Tree Pinus strobus 'Pendula' [Weeping Eastern White Pine] 'Pendula' is weeping, semi-dwarf cultivar with long, pendulous branches. The ultimate form of this cultivar depends on how it is pruned and trained. More graceful than most pines, both as a young and an old specimen. Excellent neutral screening plant, it can be kept full by occasional pruning. Among best pines for resistance to moth borers. Transplants easily with a bit of shade tolerance. Somewhat less adapted to severe exposures and very dry soils than…
Shrub/Tree Platycladus orientalis [Oriental Arborvitae] Best in at least fairly moist soils, and with fairly high humidity. Habit tends toward becoming thinner (open) with age. Subject to "winter-burn" near the edge of its useful range. Certain forms provide very positive accent, but can be over-used. Bagworms can also be a problem.
Tree Prunus × 'Snofozam' [sold as Snow Fountains®] [Snow Fountains Cherry] This cherry variant can be purchased naturally weeping or as a top graft. Both forms have long, pendulous branches that are covered in white flowers in the spring, giving the effect of a "snow fountain". The red, orange, gold, and purple fall color can be quite spectacular. Susceptible to borers.
Tree Pseudolarix amabilis [Golden Larch] No serious diseases. Should be protected from too much wind.
Tree Indiana Native Quercus alba [White Oak] One of the most majestic trees at maturity with a picturesque framework, but requires many years to reach maturity. Long-lived, the kind of tree to use where it can be appreciated by succeeding generations. Slow growth eliminates it as a tree for quick effect. Roots are highly sensitive to disturbance, even foot traffic. Almost impossible to transplant from the wild. Often difficult to find in nurseries due to slow growth and recalcitrance to propagation by…
Tree Indiana Native Quercus macrocarpa [Bur Oak] More tolerant of city conditions than most oaks. Perhaps too large for a typical residential landscape when mature.
Tree Quercus palustris 'Emerald Pillar' [sold as Green Pillar®] [Green Pillar Pin Oak] This cultivar is a columnar habit, great for those smaller spaces. Its fall color is a vibrant red, which leads many to believe that the Scarlet Oak, (Quercus cocinea) is in the genetics of this cultivar. Green Pillar Pin Oak is grafted onto root stock, so graft incompatibility may be an issue in the future. Requires an acidic soil and is subject to severe iron chlorosis on calcareous soils. This can be corrected but it…
Tree Indiana Native Quercus × deamii [Deam Oak] The Deam Oak is a rare hybrid between the White Oak (Quercus alba) and the Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) that can be found in mature forests. Quercus x deamii was first discovered in Wells County, Indiana, about 4 miles outside the town of Bluffton in 1904 by Bruce Williamson, a zoologist, and his father. Not sure what they had found, they took the specimen to Charles C. Deam who later sent the sample to his…
Shrub Rhododendron × 'Aglo' (P.J.M. Hybrid Group) [Aglo Rhododendron] 'Aglo' is a compact grower and early bloomer. One of the most cold tolerant flower buds of the evergreen rhododendrons. Avoid harsh, dry, windswept sites. Susceptible to a large number of pests and diseases, which can largely be prevented by good cultural practices.
Shrub Rhododendron catawbiense [Catawba Rhododendron] The Catawba Rhododendron is considered to be one of the hardiest rhododendron species. Beautiful plant when it is used in mass. Flower color of the species does not combine well with some other flower colors. Flower color bleaches out in high pH. Subject to winter burning of foliage in exposed sites near the limits of its range. Both flowers and foliage are of equal value in the landscape. Cultivars are usually less hardy than species.…