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

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

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

Kalmia latifolia New This Week March 11, 2024 Plant of the Week: Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia BASIC FEATURES: Broadleaf, evergreen shrub with clusters of spring blooms May/June. Tight, compact habit while young and growing into an open form with gnarly trunks as it ages. WHAT’S IN A NAME? Kalmia latifolia. Kalmia named after Swedish-Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm. Kalm was a disciple of Carl Linnaeus and explored eastern N. America extensively during the mid-1700s. We can thank Carl Linnaeus for the binomial system of naming plants (genus and species latin names). Latifolia translates to “with broad leaves.” FAMILY: Ericaceae (Heath) – family members include rhododendron, blueberries, azaleas, bearberries, andromeda, etc. NATIVE RANGE: Native to eastern North America from New Brunswick south to Florida and west to Tennessee. FUN FACT: Pollen catapults! Mountain laurel flowers evolved to have the pollen producing flower parts (stamens) tucked into the walls of the petals. When a bumblebee visits, the movement and vibrations inside the flower release the “spring loaded” stamens from the petals and drum against the bee, releasing pollen onto its body before it visits another bloom. Next time you see a fresh mountain laurel bloom, wiggle your finger inside it to see the catapults in action! NOT-SO-FUN FACT: All parts of mountain laurel are toxic and can be fatal to humans and animals if ingested. Even honey made from bees that forage exclusively on mountain laurel is toxic, referred to as “Mad Honey.” Burning the wood creates smoke that can be poisonous to inhale. GROWING CONDITIONS: SOIL : Prefers rich acidic soils with good drainage. Appreciates mulch in the landscape to make sure roots stay moist and cool. SUNLIGHT : Prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Appreciates winter shade, especially in the southeast. HEIGHT/WIDTH : Variable heights, expect cultivars to be shorter. In landscapes, the straight species mountain laurel slowly grows to an average height of 6-15’ (in 10 years time expect 4-8’ of growth). Uncommonly, it can reach up to 30’ tall on rich slopes of the Appalachian mountains. ZONES : 4-9 We are starting off the season with the straight species mountain laurel as well as three different varieties. They all prefer the same growing conditions, and only vary in size, bloom colors, and other aesthetic characteristics: K. latifolia (straight species) Traditional mountain laurel will reach heights of 15’+ over time. Soft pink buds open to white blooms. K. latifolia ‘Yankee Doodle’ Red flower buds open to irregular maroon banded blooms with a large white throat. Foliage is yellow green. Grows to 8-10’ tall and wide. K. latifolia ‘Keepsake’ Raspberry red buds will open to purplish burgundy flowers with thin white edging. The new growth is reddish bronze and leaves mature to a glossy, deep blueish green. Dense rounded habit reaching 4-5’ tall and wide. K. latifolia ‘Nathan Hale’ Red flower buds open pink. Symmetrical habit reaching 8’ tall and wide. Leaves are thick, shiny, and dark green. The petioles and stems of new growth are purplish red.

Plant Feature and Sale through March 8th New This Week March 2, 2026 Japanese Black Pine Plant Feature and Sale through March 8th 20% off for opening week (through Sunday, March 8th) Available in 1G & 3G This pine tree has a lot of character! Attractive, dark green needles are paired per fascicle and grow at the ends of bare branches. Silky, white, candle-like terminal buds sit upright on the branches and contrast with the green needles. These candles form in fall and will elongate through winter before budding. Japanese black pine has a flat-topped pyramidal form with no prominent central leader. The tree’s silhouette will age to an irregular form with a spreading crown and pendulous branches. Annual growth is an average of 1 foot per year and reaches a height of 12-15’ in 10 years. Tolerant of heat and salt, deer resistant, drought resistant when established. Would make a great addition to a Japanese inspired garden, bonsai, or as a screen. Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergii Native Range: Japan and Korea Fun Fact: The irregular growth, flat-top, and curved trunk make it a great specimen for bonsai. Growing Conditions: Soil: thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil Sunlight: prefers full sun, but can tolerate light shade Height/Width: 20-60’ tall and 12-20’ wide Zones: 5-9 Prices : 1Gal now $19.20, 3Gal now $41.60

