TREEMENDOUS CONIFERS

It takes a Christmas tree farm an average of eight to twelve years to bring their crop to fruition. Most of these growers also harvest their product for transplanted sales. That is to say that they are selling live trees throughout the year to be transplanted into our living spaces. With all the time and effort it takes to grow these beautiful evergreens, why do so many continue to site conifers in the wrong location?

Perhaps the single most important question to ask yourself when purchasing a conifer for your landscape is, HOW MUCH SUNLIGHT DO I GET?” The second most important question is, “HOW MUCH SPACE DO I HAVE FOR THEM?” Far too often, as I look at contemporary landscapes, I notice HUGE site problems with conifers. Blue spruce (Picea pungens) planted five foot on center in a straight hedge line or Norway spruce (Picea abies) planted in heavy shade are not thoughtful solutions. Most conifers, cone-bearing trees or shrubs, prefer full sun to light shade. While there are some that will thrive in shade, they are not spruce, juniper, pine and fir. With all the new construction going on in New Jersey right now, there seems to be a race for immediate gratification when creating or rebuilding our landscapes. Blue spruce, white pine, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, and Hemlock are all prodigious conifers that over time will reach heights of forty to sixty feet tall and twenty to thirty feet wide. And if we envision planting these trees for the enjoyment of future generations then eighty to one hundred feet tall becomes our reality. Consider planting cultivars!

“A cultivar, or cultivated variety, is a group of plants under cultivation whose members differ from other members of the same species in one or more characteristics.” This can be achieved by an abnormality in the wild, hybridization or be selected under cultivation. An example of this is the prosaic Alberta Spruce which almost every gardener knows. The Alberta spruce, or dwarf white spruce, is a cultivar found by J.G. Jack and Alfred Rehder at Lake Laggan, Alberta, Canada in 1904. What all this technical stuff boils down to is there is always the right plant for the right location available. That is if you are willing to ask enough questions. Don’t be swayed by size and price. Just because you can buy a larger tree for less money does not mean that it is the right tree. Should you truly want a blue spruce hedge, consider planting Picea pungens ‘Blue Totem” or “Iseli Fastigiate.” These are two noteworthy narrow forms which mimic the form and function of another popular cultivar Emerald Green Arborvitae. Both blue spruce types are far better solutions, long term, than the species. If you are dealing with shady environments and still enjoy the texture of coniferous materials, don’t despair. There are still some candidates that are available to you. Hemlock, Yews, Umbrella pine and Japanese plum yew are at your disposal. Each species is a proven winner in shadier locations and all have usable cultivars for smaller footprints or more troublesome spots. For example, “I have a shady location with deer, but I want an evergreen conifer to cover my air conditioning unit”. Solution, Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ (Japanese Plum Yew) will afford you the screen you so desire.

Remember that plants are a life form. They require food, water and attention. Ask as many questions as you can and try not to let monetary restrictions dictate your choices. There will always be a place for the larger species plants, but they should be limited to larger surroundings. Remember that the size of a tree at purchase does not determine the likelihood of its existence. Liken your decision making process to an engagement ring purchase. Cut, clarity and color are far more important than size. Do your homework!

False Holly Is a True Winner

One of the challenges of retail sales in a garden center is educating your customer’s understanding of sunlight, soil and moisture. Often the responses to these questions are ambiguous at best. “I get part sun, part of the day” is a response that is unclear to both parties. In most cases there has not been enough attention given to the location or placement of plants. Plant selections, at times, seem to be done by trial and error or in a capricious manner, rather than having a clear understanding of just how well a plant can do given the right environment. So when a plant comes along tolerant to many conditions, it’s no wonder that the industry and public embrace it so quickly.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ (Japanese False Holly or Holly Tea Olive) is a plant brought to us by way of a plant expedition. Barry Yinger and Phil Normandy, two notable plantsmen, in the early 1980’s were associated with Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. These two men are responsible for collecting ‘Goshiki’ in Asia and selflessly asked the help of Iseli Nursery in Boring, Oregon to help propagate it. After evaluating ‘Goshiki’ for almost a decade, Iseli Nursery introduced this cultivar of false holly to the commercial trade and the explosion and popularity of this garden gem began.

