Featured Plants : flowering trees

Eastern Whitebud Ornamental Tree

barb-nhn — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:17:00 GMT

The Eastern Whitebud Tree is a small deciduous tree that is adaptable to other soil types, but will not grow well in permanently wet or poorly drained soils. Growing best in full sun to light shade with moist well-drained deep soil, it is commonly used as either an ornamental or patio tree.

The Eastern Whitebud Tree is best known for its profuse white pea-like flowers. The heart-shaped leaves of this tree are 3-5" across and its fruit are brown flat pods about 2-3" long. The trunk usually branches close to the ground, resulting in a spreading flat-topped to rounded crown.

Care of flowering trees begins with knowing where they grow best, including their planting zones. The Eastern Whitebud is a rapid growing tree, reaches a mature height of 15-40 feet, and does well in zones 4-9. Flowering trees are among the most prized specimens of the yard, making a bold statement and heralding the return of warmer weather in the North!

Ornamental trees are usually described as trees that are less than 25 feet tall. They usually have a defining feature such as flowers, unique foliage, notable bark, or a form of branching that is eye catching.

Beach Plum Shrubs, You don't have to go to the beach to enjoy them!

patti-nhn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:24:00 GMT

Beach Plum shrubs are often found on the East Coast, along the shoreline. If you live in a colder area, not on the beach, here is your best option. They can be grown from zones 3 to 6, the colder regions of the country. Full sun is required for proper fruiting and the soil should be well-drained. The shrub can handle some drought as long as the soil is loamy or sandy, slightly acidic and moderately fertile. It will not do well if your soil is heavy clay. This shrub matures from 5 to 6 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide which makes it easy to pick the plums. It does grow upright and has a medium growth rate.

Before the fruit sets, the shrub will begin flowering in early May with white blooms that can be single or double blooming. The flowers grow in clusters of two to three. This bush shrub is pollinated by bees and also can be carried by the wind. After pollination the flowers will become a whitish pink color. It will produce edible fruit that ripens in August. The fruits are round and 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter. This plum is delicious and decorative with its wonderful dullish purple coloring. They can be eaten right off the bush or used in fruit salads, made into jams or jellies and anything else you might like to try. How easy can it be to have ripe plums right in your back yard and you shouldn't have to climb tall ladders.

A Sterling Specimen Is The Sterling Silver Linden Tree

patti-nhn — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The Sterling Silver Linden tree Tilia tomentosa 'Sterling' is one of the most highly attractive Linden trees. It gets its sterling silver namesake from the fact that the leaves are completely silver when they first emerge and will eventually become a lustrous green on the top of the leaf but stay silver on the bottom of the leaf.

One of the best attributes of this Linden tree is that it is very drought and heat tolerant as well as having better resistance to Japanese Beetles. It also will produce less fruit than other Linden trees. The Sterling Silver Linden also makes a great shade tree as it can grow to about 45 feet or more and spread to about 25 to 35 feet. It is hardy to zone 4 to zone 8. This is a very nice tree for your landscaping needs.

Signature Japanese Tree Lilac Small And Compact

patti-nhn — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:16:00 GMT

The Signature Japanese Tree Lilac Syringa reticulata 'Sigzam' is a smaller and more compact tree when compared to the Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac. So if you are desiring a tree lilac but did not want the 20 to 25 height of the Ivory Silk this would be a good option for you.

The Signature has trusses that are round as opposed to conical and are numerous. The tree will bloom one to two weeks later than an Ivory Silk. Its a very ornamental tree that has an oval shape to it. This Lilac Tree can also handle cold as it can be grown from zones 3 to 8. As an accent or even as your main point of focus, this Signature Tree Lilac would really stand out.

Shirobana White Flowered Chinese Redbud Is Packed With Flowers!

patti-nhn — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The Shirobana White Flowered Chinese Redbud Cercis chinensis 'Shirobana' is so packed with pure white flowers that it is hard to see the stems of the tree. It will bloom profusely in the spring. Since it can be treated as a large shrub or as a small multistemmed tree it makes a nice small very ornamental flowering tree at up to 10 to 12 feet tall.

Redbuds are very popular and the Shirobana is no exception. It is hardy from zone 6 to zone 9. The white flowers are unique to this tree as they are so pure white in color. Other White Flowering Redbuds can't compete. Redbuds are beautiful accent trees in any part of your landscaping. They can really "jazz" up a boring entryway or anywhere around your home where you could use some bright color.

Robin Hill Apple Serviceberry Is A Great Street Tree

patti-nhn — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Robin Hill Apple Serviceberry Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Robin Hill' is a great option if you wish to line your property with trees or to plant on your green space between the sidewalk and the street. They are a small tree that will grow up to 25 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide. The branches grow upright from the trunk creating a nicely shaped tree.

The Robin Hill is best known for its beautiful pink flower buds. It is cold hardy down to zone 4. Mildew can be an issue with Apple Serviceberries but the Robin Hill has been more resistant to the mildew than others. This is a great small tree for any location.

For Summer Charm Try This Tree Lilac!

patti-nhn — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:38:00 GMT

The Summer Charm Tree Lilac Syringa pekinensis 'DTR 124' is a reliable tree for regular and abundant blooming. The fragrance these trees put out is one of its best attributes. The Summer Charm blooms in white flowers that will mature into a very pale yellow. They show up well against the deep shiny green leaves.

