A Symbol of the Season

Finland (Lapland) has Santa Claus, Germany has its Christmas markets and Russia is noted for their traditional, handmade Christmas ornaments. But who has bragging rights for the first decorated Christmas tree? Located in Northeastern Europe, nestled between Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania lays the country Latvia. Riga, Latvia has by many been credited with first decorating an evergreen tree in the year 1510. This popular holiday tradition, decorating Christmas trees, may have started here, but today in the United States we celebrate by purchasing nearly 35 million Real Christmas Trees every year as reported by the National Christmas Tree Association.

Sold commercially in the United States since about 1850, Christmas trees have been subject to many speculations and myths. First, of the nearly 35 million trees sold each year, 95 percent are shipped and sold directly from Christmas tree farms. California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are among the leading producers with Oregon consistently ranking toward the top. Typically, the best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Balsam fir and White pine for reasons which will be discussed further in the article. More than 2,000 trees, on average, are planted per acre of which half to two thirds will survive. It takes an average of six to ten years to obtain a mature six to seven foot tree, fighting the elements of rain, wind, ice and drought to name a few. There are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers in North America and nearly 12,000 “cut-your-own” farms. Finally, 2-3 seedlings are planted for every harvested Christmas tree. So much for the statistics.

Much more is needed to produce the quintessential Christmas tree than simply taking a seedling, planting it, and hoping for the best. Science and technology have largely improved upon the early days of 1851 when Mark Carr opened the first Christmas tree retail lot in New York. Today’s trees are sought out and “created” to ensure that the most perfect, predictable and “hardy” tree will endure to its final destination, your home. This past summer while I was visiting nurseries and tagging nursery stock for next spring, I had the opportunity to visit a Christmas tree grower in Oregon. Silver Mountain Christmas Trees in Oregon is one of the largest producers of Christmas trees in the United States. Owner and operator Jim Heater was kind enough to show his operation and educate me on the science of growing the perfect tree. First, seed orchards are created to find elite seeds. To obtain these seeds cones must be present and autumn is the right time of year to harvest. Careful hands pollinate and cross pollinate several families to produce stronger trees. When the cones are mature they are picked and then thrashed to remove the seed which are then cleaned. Seeds are then planted precisely by a Vacuum Precision Seeder which spaces out seedlings, giving them equal shares of sunlight, moisture and space, thus eliminating problems from being too close. Grown in seed beds for two years, these future trees are then uprooted and replanted again into a transplant bed. A Reciprocating Undercutter Wrencher, another patented piece of machinery that is sold throughout the world by Silver Mountain, root prunes underneath the ground, thus creating more fibrous feeder roots able to take in more nutrients. Eventually these small trees are brought to production beds where they will continue to be nurtured and evaluated. After all “a good start ensures, healthy, stronger plants.” Over the next 6 to 10 years, Jim’s trees will continue to be monitored until they are ready to be harvested. Hand culturing begins once the trees hit his production fields. This is done to create a nice full pyramid, for which many demand at market. Shearing the trees properly helps create an almost perfect product for an imperfect profession. Double topping helps eliminate competing leaders, creating a nice, straight top. This is done on an individual basis and thus is very labor intensive. Grading crews evaluate quality and height and harvesting starts in November. Silver Mountain can harvest 5,000 trees a day as crews work almost around the clock. The most remarkable part of the harvest though is his ability to work over any terrain or through almost any weather. Helicopters are used to pull trees out of his fields, thus eliminating damage to his trees.

Whether you purchase a tree from a “cut-your-own” farm or garden center there are many choices to consider. Fragrance, needle retention, texture and color dictate many a decision. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) has short, flat, long lasting needles that are dark green with a silver cast. Typically, this tree is associated with having that “traditional Christmas tree smell.” Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) smells like oranges. Needles are blue to dark green, about 1 ½” and also hold their needles well. Named for David Douglas who studied the tree in the 1800’s, this tree can live for a thousand years. White Pine (Pinus strobus) has soft, long, blue-green needles with a very full appearance. This tree has very little fragrance and doesn’t hold heavy ornaments as well. Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) has stiff branching, dark green needles that are about an inch long and hold ornaments very well. Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) has quickly become the standard for Christmas trees. Dark green-blue needles, about an inch long, adorn this pyramidal-shaped tree. Good fragrance and excellent needle retention have catapulted this tree to stardom over the last decade. Last but not least is Noble fir (Abies procera). If I could liken a tree for a moment to a car, than this is your Ferrari. Bluish-green needles that are almost rubbery to the touch never seem to shed on your floor. Stiff branches hold heavier ornaments and it has a great fragrance.

Another way to enjoy your holiday is by planting a b&b tree. B&B (ball and burlap) trees are live trees that you can later plant in your yard. Though it can be more of an arduous task the rewards are numerous. Thoughtfully pick a location in your yard suitable for a conifer. Remember that most conifers, a cone-bearing tree or shrub, do not like shade. While there are a few exceptions, those listed previously enjoy more sun than shade. Remember that these species trees are all majestic giants. They will some day reach for the sky. So give them plenty of room and try not to plant them in a hedge line five feet apart from one another as this will have a pejorative affect on your landscape. Be mindful that live trees are becoming more popular. Go to your local plant purveyor and ask to purchase your tree and have it delivered or picked up closer to Christmas. Once your tree is home place it in your garage for a day or two, so as to slowly acclimate the tree from the temperature outside from that of inside. Try not to have your live tree in your house for more than five to seven days and reverse the procedure when you plant your tree after the holidays. Dig the hole prior to the ground freezing as this will facilitate your planting.

