Leslie:

I found another source of the dwarf crape myrtles in SE PA--Styers. The stock list was just posted for 2005. The one I mentioned that was 3' in diameter at Groff's was a Pocomoke--I'm pretty sure.

They have a much wider selection of plants and higher prices then out here in the country. However, I think their prices might also reflect an additional year of growth on their plants. That will be one of my first stops this Spring.

Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: Styers

Scott, my Styrax obassia is in 75% sun (5-6 hours full sun at least) and it only blooms sparsely. For me, Emerald Pagoda was a far better bloomer, just loaded with fragrant flowers in full bloom. Of course, it croaked, is not fully zone 5 hardy apparently. I too think that S. obassia has a beautiful graceful growth habit. The branches on young plants and newer twigs do zig-zag. And it is one of those woody plants whose branch structure is just inherently right. With a little selective thinning here and there, it is among the most beautiful smaller deciduous trees I have seen for sheer beauty of form.

Hmmm...I wonder if my Emerald Pagoda was mismarked...truly, it hardly blooms at all despite looking like a healthy tree. Maybe it will surprise me this spring. If not, it's outta here.

Looks like I'll be rethinking the Leptodermis placement too. I've never seen any marked anything but Leptodermis oblonga so I don't know how you would distinguish between a dwarf or larger size. Time will tell, I guess.

Sue

Monique- tell me either that you are a professional landscaper or that you hired one. Your pictures are gorgeous. Love that azalea!

Magnolia 'Coral Lake' sounds very nice.

Styrax obassia in 90% sun never did bloom like the best pictures, but not too bad. The huge leaves obscure what blooms I get. Nobody mentioned the peeling bark on smaller branches. That's a bonus. I moved mine to the new house, and it suffered a bit. I also noticed a huge knot at the base where woody roots have circled and fused. We shall see how it does.

AAAAGGHHH! I just found out that my leptodermis oblonga got eaten by the rabbits! I swear, I wanna sit out on the porch at night with my camo on and BLAST those little rats!! Second year in a row, and last year it never flowered (I guess it blooms on last years wood?). David, I'm not too far from you, if you want to reduce the deer population at your place I'm your guy! ;-)

You guys always make me remember what an amateur I am. I'm still geeked up about the stewardia pseudocamellia I planted last year.

This year I need to get a couple of shrub borders in, and the plan includes viburnmum "Anne Russel", v. lantana "Mohican", v. plicatum "Shoshone", daphne caucasica, picea omorika "Bruns Pendula", p. pungens "Walnut Glen", and some fastigiate conifer TBD but along the lines of t. x media "Beanpole"

Any suggestions for something nice to put next to a hamamelis x intermedia "Pallida"? I have my own ideas but...

Next to Pallida? Something evergreen and dark to set off those yellow winter flowers.

Sue, I believe that a distinguishing element of Styrax "Emerald Pagoda" is exceptionally glossy, dark green leaves. And I, too, have never seen anything offered except for the pure species Leptodermis oblonga. Last year Arrowhead offered a different species of Leptodermis, but it's not in the catalog this year. That's the only time and place I've seen any other Leptodermis offered.

There's nothing amateurish about being stoked by Stewartia pseudocamelia. At least I hope there isn't! There shouldn't be.

Kevin, does it look like you could dig in there a little and prune out some of the roots?

Scott

There is a new Andorra juniper that is an eye-popping chartreuse shade. It is purported to grow 1' high and have a 3' spread. The cultivar name eludes me, but it is featured as one of the top 12 new plants for 2005 in People, Places, Plants.

I'm growing Juniperus horizontals 'Limeglow'. Could that be the one? It is nice. In winter though it is more purple. Looks a little dead and brown actually from a distance, but upclose the winter color is a feature in its own right. I love it.

