Gardening

Smoke Trees

Add a billowy, whimsical backdrop to any landscape with smoke trees that flutter in every breeze. Garden expert Logan Hailey digs into how to grow and maintain the fluffy, smoke-like puffs of this intriguing ornamental. One of the most intriguing landscape ornamentals, smoke trees have an ethereal aesthetic that evokes a sense of drama and mystery in the garden. The billowy hairs that dangle from the smoke tree’s wispy spent flower stalks resemble a smoke-like puff, giving this tree its iconic shape and name. This large multi-stemmed woody shrub or small tree grows to 15-30 feet and adapts to many landscapes, from poor soils to polluted inner city landscapes. While the smoke tree genus includes seven distinct species, the most common are the North American native smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus) and the non-native European smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria). Both species offer unique varieties and attributes and thrive with similar care. With proper site selection and moderate maintenance, these striking hazy-hued trees are perfect for borders, woodlands, and individual specimen plantings. Let’s dig into everything you need to know about this lovely ornamental. Smoke trees, sometimes called smoke bushes, mist trees, or cloud trees, are a group of large flowering shrubs or small trees in the Cotinus genus. The genus includes seven unique species, all sharing the distinctive wispy, airy-looking flowers that add exceptional fall color to the garden. When in bloom, the small trees look like billows of hazy smoke. The iconic ornamental smoke tree has two main origins: America and Eurasia. The most commonly landscaped tree comes from southern Europe and central China, but a related species is native to Eastern North America. All members of the Cotinus genus have the signature fluffy, smoke-like dried flower clusters. They are known for their magnificently vibrant fall leaves and the fish-scaled appearance of their bark that stands out in the winter. In North America, the heartwood of the smoke tree was traditionally used by Natives as a yellow or orange dye. The common smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria, is native to Eurasia and widely cultivated as a landscape plant in the United States. This species was introduced as early as 1656 and remains commonly available in most mainstream nurseries around the country. Plant breeders have developed dozens of colorful cultivars with leaf shades ranging from golden, green, and purple, and flowers in hues of pink, mauve, red, purple, and bronze. Most cultivars transform to stunning hues of yellow, orange, or red in the autumn. The Eurasian species is dioecious, meaning male and female plant parts grow on the same tree. The smoke display is the same for both male and female flowers. The American smoke tree, Cotinus obovatus, is native to the United States and grows wild in rocky soils from central Texas to Tennessee. It is more cold hardy and larger in stature than the Eurasian species, but its flowers tend to be smaller and less showy. The American species is also dioecious, which means there are separate male and female trees. The male plants have a “smokier” appearance. Stem cuttings are the cheapest way to propagate smoke trees, but they can also be grown from bare-root trees or seeds.

Magnolia Tree Types

Magnolia trees are beloved by many gardeners for their fragrant blooms and dark leafy foliage. There are many different magnolia trees to choose from, so where do you start?Magnolia trees are prized for their elegant shape, their beautiful foliage, and their overall hardiness. But the real star of the show are their large, fragrant, and beautiful flowers that perfume the air with their redolent, lemony, sometimes musky and spicy, and all-around pleasing fragrance. With both evergreen and deciduous varieties, the variation of size, bloom formation and color and hardiness is far reaching. These beautiful trees are famous not only for their beautiful scent, but for their magnificent blooms, commonly flowering in whites, pinks and purples. The bloom is the state flower for both Mississippi and Louisiana. Adding a magnolia tree to your landscape takes time and planning. Ensuring your tree has proper care and maintenance will go a long way to help them achieve their full growth potential. Keep reading to learn about the many different types of magnolia trees, as well as everything you need to know about their maintenance and care.Deciduous magnolias should be planted when they are dormant, with bare branches. In warmer climates, this makes the best planting time late fall to early winter. In colder climates, they can be planted after the ground thaws in spring. Evergreen magnolias should typically be planted in the spring before they flower. Always try to plant when no flowers are present, as changing the environment will shorten the life of the blooms. Dig a hole that is 50% wider and just slightly less deep than the root ball. The upper most root should be slightly above the undisturbed soil, and about 25% above the ground if planting in soil that is clay heavy. Fill in the hole with the soil dug from the hole, but do not cover the top of the root ball. A bit of mulch is fine to cover the roots that are above the soil level. Water the tree in right after planting.In warm climates, newly planted magnolias should be watered deeply, 2-3 times per week, for 3-6 months, and then weekly for the remainder of the growing season. Watering is perfectly fine until they lose their leaves for the winter, if you have an irrigation system. In the case of evergreen magnolias, the growing season lasts through the summer. In cooler climate zones, reduce the initial watering to once or twice per week for the first several months. A thin layer of bark much, or thicker layer of pine needle mulch, is great for holding in moisture and protecting the tree’s shallow root system.

