Featured Plants : hardy

The Handsome and Ornamental 'Showy Mountain Ash'

barb-nhn — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Showy Mountain Ash is a handsome and showy tree for the border of your property. It is a hardy tree that can tolerate heat or cold, strong winds and low humidity. Showy Mountain Ash is a smaller, rounded ornamental tree with white flowers, handsome foliage, and showy red fruit. A profuse flowering tree, it shows off its blooms from June until July!

This landscape ash tree has branches that spread to form a narrow, open, and round topped crown. Being the hardiest of the species in this country, it is slow growing and resistant to disease. It is a main source of food for birds, who will scatter the seeds and the fruits are not edible for humans. This plant is attractive to bees and butterflies.

Showy Mountain Ash needs good drainage; water regularly; do not overwater. It should be mulched to maintain a cool, moist, acidic soil. The mulch should spread out beyond the trunk at least twice as far as the edge of its canopy. This will shelter its extensive root system.

The Early Blooming 'Pink Spires' Crabapple

barb-nhn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:51:00 GMT

The Pink Spires Crabapple is ideal for a confined screen or border planting and is one of the earliest to bloom. In the spring, this excellent rosy bloom crabapple is covered with single pink flowers with red-purple foliage. It turns to green-bronze in summer, and then copper in fall. It bears persistent purplish-red fruit that is about 1.5 inches; slightly larger than a cherry.

Growing to a height of 15 to 20 feet, it is upright in form and only has a 12’ spread so fits where space is limited. Pink Spires is a small, hardy, deciduous ornamental tree with a narrow, upright form. Train to central leader when young and as the tree matures, keep the middle open. It has fair resistance to scab and fireblight, shows good resistance to mildew, and a strong resistance to rust.

Pretty Pink is an ornamental flowering crabapple that offers a distinct landscape feature for every single season, is easy to grow, and generally requires little maintenance. Pink Spires does well in most soil, but will be more attractive if fed peat and compost. This crabapple has great hardiness, being rated for zones 2-7.

Plant Hydrangea Late Panicle for Fall Color

barb-nhn — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:08:00 GMT

The Hydrangea Late Panicle is a shrub that has white airy flowers that can reach 10-12" in length in late August. The flowers are a mixture of sterile and fertile flowers which gives them less density and less likelihood to tip or droop. This Hydrangea's flowers will turn bronze in fall; grows 6-8 feet in zones 3-8.

Trained to a single stem with a head, it blooms in late August with showy white flowers which age to a lovely mauve pink. The flower head is more open than PeeGee Hydrangea, resulting in an elegant airy, showy floral display.

Hydrangeas grow best in moist, well-drained soil. Most hydrangeas benefit from some shade, especially in hot climates. It has average water needs; water regularly; do not overwater. These shrubs are fast growing and are great for informal screens, specimen plants, or for cut arrangements.

It is best to prune every year in the fall after blooming, no more than 1/3 of the plant. These plants look best if they are kept pruned and this regular pruning keeps them thick at the base. They are hardy and will not need to be covered to flower.

The Chanticleer Flowering Pear (Callery Pear)

barb-nhn — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:43:00 GMT

The Chanticleer Flowering Pear is native to China and Taiwan. It is an upright-branched ornamental tree and grows pyramidal to columnar in its youth. As it ages, it tends to become oval to spreading. It is noted for its early profuse spring bloom, quality glossy green foliage, and outstanding reddish-orange to purple fall color. Then in the winter, the tight, narrow form is a refined silhouette in the landscape. This flowering ornamental tree is very hardy and fast growing. Thriving in zones 5-8, it is also drought and heat tolerant.

Chanticleer Pear is best grown in humusy, well-drained loams with consistent moisture in full sun. It tolerates some drought once established and is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, including heavy clays.

The upright-pyramidal form is much narrower than other ornamental pears like the New Bradford Pear, so it is a good selection for tight spaces, and it is a great tree that thrives in a city area. Tolerant of the urban conditions, and a stunning flowering tree for the landscape, it can be used as a group or specimen, small shade tree, or as a street tree.

Chanticleer is less susceptible to early freezes than other flowering pears. It will grow up to 40-60 feet high and 15-20 feet wide. Because of its shape, the crown is less prone to branch breakage with heavy winter snow.

Double Flowering Plum

barb-nhn — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:51:00 GMT

The Double Flowering Plum is a showstopper across the northern areas in May! It is a handsome, hardy tree or large shrub, and it is noted for its double pink flowers produced in profusion in April-May. These fully double hot pink flowers completely smother the branches in early spring, long before the leaves emerge. This flowering tree also goes by the name of Rose Tree of China.

At maturity, Double Flowering Plum forms a rounded shape with medium green foliage, and it matures 10-12 feet in both height and width. It is hardy to zones 3-6, which means that it will reliably leaf out every year in the coldest parts of the Northscaping region.

This ornamental tree needs lots of sun and space to look its best. It will tolerate a wide range of soils and is adaptable to most soils and pH; intolerant to poorly drained, compacted soil.

Being a moderate growing tall shrub, it can be used as a specimen, bonsai, or buffer strip. Double Flowering Plum develops a yellow-bronze fall color. Anyone who has seen a mature specimen in full bloom will certainly remember its glorious pink color. You will want to find a space in your landscape for this stunning small tree!

