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CONSIDER DISTINCTIVE PLANTS WHEN PLANNING YOUR LANDSCAPE
I made a statement recently about too many yards being "cookie cutter copies" of the yard next door. My point was that we can make our yards and gardens stand out by their uniqueness and distinctive design.
Each winter I receive a catalog from a Michigan nursery offering an eclectic array of unusual trees and shrubs. I offer the following ideas from this catalog as a way of stretching your imagination as to the types of plants available to you. Although all the plants listed here are said to be winter hardy to at least -25ƒ F, that's not a guarantee they'll thrive in our Zone 4 gardens. All descriptions are from the catalog.
Tree Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) - The bush-type serviceberry is fairly common, but this tree grows to 30 ft. It flowers in late spring and produces plentiful fruit for the birds.
Bunge Catalpa (Catalpa bungei) - Not named after the sport of jumping from bridges! Produces white flowers with purple dots in July. Native to China and grows to 20 ft. Attracts butterflies and bees.
Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) - The "sugarberry" is a broad, round-headed tree that grows to 60 ft. It produces a sweet and juicy orange-red berry that is gobbled up by birds.
Turkish Tree Hazel (Corylus colurna) - From western Asia. Grows a broad pyramidal crown. White flakey bark on younger branches develops into a cork type scale. Nuts develop in large thick clusters.
American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) - The American persimmon is the most luscious of all fruits. When fully ripe, the sugar and nutrient levels exceed all fruit except the Persian date.
Northern Raisin (Viburnum cassinoides) - Considered one of the best fruiting viburnums. Creamy white flowers in late June. Fruit color changes from pink to red to blue to black before it is completely ripe. Was dried and used in the same manner as raisins. Height to 10 ft.
Wolfberry (Lycium chinense) - A very vigorous, drought-tolerant plant with purple funnel-type flowers and orange fruit up to one inch long. Height to 10 ft. with arching branches loaded with fruit. Used in Chinese medicine and said to prolong life, improve complexion and brighten the eye.
Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) - By far the most palatable of all flowering dogwood berries. Bright red cherry fruit is about 3/4 inch long, tart, and makes fantastic jelly. Bright yellow flowers in early spring.
Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica) - One of the best native trees as an ornamental. Produces 1/2-inch bluish fruit attractive to many birds. Sour lime flavor. Excellent street tree and for naturalizing. Bright red fall color. Will grow in wet conditions or with clay subsoils.
Burgambel Oak (Quercus macrocarpa x gambelli) - This hybrid oak deserves to be at the top of the list for wildlife plantings. Produces acorns early, annually and abundantly. Grows to 35 ft.
Burenglish Oak (Quercus macrocarpa x robur) - Most requested hybrid oak from this nursery. Grows 2 to 4 ft. per year. Produces acorns by the sixth year.
Northern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana x turbinella) - A hybrid variety of the famous evergreen oak of the South. Retains its leaves to -10ƒ F or so.
Cucumbertree Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) - Found throughout eastern and midwestern U.S. forests; grows to 80 ft. Indians used it for canoes and bowls. The fruit looks like a red cucumber when ripe.
Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetela) - Grows to 30 ft. Creamy white flowers are 6-10 in. across. Leaves reach 1-2 ft. across. In the fall, the bright red fruits look a little alien like. The bark was used for chewing, which was said to be a cure for smoking.
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) - Native species of buckeye known for its shiny brown fruit. Yellow flowers in 4-7 inch panicles in May. The seeds are poisonous for humans but relished by squirrels. Height to 50 ft.
Korean Pine Nut (Pinus koraiensis) - Produces pine nuts (seeds) about the size of a pistachio. Native to eastern Asia. Tree structure looks similar to a young Austrian pine.
For the phone number of the catalog referred to in this column, send a note to my attention at the Chaska Herald.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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