Featured plant of The Day: 'Lanciniata' Staghorn Sumac

Rhus typhina 'Lanciniata' 

syn. Rhus hirta

Staghorn Sumac,  Velvet Sumac

Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    4A to 8B
Height    15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Spread    15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Oval and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought and salt well.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Orange, red and yellow

This plant has attractive fall colors.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts birds
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Persistent fruit
-    Attractive fruit

Culture Notes
Place Sumac in a prominent location in the landscape in the full sun.  It is a nice shrub for planting in a low ground cover to display the interesting trunk and branch arrangement.  The fine-textured foliage, showy flower display and bright fall color combine to make it suitable for increased usage.

Sumac should be grown on well-drained soil, acidic or alkaline.  This shrub is often found on limestone or clay soils with a high soil pH in its native habitat, but it also grows on acidic soil. It tolerates high soil salt concentrations originating from de-icing salt applications better than many other plants. It would be well suited for inclusion in a low maintenance landscape where plants receive little if any irrigation.  Too much irrigation and fertilization can lead to plant decline. Stems are covered with a fuzzy pubescence.  Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources.  This cultivar has a beautiful lacy appearance.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of The Day: 'Valley Rose' Pieris Japonica

 

Pieris japonica 'Valley Rose'

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 4B to 7A

Height 9' to 12' / 2.80m to 3.60m

Spread 6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m

Growth rate Slow

Form Oval

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Pink and white

Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are very showy.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color

 Landscape Uses
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Screen
-    Massing
-    Specimen

 Attributes and Features
-    Persistent fruit
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes Be sure to plant in a well-drained soil for root disease can infect plants in wet soil. Organic matter incorporated in the root zone can help plants look their best. Plants are best located in some shade for those in the sun are often infested with lacebugs. A vigilant spray program can allow plants to look good for a long time within its hardiness range. In order to preserve next years flower display, if you must prune, do it immediately after flowers fade. There are scores of cultivars selected for flowering time, color of flowers and foliage, size of plant, size of foliage, etc. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

Planting and establishing shrubsThe most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of The Day: Autumn Purple White Ash

Fraxinus americana 'Junginger (Autumn Purple®)' 

White Ash

Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    3B to 9A
Height    50' to 75' / 15.20m to 22.80m
Spread    35' to 50' / 10.60m to 15.20m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Oval and rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Green
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Purple
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Landscape Uses
-    Street tree
-    Pollarding
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous blooms

Culture Notes
Existing trees do not tolerate soil compaction or construction injury due to an extensive root system.  The tree appreciates good soil and is probably not a good choice for poor, urban soils. It tolerates high soil salt concentrations originating from de-icing salt applications better than many other plants. Plants in containers tolerate moderately-high soil salt solutions up to about 6 mmhos/cm according to the saturated media extract method. It does not tolerate heavy clay soil with standing water in the planting hole. Established plants tolerate flooding well.

White Ash is resistant to heat, although it is native to moist locations, including river bottoms and well-drained upland sites. There is no fruit production on this cultivar but pollen from this male tree causes significant allergy symptoms.

The potential disease and insect problems limit use to parks and other areas where the tree will not be missed if it dies.  White Ash which have not been properly pruned can break apart in wind storms, but it has better branch structure than seedling Green Ash. Ash are among those susceptible to summer branch drop according to surveys in California. Summer branch drop is a phenomena resulting in failure and breakage of large diameter branches typically on calm summer days. Can be used as a street tree where there is plenty of soil space for root expansion and where cultural conditions are met.  Used as a street and parking lot tree in central California.  Wood is considered ring porous.

Featured Plant of The Day: 'Vulcan's Flame' Catawba Rhododendron

 Rhododendron catawbiense 'Vulcan's Flame'
    Catawba Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 7B
Height    6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Spread    6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Red
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are very showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

 Landscape Uses
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Foundation planting
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts birds
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes
Provide this plant with excellent drainage, organic soil and mulching. Do not cultivate around it, since it has surface roots and do not let the soil or mulch cover the stem. It is not salt tolerant nor drought tolerant and does not do well in sweeping winter winds. Rhododendron do well under the shade of canopy trees. This is certainly among the most vivid red selections.

Rhododendrons are ornamental, ericaceous, broad-leaved evergreens.  Azaleas belong to this genus, but many are not evergreen.  They grow best in shade or partial shade.  A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates.

Plant in an acid, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5.  Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful. Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants from containers quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation but benefit from mulching.  Remove the old flower clusters as the flowers fade.

Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acid.  Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity.  Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH.  Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after bloom and perhaps again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed. Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of The Day: 'Conica' Spruce

Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Conica'

Spruce

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    2A to 6B
Height    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Spread    36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.60m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Pyramidal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Red and yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Blue and green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Rock garden
-    Arbor
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous blooms
-    Persistent fruit
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes
A dwarf conifer for residential and commercial landscapes. This plant can grow to more than 20 feet tall.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.