two, three, and year four! Coreopsis 'Nana' Year Two Coreopsis 'Nana' Year Three Coreopsis 'Nana' Year Four (The photo is a little blurry, but you can see such a lovely progression!)

June 5th-June 9th New This Week June 3, 2024 Plant Sale and Spotlight: Annual Vinca June 5th-June 9th Annual vinca, Catharanthus roseus, is a popular choice for summer flower beds here in WNC. Annual vinca makes a great, easy addition to sunny beds, borders, and containers. With its drought and heat tolerance and ability to thrive in even poor soils, you’ll have vibrant, eye-catching blooms from summer until fall. An annual, Catharanthus roseus thrives in full sun-part shade. Showy and easy-care, it will grow to 10-14'' tall and 6-8'' wide. An excellent choice for hot, sunny conditions, it makes for a good drought-tolerant groundcover. And it's deer and rabbit resistant. An all-around fabulous annual! This spring season, we have five varieties available in 4” pots. Find these incredibly full and well-developed annuals to give you loads of color in your garden! A flat is 30% off through Sunday, June 9th for a total of $24.50! Cora XDR Mix: Well-branched, heavy-blooming plant with loads of flowers in vibrant colors Cora XDR White: Beautiful mounding plants with large pure white blooms Tattoo American Pie Mix: Bold, eye-catching blooms all season long in shades of red, white, and purple Tattoo Black Cherry: Deep pink blooms inked with purple markings Tattoo Tangerine: Gorgeous, season-long, coral-pink blooms ''tattooed'' with purple markings We also have a robust assortment of trailing vinca in 10” hanging baskets! The Cora Cascade series thrives in full sun and will trail 12-18” providing blooms spring through fall. Also very heat tolerant, low maintenance, and fuss-free! On sale this week for $16.00.

Japanese Holly Fern New This Week May 24, 2026 Plant Spotlight Japanese Holly Fern JAPANESE HOLLY FERN Cyrtomium falcatum Perennial (z6-10) part-full shade 1-2' tall, 2-3' wide Evergreen fronds resemble holly branches, hence the common name Easy to grow, thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil; deer and rabbit resistant Aka fish tail fern As one of the few perennial ferns that stays lush for most of the year, the Japanese Holly Fern is exceptionally resilient. While a harsh winter might cause some minor browning or die-back, it bounces back with fresh, vibrant growth every spring. From spring through late fall, it showcases large, glossy, deep-green fronds that maintain their structure beautifully. Unlike Christmas Ferns—which tend to start strong in the spring and then wilt and flatten in the summer heat—or Ostrich and Sensitive Ferns, which easily get crispy in heat, the Japanese Holly Fern holds its shape. Thanks to its thick, leathery foliage, it is uniquely tough and highly resistant to heat, sunburn, frost, and wind damage.

The Begonia Collection Sale New This Week March 16, 2026 Pattern and Petals The Begonia Collection Sale We can’t control the weather and we’ve always known that this time of year has fluctuations, so for the plant loving folks: look indoors! Our houseplants are looking glorious this time of year and you can move ‘em out to a covered porch come summertime. Or even add them to a shady combo pot. Find all of these specimens of true living art at Painters this spring! These mature plants are big, but the price is not! Come choose your favorite. Click through to our Houseplant List for current sizes, prices, and availability: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/houseplant-succulent-availability

