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Zone 5 JMs

17 years ago

For those of you interested, this week I visited Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery about 45 min. from where I live where they had many varieties of JMs growing for a number of years in zone 5a (many more than listed on their website). It was really nice, and it puts to rest (at least for me) all of those books, internet sites, etc., that have listed the "exotic" cultivars as zone 6. I have been trying to get accurate info on zones for JM's and have been wondering how to do this since I really started getting into this JM collecting this year since many sites contradict each other regarding different cultivars.

The problem was compounded by local nurseries that stopped carrying them or only had the common cultivars. Even local gardens didn't help in this regard as I've posted in the summer. So what I really needed was to actually "see" in person growing cultivars in zone 5a--yes, zone 5a. I was finally able to do this at this nursery. in fact, I saw for the first time many cultivars in their near mature state. I had never seen a large 'shaina' or 'seiryu' for example. To add to the amazement the area of the nursery can push to zone 4b! Therefore, it is squarely in 5a.

No doubt then that JM's are indeed much hardier than given credit for. Having said this many of the JMs are growing in the understory of larger trees, protected from the wind and in the midst of many smaller trees (other JMs and related Acers). ASs and AJs of course abound at this nursery. In fact I picked up a real beautiful AS 'Aureum' Full Moon Maple.

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Comments (6)

myersphcf
17 years ago
E ...Thanks for the info ...that is heartening...and as I suspected....although 4 I still think is REALLY pushing it. Your specifying how they are grown is also appropros as I have thought ...location location location is the key ...where they are planted and how within a zone is VERY important pronbably more than which zone it is planted...up to a point as sone varieties ...no matterhow much shelter and proper placement will not make it in really cold areas...Do you know how old these trees were and how old they were whaen planted?? ...you know my theory on planting only older established trees in zones that are iffy .. David
ezochi
Original Author
17 years ago
I was going to take some photos to post here, but did not have the time since I went to pick up a tree (needing to get it back to plant). I want to go back and document the exact thing you are talking about. According to the nurseryman there they have been growing all sorts of "exotic" cultivars and this place was filled with 'em. I didn't see everything there is to see. There were too many. The tags show the date they were planted, and when they're sold they're balled and burlaped. This has one advantage in that they're acclimated to the zone.

The trees are much like us. They need to adapt to the climate when going from one zone to another.
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Winter sun and winter wind are devastating to JMs in zone 5. Give them protection from both and you'll be fine. You have to give them really good drainage and plant them when they are dormant as well. I've had mixed results with them and I'm considered a full zone colder than you unless you're a far north/west suburb of Chicago. For me the only larger specimens to survive appear to be Orion and Emperor One. Your Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' is definitely zone 6. Emperor One is a zone 5 JM. Again all zone 5 JMs will only survive given the requirements above. Re smoke bushes. They only work if you plan to cut them back each year. I occasionally see nice specimens that haven't been cut back in my zone but rarely. They only love sandy soil seem to grow more gangly in clay soils. My Grace dies back to the ground but bounces back to 6', then I cut it back in June again then it ends up about 7' to close out the year. Its hard to make the call on anything as of now because March is just as bad as any other winter month. The duration and intensity of the sun increases while the soil remains frozen. Further drying out the plants. 9 degrees this morning...what the hell is going on?
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If your in Zanesville Your in luck. There are 2 excellent sources for plants in your area that should have something you like and that will live in that location. Contact Dannaher Landscaping or Yellowood rare plants. Dannaher's will have a wide variety of plants from conifers to maples in BB and smaller pots. Yellowood will have Rare plants in 1-3 gallon sizes. If I had to recommend something it would be a Paperbark Maple. It is hardy and one of the best 4 season plants around. Nice winter Bark and good fall color. Another choice would be an Acer Japonicum. It is a type of asian maple and is similar to the green leaf japanese maples but is reported to be more cold hardy. It also has great fall color. There are also narrow upright froms of ginkgo, european beech(purple, yellow and green leaf forms) and magnolia( yellow and pink flower forms) that you might like. David
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jerry_br
17 years ago
Where is this place located? Sounds like maybe I need to make a road trip.
ezochi
Original Author
17 years ago
I would think you probably have some well stocked nursery closer to you that have a variety of JMs?? However, if you find yourself in the area it is definitely worth a look just to see what grows here in the zone and also what larger forms of different cultivars look like.

The address is: Richs Foxwillow Pines Nursery
11618 McConnell Rd.
Woodstock IL 60098 815 338-7442
They have a website that has a number of JM's listed, but not all they have. The URL for directions is:
http://www.richsfoxwillowpines.com/directions.htm
Carole Westgaard
17 years ago
I've been a frequenter of Rich's Foxwillow Farms for 18 years - it's a few miles from me - it has been featured in the Chicago Tribune several times and it is definitely a MUST see. Every JM I've purchased from them has flourished. Their conifers are incredible and many are rare. GO.

Westy1941
picea
17 years ago
It would be intersting to know how old the trees are at Rich's and what the coldest temps are he has had in the last 15 years. I know several collectors locally who stopped adding JM's to there gardens because most of them eventually got damaged or died during winters in the 80's and early 90's. David

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