Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips

Melinda Myers

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.com

Melinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.

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Brighten those shady spots in the summer landscape with bottlebrush buckeye.  This summer bloomer produces showy spikes of white flowers you and the butterflies will enjoy.

Bottlebrush buckeye grows 8 to 12 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide. It is hardy throughout zones 4 to 8 and even 9 with sufficient shade.

Grow it as a specimen, in shrub beds, mixed borders and woodland gardens. The large green leaves are attractive throughout the summer and turn yellow in the fall.

Plant bottlebrush buckeyes in moist well-drained soil and full to partial shade for best results. It will tolerate wet soil and drier conditions once established, making it suitable for rain gardens.

Its suckering nature makes it a great screen and erosion control plant. Plus, rabbits and deer tend to leave it be.

A bit more information:  Bottlebrush buckeye is native to woodlands in Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida. It will produce inedible fruit in areas with long growing seasons.  The pear-shaped nuts called buckeyes are encased in husks.