Weekly plant profile! Get it before it goes! New This Week June 16, 2025 Preeminent Pollinator Plant: Mealycup Sage Weekly plant profile! Get it before it goes! When we talk about Pollinators, we love to focus on host plants and all the great native plants that support the complete life cycle of pollinators, but there are so many annuals and herbs that are also beneficial to pollinators. They provide valuable pollen and nectar sources throughout the growing season. And with so many that bloom throughout the summer, they are not only great food sources but also stunning and rewarding blooms for us humans too! This week we want to spotlight a Painters pollinator favorite: Salvia farinacea or Mealycup Sage! While it sports a name only a mother could love, this steady and sturdy bloomer is your garden's new pollinator sleeper agent! Known for its long blooming and vibrant flowers, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Fabulous in the garden en masse, it's a dependable annual flower that can grow in part shade and it tolerates poor soils. And as a good-sized sage, but not overly large, it’s perfect in containers. Mealycup Sage 'Victoria Blue' Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' Annual (tender perennial z8-10) Full sun-part shade Grows 1-2' tall, 10-18'' wide Beautiful deep blue flowers summer to fall; compact, densely branched habit Mealycup Sage 'Victoria White' Salvia farinacea 'Victoria White' Annual (tender perennial z8-10) Full sun-part shade Grows 1-2' tall, 10-18'' wide Pure white flower spikes summer to fall; compact, densely branched habit And don’t forget about these other great annuals for pollinator plants: pentas, zinnias, cosmos, lantana, verbena, cuphea, mints, basils, catnip, borage, anise hyssop, many other annual sages and many more!

Show Them How Beautiful Beneficial Gardens Can Be! New This Week April 21, 2026 It's All About Perception Show Them How Beautiful Beneficial Gardens Can Be! A great way to celebrate the earth is to plant as many native plants as you can. Maybe you've already done that--your yard is full of natives of all shapes and sizes, you have brush piles for the birds, you wait to mow and to cut back your perennials, you leave the leaves... and sometimes you get in trouble for it. Or maybe you're about to embark on a pollinator garden makeover and are worried about town or HOA ordinances. Regardless, incorporating some of these tips in your yard can help identify it as a purposeful space. Let others know why it looks the way it does when it does (not just due to neglect), and consider using techniques to make it more appealing to the average homeowner (without sacrificing wildlife benefit). There are many tools for bridging the gap between sterile lawns and invasive hedges and wildlife-focused gardens--the more we encourage others to emulate rather than critique our yards, the more we can help the planet! “Cues of Care” are landscape elements that are incorporated with the goal of showing others that your yard/gardens are intentionally managed. This has become increasingly important for those living in cities, suburbs and HOAs, as many folks view wildlife habitats as ‘messy’ or as harboring/attracting undesirable animals and insects (rats, snakes, wasps, mosquitos). While a balanced habitat rarely causes any pest issues (and often reduces them), and the way your yard appears should not matter to others, the reality is that there are (dated, often misinformed) ordinances in place in many neighborhoods. And if you design a space that is beautiful as well as beneficial, and add elements that are widely considered appealing (water features, edging, garden art, pathways, etc), then you are likely to increase interest in your space and perhaps act as the catalyst for others to make similar changes to their yards. Signage A great way to spread the word on the importance of planting for wildlife is to qualify for and purchase one of National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat signs. They’re attractive and a great way “to communicate the impact and intent of your garden to neighbors.” We also recommend BeeCityUSA’s signs that you can download and print for free such as this Low Mow sign, or, when smothering grass/in the early, less attractive steps of a wildlife space, this Pollinator Habitat in Progress sign. The Xerces Society also offers a wide selection of lovely, informative options. The NWF recommends that along with wildlife habitat signage, befriending neighbors and showing them the magic of your space goes a long way - a bit of personal connection, education, and beneficial exposure can quickly change perception. Alongside that (if you’re not the chatty type, then maybe lean into these harder), there are some other cues that can make a big difference in the way your yard is viewed by others. Ornamental Natives & Nativars Especially if you’re one of the only kids on the block with a native dominated space, then it definitely helps to incorporate as many ornamental natives as possible (and to design your space with some regard for color theory or texture). Including species and nativars with pretty blooms, interesting foliage and colorful berries can help with human appeal while also supporting wildlife. You can also choose compact nativars to create a ‘tidier’ appearance -which means you have space to plant more! ( R ead our blog on natives vs. nativars to learn that all native cultivars are not the same in terms of wildlife benefit, and that it is important to use wild type natives along with nativars or other ornamentals.) Borders, Paths & Art Other ways to help folks recognize your yard as a purposefully cultivated/curated space is to incorporate borders, fences, paths, hedges, and islands of plants. This helps with the ‘tidy’ aesthetic - even if you let things go pretty wild within each planted/protected area, if you highlight or frame them to some extent it’s helpful. Even better - add some stepping stones, boulders, garden art, bird baths and bird houses. And even the smallest of water features can provide critical wildlife support, bring beneficial and beautiful wildlife to your space and add a lot of charm. These all can make your space more enjoyable, easy to navigate, and more welcoming, while helping to calm any concerns or misunderstandings. And these updates don’t have to be pricey - simply using stones or large branches to delineate areas can be lovely! Incorporating these fences, borders and paths along the periphery of your yard is helpful also - you want to keep plants from falling over into sidewalks or neighbors’ yards to avoid complaints. These gardens are less than a year old and plants are still emerging in spring - yet they are very obviously curated spaces due to borders, benches and paths. Sources: NWF, BeecityUSA & Xerces Society Photos: Angela Esmond's lovely gardens!