What is a Conifer?

Conifers are all around us, but what exactly are they? These trees play an important role in the ecosystem and the economy. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen gives a brief introduction to coniferous plants. Conifers are well represented in the fossil record, dating back over 300 million years ago. In fact, conifers evolved before flowering plants. Given that conifers have been around for so long, it’s no surprise that there are now a great number of coniferous plants on the earth. Conifers occur on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 600 unique species of conifers. If you count the many additional conifer cultivars that have been introduced by plant breeders for cultivation, there is an incredible number of these amazing plants! The name “conifer” comes from the fact that these trees reproduce by cones, as opposed to flowers and fruits. “Con” comes from the Latin word conus, referring to the cones. And “fer” comes from the Latin word ferre, meaning “to bear.” Therefore, a conifer is a plant that bears cones. Most conifers can also be easily recognized by their needle-like or bristly modified leaves. So what, exactly, is a conifer? Keep reading for more details about this fascinating and unique group of both ancient and modern plants. All living conifers are woody plants, and most are trees, although there are numerous small trees and shrubs as well. You’ve probably seen coniferous trees before, and you may even have furniture or household objects made from the wood of conifers. There’s no absolute one way to describe a conifer because they look different, grow in different habitats, and have different uses in the natural and human environment. Coniferous trees also often have a characteristic conical shape, but certainly not all. All true conifers have needles, but these needles can look quite different from each other. Pines typically have elongated needles, but even these are highly varied. For example, short-leaf pine needles are dramatically different than longleaf pine needles. Some species grow their needles in dense tufts, while others develop more sparse needle arrangements. Fir trees tend to have very short needles that line the stems. Those species that don’t have elongated needles, such as cypress and cedar, have more bristly clusters of blunt, sometimes almost feathery-looking needles. Almost all conifers produce cones, and this is one of their most defining characteristics. Cones vary widely in shape and size. Cones are round to oblong, containing a series of overlapping scales. They often feel rough or bristly. The seeds are typically nestled in the center of the cone so that when the cone reaches full maturity and opens, the seeds are released and drop to the ground. A few conifers, such as the juniper, have more berry-like cones. Male junipers produce more traditional-looking cones, whereas the female cones are fleshy and round but still technically cones with merged scales. The bark of a mature conifer plant is usually rough or scaly, although some, like the eastern red cedar, have soft, peeling, almost paper-like bark. Conifers are known as “softwood” trees, but not because they have weak wood or because their wood is soft. Softwood trees typically contain a different internal cell structure than hardwood trees. Many conifers also have fragrant and sometimes very colorful wood that contains a thick, sticky sap. Conifers are a part of a group of plants known as “gymnosperms.” This means they are seed-producing plants that reproduce by an exposed seed (as opposed to angiosperms that reproduce with seeds formed inside fruits). The male pollen-producing parts produce copious amounts of pollen. All the conifers of a particular species release their pollen in a mass synchronized release. This wind-blown pollen then blows around the air until it meets the female cones, which may be on the same plant or different plants, depending on the species. The seeds then form within the cones before releasing at maturity. Coniferous trees are immensely valuable for wildlife. They host a number of specialized insects and are the larval food plant for various butterfly and moth species. Conifers are a favorite foraging tree for many species of birds that climb up and down the trunks and forage in their dense needles for insect prey. They provide food for many species of hungry wildlife that eat the seeds from the cones. Conifers also provide shade, shelter, and nesting opportunities for many wildlife species throughout their range. Coniferous trees are very important economically as well. Christmas tree farming is one of the ways that people cultivate and harvest conifers. Various species of fir and spruce trees make up a majority of commercially grown Christmas trees. The lumber used for building construction is typically from pine trees. Furniture and small wood objects are often made from conifer trees. There’s a surprising list of other common products that are derived from conifers, including paper products, such as printing paper, toilet paper, tissues, and cardboard packaging. Even various oils, turpentine, and soaps are made from conifers. Many commercially available mulch products are made from conifers. Coniferous trees are even used to make a variety of musical instruments! Conifers are popular trees and shrubs for landscaping. Go into any garden center, and you will find juniper bushes, pines, and spruce trees. You can use these landscaping trees to create a beautifully diversified habitat in your landscape. You can also use conifers as central accent plants, shade trees, and even potted bonsai trees! There are some natural ecosystems where conifers are the dominant species. For example, boreal forests in the northern hemisphere are conifer-dominated landscapes. The taiga biome is a boreal forest that is made up primarily of pines, larches, and spruce trees. The longleaf pine forest in the southeastern United States is an important forest type that supports a variety of unique plants and animals. It is entirely dependent on natural forest fires for its continued survival because natural fires reduce competition with invasive species. Longleaf pine trees won’t sprout until they have been through a fire. Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests exist in parts of Central America and Indo-Asia and consist primarily of various pine species. Cypress trees love wet habitats and are characteristic of temperate and tropical cypress swamps. The famous redwood forests of the Pacific coast of North America contain some of the largest and oldest trees on Earth. These giant sequoias and coast redwoods can grow over 300 feet tall and live over 2000 years! Not all conifer ecosystems are entirely made up of conifer trees, however. There are many mixed forest types that include a blend of conifers and an assortment of hardwood trees such as oak, hickory, maple, and beech. Each ecosystem and biome is unique and contains its own balanced mix of species that all thrive together. Conifers are a highly diverse group of plants and include the following familiar types. With over 600 species, you can expect a lot of very different-looking plants! The following are some familiar groups of conifers. Conifers are a diverse assemblage of woody plants found throughout the world. They occur in deserts, rainforests, and everywhere in between. You can safely guess that any tree that produces both needles and cones is a conifer. You can learn to identify the conifers in your area by learning their habitats, growth forms, and needle structure. If you want to grow some conifers in your landscape, look for those species that will do best in your area and with your specific landscape conditions. These trees are beautiful, easy to grow, and long-lived, making them practical and valuable plants.

