Viewing comments posted by jathton

"Bailey's Compact Amur Maple is an excellent larger shrub for screening or as a striking fall feature in the garden. This compact variety grows about half the size of a traditional Amur maple to 7 to 9 ft. tall by about 8 ft. wide in sun or part shade. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution, extreme cold and adapts to both dry and moist conditions. The smaller maple leaf shaped green foliage turns outstanding shades of orange and in the fall." Grobe Nursery & Garden Center, Breslau, Ontario, Canada

I was verifying the hardiness zones for Silverbush and re-read my initial comment.
I've had a nice 6 inch tall one in a pot in a south facing window since I received it late last summer.
It is maintaining quite well... so maybe the rosemary comparison in the first comment was too harsh.
I'm hoping for something special when I put it outdoors in about 3 weeks.

Dr. Carl Whitcomb, in Know It and Grow It III, summed up 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly quite nicely: "An amazingly durable and tolerant holly that thrives under a wide range of conditions. Especially drought-tolerant and a prolific producer of bright red berries."

My first look at this small tree was in the Van Dusen Botanic Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia in the early 1990's. It is good looking... with a dense branch structure that eventually forms a loosely round crown . The leaves are willow like, 1-3 inches long and covered in woolly gray-green. The blooms in spring are white and attractive, but the form and foliage is the highlight of this tree.
One serious caveat... this tree has a serious problem with fireblight. Pacific Northwest gardeners seem to have the greatest success with this particular tree.
I say that regrettably... I'd love one in my garden.

This small ornamental crabapple was introduced to the trade in 1947 by Carl Sax. It is considered his finest crabapple introduction. It developed as a triploid... allowing it to breed true from open pollinated seed. The tree was named to honor the daughter of Charles Sargent, first Director of the Arnold Arboretum.
'Mary Potter' is a beautiful crabapple that grows 6-8 feet wide and spreads to as much as 18 feet. Pink buds open to snow white blooms that develop into purple red fruits that are persistent. That is, they stay on the tree into winter... providing food for birds.
Father John Fiala, in Flowering Crabapples, The Genus Malus... notes that 'Mary Potter' deserves to be grown more as a specimen tree. It has a very attractive form, white blooms and red fruit smother the tree with color in spring and again in fall, the fall color is a good, clear yellow and the silhouette of the tree in winter is striking and handsome.

'Halcyon' is a favorite in central Oklahoma... it handles stress [drought, exceptional heat, and soil conditions] better than many hostas... particularly the variegated forms. And the blue-green color of its leaves is a great foil for adjacent plants and blooms.

In the second half of the 20th century the preeminent ivy in Oklahoma City home landscapes was English Ivy. It was, in fact, the only ivy to be seen.
Plenty of people disliked it. Its roots penetrated bricks and mortar. They also creep under panels of siding. If the foliage was damaged in winter, its ugly leaves clung to the vines until spring. But those same people almost invariably had some in their garden.
As gardening became more sophisticated English Ivy began to be replaced with Boston Ivy.
Boston Ivy has several advantages. It grows faster than English Ivy. It does not damage bricks, mortar and siding. Its shiny, emerald green leaves are more attractive. The leaves turn various shades of red and orange before dropping in fall.The exposed tracings of the vines in winter are very attractive.

The only comment I'm going to make regarding the "naming debate" for the plant in the two photos attributed to jathton....................................
"The first place I saw this plant was in the 'Kemper Center for Home Gardening' perennial border. This center and border are key components of the Missouri Botanical Garden in Saint Louis. I took both photos during my visit in May, 2001. The plant was clearly labeled as Big Betony [S. micrantha]."
Putting aside the "name debate"...................
Big Betony was one of about five perennials in that border at that moment in time that jumped up and grabbed our attention. It contributed a lot of visual impact to the border as a whole... but it was large enough and captivating enough to also grab attention as an individual specimen.
Stachys officinalis is an attractive little perennial... but if you want some real clout in your garden... find yourself a Big Betony.

