<![CDATA[The Pitt County Arboretum - Director\'s Choice]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:33:27 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Mexican Sunflower: Vibrant blooms until first frost]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:58:43 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/mexican-sunflower-heat-and-drought-tolerant-blooms-until-first-frostHosting Garden Explorers summer 4-H camp for elementary-school-age youngsters has been fun. Each day, we’ve taken the kids outdoors to explore and connect them to the plants, bugs, and critters that populate our gardens here at the Pitt County Arboretum. It’s been especially fun to see which plants make an impression on the kids and which tidbits of information they respond to and remember.

On our first day of camp, one of our activities was a scavenger hunt in which the kids had to collect flowers of different shapes, sizes, flowers, and other characteristics. One of the prompts was to find a ‘plant that looked like the sun.’  Since we split the kids up into different areas of the garden, not all of them had a traditional sunflower nearby, so we helped them think about other types of flowers that might look similar. Many of the kids found Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) in the Children’s Garden. Two days later, when the kids set out to gather flowers to use in making suncatchers, I heard one of the kids excitedly exclaim, “I want to use Mexican sunflower!”
Picture
Top left: Flower, stem, and leaves. Photo: Prenn, CC BY-SA 3.0 Top right: Mexican Sunflowers in bloom. Plants grow quickly, from 3-6 feet tall, with a spread of 2-3 feet. Photo: C. Lewis, CC BY 2.0 Middle: A single bloom. Flowers are 3 inches wide, with a prominent yellow-orange center surrounded by 7-20 orange petals. Photo: S. Strine, CC BY 2.0 Lower: A Monarch butterfly extracts nectar. Photo: C. Bowman, CC BY 2.0
Like the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) that is also native to Mexico and a few Southwestern states, the Mexican sunflower is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. The blooms of Mexican sunflower do not rival its more famous cousin in terms of size; however, it does produce hundreds of 3-inch wide orange flowers throughout summer and fall. Each bloom has a prominent yellow-orange center, surrounded by 7-20 blaze orange petals. You may need to occasionally deadhead spent flowers to maximize bloom, but they will continue to produce new flowers up until the first fall frost.

Plants grow quickly to a height of 3-6’ tall, with a spread of 2-3’. They are annual and may be started by seed, or transplanted as young plants. The seed are plentiful and easy to save, so if you purchase one plant, you’ll be able to collect enough seed by the end of the year for a lifetime of plants.

Mexican sunflower is quite heat- and drought-tolerant, and almost seems to prefer growing in poor soil, so don’t worry about finding just the right spot for it. As long as it is in the sun, it will be happy. Larger plants may eventually flop over by late summer, however, so you may want to stake them, or plant them next to a wall, fence, or other structure that might help keep them upright. Relatively free of insect and disease pests, Mexican sunflower is also relatively unbothered by deer. Its color flowers not only attract young garden explorers, but butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators as well.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.  
]]><![CDATA[Blanket flowers: Heat- and drought-tolerant perennials]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:31:56 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/blanket-flowers-heat-and-drought-tolerant-perennialsGardeners are always on the hunt for low-maintenance plants, particularly ones that can withstand adverse environmental conditions such as heat and drought. Though we’ve had a few nice rain showers in the past week, we are still experiencing a severe drought that is affecting gardens, landscapes, and farms throughout the region. As gardeners we can’t control the weather, but we can, at least in some circumstances, select plants that are tolerant of the types of conditions we might encounter.

One drought-tolerant plant that I’ve always been a fan of is the blanket flower. Blanket flower is the common name for many flowering plants in the genus Gaillardia, including Gaillardia pulchella, an annual native to the Central Southeastern U.S. and Mexico, Gaillardia aestavalis, a short-lived perennial native to more or less the same region, and Gaillardia aristata, a hardy perennial native to Canada and the Northern United States. While you may see each of these plants on occasion in nurseries and catalogs, the most common blanket flower in most gardens is Gaillardia x grandiflora, a hybrid of G. pulchella and G. aristata. Though these species of blanket flower have some differences in size, growth habit, and ornamental characteristics, they all share the common trait of drought tolerance. 
Gaillardia x grandiflora is a hybrid of a short-lived native perennial and a hardy
native perennial. They are drought-tolerant. Above: Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Burgundy.' Top right: Gaillardia x grandiflora  'Oranges & Lemons.' Photo: D. Roos, CC BY 2.0 Bottom right: Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Golden Goblin.' Photo: D.J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Let’s focus on the most common blanket flower in landscapes, Gaillardia x grandiflora. This hybrid inherits the size (1-3’ tall by 1-2’ wide) and hardiness of its perennial parent, while taking the extended bloom time of its annual parent. Disc-shaped, daisy-like flowers, typically with dark red centers and yellow-orange perimeters, persist throughout most of summer, particularly if deadheaded. Cultivars such as ‘Orange and Lemons’ with orange and yellow petals, ‘Burgundy’ with yellow centers and deep red petals, and ‘Golden Goblin,’ which is pure yellow throughout, offer some color variation while staying true to the plants other characteristics.