Evergreens around the holiday conjure up feelings of nostalgia, longing for our childhood past. Cut trees are multi faceted as they can be recycled and used as mulch after the holiday season. Live trees not only provide a habitat for wildlife but also grow as our families do. Wherever you purchase your tree this year be cognizant of its height as trees look smaller outside than they do inside your home. Check for needle retention by pulling on the limbs to see if any needles fall off. Remember to put a fresh cut on your cut tree and keep it well irrigated during the first ten days. A cut tree can consume more than a quart of water per day. Choose a cool location away from drafts and any nearby heat source such as a fireplace, radiator or stove. Feel great about your purchase knowing that this year alone nearly 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted. Finally, remember that cut trees came from mother earth…so be kind and recycle when possible. Consumers can locate the nearest recycling program by logging onto www.realchristmastrees.org or by calling 1-800-CLEANUP.

Tree of Life

Ficus carica (Common Fig) is one of those fun plants that gardeners go to great lengths to grow and protect. Perhaps it’s because of the oversized, textural foliage, the abundance of tasty fruit or the challenge of over-wintering a subtropical plant. Whatever the reason, gardeners alike have owned up to the challenge of raising their fig tree, honing their agricultural skills and treating it as a member of “La Familia.” “Borderline Hardy” is a term used in the industry warning of a plants’ survivability in a given part of the country. The limits of the average annual minimum temperature define specific zones. Most of New Jersey has a hardiness zone of 6 (-5 to +5F) with exceptions in Northwest New Jersey being 5 (-15 to -10F) and coastal and southern Jersey being 7 (5 to 10F). This being said, fig trees are borderline hardy.

Remnants of common fig have been found in excavation sites dating back to at least 5000 B.C. Indigenous to western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, fig trees have, for a long time, been sold, planted and survived in pockets of New Jersey. They just require a little TLC. Recently my wife and I traveled to Europe, specifically Italy, and became even more enamored with Italian culture. This being our third time to Italy, we just love the people, the culture and of course the food. In the summer no meal would be complete without some fresh fruit on the table. I had an opportunity to climb, giving you some idea of the maturity of the tree, a friend’s fig tree and harvest dessert for the family. References to fig trees have been made throughout history. One more notable and apropos, since I just returned from Italy, is in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. One of the central stories on the ceiling is Original Sin and the Banishment from the Garden of Eden. I’m a plant guy so I’ll leave the theological discussions for those academics. However, I will say this; there are those suggesting that the forbidden fruit may be an apple, grape, pomegranate or fig, I can say without hesitation that Michelangelo painted leaves resembling a fig tree.

Culturally fig trees require a full day of sun, prefer moist, well drained soil, but apparently are not fussy on soil makeups as they seem to sustain themselves well from light sand to heavy clay. Avoid highly acidic soils shooting for a pH between 6 and 7. Trees can sustain at 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit, although you will almost certainly have to cut the tree back to the ground from year to year leaving yourself more of a bush form than a tree form. A picturesque, deciduous tree, fig trees can reach heights of forty to fifty feet. Bright green foliage, deeply lobed with one to five sinuses is attractive and visible to almost any eye. Pollination is always a question that comes up. The common fig has flowers which are all female and thus requires no pollination. Cross pollination and the need to have a tiny wasp, Blastophaga grossorum, to pollinate do not apply here. They are necessary for the caprifig which has male and female flowers. Keep the fertilization regulated as excessive nitrogen will only encourage rank growth, sacrificing fruit. Look for varieties such as ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Black Mission’, and ‘Kadota’ as suitable candidates for New Jersey. These are great tasting and readily available.

Finally, protecting your tree for the winter. A very good friend of mine and avid gardener, Leo Pietrantuono, has over fifty years experience handed down to him from his father and his father’s father. Some basic points to keep in mind. First you can always bring small trees, in containers, in and out every year to escape Mother Nature. For those of you who want the challenge of planting one outside, here are some basics. Look for a sunny spot against a wall and you can pick up a few degrees with reflective heat. Leo’s tip is that it’s crucial to understand that frost doesn’t kill the tree, moisture and timing do. With larger trees, tie smaller branches in clusters and bind them to larger ones getting the tree very tight. Do this only after all the leaves have dropped. Be creative with your wrapping. Some use carpet, insulation, tarps, blankets and some even build boxes around their tree. The key is to keep everything dry. Trial and error will dictate your successes and techniques. Generally, most cover their tree in late October/early November and uncover it in mid April. However, the weather will punish you if you don’t pay attention to it.

Life is made up of experiences and meant to be enjoyed. The thirty foot fig tree I climbed in Monte Di Procida outside of Naples had no less than a thousand figs on it. Sal Coppola, owner of Coppola’s restaurant in New Providence, New Jersey graciously offered his home, his family, his garden and of course his fig tree to my wife and me and with that gave us one of our life’s greatest experiences.

Beyond Fruit Lay Intense Colors

Why write about a plant in October that everyone knows produces an abundant amount of fruit in the summer? After all, if a plant is known for producing huge quantities of fruit, that must be its single greatest attribute. Nothing could be further from the truth with Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum).

Every year, gardeners alike, wait with anticipation for the changing of foliage in autumn. Shorter days and cooler temperatures cause plants to slowly loose their green chlorophyll from their leaves thus giving way to some of the most electric colors in the landscape. Japanese maples are at their best as they prepare for dormancy. Burning Bush has solidified its place as one of the most notable garden candidates for intense, red fall color. But what about Blueberries?

