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New This Week January 10, 2024 2023 Painters' Scrapbook Highlights from Our 50th Anniversary Year

New This Week May 18, 2022 Shrubs of the Week: Variegated Winter Daphne and Sweet Box It's shady business this week as we highlight two shade-loving shrubs that are ON SALE this week! It's shady business this week as we highlight two shade-loving shrubs that are ON SALE this week! Even better, they're both broadleaf evergreens and have fragrant blooms. We'd like to honor those gardens that most gardeners feel are "limited" due to less sun exposure. (Next week we'll highlight a couple of full sun loving shrubs, because those of use with full sun can feel limited too!) Variegated Winter Daphne - White or Pink Blooming ( Daphne odora aureo-marginata) (Pictured above) Winter Daphne is highly regarded for its strong scent - possibly the most delightful scent of any flower! This shrub blooms in late winter (late February and March) along the terminal stems. This particular variety has variegated leaves - yellow margins along the green leaves. This shrub would do best planted under a small deciduous tree where it is provided with shade in the hot summer months, but allowed to stand out in a winter landscape. Plant in an area where everyone can enjoy the fragrance. Mature height and width 4-5' in a loose mounding appearance / zones 7-9 / deer resistant. Daphne makes a great addition to a winter garden, but do note this shrub can be a bit challenging to grow if you're not aware of a few of its care needs: 1) Daphne does not tolerate soils with poor drainage...we're looking at you, clay soils! Root rot diseases associated with poorly drained soils are likely the major cause of failure in the landscape. Ideally, plant in well-drained woodland soil with plenty of humus or plant in a slightly raised bed with amended soil to ensure adequate drainage. 2) While Winter Daphne can tolerate full sun, it prefers a protected area providing moderate shade. 3) Avoid pruning - Daphne does not heal well from cuts into mature wood, so it's best to avoid pruning. However, "pinching" or taking cuttings from the slender tips of long shoots on current year's growth can make the plant fuller and promote heavier blooming. Sweet Box (photo: Missouri Botanic Gardens) Sweet Box ( Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis ) Sweet box is a slow growing evergreen shrub that forms a colony by spreading through underground stems. This is a dwarf variety and is often used as a high ground cover as it only reaches 1-2' tall and 3-4' wide. Sweet Box is a very tough and adaptable plant! It can tolerate deep, deep shade and even dry soils. It prefers slightly acidic, rich, moist soils that are well-drained. If the soil is very moist, Sweet Box can handle a little more sun. Inconspicuous blooms in early spring (mid-March) are white and fragrant. Great evergreen foliage with a contrasting light green on the underside of the leaves. Works well in a woodland garden or near shady entryways. Hardy in zones 6-9.

New This Week October 20, 2022 More than Milkweed As growers who are conservation-minded, we are always looking at what we grow (and plant at home), in order to provide diverse food and habitat sources for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. As growers who are conservation-minded, we are always looking at what we grow (and plant at home), in order to provide diverse food and habitat sources for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. We recently came across an excellent article written by Benjamin Vogt (a must read!), which we strongly agree with. In short, his message is that while monarch conservation and milkweed planting is great (and it typically does have a trickle down effect of encouraging planting for other pollinators), it can be harmful if folks are encouraged to plant milkweed and nothing else. It's very important to remember that monarchs are far from the only butterflies or pollinators at risk, and even if you only wanted to support monarchs, the adults feed on nectar from a range of flower species. You don’t want to feed adults but then have no food for the larval stage when their eggs hatch, and likewise you want to be sure you don’t bring home milkweed and caterpillars and then not have nectar for the adults once they metamorphose. In order to fully and effectively support monarchs and other at-risk species, we need to plant both host plant and nectar plant sources, and overall ensure we are creating a balanced, healthy habitat. Added bonus: planting a wider range of native and nectar-producing plants leads to a much more colorful and diverse garden landscape and more varied and beautiful garden visitors!

New This Week March 29, 2022 Tree and Shrub of the Week - March 28th Featuring Profusion Crabapple and Loropetalum Dark Fire TREE OF THE WEEK: Profusion Crabapple The leaves on this sun-loving specimen tree emerge maroon, turning green with red veins, and morph into a brilliant orange in autumn. The long-lasting brilliant pink flowers help attract bees, and the tree's fruit provides winter food for birds. Did you know that this crabapple can also help pollinate apple trees? Bred for disease resistance to apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fireblight, and mildew, this tree will grow to a height of 20'. Loropetalum, Dark Fire (Photo: NC State Extension) SHRUB OF THE WEEK: Loropetalum Dark Fire Also known as Fringe Flower, this semi-evergreen shrub blooms bright pink in early spring and can even re-bloom! This variety has deep plum foliage, an upright mounding habit, and will reach a height and width of 4-5'. (Note that it is hardy in zones 7-10 and may not be suitable for our customers that live in colder areas.)