the Pinon Tree

The pinon tree is a lovely pine species that produces delicious, edible pine nuts. It is native to the southern US and has been used as a staple food for centuries. Not all pine trees are created equally. A particularly interesting stand out is the pinon pine, also referred to as pinyon pine or piñon pine. This pine tree produces edible nuts. Most pinyon trees have yellow-green needles and produce pine cones over the course of their very long lifetime. Some pinyon pine trees have been reported to live for up to 600 years, according to the US Forest Service! The edible pine nuts of single-leaf pinyon, two-needle pinyon, and Colorado pinyon pine taste almost cream-like in flavor, with the oiliness of macadamia and just the slightest hint of a pine-like flavor. The pinyon pine seeds are roasted and eaten as a snack and are commonly used as an ingredient in the cuisine of New Mexico, which calls pinyon pine its state tree. During pine nut harvest periods, you can often find them for sale at roadside stands that pop up in states where these pines grow naturally, particularly in the Great Basin. Pine nuts have also been a staple food of Native Americans for centuries and can be found on reservations across the four corners region in southwestern North America and Mexico. The one drawback of the piñon pine is that it can be difficult to grow; they have a very specific and set range where they produce cones filled with those delicious pine nuts. Pinus edulis is native to four states in the US – Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. While they can be grown outside that range, that’s where they thrive best – and that’s also why seed harvest rights are almost exclusively Native American-controlled on this tree species, as they’re a wild-growing tree in reservation country.There are different varieties, such as Colorado pinyon and Mexican pinyon, and within these varieties, there are different types as well. There are two main types of pinyon pines: the single-leaf pinyon and the two-needle pinyon (also known as two-needle piñon). As you can probably guess, the single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) generally has a single pine needle protruding from each growth point. In contrast, the two-needle pinyon has two needles at each growth point.

