Kate, I don't think I need the catalpa, but there are some other items on your list I would like to have. I just received a seed order from Plant World Seeds and would be able to swap small amounts of angelica Ebony, impatiens Red Wine, variegated borage, Lake Nasser solanum, and dianthus select mix, in addition to the items that are already on my trade list. As the GardenWeb e-mail isn't working too well, you can e-mail me from the feedback page of my Thyme Will Tell site if you want to trade. Thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: Audrey's Trade List

That's the way it often is with the true hard to find stuff. Someone will buy it before it gets to any size. I found a seed grown Acer pseudosieboldianum takeshimense over the winter. Very rare to begin with, but most are grafted, so seed grown is even more rare. It was less than 1' tall, but I had never seen it offered before, and in fact didn't even know it existed until I saw it and looked it up. Oh, we love it, and it's growing nicely in a root pruning air pot in full sun. Odds of finding one for sale at 4'=ZIP. Finding them seed grownArktrees

Bill, LOL, No I am not going to buy everything on this wish list but I sure would like to. I saw Photinia all over the place out in Oregon last May and it's quite a sight I am not sure what the heck I am getting myself into with Photinia hybrid as Dirr has some unflattering things to say about P serrulata, P xfraseri, P. glabra, and P villosa, so who knows. The trouble I am discovering with lusting after plants that are rare in my neck of the woods is they are more often than not rare for a reason and Dirrs frank descriptions although disappointing are beginning to bring me back down to earth. Gardenia "Frostproof" which has gone through two winters, and despite being moved twice, it's doing OK. Now that is a plant I can lust over!! It took me a while but I finally found the west side of my house offers more protection for camellias and I am planning on renovating the landscape in that area this fall. Do you have any recommendations? Nhbabs, Yes I had heard of and ordered from FF in the past but stopped a couple of years ago when the postage cost more than the plant. But what can I say some women just can resist the lure of Jimmy Choos any will impulsively drop a bundle on their footwear. Myself, I had an extreme craving for Catalpa bignonioides Aurea - Golden-lvd. Catalpa that nothing but Dirrs dislike for the tree was going to squelch. Hmmmm�Now I don�t know what to believe. What do you think Dirr means when he uses the adjective coarseness? Is that the scientific way of saying butt ugly? Thanks for the heads up about the Laburnum watereri Sunspire - Goldenchain Tree being in the Fabaceae family along with black locust this definitely warrants further investigation. Wikipedias reference to Koelreuteria paniculata September - Goldenrain Tree possibly being invasive was another surprise. Dirr; Manuel of Woody Landscape Plants Forest Farm Catalogue description Wikpedia Catalpa erubescens Purpurea - Purple-leaf Catalpa LANDSCAPE VALUE: Limited value in the residential landscape because of coarseness; has place in difficult areas but the use of this and the following species should be tempered. A show in spring when its huge (10-16") leaves open deep DEEP purple, this spreading 40-50' tree also offers 8-12"clusters of white "foxglove" flowers in early summer. Sun/Med caer014 Size1 $35.00 Catalpa bignonioides Aurea - Golden-lvd. Catalpa LANDSCAPE VALUE: Limited value in the residential landscape because of coarseness; has place in difficult areas but the use of this and the following species should be tempered. Like the species, but with leaves "a rich & persistent yellow through-out the summer, making a beautiful spectacle" (Barber & Phillips). SunMed cabi599 Size1 $35.00 Albizia julibrissin Summer Chocolate - Chocolate Silk Tree LANDSCAPE VALUE: Not a quality plant because of insect and disease problems; sets prodigious quantities of fruits and effectively seeds itself in waste and roadside situations; foliage and flowers provide a tropical effect; unless wilt-immune clone is found I would avoid using the species. Striking burgundy-chocolate-brown foliage keeps its color summer into fall (even in SE heat & humidity) on this airy small (to 20'x 15') tree with its fuzzy soft pink flowers.; a standout in the landscape. PP13822. S-P/M/GDr alju008 Size1 $59.00 $59.00 Callistemon viridiflorus - Bottlebrush Dirr has good things