“Goshiki in Japanese means ‘five colored’ and refers to the various colors found on each leaf.” This broadleaf evergreen has a collage of smeared markings of green, pink, copper, yellow and white throughout most of the year. Extremely durable, ‘Goshiki’ was held back before being released for fear of temperature hardiness. Osmanthus is typically a zone 7 plant; however, ‘Goshiki’ is a proven 6, possibly 5. The colors of this holly tea olive appear in swirls creating an eye-catching display. Useful as a specimen, in mass plantings or for container gardening, it can reach heights of 3 to 5 feet comfortably. Over time, however, heights of 8 to 10 feet are obtainable. Iseli Nursery, the Conifer Mecca of the world, has a single specimen over 12 feet. Impervious to garden pests and diseases, ‘Goshiki’ has even stood well against deer in New Jersey. Drought tolerant once established, ‘Goshiki’ will want some protection from desiccating winds in the winter. Consider spraying Wilt Pruf, an anti desiccant, in the fall as you would any other broadleaf evergreen. And by the way, it will do well in either sun or shade.

Small white four-petaled blooms are hidden by the colorful foliage. From September thru November Osmanthus produces an intoxicating fragrance that has been aptly replicated by Henri Bendel. A modern, sophisticated shopping label in Manhattan, Henri Bendel has recently captured its fragrance and marketed it in the form of a candle. Notable for using botanical extracts Bendel has now given gardeners a chance to enjoy this unique plants fragrance year round.

Easily manipulated, ‘Goshiki’ creates an almost impenetrable colorful mound in any size garden. Its dense, compact growth habit reminds one of an armadillo’s body armor of bony plates. Often misidentified as Ilex (Holly), Osmanthus has leaves arranged in opposite pairs rather than alternate. It prefers well drained soil and is easily transplanted from containers. While ‘Goshiki’ seems to be the most readily available cultivar, be on the look out for Kembu, Sasaba, Akebono and Ogon. Most have leathery leaves with holly-like spines. And while some offer variegated margins their overall garden presence are different from their relative ‘Goshiki’. With all that has been said you could even use Osmanthus cuttings in your next holiday arrangement. Imagine the rainbow of colors you’ll have in December on your holiday table.

A Heavenly Plant

Imagine a plant’s versatility that it could offer itself as a specimen, useful for mass plantings, behave itself in a container garden, have year round interest and in all instances soften garden designs with its unique bamboo-like texture. With all this can you further imagine its adaptability to extremes in temperature, lighting and soil. Behold Nandina domestica and all its glorious forms.

Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) is not at all related to Bamboo. A common name afforded for its resemblance to bamboo complete with cane-like appearances and feathery, compound leaves with lance shaped leaflets. Tolerant to temperatures below -5 degrees, this evergreen, woody ornamental shrub can defoliate and in some cases die to the ground yet come back with a vengeance in the spring. Enjoying more moderate Jersey winters this plant can offer year round interest. In the spring new growth emerges with bright shades of red and is soon followed by large panicles of creamy white flowers. During warmer weather, Nandinas colors fade to a more soothing blue-green and its flowers are replaced with bright green fruit. As summer intensifies so do the markings of the fruit transforming them to a bright red. Autumn brings with it another change for this chameleon-like plant. The foliage returns to spring shades of pink and red while the fruit holds on and darkens to a fiery red. Local wildlife (mockingbirds and robins) can and will enjoy these natural gifts. Left to its own “Heavenly Bamboo” will grow to eight feet; however it can be kept nicely at smaller heights.

Several cultivars are available to gardeners as growers have realized the potential of this powerhouse shrub. For smaller garden footprints consider Nandina d. “Compacta”, “Harbour Dwarf” or Wood’s Dwarf”. All are excellent cultivars possessing diminutive yet ostensible traits. “Harbour Dwarf” however, is the most rhizomatous of the three. For some real intense color markings try “Plum Passion” and “Sienna Sunrise”. Personal favorites, these two varieties offer some of the best shades of purple and red on the market. Both moderate growers, about three to five feet, these two offer the best of what Heavenly Bamboo is all about. Still there are others like “Firepower” that only reaches about thirty inches and represents itself well with brilliant crimson markings. Requiring little or no pruning, this gem was brought to us by way of New Zealand.

