Featured Plants : orange

Calamondin, the Miniature Orange

barb-nhn — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:00 GMT

Known as the "miniature orange" Calamondin has an orange flesh, a zesty acid juice with a fine lime-orange flavor. Because of this, it is often grouped with the limes. It is grown mainly as an outstanding ornamental, which is often trained as a bonsai. It will bloom year-round; filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossoms.

Originating in China, Calamondin has flowers and fruits that often appear at the same time! The juice of the Calamondin can be used like lemon or lime to make refreshing beverages, to flavor fish, to make cakes, marmalades, pies, preserves, and sauces. Calamondin halves or quarters may be served with iced tea, seafood and meats, to be squeezed for the acid juice. Since these fruits are thin skinned, they only will keep in good condition for 2 weeks at 48º to 50º F.

The Calamondin is a dwarf tree that has upright branches with very few thorns and can grow up to 10 feet high. It is erect, slender, often quite cylindrical, densely branched beginning close to the ground. Calamondin develops an extraordinarily deep taproot and tolerates a variety of soils. The flowers are self-fertile and require no cross-pollination. Calamondin provides a prolific fruit production on its handsome compact habit, and is popular and outstanding as a container plant.

This cold tolerant ornamental tree with small, sour orange fruit can survive in a temperate climate. This unusual lime can be grown in a pot and brought indoors during winter months. In a tropical climate, of course, it can be kept outdoors year round.

Moro Blood Orange

barb-nhn — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:27:00 GMT

Moro Blood Orange is a variety of orange with crimson, blood-colored flesh. It is easy to peel, medium-size, and is usually seedless. By the time the fruit matures, the flesh is deep red. The name 'Blood' derives from its red blotches on the fruit's skin and its reddish flesh and juice coloring.

Moro is also the earliest ripening of the blood oranges and usually ripens in the late winter and early spring in addition to being hardy to about 27 degrees F. The fruit is smaller than an average orange, and its skin is usually pitted, tight, but can be smooth. It is known for its high content of Vitamin C, Potassium and Carotene. Culinary Chefs are making this orange quite popular because it adds visual appeal and outstanding flavor to salads, sauces, appetizers, and desserts.

This early ripening semi-dwarf fruit tree grows 7-10 feet in height and needs to be planted in a lot of sun to develop the sugars that makes its fruit appealing and so rich in color. This citrus tree forms a sturdy branching structure and requires regular watering.

If you are in a cold winter climate and temperatures begin to drop in the thirties, bring your tree indoors and place in a window with a western or southern sun exposure. It will need full sun, fertile, well drained soil, and moderate watering.

Want A Little Spanish Spice?

patti-nhn — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:26:00 GMT

For a lot of Spanish spice and a little bit of HOT, this would be a great pepper to grow and spice up your cooking. "Capsicum Spanish Spice (USDA Organic) HOT Pepper, Capsicum 'Spanish Spice' looks a lot like a green chili pepper. It's flavor though is more spicy than hot. It is a thin walled variety of pepper. The fruit grows to about 7 inches long and the aroma will entice you.

The Spanish Spice can be used in a wide variety of recipes. Often it is used fresh in salads, it does cook quickly so could be an addition to your grilled steak or fish. This pepper, like most requires moderately moist well drained soil and full sun. It does not require support so makes it an easy care plant. The harvest period is 60 to 65 days after planting and it is hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. Why not have the freshest produce at the convenience of your garden as opposed to driving to the grocer and obtaining produce that would not be nearly as fresh as you could grow which is cost saving too!

Autumn Radiance Red Maple Really Stands Out

patti-nhn — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:25:00 GMT

If you want a maple tree that will really stand out, you will want to try the Autumn Radiance Red Maple Acer rubrum. It is a cross of October Glory and Red Sunset maple trees. The Autumn Radiance Red Maple grows to a stately height of 50 feet or more and will spread to about 40 feet.

The most decorative aspect of this tree is its bright orange-red colored leaves. This color comes on in early fall to brighten your days. It has good branching and is a mostly round shaped tree. It is hardy in zone 4 to zone 7. Maples are vigorous trees and the Autumn Radiance is no exception. If you like great fall color, this is one of the best!

Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower First Of Its Kind

patti-nhn — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:00:00 GMT

If you want to be one of the first to plant this tropical looking plant, this Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower Echinacea hybrid 'Art's Pride' is just for you! This is the first Coneflower to have Orange petals! It is a perennial and sports its blooms from June to September. There is also a spicy fragrance so they can not only tantalize you with their color but their scent as well.

The leaves are a glossy dark-green which really helps to show off the Orange flowers. It can grow to about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It can tolerate some drought and does need good drainage. The Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower is hardy from zones 4 to zone 9. The Orange flowers would really show off in your garden and especially against a green background. They also make wonderful cut flowers or grown in containers.

Diane Witch Hazel Shrub Or Small Tree?

patti-nhn — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

The Diane Witch Hazel Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane'' can be grown as a shrub or small tree. Its that versatile. This Witch Hazel is a beautiful shrub year round. You will need a big area for it since it can grow to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. But it will stand out on its own or along with other plants.

Diane Witch Hazel has an array of bright red flowers that set the scene for the foliage that follows. It is awesome in the fall with its bright red, orange and yellow tints on its leaves. You might consider planting some blue hostas to show off against the fall colors. This would fill any empty spots in your yard or even hide a utility box or other unsightly object. This is a great plant that has many possible uses.