Supplies to get you started at Painters New This Week December 12, 2024 Recover & Restore: Plants, Seed Mix, and Live Stakes Supplies to get you started at Painters In this long process of recovery, Painters is here to help out in the way we do best: providing you high quality plants (natives are our favorites!) and guidance as you go. Check out our latest blog on Starting the Process of Landscape Restoration . For those ready to start looking ahead at replanting and revitalizing landscapes, as well as stream bank restoration, find a s election of items at Painters on Saturday December 14th to get you started: native potted shrubs and trees, native live stakes, and wildlife habitat seed mix for affordable habitat restoration. Available Native Potted Shrubs and Trees Scientific Name Common Name Variety Size Qty Salix babylonica Willow, Weeping 8"T 23 Acer rubrum Maple, Red Brandywine 2G 18 Amorpha fruticosa Indigo Bush 1G 43 Betula nigra Birch, River 2G 26 Callicarpa americana Beautyberry, American 1G 30 Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush 1G 19 Cornus sericea Dogwood, Redtwig 8"T 101 Fagus grandifolia American Beech 2G 18 Quercus shumardii Oak, Shumard 1G 11 Salix discolor Willow, Pussy 8"T 16 Spiraea tomentosa Steeplebush 1G 19 Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coralberry 8"T 29 Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress 1G 27 Aronia melanocarpa Chokeberry, Black Viking 2G 37 Sambucus canadensis Elderberry 1G 60 Native Live Stakes A selection of five native trees and shrubs suited to live-stake planting, chosen for their aptitude for erosion control and stream bank repair. Check out this Introduction to Live Staking to learn more. Eastern Ninebark [Physocarpus opulifolius] Native deciduous shrub (z3-7) full-part sun, 5-8' tall, 6-10’ wide White blooms in summer, attractive bark in winter; provides excellent cover for wildlife Thrives on streambanks and in moist thickets, tolerates a wide range of soil conditions Elderberry [Sambucus canadensis] Native deciduous shrub (z3-9) full-part sun, 5-12' tall and wide Showy, fragrant white spring blooms lead to tasty black berries in late summer, great for wildlife Thrives in a wide range of conditions, spreads by suckers; excellent for colonizing streambanks Silky Dogwood [Cornus amomum] Native deciduous shrub (z5-8) full sun-part shade, 6-12' tall and wide Creamy white blooms early summer, blue berries in fall; excellent for wildlife Aka swamp dogwood, thrives in moist to wet woodlands or alongside streams or ponds Black Willow [Salix nigra] Native deciduous tree (z4-9) full sun-part shade, 30-60' tall and wide The largest of NC's willows, thrives in consistently wet soil; excellent for wildlife Shallow, spreading roots are prone to invading pipes; avoid planting near structures Silky Willow [Salix sericea] Native deciduous shrub (z3-9) full sun-part shade, 6-12' tall and wide Thrives in consistently wet soil of swamps and riverbanks; fast growing, excellent wildlife value Showy and easy care; so named for the silky white hairs on its leaves' undersides Wildlife Habitat Seed Mix For those needing native restoration in areas of size, we are carrying Roundstone Wildlife Habitat Seeds. The diversity of seeds offers the highest chance of success in a variety of soil and moisture types. Plant after the first killing frost to let the natural over-wintering process open up the seed coats for higher germination in the spring. Roundstone Habitat Mix .docx Download DOCX • 51KB Note: You may notice that there are a few plants in the mix that aren't native to our area; the company included them to aid with nitrogen fixation, wildlife forage, and erosion control. They have not been deemed a significant invasive in North Carolina.

Second Crops and New Batches of Special Items New This Week May 17, 2024 We are Growers! Second Crops and New Batches of Special Items "Grown Locally to Thrive Locally." These are not just pretty words. We are growers! We have several talented team members engaged in plant propagation (varied techniques of cutting and sticking as well as sowing), a hardworking production team that plants year-long, and highly skilled growers and waterers who care for over a thousand types of plants spread over multiple greenhouses and outdoor growing areas (only a small area is watered by automatic sprinklers, all else is hand watered and managed). At Painters, you might see signs like this: because we use our retail space to grow as well as sell! (In addition to growing in other greenhouses past customer shopping areas). This means that plants are sometimes organized in ways that may not make immediate sense to the shopper as we have to prioritize ideal growing conditions over merchandising, but that’s why we have maps, signage, and helpful retail floor staff! And while the crowds during big weekends like Herb Fest and Mother’s Day may make it feel like all the best plants must be gone, we grow successive plantings of many of our most popular crops, and continue to stock them to the retail floor as they mature. As of this week, we have new batches of many favorites, including some lovely native and pollinator plant options. We are always growing!! Come check it all out! New! Southern Bush Honeysuckle Japanese Kerria All tree dogwoods, including Pagoda Dogwood Dianthus 'Bath's Pink' Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'* Caladiums (finally fully leafed out, lovely range of colors) Restock! Smooth Hydrangeas: 'Invincebelle Wee White' and 'Invincebelle Ruby'* White Fringetree* Deciduous Azalea 'Gibraltar'* Cardinal Flower Great Blue Lobelia Green and Gold (limited stock, and this one goes fast!) Catmint Bee Balm: blue, purple or deep pink Sweet Basil (6" available now, and another batch of assorted 4" basil coming soon) English Lavender Red or Lilac Sweet Talk Cuphea -- Bat-Faced Cultivars Sun Coleus: assorted colors Spigelia!!! (one more batch of Fire Pinks available for those who couldn't get them this last week) Elderberry Kimberley Queen hanging baskets Boston Fern hanging baskets *While we do propagate some shrubs at the greenhouse, we source the larger, slower-growing shrubs and trees from local wholesale nurseries and native plant growers within a day's drive. We do our best to purchase from WNC growers to ensure the plants have been raised in a similar climate and plant health isn't affected by long-distance shipping. And we have some beautiful, native shrubs arriving from our friends at Carolina Native Nursery next week! Always Growing at Painters!