Echeverias are native to the 1,000 to 4,000 foot elevations in remote mountainous regions from Mexico to Argentina. There are about 150 species in this genus... and hybridizers have managed to create hundreds of hybrids.
They like a lot of direct sun, rich soils, and almost perfect drainage. They will not tolerate wet soils... period.
This is one plant that really deserves to be researched before you plant one. The more you know about their cultural needs, the better your chances of success.

David Taylor [the head forester at Camperdown House in Dundee, Scotland] discovered the first 'Camperdown' Elm growing in the estates forest in 1835-1840. The young tree was transplanted within the gardens of the estate... where it grows to this day.

Ulmus glabra, the Scotch Elm, is the parent of the 'Camperdown' Elm. Since both trees are susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Leaf Beetle they are seldom, if ever, recommended for use in the landscape. But it should be noted that no less a tree authority than Michael Dirr observed that, "...based on the number of extant species" the 'Camperdown' Elm is probably more resistant than it's parent. It has also been established that the American vectors [carriers] of Dutch Elm Disease do not feed on Wych Elms... which helps this tree avoid infection.

Camperdown Elms can be found on university campuses such as the University of Idaho, the Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle and the Kripalu Yoga Center in Stockbridge, MA. I know of three specimens growing in Oklahoma City... and none of these have been infected.
Type Camperdown Elm into Google, choose the Wikipedia entry for this tree, scroll down and you'll find a section titled "Notable Trees"... which, coupled with photos, gives you a good idea of how majestic this tree can be.

Echeverias are native to the 1,000 to 4,000 foot elevations in remote mountainous regions from Mexico to Argentina. There are about 150 species in this genus... and hybridizers have managed to create hundreds of hybrids.
They like a lot of direct sun, rich soils, and almost perfect drainage. They will not tolerate wet soils... period.
This is one plant that really deserves to be researched before you plant one. The more you know about their cultural needs, the better your chances of success.

The seed this beautiful little tree hails from was collected on the island of Hokkaido by C.S. Sargent. It was introduced to this country in 1892 by the Arnold Arboretum. It is noteworthy for being the smallest species of crabapple.
This little tree typically grows 4-8 feet tall and spreads its limbs 8-15 feet. This gives the plant a decidedly oriental, wind-swept appearance. The different photos show what can be accomplished with this small tree.

How to completely surprise yourself in your own garden:
... First, get old
... Then, Go out to the garden some fine fall day and sow some flower seeds
... Go back inside and wait until spring.
... Go out to the garden some fine spring day and stand in stupefied amazement as you gaze on flowers emerging from the earth that you absolutely KNOW you did not plant
... At this point you might say something like, "Good Lord!!!"... or possibly, "Where in the world did those come from?"... or you might be feeling your oats and be inclined to say, "Look what I have wrought!!!!"
... If you choose declaration number three I'll suggest you also read the poem 'Ozymandias' by Shelley.

Any way you choose, however, there is no denying these Poppies make a striking statement.

The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants divides Japanese maple cultivars with valid names into 7 groups. Acer palmatum 'Sharp's Pygmy' appears in Group 6: Dwarf, Bonsai, and Penjing.
Normally the trees in this group do not exceed 1 meter in height... and 'Sharp's Pygmy' usually conforms to this description. I have seen two examples, both planted in-ground, that exceeded that height by about 6-8 inches.
This tree was "discovered" at Sharps Nursery in Sandy, Oregon in the 1980's. Since its introduction to the trade it has become an exceptionally popular dwarf Japanese maple.
It has short internodes, is densely foliaged and generally grows as wide as high. It has small, 5-lobed palmate leaves that exhibit a good, somewhat dark green color. In fall the leaves usually turn deep orange to scarlet.
'Sharp's Pygmy' makes an excellent bonsai selection... naturally possessing qualities the bonsai artist would have to "cultivate" in another hybrid or cultivar.
Whether planted in-ground or grown in a container it should be located in the garden close to a sitting area, so its many qualities can be observed close up.
J.D. Vertrees and James Gregory describe it as "a truly remarkable dwarf."