to say about Callistemon citrinus as well as other species but I am beginning to doubt it�s cold hardiness. Perhaps the hardiest of the bottlebrushes, from moist, well-drained soils along Tasmanian watercourses, this 6' x 6' shrub produces its 2-3" yellow-green brush flowers in summer. Sun/Med Then again for $9.95 it might be worth the try cavi054 Tube $9.95 Carpenteria californica Elizabeth - Elizabeth Tree Anemone Not listed in the big green bible Chosen for its compact (to 8' x 6') habit, profuse bloom of large white flowers & deep-green leaves, every spring this lovely California native draws a continuous supply of "oooh & aaahs"!. PSh/Med-Dry/GdDrain caca232 Tube $12.95 Magnolia sieboldii - Oyama Magnolia Dirr has many good things to say about this tree/shrub as well as three other species "All are first rate garden plants where adaptable. Best used in a mixed shady border with hostas, ferns, and wildflowers planted underfoot. "Fragrant, white, cup-shaped, nodding flowers with brilliant red stamens bloom intermittently through summer [on this rounded shrub/small tree followed by spectacular crimson fruit" (Phillips & Barber). Sun-PSh/Med masi568 Size1 $35.00 Magnolia grandiflora Victoria - Dwf Southern Magnolia To 20' with showy & wonderfully fragrant 8-12"creamy-whi flowers in e.sum, this impressive tree (from our SE states) has also proven to be amazingly hardy, perhaps most so in this variety selected in Vancouver B.C. Sun/M magr062 Tube $12.95 $12.95 Magnolia Vulcan Brilliant ruby-red cup & saucer flowers at an early age characterize this this fetching newcomer, a small tree coaxed into being (M.campbellii 'Lanarth' x M.liliflora) by Felix Jury of New Zealand. Sun/Med mavu095 Size5 $79.00 Magnolia Caerhay's Belle 12" flowers of a rich salmon-pink decorate this fast-growing (to 30' in 10 years) tree at an early (5) age & all the way to the bottom branches; a fine sargentii x sprengeri hybrid from Charles Michael of Cornwall. SUN/Med maca079 Size1 $45.00 Magnolia Galaxy This upright, almost columnar tree (to 30' x 20'), developed by the US National Arboretum, is perfect for a tight spot where its quantities of 8- 10", 12-tepaled flowers of reddish-purple to light-rose will entrance. Sun-PSh/Med maga565 Size5 $79.00 $ Ilex cornuta x pernyi Doctor Kassab - Hybrid Holly Dark-green, lustrous, leathery leaves form a broad 15-20' pyramid which is accented in winter with bright red fruits (this being a female cultivar). Sun/Med ildr535 Tube $12.95 Ilex Red Beauty - Evergreen Holly Very densely branched AND very densely berried, this narrowly conical (to 10') hybrid (meserveae x pernyi) offers an abundance of bright red fruit showcased on dark, glossy foliage; from Orton of Rutgers. Sun/Med ilre047 Tube $12.95 Hypericum calycinum Brigadoon - St. Johnswort Not listed in the big green bible Gold, orange, apricot, even coral make the spring foliage GLOW! on this 16"tall x 24"wide shrub/groundcover but you won't miss it in summer either with chartreuse leaves topped by bright 2"yellow flowers; deer resistant & easy. SUN/Med-Dry hyca100 Tube $8.95 $ Chilopsis linearis Bubba - Desert Willow Not listed in the big green bible Bright profuse flowers of lavender & dark purple all summer into fall make this vigorous AND drought tolerant small (to 20') tree a showboat; from Paul Cox at the San Antonio Bot.Grdn. Sun/M-D/GDr chli090 Size5 $49.00 Chionanthus retusus Arnold's Pride - Fringetree Very beautiful specimen shrub, excellent in groups, borders, near large buildings; outstanding in flower; will do well in cities as it is quite air pollution tolerant; I would like to make a case for this as the national shrub for even dogwood does not carry itself with such refinement, dignity, and class when in flower; possibly not considered sufficiently hardy but is prospering in Orono ME, Manchester NH and Chicago IL. In fact the Manchester specimen by the Art Museum will perpetually linger in my memory as one of the largest specimens. Fast growing & self-fruiting, this small (to 25' x25') tree offers multiple seasons of interest: fragrant flowers in spring, showy fall fruit & attractive peeling bark in winter; an Arnold Arb selection. Sun-PSh/Med chre057 Size5 $59.00 Chitalpa tashkentensis Pink Dawn - Pink Chitalpa Not listed in the big green bible An unusual hybrid between two U.S. genera (Catalpa & Chilopsis) made in Russia, this small tree (to 25') is valued for drought tolerance as well as large clusters of ruffled pink 'trumpets' in