Our native plant selection typically averages around 300 varieties and each season we increase the numbers of straight-species natives we sow and sell. We care deeply about growing plants that support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. The majority of the native plants we sell can be found naturally growing in the WNC area, but we also include some that are native to the region. Our natives are grown here at the greenhouse with the exception of some shrubs & trees from local nurseries. NATIVE PLANTS Native plants have evolved to thrive in our specific climate, soils, and temperatures. Our native plant selection typically averages around 300 varieties and each season we increase the numbers of straight-species natives we sow and sell. We care deeply about growing plants that support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. The majority of the native plants we sell can be found naturally growing in the WNC area, but we also include some that are native to the general region. Our natives are grown on site with the exception of some shrubs and trees from local nurseries. FIND NATIVES FOR SALE A Few Favorite Native Herbaceous Perennials Asters Baptisia Bee Balm Black Cohosh Blazing Star (Liatris) Blue Star (Amsonia) Boneset Cardinal Flower Columbine Coneflower Creeping Phlox (Thrift) Dwarf Crested Iris Dwarf Mexican Hat Dwarf-Eared Coreopsis Flag Iris Garden Phlox Goldenrod Helenium Heliopsis (Smooth Oxeye) Heuchera villosa Indian Pink Joe Pye Weed Lanceleaf Coreopsis Lyreleaf Sage Milkweed A Few Favorite Native Ferns Christmas Fern Cinnamon Fern Lady Fern Ostrich Fern Royal Fern Sensitive Fern Southern Maidenhair Fern A Few Favorite Native Vines American Wisteria Carolina Jessamine Coral Honeysuckle Crossvine Passion Flower Vine Trumpet Vine A Few Favorite Native Groundcovers Allegheny Spurge Creeping Phlox (Thrift) Dwarf-Eared Coreopsis Foamflower Green and Gold Ostrich Fern Pennsylvania Sedge Sensitive Fern Woodland Phlox Woodland Stonecrop A Few Favorite Native Grasses Big Bluestem Blue Grama Grass Little Bluestem Northern Sea Oats Pennsylvania Sedge Pink Muhly Grass Prairie Dropseed Splitbeard Bluestem Switchgrass A Few Favorite Native Edibles Blueberry, Northern Highbush Sweetheart Chokeberry, Black Viking Hazelnut, American Elderberry Blueberry, Northern Highbush Duke Blueberry, Rabbiteye Climax Blueberry, Rabbiteye Premier Paw Paw A Few Favorite Native Trees & Shrubs American Beautyberry American Beech American Holly American Witch Hazel Bald Cypress Bearberry Blueberry (assorted) Buttonbush Chokeberry Coralberry Deciduous Azalea (assorted) Doghobble (assorted) Eastern Hemlock Eastern Ninebark Eastern Redbud Elderberry Flame Azalea Flowering Dogwood Fothergilla Hardy Pecan Inkberry Holly Mountain Laurel New Jersey Tea Oak (assorted) Oakleaf Hydrangea Related Blog Posts Where to Go From Here: A Streambank Restoration Toolbox Apr 21 3 min read A Guide to Native Plants: Straight Species vs. Nativars Aug 13, 2022 6 min read Why We Love Native Plants Feb 18, 2022 3 min read

