Featured Plants : evergreen

Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae Shrubs Are Known For Their Brilliant Color

patti-nhn — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:40:00 GMT

If you like yellow foliage in your landscape beyond the spring and summer season, the Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae will fit your needs. Being an evergreen shrub it will hold its golden yellow color all year long giving you lots of enjoyment even in the bleakest of winters. What is great about the Yellow Ribbon is its size. It will mature from 5 to 10 feet tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet tall making it fit into smaller areas and amongst other shrubs to add some background interest and color. Cones will develop that have an urn shape that will grow to about 1/2 inch in length, in the autumn the cones will turn a reddish brown.

This shrub works great in an area that has full sun to partial shade for proper growth and color. Soil should be well-drained but the Yellow Ribbon is not picky about the type of soil. It grows from zone 2 to zone 7 making it cold hardy and a very adaptable plant. It does prefer humidity and an area where it rains regularly. If you are in a hot and dry area, it will do fine as long as you give it regular deep waterings. This arborvitae works well as a screen, hedge and in small areas where you don't have a lot of space but want some color and texture. You can't beat arborvitaes for their versatility and beauty.

This Golden Globe Arborvitae Doesn't Get Out of Control

patti-nhn — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:10:00 GMT

The Golden Globe Arborvitae is known for its attractive round shape, similar to a globe. It will keep its shape as it grows to maturity without growing out of control. This bush is an evergreen and will mature to a height of 3 to 4 feet and will spread from 3 to 4 feet wide. Its foliage is colorful with its bright green interior and the golden yellow coloring on its edges. The foliage is dense so will fill in nicely. It does produce cones that are shaped like an urn and are about 1/2" long. These cones will mature in autumn and have a nice reddish brown color. In the winter the coloration of the foliage will become a very attractive bronze.

The Golden Globe is hardy from zone 4 to zone 8 and is easy care. They prefer moist, well drained soil and humid weather with plenty of rain. If the area is hot and dry, you will want to do a deep soak on a regular basis before the soil has a chance to dry out. It should be planted in full sun to partial shade. These bushes are most often planted close together and used as hedges or borders. They can also be grown on their own as an accent plant. They will make a great background plant as well.

Smaragd Arborvitae, An Excellent Semi-Dwarf Evergreen

patti-nhn — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:40:00 GMT

If you are looking for a semi-dwarf evergreen shrub that is compact and narrow, the Smaragd Arborvitae would be a great choice. Being an evergreen they will provide you with bright green foliage that will last throughout the year. This foliage adorns the shrub with flat sprays that are considered scale-like. It has added interest with its urn shaped cones that grow to about 1/2 inch long and in autumn they will change color to a reddish-brown. Smaragd will charm you with its attractive pyramidal shape making it a great choice at the entry to your home, as a border or hedge as well as many other applications in your landscape.

Growth of this semi-dwarf arborvitae will mature from 5 to 15 feet tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet wide allowing it to be planted in narrow spaces. You will want to plant it in an area that enjoys full to partial sun. For soil, the Smaragd is very tolerable to many different types although they need to be soils that drain well. It enjoys areas that tend to have rain on a regular basis as it likes humidity. If you live in an area that is hot and dry, you will want to give it regular deep watering to keep it going strong. Growing can be done successfully from zone 3 to zone 8 making it a hardy and attractive shrub for seasonal enjoyment.

Danica Arborvitae Bushes Show Off Glossy Emerald Green Foliage

patti-nhn — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:39:00 GMT

The Danica Arborvitae Bush is an evergreen that shows off emerald green glossy foliage. It is a dwarf variety that grows from 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide and has a rounded globe form making it very attractive. The branchlets, which are vertical, have foliage that is a beautiful bluish green color. In the winter, the foliage can often be brown to green in color. Often it is used as a small hedge along sidewalks, borders and around your house or garden. It can add softness and color bordering a fence. Because of its compact size, it could be used individually to fill in small areas to add interest among other plants.

This Danica Arborvitae is hardy from zone 3 to zone 7 and needs full sun to partial shade to thrive. It is widely adaptable to soils but does need the soil to be moist, well drained and preferably acidic. It has a slow growth rate but it is well worth the wait. Being an evergreen, you will have all season interest. Arborvitae's are some of the best and hardiest evergreen bushes you can find. With its smaller size, it can fit just about anywhere and it will continue to have its rounded shape. Once you have one, you will be looking for other parts of your yard that you can plant more.

Fire Chief Arborvitae's Are Tipped In Red

patti-nhn — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:30:00 GMT

The Fire Chief Arborvitae is quite a sight to see with it's green foliage that is tipped in red. It is an evergreen shrub that will have foliage that will last all year round. In order to make sure you will have the reddish colored foliage, you will want to make sure that the shrub gets full sun. If planted in a shady area, the foliage will stay green. If your environment has very hot summers, it would help the bush to have some light afternoon shade. It does have good resistance from sun burning and in the winter from winter burning. This evergreen will grow from 3 to 5 feet tall and spread from 3 to 4 feet wide.

