Featured Plants : decorative

Adams Needle Yucca Shrubs Are Hardy & Handsome

patti-nhn — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:42:00 GMT

I had seen Yucca plants here and there around town. A good friend had some in bloom in her front yard so I got a better look at these plants and I was determined to get some of my own someday. They had been transplanted to her yard from her Grandfather's yard years ago. When we moved into an older neighborhood a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find an area of our yard was filled with these wonderful shrubs and I found out that they were called Adams Needle.

They had been there many years so they were mature and bloomed for us the first spring and into the summer. I look forward to them every year. I live in the cold climate of zone 5 so to see a southern looking plant in our area was wonderful and they will come back year after year. An interesting fact is that the Indians used the seed pods as soap and in its native habitat it is often called Soapweed.

These Adams Needle Yucca Shrubs are rounded in shape and work well in any dry and sunny area. They will put up green leaves in the spring from very dense clumps that are 30 inches or more in height and add interest with the fine, curly hairs that edge the leaves making them very decorative and can work well on their own or near a flower or rock garden for lots of interest to see. After 5 or more years, spikes that can grow up to 6 foot or more tall, will begin to emerge from the center which will then be covered with buds that will produce many white bell-shaped flowers. They are very beautiful and can give you a feeling of being in the warm southern states even if you are in the cold northern states. They are hardy from zone 4 to zone 10 and put on a long lasting show for you all year long. You'll get lots of compliments and questions from your neighbors and friends when they see how handsome they look in your yard.

Grace Hybrid Smoketree Is Fast Growing

patti-nhn — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:06:00 GMT

The Grace Hybrid Smoketree Continus hybrid (Cotinus x dummeri) 'Grace' is a fast growing hybrid. It will quickly grow to a height of up to 20 feet, some have been known to grow even taller. It is noted for its pink blooms that spray out up to one foot in diameter. New foliage is decorative with red and purple coloration that will turn to dark green in the summer. You will also have fall color that really shows off in colors of yellow, orange and red.

Being a Smoketree, the flowery puffs look like puffs of smoke on tall stems. They are very decorative for a corner of your yard or anywhere you would like something to fill in a blank spot and add some decorative and ornamental aspects. They are susceptable to Verticillium so you will want to watch and be prepared to keep it under control with whatever your local County Extension Service recommends for your area. Just a note, you may notice that sometimes the names Smoketrees or Smokebushes are used interchangeably.

Arbequina Olive Is A Semi-Dwarf Variety

patti-nhn — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:45:00 GMT

If you like the idea of planting an Olive tree but want something smaller, the Arbequina Olive Olea Europaea would be a great choice for you. This tree is from Spain originally. The Arbequina Olive Tree will begin to produce fruit in the second year. The olives are of a good quality oil for production.

Being a small size, the Arbequina will fit into many small areas in your landscaping. It is cold hardy down to zone 8 so would not do well in the cooler climates but best in zones 8-10. If you are looking for something new and exotic, this might be the Olive tree for you!

Yellow Gold Seedless Himrod Grapes

patti-nhn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT

The Himrod Grape Vitis 'Himrod' is one of the hardiest white seedless grapes around. Its yellow gold color and medium sized seedless fruits are great eaten fresh. If you want high quality, this grape is for you. The plant will mature to 8 to 10 feet tall and spread from 4 to 5 feet in moist, well drained soil. It is a fast grower and requires full sun to produce properly. It will beign flowering in June and ripens in late August. The Himrod Grape has nice red foliage in the fall. It's tendril climbing vine is very decorative as well.

Grapes will need a strong support to grow on. Trellises, arbors, fences and walls can be used. You will want to keep them protected from strong winds. The Himrod is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8. Grapes are great used eaten fresh, in desserts, jams, jellies and fruit salads. Birds like them too, so you may want to grow an extra for them if you enjoy bird watching. Growing your own grapes is fun, healthier and a lot less costly than buying them from a grocer. Give them a try!

Moonglow Sweet Bay Magnolia Is Hardy From Zone 5 And Up

patti-nhn — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:50:00 GMT

This Moonglow Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 'Jim Wilson' is known for its hardiness from zones 5 and up. It has proven to be very winter hardy for the past 30 plus years. It is decorative with its dark semi-evergreen foliage. It grows upright and flowers into late spring. The height of this Magnolia can be up to 35 foot tall and will spread from 15 to 18 feet wide. The creamy white flowers frame this Magnolia and are known for their wonderful lemon scent that will appeal to all. The tree will also fruit with bright red seeds which can also attract birds and other wildlife.

It makes quite a impact as a main specimen in your front or back yard. These Magnolias have also been used to line city streets and to beautify parks. It has no serious insect or disease problems. Soil that is medium to wet is best. It can even grow in low spots or ponds and streams. This tree is very versatile for your landscaping needs.

Harry Lauder's Walkingstick - Great Winter Interest

patti-nhn — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:01:00 GMT

This Harry Lauder's Walkingstick 'Corylus avellana 'Contorta' is an interesting bush that is said to be named after a man named Harry Lauder, who was a Scottish comedian that used a crooked branch as a cane when he performed his act. The branches of this tree curl and bend in shapes that are often referred to as looking like a corkscrew.

They are especially decorative in the fall and winter after they lose their leaves and you can see the branches clearly. It is an attractive bush with it's green foliage that turns to yellow in the fall. In the spring it flowers with yellowish brown catkins that are similar to Pussywillows. Like Pussywillows the branches of the Harry Lauder's Walkingstick can also be used in flower arrangements. This is a nice tall 6-8 foot bush that will spread out 4-6 foot wide. It requires full sun and is hardy to zones 5-8.

Butterfly Flowers Attract An Abundance Of Butterflies

patti-nhn — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:23:00 GMT

If you are an avid Butterfly fan, you must plant this Butterfly Flower Aschepias tuberosa L. It is easy to grow from seed inside or out as the weather permits. Butterflies are attracted to bright colored flowers which makes these red-orange fire colored flowers extremely attractive to them. Monarch Butterflies are one of the species of butterflies that you are most likely to see hovering around the plant. They bloom late spring to summer and while beautiful in your landscape they can easily be used in cut flower arrangements or on their own to brighten your home or office. After the flowers have bloomed the plant puts on decorative seed pods that could be dried and also used in floral arrangements.

The Butterfly flower is a shrub-like plant that grows to 24 inches in height, requires full sun and is drought tolerant. Since they are a perennial they will continue to grow year after year without any special care. Rock gardens would have added color interest with these flowers along with a resting spot for the butterflies. You will want to sow the seed 1/8 to 1/4 inches deep outside after the danger of frost has passed for your area. Otherwise, if you want to get a head start by growing them inside you can start them indoors approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for your area.

Ash Leaf Spirea

patti-nhn — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:29:00 GMT

Ash Leaf Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) also known as Ural False Spirea is a very decorative shrub. It is fast growing and exhibits large clusters of creamy white blossoms that have a soft, feathery look. You will want to prune the shrub in early spring before growth starts as the flowers occur on new wood. Their leaves are green and fern-like. The young leaves are a reddish color when they first appear and then turn green. Their fall color is yellow and green.

They grow 6-8' tall and about 5-10' wide so they make great border or privacy shrubs. They are deciduous so they will lose their leaves in the winter but they are still an attractive addition to your landscape without their leaves and flowers. Ash Leaf Spirea are also considered low maintenance and they don't require much pruning. It is resistant to disease, insects and is salt tolerant. It does require full to partial sun and moist well drained soil.