Featured Plants : resistant

Fox Valley River Birch Is A Little King

patti-nhn — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:06:00 GMT

The Fox Valley River Birch Betula nigra 'Little King' is a dwarf birch variety that will grow from 8 to 10 feet tall, it will spread out from 8 to 10 feet as well so is a compact tree. It is also fast growing and can grow to this height and spread in approximately ten years in good conditions. As with most birch trees the Fox Valley has an exfoliating bark with orange and red hues.

Its compact growth is eye-catching and makes it a desirable tree in your landscape, especially if you are looking for something different from everyone else. This River Birch is adaptable in soil type and resistant to pests and diseases. It is hardy from zones 3 to 8. It will make a great focal point in your landscape and with it's compact size it would be an easy fit.

You Will Triumph With This Elm

patti-nhn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:15:00 GMT

The Triumph Elm Ulmus hybrid 'Morton Glossy' is used successfully as a street tree. In fact, it would make a great replacement for any Elm trees that had to be taken down in the past due to Dutch Elm Disease. The Triumph Elm has shown to be extremely resistant to Dutch Elm and phloem necrosis.

Its leaves are a dark green and they are also glossy. The tree grows symmetrically and is a strong tree. Therefore, it would look very good lining your sidewalk or your driveway and stand like stately soldiers. The Triumph Elm is a hybrid of three Asian species and therefore is very hardy from zone 4 to zone 9.

A Towering Tree The Coast Redwood

patti-nhn — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:23:00 GMT

The Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens has often been called a Giant Coast Redwood due to the fact that it can grow from 50 feet to up to 300 feet tall! (Taller than many buildings including some skyscrapers.) Redwoods can be traced back to the Jurassic Era! They are a tough tree and have very little to no problem with diseases or insects. Their bark can grow up to 12 inches thick and is a reddish brown color which is where their name comes from.

Generally found in California's North Coast, these trees are hardy in zones 7-9. They will grow with a pyramidal shape that is very attractive. They are an evergreen and do best in areas of high moisture and well-drained soil. You will need a very large area for planting. They do have blooms in the spring that are pretty insignificant, their dark green leaves are flat and somewhat needle like. The Coast Redwood is a fast grower but, of course, it may be the next generation who will get to enjoy the full size of these trees.

Alaskan Seas Iris A Blue Beauty!

patti-nhn — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:08:00 GMT

The color of this Iris lives up to it's name "Alaskan Seas". It has shades of blues that remind me of a glacier and the water surrounding it. One of my sons who lives in Alaska has sent us many pictures of glaciers from far away to close up. When I saw this lily I realized it really does have the blue hues of a glacier. The colors go from a pale blue to a deeper sea blue. These make excellent cut flowers and look awesome planted in bunches. I think it would look great also with some white and red iris for a patriotic look.

You may be familiar with it under one of it's other names, German Iris, Iris Germanica or Bearded Iris. It will grow up to 30-38 inches and is very hardy to zones 4-10. You can enjoy their blooms from May all the way into June! They are very easy to grow and will thrive in well drained soil as well as being disease and drought resistant. Another plus is that they are resistant to deer, rabbits and squirrels. If you want something new for your garden and especially if you like blues, like I do, this would be a great addition.

Blue Hosta - Halcyon

patti-nhn — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:30:00 GMT

The Hosta 'Halcyon', Hosta tardiana 'Halcyon' is a wonderful anchor to your hosta garden or to include with other flowers you want to show off. It makes a great background with it's deep blue leaves. If you have never planted hostas, this is a good one for a beginner to try. You can depend on it to grow vigorously and dependably year after year. It's flowers are white to pale lavender that will bloom mid-to-late summer.

Like their other hosta cousins, they need full shade. Unlike some of their cousins they are very slug-resistant as their leaves are very thick and harder for the slugs to dig into. These look great planted around a shade tree, near a pond or birdbath. Enjoy them as you cool off from the summer heat in the shade near your pool. We have a variety of hostas around our old water pump/bird bath in our back yard under our maple tree and it's so enjoyable to see all the different varieties complementing each other. They each have their individual appeal and group appeal. If you want versatility in a hardy shade plant, this is the one to get!

United flight 93 Forty Heroes Roses

patti-nhn — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:39:00 GMT

The Forty Heroes rosa 'BAInial' is included in the "Remember Me" Rose Garden collection. There are three rose gardens being created to honor the memory and spirit of each man, woman and child who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Roses are associated with love and we hope that this one will uplift your spirit with it's intense green foliage and gorgeous full golden blooms. You'll enjoy how it's fresh, fruity fragrance will freshen up your garden and your home. The canes are very strong and it grows to 3-4 feet. It is highly resistant to blackspot and mildew. This will make a wonderful addition as well as honoring some of the 911 heroes.

Issai Beautyberry-Graceful and Refined

patti-nhn — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:36:00 GMT

I have heard the Issai Beautyberry Callicarpa Dichotoma 'Issai' described as a graceful and refined shrub. Their long slender branches arch and touch the ground at their tips. Dainty pink flowers bloom in the spring. If you enjoy bird watching, you will probably notice them checking out the lavender-purple berries in the summer. These berries really show off against the green foliage.

If you have a small space, this is a very compact shrub maturing to 3-4 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. This makes it adaptable to many garden plans. It is disease and insect resistant. For the best fruit color you will need to place these in full or part sun. For a fun thing to do with your kids on a summer day would be to add some of these berries to their mud pies! How fun would that be? I might have try it myself even if there aren't any kids around!