Blanket flowers thrive in hot, sunny locations, and though they need water on occasion, they can withstand long periods in between waterings with little consequence. Foliage may seem a bit droopy at points, but always seems to bounce back without lingering effect. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the seedheads left after bloom concludes feed goldfinches and other birds. Plant blanket flowers in standard perennial beds with other summer blooming flowers, or in rock gardens or near paved surfaces where heat and dry soil are likely. They pair well with coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and coreopsis, as well as salvia, yarrow, and ornamental grasses.

For more on drought-tolerant plants, consider visiting the Pitt County Arboretum for our Heat Proof Heroes plant walk on July 17th at 9 am.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
]]><![CDATA[The diverse world of the Hibiscus]]>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:12:08 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/the-diverse-world-of-the-hibiscusThe word diversity can mean a lot of things in the world of plants, especially when we talk about diversity within a genus. Plants are grouped taxonomically based on their shared characteristics, so plants within the same genus by definition are similar in many regards. They may differ in mature size or flower color, but for the most part their parts look the same, and they generally like the same soil conditions and sun exposure.

Hibiscus, for example, is a genus where the shape of the flower is incredibly consistent throughout the most prominent species within the genus (though color and size may fluctuate) as it leaf shape (again, size and color fluctuate). However, I consider the genus to be fairly diverse because of the range of cold hardiness and growth habits within the genus.

Here at the Pitt County Arboretum, we have Hibiscus syriacus, also known as Rose of Sharon, which is a medium sized shrub; Hibiscus coccineus, also called Swamp Hibiscus or Texas Star, a cold hardy perennial that dies back to the ground each winter; Hibiscus sabdariffa, also called Rozelle, a borderline hardy herbaceous plant that is normally treated like an annual in our area; and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, a tropical hibiscus, a cold sensitive flowering shrub that we grow in pots and bring indoors to overwinter.

Of these, it is the Rose of Sharon that has my attention at the moment, as there are two growing here at the Arboretum in full bloom, one white with red centers, and the other bright pink with a darker pink center. I also have two blooming in my yard at home – the same white and red flowering type along my driveway, and a double blooming purple-pink type in the backyard. Individual flowers of Rose of Sharon (and many other Hibiscus) may last for only a day, but new blooms appear continuously over several weeks, creating a prolonged but dynamic floral display. Single flowers are wide bell-shaped, five petaled blossoms, with a prominent fused stamen and pistil poking out through the center.
Picture
Top: Double-blooming Rose of Sharon shrub. These can grow up to 8-12 feet tall, with a spread of 6-10 feet. Left: Close-up of a single, 5-petaled white flower   with  a  vivid   red   center   and 
prominent fused stamen and pistil. Right: Single, five-petaled pink Rose of Sharon flower, also with a deep red center.
Rose of Sharon is a multi-trunked shrub that grows to a height of 8-12’ tall and a spread of about 6-10’. Shrubs can be pruned to grow as a single trunk tree, if desired, with some effort. It grows in sun to part shade, though it will flower best in full sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and pH levels, and thrives to some extent on neglect, making it an easy plant to grow. It will struggle in extremely wet or dry soils, but will do well in nearly anything in between.

