Landscaping With Goldenrods

Goldenrods at Dawes Arboretum

Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) represent about 100 species of perennials that grow ubiquitously along U.S. roadsides, prairies, open woods, and riverbanks. (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A small number of species are also native in South America and Eurasia. Goldenrods are grown for their bright yellow or golden flowers that form late in the summer. They are easy to grow, and the tiny yellow flowers are a bountiful source of nectar for bees and butterflies, including Monarchs; seeds are eaten by songbirds fall and winter.

Goldenrods grow in almost any soil that is well-drained and in full sun. Removing spent flower clusters will encourage more blooms. Deadhead the old spent flowers to avoid prolific self-seeding. Every 3-4 years, divide plants in spring or fall.

Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is an eye-catching selection with abundant tiny, bright yellow terminal flower clusters atop stiff, narrow-leaved, reddish stems; 2-3 feet tall starting in mid- to late-summer.

Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia), aka blue stem goldenrod grows 1.5- 3 feet tall on arching, glabrous, wiry, greenish-purple stems which are covered with a silvery-white waxy covering (zones 4-8). yellow clusters of tiny flowers  bloom along the purplish stem in early autumn. Lance-shaped, medium green leaves (2-5 inches long) are toothed with sharply pointed tips.

‘Fireworks’ rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is probably the most popular variety, 3-4 feet tall clump-forming plant is covered with stiff bright yellow inflorescences starting in early autumn, reminiscent of exploding fireworks. 

‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod (S. sphacelata ‘Golden  Fleece’)  grows 18 – 24 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide forms showy sprays of golden yellow flowers starting in mid-September into October.. Its heart-shaped leaves are semi-evergreen.

Ultra-dwarf varieties:

·         Little Lemon® (‘Dansolitlem’) - light yellow flowers on ultra-compact (14 inches tall / 18 inches wide plants.

·         ‘Cloth of Gold’- deep yellow flowers on 18-24 inch tall stems.

·         ‘Crown of Rays’ - bright yellow flowers on 2-3 feet tall stems.

No serious insect or disease problems trouble goldenrods and are moderately deer tolerant. If summer weather is unusually wet or planting is too crowded, expect minor disease problems.

Oyama or Siebold Magnolia

Oyama sieboldii

Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii) is a 10-15 feet tall (and equal spread) deciduous tree or large shrub from eastern Asia. It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and in moist, well drained loamy soil (USDA zones 6 -8). Why are not more gardeners are not growing this small tree/shrub magnolia. Spring bloom is in May, avoiding the threat of frost injuring the flower buds of this later blooming magnolia.

White nodding egg-shaped flower buds appear in late June, and blooms appear intermittently thru most of the summer. The 1-3 inch wide saucer shaped flowers are white, centered by crimson stamens within. Oyama begins to flower at an early age.

The 3-6 inch long medium green foliage is first to appear in April, coated with a silvery pubescence. Leaves turn pale yellow before abscising in mid-autumn. Small pink fruits appear in late summer, and split open to reveal orange-red seeds in late September. Branch bark wood is light gray.

Feed magnolias with a slow release fertilizer in early spring. They benefit from annual mulching.  Pruning shrub to desired shape and size, and to remove dead or broken branches.

Oyama magnolia is an excellent pick for a small garden. It is available from  a few on-line specialty nurseries.

Evercolor® series of Japanese sedges

Carex 'Everillo'

Japanese sedges (Carex oshimensis)  are fine-textured variegated sedges that typically grow in a low, grass-like mounded clump to 10-16” tall and wide. This tough colorful sedge was originally found growing in dry woodlands and rocky slopes throughout Honshu Island, Japan. Brownish floral spikes are mostly inconspicuous.

Japanese sedge are evergreen across the southern U.S. They’re long-lasting and easy to grow! Evercolor® series of variegated Japanese sedges are the result of breeding from Pat Fitzgerald, at Fitzgerald Nurseries in Kilkenny, Ireland. This collection of seven cultivars (to date)have been introduced so far. They are hardy in zones 6-8, but are being evaluated in USDA zone 5. Plants are evergreen through most of their growing range.

