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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! FALL GROWING LIST Annual & Perennial Growing List Tree & Shrub Availability Houseplant Availability The list is updated at the start of each business day to reflect any new additions or sold out items. Prices and availability subject to change. This list does not reflect sales or discounted prices. For our Native selections, sort by Subdepartment. NOTE: We do not grow certain once-popular plants such as water hyacinths, butterfly bushes, and pampas grass because they are deemed invasive in NC and can cause significant problems for our wild flora and fauna as well as people (i.e. increased risk of flooding, erosion, or fires). RETAIL MAP Tree and Shrub Availability Tree and Shrub Availability

Since 1973 Painters Greenhouse has supplied Western North Carolina with high-quality, locally grown plants. Located just off the beaten path our seasonal family-owned greenhouse is known for its focus on native and pollinator plants, mature houseplants, and wide selection. Grown Locally to Thrive Locally Home: Welcome and Newsletter Signup 2026 FALL SEASON September 9 - October 11 Wednesday - Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 4pm Monday - Tuesday: Closed SIGN UP FOR THE PAINTERS NEWSLETTER Subscribe to our newsletter! CLICK HERE TO GET THE DIRT NEW THIS WEEK A Big BL * * MING Sale! View More New This Week On Sale through Sunday October 4th! A Plant Pollinators LOVE: Shrub Spotlight and Sale View More New This Week Sept 30th through Oct 4th Betsy’s Best: 8 Feature Favorite Houseplants View More New This Week ALL On Sale in this week's Massive Houseplant Sale! MORE WEEKLY NEWS GROWN LOCALLY TO THRIVE LOCALLY For 49 years our family business has supplied WNC with high quality plants. We grow more than 90% of our plants on site. Our goal is to provide plants grown with intention and sustainability for our community. LEARN MORE GROWN LOCALLY TO THRIVE LOCALLY For over 50 years, our family business has supplied WNC with high-quality plants—growing more than 90% of them right here on-site. Our goal is simple: to offer plants grown with intention, sustainability, and deep care for our community. READ MORE A FOCUS ON NATIVES Planting native is a wonderful way to support a biodiverse ecosystem in your backyard — from the bottom to the top of the food chain. We're proud to offer one of the largest selections of homegrown native plants in WNC! LEARN MORE WHAT WE GROW Described as a paradise for plant lovers, we have over 100,000 sq. ft. of growing and retail space and cultivate over 1,000 species on site. We grow our plants with care and intention and sell direct to our faithful retail customers. Our plants are inspected and watered by hand and don't suffer shipping damage or transport from another climate. We are widely known for our focus on natives and pollinator plants, our vast selection of perennials (over 900 varieties), our giant Boston Ferns, and our lush houseplant offerings. PLANT LISTS FROM OUR BLOG The Midas Touch: Why Goldenrod is Garden Gold Garden Detox: Ousting the Invasive and Welcoming the Natives The Blueberry Playbook: How to Plant, Pair, and Pick the Right Varieties MORE FROM OUR BLOG Follow Us on Social Media @PaintersGreenhouse WHAT PEOPLE SAY Dana C. Painters is a treasure! Their staff and owners are fantastic! Their plant selection is enormous and it's clear they take deep pride in what they do. Barb S. I have never been to Painter's and NOT been thrilled! Even this early in the season the selection was amazing, and as always, the staff was friendly and very helpful. Left with a car full of treasures! Britt T. Best greenhouse around WNC. Helpful employees, great selection and prices. A must visit

NEWS & EVENTS A Big BL * * MING Sale! On Sale through Sunday October 4th! A Plant Pollinators LOVE: Shrub Spotlight and Sale Sept 30th through Oct 4th Betsy’s Best: 8 Feature Favorite Houseplants ALL On Sale in this week's Massive Houseplant Sale! Rare & Unique Trees You Can’t Miss This Fall (Pretty sure Sara ordered them just so she could buy one of each…) Bulbs Have Arrived! Plant bulbs now for a spectacular spring display! 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 20 No events at the moment