Not only does it provide colorful and attractive ornamentation, it also provides food and shelter for wildlife. It is known to be used as shelter by white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares and porcupines as well as birds. The Fire Chief is hardy from zones 3 to 7 so has good cold hardiness. It has a medium growth rate, not too slow, not too fast. Soil should be moist and well-drained loam although it is tolerant of other soils. You will not want to let the soil dry as it is intolerant of the dry conditions. This is one of the best evergreen arborvitae varieties for its originality and beauty.

Technito Arborvitae Makes A Great Evergreen Hedge

patti-nhn — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:11:00 GMT

Looking for a tall evergreen bush for a hedge or as a single specimen? The Arborvitae Technito fits that bill. It matures from 5 to 6 feet tall and will spread from 2 to 3 feet wide. It is an evergreen so will continue with its dark green color throughout the winter. It is similar to the Techny variety however the Techny is much bigger at 15 to 20 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. The dark green color of the Techny and the fact that it does retain its wonderful color into the winter are two of the similarities. The Technito is very dense and does not need much trimming. You will also enjoy the reddish-brown bark that is furrowed adding lots of interest. The foliage has a texture that is medium/fine making it a little softer than some other Arborvitae's can be. This Technito has an attractive pyramidal shape and can be used as a screen for privacy, you would probably want at least two depending on the space you have available.

The Technito requires well-drained soil and it does best in a very fertile soil. The soil should be moist and not left to dry out between watering. Technito does best in sun to light shade and has a slow to moderate growth rate. This is a low-maintenance bush that is hardy from zone 3 to 7. It can handle the cold weather very well. The soft look of this Arborvitae is very pleasing as an accent to your landscape.

The Skybound Arborvitae Is Tall And Hardy

patti-nhn — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:43:00 GMT

The Skybound Arborvitae is an evergreen that is extremely hardy. It can be grown as a small tree or as a shrub and due to its tall columnar shape it is often used for a screening hedge or as a tall accent for a house or building. It can even be planted under power lines. It is very attractive with its dark green foliage that is very rich looking. The Skybound's leaves do not change color in the fall and their flowers are not showy but that is not necessary for this beautiful evergreen. It will mature from 15 to 18 feet tall and will spread from 3 to 4 feet wide. This Arborvitae has a low canopy with about 1 foot of clearance below.

Skybound is low maintenance, does not require pruning and does best in full sun to partial shade. It is a slow grower so will take some time to get fully established. It is hardy from zone 2 to zone 7 so can handle cold temperatures as well. Moist, well drained soil is needed. You will want to watch to make sure the soil does not dry out and you will want to water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Your neighbors will be jealous of your beautiful shrub/tree, whatever size you wish it to mature to. Evergreens are often considered a great addition to any landscape.

Elizabeth Bush Anemone A California Native

patti-nhn — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:46:00 GMT

The Elizabeth Bush Anemone Carpenteria californica 'Elizabeth'' is a California native that does well in the West Coast states. It is a drought tolerant plant and you will want well drained soil. It is an evergreen in the west coast and it blooms with fragrant clusters of white flowers with yellow centers in late spring/early summer. They resemble Anemone flowers. This bush is said to be used as a symbol for some festivals and holidays around the world.

The shape of the shrub is dome shaped which gives it a wonderful appearance in your landscape. The old bark of the bush will peel off to a yellowish tan bark. The height of this bush will be approximately 5 feet and it will spread out to the same 5 feet. It can take sun or shade and has low water needs. You may also want to prune back after flowering for more vigorous growth. It might be worth trying in milder Eastern climates of the United States but is mostly found in the Western states.

Variegated Winter Daphne Is Highly Fragrant

patti-nhn — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

The Variegated Winter Daphne 'Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' also known as Daphne odora 'Marginata' is noted for its fragrance. Its fragrance carries long distances and can often be smelled before you even see the plant in early spring. The flower buds are purple and as they open will reveal an almost white center which is very beautiful.

It is an evergreen so will keep its leaves year-round. The leaves are decorative as well in dark green with white edges. It is very dense and has a rounded form that will grow from 2 to 4 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide. This particular shrub is said to be one of the best of its kind. With its smaller size it would work well around patios or in a small yard. It is hardy to zones 6 to 9. If you like fragrance, this would fit the bill!

Sage-A Staple And Ornamental

patti-nhn — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:00 GMT

As I'm writing this, we are coming up on Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When I think of Sage Salvia officinalis, I can't help but think about using Sage in the Turkey Stuffing. It seems to be a staple at this time of year. Generally, most people will use Sage that is sold at the stores in the Spice section or found in the Vegetable area of the store. There are those that will want to grow their own and have it fresh or personally preserved for future use. It has a peppery flavor and enhances fatty meats as a marinade, couple with onions, vegetable soups to sauces.