Indigenous to Japan, China and south-east Asia, Heavenly Bamboo is very hard to kill once established. Nandina may be grown in partial shade; however, their markings are best in full sun with some protection from hot afternoons. Consider planting a container grown cultivar and thoughtfully place it in a wind protected area of your garden. Nandina enjoys moist, well drained soil and to be fertilized in the spring. Almost entirely free of disease and pests, Nandina is a trouble free plant that has proven to be deer resistant as well. Heavenly Bamboos best fruiting display seems to be when they are planted in masses rather than as a single specimen. Another cool characteristic is that they belong to the Berberidaceae family. When you cut a branch there is bright yellow inside the same as with barberry.

As previously mentioned, these are tough little buggers that have proven themselves tolerant to water deprived areas. Remove the oldest canes in the spring and take your cuttings in warmer weather if you’re so inclined. Nandinas are a choice plant for entryways, patios and foundation plantings. Consider wrapping them around a larger deciduous tree to add depth and texture to your next garden project. With over sixty known cultivars you’re sure to find a candidate that will suit your botanical needs.

Autumnal Treats

With the heat of summer behind us and shorter days and cooler nights ahead, it’s almost time for plant material to shut down and begin to go dormant. Cooler days and nights start to slow the growing and stretching of plant material and make it more advantageous for transplanting and planting. However, before this happens, there are some surprises we can still look forward to before we think about putting away our backyard furniture for the season.

Heptacodium miconioides (Seven-Son Flower) has features that have been developing over summer and are now ready to put on display. Native to the Zhejiang Province of China this garden gem offers characteristics that are comparable to the popular southern beauty Lagerstroemia (Crapemyrtle). With an upright, open growth habit this one really puts on a display quickly. Starting off with four inch, dark green leaves in early spring which sticks through November, it is the bark, flower and fruit which make this a suitable candidate for smaller landscapes. The buds appear early on in summer, however it’s not until August that they open and really shine through September, maybe October. Six inch long terminal panicles are fragrant and creamy- white, with a fragrance reminiscent to jasmine. Heptacodium’s common name is derived from small single flowers that are borne in tiers, capped by a flower, thus creating a seventh flower. Exfoliating gray-brown bark creates a patchwork consistent with those beautiful Crapemyrtles we see all too often south of Maryland. Another bonus is the groupings of pink-red calyxes through the progression of the season. Known to attract butterflies and related to the honeysuckle, this horticultural delight transplants easily from containers and prefers moist, well drained soils. The growth of Seven-Son Flower can be exponential at a younger age. Mature heights are ten to twenty feet high and about five to ten feet wide. Suitable as a small specimen, try to keep this one out of direct sun in the hot afternoon. And by all means look, with anticipation, for the purple-bronze fall color.

Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin Tree) is just about the most impressive late summer/early fall flowering tree going. Almost perfect white flowers are borne in August and September. Made up of five petals and a yellow center, the fact that it’s fragrant is just an exclamation mark for an already impressive small tree. Trying to outperform this feat is the intense red and orange markings which take place in the cooler fall months. And for the real plant “weenies”, try staring at the peculiar fruit which is dissected into five-valved capsules, an instant give away in a plant ID class. Showcasing Franklinia should be a prerequisite for any gardener as its attributes are numerous. Even the bark, as it matures, offers vertical fissures affording a fluted appearance. Found and native to the banks of the Altamaha River in Georgia by John and William Bartram, Franklin Tree prefers moist, well drained soils and full to partial sun. Overall appearances for this specimen can reach ten to twenty feet tall by eight to twelve feet wide. For best results, try planting a container grown or smaller B&B type as the root system, which is not heavily fibrous, lends itself better for transplanting. Franklinia’s common name is derived from the Bartram’s (Eighteenth-century botanists) association with friend Benjamin Franklin. Paying homage to Franklin and the old spelling of “alatamaha” (the river by which the tree was found in Georgia) make up this historical beauty’s nomenclature.

