‘Satomi’ Dogwood is a pink-flowered variety of the Korean Dogwood.

This slow growing deciduous tree has a rounded form with beautiful horizontal branching. Deep pink bracts surround inconspicuous flowers and emerge in late spring, often later than other dogwood varieties and are followed by large red fruit. Fall color is orange-red. The deep green leaves often have a purplish tinge and are resistant to anthracnose.

The Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata) is a fast growing evergreen tree. At maturity this narrow, pyramidal growing conifer will reach 40-50 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. Often utilized as a screening tree, to block unwanted views, dampen sound and serve as a windbreak. Green Giant Arborvitae is widely adaptable to varying soil types, performs best in well drained locations. Plant in full sun to part shade, avoid planting near or under utility lines.

Hardy in zones 4-8 the Green Giant Arborvitae has rapidly become a viable substitution for the Leyland Cypress, which has been used in similar situations but has more susceptibility to disease. Once the root system becomes established in the first growing season rapid growth will be the result in subsequent seasons. In some cases you can expect 24″ inches of growth in a single season and in some cases even more. Deer resistant.

Green Giant is propagated by cuttings with relative ease, and is regularly available in the nursery trade. Follow recommended planting instructions to ensure the success of your new planting.

Purchase a Green Giant Arborvitae from Nature Hills Nursery.

The Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is a species native to the southeast region of the United States. Muscadines have been under cultivation for hundreds of years. Being native to the southeast they are adapted to warm and rather humid climates, making them ideal for planting where the climate does not produce favorable chilling hours required by other varieties of grape. Hardy in zones 5-9 they perform best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Of their notable characteristics is the tough outer skin which ripen in a wide range of colors: bronze to black and even purple. A rather versatile variety of grape it is grown to produce wine, juice, jellies and even eaten fresh.

There are hundreds of muscacdine grape cultivars, all requiring a pollenizer in order to set fruit. Muscadines grow best in fertile sandy loam and alluvial soils. Rather resistant to pests and diseases, including Pierce’s disease, which is a major contributor to the death of many grape species.

Muscadine Grape Cultivars for Fresh Consumption

• Black Beauty
• Black Fry
• Granny Val
• Farrer
• Pam
• Pineapple
• Southern Home
• Sweet Jenny

Muscadine Grape Cultivars for Wine, Juice and Jellies Preservation

• Alachua
• Carlos
• Noble
• Welder

Planting Muscadine Grapes

Muscadine grapes are adapted to a wide range of soil types, success can be found if the preparation of the planting site. Sites with well draining conditions are to be selected. When planting bare-root vines care should be given to dig a trench that will accommodate the vines root system without the need to coil the roots. Dig a trench that is about three feet long and at least a foot deep. Bare-root planting should be done in the dormant season. When planting containerized vines be sure to score the root system to help the roots grow outward into the surrounding soil.

In addition to providing a grape that is rather versatile, the muscadine vine provides great habitat for wildlife.

For a more detailed look at the muscadine visit the University of Florida’s Extension publication here. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs100)

Commonly known as the Blanket Flower, Gaillardia x grandiflora is a great summer blooming perennial border plant. Gaillardia will suffer in heavy clay soils, plant in well-drained sunny locations. Gaillardia flowers continuously with out the need to dead head.

Susceptible to leaf spot, powdery mildew and leafhoppers to minor degrees. Growing 2-3′ tall this perennial has an impressive 3-4″ flower head and is hardy in Zones 3-10. A great choice for areas that have high summer temps and dry soils.

A few notable cultivars:

• ‘Baby Cole’ – Dwarf. Less than 8″. Red flowers with yellow margins.
• ‘Burgundy’ – Large 24-30″. Burgundy red flowers.
• ‘Dazzler’ – 24-36″, Yellow flowers with maroon centers.
• ‘Kobold’ – also referred to as ‘Goblin’. 9-12″. Red flowers with yellow margins.

Butternut also commonly known as white walnut or oilnut  is a deciduous tree native to the eastern U.S. and southeast Canada. The rounded topped canopy of this species of walnut reaches 40-60′ in height and 30-50′ wide.

Light gray ridged and furrowed bark. Leaves are dark green, alternate, pinnately compund 10-20″ long comprised of 11 to 19 leaflets that are 3/4″ to 2 1/4″ wide.

The most serious disease of Juglans cinerea is butternut decline or butternut canker. This disease has caused widespread decline of butternut in regions of the US. By contrast, black walnut seems to be resistant to the disease.

You can find Butternut or White Walnut here at Nature Hills Nursery.

I saw this TED talk a while back and came across it again today. Researcher Kamal Meattle shows how a selection of three common houseplants can result in measurably cleaner indoor air quality.

The three plants he references in the video are:

• Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
• Mother-in-Law’s Tongue or Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
• Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum)

For a more exhaustive list of air-filtering soil and plants check out this Wikipedia entry. The list was compiled by NASA as part of the NASA Clean Air Study, which researched ways to clean air in space stations.

The 3 inch long glossy green leaves of the Himalayan Sarcococca or Christmas Box are definitely an outstanding feature of this shade tolerant evergreen shrub. Native to the western Himalayas this low growing plant is ideal for foundation planting, or locations that require a lower overall height,  as it grows only 18-24″ tall yet spreads 3 feet wide.

When planted in well drained moist soils this evergreen will slowly spread by stoloniferous growth.  In winter it bears clusters of fragrant, inconspicuous, pink tinged white flowers; male flowers (towards shoot tips) have pink anthers, female flowers with 2 styles. When planted in mass the fragrance can be quite strong. The fruit is dark blue to black and 1/4 inch in size. The variety humilis is smaller and more cold-hardy than the species.

The Japanese Cedar, not a true cedar, is a beautiful evergreen and is a worthy consideration when looking for alternatives to more common evergreen selections. Hardy in zones 5-9 this conifer develops a dense pyramidal or conical habit. Overall mature height is about 50 feet and a spread of 20 feet.

As the tree matures the reddish brown bark becomes quite the feature for this tree, peeling off in long strips. The medium green foliage will develop into a bronze color in the winter and returning to green in the spring.

Best used in large open areas and will tolerate urban conditions such as compacted soils, poor drainage and air pollution.

This tree has many cultivated varieties, from the dwarf to the variegated you’ll likely fine a Japanese Cedar to fit your unique conifer needs.

A few varieties of note:

• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black Dragon’ (Very dark green summer foliage)
• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan sugi’ (Variegated)
• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Tansu’ (Dwarf)

Stewartia monodelpha known commonly as Tall Stewartia or Orangebark Stewartia is a slow growing deciduous tree hardy in zones 6-8. Reaching a mature height of 20 to 25 feet and a spread of 15-25 feed this tree develops a rather symmetrical pyramidal crown in its youth developing into a vase shaped outline as it matures.

1.5-2″ dark green leaves cast light shade due to its rather open habit. The green leaves turn to a rich red color in the fall. Smooth cinnamon brown bark adds great winter interest, while its small white flowers that develop in the spring are not particularly notable.

With no known major pests or diseases this small tree is well suited for use in the landscape. Plant in partial shade and in a well drained location.

This fast growing Norway Maple variety forms a rounded canopy that is densely branched. Hardy in USDA Hardines Zones 3 to 7, this deciduous shade tree reaches heights of 45′ and spread of 40′. Medium green color in spring and summer turing yellow in the fall. Performs best in full sun to part shade, and moist well drained soils.

Reported to be tolerant of deer, pollution, wind and dry sites (once established).