The flowers on Emerald Pagoda are larger than typical S. japonica. almost silver dollar size. And Scott is right, the foliage is very distinctive, much larger than the species and a rich glossy green (though nowhere near as large as S. obassia). I did think my Emerald Pagoda was a very handsome tree just in foliage. And it too had great form, the branches sprial out very evenly in thirds from the main trunk. I was very disappointed when it died after the horrible winter of 2002-3. I am going to find a very sheltered spot and try another at my new place.

I'll have to look more closely at the handful of flowers on my Emerald Pagoda this spring. Silver dollar size seems larger than I remember. David, when you come in July maybe you can take a look and offer your expert opinion. No sense on wasting prime garden real estate on a non performer.

Add me to the list of people excited about a new Stewartia pseudocamelia. Last spring I picked up a nice specimen at Allen Haskell's nursery and planted it next to my patio. I'm looking forward to watching that mature a bit.

Sue

Hi,

I am a lurker here and have learned a lot from your posts.

Someone mentioned Styrax 'Emerald Meadows' earlier in the thread. Just wanted to mention that Greer Gardens had it in their last year's catalog. I looked for photos on the web and could not find any and so opted for a regular Styrax Japonicus from Forest Farm last fall. Keeping my fingers crossed re: its survival through the winter.

Devyani

hoehoehoe,
"Limeglow" might be the one.

The purple isn't surprising since J. horizontalis typically gets bronzy-purple in cold weather. I'll be curious to know how fast it gets its bright green color back with new growth in the spring. I'm glad to hear that you are happy with this new shrub. I want to try it too. Thanks for the input.

Hi Bob,

I checked out your PA nurseries, --very nice. Groff's especially --out in quiet Amish country. And that they grow and know their own plants too... But no mail order that I could see. Too bad Roslyn ran out since I was ordering a couple of other plants anyway. 'Chickasaw' is at the top of my ever-expanding list, so I'll check around until I find one. I'm sure it's available.
Yes, I wondered about your Daphne odora because we had a cold January too. Half of it anyway. And the blizzard! My Magnolia 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' looked tremendous up until mid-January, --green and shiny leaves, no damage at all. Now there's some browning (40 mph winds and -2F will do that!) But it still looks pretty good. If we can just get through 'til Spring without another prolonged freeze...

Sigh, I think I may want to try 'Emerald Pagoda' again. --Next year.

devyani,

Ha! Nice to hear from a lurker. Hope you keep talking. I'm going to look around for S. 'Emerald Meadows'. I'll check Greer first...

Leslie

I just found the Carol's Collectibles website! I didn't know there was one. (http://63.192.214.79/CarolsCollectibles/index.html) Mmmmm, miniature mountain laurel and all those deciduous azaleas.

many of these sound tempting to me. i still don't have a stewartia and am not sure that they (the asian species)would thrive this far south. maybe stewartia malacodendron would be a better choice for me.
here are a few that i have either purchased or ordered:
viburnum obovatum 'christmas snow'
viburnum dentatum 'autumn jazz'
vaccinium darowwii - pretty, low-growing shrub, evergreen with pastel colored foliage (blues and pinks)
chamaecyparis thyoides 'red star' (or 'rubicon')
chamaecyparis obtusa 'templehof'

i love looking through the fairweather catalog and one plant that intrigues me is elliotia racemose, georgia plume.
i may order that. does anyone have input on this one?

also, more native azaleas and camellias will probably be purchased locally for the woodlands.

scott,
i have a sinocalycanthus; it's about 4' tall and kind of spindly. it is never flowered for me. there were a few buds that aborted last season. the photos are beautiful. maybe this spring will be the one for mine.
if it blooms, i will post a photo in the gallery.

There is a very new ninebark on the market this season that I am anxious to see up close and personal. Named 'Coppertina', it is a cross of 'Dart's Gold' and 'Diabolo' and the foliage is an amazing blend in between the two - a rich coppery russet color.