Windbreakers and sweaters will soon be moved to the front of our closets. Pumpkins, chrysanthemums and Montauk Daisies will be the foreground admixtures supporting more permanent plant materials. So before you pack away all your outdoor garden furniture, try using it to relax and enjoy the splendors of fall. After all, autumn can be just as enticing in your garden as any other season.

Hazy, Hot and Purple

Purple is one of those colors that just jump out at you in a landscape. Whether it’s the painted pansy faces we think of in spring or the beautiful purple leaf plum trees we see April through November, purple is an audacious color that adds a big punch to a landscape. It can be dressed up or downplayed depending on the plant materials that surround it. Many plants offer either purple foliage or flowers in the heat of summer that can help liven up a somber landscape.
Sambucus nigra ‘Black Beauty’ (European Elder) is a deciduous ornamental offering purple-black leaves in the spring and summer. Brought to gardeners from Kent, England, this Elderberry’s dark foliage is a spectacular backdrop for deep pink, lemon scented umbels that are almost a foot wide. The foliage of this Elderberry will darken as fall approaches and entice us again with dark purple to black berries later in the season. Native to Europe, Africa and Asia this one will grow fast and do well in moist to wet areas. The color and texture of this Sambucus looks great when paired with Limemound spiraea or Hoopsi blue spruce. Minimal pruning will maintain ‘Black Beauty’s’ form making it suitable for smaller garden footprints.
Vitex agnus-castus (Chastetree) is a fast growing shrub that will eventually call itself a small tree. With aromatic foliage, comprised of five to seven lobes, this deciduous beauty holds showy, fragrant flower spikes of lilac-purple in the summer. Thriving in heat and growing ten to twenty feet, Vitex glows with a purple, white or pink cast in the summer depending on variety. Keep plants well irrigated and fertilized early on in the growing season to aid the new growth on the dieback of the previous year. With a rounded habit, this deciduous gem grows as tall as it is wide. The bark, with age, develops a grayish, coarse texture, but will not be pronounced should you choose to cut it back hard each spring. Interesting foliage and late season flowers, almost into September, makes Chasetree a great candidate for your garden. It is native to Southern Europe and Asia.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’ (Diablo Ninebark) was selected for its incredible reddish-purple foliage. Native to the United States this species is a tough rounded shrub with arching branches. The three to five lobes of purple foliage can digress to green in extreme heat or light shade in the north. White flowers appear in late May and continue on through early July where they eventually give way to a pinkish cast. The flower occurs in two inch corymbs (fat round snowballs made up of tinier blooms). Following the showy flowers of summer are the red fruit clusters which look as though it’s flowering again in the fall. Try imagining the red fruit set against the purple-black leaves of this garden treasure. Eventually the brightness of the seed cluster fades from intense red to a more dull mahogany. Autumn brings foliage interests from pumpkin-orange to burgundy-reds. The bark of Ninebark is peeling and cracked and so believed that its name is derived from layers that total nine. Whether you want to hack it back, almost to the ground each year, to keep a more compact form or let it continue on to impress you with its unique bark, Diablo Ninebark is sure to please. Highly adaptable, Diablo likes moist, well-drained soils and at least a half a day of sun. However, it will tolerate shade, clay soils and some dryness.
Color, texture, and size are what make a great landscape. With the unique aromatic foliage and late season flowers of Vitex and the hard purple foliage appeal of Ninebark and Elderberry, you are on your way to providing dramatic skeletal backdrops for even brighter colors. Remember, deciduous plants give us those intense memorable shades that help us through the winter months. And purple is just about as intense as it gets.

Robert LaHoff
Hall’s Garden Center

A Deciduous Conifer

For many the term deciduous conifer seems to be a misnomer. The thought of a tree losing its foliage yet still considered a conifer is improbable. Often I talk about selecting smaller plants for smaller garden footprints. There are times however, when a large tree, whether evergreen or deciduous, just captures our attention and has us staring in awe. Looking on at some of these majestic creatures has us contemplating age, endurance and historical significance.

