Tag Archives: trees

Magnolias II

Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Alexandrina’ – An old-fashioned Saucer Magnolia that provides the typical tulip-shaped blooms (purplish-pink base with shell pink tips, near white inside) from March through April. This deciduous trees carries its large pussy-willow-like flower buds through winter – … Continue reading

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Flowering Crabapples / Malus

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ – This cross of Malus baccata and Malus prunifolia has been around since the 1950′s and features fragrant white single blooms emerging from rose-pink buds. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with … Continue reading

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Acer palmatum II / Upright Japanese Maples

Acer palmatum ‘Trompenburg’ – A Dutch cultivar with 7 to 9 thin leaf lobes that emerge a glossy reddish-purple in spring, forming slightly cupped leaves. The leaf colour lasts into summer, then turns a bit greenish, shifting to orange-red tones … Continue reading

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Alba Garden Vines & Trees

Clematis armandii – This is an evergreen species (native to China) with fragrant white star-shaped blooms from March to April. These are nicely contrasted by the dark green tapered foliage, which emerges with a hint of bronzing. Clematis armandii should … Continue reading

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Ornamental Edible Plants

Beta vulgaris var. cicla ‘Bright Lights’ – A colourful selection of Swiss Chard which looks as good in the garden as it does on the plate – featuring stems of red, yellow, orange, pink and white. This colour often extends … Continue reading

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Trees with Ornamental Bark

Broussonetia papyrifera (syn. Morus papyrifera) – Paper Mulberry is not a common tree here, but is more widely grown in Asia where it is native. The foliage is quite variable with a mix of simple and lobed leaves, particularly on … Continue reading

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Maples with Fall Colour

Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’ – A columnar or fastigate deciduous tree often used in boulevard plantings, it grows to about 40′ tall and only 15′ wide. The 3 to 5 lobed green leaves have a contrasting greyish-green reverse, with brilliant yellow-red … Continue reading

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Unusual Fruits

Mespilus germanica – Medlar is a small deciduous tree (to 20′ tall) with 2″ wide white to pale pink blooms in late spring. These are followed by spherical brown fruits (up to 2″ across) that are not ready for eating … Continue reading

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Large Flowering Trees

Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’ – Red Horse Chestnut (A. hippocastanum x A. pavia) bears impressive rose-pink panicles from late spring into summer over deep green palmate foliage – growing to 40-50′ at maturity. If foliage blight is a problem in … Continue reading

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Winter Berries

Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Lawsoniana’ – This hybrid holly (I. aquifolium x I. perado) is relatively compact (to 20′ tall) and features bright red berries. These are nicely contrasted by attractive evergreen foliage that is a marbled lime and gold, with … Continue reading

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