Plants

Fagus sylvatica 'Red Obelisk'

[Red Obelisk European Beech]

The Red Obelisk European Beech has a gorgeous columnar form and this tree is notable season round. The foliage is crimson red with light red-white tips. The stem is smooth and light gray.

Fagus sylvatica 'Riversii'

[Rivers Purple-Leaf European Beech]

In a proper site, an excellent trouble-free shade tree with year-round interest. More adaptable to hot, dry conditions than our native F. grandifolia, but somewhat less hardy. F. grandifolia is preferred in Zone 4. Like F. grandifolia, this tree is so shallow rooted and casts such heavy shade that grass does not grow well beneath it. Low branching habit is a concern for use in the tree lawn as a street tree (may require more…

Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla 'Asplenifolia'

[Fern-Leaf European Beech]

In a proper site, an excellent trouble-free shade tree with year-round interest. More adaptable to hot, dry conditions than our native F. grandifolia, but somewhat less hardy. F. grandifolia is preferred in Zone 4. Low branching habit is a concern for use in the tree lawn as a street tree (may require more pruning than other street trees). 'Asplenifolia' has attractive, fern-like leaves; the cultivar name was derived from the spleenwort fern genus, Asplenium.

Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla 'Laciniata'

[Cut-Leaf European Beech]

In a proper site, an excellent trouble-free shade tree with year-round interest. More adaptable to hot, dry conditions than our native F. grandifolia, but somewhat less hardy. F. grandifolia is preferred in Zone 4. Low branching habit is a concern for use in the tree lawn as a street tree (may require more pruning than other street trees). The cultivar 'Laciniata' has graceful, deeply-cut leaves.

Filipendula rubra 'Venusta Magnifica' [sold as Venusta Queen-of-the-Prairie]

[Venusta Queen-of-the-Prairie]

Magnolia stellata

[Star Magnolia]

Handsome specimen at all seasons. Needs at least some protection from strong wind in Zones 4 and 5. Somewhat prone to breakage in severe ice storms. Early blooming flowers often destroyed by late spring frosts.

Magnolia stellata 'Centennial'

[Centennial Star Magnolia]

'Centennial' is an excellent, vigorous Magnolia stellata cultivar with large (5.5" across), pink-blushed white flowers with numerous tepals. This plant was released by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in 1972 to commemorate its 100th anniversary. Handsome specimen at all seasons. Needs at least some protection from strong wind in Zones 4 and 5. Somewhat prone to breakage in severe ice storms. Early blooming flowers often destroyed by late spring frosts.

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

[Royal Star Magnolia]

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' is a small flowering tree that has a more rounded habit than the straight M. stellata, with its flower buds pink that open to 12-18 white tepals. Flowers are fragrant and reach 3 to 4" in diameter. Flowers appear early spring, but can be damaged by spring frosts. Needs protection from strong winds, as it has been known to be weak-branched.

Morus rubra

[Red Mulberry]

The Red Mulberry is fairly adaptable and can sometimes be a prolific self-seeder. To prevent bleeding, it should be pruned in late fall or winter. Although somewhat more sensitive to soil requirements, Morus rubra is considered to be a better choice than the related Morus alba (White Mulberry), which has a much more invasive character. Morus rubra is dioecious, so male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Female trees, if fertilized, bear edible…

Nyssa sylvatica

[Black Gum]

Especially useful in wet soils. One of the most beautiful of trees, with habit comparable to Quercus palustris, but usually more irregular, and with a greater number of more slender main limbs. Silvery-gray, picturesque branching; strong horizontal accent. Difficult to transplant due to taproot; use container-grown plants when possible, or at least plants dug with a soil ball. Shelter from wind. In the North, select native northern stock as the species has a wide geographic…