Ginkgo biloba, ginkgo, has been around for some 150 million years. Dating back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, a time when dinosaurs ruled, this garden gem inhabited Asia, Europe, and North America. It was not only widespread, but common to these areas. Ginkgo or Maidenhair tree has its common name from its leaves resembling those of Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum). Thought to be extinct, we have German physician and botanist, Engelbert Kaempfer, to thank for his discovery of Ginkgo in Japan in 1691. The curiously shaped leaves of this majestic conifer are distinctive in appearance A link between present and past, this tree can live longer than 3,000 years holding some of times unanswered secrets. Distinctive, two lobed, leaves are somewhat leathery, waxy, and fan shaped with an attached leaf stalk. As a younger tree, Ginkgo, is more open in appearance, however over time it becomes a dense, handsome specimen with spreading rigidly ramified branching. Its bark is gray-brown with even darker furrows. Ginkgo prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well drained soils. However, you would have to look far to find a tree more adaptable. Known to grow in poor, compacted soils, this tree has endured fungal, insect pests, viral, bacterial diseases, ozone and sulfur dioxide pollution, fire and even radioactive radiation (atom bomb WWII).

Ginkgo comes from the Chinese word Ginkyo or “silver –apricot”, referencing the seed size and appearance to that of an apricot and the silvery bloom of the fruit. When possible, purchase male varieties as you will avoid the unpleasant fleshy seedcoat of the female. The fallen seed of the female has been compared to rancid butter as it decomposes having the presence of butanoic acid, a byproduct of many plants and animals. In the late 1950’s medicine began to catch up to Ginkgo realizing that extracts from the tree can improve blood circulation and memory, thus preventing blood clotting, providing an improved sense of well-being. The leaves are also used in tea for a variety of ailments. In fact the nut has long been used in Chinese medicine for asthma, bronchitis and digestive aid. They are even eaten as a side dish when drinking sake.

Several cultivars and varieties are available today which deviate from their parental giant. Ginkgo b. “Fastigaiata” is an architectural vertical accent that is almost columnar in appearance. “Magyar” is an upright narrow, pyramidal form with clean, green summer leaves. “Princeton Sentry” exhibits uniformed upright branching, remaining narrow over time and is this authors favorite tree. The preceding three cultivars incidentally are all male. Still others are available with spreading characteristics “Pragense” and variegated foliage “Rainbow and Variegata.” A constant of almost all ginkgos is the expected electric fall color display of yellow-gold. Remember while there are smaller types for smaller landscape footprints, Ginkgo biloba will hit 60 to 80 feet some day.

One of the toughest trees you will find, Maidenhair’s application can be a street tree, sited for urban development, used in parks or find a cultivar to hide away in your own garden. A tree of ancient lineage this “golden living fossil” has been revered by Buddhist monks and has its place along side temples. Paleobotanist, Sir Albert Seward (1938) said it best, “It appeals to the historic soul: we see it as an emblem of changelessness, a heritage from worlds too remote for our human intelligence to grasp, a tree which has in its keeping the secrets of the immeasurable past.”

An Endless Summer

Annuals such as impatiens, begonias and marigolds have always had bragging rights for repeat blooms throughout the summer. Perennials like hemerocallis (daylilies) have stretched the bounds of summer’s distant end providing drifts of colorful borders in the landscape in the heat of summer. Until recently, the thought of a deciduous ornamental providing blooms all through a growing season, seemed as improbable as the Boston Redsox winning a world series over the Yankees. Well, that happened and along came Hydrangea “ENDLESS SUMMER”.

