Employees Favorites - 2011

By far my favorite plant in my front yard! This is not the typical umbrella form of a weeping tree; it is more horizontal weeping with rambling arches. In the spring, the large buds are a salmon color with tints of white on the edges and opens to a blush pink color. For a time in the spring while some flowers are open and some still in bud, the color contrast is outstanding. The bark turns a bright salmon color in cooler weather, so that too is a great contrast in the winter when there is snow on the ground. It grows to be 15’ tall by 15-20’ wide.

I fell in love with this hydrangea while working at the Zoo. The chartreuse green buds slowing transform to white conical flowers that turn a stunning bright white. I think the form is the best of all the paniculata types, with a great tight, upright vase shape. A very strong and reliable shrub for this area. Grows to be 5’ wide by 5’ tall.

Not a new variety, but a super reliable, sturdy and tough perennial. I started with one quart over ten years ago and dug it up to move with me. I now have over 6 patches of it throughout my yard. Becky has very sturdy stems and grows about 3’ tall. Nothing is quite as cheerful as seeing bright, tall daisy flowers in the summer (except maybe the first Daffodil that blooms in the spring)

First sign of spring with a light airy form and sugar white blossoms. Beautiful fall foliage color and tasty fruit. 18’ tall and wide.

Cool exfoliating bark, versatile size control. Foliage is a beautiful burgundy which creates a great contrast with pink buds and white flowers in the spring. 4-5’ tall and wide.

A part sun/part shade plant with beautiful varying colors of foliage. Provides a good foliage contrast to the usual green in the garden. Small flowers float above the plant in shades of red, pink or white depending on the variety. Size varies.

Beautiful shape, straight trunk and great symmetry. Light foliage that is easy to clean up when they drop in the fall. Rust/orange fall color, soft green in the summer. Beautiful winter form. Tolerates wet areas. 50’ tall and 20’ wide

Tough plant, takes sun or shade. Summer bloom gives white and pink color. Exfoliating bark and foliage has dramatic fall color. Fills in well. 6-8’ tall and wide.

Drought tolerant, flowers prolifically (especially when cut down hard after initial bloom is done.) purple spring and summer bloom, full sun. 1.5’ tall and 2’ wide.

Evergreen, Beautiful white flowers in spring with a citrus aroma. Great for a screen, if you are not a fan of your average evergreen and have a large area to fill. 30’ tall and 20’ wide.

Great roses that are easy to maintain, and don’t look like what everyone else has in their yards. The Sunshine is a climber that works very well on a trellis. Varies in size according to variety.

Various varieties of Peonies offer many different colors and forms for spring bloom. A tough plant that will take full sun and has lush green foliage. Lavender offers good extensive summer bloom with varying shades of purple color. Likes a well-drained site with good sun. Not only provides good bloom but has a great scent. Vary in size according to variety.

One of the best ornamental trees for our area. It has pale pink buds that open into bright white flowers and bright red fruit that lasts well into winter. Provides an upright oval form. Sugar Tyme is highly disease resistant. It will grow and flower best in full sun but will tolerate moderate shade. 20’ tall and wide.

The Winter Gem is a faster growing Boxwood. It can be easily maintained at 3’-4’ tall and wide, but can be left to grow larger. It grows well in full sun or moderate shade. It is an excellent plant to use as a hedge or along the foundation of your home. 3-4’ tall and wide.

Brilliant golden-yellow foliage of needle-like evergreen leaves; yellow flowers in summer. Very drought tolerant, a good source of fall color and winter interest. 4” tall, spreads.

A small tree with trifoliate leaves and excellent red fall color. Tolerant of a variety of soils. Rich cinnamon to red exfoliating bark which provides great winter interest. 25’ tall and 20’ wide.

A compact, dense shrub with white flowers in spring followed with stunning red berries. A broadleaf semi-evergreen, the foliage is blue-green turning to red in the winter. Will grow in sun or part shade, nice in groups or drifts and softens the effect of coarse-textured shrubs. 3-4’ tall and wide.

Excellent groundcover with delicate flowers on thin stems which appear to float above the foliage in early spring. Once established it can tolerate dry and shady locations. 8-10” tall, spreads.

Introduced by Morton Arboretum, Triumph is a hybrid of Ulmus wilsoniana, U. japonica, and U. pumila. Triumph has remarkably dark green and glossy foliage and a sturdy, symmetrical growth habit. The elm develops softly arching branches as it matures. An excellent, fast growing shade tree for home and commercial landscapes, Triumph is a wonderful park or street tree, offering disease and pest resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm yellows and elm leaf beetle. 50’ tall and 40’ wide.

‘Twisty Baby’ is a black locust cultivar most noted for its shrubby growth habit, zigzag branching (more prominent on new growth) and curling of some of its mature leaflets. Dark green foliage turns yellow in the fall. Miniature spines occur on some branches. ‘Twisty Baby’ is a great specimen in the landscape for

multi-season interest. 8-10’ tall and 12-15’ wide.

Blooms green/yellow in May-June. A good contrast plant for other stronger colors in the garden. Gives unique form and texture to the landscape. Size varies according to variety.