Hmmmm, it so happens I am trying to germinate Chionanthus virginicus seeds collected in early September from a Fringe tree in front of a local school. The front entrance is flanked by male and female specimens that look pretty old and perhaps past their prime, but the blooms and berries were still really nice. They are late to leaf out and bloom in June in our area. Apparently the seeds require warm-cold-warm stratification cycle to germinate, which I am trying to do in 1 year. When (if) they germinate, they will no doubt take many years to bloom, but it's something to do out of curiosity. If I wanted instant gratification, though, I would just go to the nursery and buy a blooming specimen. :) Parent tree -

The Tri-color is a great tree. Mine is close to 40 ft tall, and the lower branch spread is almost 30 feet. So if you want to get one, make sure it is someplace with enough space. Under it is more dry shade. Not real good for hostas. But the tree is so grand, who cares. I also have a big Kousa Dogwood, 25 ft tall. I have no problem growing hostas under it. However, it is very prolific and I get hundreds of seedlings each year. Don't tell the plant nazis, they will want to ban them. It is a selection from a noted plant breeder before he died, so I pot up the seedlings for sale. I also have a bigger Japanese Tree Lilac. It is so welcome when it blooms after the spring trees are done. The Kousa is like that also. If you get a Tree Lilac, look for 'Ivory Silk' instead of the straight species. It flowers more heavily with a better white flower. Have fun and happy tree buying.

