Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’

’. As you drive down the highway in Pennsylvania in April you will see beautiful lilac flowering trees  decorating the landscape. The flowers seem to line the  smooth bare branches in small clusters.  Today, as I walked through the nursery , this redbud caught my eye.   I am not a big fan of hot pink flowering trees, but these small red/pink flowers ( not yet fully open) caught my eye.  Appalachian Red has the brightest flowers of all the Eastern redbuds I have  seen.     This tree was  discovered by plantsman Dr. Max Byrkit along a roadside in Maryland.   Its magenta buds open to hot neon, pink flowers. Like other redbuds , it is hardy through USDA Zone 5, After the flowers start to disappear,  large heart shaped light green then dark green leaves appear. Fall color is yellow.  Place this tree in front of   a few dark green evergreens and the pink color will pop even more. 

Full sun to part shade (I would give it a little afternoon shade)  20' x 20', Native,  medium growth rate, and tolerates a wide range of soils. Blooms mid to late April.  A nice addition to any yard.

The Dancing Peacock 

The leaves on this Japanese Maple make you wonder if an artist had a hand in creating this tree. Very appropriately named, the leaves are graceful and elegant like a beautiful peacock dancing in the garden.  Even in the spring , the thickly dissected green leaves draw attention to this tree.  This is how one local garden centers in Camp Hill  desribies this tree -

Finding  a place for this tree in your yard should not be too difficult.  Maybe next to a small  patio, or low deck where you can sit in a comfortable chair, sip a beverage,  then look up at the leaves,   ....    and relax.

Eleven Plants That Will Not Disappoint Your Garden

Picea pungens 'Globosa Nana'

1.FERNSPRAY FALSE CYPRESS -Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides'
2. SIBERIAN CYPRESS - Microbiota decussate
3. HINOKI FALSE CYPRESS - Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri'
4. CENTER GLOW NINEBARK -Physocarpus opulifolius 'Center Glow'
5. HELMOND PILLAR BARBERRY -Berberis thunbergii 'Helmond Pillar'
6. KNOCK OUT® ROSE -Rosa x 'Radyod'
7. SNOW QUEEN OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA -Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
8. WEIGELIA - Weigela x 'My Monet'
9. HYDRANGEA Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight‘
10. DWARF GLOBE BLUE SPRUCE - Picea pungens 'Globosa'
11. ABELIA - Abelia 'Rose Creek' Abelia

Picea orientalis 'Skylands'

Oriental Spruce

The Oriental Spruce is a conifer that makes the average garden look great. In most cases conifers are evergreens, however there are a few exceptions . As winter approaches and leaves drop, the visual interest in the garden is directed towards evergreens. The oriental spruce in one such plant. There are a variety of shapes and sizes, however the cultivar, Skylands, is one of my favorites

Before selecting any plant for you yard it is important to know the mature size and the plants cultural requirements. Too many times we buy plants with limited knowledge about the plant and then plant the tree or shrub in a location that has building or overhead limitations. Most conifers including this one enjoy full sun. My recommendation is to grow this in a location that gets about 6 -7 hours of sun with a little afternoon shade. I have found that 10 or more hours of sun may cause the needles to brown a little. Something that is not uncommon with yellow needled conifers. This spruce is planted in a bed that is mounded with 3-6 inches of soil. I do this because mounding the soil allows for better drainage. The soil does not have to be rich top soil any soil free from clay will work. Also a planting bed that has a slight mound has more visual interest. This tree is classified as a zone 5. This is a slow growing conifer that will reach 10 feet x 4 feet in ten years. Its ultimate mature height is 35 feet x 12 feet. This tree is a good choice as a specimen, or for smaller gardens where a tall conifer is wanted without giving over too much horizontal space.

You are not limited to the cultivar "Skylands". Some of the other cultivars you may find in a nursery or garden center are Picea orientalis Nana, Aurea, Connecticut Turnpike, Bergman Gem, Acrocona .

Viburnum

Viburnums - Three seasons of Interest. Viburnum dilitatum is one of the several viburnums in my garden. It is an outstanding shrub that blooms vigorously and then produces an outstanding display of berries. For 10 plus years I had been calling this viburnum "wrightii" in error. Not until I met Michael Dirr and provided him with a branch did I find that I had been sold a mislabeled plant. An all too common error in the nursery trade. However no dismay - whatever the name - this viburnum is a keeper. Sun, occasional fertilizer, and occasional pruning (to keep 6-7ft tall) is all that is required. Located right outside of my kitchen it produces berries that will eventually attract many birds ( usually after the winter past). There are two plants side by side which is the reason for the great berries. Sort of like two friends working together to fertilize each others not to fragrant flowers. Along with the berries the leaves turn to a wonderful red color in the fall. From a landscape point of view - this is a great plant for a screen, foundation for a tall house or just out in the yard in a small group planting.
No yard should be without a viburnum.