Tree Carnegiea gigantea [Saguaro] Arms form only after the plant reaches 50 or 60 years old. Plants may live 200 years. The ribs expand or contract depending on the amount of water being stored. Found mostly on gravelly slopes. Gila woodpeckers make their homes in the trunk. Young plants need protection from sun. Transplant readily but more difficult with older plants. State flower of Arizona. Protected. Must be transplanted from construction site. Transplant with same orientation to sun as…
Shrub Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Blue Mist' [Blue Mist Bluebeard] This cultivar blooms in clusters during late summer with vibrant blue flowers. Is often killed to ground in winter, returning to flower in the same year. Functions much like an herbaceous perennial, primarily for flowering interest, blooming on new growth. This hybrid is much hardier than C. incana and much more showy than C. mongholica. Attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Occasionally kills out completely at the northern edge of its useful range, with tops…
Tree Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' [Golden Southern Catalpa] The Golden Southern Catalpa can tolerate full sun, but does best in part sun to part shade. This species is weak wooded and should not be placed where it is open to wind and storm damage. 'Aurea' is known for its rich yellow leaf coloration and its broad form. Its flowers are trumpet shaped and white with yellow and purple spots.
Tree Catalpa ovata [Chinese Catalpa] The Chinese Catalpa is smaller than other Catalpa species, generally only reaching 30 feet. It produces attractive yellow-white flowers in the spring, but they are not as ornamental as those of other Catalpa species. Its coarse winter trunk and branches are bold and striking; picturesque, but can be too coarse for many urban landscapes. Best for difficult areas. Wood is rot resistant, but is somewhat brittle so branches can fall in wind and ice storms.…
Shrub Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Bailoptics' [sold as Fiber Optics®] [Fiber Optics® Buttonbush] Fiber Optics® has a compact form with shoots that appear as a reddish-brown on new growth. It also has white fragrant flowers that appear as a sphere-like shape.
Tree Cercis canadensis 'Ace of Hearts' [Ace of Hearts Eastern Redbud] The leaves of this compact, low fruiting Redbud cultivar are shaped like the Ace of Hearts in a deck of cards and regularly overlap down the stem. Relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees weakened by other environmental stresses. Long tap root means that older plants transplant poorly.
Tree Cercis canadensis 'Alba' [White Eastern Redbud] 'Alba' is a white-flowering Eastern Redbud ("Whitebud"). Relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees weakened by other environmental stresses. Long tap root means that older plants transplant poorly.
Tree Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red' [Appalachian Red Eastern Redbud] 'Appalachian Red' is known for its profusion of intensely bright pink (not quite red) flowers in the spring. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees weakened by other environmental stresses. Long tap root means that older plants transplant poorly.
Tree Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' [Purple-Leaf Eastern Redbud] 'Forest Pansy' is a unique and attractive cultivar that has deep purple foliage, which generally fades to a dark, lustrous green in late summer or under drought conditions. Beautiful rose-purple flowers smother the branches in the spring. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or…
Tree Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' [Gold-Leaf Eastern Redbud] 'Hearts of Gold' is a striking redbud cultivar with reddish-orange tinted emerging leaves that turn bright yellow and finally deepen to a bright green towards the end of the summer. The yellow color develops most intensely under higher light conditions. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant (although the yellow foliage color will become green in drought conditions). Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees…
