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.

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