Polly White Peach Tree is Self-Fruitful

barb-nhn — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:30:00 GMT

If you want to produce a delicious peach, but live in a colder region, Polly White Peach is one of the most winter hardy peach varieties. The tree was developed in Iowa and is hardy to 20º F. It likes full sun and will produce its first crop in 3 to 5 years. It does not need a pollinator since it is self-fruitful and produces a reliable crop of tasty, sweet, medium-sized, white-fleshed fruit. It is best to pick these fruits when they are firm-ripe, not soft-ripe. Sugar content and flavor are best when fruit are allowed to come almost to maturity on the tree.

Peach trees need full sunlight. They love the heat and should be planted on the highest point in the garden so that the cold air at night will be below them, and they will be warmed by the warmer rising air. Peach trees prefer a sandy loam soil, but most varieties can adapt to different soil conditions, and it is important that the soil be well drained.

Each tree will need its own space, that is about 6 feet in diameter. Peach trees produce fruit on shoots of the past season’s growth. Unpruned trees will set tremendous crops of very small fruit the season after pruning is omitted. It is important to keep the tree pruned, usually in a vase shape. Peaches are easy to grow and many varieties are attractive, especially when in bloom.

Austrian Copper Roses Bloom Early

patti-nhn — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:56:00 GMT

The first thing that got my attention with this Austrian Copper rose was the coloring of the blooms. This bush blooms in spring and often before other roses have started to bloom. The blooms are a bright coppery orange on the inside and gold on the outside as well as having a moderate fragrance. Their foliage is attractive and will have 5 to 7 leaflets per each leaf. It is so popular that it has been said to be the most grown species in the world!

The Austrian Copper rose will mature from 6 to 8 feet tall and being a vigorous grower it may only take a couple of years to get to 6 to 7 feet tall. This rose requires full sun, can tolerate poor soil and can be grown in zones 5 to 7. They are winter hardy and have an average disease resistance. It is best not to prune as it dislikes pruning. It can make a great hedge if allowed to sucker. This is a beautiful rose that is very popular and hardy and would do well in any garden space on its own or with other types of roses or plants.

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.

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.

The Crimson Pygmy Barberry Is A Miniature For Small Spaces

patti-nhn — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:10:00 GMT

Do you have a small space that you can't figure out what to do with? The Crimson Pygmy Barberry is a miniature Barberry bush that is one of the best to fill in those spaces. It is small at 2 feet tall and it will spread out about 2 to 3 feet. Compact and mounding describe this bush. It has colorful ruby-red foliage that lasts from fall to winter and new growth to the bush will be bright red. This bush puts out flowers in the spring that are small and yellow. They will produce bright red fruit which is enjoyed by birds and wildlife and adds extra color. The fall colors of the foliage is orange-scarlet. How can you resist all these great attributes?

The Crimson Pygmy requires full sun in order to put out its beautiful coloring. Moist, well-drained soil is needed to grow appropriately. It will grow in zones 4 to 7 making it cold hardy. This bush could be used as a small border lining your sidewalk or driveway for instance. Planted in front of other bushes or plantings it can add extra interest into your landscaping. Barberry bushes could also be planted individually on their own and are low maintenance and hardy, they don't need any special treatment. This is a great bush that you will enjoy for years to come.

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.

Instead Of Ruby Red Slippers, How About A Ruby Red Geranium!

patti-nhn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:34:00 GMT

This is Freestyle Ruby Red Geranium is quite a gem with its dark ruby red flowers. The flowers are semi-double which makes them even more interesting. The leaves and stems are succulent and the plant will grow upright. Sometimes geraniums are called garden geraniums or zonal geraniums. They typically can be grown inside as well as outside. This geranium would look wonderful in a hanging basket, in flower beds, containers, pots, large tubs, even window boxes. Planted with petunias and ivy's adds even more interest to your Geraniums.

Geraniums are very hardy and can be grown in many regions of the country. They will mature from 12 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. They are easy care and have a moderate growth rate. You will want to plant them in full sun to partial shade. They are hardy from zones 3 to 11. In zones 3 to 8 they are an annual only and in zones 9 to 11 they can be a perennial. Their beautiful color and hardiness make them a wonderful plant for you.

Yellow Chiffon Calibrachoa Superbells Are Long Bloomers

patti-nhn — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:55:00 GMT

This Yellow Chiffon Calibrachoa Superbell has small one inch bell shaped flowers that are similar to Petunias. Their medium yellow flowers have a soft color, like chiffon. They also have a larger leaf than other Calibrachoas. They grow semi-upright and need full sun. They will bloom from spring until the first frost and are low maintenance. With their trailing habit, they look very attractive in pots and hanging baskets.

This Yellow Chiffon will mature from 7 to 10 inches high and 8 to 10 inches wide. They have a moderate growth rate and require full sun. The Yellow Chiffon is self-cleaning, so no need to deadhead. Their heat resistance is a wonderful plus. If you like hummingbirds, they are attracted to this type of flower. You will want to make sure that you don't overwater or they will be susceptible to root rot or other diseases. It is hardy from zone 3 to zone 11 and is an annual in zones 3-8 and a perennial in zones 9 to 11. Try this out for its original color and flowers.