Not only is it used in cooking but it is also considered a medicinal herb. In fact, the scientific name for Sage, 'Salvia', means "to heal". While I can't vouch for it's effectiveness or usage, it is said to be good for "what ails you".

It can also be grown as an ornamental garden plant. It has flowers that are blue to purple in color and they are edible as well. The foliage is a gray to green color and accents the fragrant flowers well. The plants are evergreen and can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches. Sage requires a sunny location and an alkaline soil is preferred.

Taunton Spreading Yew Graceful & Lovely

patti-nhn — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:16:00 GMT

Evergreen shrubs are almost a staple in a lot of landscapes because of their beauty, the fact that they stay green all year and they are wonderful complementary background or foreground color for other plants that are placed around them. They make a great hedge as well.

The Taunton Spreading Yew taxus x media 'Tauntoni' is a dark green evergreen that has short needles. The height is maintainable at 3 to 4 foot tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. They can be pruned back as needed. Neither summer heat nor winter burn should bother these shrubs as they are resistant to them. They are a very hardy plant! They can be planted in zones 4-7 and require full to partial sun. They are a somewhat slower growing plant than some other Yews but if you have the patience, they are worth the wait. These would also be a good plant for beginning gardeners.

Dawn Redwood A Decorative Fast Growing Tree

patti-nhn — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:28:00 GMT

If you are looking for a beautiful fast growing tree, the Dawn Redwood is the one for you. It makes an awesome windbreak as well and would grow and fill in more quickly than the slower growing varieties of trees. As you can see by the pictures above, it also has a very interesting trunk. It would be quite a conversation piece in your landscape. Oftentimes, you will see them planted in medians on the highway.

The Dawn Redwood is considered a deciduous (meaning it will lose it's soft needle like leaves in the fall) conifer. They do have the look of evergreens but the leaves will turn an orange/reddish color in the fall. The trunk is one of it's most outstanding and interesting features. It is extremely useful as a hedge, especially since it grows very rapidly. It is also said to be air pollution tolerant. It grows up to 50-90 feet and will spread out between 15-25 feet. It is widely adaptable and does require full sun. It is hardy to zone 4-8.

The Dawn Redwood would be a great anchor tree by itself or by planting two or more would be very attractive on an acreage or along your driveway as stately "soldiers" watching over your home.

Colorado Blue Spruce - Not Just For Colorado

patti-nhn — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:54:00 GMT

The Colorado Blue Spruce 'Picea Pungens' is native to the inter-mountain states of the west but grows from zones 3-7 which covers a good portion of the United States. These trees are awesome specimens and are very stately trees used often as Christmas trees and also in and around office buildings as well as a great center point in yard landscaping. They work hard as windbreaks or screens for all manner of locations. They are a fairly fast grower in the first few years and then will slow down at a more steady rate of growth. Mature growth tends to be about 30-50 feet tall and spreads it branches out horizontally to 10-20 feet wide.

I love the color of the tree. Blue is my favorite color so with that in mind, this would be one of my favorite spruce trees. The needles are a blue gray color or some consider a blue silver color. The needles start as soft clumps but as they age, they will become stiff and needle sharp. The tree's shape is considered pyramidal. I have seen these used most beautifully as Christmas trees either inside or out. The Colorado Blue Spruce has a moderate salt tolerance and prefers well drained soil. It can grow in full sun to partial sun. Birds love it too, it is a good nesting tree and the cones that it grows are decorative as well as good for crafting and for potpourri.

Canadian Hemlock Versatile and Evergreen

patti-nhn — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:51:00 GMT

When I see the Canadian Hemlock tree I think of a big old Christmas tree. I'm going into my past here, but, I remember ever since I was a kid seeing these trees laden with the big old glass bulbs of all different colors. I still see them all lit up at Christmastime but the bulbs have changed considerably. Now they may have lighted balls or drums or snowflake ornaments hanging off their sturdy branches.

They work really well as a main focal point in your yard. They are wonderful trees for songbirds, warblers, junco, chickadees and siskins, to name a few. The nice thing about these trees is that they can also be kept sheared into a hedge or even sheared into whatever shape strikes your fancy.

You may also know these trees under the names of a Hemlock Spruce or an Eastern Hemlock. Their scientific name is Tsuga Canadensis. If left to grow to their full height they can get up to 75 feet tall and 30 feet high. It seems like it might live forever as it is possible for it to live as long as 800 years or more! They are a moderate grower, which in ideal growing conditions would be about 1-2 feet a year. This would make a great tree to plant for your kids and your grandkids and even your great-grandkids to enjoy.

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.