Though not a native shrub, Rose of Sharon has long been a familiar part of gardens in the Southern and Eastern United States. It can be a bit weedy, and is considered by a few states (Kentucky and Virginia) to be invasive, though North Carolina does not classify it as such. Pollinators, including butterflies, hummingbirds, and a number of bee species, enjoy foraging on its blooms.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
]]><![CDATA[New cultivars add different colors, growth habits, and flower characteristics to Redbuds]]>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:40:02 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/new-cultivars-add-different-colors-growth-habits-and-flower-characteristics-to-redbudsOne of my favorite flowering trees has always been the Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. Native to much of Eastern and Central North America, from Canada through Mexico, redbud is one of the earliest trees to bloom in the spring. Despite its name, the flowers are more of a pinkish-purple color, slightly darker when closed in bud, and a bit lighter once fully open. Redbud is part of the legume family, so individual flowers are pea-shaped, and the long seed-pods that develop after bloom concludes resembles many types of beans and peas.

Despite its impressive blooms, redbud is not usually eye-catching after flowering is complete. The large heart-shaped leaves are interesting, but not something that necessarily stop you in your tracks. Redbuds prefer part shade and grow naturally in forest edges and under larger trees, so often they’re somewhat hidden later in the year by larger plants, and if they are grown in too much sun, the leaves may burn a bit around the edges.

Much plant breeding work has been done in recent years to improve the diversity of redbud cultivars, introducing plants with different leaf colors, growth habits, and flower characteristics. Much of that work has been done by NC State’s Dennis Werner, who is responsible for a great number of new introductions. Some of my favorites include ‘Golden Falls’, ‘Ruby Falls’, ‘Carolina Sweetheart’, ‘Flame Thrower’, and ‘Pink Pom Poms’.
Above left: ‘Golden Falls’ is a weeping cultivar of the redbud tree. When the central stem grows to a predetermined height, usually about 5-6 feet high, the lateral branches that emerge above that height have a naturally weeping habit, spilling downward almost parallel to the trunk. Photo: D. Werner, CC BY-NC 4.0 Above right:  Another redbud cultivar, 'Pink Pom Poms,'  has double flowers – twice the number of petals of a standard redbud flower, making it extra-striking.
Bottom left: ‘Flame Thrower’ more closely resembles the typical size and shape of a redbud tree, and has unique foliage color. It does not have a naturally weeping habit. Photo: D. Werner, CC BY-NC 4.0
Both ‘Golden Falls’ and ‘Ruby Falls’ are weeping redbud cultivars. Weeping cultivars are typically trained so that the central leader stem grows to a predetermined height, usually about 5-6 feet high, and then the lateral branches which emerge above that height have a naturally weeping habit, spilling downward almost parallel to the trunk. Mature height of each plant is 5-8 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide. ‘Golden Falls’ has brilliant chartreuse foliage, while ‘Ruby Falls’ has burgundy foliage reminiscent of one of its parents, the well-known cultivar ‘Forest Pansy.’

‘Carolina Sweetheart’, and ‘Flame Thrower’ more closely resemble the typical size and shape of a redbud tree, with both height and spread of about 15-30 feet; however, each has unique foliage color. The new leaves of ‘Carolina Sweetheart’ first appear purple each spring, but then change to varying shades and combinations of green, white, and pink, before finally turning solid green by mid-summer. ‘Flame Thrower’ similarly progresses from purple to red to bronze to chartreuse throughout the seasons, with leaves of each color present simultaneously on a single plant.

‘Pink Pom Poms’ is notable not for its foliage, but for its unique blossoms, though its leaves are distinctly smaller and glossier than most redbud types. Each flower is referred to as a double flower because it has twice the number of petals of a standard redbud flower. The impact of these double flowers when this plant is in bloom is extra-striking.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.  
]]><![CDATA[Promoting Plumeria at the May 16     Plant Sale]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 21:56:54 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/promoting-plumeria-at-the-may-16-plant-saleThe annual Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Pitt County Arboretum takes place this Saturday, May 16. In fact, it is our 20th anniversary plant sale. As we make our final preparations, my focus this week is on some of the plants for sale that have become hallmark plants for the Arboretum.

The first that comes to mind is Plumeria, also known as Frangipani. This is a tropical plant, the flowers of which are used in Hawaii to make leis, but we’ve grown one at the Arboretum for many years. It is not cold hardy, so each fall one of our Master Gardener volunteers digs up our 7-foot-tall shrub, brings it home to store in his garage through the winter, and then replants it in the Arboretum the following spring. Its unique stems, interesting foliage, and delightful blooms make it one of our most asked-about plants year after year. If you’re coming to the sale, look for the plumeria sticks, which can be easily stuck in the ground or in a pot to start your own plant.