Sedges are grass-like plants, and prefer moist, organic rich soil and partial shade. Once established sedges tolerate dry shade, accompanied by intermittent watering during dry periods. Foliage colors are richer in partial shade than in full sun. Plants spread are propagate by rhizome division in early spring.

Evercolor® series make exceptional ground covers, as well as bedding and specimen plants. They are planted in mixed containers and window boxes, as billowy plant mounds spilling over the edge into a path or billow up (mound) in a container or window box. Spacing varies with cultivar. Utilize sedges for edging along pathways, streams or ponds, and in rock gardens.

'Evercolor' sedge

Evercolor® sedges grow 12 inches high and 12-18 inches in spread in shade or part shade in moist to average soil with good drainage. Water well after planting and regularly until established after one year. Trim back all last year’s growth in late winter. No serious insect or disease problems trouble sedges and are deer resistant

‘Evergold’ - (original variegated form) - narrow leaves with broad, creamy, yellowish-white center stripe and bordered by thin dark green margins.

‘Everillo’ - a cascading mounding fountain of lime green leaves deepen to yellow-gold later in the summer.

‘Everest’ - more vigorous sport of ‘Evergold’ with green center and crisp snow-white edging.

‘Everlime’ – a mound of leaf blades with deep green centers flanked by lime green margins.

‘Eversheen’ has distinctive lime yellow striped foliage, all in a neat flowing mound.

‘Everoro’ – leaf blades emerge lime-green and turn golden yellow late in the season.

‘Everlite’ – rich green leaf blade edges and broad white center stripe.

Willow Oak - A Fine Street / Landscape Tree

Willow oak (Q. phellos)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) is medium to large, deciduous tree, part of the "red oak" group (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It is distinguished for willow-like oak foliage. Growth rate following a 2 year establishment period is moderate (12-16 inches annually).

Willow oak grows 50-75 feet tall and 30-35 feet wide with a rounded top or canopy. Young trees tend to be pyramidal in form. Individual specimens may reach 90 or more feet under ideal site conditions. Its small ¼ – ½ inch nearly round acorns form almost every year, are not a major maintenance headache, and serve as an important food resource for wildlife.

Long stringy yellow-green long catkin flowers appear in April, a few days before leaves emerge. Unlobed 5-inch long leaves mimic those of willow trees (Salix spp.). Leaves are tipped with a single 1-inch wide bristle. Green summer leaf color turns an undistinguished yellow-brown or dull gold very late in autumn. A young tree has a smooth grayish bark which darkens and becomes furrowed with age.

Native to the Southeastern U.S., willow oak prefers a moist bottomland, organic-rich, well-drained soil. This landscape tree tolerates light shade, but performs best in full sun. Willow oak can handle a wide range of soils including clay. Once established, it copes with summer drought well. Foliage is tolerant of urban air pollution.

narrow leaves of Willow Oak

Willow oak demonstrates good disease and pest resistance and is a long-lived and low-maintenance tree. In a landscape willow oak fits into large sites, such as in public parks or along wide roadways and avenues with good soil mass for adequate moisture. The narrow leathery leaves abscise very late in the fall and make a great loose mulch scattered under other landscape plants.

Kingpin® - new selection of willow oak introduced by Bold Spring Nursery. It offers uniformity in street tree plantings along with these improved traits: darker leaf color, strong central leader (trunk). Kingpin is large 60 x 45 feet shade tree.

New Fragrant Landscape Roses

Over a century of rose breeding has rewarded gardeners with so many gorgeous garden roses: hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda and shrub types. Rose breeders have concentrated on plant vigor, flower color, disease resistance, and greater numbers of flowers over the growing season. Over the years, floral fragrance has been mostly ignored.

In the past two years Brindabella rose series have arrived at garden centers with incredible fragrance along with improved disease resistance.

Brindabella™ roses is a series of shrub roses from Australia. They exhibit a bushy habit, 3-4 feet  tall and wide and possess excellent disease resistance to black spot and powdery mildew. Their colorful blooms are doubled and highly fragrant. Blooms are produced in flushes from spring into fall, and no deadheading is required. The plants have a bushy, upright and sometimes semi-weeping habit. They reach at maturity, making them ideal for low hedges, spots at the edge of a mixed border, and containers.