Arborvitae

Arborvitae are all the rage for adding a luxurious living fenceline to your landscaping. But what are the care requirements, and how easy or difficult are they to grow? Gardening expert Kelli Klein walks you through the steps to provide optimal growing conditions for your arborvitae hedge. Arborvitae is a coniferous tree or shrub in the Cyprus family. This North American native tree has quickly gained popularity as an ornamental. It is commonly used to create a living privacy screen, fence, or windbreak in the landscape. It grows in a wide range of environments throughout North America within USDA growing zones two through eight. This tree is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions provided that they are well-drained and that it receives full sun. It is also a long-lived perennial and can survive for anywhere between 25 and 150 years! This means it will be a long-lasting presence in your garden. Also known as northern white-cedar, eastern white-cedar, and the shorthand slang “arbs.” Other common names include swamp cedar, American arborvitae, and eastern arborvitae. The name arborvitae is Latin for “tree of life.” They are perennial evergreen shrubs or trees in the genus Thuja that are widely used in ornamental landscaping today. French botanists brought this evergreen back to Paris in 1536, making it the first North American tree species to be brought to Europe. It was quickly adopted as an ornamental plant. Because of its rot-resistant wood, these trees were used by Native Americans to build canoes. These trees are native to North America, specifically eastern Canada and north-central and northeastern United States. In Canada, its range reaches the Arctic tree line and the southern tip of the Hudson Bay. It prefers to grow in places with cooler summers and a shorter growing season. Connecticut is on the southern edge of its native range. Arborvitae are upright trees with feathery sprays of flat, dark green, scaly needles that resemble juniper foliage. The trunk has red-brown bark, and they produce seed cones that start slender and yellow-green and turn brown as they mature. It tends to grow in a pyramid-like shape which can be exaggerated through pruning. Many varieties are available, which can range in size and foliage color. Nowadays, it is used as an ornamental. Historically, the bark and foliage has been brewed into a vitamin-C-rich tea used to treat scurvy. The rot-resistant wood is also used for fencing and log cabins. An oil can be extracted from the boughs and is used in cleansers, soaps, and perfumes, which smells like cedar. As an ornamental in the landscape, is it used to create a living privacy fence, a windbreak, or to add a pop of evergreen color to the landscape year-round. Arborvitae plants are widely available at big box stores, online retailers, and local nurseries. Searching online retailers will give you the biggest range of varieties available. On the other hand, shopping at a local nursery will likely result in picking up a variety that is well-suited to your area, not to mention the in-person information that you can receive at a local nursery. If you have a friend growing arborvitae, then you might be able to get your hands on some cuttings. More on that later! The best time to plant is in early spring before they are actively growing. Planting in early spring will ensure that roots can establish before the first frost and successfully survive over winter. To plant your tree, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just deep enough so that it matches the depth of its original container. Backfill with a mixture of the soil that was dug out of the planting site and compost. Water it in well. Space trees at least three to four feet apart to give them space to fill in.

Tree Ferns

If you’re looking for a plant with beauty as rich as its history, a tree fern just might be your answer. Garden expert Christina Conner has all the details on caring for these gentle giants. When I was in college, my first big plant purchase (meaning – not rescued from the clearance rack or a mystery propagation) was an Australian tree fern named Felicia. Her lacy, delicate fronds added a Jurassic vibe to my indoor jungle of big-leaved banana trees, pothos, and fiddle-leaf figs. There are over 650 species worldwide. They’re endemic to the understories of tropical, sub-tropical, and cool temperate climes throughout the world. They tower in the rainforests of Queensland, Tasmania, Hawaii, New Guinea, and New Zealand. Tree ferns thrive where the air is humid, and the soil is rich with organic matter. Though beautiful, this is a finicky plant that would be a great option for an intermediate or advanced gardener. They require a lot of humidity and careful watering, which may prove challenging for a beginner gardener. Though Felicia didn’t survive the occasional neglect during holiday breaks and hectic finals weeks of my college years, my love of tree ferns remains. Tree ferns are older than dinosaurs. They predate the Jurassic period and go back at least 200 million years to the Triassic period, evolving alongside plants that became known as fern allies, like Equisetum hyemale, also known as Horsetail Rush. Incredibly, these Australian plants have even evolved to survive bushfires thanks to millennia of evolution and protection via their woolly, moist trunks. The unfurling of bright green fronds after a fire is a beautiful sign of resurgence. This article will focus on how to plant, grow, and care for the most common varieties found in plant stores: the Tasmanian Dicksonia antarctica and the Australian Sphaeropteris cooperi. D. antarctica can grow up to 30 feet in the wild, but cultivated varieties top out at about 12-18 feet. This southern Australian plant is more resistant to colder temperatures than other tree ferns, specifically S. cooperi. The Tasmanian variety is on the shorter side. It’s very slow growing – depending on the environment, one to three inches of growth can be expected per year. The more tropical of the two, S. cooperi stretches from the temperate rainforests of New South Wales to tropical far north Queensland. In its native areas, they grow up to 50 feet, with fronds stretching over 10 feet long. This is also the faster growing of the two. It can grow anywhere between half a foot to three feet per year, depending on the environment. While some gardeners have had luck overwintering Sphaeropteris cooperi in zone 8, some have experienced dieback during cold snaps. For this reason, we recommend planting it as a perennial only in zone 9b and above. Note: This plant also recently underwent a name change from being known as Cyathea cooperi. You might see nurseries and plant sources still refer to this Australian plant by its former name. Hailing from southern Queensland, this species prefers cooler climates and can be found in drier mountain areas. This Australian plant is slightly hardier than other species and can even tolerate direct sun. Its namesake, Rough Tree Fern, comes from the distinctive remnants of old fronds on its trunk. This tropical plant is native to most of the Hawaiian islands but is under threat from invasive species, deforestation, and overharvesting for gardening media. If you live in Hawaii, consider incorporating a Häpu‘u into your landscape. Note: S. cooperi should not be planted in Hawaii as it’s invasive and outcompetes native species. Despite the name, these ferns aren’t truly trees. Its “trunk” is one big modified rhizome covered with tiny hairs that absorb moisture and nutrients. From the crown, crosiers unfurl from a tight spiral over a few weeks to reveal new leaves called fronds. As they age, they drop, and new fronds continue to emerge in a slow cycle that builds height and turns young, shrublike plants into towering giants. The best way to acquire these Australian plants is to either buy from a nursery or online retailer or start from spore. Spores can be sourced from a friend or reputable source, like the American Fern Society spore exchange – the sooner you start a spore after collection, the better. To learn more about collecting and germinating spores, check out our article on Sword Ferns – these spore collection tips also work for other species. Whether you plant your fern indoors or outdoors will depend on climate and personal preference – D. antarctica does well in USDA zones 9-10, and S. cooperi does best in the temperatures in zones 8-11. That said, both species are great as houseplants, so fear not if you live in a different region.

