Featured Plants : accent

The Jane Magnolia x Jane Tree

barb-nhn — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:12:00 GMT

The Jane Magnolia tree, Magnolia x Jane, displays impressive reddish purple flowers outside, with a white inside that opens late in the spring to avoid frost damage. These flowers, appearing just before the foliage, are a gorgeous tulip-shape with a lightly scented fragrance. This tree needs to be planted so that it has full morning sun and partially shaded afternoons. Although it does prefer rich, moist, and well-drained soils, it can grow in any soil no matter if its acidic, loamy, moist, rich, or sandy. It grows well in zones 3-7.

Magnolia Jane makes an excellent choice for any accent, specimen, or border use since it is a strong, vigorous, and an upright grower. This ornamental tree is distinguished by its beautifully shaped, extremely fragrant large flowers that open in early May.

This Magnolia needs regular watering until established, especially during dry spells. For optimum performance, fertilize in early spring with an acid-type fertilizer. Pruning it after the flowering is complete will help it maintain a desired shape and height.

This Angelface Charms With Its Gorgeous Blue Colors

patti-nhn — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:14:00 GMT

If you want a beautiful blue annual plant, this Angelface would be a great choice with its upright branching and its full blooming plants. It can fit in containers or in any garden plot where there is plenty of sun. This is a Proven Winner series which makes it an exceptional plant. The flowers will bloom much longer than most into fall. This will allow you to enjoy them inside in vases as well for a beautiful display.

The Angelface is hardy from zones 3 to 11. It can be a perennial in zones 9 to 11. It will grow to about 12 to 18 inches tall and spread from 24 to 30 inches wide. Soil is not a big issue as it is widely adaptable in that area. It has a moderate growth rate. Full sun is required. This is a beautiful plant and if blue is one of your favorite colors, like mine, this would last a long time with its showy blue coloring.

Royal Purple Smoketree Is Reliable

patti-nhn — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:31:00 GMT

The Royal Purple Smoketree (Smokebush) Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' is one of the best known of the smoketree/smokebush family. There are those that consider them trees and others consider them a bush. It gets its name from the smoky-purple-beige flowers that bloom in mid summer. Besides having a smoky color they grow in plumes that have a soft smoky appearance. The leaves on the tree will be a rich burgundy color throughout the growing season. They are quite attractive with their upright growth pattern. They are reliable in their hardiness and in their foliage.

The Royal Purple Smoketree (Smokebush) will mature to about 8 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. It does require full sun or the burgundy leaves will have more green to them than purple. It is a hardy tree/bush and will grow from zones 5 to 8. It does prefer moist soil but is widely adaptable to the type of soil. It doesn't take up a lot of space and is very attractive. It can be pruned to 6 to 8 inches tall in the winter and then it will produce long stems with striking oversized foliage in the next growing season. This makes a great accent or patio plant.

Flowering Chinese Redbud Wears A Dense Coat Of Flowers

patti-nhn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:05:00 GMT

The Avondale Chinese Redbud Cercis chinensis 'Avondale' is best known for its dense coat of rose to purple colored flowers. They begin showing off their beautiful color in the spring. The Avondale can grow to 15 feet tall and grows best in zones 6 to 9. It produces green glossy leaves that are a lovely heart shape. The leaves will turn a bronze to burgundy and then a yellow color in the fall.

This is a wonderful small accent tree among your landscaping. The color is also quite showy. The Avondale Chinese Redbud is also deer and drought resistant and prefers a sandy soil. It is hardy from zone 4 to zone 10. Flowering Redbud trees are one of the most popular trees for landscaping and adding that extra "something".

Enjoy Summer With A Weeping Summer Cascade Birch Tree!

patti-nhn — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT

The Summer Cascade River Birch Betula nigra 'Summer Cascade' is a variety of weeping river birch that is flowing and extremely attractive as an ornamental or accent tree. This weeping birch comes from North Carolina and can grow into a mounding shrub that will be quite large. It can be pruned back and trained by staking it or even sculpted into various shapes.

This River Birch is fast growing in zones 5 to 9 and can tolerate heat and wet soil. The height will vary according to how you wish it to grow. It would make quite an accent to your landscaping and would be an enjoyable, relaxing view from your deck or patio. River Birch trees are known as some of the most attractive trees. They will show off for you for years to come.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry A Brilliant Choice!

patti-nhn — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:33:00 GMT

Serviceberry Trees are known for their ornamental and fruit bearing assets. The Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' falls easily into this category. The flowering white blossoms begin in spring. They are then followed by an abundant crop of purplish to black colored fruit. Its leaves are a dark green which is a wonderful background to the white flowers and the dark berries. In the fall the leaves will turn a brilliant red and really show off for you. In other words, it is "brilliant".

The Autumn Brilliance is one of the most superior of the serviceberries and is hardy from zone 3 up to zone 8. It grows to a height of about 20 to 25 feet tall. It has an upright shape and is an excellent grower. This serviceberry tree would make a wonderful ornamental addition to your landscape and if you enjoy bird watching, the berries can attract birds as well.

Dura Heat River Birch A Superior Tree

patti-nhn — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:08:00 GMT

The Dura Heat River Birch Betula nigra, 'BNMTF' Dura Heat is a superior Birch tree. In case you are wondering, the Dura Heat in the name is due to the fact that this tree can handle the summer heat like a champ. It is hardy from zones 4 to 9 so it can handle those colder climates just as well and is wind and ice resistant. It's a very tough and versatile tree.

It is considered an ornamental tree for many reasons. The bark is a creamy-white color and it exfoliates in an interesting pattern, curling here and there along the trunk. The branches form a wonderful canopy that is very dense. The Dura Heat will tend to have smaller leaves that are closer together than other Birch trees which gives them that dense quality. The leaves in the fall are a nice yellow color. It will need full sun as it does not tolerate shade well and does prefer a moist soil. This tree can grow to 40 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. It is a fast growing tree so would fill up your space quickly.

If you are looking for an interesting tree that is not only beautiful but tough, this is the one for you!

Arborvitae Sherwood Moss

patti-nhn — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:04:00 GMT

This is a beautiful evergreen with soft foliage. It's a great border for areas where you want a shorter hedge. The height on these is approximately 4-6 feet and they spread 3-4 feet. They would make a great background for your flower garden as well as an accent to the front of your house. They are very cold hardy and sturdy plants. Their shape is rounded and being an evergreen they need very little care.

Their green coloring and soft foliage remind you of a soft bed of moss. Although this bed is a lot taller than most patches of moss! These are just great looking, fun and hardy shrubs that are so adaptable to however you want to use them. Try them out and prepare to receive complements from your neighbors.