I also love the yellow-blooming Southern Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), which grows near the plumeria at the Arboretum. This native perennial produces lemon, cup-shaped flowers throughout much of spring and summer, brightening the garden each and every day. While this plant brightens spring and summer, fall is owned by asters, chrysanthemums, and goldenrod.

We’ll have plenty of each, but my favorites are the ‘Sheffield Pink’ Mum that you can find in the Arboretum’s Welcome Garden, and the ‘Fireworks’ Goldenrod in the Butterfly Garden. ‘Sheffield Pink’ Mum is a spreading perennial with light pink daisy-like flowers in early to mid-fall, while ‘Fireworks’ Goldenrod is a waist-high perennial with sprays of yellow flowers resembling streaks of fireworks in the sky.
Top left: Hawaiians use plumeria blooms to make leis. The Arboretum has a plumeria tree and will be selling plumeria sticks at the Plant Sale. Top right: 'Fireworks' Goldenrod is a waist-high   perennial  with  sprays  of  yellow
flowers resembling streaks of fireworks in the sky. Photo: F.D. Richards, CC-BY-SA 2.0. Middle left: Sundrops is a native perennial whose lemon, cup-shaped flowers bloom throughout much of spring and summer. Photo: D. Roos. Middle right: The Red Hot Poker Plant has bright-red conical flowers atop tall slender stalks throughout early summer. Bottom left: Bronze Fennel is a fragrant culinary herb. that has the aroma and taste of licorice. It's also a magnet for caterpillars that will later become swallowtail butterflies. Photo: Q. Dombrowski, CC-BY-SA 2.
A few of the Arboretum’s gardens, including the Children’s Garden and Fire Hydrant Garden, feature Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria). An aptly-named plant that looks like just what it is called, this drought-tolerant perennial has bright-red conical flowers atop tall slender stalks throughout early summer, setting gardens ablaze.

These are just a few of the many plants that will be available as part of our annual Master Gardener Plant Sale this Saturday, May 16, from 10 am to 12 noon, at 403 Government Circle in Greenville. Members of the Friends of the Arboretum program can enter early at 9 am. Proceeds support maintenance, improvements, and educational programming within the Pitt County Arboretum.  

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center.  If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
 



]]><![CDATA[Azaleas: An iconic landscape plant]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 00:05:15 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/azaleas-an-iconic-landscape-plantAzaleas are one of the most iconic landscape plants of the south, with seemingly every yard in sight having at least one, if not many more than that. I recently moved into a new house in town, and though I haven’t counted, I strongly suspect that there are more azaleas on my property than all other species of tree and shrub combined. Some folks love azaleas because the shrubs provide almost unparalleled flower color during the 2-3 weeks they are in bloom each year, while other people lament that azaleas are relatively bland the other 49 weeks of the year. Personally, my tastes fall somewhere in the middle, as I believe both statements are true.

There is, of course, more than one type of azalea. Many, many more, in fact. The NC State Plant Toolbox, an online resource that provides valuable information on plants relevant to our state, recognizes 32 unique species and significant hybrid groups of azaleas, while the Azalea Society of America recognizes over 100 species, and more than 10,000 named hybrid cultivars found throughout the country. Botanically, azaleas are classified in the Rhododendron genus, though what we commonly refer to as a Rhododendron is a large shrub with broad leathery leaves and large bell-shaped flowers, while azaleas typically have smaller leaves and smaller funnel-shaped flowers.

Some of the most common azaleas in our part of the world include the Southern Indica azaleas (Rhododendron indicum), the Dwarf Indica or Gumpo azaleas (Rhododendron eriocarpum), the Kurume azaleas (Rhododendron ponticum), and the Encore azaleas, which are a relatively new group of hybrids that bloom multiple times each year. All of these are evergreen shrubs, and they all prefer moist, well-drained acidic soil in full to partial shade, though the Encore group is slightly more sun tolerant.
Top left: Dwarf Indica (Gumpo) Azalea is among the most popular azaleas in the South. Photo: Cliff, CC BY 2.0. Bottom right: The Kurume Azalea is another favorite. Photo: D.S.N. Ma, CC BY-NC 2.0 These evergreen azaleas tend to be various shades of pink, purple, red, and white. Bottom left: Photo of white azalea: A. Bayer Tamayo, CC-BY-SA 2.0. Top right: The Flame Azalea, a deciduous shrub, has bright golden yellow, funnel-shaped flowers. Photo: C. DeWitt, CC BY-NC 4.0.
I’ve always preferred deciduous azaleas, partly due to their comparative rarity to the overwhelming abundance of evergreen azaleas, and partly because some of the deciduous types feature colors not usually seen on evergreen types, which tend to be various shades of pink, purple, red, and white. My grandmother, who lived in Maine, had a Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) in her back yard that was as golden yellow as the mid-day summer sun when in full bloom. In our garden at home in Massachusetts where I grew up, we had a ‘Dexter’ hybrid Exbury Azalea, which someone gifted my father, who is also named Dexter, and it was a deep orange color. While not terribly common in Eastern NC, either of these can be grown here in the right conditions.