Alternatives to Bradford Pear New This Week March 24, 2025 Plant This, Not That! Alternatives to Bradford Pear Bradford pear is a popular cultivar of the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) native to China and Vietnam. White spring blooms, dark glossy leaves, and a tight pyramidal growth habit has made Bradford pear a common ornamental chosen for landscapes. Bradford pear was originally bred to be sterile and the flowers unable to pollinate themselves. As more cultivars of Callery Pear entered the market, more opportunities for cross-pollination arose, fruit with viable seeds were produced and birds helped spread. You can now find thick stands of thorny Callery Pear escaped from cultivation and present along roadways, fence lines, and edges of cleared land. Chances are the white blooming trees you often see this time of year are seedlings from Bradford pears. The thorny Bradford pear offspring are not desirable to deer browsing, have such a dark, thick canopy it easily outcompetes native vegetation, and grows vigorously–all of these traits allow it to become extremely competitive with native vegetation. Aggressive Bradford pear trees -- Photo credit: NC Cooperative Extension In addition to their invasive qualities, Bradford pear blooms have an unpleasant smell, a fishy or rotting meat odor attracts carrion-loving beetles and flies, which are the original pollinators of the Callery tree. With their rapid growth rate the limbs and trunk are structurally weak and often split and fail within 10-20 years of its lifespan. Serviceberry as a Gorgeous alternative! Here are some options to replace your Bradford pears that will provide more than just ornamental value, but also ecological value and a longer lifespan. These small deciduous tree choices are all native to western North Carolina and in stock at Painters Greenhouse. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) White blooms in early spring (aligns with Bradford pear bloomtime), usually reaches 25’ in height and width at maturity, edible fruit and stunning fall color. White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) White, fragrant, dainty blooms in spring, reaches 12-20’ in height and width, produces fruit (similar to olives) appealing to wildlife if a male and female tree are present. Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Magenta spring blooms present before leaves, reaches 20-30’ tall and wide, valuable nectar and pollen source for bees when food sources are scarce. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) White spring bloomer, reaches 15-25’ tall and wide, beautiful fall foliage. Carolina Silverbell (Halesia Carolina) Showy white blooms in late April/early May droop from dainty limbs, slowly reaches 20-30’ tall and wide, canopy is open-form with a loose pyramidal shaped crown.

Three Varieties this Season New This Week April 1, 2024 Plant of the Week: Geum Three Varieties this Season We love this beautiful low maintenance, reliable, and adaptable plant! Geums are both an early blooming flower and also a long blooming flower, so you can enjoy their vibrant color throughout the season! And pollinators love them! With mounding foliage, they are a relatively low growing plant and the blooms provide height without obstruction. The leaves can be semi-evergreen for fall and winter interest. Their long graceful stems and gorgeous blooms make for a great cut flower. We are carrying three varieties at Painters this season. For current prices, sizes, and availability see our Growing List: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/growinglist Perennial (z4-8) full-part sun, 16-20'' tall and wide Masses of semi-double, cheery orange blooms early summer through fall, beloved by butterflies and excellent for cut arrangements Beautiful and carefree, deer and rabbit resistant, easy to grow Aka avens Perennial (z5-9) full-part sun, 2-3' tall, 1-2' wide Masses of showy, semi-double, rich scarlet-orange blooms late spring to early summer Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil Deer and rabbit resistant; attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees Perennial (z5-9) full sun, 1' tall and wide Charming, ruffled, peach-colored blooms all season; deadhead regularly for best display Compact habit; suitable for containers Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil

