Specimen plants, with their unique or strange qualities, command attention in the garden. If your planning on incorporating a specimen plants in your garden design the most important consideration is placement. Smaller accent plants such as a dwarf false cypress, are effective in a patio setting where they can stand out among the flowers while larger plant such as the weeping willow need room to grow. The following is an introduction to a few commonly used specimen plants.
Specimen evergreens are generally treasured for their unusual and distinct shape as well as their ability to provide a garden with year round color.
Weeping Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis var pendula) is an evergreen shrub which, as the name suggests, has a weeping form and is often used in the garden as an specimen shrub. Planted on its own in the garden it will draw the attention. Its foliage is similar to the Canadian hemlock but its branches hang down.
Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) is a low growing evergreen with a mounding growth habit. Its is often planted in shrub borders and in groups. They make great rock garden specimens as well. In fact, mugo pines, with their dense foliage and a fine to medium texture work well in most landscape settings.
Hinoki False Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtuas crippsii nana) is a stunning specimen shrub with reddish brown bark and dark green foliage. The dwarf cultivars are valued in rock gardens and as specimen shrubs. The smaller cultivars are used for hedges and shrub borders while the larger cultivars are perfect s specimen trees. These are slow growing evergreens, tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.
Many deciduous trees and shrubs make great specimen plants as well, particularly those with interesting bark, flowers or form. The following are few popular examples.
White Birches (Betula papyrifera) are prized for their unique white bark. They are is also, however, planted for distinct, tall and narrow form. The white birch is one of the best specimen trees for year round interest.
Magnolia Stellata (Magnolia sp.) is an outstanding tree noted for its large, extremely fragrant white flowers which open from pink buds. During the summer, it’s foliage provides dense shade. Be aware that this tree is difficult to plant beneath as it forms a dense mat of roots.
Larch (Larix decidua) can easily be misidentified as an evergreen. Its blue green foliage is needlelike, similar to that of a spruce or yew. Like all deciduous tree, however, it loses its foliage after turning yellow in the fall. The weeping form, graceful arching stems and soft textured foliage of this striking species help this tree stand out in the garden.
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