Azaleas are shallow-rooted plants, which means they can dry out quickly when soil moisture is low, particularly early in their life. They can also develop root rot in poorly-drained soils. They can also struggle with some cosmetic pests such as azalea lace bug, when planted in more sun than they desire. With proper placement, however, they are quite easy to grow and relatively pest free.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.

]]><![CDATA[Going bananas for the scent of Banana Shrub]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 01:04:35 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/going-bananas-for-the-scent-of-banana-shrubFragrance is just one of the five senses, but it’s one of the most relied-on attributes in sensory gardens.

When one thinks of fragrant garden flowers, they likely first think of aromatic flowers such as rose, lilac, gardenia, and honeysuckle, or scented herbs such as rosemary, lavender, and thyme.  While these are classic favorites, there are, of course, many other plants that provide a pleasant aroma in the landscapes they inhabit.  One hidden gem that fits this mold is Magnolia figo, Banana Shrub.

Banana Shrub is a member of the magnolia genus that is home to more familiar relatives that include the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana), and Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata), although Banana Shrub is a somewhat recent addition to this family. Formerly known as Michelia figo, botanists have reclassified it as a magnolia, though you may occasionally still see this plant referred to by its old name. Regardless of what you call it, this is a medium to large-sized evergreen shrub that grows slowly to 6-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. It likes similar conditions to what many other magnolias like, including moist, well-drained, acidic soil, preferably with a high organic matter content, and full sun to partial shade. 
Picture
Top: Banana Shrub blooms: Each con-sists of six creamy white-to-yellow petals, formed into the shape of a small cup, and sometimes tinged lightly with purple.  Photo: J. Williamson, Clemson Extension. Middle left: The purple in these blooms is more prominent. Right: Banana Shrub is an evergreen that grows 6-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide.
The prize delivered each spring by the banana shrub is its fragrant spring flowers that typically arrive around mid-April.  The blooms consist of six creamy white-to-yellow petals, formed into the shape of a small cup, and sometimes tinged lightly with purple.  Each flower has a delightfully pleasant fruity fragrance, which, as the name implies, suggests the smell of a ripe banana, though some describe the scent as being more similar to cantaloupe.  Either way, the aroma is extremely enjoyable, and distinct from the perfumey fragrance many other blooms might bring.

The blooms are attractive, though they can be camouflaged a bit by the foliage. In some landscapes, this is a ‘smell it before you see it’ type of plant. Bloom duration will last 2-4 weeks, and after they are gone, banana shrub doesn’t do much else ornamentally.  It is a perfectly modest evergreen shrub that will look just fine for about 10-11 months out of each year, perhaps a bit sparse for a week or two when its oldest leaves drop in late winter, and then absolutely delightful for about a month while blooming.  It’s best use in the landscape is where its scent can be fully appreciated when in bloom, and the shrub can blend in with more interesting plants the rest of the year. In that way it is similar to osmanthus or gardenia. Often mixed border areas are a good setting to maximize Banana Shrub’s ornamental value.  

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center.  If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
]]><![CDATA[Creeping Phlox: Short-lived flowers dazzle]]>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:53:10 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/creeping-phlox-short-lived-flowers-dazzleMany gardeners, myself included, prefer plants with extended bloom times or multiple seasons of ornamental interest. These types of plants have a lasting aesthetic impact in the landscapes in which they are found. Still, there can be something alluring about the plants whose bloom comes on quickly, commands our attention for a few weeks, and then vanishes almost as fast as it came, leaving us wanting more. One such plant that dashes in and out each spring is creeping phlox, Phlox subulata. Its spectacular flowers dazzle us for the few short weeks they are in bloom.