New This Week June 27, 2023 We've Got a Beautiful Selection of Perennials - Save on 6" Pots We've got a beautiful selection of Echinacea, Goldenrod, Helenium, Hardy Mums, Black-Eyed Susans, Shasta Daisies, Garden Phlox, and more! SHOP ALL THE SAVINGS DURING THE FINAL WEEK OF OUR SUMMER SUPER SALE! Multiple Varieties of Echinacea Helenium Shasta Daisies Goldenrod Lobelia Hardy Mums Garden Phlox Multiple Varieties of Black-Eyed Susan + Creeping St. John's Wort Rose Campion Salvia Caradonna and more! Looking for the perfect shade-loving plant for your garden? Hostas are versatile and easy to care for plants.

New This Week September 6, 2022 Treat Yourself to a Houseplant Choose from a wide selection of healthy and affordable plants Houseplants are a great way to liven up your space as the days get cooler and winter approaches. Painters Greenhouse has an exciting selection of houseplants and succulents available during our Fall Season in a variety of prices, sizes, and care needs to suit every plant lover. EXCITING NEW PLANTS Polka Dot Angelwing Begonia Crocodile Fern Calathea 'Tigrina' HEALTHY PLANTS GROWN LOCALLY We grow the majority of our houseplants onsite in our Lower Greenhouse and are proud to be able to offer your healthy, affordable, and locally grown houseplants with a smaller carbon footprint. Those not grown by us come from the talented team at Southern Gem Nursery, a wholesale grower less than an hour away. This fall you'll find varieties of Ficus, Monstera, Pothos, Philodendron, Alocasia, and more! Alocasia 'Bambino' Calathea 'Rattlesnake' Looking Glass Begonia Monstera adansonii and Watermelon Begonias A HUGE selection of Begonias Ruby Rubber Trees Mature Ficus Audrey The best looking Anthurium 'Fingers' we've ever seen And so much more! Don't forget to check out our selection of locally made terra cotta pottery from Vine & Frond as well as locally made macrame plant hangers from Line by Line Macrame . Pottery from Vine & Frond Macrame Plant Hangers from Line by Line Macrame

New This Week August 25, 2022 Fall Annuals Pansies, Mums, and Violas Oh My! As we head into fall and your favorite summer blooms begin to fade, it is time to start thinking about cool weather plants for your garden! We will offer a vibrant selection of Belgian and Yoder mums in assorted colors as well as a wide assortment of pansies and violas at our fall sale. MUMS Your quintessential fall container plant. You'd be hard pressed to walk down a street in October and not find mums on someones porch, and for good reason - they come in all of our favorite fall colors. Decorating your porch for fall can be as easy a plopping a pot of these into your favorite container (or just leaving them in their growing container as they get so full they often hide the entire pot)! In this still sweltering summer heat, we recommend waiting a few weeks before putting your mums out - or if you buy them in earlier September, consider putting them in part shade until the sun/heat isn't quite so strong. PANSIES A few of these stunners can go a long way - their large flowers pack a big punch and they come in so many colors, you'll have a hard time choosing! These flowers make a big impact and can quickly liven up a front porch or add interest to a walkway. We choose cultivars that are known for long bloom times and resilience in a range of weather conditions for our WNC climate. VIOLAS Even after your marigolds have died, your impatiens are gone, and the frost has toasted your coleus and zinnias, these flowers will be going strong. We find that the traditional cultivars like Johnny Jump Up's are the hardiest. Violas will continue to bloom under a foot of snow and through May. Violas have small flowers with more buds per plant, filling in a pot or front of a garden bed nicely. PANSIES VS. VIOLAS: What's the Difference? Did you know that pansies are derived from violas? That means all pansies are violas but not all violas are pansies. But what sets them apart? Pansies have bigger flowers that always make a statement, but have fewer blooms at one time. They are taller and larger overall than violas. You’ll often find pansies in a wider variety of colors. Violas are smaller with more blooms per plant. They spread more easily and will trail slightly if placed on the edge of a planter. The main difference we notice here in WNC is that violas are typically hardier than pansies and will provide you with flowers from October through April - even after a snowfall! If you notice your pansies or especially violas looking a bit leggy toward winter, give them a haircut - they will put out new growth and have an improved habit and more blooms. VIEW FALL PLANT AVAILABILITY LIST VIEW FALL TREE & SHRUB AVAILABILITY LIST