American Mountain Ash Trees

Mountain ash is a compact native North American tree beloved by birds and bees. The white blossoms, bright red berries, and golden-orange fall foliage make it a delight for landscaping. Garden expert Logan Hailey digs into everything you need to know about this native ornamental. If you love birdwatching and your yard needs some extra shade and color, an American mountain ash tree is the perfect addition to your landscape. Sorbus americana is a compact ornamental tree native to North America. It grows wild throughout the Great Lakes, New England, and the Appalachian Mountains and performs excellently in urban and suburban yards. The thick clusters of showy white flowers are followed by vibrant red berries, adding aesthetic charm and wildlife value through summer. At the end of the season, its golden-orange autumn leaves captivate a landscape in the fall and the berries remain into winter. Mountain ash averages 15-35 feet at maturity and grows with a nice, rounded, open-top crown. Sometimes, it grows from a single trunk, but it commonly has a shrubby multi-stemmed base. For gardeners in cool eastern regions from hardiness zones 2-6, this native tree will grow quickly without much fuss. Let’s dig into everything you need to know about growing a mountain ash tree! American mountain ash has a rich history and intriguing folklore. The plant is one of 7 mountain ash species native to the U.S., and the genus Sorbus includes over 100 or 250 species, depending on your definition of the genus. American mountain ash (Sorbus americana) is smaller and smooth-leaved compared to the larger, hairy-leaved European mountain ash (S. aucuparia). Here are more details of this gorgeous red-berried tree and its origins. The native Sorbus americana tree is nicknamed American mountain ash, rowan tree, dogberry, roundwood, and sometimes just mountain ash. The deciduous perennial shrub or small tree is a member of the rose (Rosaceae) family. It is called a mountain ash because its pinnately compound leaves of lance-shaped serrated leaflets resemble ash trees. However, it is not actually related to true ash trees of the genus Fraxinus, which are members of the olive (Oleaceae) family. Sorbus americana grows wild in the Eastern U.S. from the Appalachian mountains of Georgia up to Maine and into Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Its native range also extends through Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It is a cool climate tree that prefers cold winters and moist soils in zones 2-6. It thrives in moist, cool, acidic soils of swamps, bogs, and rocky outcrops. We don’t recommend it for hot, humid climates or southern gardens warmer than zone 6. This wild native has been cultivated as an ornamental since 1811 and is commonly used in home landscapes and parks. Mountain ash trees are sometimes nicknamed “witchwood.” In 18th-century Europe, many believed European mountain ash trees could cast away witches and guard your home from evil. Some people would burn the twigs outside their houses or make necklaces of the ash wood to protect themselves. When colonizers came to America and discovered this tree covering the northern landscape, they believed they were heavily protected. The five-pointed star on the berry stalks represented good luck. Old folklore aside, modern plantings of mountain ash are mostly good luck for native bees and birds. The showy white spring blossoms are magnets for bees, and the vibrant red summer berries draw in birds near and far. This wildlife-friendly tree is beautiful, functional, and important for local ecosystems. Mountain ash trees can be propagated by seeds (gathered from the berries), cutting, or bare root and container trees from a nursery.

