Join us in celebrating the importance of trees this September during National Forest Week. Here’s a couple exceptional specimens we found in the nursery this week:
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’
Delicate arching branches that turn bright crimson red in the fall. This dwarf tree is extremely versatile because it won’t overgrow a small space.
Acer pal. diss. ‘Crimson Queen’
Morus alba ‘Pendula’
The leaves of this beautifully weeping specimen have been traditionally used in China for thousands of years to feed silk worms when making silk. Cool! It also produces tasty Mulberries.
Agastache ‘Tango’ is highly floriferous, blooming from July to October in the PNW region. It has a dwarf, compact habit and its scented silvery foliage will charm a lucky passer-by. This variety is a favourite for hummingbirds, and it tolerates humidity better than other Agastache cultivars. Native to the montane region of Mexico
Specs:
Herbaceous perennial
16” tall & 14” wide
Tolerant of poor soils, drought, and heat
Prefers good drainage
Full or part sun Agastache ‘Tango’ combines well with: Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ and Fothergilla major, also available at Selections Nursery.
Athyrium felix-femina ‘Lady in Red’
Athyrium felix-femina ‘Lady in Red’
This fern is a spectacle – the bright green fronds with shiny red stems.
As it unfurls in spring, the bright red-stemmed fronds look just like shiny candy canes. ‘Lady in Red’ makes the perfect companion to a specimen from the Heuchera Rainbow at Selections Nursery.
Specs:
Herbaceous perennial native to the Pacific Northwest climate
2’ tall & wide
Prefers full or part shade
Average moisture soil
Combines well with: Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ and Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’, also available at Selections Nursery.
Feature Trees at Selections Nursery for National Tree Day 2017
National Tree Day takes place Sept. 27, 2017, the Wednesday of National Forest Week. This day serves as a time for all Canadians to celebrate something that we in the horticulture and landscaping industries celebrate every day – Trees!
Learn more about the history of National Tree Day.
At Selections Nursery, we nurture and care for trees daily, here’s a few we’ve selected to highlight for this important celebration of nature.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’
Deep purple-red dissected leaves, brilliant fall colour and delicate weeping branches; this dwarf tree is a real specimen. Acer ‘Tamukeyama’ is the perfect fit for a Japanese garden or placed beside a water feature. Imagine the graceful weeping branches sweeping down to a reflective glassy pool, mesmerizing the viewer into introspective tranquility.
Specs: Dwarf deciduous tree 8’ high & 10’ wide
Full to part sun
Average moisture soil with good drainage
Low maintenance
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Stryrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’ – Winter
This tree will provide visual interest in any garden, year-round. Sweetly fragrant, Spring-blooming pink flowers hang down from horizontal branches. In summer, the flowers mature into bell chimes that hold on steadfast to their branches, even into winter. Golden yellow and orange flush the leaves with lively fall colour in October.
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’ – Spring/Summer
Specs: Deciduous tree, approx. 25’ high & 25’ wide when mature
Full to part sun
Average moisture soil with good drainage
Low maintenance
Tsuga heterophylla
Tsuga heterophylla
Tsuga heterophylla is well known in these parts as the Western Hemlock, populating our native forests. It will honour a garden with commitment: in 100 years they can grow taller than 250 feet. As a versatile understory tree, it will tolerate shade when it is young. This tree is also evergreen and can withstand summer drought.
Specs:
Evergreen, approx. 40’ wide & 200’ high in 100 yrs, SLOW growing in the meantime
Full sun to full shade
Prefers moist, acidic soils rich in organic matter
This week’s features are best viewed in real-life at the nursery or in a completed landscape. Online photos just don’t do these beauties justice.
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
The rare foliage colour of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ provides a show that no other plant can. Lilac-white fairy bell flowers mature to small black berries. Its spreading properties make this plant ideal for a naturalized garden. Shown here is a good companion, Pratia pedunculata (syn. Isotoma).
The photo features the fairy-like bell flowers contrasted against the dark, black blades of grass. The small black berries will come later in the season.
Specs:
Semi-evergreen, part sun to shade.
Drought tolerant once established but prefers some moisture. Bulbous root system that naturalizes well, gradually forms dense clump if space allows.
Foliage to 12” H
Combines well with: Blechnum spicant and Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, also available at Selections Nursery.
Picea orientalis ‘Aurea’
Picea orientalis ‘Aurea’
This tree is the coolest ever! Charlie Brown and Dr. Seuss would definitely approve of its cartoon-like, surreal form. In spring, its new growth glows chartreuse-green and the male cones are bright purple pink.
Picea orientalis ‘Aurea’ is an ideal specimen tree, suitable as a focal point in many gardens.
Specs:
Dwarf tree only reaching 35’ H and 25’ W max.
Evergreen, drought tolerant once established.
The occasional dropping needles will acidify soil, great for a native planting or for making Blueberries more tasty.
Combines well with: Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’ and Hemerocallis ‘Gentle Shepherd’, also available at Selections Nursery.
Visually stunning perennial plants with low maintenance requirements.
Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’
Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’
This shrub is well-known at our nursery for its top-performance qualities. Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’ is a reliable, low maintenance and visually striking plant that does not require pruning. Creamy spring flowers turn to glossy red berries in summer, further adding to its desirable qualities.
Specs:
Evergreen
Size: 3’ H and W (compact form)
Drought tolerant once established
Full sun to part shade.
Combines well with: Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’ and Phormium tenax ‘Bronze’
Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’
Phormium tenax ‘Bronze’ 1
Phormium tenax ‘Bronze’
Phormium tenax ‘Bronze’ 1
‘Bronze’ New Zealand Flax makes a striking accent to a sunny garden spot. Although maintenance requirements are small, this plant will return your investment ten-fold. A mid-summer explosion of juicy orange-red flowers provides a feast for hummingbirds.
Specs: Evergreen
Drought tolerant once established
Size: max. 7’ H & W
Full to part sun, USDA Zone 8, protect from extreme frost.
Combines well with:Choisya ‘Goldfinger’ and Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’
