Overhill Gardens

05/26/2026

NATIVE PLANTS…..MAY, JUNE, JULY….IS IT TOO LATE TO PLANT?

You might recall how hot and dry it was this late winter into May, with temperatures soaring in the 80’s, when our soils were anything but moist and arable. Mercifully, the rains began cycling in and pulled us over the drought hump to where the ground was summoning us once again to be filled. So here it is going into early June, soils are as good as they can get, when suddenly many folks are backing off with fears of looming summer heat and drought.
Aargh. ‘IT’S TOO LATE TO PLANT!!!”
Let us ask you this. What is happening to your shrubs, trees and flowering plants during the early summer? Are they curling up and having a pity party? Last we looked, they are growing by leaps and bounds and inviting our pruning shears and saws to take some control of their ebullience!
Owner Avi Askey here at OVERHILL GARDENS endorses how his best gardens are planted in summer months! And here in the nursery, when folks ask, ‘is it too late to plant’?, we hopefully suppress their fears with the time- tested tenet that ‘OVERHILL plants gardens from January 1 to January 1’. Now the caveat for all gardeners is water. Would you put a large shrub in the ground on July 4th and assume it does not require water because it’s ‘native?’ Planning to hydrate this initial year has to be factored into warm season planting, and with a little pampering, you’ll be golden. Growth vigor is highly observable, [those roots are happily arranging themselves outwards and rapidly], evening pollinator opportunities soar and the rate of photosynthesis enjoys both day and nighttime temperatures.
And…plant smart! Juvenile plants immediately adjust, so don’t be seduced into the larger version of that [i.e.] anise hyssop: immediate blooms are cute but pick them off initially in favor of having energy go into the roots, rather than blossoms and seeds. If the plant is taller than needed, prune off some of that legginess in favor of generating more basal growth...this is preparing your plant for its optimal success. Dig and plant in the early evening hour. Get some water and mulch on to the area around the plant to lock in more even temperature. The extra sunlight of these months plainly feeds your plant, and up to 92 degrees, this should continue to intensify. The next phase of later summer heat will deal you slower progress in proliferation [unless it happens to be a sunflower, aster, goldenrod or native grass], yet you made no mistake in planting, even if those leaves begin flagging. Because they were able to establish such beautiful root growth in the warm season, their future increase is set for the following year. You may trim it back a tad to manage the heat, but be not disappointed, we want you to realize that all is well even when the plant takes a back seat in beauty at 95 degrees.

DO continue to hydrate! And don’t stop planting!!! Pictured are a few of the MANY choices we have! - Eileen Askey

05/22/2026

This Cecropia moth barely escapes a darting Cardinal and lands at our feet in the gravel parking lot at the new nursery on US411. Just recently hatched from a cocoon likely attached to the branch of a black cherry it finishes "inflating" it's wings. The largest moth in N America, seeing one is an experience not soon forgotten.

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

Did you know there's a local award that recognizes the amazing native gardens in our area?? Our friends at Native Plant Rescue Squad in Knoxville are accepting nominations for both residential and public gardens for their annual Sassafras award. Help inspire us all!! And don't hesitate-- nominations due by June 1st!

05/16/2026

Big thank you to those attending our Propagation today! John & Matthew are a wealth of knowledge! Check out our events page for more classes!

05/16/2026

05/15/2026

Smoketree – but Where’s the Smoke?

For those who have a taste for special, less-than-common native plants – this one will suit you well. When most people hear smoketree, they think of smokebush – Cotinus coggygria, a non-native Eurasian import popular in the horticultural trade. However, there is a very special (and not well-known) native relative, Cotinus obovatus (co-TIE-nus obo-VAY-tus) - American smoketree. Other common names it has attached to it are American Smokewood and Chittamwood. A search for the etymology of “chittamwood” yields little – only that it was a Native American term, and that it’s used for at least one other species. Unlike its Eurasian counterpart, this species is less of a shrub than a tree. It’s a member of the Anacardiceae, along with cashews, pistachios, mangos, poison ivy, sumac, etc.) Because many members of this plant family contain the oily resin urushiol, responsible for allergic rashes, caution is advised when handling cut or broken wood of this species. Known as having some of the most spectacular autumn color of any tree native to North America, once you’ve seen a native smoke tree (especially in its autumn glory) there will be no turning back. It’s not unusual to observe multiple shades of orange, yellow, red and purple - on the tree at the same time.

The orange-yellow interior wood of this tree has been used historically as a dye, and during the Civil War Era, it was collected so extensively for this purpose, that it decimated its populations in some areas.

Smoketree’s distribution maps show it documented in only eight states, and in most of them it’s rare. The farthest west it grows is in Texas. Seldom found in nurseries - or in the wild, this is a tree that is more-than-worthy as a plant for many landscapes. The fact that is thrives in poor soil that is dry, make this an even more useful plant.

The “smoke” in its name refers to is the plant’s inflorescences (clusters of flowers) resembling a puff of pink/gray smoke as they mature. Its attractive obovate (egg-shaped) leaves have soft, non-reflective surfaces and are green with slight bluish cast to them.

Because there exists much confusion between Smoketee and Smokebush, be sure that it’s our native Continus obovatus you are acquiring – not Cotinus coggygria.

Overhill Gardens has several specimens of this special plant. Come get one…or three! Just warn your neighbors not to call the fire department when they see “smoke” emanating from the tree!

By John T. Manion

05/13/2026

Don't take our word for it. These garden groups all agree, you'll dig our nursey tours! We love sharing our passion and look forward to hosting your group!