Thuja ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae

Are you shopping for arborvitae but aren't sure which variety to choose? The ‘Green Giant’ has a lot to offer gardeners. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago details everything you need to know about planting, growing, and caring for ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae. Arborvitae are evergreen shrubs that are popular for hedging. You can find a handful of arborvitae varieties at your local garden center, but if you are looking for a very large and dependable variety, ‘Green Giant’ is a great choice. These shrubs are easy to grow, but if you are looking for a few tips on how to get your shrubs started off on the right foot you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will help you decide if this is the right shrub for your yard and help you learn how to care for it. Let’s dig in! The ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae is a lovely evergreen shrub that soars to high heights. Often used for a privacy screen, this arborvitae has many uses within our gardens. It is low maintenance and quick growing. Lush deep green foliage will grow into a pyramidal shape. This shrub does not lose its shape easily and makes for perfect hedges, privacy screens, or specimen plants. This popular hedging plant is a hybrid between the Western Red Cedar and Japanese Arborvitae. Therefore, this variety is not technically native to any region. However, it is very adaptable to a variety of climates. ‘Green Giant’ is an evergreen conifer. Each branch is tightly packed with scale-like leaves, giving this shrub a full and lush appearance. It will reach towering heights of 60 feet and grow up to 18 feet wide. This shrub naturally grows into an elegant pyramidal shape that is easy to tend to and does not require pruning to maintain. ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae are typically found at garden centers in plastic nursery pots or balled and burlapped. Either way, the planting method is the same!

Oak Trees

Are you looking for a majestic shade tree for your landscape? Look no further! There is an oak tree for just about any environment, as long as you have the space for a large and beautiful tree. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will introduce the mighty oak and offer an overview of how to grow these fabulous trees. Oak trees belong to the genus Quercus and are members of the Beech (Fagaceae) family. There are more than 500 species of oak trees globally. Approximately 90 of these species are native to North America. Oak trees come in a variety of sizes. Some can grow up to 80 feet tall and equally as wide, while the smallest species may grow no more than 10 feet tall. Most are deciduous in temperate climates, but some species in warmer climates are evergreen. Regardless of their appearance and where they grow, these trees are an important part of the natural ecosystem. They provide abundant shade, excellent habitat for wildlife, and are useful trees for lumber. Oaks are easy to grow and make excellent landscaping trees. And if you ever thought that an oak tree was “just a tree,” it’s time to reconsider. They are critical keystone species, and with so many species to choose from, you are sure to find one that’s ideal for your specific site and can grow well in your climate and soil type. If you are planting an oak in your yard, you aren’t just planting a tree. You are growing something beautiful and useful to you and to the wildlife inhabiting your neighborhood. Now, let’s dig into the basics of how to plant, grow, and care for these trees. Oak trees inhabit many different forest ecosystems. They are an important component of many hardwood forests and mixed hardwood forests. Some oaks thrive in warm climates, while others live in cooler northern and mountaintop climates. Oaks have also been well used in urban settings, such as parks, along roadways, and as landscaping trees. These long-lived trees are known to live for over 1,000 years! Oaks have long been incorporated into home and industrial purposes. They are commonly used for lumber, furniture, flooring, and many other useful and decorative items. Native Americans used the acorns as a food source, and some people today prepare and eat acorns. Take note that the acorns have a high tannin content, so they must be properly soaked before they can be eaten. Oak trees have been classified into two major categories – red oaks and white oaks. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two classes. The red oaks have leaves with pointed ends and pointed lobes. Common examples of red types include pin oaks, black oaks, and scarlet oaks. The white oaks have rounded edges and rounded lobes. Common examples of white types include white oaks, bur oaks, and post oaks. Oak trees are extremely diverse and come in many shapes and sizes. Some are short and shrubby, while others grow to be extremely large and majestic. And, of course, there is every size in between. Oak trees have single, simple, alternate leaves. There is a wide variety of leaf shapes, from simple, thin ovals to deeply lobed or toothed varieties. In the fall, many oaks display beautiful fall foliage in shades of yellow and orange or red and bronze, while others simply turn from green to brown without any notable color. Most oak trees are deciduous, but some are evergreen. Many species keep their leaves well into the fall, even after other deciduous trees have lost their leaves. A few are broadleaf evergreens in more southern climates and retain their green leaves through the winter. Oak tree bark is typically brownish-gray and furrowed. Oak trees bloom in the spring and have separate male and female flowers. The male flowers develop as elongated catkins, while the female flowers are tiny and quite inconspicuous, developing at the tips of budding twigs. Both male and female flowers appear at the same time and are wind-pollinated. Fertilized female flowers give way to the distinctive capped acorn, which contains the seed. Growing an oak tree from seed is easy and reliable. Acorns can be gathered from any mature tree and are free and convenient.