Oakleaf Hydrangeas are beautiful natives with 4-season interest! New This Week October 3, 2023 Week of Oct 2nd: Plant Highlight Oakleaf Hydrangeas are beautiful natives with 4-season interest! Oakleaf hydrangeas naturally occur in moist woods and along stream banks in the southeast. The native range starts from the Carolinas down to Florida and as far west as Arkansas and Louisiana. This shrub is very adaptable to a wide range of sunlight, but in the South (zones 7-9) some degree of shade is best, whether it be dappled or afternoon reprieve. Preferred soils include moist, acidic, fertile, well-draining – with importance on “well-draining,” while the shrub exists along stream banks and moist woods, it cannot tolerate wet feet as this can cause root rot. Heavy clay soils hold water and don’t provide adequate drainage, make sure to amend the soil and plant high if this is the case for your planting site. Once the shrub is established it is drought tolerant, but will appreciate water during very dry conditions. Fall foliage of Oakleaf Hydrangea. Photo credit: gardenerspath.com Oakleaf hydrangeas are named after the similarity in leaf shape and fall color to that of the Northern Red Oak – a unique leaf shape and leathery texture compared to other hydrangea species. The fall color is stunning and will give rich tones of burgundy and red to your garden. The mature form of the shrub is multi-stemmed, upright and will usually grow wider than it does tall. Oakleaf hydrangea (straight species) can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide, but don’t worry, if you don’t have room for this one, there are plenty of cultivars that mature to a more manageable size. The outer layer of the mature stems exfoliate, revealing cinnamon colored bark and providing an interesting texture, which adds to winter appeal after the leaves have dropped. Similar to panicle hydrangeas, the white inflorescences consist of many individual flowers and are clustered in a conical shape. As the lightly fragrant blooms mature, the flower heads will slowly change to a pink-mauve color and eventually dry out through fall/winter to display a dried arrangement at the tips of the stems. Oakleaf hydrangea is a shrub I personally prefer not to prune, I like the natural look of this rounded-mounded shrub and I appreciate the space it fills, but if pruning is necessary, it’s best to prune right after it blooms in summer. Pruning at this time will allow the shrub to put on more growth for flowers the following year. If pruning is done in spring, you risk eliminating flowers for that growing season. Oakleaf hydrangea blooms are attractive to butterflies and other insects and songbirds eat the seeds. The low-growing, suckering habit of the shrub provides habitat and protection for small animals to nest, roost, and take cover. Unfortunately for gardeners living in an area of heavy deer pressure, deer also graze on this shrub, especially the tender tips, leaves, and flowers. Other than deer grazing, this shrub is relatively pest and disease free. Oakleaf hydrangeas work well in a natural landscape along a woodland edge, in groupings or mass plantings along a border, or paired with other woodland species in a garden bed with ferns, heuchera, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Below are the five types of oakleaf hydrangeas we have in stock. While the hardiness (zones 5-9), sunlight, and soil conditions remain the same across the varieties, we’ll make note of any differences in size and bloom features to help you choose which one works best in your landscape. Straight Species – This is the tried-and-true shrub that exists naturally in the southeast. It will eventually grow to heights of 10 feet tall and wide, but usually reaches 6-8’ tall and wide in a landscape. Snow Queen – A full-sized option that reaches a height of 6’ tall and up to 8’ wide and has strong stems to hold up large 8” long cones of blooms. Munchkin – A dwarf, compact variety only reaching 3-4 feet in height and width. Inflorescences reaching 6.5” long aging to pink. Pee Wee – A dwarf, compact variety with a rounded habit. This one won’t grow as wide as it does tall, for those tighter garden spots. Reaching 3-4’ tall and 2-3’ wide. Ruby Slippers – A dwarf, compact variety reaching 3-4’ tall and 3-5’ wide. Upright inflorescences reaching 9.5” long. White blooms will fade to a ruby-red throughout summer.