Resources we recommend for WNC gardeners and plant folks! OUR RESOURCES STRIATIONS WORD OF THE WEEK Fine, parallel lines or grooves stretching along a plant’s surface. They can appear as subtle textural channels or contrasting streaks of color. You’ll find them on leaves, stems, bark, seeds, and flower parts. A great example is the Monstera pinnatipartita ‘Black Onyx’—prized for its deep forest green foliage with dark striations. 25% off this week during our houseplant sale! Garden Detox: Ousting the Invasive and Welcoming the Natives The Blueberry Playbook: How to Plant, Pair, and Pick the Right Varieties Will the Real New England Aster Please Stand Up? Our Blog SEE MORE Recommended Resources Tree & Shrubs Planting Guidelines A Painters Greenhouse handout covering the basics of how to plant shrubs and trees as well as our plant guarantee for such items. Shrubs & Trees for Privacy Screens & Barriers Tips on planting, speedy screening, and plants for sun and shade. Native Plants Suitable for Streambank Restoration To help with your streambank restoration. Plants available at Painters 2025 Plants for Erosion Control Featuring plants that can naturalize small areas by suckering roots; plants that have a tendency to spread by self-sowing; and those that have deep fibrous roots that hold banks. Ideal Plants for a Honeybee Pasture Listed by first bloom time for McDowell County, NC and how much pollen or nectar the plant produces. Firewise Landscaping in North Carolina Check out this Firewise Landscaping handout from NC State Extension covering plant choice, plant maintenance, and plant placement. Creating your Pollinator Garden NC Botanical Garden's basic steps to ensure a wonderful garden for both you and native pollinators. Houseplant Pest ID & Treatment Great visual guide to diseases on indoor plants. Soil Calculator Try this to calculate the soil needed to fill your raised beds or planters. NC Native Plants by Season and Color NC Native Plant Society's list of perennial plants that all attract pollinators, provide a food source, and are available commercially. Support Monarch Butterflies Monarchs require milkweed during all stages of their life cycle. Learn what other plants help support this endangered pollinator. Edibles in Small Spaces Painters Greenhouse guide to growing edibles in raised beds and containers. Gardening in a Drought Gardening guide with water conservation in mind, including ideas for low-maintenance plantings, easy ways to set up automatic watering, and saving water on your lawns. Keystone Plants for WNC A National Wildlife Federation list of Top Keystone Plant Genera in Eastern Temperate Forests - Ecoregion 8 Marginal Aquatics and Rain Garden Plants Marginal aquatics plants thrive in shallow water near the edges of ponds and water gardens. Rain garden plants prefer wet to moist soil and can handle occasional standing water. Nest Sites and Overwintering Habitat Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation's handout on nesting and overwintering habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Zone 7 Garden Calendar A great month-by-month calendar from Sow True Seed about what garden chores to tackle when! Groundcovers We Love Painters' Picks for groundcovers in sun, shade, or a bit of both. Shrubs and herbaceous plants. Deer Resistant Plants A Painters Greenhouse most often requested list! From plants that deer generally resist to plants that deer LOVE. Check it out if you have these furry neighbors! Native Plants Database Search for over 25,198 native plants by scientific or common name or family of plant in this database from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center with photos. NC Native Plant Society Plant Gallery NC gallery of plants, including some common roadside plants--some native, some alien (or exotic). Many of the alien plants are invasive and merit attention to avoid planting. Native Pollinator Plants by Season Extended list of forage and host plants for bees, butterflies, and moths. Bee City USA Click to join the cities and campuses across the country rallying to protect pollinators and create positive change. Edible Landscaping Don't hide the vegetable garden! Edible landscaping offers an alternative to conventional residential landscapes by incorporating edible components. The Many Benefits of Herbs Want to repel mosquitos naturally? Interested in making your own herbals tea? Want to learn about the medicinal benefits of some common herbs? Check out this Painters handout. Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage Step-by-step directions on how to use worms for composting, creating an improved fertilizer and soil amendment that can even deter pests. From the NC State Extension. Guide to Mulching Reduce weed problems and watering needs by learning to mulch properly. Backyard Streambank Repair A powerpoint from NC State Extension on plant recommendations (including live stake installation) for streamside forests, vegetated areas, and riparian buffers. Spring and Fall Freeze Dates in NC Find the average last spring freeze date or first average fall freeze for your neck of the woods! Native Host Plants for Butterfly Gardens Food sources for caterpillars during their larval stage. A great list from the NC Native Plant Society. Native Plants for Firewise Landscaping Low Flammability Native Plants for use with Firewise Landscaping. Updated 2025. NC State Extension Resources The Gardening Portal at NC State University provides access to a wealth of information, events, and resources for gardeners in North Carolina. Harmful Ornamentals & Alternative Options NC Native Plant Society list of alternatives to invasive and harmful ornamental plants that are still sold in NC. Favorite Native Ferns for NC Gardens NC Native Plant Society's compilation of favorite native ferns! Native Pollinator Plants for NC Explore North Carolina's top 25 native pollinator plants. Bird Friendly Native Plants Audubon society's Bird-Friendly Native Plants for our region Vegetable Gardening Handout Everything you need to know to plan your vegetable garden. Including where and how and when to plant, companion plants, harvest times, and more! Pest Identification and Treatment Struggling with garden pests? Check out this helpful handout from Painters Greenhouse. Backyard Composting In depth composting handout from the NC Cooperative Extension Service.