New This Week March 20, 2023 Our Favorite Plants for Cool-Season Combos It's time to add some color to your entryway! Need to add some color to existing porch pots? Or maybe replant an entire pot to hold you over till early summer? The following plants are our favorite items for cool-season interest that can handle frosts and chilly nights: GRASSES AND EUPHORBIA FOR THRILL For height, are favorite options are grasses (we have a wide variety, but especially like Red Rooster Sedge, and the grass-like Variegated Golden Sweetflag), or Euphorbia (we currently have Ascot Rainbow, and will soon restock with a dark-leafed variety also). Red Rooster Sedge Variegated Golden Sweetflag Miner's Merlot Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow Euphorbia FOLIAGE FOR FILL For colorful foliage fillers, we love semi-evergreen ferns such as Autumn Fern, and semi-evergreen heucheras, such as Forever Red. Autumn Ferns Assorted heuchera Assorted heuchera PANSIES AND VIOLAS FOR COLOR For blooms, we tend to go with the safe and lovely option of violas or pansies - we have so many gorgeous varieties this year! SEDUM AND MORE FOR SPILL For trailing options around edges of combo, we like Golden Moneywort, Wire Vine, colorful trailing sedum such as Angelina or Red Carpet, or Vinca Ralph Shugert (which also blooms in spring).

New This Week March 10, 2022 What You'll Find at Painters This Week Beautiful mid-March blooms! Theres lots blooming at Painters Greenhouse this week including our Columbine Winky Mix (Pictured above). This easy-to grow perennial flowers from spring through early summer, and is sure to attract hummingbirds! Coumbine are great in a border and also make beautiful cut flowers. Anemone Anemone Offering deer resistant foliage, this cool weather tolerant annual is a great way to add color to your containers and flower beds in late winter/early spring. Oregano You'll find a selection of herbs inside the greenhouse starting this week! Kale Mustard Greens It's time to get your cool-weather veggies in the ground! We also love incorporating leafy greens like kale, swiss chard, and mustard into porch pots and window boxes, where they can do double duty. Their stunning colors, height, and textures accentuate any combo and give you easy access for harvesting! Our Phlox has never looked so good! More Columbine Winky Mix Georgia Blue Speedwell Don't you love the blue flowers in our Georgia Blue Speedwell? Cretan Brake Fern Whimsical Cretan Brake Ferns are among the easiest to grow houseplant ferns and are unlike anything we've ever seen!

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.

New This Week June 20, 2023 Celebrate National Pollinator Week with Savings and Special Events Did you know that one out of every three bites of food we eat is thanks to a pollinator? Learn more about the vital role pollinators play during National Pollinator Week! LEARN ABOUT LEPIDOPTERA WITH PAINTERS OWNER BRAD OWEN, PHD In honor of National Pollinator week, Painters owner Brad Owen, Ph.D., will be sharing his passion for moths and butterflies! Come check out a specimen collection of representative butterflies and moths, and learn about the importance of Lepidoptera as pollinators and part of our food web. And don't miss Brad's blog post this week Moths: The Pollinators You Didn't Know About . Date: Saturday, June 24th Time: 11am to 3pm Location: Painters Greenhouse EVENT DETAILS OBSERVE A HONEY BEE HIVE IN ACTION WITH MAMA B'S PURE HONEY Susan Brand of Mama B's Honey will be setting up her observation hive of lovely ladies for us to appreciate. Susan will be sharing her honeybees, as well as their delicious honey! Mama B’s honey is produced locally in Shingle Hollow, NC from a small apiary of less than 10 hives, nestled in a field within a 30 acre forest of tulip poplar, wildflowers and berries. Honey is usually harvested in early June, after the first nectar flow, where bees have foraged for nectar and pollen notably from tulip poplars, blackberries and wildflowers. We believe the darker honey is enriched in both flavor and healthfulness by blending from the natural plants and trees. If the weather and plants permit, a second harvest, rich in sourwood nectar and pollen is extracted in mid-summer. Mama B’s honey is certified by the NC Beekeepers Association to be unadulterated and locally produced using approved processes for raising healthy bees and pure honey. Date: Sunday, June 25th Time: 9am to 1pm Location: Painters Greenhouse EVENT DETAILS ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS POLLINATION CELEBRATION Asheville Greenworks has put together a wonderful calendar of celebrations, events, workshops, tours, and citizen science projects all month long including: Plant a Pollinator Garden Botanical Garden Pollinator Safari SEE ALL EVENTS

New This Week March 20, 2023 Plant of the Week: Painter's Palette Anthurium Add a pop of color to your home with this blooming houseplant! With stunning red, pink or orange blooms that last for several months at a time, anthurium are very easy plants to care for. Place your Anthurium in a bright room, but not in direct sunlight... they can even handle relatively low light, and only need moderate/regular water. An easy, low maintenance way to add some brilliant color to your space! Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light to moderate light Soil Needs: well draining soil rich in organic matter and amended with perlite/orchid bark is ideal, but they aren't super picky (probably fine to stay in whatever you bought them in for a while!) Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry Humidity: Flowering varieties can tolerate lower humidity than other anthuriums Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month with 1/4 strength fertilizer Care: Easy