Endless Summer hydrangea is a Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea) that was discovered by Vern Black of Bailey Nurseries in 1983. Impressed by its blooms and hardiness, even in zone 4(-20 fahrenheit), this hydrangea performed well when most others did not. In 1988, plants of Endless Summer were being observed by Dr. Michael Dirr, a demigod in the horticultural world. Flowering on new and old wood, flowers will appear despite freezing temperatures killing the stems to the ground. This garden gem is a mop-head type that is PH sensitive. Pink blooms in alkaline soils and blue flowers in acidic soils with sufficient aluminum. Blue flowers can be achieved however, by adding aluminum sulfate to alkaline soils. And yes, rusty nails still work at the base of hydrangea too. Endless Summer’s biggest claim to fame is that it blooms on new wood. Many times hydrangea is cut back at the wrong time, sacrificing blooms. Endless Summer spits flowers all season long (from May to October/November) regardless of new or old wood cutting. In fact it performs better when new growth is cut in half. Deadheading flowers will also increase its flower production. The foliage is medium to deep green and is mildew resistant. While it is more mildew resistant than Nikko Blue it is not as stem hardy. Mature plant size is only 3 to 5 feet tall and wide assuring that even the smallest garden footprint can afford one.

Other repeat blooming hydrangea becoming available are Hydrangea macrophylla “Lady in Red” and Hydrangea “PennyMac”. These two varieties offer improved garden interest from an already exciting deciduous family. Lady in Red, developed by Dr. Michael Dirr, has red stems, red veined leaves, and lacecap blooms. These blooms open in late spring as either pink or blue but eventually mature to a burgundy rose, complimenting the other prominent red markings. Lady in Red’s blooms are about 4-5 inches across at maturity and the sepals fold down showing off its wonderful burgundy back side. Mildew resistant foliage turns from green to a rich purple in the fall. PennyMac, named for one of the founders of the American Hydrangea Society, Penny MacHenry, is the hydrangea answer for the north. Reblooming heavily on new wood, PennyMac offers huge 7 inch flower clusters of blue and lush green foliage. Consider cutting some of the blooms for flower arrangements or drying them so as to enjoy during your winter doldrums. PennyMac tops out at about 4-5 feet tall and wide. Remember when planting your favorite hydrangea to site them in partial shade and moist, well drained soil is important. While some are tolerant to heat and humidity, they would prefer to be well irrigated in such a surrounding. Avoid hot western exposures whenever possible to ensure that those big leaves don’t get crunchy, crinkled and burnt.

All three hydrangeas are ideal for foundation planting, specimens, mass plantings or container plants. Container gardening with hydrangea can now be as rewarding as annuals overflowing their pottery boundaries. The next time you visit your local garden center and are tempted by all the annual color out front, consider strolling through the deciduous, evergreen and coniferous materials as well. What lies ahead in the horticultural field may just be a fragrant, repeat blooming, flowering conifer that changes color throughout the seasons and is totally deer resistant. Probably not, but its fun to dream. Enjoy your “Endless Summer”.

Bon Appetite--I Think Not!

What won’t the deer eat? This is a question that I’m asked over and over again. My answer is unwavering. The more educated you are about deer resistant plants, the less of a selection the deer have. Plant materials that have thorns, odor or stiff branching aren’t always a sure thing. But it helps! I often say that if you’re hungry and you don’t like tuna fish and there’s nothing else to eat, you’ll eat tuna fish. The same holds true for deer. If all you have planted is barberry, spruce and juniper, you can bet their decision is simple. Either they starve or they eat TUNA FISH. However, having said this, there still seems to be one staple plant that our four legged friends have left alone. BOXWOOD!! Boxwoods

contain a toxic alkaloid that makes them unpalatable. Let me try to dispel the myth that all boxwoods are just green meatballs. There are currently some 160 registered cultivars of boxwood. While all boxwood shares the same texture, there are color differences, size and shape variations that will tantalize even the biggest skeptics.

Buxus sempervirens (common boxwood), has long been a staple for many existing and new landscapes. A plant that will stay in bounds as a foundation planting or prove that over time can be quite a handsome specimen is still just green. But there’s more out there to tempt us. Graham Blandy and Fastigiata are two upright, tight, pillar cultivars that lend themselves well for container gardening or as vertical accents for either side of a front door. Dee Runk is another upright, conical grower with lateral branching at about 45 degrees. Morris Dwarf, Morris Midget, and Green Pillow are just what you’d expect. Diminutive forms that are suitable for container and trough gardening. Grace Hendrick Phillips, Vardar Valley and Insularis are all spreading forms that vary in color from lime- green to bluish casts. And let’s not forget the bicolor boxwoods. Argenteo-variegata, Aureo-variegata, and Elegantissima offer whites and yellows mixed with green. I’ve saved the best for last. Buxus sinica v. insularis ‘Justin Brouwers’ is the undisputed heavy weight. Having narrow, dark green foliage, this mounding cultivar found in Williamsburg, VA. in the 1950’s is fantastic for edging or to showcase as a specimen in a small garden. This one has shown great promise and is among the darkest green, cold hardy cultivars I have seen so far.

