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.
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The Amur maple is a deciduous small tree or large shrub hardy to Zones 3-6. Often used in a landscape as a screen or massing plant due to its rather dense, compact habit. Mostly sold in the nursery trade as a multi-stemmed plant it can be trained and maintained as a single stem tree with regular maintenance.
Green leaves emerge rather early in the spring and mature into a dark green color in the summer. Spectacular red-orange fall color. Winged seeds (samara) remain persistent on the tree throughout the winter months providing food for both birds and small mammals. (more…)
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This shade tolerant deciduous shrub grows to a mature height of 6-8 feet by 6-8 feet wide. Its upright arching habit and dark green leaf color make this a good choice for border plantings. Gray-brown bark on older stems exfoliates to give winter interst. Pale pink bell shaped flowers in early June are followed by brown hairy seeds that are persistent on the shrub well into winter. Its reddish fall color is rather insignificant. Performs well in rather sandy poor soils and once established is rather drought tolerant.
image source: Gertrud K.
Learn MoreIn the past couple of weeks I have planted, along with some assistance from the kids, several fruit trees and shrubs. Working for a nursery sure has its benefits. I bought an apple, plum, cherry and a fig along with some blueberries. Of all the fruit we have acquired I am most excited about the fig. I chose the Brown Turkey variety.
Hardy in USDA Zones 8-10, however with winter protection the Brown Turkey fig can be grown successfully in Zone 5. Even if frozen in the winter it will die back to the ground and can re-sprout from the ground and still produce a crop the following summer. For best production plant in part sun to full sun areas with well drained soils. Mulch liberally with organic material. Figs tolerate pruning and are often pruned heavily in the dormant season, controlling size and increasing fruit production.
Most cultivars of fig trees produce two crops, a spring crop on last season’s growth, and a summer or fall crop on new wood. Allow the figs to ripen on the tree before you pick them. Fresh figs have a very short shelf life, extend the benefits of figs by drying or even making some jam.
Nature Hills Nursery have the Brown Turkey Fig for sale here.
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Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
A neat shrub/groundcover of trailing habit (2-12″ high), and with flowers resembling those of the Arbutus, but much smaller. The leaves are entire, dark green in color, and about an inch long, and obovate or oblong in shape. They are alternately arranged on the stems. Fruit globular, of a bright red, smooth and shining.
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Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Habitat.—Hillsides, open woods and copses, borders of streams and swamps.
Hardiness.— USDA 4-7
Habit.—A shrub or small tree, 6-20 feet high, trunk diameter 3-6 inches; head usually widest near the top, flat; branches nearly horizontal with lateral spray, the lively green, dense foliage lying in broad planes.
Bark.—Trunk and larger branches greenish, warty, streaked with gray; season’s shoots bright yellowish-green or purplish, oblong-dotted.
Winter Buds and Leaves.—Buds small, acute. Leaves simple, alternate or sometimes opposite, clustered at the ends of the branchlets, 2-4 inches long, dark green on the upper side, paler beneath, ovate to oval, almost entire; apex long-pointed; base acutish or rounded; veins indented above, ribs curving upward and parallel; petiole long, slender, and grooved.
Flower.—Summer. From shoots of the season, in irregular open cymes; calyx coherent with ovary,corolla white or pale yellow, with the 4 oblong petals at length.
Fruit.—October. Globular, blue or blue black, on slender, reddish stems.
Horticultural Value.—Adapting itself to a great variety of situations, but preferring a soil that is constantly moist. Nursery or good collected plants are easily transplanted.
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