summer. Sun/Med-Dry chta216 Size1 $19.00 $19.00 Chitalpa tashkentensis Morning Cloud - White Chitalpa Not listed in the big green bible The willowy branches are cascading on this vigorous (to 25' x 25') airy shrub/tree & produce a "cloud" of large clusters of white flowers with rich purple streaks in summer. Sun/Med-Dry chta016 Size1 $19.00 $19.00 Choisya ternata - Mexican Orange Blossom Not listed in the big green bible White flowers throughout late spring/early summer fill "the air with orange-blossom perfume" (Genders); the shiny green leaves of this med. rounded shrub are also aromatic if crushed; nice in sun or shade or as container plant. Sun-PSh/Med/GdDrain chte220 Size1 $15.00 $15.00 Chrysolepis chrysophylla - Tree Chinquapin Not listed in the big green bible "Spectacular in full bloom" (Kruckeberg) but a handsome tree at any time of year with its narrrow dark-green leaves, glossy above & golden beneath. Sun/GDr chch263 Tube $12.95 Cyrtomium macrophyllum - Large Lvd Holly Fern Not listed in the big green bible These one to two foot arching yellow-green fronds have two to eight large undivided pinnae (leaflets) per frond; a handsome, non-spreading fern for woodland or shaded container. PSh-Shade/Med cyma013 Tube $7.95 Decaisnea fargesii - Blue Bean Shrub Not listed in the big green bible defa020 Tube $12.95 This uncommon Chinese shrub to 10' has gained distinction from its very long (to 3') pinnate leaves & remarkable metallic-blue seed pods. Sun-PSh/Med Emmenopterys henryi Not listed in the big green bible "One of the most strikingly beautiful trees of the Chinese forests" (E.H Wilson), this rare small tree/lrg shrub (to 40' x 40') has large leaves (bronzy prpl in spr) & funnel-shaped clusters (to 7") of large white sumr flowers. S/M/G emhe047 Size1 $25.00 Eucryphia glutinosa Not listed in the big green bible "One of the most glorious of woody plants" (Hillier); 2"fragrant flowers borne profusely in late summer followed by beautiful autumn tints make this erect-branched large shrub/small tree a knockout. S/M eugl175 Tube $12.95 Euptelea pleiosperma Not listed in the big green bible Undeservedly rare in cultivation, this 15-30' tree/shrub stops-the-eye in spring when crowded with clusters of red-anther"fls" & coppery young growth & again in fall when its round, long-tipped leaves turn red. Sun/M eupl273 Size1 $15.00 Evodia (tetradium) daniellii - Bee Bee Tree LANDSCAPE VALUE: A very interesting tree, but unfortunately little known and used; a lovely small tree which can be used in the small landscape; excellent summer foliage. Flower and fruit characters make this a tree worthy of additional use; Wyman noted that the wood is comparatively weak and splits easily and the tree is short lived (15-40 years). "A handsome species in flower & fruit" (B.Hora), this tree (to 50') has long 9-15" cmpd leaves & produces flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, enjoyed by bees in l.sum., followed by reddish to black fruits. Sun/Med evda030 Tube $9.95 Firmiana simplex - Chinese Parasol Tree I doubt seriously whether the plant has a place in commerce fisi030 Tube $9.95 "A noble foliage tree" (Hillier) (to 60') with leaves up to 1'X1'! and wonderful "parasol" seed pods. Sun/Med Gardenia jasminoides Kleim's Hardy - Hardy Gardenia gaja011 Tube $9.95 $9.95 $9.95 Ginkgo biloba Mayfield - Columnar Ginkgo The Very Narrowest Ginkgo available, this fastigiate form with its short branches is a male with bright golden fall color & no fruit. Sun/Med gibi040 Tube $19.95 Ginkgo biloba Witch's Broom - Dwarf Ginkgo If the ancient Ginkgo could tell us history perhaps this "crystal ball" form (a globe to only 3' high!) can tell us the future, as well!, in any case it's a delightful shrub for accent, foundation or border. SUN/Med gibi050 Tube $19.95 Gordonia lasianthus - Loblolly Bay Not listed in the big green bible This small-medium-sized tree is a beautiful EG relative to the Franklin Tree; lovely 2-3" fragrant white camellia-like flowers. Sun-PSh/Med gola030 Size1 $25.00 Halesia tetraptera Wedding Bells - Silver Bell Larger more numerous white bells that are more fully open PLUS its smaller (to only 20', rather than 20-40') rounded habit make this lovely tree/shrub perfect anywhere; Dr.Mark Brand selection. SUN-PSh/Med(notdry)/GdDrain hawe077 Size5 $69.00 Hippophae rhamnoides Sprite - Dwarf Sea-buckthorn Perfect for hedges or foundation plantings, this compact (to 5-6' x 4-5') fruitless male selection offers attractive silvery-green foliage & an easy-going disposition: tolerant of poor soils & conditions. Sun/Med-Dry hirh016 Size1 $19.00 Kalmiopsis leachiana - Kalmiopsis Not listed in the big green bible Quite rare, & endemic in SW Oregon, this lovely little shrub of compact tufted habit with sm.glossy leaves & delicate rose-pink "bell" flowers has had a Wilderness Area named after it.Best is PSh with Excellent drainage. S-PSh/M kale060 Tube $12.95 Koelreuteria paniculata September - Goldenrain Tree LANDSCAPE VALUE: Excellent and unrivaled for late yellow flowers; one of the very few yellow flowering trees; excellent as a small lawn tree; for shading a patio; suggested as a street tree although supposedly somewhat weak wooded; very lovely to look upon on a hot July day; choice specimen tree where space is limited; shows tremendous adaptability to extremes of soil. This selection of a tree (15-25') pretty in leaf (feathery), fruit and flowers (6-12"upright clusters of gold) extends its flowering from July August to August-September to add a BRIGHT splash to late summer. SUN/Med/GdDrain It is popularly grown as an ornamental tree in temperate regions all across the world because of the aesthetic appeal of its flowers, leaves and seed pods. Several cultivars have been selected for garden planting, including 'Fastigiata' with a narrow crown, and 'September Gold', flowering in late summer. The seeds are edible when roasted, but not commonly consumed. In some areas, notably the eastern United States and particularly in Florida, it is considered an invasive species. kopa040 Size1 $35.00 Laburnum anagyroides - Goldenchain Tree Common Laburum tend to be low branched, bushy, wide spreading, 20 to 30 foot high tree. The golden yellow flowers occur in cylindrical pendulous 6 to 10 inch long downy racemes. Pods 2 to 3 inches long. Central and Southern Europe. Cultivated in 1650. In late spring 6-10"pendulous clusters of golden-yellow pea-flowers hang like golden chains from all along the branches of this small (15-20') tree. SUN/Med laan025 Size1 $12.00 Laburnum watereri Sunspire - Goldenchain Tree LANDSCAPE VALUE; Good in shrub border, near buildings, corners of houses; plant in a protected spot; very effective when grouped in threes and fives; makes a tremdous show in flower; truly a beautiful plant in flower and the German popular name, Goldregen (Golden Rain) is most appropriate; widely planted in Europe but not so common in the United States; at Bodnant Gardens, Wales, there is the famous "Laburnum Arch" with plants trained across a structure about 50 to 75 yards long; the flowers cascade and the visitors can walk through this feature; my visit coincided with full flower and the effect was just overwhelming. Its narrowly upright form & short but profuse somewhat pendulous flower clusters make this hybrid (L.alpinum x L.anagyroides) a useful and striking accent; sometimes called L.'Columnaris'. Sun/Med/GdDrain lawa097 Size1 $25.00 Liriodendron chinense - Chinese Tulip Tree The large leaves of this rare med-sized tree are distinctively lobed, like those of its American cousin but, unlike those of L.tulipifera, they are attractively tinged with red in spring. Sun/Med lich145 Size1 $15.00 Maackia amurensis - Amur Maackia LANDSCAPE VALUE: Of interest for the late summer flowers; the specimens I have seen have had very clean foliage and appeared quite vigorus; the more I see of this tree the more impressed I am by its durability and general adaptation; has survived at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and performed spectacularly at Bernheim Arboretum and Swathmore College; the foliage has a certain richness and the bronze-colored bark is quite attractive; I believe it would be a good candidate for street tree and container planting. "Very hardy, attractive, small, slow-growing deciduous tree "related to Yellowwood but with dense erect clusters of pea-like flowers -- white-tinged with blue, in summer, even on young trees. Sun/Med maam010 Tube $9.95 Olea europaea Arbosana - Hardy Olive Not listed in the big green bible Resistant to disease & cold temperature, this olive was produced for commercial olive oil production: it produces 19-20% oil with a fruit pleasant flavor on younger and smaller trees. Sun/M-D USPPP oleu072 Size1 $19.00 Petteria ramentacea Not listed in the big green bible Its fragrant yellow flowers in early summer & trifoliate leaves make this unusual shrub resemble a shrubby, erect-flowered Golden Chain. SUN/Med pera155 Size1 $15.00 Photinia