Gardening is an ever changing equation. I recently drew my own landscape plan for a house my wife and I are currently building. My favorite plant list consisted of over 250 different plant varieties. Will I redraw, rethink and retool the existing FINISHED landscape plan. Almost certainly! Not because we’re uncertain of our choices, but because we won’t allow the deer to dictate what we plant. It’s trial and error. That’s what makes it such a great game. Use deer repellants, netting, ingenuity, and makeshift ideas to keep deer at bay. Remember, there is never just one absolute plant for one situation. Personal taste, budget and landscape topography will dictate your decision making process. Boxwoods are highly adaptable to soil conditions, lighting exposures and landscape footprints. As a family they are used extensively throughout the country. Whether it’s for mass plantings, foundation plantings, container gardening, hedge rows or for topiary use, boxwoods are there. Easily transplanted, these garden wonders prefer limestone soils and a haircut in late winter. Try to protect from drying winds and consider spraying them with an anti-desiccant in late fall. When used effectively, this group can act as a skeletal backdrop or foreground accent, for other companion plants, adding even more color and texture. The possibilities of this family are limited only by your imagination. Hopefully the boxwoods in your garden will keep our antler friends at bay for years to come.

Spring Fever

Living in New Jersey we are privileged to experience the changing of seasons. We can experience them in their entirety, both the good and the bad. Winter can dish out some knockout storms, but it also sets a backdrop for some outstanding color. The redtwig dogwoods and the cinnamon-brown bark of Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) really shine against a white backdrop. And while the palate of color offered to gardeners in the winter is plentiful it is those little nubs that sit patiently through winter, unfolding themselves as spring approaches, that lets us know a new season is upon us. We are welcomed each spring with an explosion of color that raises our spirits and wets our appetites to get back into or gardens.

One of the first deciduous trees to welcome us to spring is the Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis). This modest sized tree with erect branching is literally covered with rose-purple colored flowers in late March and April. The flowers are born directly on the bark, starting as little colored nubs and finishing like a red streamer. Indigenous to central China, this small tree can fit into any landscape comfortably. With a height and width of only 10 to 15 feet, it is a small wonder signaling things to come. Following it’s profusion of color are its heart-shaped, glossy green leaves. Try searching out the cultivar ‘Avondale’ and you won’t believe your eyes. This species is best planted in full sun and while it enjoys well drained soil, it is highly adaptive.

Another exciting deciduous plant with extending characteristics is Fothergilla. This eye-opener offers three seasons of interest. First to show are its fragrant, white flowers which almost always appear before its foliage. Looking like tiny bottle-brushes, these flowers persist for about two weeks. Attractive, dark green, somewhat leathery foliage in the summer is offered, however, some varieties like ‘Blue Mist’ can have more of a blue hue. Finally, in the fall, Fothergilla can serve up extremes in color from brilliant yellows to oranges and scarlets, often on the same leaves. Heights can vary from 2-3 feet on gardenia (dwarf Fothergilla) to 6-10 feet on major (large Fothergilla). Whatever your appetite and garden footprint is you’re sure to find a cultivar that will fit nicely into your garden space, offering up seasonal interest. Fothergilla looks fantastic tucked in with such evergreens as rhododendron and laurels, offering a different texture to the landscape. Whenever possible look for a site that has part to full sun for its best color markings.