North American Highbush Blueberry is always remembered as a plant which yields large amounts of fruit in the summer. Blueberries are an important agricultural crop that should also be revered for their gorgeous hues of reds and oranges in the fall. Highbush Blueberries grow comfortably between six and twelve feet tall and offer something in every season. Obviously the blue-black fruit in the summer have perpetuated this plant to culinary stardom. Anyone who has traveled to Maine and tasted the jams or famed blueberry pies can attest to this. However, in the spring, corymbs of white urn-shaped flowers precede the fruit. The fall display of vibrant red, orange and yellow lend itself well to “Monosweep” design work. And let’s not forget winter attributes. More established plants are attractive in winter with limbs that turn red and yellow. Not to mention the shredded bark appearance on older specimens.

Many varieties of Highbush Blueberry are available at your local garden center and most benefit from being planted with other cultivars. “Northcountry” is an early season blueberry that has dainty, white tinged, pink bell shaped flowers. “Northland” is a cultivar which is extremely cold hardy with dark blue fruits. “Northsky” is a midseason variety that is exceptionally sweet with pink tinged, white, bell shaped flowers. Finally, “Patriot” produces enormous sweet berries and as with all varieties has fantastic fall color markings.

Culturally, blueberries can be a bit tricky. They prefer acidic soil contents between 4.5 and 5.5. Moist, well drained soils are necessary and remembering to mulch around the base during the winter will ensure their survival. Pruning should be done right after fruiting or before spring bloom. Blueberries enjoy full sun to part shade and to be fed with a slow release acid fertilizer in late winter or early spring. Avoid concentrated amounts of fertilizer near the plant and remember that these are shallow rooted plants and thus do not like to compete for root space and moisture with the likes of perennials and annuals. Remember “Monosweeping” techniques.

The health benefits of blueberries are famed and numerous. Having one of the highest concentrations of iron, blueberries are also rich in carbohydrates, low in fat and high in vitamins A, C and K. Rich in antioxidants blueberries really are among the healthiest food choices.

The concentrated attributes of spring white flowers, plentiful blue-black fruits in the summer, screaming fall color, shredded bark and red and yellow tipped limbs in the winter can act as a suitable substitute for a collection of other plants. Red and Yellow Twig Dogwoods, Burning Bush, Japanese Pieris and Paperbark Maples all have something spectacular to offer. However, Vaccinium corymbosum shares similar characteristics to the above mentioned. The next time you want to create a hedge line of green with stunning fall color, hopefully Blueberry bushes will at least enter your mind when someone suggests the more pedestrian solution of Burning Bush. After all you can literally feed your mind, body and soul with Vaccinium.

‘Gold Rush’

Botanical nomenclature at times can seem intimidating. Some of the names seem impossible to remember let alone spell. However, to me they’re just an interesting puzzle. While most Latin names for plants are not used in every day conversation, they do help communicate more effectively when talking with other professionals in the industry. Knowing the genus is helpful. Knowing the genus and species is more specific. But knowing the genus, species and cultivar quickly narrows the playing field and takes away any ambiguity that there may have been. My nephew, third generation for our family business, often asks, “Why it is so important to know these names?” The answer is simple. You don’t want to be sold a plant that you don’t want. Liken the specifics of botanical nomenclature to that of fine wine. There are red wines and then THERE ARE RED WINES. A nice merlot from California would be good, but a bottle of 1997 Tommasi Amarone made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes would be exceptional. Point being that the more specific you are the easier it is for people to understand you. One of the harder names to remember is Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood).

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a deciduous conifer that at times is confused with other redwoods. Sequoia sempervirens (Redwood) and Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sierra Redwood) are two completely different types. In fact all three are different from one another. Remember specifics. The Dawn Redwood is truly a giant among giants. A multi-season interest tree that is a deciduous conifer. Few others can make that claim (Ginkgo, Larix and Taxodium). Metasequoia is a conical to pyramidal tree usually with a single trunk. Exponential in its growth habit, heights of forty to fifty feet can be achieved inside twenty years. Suffice to say you should have ample room to watch it mature. Don’t plant it close to the side foundation of your home. Consider it more for a single lawn specimen. The texture of the tree is something to marvel at. Typically texture refers to the foliage of a plant. This is no exception. With fine, feathery green foliage that would be enough. However, the bark has its own texture as well. Shredded reddish brown bark darkens with age and develops a buttressed trunk. Fissures are apparent with age and long strips of bark almost seem to exfoliate. Dawn Redwood performs at its best when you have moist, well drained soils and adequate sunlight.

Getting specific with plants, hopefully, means finding what you really like. One tree that I really love is Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’. Representing all that is good with the genus ‘Gold Rush’ adds much more. Intense golden-yellow foliage emerges early in the spring and holds all summer and fall. The chartreuse feathery needles act as a harbinger of spring and turn orange-brown in the fall. “Originally known as ‘Ogon’ in Japan, Dutch horticulturist Peiter Zaignenburg obtained and renamed it ‘Gold Rush’ before it’s introduction into the European markets in 1993” (Iseli Nursery). ‘Gold Rush’ acts like a beacon of light in almost any garden. Specifically used in my backyard to disarm you and draw you closer only to put you inside a garden room. Consider mass planting soft shades of blue around it and keep it properly irrigated. Protection from hot summer sun in warmer climates is thoughtful but not necessary.