Eucalyptus

The silvery-leafed eucalyptus is one of the most-loved foliage choices for florist arrangements. Bouquets often skip the blooms and just go for eucalyptus as a bold, wonderful-smelling statement. While most of us don’t have the space for full-sized eucalyptus trees, you can still grow this beautiful plant. Let's explore the mighty world of eucalyptus and how to get one in your home or landscape. Travel just a little bit of Australia, and you will see just how many varieties of the iconic Eucalyptus trees there are. They have names that show off their features, like the ghost gum with its pure white bark, the squiggly gum, with patterns covering the bark like a child passed by with a crayon, or the rainbow gum, with its stripy bark in all the colors of the Australian landscape. These giant trees are also the main habitat for Australian wildlife and the only diet of the koala. The leaves of eucalyptus are extremely toxic to most animals, but koalas can eat up to 2 pounds when they are not sleeping for 18 hours a day. Funnily, they are picky eaters, choosing only 50 types of the 800 eucalyptus varieties available to them. Because of bushfires and human intervention, koalas are losing their habitat rapidly. Eucalyptus in Australia even has its own national day. March 23rd is National Eucalyptus Day, to raise awareness of the importance of these trees in Australian culture. In the US, eucalyptus varieties are prized for floral arranging, offering crisp scents and beautiful gray-blue shades that offer a perfect foil for colorful flowers. This article will give you an outline of how to grow eucalyptus at home, with some fascinating characteristics and features along the way. The more than 800 varieties of Eucalyptus belong to the Myrtle family. These can vary in size from small shrubs of a few feet. Medium trees can grow to 33 feet in height, and giant trees may reach more than 300 feet. The majority of the varieties of eucalypt in Australia grow in massive native forests, with others cultivated for gardens and as indoor plants. A few others grow in Malaysia and the Philippines. In many other countries, it is an introduced species – particularly the blue gum tree Eucalyptus globulus – for its ability to grow fast and produce excellent wood as a timber crop. One of the downfalls of using gum trees as a crop is the staggering amount of water they need each day. One tree can use up to 200 gallons of water a day. They also produce compounds called allelopathic chemicals, much like black walnut trees, that leach into the soil and inhibit the growth of any other plants nearby. You will often see monocultures of eucalypts because of this factor. It’s not surprising, then, that many countries have declared them alien invasive plants. The bark of eucalyptus trees varies greatly between varieties. Some are smooth, Some rough, some mottled, some stripy in many variations of color. The bark peels back each season to reveal what’s underneath. These look like the squiggles of a moth making its way up the trunk, turning to a lighter green, bright yellow, or orange tinge that transforms its look. This peeling bark is one of the characteristics of the species. Some bark will peel back in long strands, giving it an iconic look. The leaves are the main source of essential oil and emit the famous fragrance when you crush them. The leaves of younger trees are round with no stalks. They mostly range from blue-green to blue-grey to silver in color. Before planting any eucalyptus tree in the garden, consider the following: Some varieties have been declared invasive in states like California and Hawaii, with other states doing investigations into the species. In other parts of the world, they are also a problem plant and, in some countries, they have been banned. Their allelopathic tendencies may be harmful to plants in the vicinity of the tree, which may leave some bare, unproductive patches in your garden. Most varieties grow big, so you will need enough space for them to grow. Finally, certain varieties use up a lot of water and nutrients from the soil. If you are willing to look past all that, let’s look at how to grow them outdoors. Alternatively, skip to the part where you can grow them in containers indoors.