lisa, a few suggestions. you might really benefit from a trip to ct. for Variegated Foliage nursery and Broken Arrow nursery. we have bought alot of unusual woody plant material from them (as well as from john, and tranquil lake nursery in rehoboth. )I am big into foliage colors so our arboretum gardens have alot of purple, blue, and yellow leaved plants. I do think that you will want to include ornamental grasses and sedums in your shrub border. Some of my fav shrubs that are not on your list: FAVORITE Z.5-HARDY DECIDUOUS SHRUBS- AND THEIR SPECIAL VALUE VIBURNUM SARGENTII ONONDAGA lg. Shrub, wonderful maroon bracts and maroon tinged spring foliage VIB PLICATUM VAR. TOMENTOSUM SHASTA layered branches,lg wh. flat flower heads and SHOSHONE (like small Shasta) VIB. SUMMER SNOWFLAKE blooms all summer, flat white flower heads V.DILITATUM ERIE and IROQUOIS V. PINK DAWN v. early small pink blooms CORNUS: all are large shrubs except the mini C. ALBA AUREO MARGINATA VARIEGATA- great bold med dk gn leaves w/ bold wide white edges CORNUS MIDWINTER FLAME stems coral to flame in winter; fall fol. Color warm yellow/suffused w/ coral CORNUS AUREA yellow summer foliage C. GOUTCHALTII med dk gn leaves w/ wide bold yellow edge CORNUS MINI VARIEG like alba aureo marg. var. but small- 2globe. CLERODENDRUM TRICHOTOMUM VARIEG. lg. shrub, lg. heart shaped med gn. leaves w/ clean yellow edge, stay on late in fall. Dies to ground and sprouts anew every yr. DAPHNE X BURKWOODII CAROL MACKIE small shrub, small dark gn lves w/ cream edge, sweet smelling spring pink bell flowers DEUTZIA GRACILIS NIKKO small compact shrub covered w/dainty white spring bells DEUTZIA AUREA- dainty yellow leaves keep their color ELEAGNUS UMBELLATA -lgshrub, silver foliage, can control size by pruning. FORSYTHIA x INTERMEDIA AUREA- small fountain of small bright yellow foliage. keeps yellow through season F. KUMSON - med.gn.foliage w/ strong white veining BERBERIS HELMONDS PILLAR - small ( to 4hx12"w) columnar , burgundy foliage B. RUBY GLOW - burgundy foliage med globe B. AUREA - medium, SLOW growing compact globe , brilliant yellow leaves COTINUS COGGYGRIA GRACE lg. Shrub, smoky blue- green- plum foliage C.COG. ROYAL PURPLE med to lg shrub, burg. foliage, likes dry, exc. drainage C. COG. AUREA yellow leaved, slow growing. PHILADELPHUS AUREA - med. size shrub, small yellow foliage until lime from mid july on. PHIL. DOUBLEFLOWER PRUNUS X CISTENA - med to lg shrub,small maroon leaves DISANTHUS CERCIDIFOLIUS -med to lg shrub .heart shaped leaves, wine red fall foliage CARYOPTERIS _DARK KNIGHT - small loose fountain of deep blue racemes_ BUDDLEIA ELLENS BLUE -med to lg shrub, good saturated blue/lav.flower wands BUDDLEIA DARK KNIGHT - dk. ppl. wands HYDRANGEA TOKYO DELIGHT flat pink flowers HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA SNOWFLAKE flat dbl. blossom heads of wh. flow. w/ pale yell. centers HYDRANGEA KYUSHU - july/aug. blooming, loose conical white flower heads SYRINGA DAPPLED DAWN - med. to lg size, green foliage splashed w/yellow SYRINGA SENSATION - (flowers of dk.ppl.rimmed w/white) SINOCALYCANTHUS Hartledge Wine - new hybrid; 2-3" sweet smelling maroon dahlia-like flowers , long bloom time CALLICARPA PROFUSION - med to lg shrub,fall wands of small med ppl. berries CLEMATIS CORYLOPSIS SPICATA v early spring light yellow bell flower racemes VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS lg shrub, similar to buddleia in habit, blue blooms V.LATE(oct/nov); v.wonderful fragrant foliage. Dies to ground in winter and resprouts from base in spring. WEIGELA FLORIDA VARIEGATA lg shrub, med gn leaves w/ wide bright yellow edge WEIGELA FLORIDA MIDNIGHT WINE mini, varieg.burgundy foliage KERRIA VARIEGATA - small fountain of serrated green leaves w/ white edge NEILLIA SINENSIS -a fountain of coral flower racemes in e.june, delicate serrated leaves CHAENOMELIS -bright cup shaped salmon,orange or pink spring bloom HAEMAMELIS late winter small raggedy blooms- yellow to orange/red ILEX WINTER RED profuse red berries in fall/winter PHYSOCARPUS OPULIFOLIUS DIABLO (dk.ppl.leaves) and AUREA (yellow foliage) AESCULUS PAVIA lg shrub w/handsome 5 part leaves and large bright salmon flower panicles FAVORITE Z.5-HARDY EVERGREENS- (TO BE COMPLETED) CHAEMY.OBTUSA NANA LUTEA CH. PISIFERA SNOW CH. OBT.

Hi Carol, Sounds like you had a great time shopping for "furniture" LOL My hubby hates when I buy new furniture :) I bought the pagoda plant "clerodendrum paniculatum" last year after seeing a beautiful 4 foot tall one covered in butterflies at a local garden. They were gorgeous last year and did attract the butterflies. Mine died back this winter to the ground after two hard frosts. They are now about 8 inches tall and look very healthy. I planted them on the East side of the house as they like moister soil and there was no way I can keep my sandy soil moist if it gets afternoon sun. BTW, I was at that local garden last week and their pagodas are no taller than mine, so they must be extremely fast growers. Being from Ohio and having huge Ohio buckeyes up there, I bought 2 red buckeye trees as 2 foot tall plants 4 or 5 years ago. I planted them under the longleaf pines. They are still 2 feet tall! They're nice and healthy but don't seem to grow. I just moved them to another site to see if I can get them growing. I'm afraid that I may be on their southernmost growing area and that no how much I do or don't amend my soil they just aren't happy. Please let me know how yours do. I planted 2 small fringe trees (virginicus) 2 years ago. They are just getting old enough to flower and have grown a little taller but much broader. They seem to love the sun and well draining soil in my yard. Have fun with your new babies and keep us updated. Rhonda 9a Williston