Oklahoma City gardens are overrun with 'Texas Scarlet' Flowering Quince... gangly old shrubs that were planted "back in the day" when the red and white varieties were the only ones offered. Every garden with flowering shrubs contained, it seemed, a red flowering quince and a yellow Forsythia... widely known as the two "harbingers of spring."
If for no other reason than for the sake of diversity it is fortunate that a few new varieties have been introduced in the past 2-3 decades. In my opinion two of the finest "new" offerings are 'Toyo-Nishiki' and Chaenomeles japonica var. alpina.
In the latters case the flowers are doubles colored a beautiful shade of peachy orange. Unlike the older forms this variety normally grows much wider than tall... typically 3 feet by 1 foot. It produces small, bitter tasting, pleasantly scented fruit in fall... fruit that is sometimes turned into delicious jellies and preserves.
This particular variety of quince is apparently much easier to grow than it is to find... but a search is well worth the effort. This is a very beautiful shrub in bloom.

In my previous comment I told the story of this tree's development... but I forgot a few of the more important details. On the other hand you may already know the details... because those that apply to the species apply to this cultivar.

Dr. Carl Whitcomb [Know It & Grow It 3] pretty well says it all: "Extremely tough and durable... Will grow virtually anywhere... Tolerates parking lots, poor soil, restricted root systems and soil compaction... Must be considered one of the toughest and adaptable of all trees. Highly resistant to disease and insect attack. Responds vigorously to fertilizer, good soils, and good cultural practices."

I'll add this comment... Golden Rey Lacebark Elm is a beautiful tree that adds a splash of golden color to an otherwise green tree canopy. And in most fall seasons the leaves turn a striking salmon color before dropping to the ground.

It IS an elm... but it is a truly valuable and attractive one... it is well worth planting.

Oklahoman gardeners have had a long standing attraction to pine trees... even though they cannot be thought of as native to the state. Oklahoma State University has been trying for decades to "naturalize" pines in large plantings just west of Stillwater... with little success to the best of my knowledge. The Oklahoma City Memorial [to the Murrah Building bombing] is planted with beautiful and successful Ponderosa Pines. The entrance to the Civic Center Music Hall was flanked, for 60 years plus with two beautiful specimens of Tanyosho Pine. A residence at NW 19th and Pennsylvania was, for many years, the home of the only Lacebark Pine in Oklahoma. Scotch Pines and Austrian Pines have for decades been popular additions to residential and commercial landscapes. The Bosnian Redcone Pine and Vanderwolf's Columnar Limber Pine have been successfully planted for several decades. Mugho Pines and Dwarf Scotch Pines have almost become ubiquitous landscape plants.
But the pine that really caught everyone's attention and has increasingly become the pine "most planted" in our gardens is the Japanese Black Pine.
It has an irregular, asymmetrical growth habit that seems perfectly suited to the windswept Great Plains. It has lustrous green needles that hold their color in winter months better than the needles of most pines. Under favorable conditions it can grow quite rapidly... and, so far, it seems less susceptible to problems than many other pine species.
Dr. Carl Whitcomb [Know It & Grow It 3] calls it, "An outstanding rapidly growing pine." It transplants easily and tolerates a wide range of soil types and moisture levels. It rivals Austrian Pine in its adaptability to growing conditions.
One caveat: herbicide vapors WILL cause a slow decline in the health of this pine. This has become a serious problem nation-wide in recent years.