ALL On Sale in this week's Massive Houseplant Sale! New This Week September 28, 2026 Betsy’s Best: 8 Feature Favorite Houseplants ALL On Sale in this week's Massive Houseplant Sale! All of these (and more!) included in our Houseplant Sale: ALL of our Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals are now 25% OFF through Sunday Oct 4th! Your Must-Have Houseplant Shopping List For Fall 2026 口 Funky Frog Peperomia angulata Easy care tropical whimsy. Full 4" pots now on sale for $9.00. 口 Bird’s Nest Fern ‘Hurricane’ Wavy leaves with a dynamic twisting, swirling habit. Two sizes available, now $9.00 and $16.50. 口 Blue Oil Fern Captivating beauty prized for its shiny blue-tinged foliage. Get this collectable plant on sale for $21.00 this week. 口 Philodendron ‘Pink Princess Galaxy’ Exceptionally gorgeous leaves with marbled shades of pink and cream variegation. This RARE plant is 25% off this week: now $28.50 口 Philodendron sp. Colombia Massive (up to 2’ wide!) heart-shaped foliage with deep veining and a mesmerizing sheen. Exceptional specimens in 6" pots on sale for $25.50 口 Calathea ‘White Fusion’ Dazzling leaves, tinged with lilac, splashed with patches of pearly white. Now $13.50. 口 Snake Plant ‘Whitney’ Exceptionally attractive variety with banded silvery margins. 6" pots now on sale for $16.50. 口 Prickly Pear Cactus A remarkably easy care plant; and its flat, segmented pads grow in fun, quirky stacks that look like modern living art. Now $7.50 for 4" pots. Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

On Sale through Sunday October 4th! New This Week September 28, 2026 A Big BL * * MING Sale! On Sale through Sunday October 4th! All the bl**ming flowers we know you'll love! A few trees & shrubs and tons of perennials! Keep the color going long after summer fades! Add these fall-blooming plants to bring fresh, vibrant flowers to your yard each year when the rest of the garden is slowing down. The late-season pollinators will thank you! And so will YOU while making the most of these cool-weather days in the yard! Five different varieties of Crape Myrtles in 2G pots: Orig. $22, now $18 Catawba Dynamite Natchez Sioux Tonto Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Emerald Crest’ Spotlight & sale orig. $20, now $15 www.paintersgreenhouse.com What's New this Week at Painters Greenhouse Sept 30th through Oct 4th 20% off all Echinacea: 6” pots from $7.20 to $8.40 Tennessee Coneflower ‘Rocky Top’ Echinacea tenneseensis ‘Rocky Top’ Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Nativars of Echinacea purpurea ‘Mellow Yellows,’ ‘Magnus,’ and ‘PowWow White’ All coneflower Hybrids: ‘SunMagic Vintage Yellow,’ ‘SunMagic Vintage Electric Orange,’ ‘SunMagic Vintage Red,’ and ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ 20% off all Joe Pye Weed: 6” and 1Gal pots from $8.40 to $12.00 Hollow Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium fistulosum Spotted Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum Eutrochium maculatum ‘Gateway’ Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’ Eutrochium purpureum ‘Euphoria Ruby’ 20% off Autumn Sage Salvia gregii ‘Arctic Blaze Purple’ & ‘Arctic Blaze Red' 6” pots now $7.20 20% off All Hardy mums: 6” pots from $7.20 to $8.40 ‘Matchsticks’ ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink‘ ‘Campfire Glow’ ‘Cambodian Queen’ BONUS (Not-Usually-Bl**ming) SALE: 25% off all Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropical Plants Read about 8 Feature Favorites this Fall www.paintersgreenhouse.com What's New this Week at Painters Greenhouse ALL On Sale This Week (and MORE!) Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