Outlining an almost perfect pyramid in a very short period of time, it would be prudent to allow ample room for such a specimen. This tree has made tremendous headway in a relatively short period of time. Thought to be extinct prior to 1941 fossil records were found and trees were discovered the same year. This native to China, eastern Szechuan and western Hupeh, has managed to represent itself well in this country with more notable specimens located at National Arboretum and Morris Arboretum.

Yew Can Stop the Deer

Before deer became such a big problem in New Jersey there was a staple plant used in almost every landscape in the garden state. Taxus (Yew)! Unfortunately this seems to be a delicacy for our four-legged friends. Interesting since Yews are among the most toxic of plant materials. Taxus has proved to be a versatile plant lending itself to most soil types, lighting conditions, topiary work and overall durability. In particular, though is lighting conditions. While there are other genera that tolerate the shade, Sciadopitys (Umbrella Pine), Chamaecyparis (Falsecypress), and Tsuga (Hemlock), few embrace it offering both an academic and practical solution as Taxus has. However, there is another genus that has long been overlooked that can not only mimic the texture of Taxus, but afford itself in many of the same applications as the aforementioned genus.
Cephalotaxus (Plum Yew) is a genus comprising eleven species. Native to Japan, fossil evidence has sited it further to the Northern Hemisphere. Plum Yews were introduced into this country in 1848, but we have Phillip Franz von Siebold to thank who first sent specimens to Europe from Japan in 1829 (Tripp 1995). Recent popularity has grown, I suspect, because of the adaptability of the genus. Tolerant to alkaline, clay, sand, acidic and loamy soils, Cephalotaxus also performs admirably in sun or shade. However, the plants recent notoriety is attributed to the fact that it’s a coniferous evergreen that handles the shade quite well and is deer resistant. Plum Yews do not have an aggressive root structure, are known for their drought tolerance once established and are not affected by many pest problems. Cephalotaxus have a softness about them, having flat needlelike leaves that are blunt at the tips. More heat tolerant than true yews and most juniper, Plum Yews can also take heavy pruning. Although heavy pruning should be unnecessary, as Cephalotaxus is not known for its rapid growth. The common name Plum Yew is termed for the plum-like fruit, actually a naked seed, which is fleshy and is olive to reddish brown. These olive-like fruits are a popular food in Japan.
Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Japanese Plum Yew, Cow’s Tail Pine) are the more “commonly” found of the eleven species. Named for the Earl of Harrington, one of the species’ first European fanciers (Tripp 1995) harringtonia offers several notable cultivars. ‘Prostrata’ is among my favorites for no other reason than it closely resembles that of Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ (spreading English Yew). An impressive dark green carpet that the deer simply won’t let us plant. ’Prostrata’ is a low mounding evergreen with arching pendulous branches. It too has dark green leaves and can be used effectively as a deer resistant ground cover. Stunning as a monosweep around a deciduous tree, ‘Prostrata’ has a nostalgic feel for the spreading English Yews of years past. The new growth is a pale lime green that hardens to a glossy dark green. Comfortably this cultivar sits two to four feet tall and wide. Slightly larger in appearance is another great cultivar ‘Duke Gardens’. With more of a rounded outline ‘Duke Gardens’ finishes nicely at four to five feet tall and wide. Also projecting dark green foliage, this one has upswept arching branches and a slight aromatic fragrance. Finally, a vertical accent to your garden is ‘Fastigiata’. Capable of growing ten feet all, slowly remember, this is an outstanding columnar candidate that can hide your air conditioner units or act as a really cool container plant. With black-green markings, ‘Fastigiata’ has almost weeping new growth held stiffly on an upward appearance. I saw some stunning examples of this cultivar last winter visiting Napa Valley. The hotel we stayed in used them effectively around their pool, in containers, to help frame their Mediterranean feel.
Finally, aside from their versatility and adaptability, Cephalotaxus are being used medicinally. Anticancer alkaloids such as Cephalotaxine and harringtonine are compounds being extracted. With all that has been said about this fabulous genus, Michael Dirr (Professor and Plant demigod of our time) says it best. “Potential has not even been tapped; a superb and shade tolerant aristocrat evergreen for groupings, masses and accents; slow growing which frightens those who design with a juniper mentality, but the rewards over time are abundant.”

Stylish Mono-Sweeping

Mono-sweeping is an industry term used to describe the massing of a single plant material, in abundance, in one particular area. Far too often I am asked to select plants for a particular site and come up with as many different types as possible. This is not only confusing to me, but the customer is left not with a viable landscape, but merely a collection of plants. This type of mind set is fine if your goal is to present specimens in a museum-like atmosphere. However, it lacks a certain rhythmic flow and can not afford sweeping, elongated lines that envelope and captivate ones attention simultaneously disarming and inviting them towards a destination without their knowledge. Landscape design should not be confusing, frustrating or intimidating. You need only be cognizant of color, texture, and size. Repetition is a good thing. One such plant that can afford itself in such a manner is the genus Spiraea.

Spiraea is a genus representing some eighty plus species and thus can offer some outstanding variety in any landscape. While most are deciduous in our temperate climate, these colorful dynamos help create some outstanding tapestries during the warmer months and far outweigh their nakedness in winter. Spiraea are in their glory during those months of backyard barbecues and hot summer days. And let’s face it, who’s really out there paying attention to their landscapes in the middle of winter. It’s more important to have color and texture during the months you’re using your yard.