Gorgeous Fall Color Staples! New This Week September 3, 2024 Plant Spotlight and Sale: Sweetgum and Witch Hazel Gorgeous Fall Color Staples! Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum gets a bad rap as homeowners tend to dislike the spiny gumball fruit this tree drops into the landscape. The “messiness” is far outweighed by the support and resources sweet gums provide for wildlife. In spring, sweetgum provides a source of nectar to ruby-throated hummingbirds and other nectar feeders. The sweetgum’s star-shaped leaves are host to more than 30 species of butterflies and moths, including two of the most impressive moths, luna and promethea! As for the odd fruit, each one can produce 30-50 seeds, which feed squirrels, chipmunks, red-winged blackbirds, chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, wrens, sparrows, northern cardinals, purple finches, goldfinches, eastern towhees, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, wood ducks, wild turkeys, mallards, mourning doves, and quail. If we look at the tree in a more human centered view it is still a great tree to plant. With its adaptability to just about any soil type and its large mature size it is a great option for a hardy shade tree. And the kicker? Fall color. Sweetgum is one of the only trees that will display yellows, reds, oranges, and purples all at the same time on one tree. NAME: Liquidambar “fluid amber” and styraciflua “flowing with resin” – both Latin names reference the tree’s fragrant sap when the bark is peeled away. This resin was used to make soaps, adhesives, medicine, and chewed as gum. NATIVE RANGE: Native to eastern and south-central United States, as well as Mexico and Central America. FUN FACTS: Check out this link for more information on the medicinal and beneficial compounds of the resinous sap: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4441155/ GROWING CONDITIONS: SOIL: Naturally grows in bottomland areas with rich, moist soil, but can tolerate a variety of soil conditions where roots have ample room to grow. SUNLIGHT: Full Sun to partial shade HEIGHT/WIDTH: Pyramidal shape when young, but matures to a rounded crown reaching 60-75' tall and a spread of 40-50' ZONES: 5-9 American Witch hazel - Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel is a large, multi-trunked native shrub (or small tree) with an irregularly shaped open crown and zig-zag stems. One of the most unique features of witch hazel are the yellow-orange blooms present in October through December. The fragrant blooms have long, narrow petals with a crinkled paper appearance. The late bloom time provides an important source of nectar and pollen to its pollinators: flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, with the most peculiar pollinator being the owlet moth. Owlet moths are winter-flying and can fly in freezing temperatures because of their ability to thermoregulate – they are attracted to the strong fragrance and strap-like petals. As the hard capsule fruit matures, seeds are launched up to 30 feet away for dispersal! Seeds are food to wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, songbirds, cardinals, chickadees, titmice, crows, and many others. Witch hazel is not resistant to deer browsing, but it is seldom eaten – depending on your deer population and their browsing habits. Witch hazel is a host plant to 69 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including large lace-border, definite tussock, and funerary dagger moths. Along with stunning autumn blooms, witch hazel also puts on a bright display of fall foliage with yellow to yellow-orange display. If you’re looking for a fall specimen for your garden, you have found the one! NAME: Hama- Greek for “at the same time” and - melon means “fruit”, which is a reference to the rare feature of both the flowers and fruit appearing at the same time on the plant. Virginiana means the plant is from Virginia. NATIVE RANGE: Native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia down to Florida and as far west as eastern Texas. FUN FACTS: Witch hazel’s common name came from the Middle English word “wicke” meaning to bend. Witch hazel was used by early settlers to source water by using forked branches of the shrub as dowsing rods – a bend in the branch would indicate underground water. Witch hazel has many medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, astringent and as an antiseptic. GROWING CONDITIONS: SOIL: A fairly tolerant plant - grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam and well-drained soils - handles a variety of moisture conditions SUNLIGHT: Full sun to partial shade - prefers a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight HEIGHT/WIDTH: 15-30’ tall and 15-25’ wide ZONES: 3-8

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

30% off all Hellebores! New This Week April 5, 2026 A Helluva Sale 30% off all Hellebores! 1 Gallon Lenton Roses now $21 (30% off $30!) As the weather continues to warm, our hellebores have decided they're not pushing any more blooms. So, it's time to retire them to make space for warm weather plants! We still have quite a variety to choose from, and the plants are nicely established in 1-gallon pots. We love hellebores for their prolific elegant blooms during cold months when we see very little color (or signs of life). And even when the blooms fade with warm weather (many age to shades of green), they're still beautiful and persist on the plant for a long time. Plus, the foliage is thick and glossy--we especially like the variegated silvery foliage of the Frost Kiss series! FROST KISS ANNA’S RED Profuse rich red-burgundy flowers held above marbled leaves. Leaves are lovely all winter, blooms February-April. Full sun tolerant. Photo courtesy monrovia.com FROST KISS DOROTHY’S DAWN Pale pink prolific flowers held above marbled foliage. Leaves show off all winter, blooms February-April. Full sun tolerant. Photo courtesy monrovia.com FROST KISS PENNY’S PINK Flowers (& foliage) change color with age, featuring greens, pinks & purples! Blooms February-April. Sun tolerant. Photo courtesy carolynsshadegardens.com ICE ‘N ROSES MERLOT Deep black-red blooms with gold stamen are outward facing. Blooms February-April. Part sun/full shade. Photo courtesy helleborus.de ICE ‘N ROSES PURPLE SUNRISE Unique blooms feature yellows, purples, pinks & greens. Outward facing blooms December-March. Part shade - sun. Photo courtesy helleborus.de Plus, our pansy and viola sale continues this week through April 12th - $26/flat of 18!