Sept 30th through Oct 4th New This Week September 28, 2026 A Plant Pollinators LOVE: Shrub Spotlight and Sale Sept 30th through Oct 4th Bluebeard ‘Emerald Crest’ Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Emerald Crest’ (AKA: Blue Mist Shrub or Blue Spirea) At a time of the year when little else is blooming in the garden, ‘Emerald Crest’ Bluebeard lights up the tips of its branches in bright blue-purple blooms in later summer and fall. Bluebeard is a member of the mint family, and the aromatic foliage not only deters deer and rabbit browsing, but also pests and insects. This shrub is often treated as an herbaceous perennial and benefits from a heavy pruning in late winter or early spring to promote a new flush of growth. Don’t worry, no flower buds will be lost as Bluebeard blooms on new growth. Only reaching 2-3’ in height and width, ‘Emerald Crest’ keeps a tidy, mounded shape and won’t take up much space in your gardens. The common names describe the fluffy, cloud-like appearance of the blooms thanks to the fringed base petals and long curving stamens. The bright, aromatic blooms are a pollinator magnet in August-October. ‘Emerald Crest’ Bluebeard’s non-negotiables: Well-drained, loose soils. No standing water or heavy clay since it’s prone to root and crown rot in these conditions. Do not overfertilize – fertile soils are not necessary for Bluebeard, otherwise it become lanky. Put it in a spot to be enjoyed—pollinator, sensory, or cutting gardens. Can even thrive in container gardens. On Sale This Week! 1Gal pots were $20, now $15! T hrough Sunday, October 4th. Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th New This Week September 9, 2026 Pop Up Weekend Sale! on Belgian Mums! Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th Huge, stunning, and primed to burst! Our Belgian Mums are $12.00 each Plus, take advantage of our volume discount: buy 3, get the 4th free! 8" Colors for 2026: Jacqueline Yellow Jacqueline Orange Fusion Summer Sunset Samantha Red Cheryl Spicy Orange Cheryl Regal Purple Gigi Yellow Teresa Pink 10" Mum Hanging Baskets are $22.00—they aren't on sale, but they're absolutely massive and packed with blooms! 10" HB Colors for 2026: Jacqueline Peach Fusion Staviski Orange Staviski Yellow Danielle Red 10" Deco Mums in Terra Cotta Pots are $24.00—full and stunning and ready for their fall rollout! (not included in volume discount) 10" Porch Pot Colors for 2026: Gigi Yellow Mix - Gigi Dark Pink, Orange, Yellow Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

Plant bulbs now for a spectacular spring display! New This Week September 16, 2026 Bulbs Have Arrived! Plant bulbs now for a spectacular spring display! The wait is over! Our bulbs ( and corms ) have arrived! Click the list at the bottom for the full availability and prices, but remember that they go really fast! So if you have your heart set on something specific, don't sleep on it! And if you are new to planting bulbs, read more on bulb basics here: www.paintersgreenhouse.com Sow Today, Smile Tomorrow: A Beginner's Guide to Bulb Gardening Beginner bulb-planting basics. A Q&A with Painters Greenhouse manager on choosing, planting, and what's available for you this fall. Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

(Pretty sure Sara ordered them just so she could buy one of each…) New This Week September 21, 2026 Rare & Unique Trees You Can’t Miss This Fall (Pretty sure Sara ordered them just so she could buy one of each…) Your Must-Have Shopping List Trees at Painters this Fall Take a look and do your research, but don't wait too long. These hard-to-find gems are far from your ordinary neighborhood trees. 口 ' Zydeco Twist’ Blackgum – Nyssa sylvatica Twisted curled branches with vibrant orange fall foliage – a great winter specimen in a sunny landscape. Zones 5-9. Mature height/width 15-25’. 7Gal pots for $105.00 口 ‘Mystic Ruby’ Buckeye – Aesculus x bushii Showy panicle flowers in shades of pinks and reds attract bees and hummingbirds in spring – ornamental nut-like structures in fall. Zones 4-9. Mature height 25-30’. Mature width 15-20’. 7Gal pots for $150.00 口 ‘Purple Robe’ Black Locust – Robinia psuedoacacia A twist on a native – pink-purple flowers in spring, adored by bees. Zones 3-9. Mature height 30-40’. Mature width 20-30’. 7Gal pots for $95.00 口 ‘Sky Tower’ Ginkgo – Ginkgo biloba Same beautiful fan-shaped leaves and bright golden fall color as a typical ginkgo, but with a more compact, columnar habit! ‘Sky Tower’ is a male and will not produce fruit. Zones 3-8. Mature height 15-20’. Mature width 6-10’. 3Gal pots for $75.00 口 Mountain Schimlinia – x Schimlinia floribunda (Hybrid Franklin Tree / Schima Lina Ding Dong) A bigeneric hybrid between Franklinia and Schima bred by Tom Ranney of NC State to develop a hardier, easier to grow specimen. Fragrant white summer blooms, semi-evergreen. Zones 7-9. Mature height 10-20’. Mature width 5-10’. 3Gal pots for $58.00 Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