This might serve as a question as easily as it serves as a comment.
In six and a half years gardening in this location I can easily say this Hibiscus gets more comments, more raves, and more requests for cuttings than any other plant in my garden. I know I'm supposed to... but I just don't get it. I'm always polite... I thank them for their compliments and agree with them that this Hibiscus is beautiful... and I mean what I say. But I just don't get it.
They walk past the Dutch Iris, the Oakleaf Hydrangea, the Exbury Hybrid Azaleas, the Hellebores, the Alliums, the Spanish Bluebells, the black-leafed Elderberry, the 'Black & Blue' Salvia, the 'Rooguchi' Clematis, the Hostas and the Heucheras, the Cranesbills, the Gooseneck Loosestrife and any number of other perennials in bloom... and they say things like, "Oh, that's nice." or "Very pretty." The only thing they say about the Peonies is, "They don't last long, do they!" And one woman's comment about my eight varieties of hardy Ferns was, "Well, they come up... and that's it."
And then they go absolutely bonkers over this Hibiscus.
Don't get me wrong... I like this Hibiscus... its foliage is not your usual Hibiscus foliage... and the blooms are a wonderful deep, dark red color.
But going bonkers over this plant to the exclusion of all the others is, to me, kind of like going bonkers over a large planting of Impatiens, or Periwinkles, or Marigolds, or [God Forbid!] bedding Begonias.
Sometimes I think the smaller the bloom the more attention it deserves... with the exception of Impatiens, Periwinkles, Marigolds and [God Forbid!] bedding Begonias of course.
I'm not being very nice, am I?

Michael Dirr put it accurately and beautifully when he said, "True aristocrats are rare among people and trees, but Japanese Maple is in the first order. It is difficult to imagine a garden that could not benefit from one of the many forms of Acer palmatum." Dr. Carl Whitcomb added the one caveat necessary when purchasing a Japanese Maple cultivar for their garden. He said, "One of the most spectacular of the small trees where it can be grown."
Central Oklahoma gardens containing a Japanese Maple were incredibly rare until the late 1980's… the majority of gardeners believing this small tree simply could not handle the growing conditions here. Attitudes, however, can change and by the 1990's several local nurseries were carrying a few varieties in their inventories.

In those and subsequent years we learned that many varieties of Japanese Maple could grow and thrive here as long as that caveat was respected. Out here, on the southern Great Plains, this caveat meant: rich, friable, well-drained soil… protection from the summer sun from noon to 4PM… and the willingness to water during periods of drought.

It also meant paying close attention to the cultivar you selected for your garden. Over a 20 year period we learned the following varieties performed better than others in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas: Butterfly, Fireglow, Shaina, Red Emperor, Tamuke Yama, Sango Kaku, Crimson Queen, Bloodgood, Sharp's Pygmy, Shishigashira, Orido Nishiki, Ever Red, Viridis and Seiryu.

'Butterfly' is a stand-out among Japanese maples… J.D. Vertrees calls it "… a very spectacular small-leafed variegate" and "One of the most desirable cultivars of the variegated group." In Maples of the World it is described as a "Fine, attractive, silver-variegated shrub, not exceeding 2.5-3 meters."
This beautiful Japanese maple is all about its leaves. In spring pink markings border the white or cream portion. In fall the white areas become magenta. In summer the cream to white borders compliment a bluish green background. Each lobe on a leaf is different… some long, some short, all with irregular shapes… giving the tree a relaxed, appealing look.
The 'Butterfly' maple usually makes a dense, stiffly upright shrub or small tree that seldom exceeds 3-4 meters. It seldom develops solid green leaves… but if a shoot with green leaves does develop remove it immediately. These branches are aggressive and could overwhelm the entire plant.

The comments on propagation are interesting. J.D. Vertrees says, "It is difficult to graft because of the very small diameter of the scions." Maples of the World notes that, "Plants grown from cuttings are often short-lived, weak, and fragile. It must be grafted to obtain healthy plants.

'Butterfly' was given an Award of Merit in 1977 by the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society.

One design consideration: If 'Butterfly' is planted in a location that makes the sky the only or the dominant background this tree, with its very light green & cream foliage, will appear as a large indistinct shape in the garden. But if you place it so your home… or better yet some large evergreens like 'Nellie Stevens' Holly… serves as the background this tree will appear as it should morning, noon and night.