Some of the more remarkable Spiraea’s are a result of a cross between S. albiflora and S. japonica. Simply put their genetic heritage stems from Japan. Spiraea x bumalda (Bumald Spirea) holds some of the more popular varieties even if they, at times, seem somewhat pedestrian. Perhaps one of the more marketable cultivars is Spiraea ‘Anthony Waterer’. Finishing nicely at four feet wide and tall, it lends itself well to mass plantings. Mark Hunter of Hunter Landscape Design in Bernardsville, New Jersey boasts “The real key to mono-sweep based design is to emphasize the architectural nature of the plants that are being used and limiting the varieties.” Other notable Bumald varieties include ‘Dolchica’, ‘Limeound’, and ‘Magic Carpet’. ‘Dolchica’ offers cutleaf foliage, deep purple new growth and pink flowers. More compact growing than most, it finishes between two and four feet. ‘Limemound’, an introduction from Monrovia Growers, horticultural craftsmen since 1970, has slender branching, lemon-yellow foliage and its furthest extensions show russet markings. Autumn foliage is orange-red and it too offers more of a compact form. ‘Magic Carpet’ is almost a ground cover form. Finishing nicely between eighteen and twenty four inches, ‘Magic Carpet’ has golden-yellow markings and pink flowers.

Spiraeas are tolerant of many adverse soil conditions, but do not like wet feet. Preferring to be in full sun, Spirea flowers long and hard throughout the hot summer months. Prune this variety of Spirea early in the spring before foliage appears and remove spent flowers after their first push and more will follow extending your seasonal color.

The list goes on and on for Spiraea. Shades of flower color and textural differences in foliage are plentiful and are only surpassed, in numbers, by the eighty plus species available to you. As you ponder your next landscape project consider, for a moment, the idea of “less is more.” Try planting fewer types of plant material, but more of them. Find that specimen you’ve been waiting for and mass plant a carpet of Spiraea around it. Work that embankment or sloped area with waves of purple or pink Spiraea. Finally impress your friends with hot pockets of containers filled with Spiraea on your patio or deck. Remember this is a plant has color for the majority of summer and is not to fussy about how it is handled. Impress yourself and your friends this summer with easy color and let your garden work for you.

‘Ruby Slippers’

Since 1913 Princeton Nurseries has been associated with premium plant material. Their success is due, in large part, to their desire and dedication to not only produce but properly groom and finish their plants. “Research and development is a Princeton Nursery legacy and is a vital part of their future.” William Flemer III has selected outstanding shade trees from their seedling program. Such selections include Greenspire American ash, Green Mountain sugar maple, and this author’s favorite tree Princeton Sentry Ginkgo. They have a futuristic approach to producing and finishing plants, having a Cravo structure topping out at 25 feet tall, the highest in North America. This structure responds to unpredictable weather patterns and produces and houses everything from perennials to large caliper shade trees. Whether it’s producing over one million seedlings a year or lining out 175 acres to produce 110,000 units of plant material, there is still room to inspect and identify new candidates. The newest candidate to be added to their portfolio of introductions is Acer ginnala ‘Ruby Slippers.’

Acer ginnala (Amur Maple) has for too long been underused and underappreciated. Truly a “Hardy” tree, Amur maple is listed academically as a zone 3 (-40 degrees) tree. Typical attributes of Acer ginnala are opposite leaves, samaras that hang on until late fall, and an overall smaller habit lending itself well to smaller landscapes. Tolerant of drought, compacted soils and air pollution, Acer ginnala seems as tough as Ginkgo which has been around since the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In other words dinosaurs remember their habit.

Acer ginnala ‘Ruby Slippers’ was selected at Princeton Nursery from a seedling block in Allentown, New Jersey in 1990. Typically associated with multistems, ‘Ruby Slippers’ was chosen for its straight single stem. This small deciduous tree offers what any great tree can be remembered for. It has multi-seasonal interest. A dense canopy forms with the emergence of spring leaves and from here it only gets better. June, for me, is its best month. Samaras, those little whirly-gigs we put on our noses as kids, hang suspended like Dorothy’s slippers, giving us a false perception that this tree is flowering red. The intense color of the samaras (a dry fruit bearing a wing) is a precursor of what is to come in the fall. Outstanding hues of red and orange in the cooler autumn months are not to be outdone by the samaras in June and July. Let’s not forget that this is a multi-seasonal tree and that means that there must be winter interest as well. Smooth, gray bark and a dense canopy provide an outstanding winter silhouette rounding out this almost perfect bantam weight champion. Acer ginnala ‘Ruby Slipper’s versatility also includes a resistance to verticillium (a soil borne fungi) adaptability to soil and environmental stress and a usefulness amongst urban and suburban plantings. ‘Ruby Slippers’ is just as happy underneath power lines as it is as a focal point in your next suburban planting. Acer ginnala performs best in moist, well-drained soils, can be heavily pruned and is just as easily planted in the ground or in a container. Remember this little guy only matures to 15-20 feet tall and wide.

We have much to thank Princeton Nursery for. Their commitment to excellence over the years has led to some exciting botanical offerings. Building on William Flemer III successes, with his exciting introductions, we would be remiss not to mention the efforts of others involved with the cultivating and marketing of today’s plants. Kudos goes out to Andrea Bonville, who evaluates today’s promising plants and cooperates with researchers throughout the United States. Doug Webber, Vice President of sales and marketing and Fran Chismar, sales manager for Princeton Nursery who tirelessly help bring Princeton’s products to fruition and whose botanical coaching is nothing short of encyclopedic. We thank you as well.