Redstart - Hybrid Photinia Photinia serrulata-LANDSCAPE VALUE: Large hedge or privacy screen; could be used as a small tree; often used erroneously on the corners of small buildings; have seen it used in groupings around large campus buildings and it tends to soften some of the harsh architectural lines; can be used in groupings, screens, FLOWERS ARE REALLY FOUL SMELLING Born to be a hedge (or a nice small tree), this evergreen (to 15' tall x 10' wide, but easily pruned) offers dense foliage for privacy, bronzy-red spring tips, showy white summer flowers, & yellow-orange fruit in fall. Sun/Med phre070 Size1 $12.00 Robinia Casque Rouge - Pink Cascade Bl.locust LANSCAPE VALUE: An "alley cat" type tree which can survive under the toughest conditions; good for stripped mine areas, highway cuts and fills, sandy poor soils, shelter plantations and afforestation purposes; NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE HOME LANDSCAPE, but definitely has a place in difficult areas; the flowers are exceedingly fragrant from which bees produce a delicious honey; several cultivars offer attractive foliage and flowers. The large, pendulous, purplish-pink flowers of this vigorous small tree are profusely borne in early summer; a hybrid between R. pseudoacacia & R. hispida, it is sometimes known as R. X margaretta . Sun/Med rops597 Size1 $25.00 Tetracentron sinense Not listed in the big green bible This rare tree makes an elegant specimen or a graceful woodland beauty with its wide-spreading 30-50' tall habit, large pointed, heart-shaped leaves & pendulous flower catkins in spring. Sun-PSh/Med tesi023 Size1 $19.00

Amongst the best palms for the PNW would be the Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei, which is the palm in the pool photo. Other species of this genus to look for would include the more refined leaf form of T. wagneriana or T. takil. A smaller growing fan palm that is also perfectly hardy is the Mediterranean Fan Palm, Chamaerops humilis. There is also a lovely silver leafed version, C. humilis var cerifera. You might also be interested to try growing one of the hardier feather palms, such as Butia capitata, the Pindo Palm. Other subtropical plants that are often used in PNW gardens for a tropical effect would include the various Phormium hybrids, Cordyline australis hybrids and cultivars, and Beschorneria yuccoides. The silvery foliage of Astelias, which much resemble Phormiums in habit, are also quite hardy for Seattle, and would include the larger growing Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear', and others such as A. nervosa 'Red Gem' or similar. Fatsia japonica is always a reliable tropical looking foliage plant. Usually not quite hardy as year round perennials in all but the mildest PNW locations, but great as temperennials, the Abutilons of all colors are great filler plants. Bergenia was already mentioned, but this is a great foliage plant that also blooms in late winter, and is fully hardy, coming from Russia. Winter deciduous subtropicals such as the various Hedychiums are also great, such as H. gardnerianum, H. flavescens, H. greenei. Cautleya spicata is also quite nice, and is quite colorful with summer blooms of red and yellow, and will even bloom in a fair amount of shade. My favorite Canna varieties for tropical flair would have to include the very tall growing C. ehemannii, which can get 10 feet tall, and has smaller rose red pendant flowers that cleanly drop off when done blooming. If you want dramatic foliage that is the equal of a Gunnera, you might also consider planting the Rice Paper Plant, Tetrapanax papyriferus, but this will probably be killed back to the roots in winter in most PNW locations. Melianthus major is another great foliage plant, but will often be killed back to the roots outside USDA zone 9a conditions. As to Acanthus, you should also look for the attractive A. spinosus, which has distinctive looking leaves. Acanthus does perfectly well in full sun in more coastal locations that don't get the baking summer heat of interior Oregon, but in its native Mediterranean habitats it will also quite willingly grow in full sun locations as well. In dry summer locations, it will go summer deciduous, and come back into growth with fall rains. In irrigated gardens, the yellowing, heat damaged foliage can simply be pruned off, and it will often push new foliage immediately if watered and fertilized, or can be allowed to wait until it cools off and starts raining again.