I'd also be interested in seeing Hydrangea 'Lady in Red' in something other than tiny magazine or vendor catalog photos. The descriptions make it sound like it is a red-leaved form, when really the leaves are ringed with a reddish tone that intensifies with fall. And how red is she, flower-wise? I'm getting leary of these "new" plant marketing hypes. Other than its cold hardiness, I think H. 'Endless Summer' was a big fuss about nothing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Physocarpus 'Coppertina'

Jeff, I've been tempted by the Elliottia in the Fairweathers catalog too, but I'm going to have to pass on it again this year. I'm budgeting! I have got Chamaecyparis thyoides "Red Star," and I like it very much. Very unique color and texture. It is growing beautifully, despite many warnings and comments that it is difficult. Mine's in a raised bed with decent but not great soil in full sun. Seems very happy. Now that I've said this, of course, it will now croak in record time.

Scott

Scott,
I purchased C. t. 'Red Star' last spring at the plant sale at the MN. Landscape Arboretum. It looks like a great plant.

The plant I purchased looks like it is going to be a more-or-less upright growing plant. Is this true? How fast has your specimen grown? 2" per year? 4" per year? More? Less?

I have not put my plant in a permanent spot yet (the pot is sunk on the east side of my house for the winter) because I'm not sure of how large the plant is going to get.

Any help will be appreciated.
Mike
(p.s. I have to stop reading this thread; I have to look up all of the plants that you people talk about and most of the plants listed above won't grow in zone 4a. What I really need is for the continent to shift about 300 miles farther south.)

Hi Mike, My Red Star has only grown mayb five inches in the three years I've had it, and it is upright. So far, with this slow growth, foliage and texture has remained full and dense.

Scott

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the info. That information will help me when I decide to plant my plant in the landscape. I checked my plant and I have noticed a little winter burn on the south side of the plant. When I finally put the plant in the landscape I will need to protect the plant from the winter sun.

One shrub that I am excited about is Magnolia stellata 'Jane Platt'. I ordered one of these for spring delivery this year. I may be taking a risk since this stellata may not be fully hardy here (most of the other stellata cultivars are completely hardy here in Minneapolis).

Does anyone have M. stellata 'Jane Platt' in their garden? Any comments?
Thanks,
Mike

viburnum obovatum 'christmas snow' sounds like a winner. I already have an obovatum or two.

A few days ago I bought 3 dwarf pieris japonica- 'pygmaea', 'brookside' and 'prelude'. My favorite is the 'pygmaea' with it skinny leaves and serpentine branching, but I know I'll enjoy the brookside which is the smallest and has little short leaves. 'Prelude' looks more like the standard plant, but is obviously very compact and appears to be the most floriferous of the 3. I'm suddenly into dwarf plants. Bought two dwarf hemlocks too- 'Jean' and 'Moonfrost'.

A few I forgot... Camellia 'Winter's Interlude'. I've liked this Ackerman hybrid in pictures. Ordered a tiny one from FF this year. Hope I don't kill it. Vitex 'Abbeville Blue'. Always wanted to try a Vitex, so this is the year. And Enkianthus perulatus and Rhododendron viscosum x arborescens. I've wanted both for a couple of years now. Finally, I can cross them off the list!

Mike,
I don't have 'Jane Platt' (unfortunately!), but photos of it look great. Hope it does well for you.

Leslie

Rhus 'Tiger Eye'
Magnolia 'Coral Lake'
Redbud 'Heart of Gold'

Also, I'm excited about all the new heuchera and tiarella cultivars coming out. They ARE the new hostas.

Oooooh, just looked up the Heart of Gold Redbud. I'm sold! And yesterday I bought a copy of Carolina Gardener and what jumped off the page and bit me but Magnolia 'Coral Lake'. The article featured a top 10 list of magnolias from an enthusiast with a collection of over 700.
It included ("in no particular order"):
'Eskimo', 'Sunsation', 'Gold Star', 'Daybreak', Magnolia ashei, Magnolia 'R20-1'(a sieboldii and ashei hybrid), 'Sunburst', 'Coral Lake', 'Chrysanthemumiflora' and Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris'.