Prunus laurocerasus  New This Week March 18, 2024 Plants of the Week: West Coast Skip Laurel & Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus Broadleaf, evergreen shrub with lustrous dark green leaves and an easy-going, low-maintenance nature. These shrubs tolerate a wide range of conditions but perform best in partial to heavy shade in well-drained soils. Showy clusters of white blooms appear in springtime on 5” spikes near the times of stems before the season’s new flush of leaves arrive. Flowers are highly fragrant and smell like almonds and maraschino cherries! WHAT’S IN A NAME? Prunus is the ancient Latin name for “plum tree.” lauro- means “laurel” and - cerasus translates to “cherry.” FAMILY: Rosaceae -- Rose Family: A family full of showy flowers and many fruit bearing plants. Other family members include quince, pear, plum, cherry, serviceberry, ninebark, blackberry, apple, strawberry, etc. NATIVE RANGE: Native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. The range starts in the west from Albania and Bulgaria and heads east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran. Cherry Laurel was first introduced to the UK from Constantinople in 1576 and naturalized quickly, which explains the alternate common name “English Laurel.” It is also naturalized in the Pacific Northwest, notably Oregon, Washington, California, and British Columbia, and it is in this region that Cherry Laurels are commonly cultivated and bred for nursery stock. FUN FACTS: Crushing or bruising the leaves of Cherry Laurel emits an almond or cherry smell – this is caused by prussic acid (cyanide). Do note that all parts of this shrub are toxic, especially the berries – keep an eye on pets and children when this plant is bearing fruit. On the plus side, this makes the plant unattractive to deer browsing. Bees and wasps are attracted to cherry laurel even when they’re not in flower. Cherry laurel produces extrafloral nectaries along the petiole. Extrafloral nectaries produce nectar to support a symbiotic relationship with ants – the sugar attracts and feeds ants while the ants act as a predatory insect that provide indirect defense against herbivores. POTENTIAL ISSUES: Shot hole fungus can affect shrubs that receive overhead irrigation. Continuous water droplets on leaves can create conditions for a leaf fungus that causes holes through the leaves, resembling a shotgun blast. Cherry laurels are best watered at the base of the shrub to avoid this eye sore. GROWING CONDITIONS: SOIL : Moist, well-drained soil supplemented with organic matter. Does not perform well in standing water or slow draining sites – promotes root rot. Do not over-fertilize cherry laurel. SUNLIGHT : Part shade to heavy shade HEIGHT/WIDTH : Varied, based on specific cultivars. Dense, suckering shrub often used as a privacy hedge. Cherry laurel responds well to pruning and can be maintained to size if desired. ZONES : 6-8 OUR OFFERINGS: ‘Otto Luyken’ Cherry Laurel – A compact variety growing to only 3-4’ tall with a spread reaching 6-8’ wide. Leaves are arranged in a more upward angle, about 60-45 degrees to the stem. Often used as a low hedge or groundcover–-a great plant to hide foundations or the under-deck views around homes. It can also be used as an attractive backdrop to balance out more showy shrubs. ‘West Coast Schipkaensis’ Laurel – West Coast Skip laurel is a large and rapidly growing shrub reaching heights of 10-15’ and 5-6’ wide. The shrub’s form is upright and vase-shaped adorned with large glossy leaves. Works great as a privacy hedge when planted en masse. Skip laurel is one of the hardiest laurels tolerant to cold temps down to -6 degrees F (zones 5-8). Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

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 Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

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. Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

Your Giant Ferns are Growing In for Spring New This Week October 17, 2023 Behind the Scenes with Painter's Famous Ferns Your Giant Ferns are Growing In for Spring Those famous Painters ferns are being grown in for you to take home next spring! Peek behind the scenes as we cultivate these giant tropical beauties. Freshly planted Boston Fern plugs (they arrive as tiny 1" square babies!). Kimberley Queen Ferns are more upright, don't shed, and can tolerate a range of sun exposure. Here they are after a month of growing. Production Team members hard at work transplanting rooted ferns from pots to their final homes in hanging baskets. Painters grows thousands of tropical ferns each year, and several varieties, so you can get just the right one... or two!... or more! See you March 6th! Current Availability Click for Plant Lists

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. Current Availability Click for Plant Lists