GardenLeap

To start of the gardening season with color, incorporate in your design some of the following plants. Just be sure they are hardy for your zone.

Trees

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Camelot Crabapple (Malus ‘Camzam’)
Eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis)
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella)
Kwanzan Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata “Kwanzan”)
Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
Native American Plum (Prunus Americana)
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus cistena)
Royalty Crabapple Tree (Malus ‘Royalty’)
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Washington Hawthornes (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

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Here in New England soils are quite acidic in part due to the pine and oak forests. When the leaves and needles of these trees break down the resulting organic matter raises the acidity of the soil. This post lists a few beautiful shrubs which are tolerant acidic soil.

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Trees

Acer Palmatum – Japanese Maple
Amelanchier Spp. – Serviceberry
Carpinus spp. – Hornbeam
Cercis canadensis – Redbud
Cornus florida – Flowering Dogwood
Cornus kousa – Kousa Dogwood
Nyssa sylvatica – Tupelo
Oxydendrum arborium – Sourwood
Stewardia spp. – Stewardia
Styrax spp. – Snowbell
Tsuga canadensis – Hemlock

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Fragrant plants are a wonderful addition to any garden. Planted next to a gathering space, lavender or lilac, are quite effective. Other plants, however, such as the Sweet Bay Maganolia, can fill an entire property with the scent of its flowers.

Trees

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When designing a garden the vibrant colors of fall should not be overlooked. Though the flowers are (mostly) gone, the foliage of many trees, shrubs, ornamnetal grasses and vines brighten up the landscape. There are also a few late blooming perennials which could incorporated into the flower garden.

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There are very few plants which can survive for a long time with no water. The following is a list of plants which are tolerant of dry conditions, though they do prefer adequate water.

Trees

Abies conccolor – White Fir
Acer campestre – Hedge Maple
Acer ginnala – Amur Maple
Betula spp. – Birch
Carpinus betulus – European Hornbeam
Cotinus coggygria – Smoketree
Crataegus spp. – Hawthorn
Fraxinus pennsylvania – Green Ash
Gleditsia tricanthos intermis – Thornless Honeylocust
Pinus spp. – Pine
Plantanus acerfolia – Planetree
Syringa reticulata – Japanese Tree Lilac

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Creating gardens in areas with wet soil can be a challenge. Often, wet areas are under wetland restrictions concerning changes in the grade or soils of the existing landscape. The following list of trees, shrubs and flowers are tolerant of wet soils.

Trees

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Berry producing trees and shrubs are a great way to add interest to the winter landscape. Hollies, with their red berries, are probably the most common plant used in this way. There are, however, may species which form colorful berries. The following list includes plants which produce red, blue and purple winter fruit.

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Legend:
A – Attracts Hummingbirds, B – Attracts Birds, C – Attracts Butterflies

Trees

Amelanchier spp. – Seviceberry B
Cornus florida – Flowering Dogwood B,C
Crataegus spp. – Hawthorn A,B
Malus spp. – Crabapple B
Nyssa sylvatica – Tupelo B
Salix spp. – Willow B

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