Featured Plant of the Week: 'Pink Turtlehead'

Cheone lyonii 'Hot Lips' 

Pink Turtlehead

Common Name: pink turtlehead

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Family: Plantaginaceae

Zone: 3 to 8

Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet

Spread: 1.50 to 2.50 feet

Bloom Time: July to September

Bloom Description: Rose pink

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Maintenance: Medium

Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden

Flower: Showy

Attracts: Butterflies

Tolerate: Deer, Erosion, Wet Soil

Sun Exposure: Light Shade

Bloom Color: Pink

Plant of the Week: Golden Rain Tree

Koelreuteria Paniculata

Golden Rain Tree

Hardiness Zones

The golden rain tree can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9.

Tree Type

This tree is considered both a flowering tree and an ornamental tree. It is typically planted for both its visual interest and profusion of spring flowers.

Mature Size

The golden rain tree grows to a height of 30–40' and a spread of around 35' at maturity.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year.

Sun Preference

Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference

The golden rain tree grows well in acidic, alkaline, loamy, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It has some drought tolerance.

Attributes

This tree:

·         Produces small yellow blossoms about ½" across held upright in clusters on a stalk about 12–18" long. The yellow coloring is rare among flowering trees.

·         Blooms early June through July and can begin blooming as soon as three years after planting.

·         Features dark green compound leave that are 6–15" long and made up of 7–15 coarsely toothed leaflets 1–4" in length. They turn pale yellow in autumn.

·         Yields fruit that look like little three-sided lanterns, light yellow to brown in color and containing hard, black seeds.

·         Makes an excellent street tree, good for planting near utility lines and paved surfaces.

·         Has good resistance to pests and diseases.

·         Can tolerate urban stresses such as heat and air pollution.

·         Grows in a rounded shape.

·         Has a shorter life span, approximately 50 years.

·          

Wildlife Value

The tree attracts bees.

History/Lore

The golden rain tree is native to China, Japan and Korea. It was introduced in America in 1763.

Plant of the Week: Kousa Dogwood

Kousa Dogwood (Japanese Dogwood)

'Cornus kousa' 

Hardiness Zones

The kousa dogwood (japanese dogwood) can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–8. 

Tree Type

This tree is considered both a flowering tree and an ornamental tree. It is typically planted for both its visual interest and profusion of spring flowers.

Mature Size

The kousa dogwood grows to a height of 15-25' and a spread of around 25' at maturity.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12" to 24" per year.

Sun Preference

Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of 4 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference

The kousa dogwood grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It prefers average moisture but is somewhat drought-resistant.

Attributes

This tree: 

• Blooms May–June, with distinctive white bracts surrounding small, greeinish-yellow flowers.
• Is a good choice for planting near utility lines, buildings or walls.
• Features dark green leaves that are 2–4" long and elliptic-ovate in shape.
• Has a beautiful form with horizontal branching.
• Grows in a rounded shape.
• Requires mulch around the trunk to protect it from lawnmower or weed cutter damage that could cause poor health.
• Produces pinkish-red to red fruit that attracts songbirds.
• Provides great fall color, with leaves turning purple and scarlet.
• Is tougher than the native flowering dogwood when it comes to disease and pests.
• Develops a camouflage pattern of tan and brown on the trunk due to exfoliation.

Wildlife Value

Kousa dogwood seeds are eaten by squirrels and birds.

Magnolia Virginiana 
Sweetbay Magnolia

Type This is a flowering tree, typically planted for its profusion of spring flowers.

Hardy range The sweetbay magnolia can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9.

Height The sweetbay magnolia grows to a height of 10–20' and a spread of 10–20' at maturity.

Growth rate This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year.

Exposure Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of 4 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day

Bloom Color Produces creamy white flowers 2–3" in diameter that carry a light lemon scent.

Bloom Time Blooms May through June, avoiding damaging spring frost.


Attributes

• Flowers best in full sun.
• Typically grows as a multi-stemmed specimen but can be found with a single trunk.
• Features simple leaves 3–5" in length that are dark green and often lustrous on top with a silvery, frosted-looking underside.
• Grows in a columnar or vase shape.
• Yields clusters of red fruit that attracts wildlife.
• Works well as a specimen or patio tree.

Wildlife Value The fruit is eaten by gray squirrels, white-footed mice, turkey and quail as well as a variety of songbirds including vireos, towhees, Northern flicker and blue jays.