Brindabella® roses are low maintenance and vigorous in a small package. They are well suited to home gardens and commercial landscapes. For beauty and fragrance Brindabella roses know few rivals. Roses are selected for their beauty, disease-resistance and vigor. Roses require 6 or more hours of direct sun per day and fertile, reasonably moist soil. They benefit from an occasional feeding during the growing season. Extra hardiness (Zones 4 – 9). Introduced by Suntory Flowers.

Currently (May 2021), six Brindabella varieties are available:

Dawn™ - fragrant salmon colored blooms with hints of apricot. 

First Lady™ - lavender pink double flowers  

Purple Prince™ - purple double flowers 

Pink Princess™ - frosted pink double flowers 

Red Empress™ - crimson red to dark fuchsia double flowers 

Touch of Pink™ - pale pink centers & white outer whorled doubled flowers

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine

'Thunderhead' Japanese Black Pine at U.T. Gardens in Knoxville

Thunderhead (Pinus thunbergiana) is a choice shrub variety of Japanese Black pine. This medium-sized evergreen shrub conifer grows 10 to 12 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide (in 10 - 15 years). Its distinctive cottony terminal buds and dark green densely packed needles are architecturally beautiful in the fall-winter landscape.

“Billowy emerald clouds” best describes the needle foliage on Thunderhead pine.  Silvery white candles (shoots) grow 10 - 12 inches long in response to warm spring temps.  The shoots reach their full length by late May. Branches are rigid and its lower needles are mostly retained.

Desired location is in full to partial sun and in moderately acidic soils that are well-drained. Provide a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight. Plant in late winter to early fall from container or balled and burlapped (B&B) stock. Allow 1-2 years to become established after planting; afterwards drought and heat tolerant.

Feed annually in late winter with 10-10-10 or equivalent granular fertilizer. Pruning is rarely necessary except for desired shaping and sizing. Cut back new shoot growth (“candles”) around late May to early June before needles are fully expanded.

Disease and pest problems are rare when properly sited. Thunderhead is highly tolerant of wind, drought, and salt spray. Provide shelter from harsh winds to minimize off-color in winter. Availability is primarily from specialty conifer nurseries on-line or in the southeast region.

Thunderhead Japanese black pine is loved for its low maintenance and its dark evergreen foliage. This shrub pine conifer deserves a place in your landscape.

Planting Deodar Cedars

'Snow Sprite' deodar cedar

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), aka Deodar Cedar, is indigenous from northern India, east to Nepal, and northward through Pakistan and Afghanistan (USDA hardiness zones (6b)7-10). In the U.S., this evergreen conifer grows 60-70 feet high and 40 feet wide in 50 years. It offers year-round interest by way of its lovely pyramidal form and pendulous branching habit.


Deodar cedar is an excellent specimen tree. You may opt to mass several for privacy screening or a windbreak around your property. Create a unique focal point by clustering 3-5 trees together. Plant these long--lived evergreens for multi-generations to enjoy.


Site selection is most important. Deodars prefer mostly sunny sites and set in moist, well-drained soils. Two-year established trees are drought tolerant. Relatively free from pest and disease troubles, once planted, deodars will provide maintenance-free beauty.


Elegant weeping branches dip downward to the ground and then sweep upward. The older 2- and 3- year old needles drop in spring, just as new buds emerge to provide a soft green look. Male trees produce catkins that disperse copious amounts of pollen in early spring. Female trees develop 3-5 inch egg-shaped cones.


Weatherwise, deodars earn a reputation as finicky trees in the mid-South (Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia). Young trees are more susceptible to cold than older stock. In a good soil young trees and shrubs grow off quickly, often achieving two feet of growth a year. If the tops of trees die back, winter freeze injury may be the problem.

'Glacier Blue' at Univ. of Tennessee Gardens

Winter hardy tree forms include ‘Shalimar’, a selection made in the Kashmiri region of India and Pakistan. Many shrub forms are also available such as:
'Feelin' Blue' - low spreading, mounding, space saving form; long, thick bluish tinted needles that retain their color into late summer; grows 1 to 2 feet tall in 10 years. 'Glacier Blue' -moderate growing shrub form with long blue-green foliage that grows 8-10 feet tall within 20 years.