A lesser known plant material that acts as a building block for larger plants to sit behind is Sarcococca (Himalayan Sweetbox). An evergreen groundcover, Sweetbox has its name from tiny, white, fragrant, flowers that usually appear each March and April under its foliage. Native to Afghanistan and the Himalayas, Sarcococca has narrow, stylish, dark green foliage. It pairs itself nicely when mass planted amongst smaller deciduous plant materials. A great groundcover that can stay in bounds without fear of running rampant, the variety humilis seems to be the best for northern gardens. Size can vary from 1-2 feet to 4-6 feet. Try to place this plant in partial to shady areas or under larger specimens to block out some sun.

Now that winter seems to be behind us, it’s nice to know that the offerings of spring are on their way. With such diversity in foliage, flower color, fruit set and bark appeal, New Jersey has many plants that will thrive in our climate. Decisions for your garden should not be made capriciously, however many are reversible. As you travel through your local garden centers, arboretums and backyard gardens this spring…take notes and plan well. Remember spring is on its way and the best is yet to come.

From Doldrums To Delights

Tulips, daffodils and forsythia have long been associated as being harbingers of spring. They are a welcome site after the doldrums of winter. However, these popular plant icons are not the only ones we have to look forward to. There are others out there that not only compliment the fore mentioned, but if used effectively, can extend your garden experience from early spring to late fall/early winter.

Cornus officinalis ‘Morris Arboretum’, the Japanese Cornel Dogwood, is a small tree or large shrub noted for its early yellow flowers in March. In fact, it is believed to flower one to two weeks earlier than the more popular Cornus mas, Corneliancherry Dogwood. Morris Arboretum’s claim to fame is that its flowers are abundant and extended over other varieties. The bark offers shades of grey, brown and orange and its handsome rounded outline lends itself well to a smaller garden footprint. A very durable, dense canopy of thick glossy leaves can withstand temperatures of about -20 Fahrenheit. Native to Japan and Korea, Morris Arboretum is very adaptable, but prefers well drained soils. Don’t forget to look for edible red drupes and purple-red foliage in the fall. Consider using this little gem in the foreground of your garden with a backdrop of some dark green Oriental Spruce, Picea orientalis. You will build texture and create layers in a small amount of space.

Mahonia aquifolium, the Oregon Grapeholly, also offers attributes throughout the year. This evergreen shrub grows comfortably to three to six feet tall and wide. Noticeable are its bright yellow flowers in late March/early April. Borne in clusters on erect stems, these slightly fragrant flowers appear on two to three inch racemes. The common name, Grape Holly, refers to dark blue fruits that appear from late summer through early winter, which resemble small grapes. A fan of moist, well drained soils, the biggest trick to this plants success is the protection from desiccating winds in the winter. This is crucial!! And if possible look for the cultivar “Orange Flame”. Boasting orange-bronze new foliage against darker green mature foliage is a plus for any gardener. Try to provide a bit more sun for this one though.

Conifers always seem to be forgotten when talking about garden excitement. They’re usually referred to only when talking about a proverbial hedge of “EVERGREENS’ or seen far too often dumped at the corner of a home as an inadequate anchor. How about one that offers four colors early in the spring? Picea bicolor “Howells Dwarf Tigertail” (bicolor spruce) is as exciting to a conifer lover as game seven of a subway World Series is to a sports fan. Where do I start? Perhaps the upward growing new shoots pushing through rose-purple buds. Or the bright silver-blue underside of the needle capped by green with hints of yellow on the most exposed branches. Almost every color is represented at one time or another on this conifer. By pruning out the main leader when young, you can maintain a flat topped, spreading conifer that will be well suited for any garden long term. As is true with most conifers, this one likes moist, well drained soil and sunshine. When possible try to tuck this one out of hot, late afternoon sun to enjoy its best color markings. Should you want a broad pyramidal tree, resist pruning the main leader and you will have a garden focal point that will offer you year round interest.

With property lots becoming increasingly smaller in New Jersey and gardening becoming one of the fastest growing hobbies, it is important not to be capricious in your plant selections as your choices will define your garden footprints. Using deciduous ornamentals, broadleaf evergreens and conifers are a great way to build color, texture and size in your landscape. And if the plants mentioned above just happen to be deer resistant, well that’s an extra bonus.