Creeping phlox, also known as moss phlox, is a low-growing, spreading perennial that appears to creep along the soil surface wherever it grows, whether that is a gentle slope, the edge of a garden bed or border, along a wall, or spilling over a rock. Individual plants grow to a height of no more than 6 inches tall, but grow up to 3 feet wide. When multiple plants are planted near one another, the intersecting foliage creates a mass where one plant is indistinguishable from the next. The alternative common name moss phlox seems to refer to this mat-like growth habit, though it could also be in part due to the somewhat chartreuse hue of the stubby, awl-like foliage, which looks somewhat similar to moss. Foliage is semi-evergreen, persisting, at least partially, throughout the winter.
Left: Flowers are close up enough to see that each has five lobes. Flower color ranges from white to various shades of pink, lavender, and purple. Photo: B.A. Bergman, CC BY 4.0 Top right: Moss phlox prefers to grow in rocky, sandy soils or in areas in the garden that mimic these conditions, including rock gardens and beds near sidewalks and driveways. Photo: P. Felder, CC BY 4.0 Middle: Phlox also likes to grow in raised beds of containers, and may cascade or spill over walls. Bottom right: When multiple plants are planted near one another, the intersecting foliage creates a mound where one plant is indistinguishable from the next. Photo: J. Robbins, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Individual flowers are tubular shaped, similar to the crossvine discussed in the previous column, though much smaller. The corolla of each flower is an elongated tube with five flattened lobes at its apex. Flowers are clustered in groups of 2 to 8 and arrive in mid-April in most years. Flower color ranges from white to various shades of pink, lavender, and purple. Full bloom may last 2 to 3 weeks, and usually wraps up by early May. While unfortunately brief, the floral effect of a mass planting of creeping phlox can command attention during its bloom the same way other fleeting bloomers like forsythia or azalea might. The brevity is thus worth the impact.

Creeping phlox is native to much of the Central and Eastern United States and Canada. It’s native to North Carolina, though in our state one would likely only find it growing naturally in the Appalachian Mountains to the west. It tends to prefer rocky, sandy soils, as well as slopes and ledges, thus when using it in the garden it will often perform best in areas that mimic these conditions. This could include rock gardens, beds near sidewalks and driveways, raised beds, or containers. If grown in the latter, it will fall over the lip or edge of the container or raised bed as it grows, functionally inhabiting the role of ‘spiller’ in the container garden ‘thrillers, fillers, and spillers’ mantra. Creeping phlox flowers best in full sun, but does appreciate a bit of light afternoon shade in the summer, so perhaps planting near a small, deciduous tree would be wise.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1702.
]]><![CDATA[The flower power of Crossvines]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:06:51 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/the-flower-power-of-crossvinesIncorporating vines into modern landscapes can be tricky. For starters, the vines require some type of structure to grow on, whether it’s a fence, arbor, trellis, pergola, or something else. If you don’t already have one of these structures in your yard and want to add a vine to the landscape, you really are looking at two purchases rather than just one, and that can be an obstacle for some. Beyond that, there are many vines that cross the threshold of aggressive grower to become invasive. Kudzu, English Ivy, Wisteria, Japanese Honeysuckle, and many others were once frequently planted either for utilitarian reasons. Kudzu was planted to control erosion. Wisteria and honeysuckle were planted because they have pretty blooms, but are now unwelcome due to their invasive nature.

So what vines can we plant?  One option, especially if you like the look of honeysuckle or trumpet vine, is Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata. This native vine sports similar trumpet-shaped flowers to the aforementioned vines, but is generally more well-behaved in the garden. Flowers often have an orange-red tubular throat with five fused yellow petals at the apex, though there are a few cultivars with slightly different color patterns. ‘Tangerine Beauty,’ for instance, has a light-yellow interior throat with coral orange petals.
Picture
Top: 'Tangerine Beauty' vines. Photo: C. DeWitt, CC BY 4.0 Left: Flowers often have an  orange-red  tubular throat with
five fused yellow petals at the apex. Photo: S. Strine, CC BY 2.0 Right: 'Tangerine Beauty' blooms have coral petals with a light yellow interior.
Crossvine gets its name from the unusual arrangement of its vascular tissue inside the stem. Most woody plants have their conducting tissue arranged in circles around the perimeter of the stem. Think of the ‘rings’ that you count on a tree to assess its age; in fact it is layers of this conductive tissue. If you cut into the stem of a cross vine, however, this tissue is arranged, well, in the shape of a cross, a characteristic that easily distinguishes it from any lookalikes.
  