I managed not to order lots of shrubs mail order this year, unlike the last few years. Still I am hoping the big box stores have afew bargains later in the spring to fill in some bare spots.

It's not too late to post on this, is it?

8 Fr. Fiala selections of crabapple:

Malus 'Cardinal's Robe'
Malus 'Cranberry Lace'
Malus 'Dream Pink'
Malus 'Full Sails'
Malus 'Leprechaun'
Malus 'Little Troll'
Malus 'Sarah'
Malus 'Satin Cloud'

Some great viburnum selections from northern friends:

V. dentatum Little JoeTM
V. dentatum Red FeatherTM
V. carlesii Spiced BouquetTM
V. x Summer ReflectionTM
V. trilobum Red WingTM
V. species 'Kevin's Konundrum' (not trademarked, registered, patented, or anything)

AND, yet to be collected, but the most mouth-watering....

Viburnum molle from a native stand just 20 miles away. Stay tuned.

VV: Tell me, where on earth would you find those Fr. Fiala crabs? Or a comprehensive selection of old (or new or rare) crabapple cultivars, for that matter?

Speaking of the late good priest, it is on my wishlist to go visit his lilac and crabapple gardens. However, I have yet to learn of how to find them, or if they are being maintained. Anybody know about this?

And, regarding Vib. molle, I ordered and recieved a very nice plant from Pine Ridge Nursery this year. I'm quite excited by it. Reports are it is a V. dentatum type, but it looks more like a V. juddii. PR reports it as very fragrant, as well. So, what's the scoop?

At the Cincinnati Flower Show, which was all but destroyed by two days of the coldest driving rain ever recorded, I bought a couple of Ostrya japonica seedlings. Never even knew it existed before then. Anybody know anything about it?

Scott

'Limeglow' already a shocking chartreuse again.

I'd love to hear more about Viburnum molle too. It's really fragrant?

And 'Kevin's Konundrum' sure sounds like an interesting story... What's that about?

Leslie

Scott:

"And, regarding Vib. molle, I ordered and recieved a very nice plant from Pine Ridge Nursery this year. I'm quite excited by it. Reports are it is a V. dentatum type, but it looks more like a V. juddii. PR reports it as very fragrant, as well. So, what's the scoop?"

I would not say it looks like a Judd. The leaves are markedly toothed if I recall correctly(yes--look in Dirr), and quite rounded. I have a lot of buds on mine--I'll let you know about fragrance. Could it be the wrong plant?

I just bought two Rhododendron 'Silver Pink' at Home Depot today. They are in full bloom and unbelieveably stunning! The flowers are pink, or white or pink-white or white with pink blush or swirls just impossible to describe but stop you in your track gorgouse. Seems that the flowers change color as they open and mature so you get a many toned effect that has to be seen to be described!

My C. t. 'Red Star' is toast - completely dead. Oh well, I didn't have room for it anyway.
Mike

David,
I am disheartened by the loss of your Styrax "Emerald Pagoda". I had hopes of planting one myself. Since we are in similar climate, I think I may pass. What a tree. Saw one in full bloom and was taken aback by the combination of delicate blooms and sweet fragrance. This is a shame since it would have been the perfect patio tree. There were 6' for $115. I was tempted to buy without researching even though the nursery claimed it is Zone 5 hardy. Maybe if I planted close to house..........

The nursery also had Styrax Japonicum 'Carillon' and 'Pink Chimes'. Anyone have experience with these cultivars?

Here is a link that might be useful: Incredible Nursery stock

Glennkid,

I have a small S. j. 'Carillon'. Can't tell you much because it's so young. Only about 2' tall. It arrived from ForestFarm last Spring --in bloom. And will bloom again this year; it's covered with buds now. So it does bloom when quite small. It came through the Winter here in zone 6 with no damage at all. And I like the form of it very much. It's a lovely small weeping tree.