Summer Charm will grow to about 25 feet in height and about 15 feet wide. It is a hardy Lilac Tree down to zone 3. It also has a dark bark that has a shiny appearance that is also attractive in the winter. Lilacs are always a pleasant addition to any landscape and can be used on their own or even as borders in your yard or lining a driveway or sidewalk. We know you will enjoy the Summer Charm of this Tree Lilac.

Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud An Amazingly Beautiful Tree

patti-nhn — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:29:00 GMT

The Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud Cercis canadensis 'Covey' is a most remarkable tree. If you want a unique and beautiful tree that will give you year round interest, this Redbud has it all! The most interesting part of the tree is its trunk. It will twist and weep into an umbrella shape that will be different on each tree. You will definitely have a tree that won't look exactly like the neighbor's.

In early spring it will bud out with reddish purple colored buds and then when the flowers open a couple of weeks later, they are a lavender pink flower that covers the branches. The leaves in the spring are a very pretty heart shape in a reddish purple color. In the summer the leaves will turn a dark green. In the fall the leaves will turn a nice yellow hue. In the winter after the leaves have fallen, the twisted trunk is very ornamental. The Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud is a small accent tree that will mature to 8-10 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. It is a slow grower but is fascinating to watch as it goes through it's metamorphosis. With its small size it could fit just about anywhere.

Fragrant Yoshino Flowering Cherry

patti-nhn — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:01:00 GMT

The Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree Prunus x yedoensis is one of the most attractive flowering trees. They are most beautiful in bloom with their single, pink flowers. They have a nice mild fragrance that is enjoyable especially in a breeze. The blooms pop out in the spring and precede the leaves that are a glossy bright green and emerge in the summer. In the fall the leaves will turn a nice yellow color.

This Flowering Tree will mature to about 30 feet tall to 30 feet wide. It is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8. The Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree is shaped with a rounded habit that will spread out very attractively and makes a great ornamental tree that will not take up a lot of space. It is wonderful on its own or lined up along a driveway or bordering your lawn. I have heard it remarked that this tree will STOP TRAFFIC!

Greenspire Littleleaf Linden Uniform And Beautiful

patti-nhn — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:01:00 GMT

The Greenspire Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata is a wonderful addition to your landscaping. The tree is very uniform with its upright growth. It's shape is considered pyramidal which makes a lovely display. You will often see these trees used as shade trees in home applications as well in parks and along city sidewalks.

The Littleleaf Linden has nice dark green leaves that will turn a warm yellow hue in the fall. It is a very hardy tree tolerating urban areas and adaptable to soils although it does prefer a clay soil. They will grow to approximately 30-40 feet tall and are hardy down to zone 4. This a very reliable and beautiful tree that you can enjoy for years to come.

Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Is Showstopping

patti-nhn — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:12:00 GMT

If you want a showstopper in your landscape, this is one of the best trees for you. The Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Prunus Serrulata 'Kawnzan' has double pink flowers with multiple layers that will appear before the green foliage. Kwanzan Flowering Cherry trees are beautiful to behold especially when they are flowering. The foliage is a light green and will become bronze to reddish colored in the fall. This tree has also been known as a Japanese Flowering Cherry tree.

This is one of the most popular flowering trees. The shape of the tree is upright looking similar to a vase or a more rounded form giving a structural element in your landscaping. It is a small tree with a height from 15 to 25 feet and will spread from 15 to 20 feet. It does require full sun and is a moderate grower and is hardy from zone 5 to 8.

Horsechestnut Buckeye Tree Is Beautiful and Fun Too!

patti-nhn — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:35:00 GMT

I go back to my childhood when I see a Horsechestnut Buckeye tree 'Aesculus hippocastanum'. I remember when I was 9 years old there was a horsechestnut tree in our front yard. It was amazing to me because it had these big beige colored fruit that was somewhat leathery in texture with prickles, but I don't remember the prickles being sharp. I could use my fingers to pull open the shell and inside were these wonderful brown nuts with a soft round to oval shaped spot on them which I recently learned is considered to look like the eye of a deer. They were shiny nuts and soft enough that I could push a thick needle through them with strong thread or yarn and spent many fall days outside making necklaces and bracelets with them. They hardened over time and lost their shine but were still enjoyable. I do believe I remember a boy cousin, who shall remain nameless, that chose to use them for distance throwing and also occasionally as a weapon in playing army.

I never tried to eat them but I understand that they are somewhat bitter tasting and some consider poisonous although squirrels are said to eat and bury them, I would recommend that you investigate more into that should you consider doing so.

I wasn't paying much attention to the tree beyond the chestnuts when I was young but I have learned since that they are considered great park and boulevard trees due to their round symmetrical shape and their flowers. The flowers bloom in early summer with white petals that dull to red as they age and attract butterflies. Their fall color is very attractive in yellows to browns. Their size it very statuesque as it can get up to 50-75 feet tall and 50-60 feet wide. They do need full sun and they do not like soil that is very dry.

If you want a tree that is not only beautiful but fun this would be a good bet! They are my favorite Chestnut Tree.