Last chance to load up on these spring bloomers! New This Week April 12, 2026 The Cool & Colorful Sale Until April 19th Last chance to load up on these spring bloomers! New Markdowns Through Sunday April 19th All Colors of Creeping Phlox now $50/flat of 10 (originally $65) (Discount applies to a full flat, not individual pots.) We have a variety of cultivars in 4" deep pots, very full and healthy, though mostly bloomed out due to the unseasonally warm spring we've had. They are labeled and signed so you can be sure you're getting the colors you want. Final Markdowns Pansies & violas now buy one flat at $30, get the second free! Get 36 plants for $30! Yes, the weather is warming up, but you can get a lot more life out of these pansies and violas if you plant in part shade... we are using them to add pops of color to our beds and containers until our perennials really flush out and start performing. Hellebores are now $20 (originally $30) If you love hellebores, now is the time to invest in your future garden and plant these knowing you'll have beautiful blooms this coming winter and next spring!

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.

Honeybee Helper and All-Around Supportive Shrub New This Week April 14, 2025 Plant of the Week: Winterberry Honeybee Helper and All-Around Supportive Shrub Given its common name, this seems like an odd plant to be featuring in April! But winterberry is an extremely beneficial plant for honeybees and other pollinators, providing both nectar and pollen in late spring to early summer. Ilex verticillata , or Winterberry, is a slow growing native deciduous holly. The common name refers to the red berries that mature in the fall, providing winter color in the garden and food for birds and small mammals. To produce berries, the plant must be properly cross-pollinated with a male and a female plant. You need at least one male plant for every 10 females, roughly; and these the pollinator plants should be within a reasonable distance of each other ( less than 50 feet away or so). Photo credit: CC-BY-SA-3.0 , Self-published work , Photographs by Fritz Flohr Reynolds But this is the time of year for the (itty bitty) flowers! Winterberry flowers are bee-pollinated, meaning bees and other insects help transfer pollen from male to female flowers. The almost inconspicuous greenish-white flowers provide nectar and pollen, which are essential food sources for native bees, honeybees, and other pollinators. Winterberry is an excellent hedge with year-round visual interest. It works well in a variety of soils, but thrives in moist, acidic soils. It is tolerant of shaping, but keep in mind that the flowers appear on new growth so prune in early spring before new growth arrives to still provide for the bees! Winterberry 'Southern Gentleman' Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman' NATIVAR deciduous shrub (z3-9) part-full sun 6-10' tall and wide Ideal background shrub; thrives in moist, acidic soil, tolerant of wet, boggy conditions Chief male pollinator for female varieties (e.g., Sparkleberry and Winter Red); plant 1 male for every 10 females Winterberry 'Sparkleberry' Ilex serrata x verticillata 'Sparkleberry' Deciduous shrub (z5-9) full sun-part shade 6-10' tall and wide Hybrid female cultivar with dense, heavy fruiting Requires a male for berry production (e.g., Southern Gentleman) Foliage turns yellow-bronze in fall, dazzling winter berries feed the birds Resistant to deer and fire Winterberry in winter!

We've been waiting months to try this tropical fruit rumored to be so delicious it gave the plant its name! New This Week August 12, 2022 Monstera Deliciosa Fruit We've been waiting months to try this tropical fruit rumored to be so delicious it gave the plant its name! Last July we noticed flowers blooming on many of our Monstera deliciosa specimen plants that live in our greenhouse. With the help of some hand pollination (just in case!), the flowers produced fruit and all of us at Painters have been patiently watching it ripen on the plant for the last 13 months. In the wild, Monsteras regularly flower and fruit. Ripe Monstera deliciosa fruit The fruit typically takes 6-12 months to ripen and is said to be so delicious it inspired the plant's name. This week the big day finally arrived and we got our first taste! See what we thought below! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a514f4_1c5a87fc97ca40f2b2fed674800e1068/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 It really was DELICIOUS!