This variant of Cockspure Hawthorn is a thornless type. The strong horizontal branching is good for softening vertical lines of buildings. Although attractive, some find the small, white flowers malodorous. Fireblight, leaf spot, and cedar-hawthorn rust are among the worst problems to affect this species. Japanese beetles like to feed on hawthorns. […]
Read More… from Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis ‘Cruzam’ [sold as Crusader™]
The Flowering Crabapple is a popular small ornamental tree with an extremely showy flower display in the spring. This vigorous cultivar is named in honor of Purdue University plant physiologist Ralph Shay (1918-1981) who was head of the Department of Botany & Plant Pathology from 1954-1966. This tree has attractive white flowers followed by exceptionally […]
The variety rubra is a group of Flowering Dogwoods with beautiful pink bracts of varying intensities. Flowering Dogwoods are one of the finest small trees, interesting at almost every season, and with a branching pattern that is distinctly horizontal. Widely adaptable, but material of different geographic origin varies widely in hardiness, and the flowers of […]
‘Hino-red’ is a hardy, compact, evergreen azalea that produces bright red flowers in early spring. Avoid harsh, dry, windswept sites. Susceptible to a large number of pests and diseases, which can largely be prevented by good cultural practices. […]
Read More… from Rhododendron × ‘Hino-red’ (Kurume Hybrid Group)
The Little Henry Virginia Sweetspire is a compact, dwarf cultivar that has excellent flowers and fall color. Quite drought and pH tolerant although best situated in moist areas with some acidity. Flowers best in full sun, but is shade tolerant. Pruning sometimes needed to maintain form, primarily for removal of wayward branches. Avoid pruning in […]
Read More… from Itea virginica ‘Sprich’ [sold as Little Henry™]
This hardy cultivar is compact and dense with an oval to rounded habit, but it tends to lose some of its lower branches with age. Ilex glabra, like other hollies, is dioecious, and ‘Compacta’ is a female cultivar, so plant a male pollinator for fruit set. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves occurs […]
Fiveleaf Akebia is a vigorous vine that establishes quickly under many different conditions, even to the point of invading an area. Prune to keep this plant within its boundaries. Best used to climb up structures, but can also be used as a sprawling groundcover. Although generally deciduous, Akebia quinata can be evergreen in the south. […]
Carpinus betulus is relatively trouble-free and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some shade. This plant is also very tolerant of heavy pruning, making it useful as a hedge. The cultivar ‘Frans Fontaine’ is a tight, narrow, columnar cultivar with densely set branches and leaves. Over time this cultivar retains its fastigiate form […]
The Green Mountain Boxwood is known for its very dense, upright pyramidal form. It grows best when placed in areas of moderate shade that are away from strong winter sun and wind. It has shallow roots and prefers moist, cool soils. Tolerates feeding by deer and rabbits. […]
‘Green Wave’ is a very functional and durable and lower-growing yew with gracefully arching branches. Dioecious. Tolerates shade and heavy pruning. Bark peels on older specimens. All parts of Taxus, except the fleshy, red aril are poisonous. Can be siginificantly damaged by deer. […]
The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department