While primarily grown for its flower power, the crossvine does have interesting foliage. Technically arranged in trifoliate clusters of three leaflets, two of the three leaflets are in the form of ‘true’ oval-shaped leaves, while the third leaflet is a modified leaf in the form of a tendril, the tissue that twines around the structure the vine is growing on. Its leaves are glossy green throughout much of the year, but turn a purplish color in the fall before dropping. Crossvine is semi-evergreen, meaning it will retain some of its leaves year-round, but those that do fall provide a nice bit of autumn color as they transition. Crossvine plants will grow reasonably well in both sun and shade, though the flower and foliage color will be much better in sun.

Although much less problematic than the invasive vines mentioned at the outset, crossvine is a fast grower and a somewhat prolific re-seeder. It can also become weedy in some situations, though because it is native we don’t consider it invasive. Be aware you may have to tidy up after the vine to keep it from growing in places you may not wish it to grow.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
]]><![CDATA[Quince: Out of favor but not out of mind]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:19:07 GMThttps://www.pittcountyarboretum.com/directors-choice/quince-out-of-favor-but-not-out-of-mindIt may not be as obvious as it is with fashion, music, and the arts, but gardening is also subject to changing trends over periods of time.  While many trends might be driven by what celebrities and other tastemakers are doing, gardening trends are often dictated by things like property sizes, the economy, and preferences for particular attributes.  As such, certain plants tend to go out of favor as the tides turn. 

One trend that I largely support, and seems to be more or less here to stay, is the use of landscape plants that have multiple seasons of ornamental interest. With property sizes being smaller and the average person having a limited budget for discretionary expenses like landscaping, it makes sense that, instead of choosing fewer plants that bloom for a few weeks and don’t do much else the rest of the year, many people choose more plants that look pretty in the spring when they flower, look pretty in the summer when they bear fruit, and look pretty again in the fall when their leaves change color before falling.  I’ve personally advocated that more people select plants this way. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t some worthwhile plants that are being left behind due to this shift in preference.  Quince, or Chaenomeles speciosa, is a shrub I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for, even though all of its ornamental value is tied to the relatively short amount of time it is in bloom each year. Quince are large shrubs in the rosacea family, often growing 8-12’ tall and wide, with a prolific spring bloom that looks like tiny rose blossoms.  Flowers may be red, pink, orange, or white.  A fruit does follow these blossoms, though it is not overly showy, and is often hidden somewhat by the dense foliage of this plant.  Similar to persimmon, your enjoyment of this fruit is likely related to your ability to recognize its full maturity.  Fruits are bitter and inedible when hard, but when they’ve softened they are more palatable and can be preserved or made into jelly.
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Top left: Quince are large shrubs with showy blooms and stems. Photo: Acabashi, CC-BY-SA 4.0 Top right: ‘Orange Storm’ have a second set of petals, no thorns, and are compact, growing to about five feet tall and wide. ‘Orange Storm’ was bred at NC State. Bottom: Quince flowers resemble tiny rose blooms, and bloom prolifically in the spring. Blooms may be red, pink, orange, or white. Photo: Jonathan-Billinger, CC-BY-SA 2.0
Because of its size and density, quince can be used as a screen or hedge; however, for many gardeners, the size is another factor that has caused this plant to fall out of favor. Many gardeners are looking for small to medium sized shrubs that better fit their available space and require less pruning to stay under control.  The thorns on a typical quince branch are a bit unpleasant to navigate when pruning, I admit. 

Those who enjoy the appearance of quince, but prefer something smaller, might wish to try selections from the Double Take series, bred at NC State. This includes varieties like ‘Orange Storm,’ ‘Scarlet Storm,’ and ‘Eternal White.’ The name Double Take refers to the fact that the flowers have a second set of overlapping petals, thus making them double blooms.  The flowers are sterile, and the plants are thornless and more compact, growing to a size of about 5’ tall and wide.   

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center.  If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
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