Leslie

Leslie:

About the dwarf crape myrtles . . . . Here is my current report. As the local grower of these told me last year, my little Chickasaws did die back to the ground. Six of the seven are definitely springing back to life with new growth from the base of the plant. I think the 7th plant may survive too since I saw little red things at its base. I'm hoping it decides to sprout. Some of the chickasaws were sprouting growth from old wood but not much. The grower continues to claim that several years are needed in the ground for them to really sprout from old growth.

I visited the grower's nursery this week to check on their chickasaws and a beautiful pokomoke. Their chickasaws are coming back as mine are. However, the pokomoke is gone. The person at the counter did not know what happened to it. Since it had a prominent spot at the nursery, they may have decided to remove it entirely.

There are several larger crape trees that are doing fine there. They are in full leaf.

Malus 'Little Troll'! I may have to get one of those just for the name.
There are times when I would like to be able to say something like "Come see this (cough),(cough) Little Troll".

Leslie,

Thanks for the info on 'Carillon'. I have a sheltered spot close to house. I may reserve this location for this tree. Enjoy.

Glenn

I just bought roses which I am planting around my yard these past few days. Of Course, I still don't have the last two of my spring rhodos that I bought planted but since they are long since finished blooming, I will come back to them. Also in the past week I planted two Northstar Dwarf Cherry trees.

I was not happy with the lack of color during certain times of the year (spring is exceptional with the Azaleas blooming here) so I decided some landscape roses would be great for color from june to frost, rose hips for the birds, and fix up my perrenial garden which still needs some work.

Rita, we are going into period of hot summer and your Rhodies would require a lot more attention (watering) if planted in summer than if they were planted in spring and had time to adjast/settle in a ground. Even minimal drough stress will affect their next year blooming ability.
Contrary, potted roses could be planted any time in spring or summer and still bloom perfectly.

I bought 7 small leafed rhodos this spring and all but two are long planted (planted a day or two after buying). Rhodos are new for me but I have well over 40 Azaelas here so I guess they will do well. I hope get the last two planted this week.

Rita:

I planted 3 Purple Passion Rhododendrons in the midst of Summer last year. I did water them regularly and the blooms this Spring have been spectacular. They survived a wind tunnel Winter also.

I have planted shrubs in the middle of summer here for the past 3 years. I do have to watch and water them alot. I would prefer to get them all planted early spring but it just isn't possible. I also have bought stuff in the middle of summer so I am planting in the middle of summer.

I had to mow today (yeck! still not done) so no planting today but have moved the two rhodies up to the top of the planting list. I should get them done tomorrow and the roses will wait. The rhodies still to plant are 'Purple Gem' and one of the two 'Silver Pink' I bought at Home Depot. The four 'Olga Mezitt' rhodies were planted in a day or two after buying.

I had bought more Azaleas and three Blue Princess Holly also all the same time, also from Home Depot earlier this spring and they are all planted also. So is my Abelia. So are the 5 Blueberry Shrubs I added this spring and my Spirea 'Neon Flash'.

Besides the roses and rhodos I have 4 really small skip laurels I got at Home Depot marked $3.33 apiece, another Cotoneaster, my 'Cameo' Flowering quince, a Pyracantha, some un identified really tiny viburnum (again bought at Home Depot much earlier this spring) and three Purple Coneflowers 'Ruby Star' still to plant. This is assuming I don't BUY anything else ha ha!

Hi Bob,

(Trying this again. Hit some key or other and my message disappeared. Hope this doesn't appear twice.) Thanks for the 'Chickasaw' report. I did find another nursery (mail-order) that offered these, --but I'd already ordered too much this year. Now that I know that 'Chickasaw' should be hardy in my area, it's definitely on next year's list. Now I know of 2 mail order nurseries (that I trust) that usually sell it. --One of them is bound to have it in Spring.

Leslie

And I'm very excited about my new Calycanthus 'Venus'. At the moment, it just looks like a large-leaved Calycanthus. But someday when it blooms...