All Plants Are Not Created Equal

All plants are not created equal! Deciduous ornamentals, coniferous evergreens, herbaceous perennials and broadleaf evergreens all have their own cultural differences. Plants are not dissimilar to people in that they too have circulatory systems that need to absorb nutrients in order to thrive. Just as people who are in good health tend to resist illness, plants that start out healthy are more capable to fight disease and resist insect problems. There is an enormous amount of attention given to raising our “green friends” and the equation to bring them to fruition is an exciting challenge.

With an increasing demand for premium plant material and the realization that ours is an industry dealing with perishable commodities, at the mercy of Mother Nature, it’s no wonder that the cost of producing such a product has increased. Going forward, there needs to be more of an appreciation for the production of plants as it takes an average of eight years to produce a marketable plant for the garden. Much more is involved than simply buying a liner, sticking it in a pot and waiting for a return on your money.

The ability to produce premium plant material is truly an art form. The creation of a plant’s life and understanding the behavioral aspects of different kinds of plants is an arduous task to say the least. First there is the research, science and luck of finding new plants. Plant hunters scour the globe, record locations and wait patiently to return during the dormant season to collect a sample. Plant hardiness is determined through a series of tests judging the adaptability to extremes in heat, cold, moisture, drought and direct sunlight. The challenge of mass producing a plant at an affordable price is a priority on every growers mind. There are different techniques used to produce plants. Air layering is a method developed by the Chinese to produce roots on the stem for more difficult to root plants. Grafting is the process of connecting two different plants (scion wood and rootstock) so they grow as one. Most of the beautiful Japanese maples you see in garden centers for sale have been grafted. Tissue culture takes a piece of a plant (such as a stem tip, node, embryo or seed) and places it in a sterile, nutrient medium where it multiplies. These are just a few ways that have helped plants become stronger and more consistent.

Propagating plants is only part of the battle. Progressive growers have found ways, through science, to enhance a plants performance, offering a competitive advantage. Advanced fertilizers, organic companions and suitable growing environments all affect costs, but the results speak for themselves. Regular nitrogen fertilizers can cost one quarter of what a slow release fertilizer can. Mycorrhizae fungi are beneficial organisms that grow along roots of host plants, enlarging the roots’ surface-absorbing area helping the plant’s uptake of nutrients and water. This helps reduce transplant shock, environmental stress, soil borne diseases and pathogens. Equations are also considered for spacing plants so that sunlight hits all sides, finishing a plant properly. Finally, the growing environments today are futuristic. Heated floors encourage roots to establish more quickly. Temperature and wind sensitive gauges retract the ceiling of Cravo systems (advanced glass greenhouses) helping to protect and create the most perfect plant material possible.

Although strides have been made for creating more consistent, durable and attractive plants, the attention towards finishing an almost perfect product has made it more labor intensive. Just as a parent is never finished raising their children, so to are gardeners never finished maintaining their plants. Pruning and feeding are two disciplines that are never fully finished. The decision of your purchase should not merely amount to dollars and cents. Branching structure, tree caliper, overall body, plant health, root development and cosmetic differences are just a few variables which can affect the cost of a plant. Suffice to say, a rhododendron grown by one grower is not the same as one grown by another.

A Colorful Conifer

When I was a child growing up there was nothing like the anticipation of Christmas day. Waiting, not so patiently, for the day to arrive and hopefully open the gift that I had asked for. One of the benefits of gardening is that with every season there is a new gift to wait patiently for. Perhaps the most anticipated gifts are those of spring. Maybe it’s because of the low temperatures we have just endured or because of winters shorter days and longer nights. But now that spring is finally here, we again have the explosion of color and the unfolding textures providing us with a heightened sense for the outdoors.

Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce) has for a long time been underused and under appreciated. Native to the Caucasus and Northeast Turkey, this majestic beauty was introduced in 1827. So why is it taking so long for the public to grasp its beauty? A strikingly beautiful conifer, orientalis offers a dense, narrow, pyramid form with glossy, dark green foliage. The needles are short, closely packed together and have somewhat of a blunt tip to them. Cultivated specimens often reach heights of 50-60 feet; however native trees have reached heights of more than 100 feet. Male flowers are a showy red and the fruiting cones, produced in abundance in May, are a bright rose-pink to red digressing to a tannish-brown. More notable, however, is its landscape value. Having a more narrow habit makes it suitable for smaller properties offering an incredible range of versatility. Used more appropriately as a screen than Picea abies (Norway spruce), it can also be useful as a specimen or shade tree when a coniferous evergreen is desired. Picea orientalis is virtually pest free, not succumbing as readily to the problems of spider mite, spruce gall aphid, and borer that Norway spruce will almost certainly get. Orientalis prefers moist, well-drained soil, as do most conifers, and is more tolerant of arid conditions than most other spruce. However, it is not classified as drought tolerant. Full sun and protection from strong winter winds are two other keys to its success. With so much versatility it’s almost greedy to ask more from this tree.

As with most plants there are cultivars available that can enhance already attractive attributes. This tree is no exception. Two personal favorites are Picea orientalis ‘Aureospicata’ and “Skylands”. Picea o. “Aureospicata” has me waiting all winter for three short weeks. Early in the spring “Aureospicata’s” new growth emerges at the tip of the branches in bright yellow. From a distance it looks as though there are tiny canaries perched on every branch. This phenomenon happens at the end of April to early May and is truly a gardener’s treat. By early summer all of the yellow tips will fade and mature to a dark green. “Skylands” is another gem that has been sought out for its pronounced yellow markings. A beautiful contrast of yellow exterior needles and dark green interior foliage create year round enjoyment. Both cultivars develop slowly at first, but given the opportunity finish nicely with a full, pyramidal outline.