Blue Shadow Fothergilla With Striking Leaves

patti-nhn — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:11:00 GMT

The Blue Shadow Fothergilla 'Fothergilla x intermedia 'Blue Shadow' is a new variety of Fothergilla that originated from the 'Mt. Airy' variety. This Fothergilla boasts blue gray leaves. In April/May it will produce new foliage that looks like feathers. There are also white flowers that send out a honey scented fragrance. Late fall brings on the awesome colors of yellow, red and orange leaves.

Blue Shadow grows from 5 to 6 foot high and 5 to 6 foot wide. It can handle sun or partial shade although the blue coloring of the leaves will come through better in a shady area. Blue Shadow is a vigorous grower and tolerant to a wide range of soils. It is easy care, doesn't need much pruning and is mostly disease and insect free. It is tolerant from zones 4 to 8. This would be a striking plant in your landscaping.

Rainbow Pillar Serviceberry Perfect For Screens And Hedges

patti-nhn — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

If you are looking for a great hedge or screen for your landscape, the Rainbow Pillar Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis 'Glennform' is a wonderful choice. It is a good sized bush as it can grow up to 20 feet tall and has an 8-10 foot spread. It is a new serviceberry cultivar from Ohio. The growth is considered moderate which would be approximately 1 to 2 feet a year. The bush does grow upright which helps with the height as opposed to other bushes that grow mostly outward to the sides.

It is a great year round bush. In the spring the Rainbow Pillar will shoot out white flowers and the foliage is dark green. It has great fall color with its leaves showing off in orange-red shades. It also produces edible fruits that are attractive and also enjoyed by birds. This bush is mildew-resistant which is a big plus. It is best planted in full sun and is hardy from zones 4 to 8. This is a popular bush for its versatility in the landscape.

Osage Orange Trees Are Not Oranges

patti-nhn — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

The Osage Orange tree goes by many names. You may hear it called a Mock Orange, a Hedge Apple or even a Bodark tree. The Osage Orange is a Dioecious tree meaning it has unisexual reproductive units so some will be male and some female. The female fruits but the male does not. The female is wind pollinated and does not require a male to bear fruit. Female plants that do not have a male plant in the vicinity will produce a seedless fruit. Males do not produce fruit but do produce the pollen that is needed by the females in order to produce a fruit with seeds. The fruit resembles an orange or an apple in size, so that is where the other names of the tree come from.

Thorns run along the branches and were used to make "hedgerow" fences. Therefore, the Hedge Apple name. These hedgerow fences were the inspiration for barbed wire fencing. They are very sharp and prickly. The fruits are not edible by people but some animals will feed on them. The wood has been used to make bows and is one of the finest woods for that usage.

This tree grows 20 to 40 feet tall and spreads equally as wide so will have sort of a rounded boxy shape. It does require full sun and is a rapid grower. It does have yellow flowers in the spring and yellow leaves in the fall. It would make a good hedge tree as well as ornamentally on its own. You could explain some of the history to entertain visitors who comment on the tree.

Oriental Poppies Dramatic & Showy

patti-nhn — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:29:00 GMT

If you want some show stopping drama in your garden, why not add some Oriental Poppies? These Oriental Poppies Papaver orientale are brightly colored in orange, pink, red, salmon, and white flowers. The flowers are good sized at 4 to 8 inches across. Blooming time begins in late spring to early summer. They will swing and sway in the wind on tall stems with "hairy" foliage that resembles ferns. They are perennials so will continue to come back year after year.

Poppies are easy care, they don't need pampering and very hardy. Full sun is recommended. They are easily grown from seed and once you get them established you can harvest the seed heads for future planting. If you aren't concerned about more seeds, but would like to have them bloom again, you can cut the stem of the flower back and it will re-flower. These make great cut flowers for bouquets and vases and have their own pretty foliage as well.

Crusader Hawthorn Thornless and Colorful

patti-nhn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:17:00 GMT

If you like Hawthorn trees but not their thorns, the Crusader Hawthorn is the one you've been waiting for! Not only is it thornless but it's fall color is gorgeous with it's yellow to orange leaves. I love the fall colors of the trees each year but it seems like fall is too short and then winter comes and ruins everything. So, I try to soak up as much fall tree colors as I can. When I'm driving, I will take any shortcut or longcut (I make up my own words as I go along) to be able to view more of the beauty of all of the different trees colors.

This is a perfect tree for a small area. It's mature height is 12-15 feet and it's spread is the same so it has a nice rounded form. In the spring it has white flowers and after that bountiful red berries. If you are a bird lover, you can watch them go after the berries, especially as winter approaches.

The Crusader does well in full sun to partial sun and very adaptable to urban conditions as well as country conditions. For a beautiful tree with lots of options, this would be a great choice.

Great Fall Color and Deer Resistant!

patti-nhn — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:19:00 GMT

Here in the Midwest we have had weather this year that is beginning to produce a wonderful show of fall leaves on the trees and shrubs. Generally you need sunlight and cool autumn nights for the leaves to turn color. Did you know that these colors are always there but the deep green of their summer foliage keeps these colors from showing through? My understanding is that the cool nights are the main ingredient to get the best coloring. The colors can run the full spectrum and can be different shades of each color depending on the year.

One of my favorite trees for fall color is the Sourwood tree Oxydendrum arboreum. The 8" leaves are a scarlet to orange color so they can really show off and would complement other trees that would have darker red to purple tones, or even against some evergreens.

Besides having great fall color, they are deer resistant, bird friendly with their small fruits, and are a small yard tree so won't take up too much space. They will also flower in July with white flowers that have been compared to Lily of the Valley.

If you want great fall color as well as these many other valuable qualities, this is the tree for you. You can sit back and enjoy the show!