Ok, the two rhodies are planted, watered and mulched! Whew!!! I will make sure I keep watering them well as it has turned hot suddenly this past day or two. The one in the pot actually grew alot more than the other Silver Pink rhodo I planted shortly after I bought them both. I may have put it in too shady a spot. The Azaleas are doing great in all these spots so I hope the rhodies do too. The Silver Pink rhodo I planted today will get enough sunlight so I think it should thrive.

The blooms on the Silver Pink rhodo were just spectacular. Not possible to describe, they were multiple shades of pinkish white swirled in a very pale flower that changed color as it matured. There was no way I could pass them up when I saw them in bloom!

Leslie:

The 7th Chickasaw is sprouting now. So, 7 of 7 survived their first Winter. I'll let you know how tall they grow later in the year.

-----

This year I am looking for Physocarpus. I have so much room to plant. I may get three: Diablo, Summer Wine, and if I can find it, Coppertina.

The Summer Wine sold so fast last Fall, that the local grower did not have enough plants for Spring. I have to wait until July when they expect to stock it. They were priced at $9.99 last year.

I'm getting to this forum a little late, but not to late for what was and what is to come!!!........

I'm thinking of getting an Acer Pseudoplatanus "patchwork", but I can't find any information on it for heighth, shade/sun, etc.... has anybody heard or read anything on it? And yes that is exactly what is on the tags and it definitely is an acer pseudoplatanus..... I would love any input on that variety!

This was the first year that my Rhody Frank Galsworthy bloomed it was excellent! This picture of it is obviously not my plant.... but it could be!! http://www.esveld.nl/plantdias/50/50780.jpg

Rhody Ebony Pearl is great at providing a different reddish green background and the flowers are darker pink that what I was expecting.... which is good.

This is also my first year so see Cornus Kousa "Moonbeam" flower, the flowers are huge!

I am just getting my Cornus Kousa "Snowboy" in the ground. It already is brightening things even though it is small. Tomorrow will be Acer p. Koto no Ito.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:241809}}

I didn't do nearly as much with shrubs this year as I had the previous 2 years. Still, I added a Cotoneaster, Abelia, 3 Neon Flash Spirea, Small leafed rhodos, more azaelas and a hybrid musk rose to my shrub row this year. I still have my flowering quince to plant as I can't seem to think on a good place for it (better get going here) and some really small skip laurels.

A rather late answer to the Sinocalycanthus question, albeit from a different zone. I've had this shrub for some 4 years; it is THRIVING. I prune far too little and so it has grown to over 6 feet tall and I'd say as wide - hard to tell where it ends and the neighbouring Hydrangea aspera begins. The leaves are enormous and shiny; quite attractive and a nice contrast to the fuzzy hydrangea leaves. It blooms actually quite generously though the flowers are not overwhelmingly noticeable, perhaps because they appear sporadically over a fairly long period. The flowers have no fragrance and though pretty have a bit of a plastic character - almost too perfect. I am growing it in a spot that is fairly shady and probably relatively moist.

I didn't get too many shrubs in 2005. Some that I did get were small leafed rhodos that were new for me. I bought these in flower in the spring of 2005, planted them and they all flowered nicely for me this spring. The last is flowering now, along with all the Azaleas in my yard.

I also added three neon flash spireas, another cottoneaster, another abelia, more azaleas, four skip laurels, two more Viburnums and three blue hollies. Not much for me. All are thriving except two azales that died over the winter (they rest did fine).

I wanted to add that I have a Styrax "Emerald Pagoda" that I planted Sept 2006. Poor thing lost all its leaves in a freak April freeze last year (they grew back but not flowers). It is already putting out new leaves and I can spot the buds! Hopefully this year it won't happen. I did notice the top 6" of the branches never resprouted last spring/summer and they still haven't this spring. I may just have to prune them off :(. I've only seen 2 flowers b/c of that freak freeze. Hopefully I'll see more this year!!