Kentucky Coffee Tree

The Kentucky Coffee Tree, ‘Gymnocladus dioicus,’ is a large, rounded-barked tree that is in the legume family. It may reach a height of sixty to one hundred feet. Its short trunk is one to two feet in diameter and will divide into several large branches. This is an ideal selection for a deciduous shade tree on larger, un-groomed properties. Its bark is deeply furrowed and a dark brown color. Its foliage is yellow to orange in the autumn. The Kentucky coffee tree is also known as the American coffee berry, Kentucky Mahogany, Nicker tree or stump tree.

Common Purple Lilac

The Common Purple Lilac, ‘Syringa Vulgaris,’ is a deciduous shrub that is most commonly used as a hedge or individual accent plant. It features light purple flowers that occur in clusters amid its dark green, hear-shaped leaves. This plant is well known and loved by gardeners all over the world for not only its beauty, but also its fragrance, which is one of the most powerful scents emitted by any plant. Lilacs can generally withstand severely cold winters, and the species will not grow well in areas without significant winter frost.

Korean Lilac

The Dwarf Korean Lilac, ‘Syringa meyeri palibin,’ produces its showy, lavender-purple flowers in late May. The flowers are spread over the entire canopy of the plant for a wonderful look. This is the most common cultivar of the species, and it is most valued for its compact but spreading habit. This small foliaged lilac bush was introduced to the U.S. from China in the early 20th century. It is most commonly grown as a foundation or group planting, but also makes a wonderful hedge or specimen plant.

Miss Canada Lilac

The Miss Canada Lilac, ‘Syringa x prestoniae,’ produces its prolific bright pink flowers in mid June for an early summer display of color. This spreading, graceful shrub features arching branches, and will reach a height of six to nine feet with a five to eight foot spread. Its dark green foliage makes a wonderful backdrop for the flowers. Its fall color is a beautiful yellow green. This is a reasonably compact lilac bush that will grow well in any smaller garden or shrub border.

Persian Lilac

The Persian Lilac, ‘Syringa x persica,’ produces its prolific pale lilac flowers in late spring for a fantastic display of color. This spreading, graceful shrub features arching branches, and will reach a height of four to eight feet with a five to ten foot spread. Its dark green foliage makes a wonderful backdrop for the flowers. Its fall color is a beautiful yellow green. This is a reasonably compact lilac bush that will grow well in any smaller garden or shrub border.

White Persian Lilac

The White Persian Lilac, ‘Syringa x persica alba,’ is a deciduous shrub that has dark green foliage. It produces fragrant, pale lilac flowers in the late spring. The flowers are grown on two to three inch long panicles. This is a graceful, spreading shrub with arching branches that can reach four to eight feet in height with a five to ten foot spread. Introduced in 1614, this reasonably compact lilac bush will grow well in any smaller garden or shrub border.

Loblolly Pine

The Loblolly Pine Tree, ‘Pinus taeda,’ is the most important commercial forest species in the southern United States. It is a fast growing member of the yellow pine group, and can grow up to one hundred feet tall with a trunk diameter of three feet. Along the coastline, however, they will seldom grow to more than fifty feet. The Loblolly Pine tree will thrive in a variety of soils, including well draining upland areas with poor nutrients to poorly draining lowland areas and abandoned fields. It has many other common names, including Yellow pine, North Caroline pine and Oldfield pine.

Lombardy Poplar

The Lombardy Poplar Tree, ‘Populus nigra,’ is a tree that is commonly used for forming a quick windbreak while other, longer living and slower-growing trees mature. This fast growing tree is tall and columnar, and features bright green leaves that have silver undersides. The Lombardy poplar is deciduous and has moderate to high water requirements. It also is moderately tolerant to salt and alkaline soils. It is widely used for their grace and fast growth to provide a quick border or screen.

London Sycamore

The London Sycamore Tree, ‘Platanus acerifolia,’ exhibits a pyramidal form in youth, and will spread out to a rounded crown as it matures. A few very large diameter branches will support it. This is a large tree, and will reach a height of eighty-five feet with a spread of up to seventy feet. Its bark will appear patchy and very attractive, and is possibly the most ornamental quality of this tree. This large tree will be able to provide plenty of good shade for any park planting. The easily transplanted London Sycamore will grow well in most soils, but prefers a deep, rich soil.

Magnolia x Ann

The Ann Magnolia Tree, ‘Magnolia x Ann,’ is the result of crossbreeding that took place at the United States National Arboretum. It will develop a somewhat open habit and produces seven to nine inch, deep purple-red flowers. These lightly scented, large flowers are colored on both sides of the petals and emerge from beautiful, tapered buds. A member of the ‘Little Girl’ series of Magnolias, Ann is a very hardy and vigorous selection. It will form a shrubby mound and has leathery green foliage.

Magnolia x Jane

The Jane Magnolia Tree, ‘Magnolia x Jane,’ is a strong, upright and vigorous grower that is distinguished by its large flower that resemble tulips. It will develop a somewhat open habit and produces seven to nine inch, reddish-purple flowers t. These lightly scented, large flowers are white on the insides and emerge from beautiful, tapered buds in early May. This is a rounded, shrubby plant that can be trained to form a small tree.

Mayhaw

The Mayhaw Tree, ‘Crataegus aestivalis,’ features sparkling white, snowy flowers in the spring that appear before the new leaves unfurl. Large, showy red-dotted fruits follow the flowers. This native North American tree is slow-growing and will reach a height of thirty feet with a rounded canopy that will spread to more the thirty five feet. This is an adaptable tree, and is generally found growing naturally in wet, shady locations. It will adapt to drier, well draining land. When grown in full sunlight, fruit production will be better and more abundant.

McIntosh Apple Tree

The McIntosh apple produces its heavy bounty of fruit early in the season. The flesh of the apple is white, soft and very fine textured. Its flavor is very aromatic and distinctively tangy. The rather tough skin of a McIntosh has mixed colors of red and green. This is a favorite fruit for eating out of hand. It also has many applications in salads, sauces and pies. It is also one of the most common apples for making fresh cider. This large fruit is one of the most sought after around.

Memorial Day Rose

The Memorial Day rose is a Hybrid tea rose that was an AARS winner in 2004. It features long stems, large flowers and excellent vase life. This is a vigorous and easy to grow rose. This variety is upright and very bushy. The flowers have over fifty petals each and grow to over five inches in diameter. Memorial Day rose flowers are clear pink in color, and are accented with a lavender wash. The roses have a strong Damask scent, and only one bloom can fill a room with its fragrance.

Mimosa Tree

The Mimosa Tree, ‘Alibzzia julibrissin,’ was first introduced to the United States in 1745 for ornamental purposes. It features unusual, pompom-like flowers and fernlike foliage. The flowers of this deciduous tree are attractive to butterflies, birds and bees. In late winter and early spring, its domed crown is covered in sprays of its small, globular, golden-yellow flower heads. It flowers best in climates with long, dry summers, but will survive the winters in the southern Unites States. The Mimosa tree is often referred to as the Silk tree.