This outstanding specimen shrub/small tree has a varied habit and is often grown as a multi-stemmed tree to showcase its great smooth gray exfoliating bark that reveals a varied underbark giving the textured surface a great mottled look. The bark is quite an impressive feature of this plant.
A rather fast growing plant it will reach heights of 15-25 feet tall. (Occasionally even larger) Hardy in zones 7 to 9. Quite sensitive to the cold, I have seen it grown successfully in Seattle, Zone 8, however in a protected area down near the waters edge.
Flowering late in the season, from July through September, the 6-8 inch long and 5-6 inch wide panicles are made up of 1.25-inch wide crinkled flowers that put on quite an impressive show.
The new emerging leaves are quite varied in color from yellow/green to bronze/red, turning a dark green as the growing season progresses. Fall color also varies from yellow/red/orange throughout the same tree. You will find that the white flowering varieties such as: ‘Acoma’, ‘Byers Wonderful White’ and ‘Natchez’ will color yellow in the fall, where as the darker flowering varieties (pinks and reds) will exhibit the yellow/red/orange coloring.
Not immune to pest and disease the crapemyrtle is susceptible to powdery mildew/ aphids, sooty mold as well as leaf spot and Florida wax scale. Plant this specimen in moist well-drained soils for best results. In marginally hardy zones it is common practice to prune the crapemyrtle to the ground. Where the crapemyrtle is hardy there is very limited reasons and need to prune. Pruning should be limited to removal of dead stems and removal of stems to keep larger growing varieties in bounds. Maintaining three to seven main stems produces a wonderful specimen.
This late blooming plant is a great addition to the landscape where hardy. Suitable for planting beneath power lines and in limited space situations.
Of all the plants that bring memories of childhood for some the lilac is definitely one. Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ is a variety of the Manchurian Lilac, native to China and Korea. This hardy (Zone 3) dense variety reaches 6 feet by 6 feet at maturity. The small leaves are a medium green, turning bronze/burgundy in the fall and offer a even texture for this mounding shrub.
Of course one of its striking features are the profuse panicles of flowers the emerge early summer and pink in bud and open up to a pale lavender/blue at maturity, the fragrance is quite strong. The flowers last well into late summer. I personally find the fragrance refreshing, but I know a few that find it a bit overwhelming. With preference to full sun you can’t go wrong with this lilac in any landscape. The compact habit of this shrub lend itself to planting along foundations, as well as a great backbone of a border planting.
Buy a Miss Kim Lilac from Nature Hills Nursery.
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The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a species of hydrangea native to the southeastern United States. The leaves loosely resemble those of the Red Oak tree (Quercus rubra), giving this plant has a distinctive texture. Hardy to Zone 5 this hydrangea is a thinly and irregularly branched upright growing shrub. At maturity the Oakleaf Hydrangea measures 4 to 6 feet in height and equaled in width.
Blooming June through July the fragrant flowers emerge a creamy white that then turn pink/purple and then finally brown. The most striking feature of this shrub is not its flowers but the coarse textured foliage. The oppositely arranged leaves emerge green often a glossy green then changing to varying shades of purple, red and orange brown. Planted in sun to part shade this hydrangea does best planted in a border or mass planting not necessarily a individual specimen plant.
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Kalmia latifolia is a large, slow growing rounded evergreen shrub. Varying in overall mature height this medium textured shrub can reach heights of 10 to 15 feet and even larger. There are a few selected cultivars that maintain a significantly smaller form factor.Requiring acidic, moist well drained soils this shrub produces a fibrous root system and is hardy to zones 4-9. Dark green leaves (2 to 5” long and ¾ to 1 ½ inch wide) offer a great backdrop to the showy flowers. Flowering in the months of May and June these impressive flowers are ¾ to 1” across varying in color from white to pink to a deep red.
Well suited for planting in a border or even a wooded setting this plant prefers full sun to partial shade. Offering a great backbone to any garden design this is a great substitute or companion to rhododendron plantings.
There are many cultivars in production, just to name a few:
‘Kaleidoscope’ – Mahogany red flower with white margins and a red center.
‘Minuet’ – A dwarf form with pale pink buds and flowers pink with a maroon band.
‘Olympic Fire’ – Pictured to the Right- Dark red buds and pink flowers. High resistance to leaf spot. (Personal success with this variety. I planted this one in my mother’s yard. Slow grower, with great features.)
‘Ostbo Red’ – Red buds reveal muted pink flowers.
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Hardy to Zone 4 this narrow upright growing shrub can reach heights of 10 to 15 feet. (Not as large in cold climates) With medium green leaves,1-3” long and .5-1.25” wide, arranged alternately along its slender stems. The yellow, orange, and red fall color are perhaps one of this plants best features. A slow grower this shrub has yellow, pink or light orange 1/2” long flower with a distinctive red vein (source of it’s common name)
Growing best in acidic, well drained soils this shrub is a great companion to both rhododendron and azalea plantings. Partial to full sun and perhaps slight shade and with great resistance to disease and insects this plant is a great addition to any garden.
Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’ is a slow growing small deciduous shrub reaching 5-6’ in height and similar in width. This plant has a spreading habit, angular branching forms a tight knit mound that suckers often forming a larger mass. Blooming in April and lasting for several weeks, the white 1.5-2” long fragrant flowers emerge before the leaves. The rich leathery texture of the dark green, often blue green summer foliage turns bright yellow to scarlet orange in the fall.
Fothergilla in general can tolerate partial shade, but requires moist soil with adequate drainage, performing best in slightly acidic soils.This shrub is a great selection for the urban landscape; generally trouble free in the disease and insect category. Great for use in foundation plantings masses and borders and can be effectively grown in containers. Hardy in Zones 4-8 allows for the wide spread use of what I feel is an under planted shrub.
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