If your intention is to run a hedge line of spruce down your property line to distance yourself from your neighbors then consider Picea orientalis as a solution. Its overall presence will be more narrow, thus enabling you to plant them slightly closer. However, this does not mean that placing them 5 feet apart is the answer. Often I see proverbial hedge lines of Norway spruce, Douglas fir, blue spruce and hemlock planted five feet from one another. This not only lacks creativeness, but it is an unhealthy solution to your problem. Poor air circulation, root development problems and light penetration will quickly point out the error of your ways. There are many conifers that can offer you the privacy you’re after. Some may be more fiscally challenging to put on your property at first, but given the choice of planting it right the first time or planting the area twice, go with the earlier. Hopefully your decision will be to go with a conifer that offers purplish-red cones and yellow new growth.

Monrovia Nursery: Where Plants Really Do Come True

Monrovia Nursery has long been synonymous with quality nursery products. Their brand recognition has been seen on every advertising level from supporting local arboretums, like the Reeves Reed Arboretum in Summit, New Jersey to a more national audience being featured in Garden Design, Martha Stewart, and Southern Living to name a few. While their growth has continued, almost exponentially, throughout the years, Monrovia has not lost sight of its target audiences, the retail customer and the independent garden centers of North America. Their dedication to quality control, education and product development has given the independents an important advantage in the horticultural field. And when a company like Monrovia cares enough to listen to the input of its target audiences, it truly makes it a dream come true.
Nine years ago Monrovia Growers developed a National Retail Council to better understand its customers. The board consists of some of the most successful garden centers in the country, totaling twenty this year, and simply put asks for their candid input as to What’s new, What’s hot, What works, and What doesn’t. They demand participation in this ongoing, vigorous, three day symposium. So when a cutting edge company like Monrovia Growers asked for Hall’s Garden Center’s participation, we eagerly accepted.
Often I am asked in retail sales why a plant costs what it does. An overly simplistic retort reinforces what my parents always preached, “You get what you pay for.” A more accurate response would go further to describe what “Distinctively Better” means. Monrovia’s ideological catch phrase refers to their standard of excellence. The development of 32 different soil types, healthy root systems, customized InfoLabels, a support network of American Horticultural Society members to answer any question put forth by its customers. Expanding on Monrovia’s importance and inherent value of their products would tell of their 265 and counting exclusive plants, over 100 patents, some 160+ Federal and State trademarks and more than 9 million propagated plants annually. Their attention to detail is evident with 5 locations around the country, realizing that different plants need different attentions and can not all be grown in the same geographic. Slow release fertilizers, analysis of nutrients, precise proportions of trace elements, advanced plant tissue analysis and leaf analysis all contribute to the most beautiful and healthy plant material available by modern science. In short, all these contribute to one thing; the best plant money can buy.
Our three days in January allowed us to see future technologies that would further enhance a gardener’s experience. Poly covered greenhouses with horizontal air flow with exhaust fans, weed barriers, drip irrigation, tissue culture, sterile environments, proactive approaches to plant health care, and concrete heated floors to stimulate root development all suggest that this is not your average grower. However, equally important were the relationships formed in Visalia, CA during those three days. Garden center owners, managers and plant buyers all freely sharing ideas on marketing, merchandising, service, and product mix helped to strengthen an already cohesive group. With Monrovia’s top brass on hand, it reinforced yet again that serious topics were being discussed and that the future of the green good industry was clearly being dealt with forward thinking.
Working together will address “The Evolving Face of the Retail Garden Center,” is not only Monrovia’s locution, but a defining admittance carried through by all its employees and “Craftsmen.” Quite simply it is a way of life, a struggle to rise above and reinforce, to anyone interested, that they are the standard of excellence which all in the horticultural field should strive to emulate. Hall’s Garden center is proud to stand by their side and consider ourselves lucky to be associated with such a quality driven bunch. Thank you Monrovia Growers for your ingenuity, “Craftsmanship”, and advanced horticultural practices. Hall’s Garden Center and Monrovia Growers invite you to stop by your local independent garden center this spring and imbibe some of nature’s gifts.

Robert LaHoff
Hall’s Garden center

Barking Up the Right Tree

Stripped of all their foliage standing naked amongst the winter landscape are some pretty amazing maple trees. Most people, it seems, are content buying the proverbial red cutleaf or laceleaf maple (Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum-Atropurpureum’) or the tiresome upright ‘Bloodgood’ maple. Perhaps it’s because their neighbor has purchased a similar style or maybe it’s because it’s the only type they have heard of. Truth is there are literally dozens of species and hundreds of named cultivars to tempt and satisfy even the most eclectic gardeners’ taste. With so many choices to choose from, it seems silly to always pick the same two or three types, especially if year round garden interest is your goal.

Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) has become more commercially available in recent years; however it is still difficult to propagate. A noteworthy candidate for your garden, Paperbark has something going on all year. Dark bluish-green, trifoliate leaves (three leaved) kick off the attributes of this small to medium sized tree. Adaptable to a wide range of soil PH balances, griseum’s only stipulation is that you place it in well drained soil. Having a somewhat rounded canopy with age, Paperbark works well as a single lawn specimen or in areas of limited real estate. Outstanding, bright red, fall color can rival even that of ‘Burning Bush’. But let’s face it; what introduces most to this famed tree is the exfoliating bark. The peeling, flaky, cinnamon brown bark jumps out at you, not just in the winter, but all year long. Native to China and the fact that no two are alike only adds to the uniqueness of this versatile tree.

Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Coral Bark Maple) is an exciting Japanese maple. The unfolding leaves, early in the spring, show the slightest hints of red digressing quickly to a bold green. As fall approaches, these tiny, congested leaves take on color marking from yellow to pumpkin. A medium sized tree, Coral Bark, attains heights of fifteen to twenty five feet comfortably and prefers well drained soil. As the common name implies, Coral Bark, has just that. Beginning in the fall, the younger stems start to color up taking on red hues. Imagine the pumpkin color foliage backing these bright red stems. Only to impress us more are these same stems acting as a beacon entrenched in the snow storms of winter. Truly an impressive sight, you would be hard pressed to find a better winter interest tree.

Somewhat of an obscurity, but still noteworthy, is the species Acer pensylvanicum. Commonly known as the striped or snakebark maple, the bark is clearly what sets this apart and has propelled its notoriety. Quoting Michael Dirr, the horticultural demigod of our time, “The unflattering nickname refers to the whitish vertical fissures that develop on the bark, which when set against the greenish background conjure visions of a snake’s skin.” Whether an “unflattering nickname” or not, there is no denying the beautiful, pronounced, long, vertical, white stripes of the species. Two covetous cultivars available to gardeners are ‘White Tigress’ and ‘Erythrocladum’. ‘White Tigress’ has dark green bark with conspicuous white striations. Other common attributes prevail as it maintains typical green leaves in the spring changing to yellow in the fall. ‘Erythrocladum’ is a magnificent small tree with incredible bright pink bark, striped white, in the winter. Considered to be somewhat problematic to grow, the secret to their success is well drained soil. Overall presence in your garden for Acer pensylvanicum is fifteen to twenty feet tall and wide.

While flowers can be beautiful and sometimes fragrant and certain trees are known for their unique foliage, we can not forget that bark appeal can be equally as enticing. When you visit your local garden center this spring, admire the beautiful, red laceleaf maples, but remember the bright color markings of winter bark also.

‘Berri-Magic’

Experienced gardeners know that the change of seasons brings on new and exciting finds. Gardening is much more than the unfolding yellow flowers of forsythia in the spring and the intense red color of burning bush in the fall. Winter is equally as exciting showing us color and texture that we have been waiting for all year. The silence of a white, snowy day helps outline and showcase many of our existing plant materials. Winter gives us a chance to look at the skeletal patterns of our deciduous friends as well as take note of some prominent features associated with their evergreen counterparts. One particular feature that is shared with some deciduous and evergreen plant material is the explosion of colorful fruit that starts in the fall and holds throughout the winter months.

Ilex, the botanical name for holly, is jam-packed with candidates offering buckets of fruit in the winter. Hollies can be either evergreen or deciduous and adapt well to a number of site locations. Ilex verticillata, Winterberry holly, is a deciduous type that has female cultivars that just grab our attention and won’t let go. Valued for its superior fruit production, Ilex x ‘Sparkleberry’ is a multi-stemmed holly with exceptional bright red berries lasting through the winter months. Tolerant to wet sites and clay soils, it prefers to be in full sun to part shade. Commonly, Winterberry attains heights of five to ten feet in residential landscapes. Truly a stunning shrub when mass planted. Other candidates to be on the look out for are ‘Afterglow’, ‘Harvest Red’, ‘Winter Red’, and ‘Winter Gold’. With fruit ripening in shades from orange to bright red it’s hard to pick just one. Remember though, you will need a male pollinator to get these beautiful berries. Consider ‘Jim Dandy’ to be that pollinator as it has good deep green leaves throughout the spring and summer. Ilex verticillata is also not prone to many serious diseases.

Sometimes confusing are the evergreen types of hollies. Ilex aquifolium (English Holly), Ilex cornuta (Chinese Holly), Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly), Ilex glabra (Inkberry Holly), Ilex opaca (American Holly) and the list goes on. Equally challenging to understand and keep track of are all the crosses between holly types. So why bother! Just remember that all of the previously mentioned have cultivars that will bear heavy fruit for you in the colder months. Ilex x Nellie Stevens is not an American Holly! Often, customers mistakenly ask for this as an American holly. While it is an excellent producer of red fruit and quick growing, it is in fact a hybrid between Chinese and English hollies. Another excellent evergreen type is Ilex opaca ‘Jersey Princess’. A true American type, ‘Jersey Princess’ is perhaps one of the finest fruiting cultivars out there. I may be slightly prejudiced as it is a Rutgers University offering, my alma mater. American hollies typically have a pyramidal crown shape, obtaining heights of twenty to fifty feet. With tolerances high to drought, clay and shade, American holly is a slower grower than other holly types, but it is a true zone 5 plant.

Arguably one of the finest smaller holly types on the market is Ilex x meservae ‘Berri- Magic’. The Meservae hybrids are a gift given to gardeners by Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve of St. James, NY. She crossed I. rugosa (Prostrate Holly) with I. aquifolium (English Holly). Berri-Magic, a marketing artifice by Monrovia Growers, has taken all the guess work out of deciphering the gender of hollies. Simply put, it is a male/female blue holly, a hermaphrodite of the botanical community. With lustrous, dark blue-green leaves and rich purple stems, Berri-Magic produces an abundance of red fruit on its own. Suitable for small and large gardens Berri-Magic guarantees pollination and fruit.

Hollies come in many flavors, small to large, deciduous to evergreen. Remember that most need a male pollinator to get those beautiful red, orange and yellow fruits. Forgiving of many adverse conditions, hollies have stood the test of time. Don’t forget to spray your evergreen types with an anti-desiccant for the winter.