Corkscrew (Curly) Willow

Are you curious about the twisty, gnarled branches of the corkscrew willow? You can easily grow one in your own backyard, especially as part of a rain garden or at the edge of a pond or other wetland area. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will discuss the proper care and maintenance of these beautiful and fascinating plants. Corkscrew willow, also known as curly willow (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’), is a member of the willow family (Salicaceae) and is native to Asia. It is available as a landscaping tree and is most appreciated for its fast growth rate and interesting twisting branch patterns. As its name implies, this willow has branches that twist and turn as they grow. Unlike the familiar weeping willow, a large tree with long, gracefully downward-curved branches that sway in the breeze, the corkscrew willow is a smaller tree with an upright form and irregularly shaped, gnarled branches. In the fall, when these trees have lost their leaves for the season, they add wonderful winter interest to any landscape! You can use it as an unusual landscaping tree or grow it along an edge or wetland border. These trees are easy to grow but do have some limitations and won’t be the best option for every landscaping project. If you’re looking for a moisture-loving, small tree that is uniquely different, however, the corkscrew willow would make a great choice. Now, let’s dig into some more details about the corkscrew willow, how you can use it in your landscape, and how best to help your tree thrive! The parent species, Salix matsudana, is native to China, Japan, and Korea, where it commonly grows in moist habitats near ponds and streams. The cultivar ‘Tortuosa’ was developed and introduced as a landscaping plant. Similar cultivars have the same growing conditions but different colored branches and somewhat variable growth habits. These trees have value for landscaping and wildlife habitat, and the attractive twisted branches can even be used for dried flower arrangements and craft projects. These are fast-growing, deciduous trees. They can grow between 20 and 40 feet tall and between 15 and 25 feet wide. The trunk and main branches have a generally upright form with a rounded crown. The most unique characteristic is the branches and stems, which give rise to its other common name, curly willow. Younger trees may appear more smooth and straight, while older trees tend to develop a gnarled or twisted trunk. The main branches and stems do not grow straight but rather in an uneven, twisted, wavy pattern. The smaller branches and stems, while also twisted and curled, grow closely together to create a dense, rounded crown, and the summer foliage somewhat conceals the curly branches. The leaves are alternate and three to six inches long. The narrow, simple, lancelike leaves come to a long, tapered point. Like the branches and stems, the leaves also tend to be slightly curled or wavy rather than purely flat and straight in profile. The bare trees in the winter months are quite interesting to look at with their masses of wavy, upright branches. These trees provide exceptional winter appeal with their unusual branch forms, and for this reason, no two trees will be alike. The bark is light gray, and younger stems may vary from light gray to a slightly orange hue. In the spring, these trees bloom with branches full of long yellowish catkins that hang straight down in small clusters at the end of young branch tips. The foliage turns from bright green to a showy yellow in fall, emphasizing the year-round beauty of this tree. The easiest way to acquire a new corkscrew willow will be to purchase one. But if you already have one, the easiest way to propagate it is by taking a hardwood cutting. While you can grow a willow tree from seed, hybrids and cultivars won’t grow true to the parent tree.

Which Berries Can I Grow in the Pacific Northwest?

We are fortunate that so many small fruits and berries thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Here are some of the many that do well in our climate. Blueberries Lingonberries Cranberries Strawberries Raspberries Blackberries Boysenberries Loganberries Tayberries Marionberries Grapes Currants Gooseberries Sea Berries Goji Berries Things to Think About Before Planting Berries Soil Think about what kind of soil you have. Does it hold moisture? Does it drain well? What is the pH? Knowing these details can help you know how to amend your soil to best suit the plants you choose to grow. For example, did you know blueberries prefer acidic soil? If your pH tends toward alkaline and you would like to grow blueberries, you can add elemental sulfur or acidifying fertilizer to help acidify the soil. If your soil has a lot of clay or is very compacted, add a high-quality compost like G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner, which helps aerate the soil and helps it retain moisture. Light How much light does the area you want to plant in receive? Most fruits and berries need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily - what we call a full sun situation - to thrive and produce harvests. Available Space Think about how much space you have. This will help you decide if you have room for multiple grapevines or if a compact, container-friendly blueberry variety would better suit the space you have available. Fruit Purpose Knowing why you’re growing small fruits and berries can help you choose the best varieties. Do you want to eat the berries fresh, have them for pies, or for canning? For example, If you will be freezing or canning in large batches, choose varieties that ripen all at once rather than little by little over a long period. Personal Time & Energy Planting and maintaining a fruit garden requires some personal time and energy. Consider how much time you can devote to your garden on a regular basis. If you can give a few plants an hour every week, that’s probably sufficient. If you can devote 4-6 hours a week to your entire garden, that’s pretty great!

Blueberries

There are many excellent blueberry varieties the PNW. Blueberries will provide more than delicious fruit; they offer outstanding ornamental value as well. In fall and winter, the leaves and the bark of young branches turn glowing shades of yellows and reds. All blueberries will bloom at approximately the same time but the fruit will ripen at different times from July through October depending on the variety. Think about whether you want blueberries that ripen all at once for freezing or canning, or if you prefer a longer harvest for fresh eating throughout the season. Typically, you’ll have the best fruit production with two blueberry plants. If you only have room for one, choose a self-fertile variety. However, we still recommend two plants if you have space because even the self-fertile can produce better yields with two plants. Growing Tips Choose a location that receives full sun and has well-drained, acidic soil high in organic matter (such as compost). Although blueberries like moisture, they don’t like to be sitting in soggy soil! Generally speaking, anticipate that you’ll likely need to water deeply 1-2 times per week. With any fruiting plant, avoid overhead watering and sprinkler systems; a drip or soaker hose is an excellent watering method. In the first year, pick off all the flowers so that the plant can focus its energy on developing a strong root system. This is hard to do but you’ll be rewarded with better crops in later years! In containers, try smaller, dwarf varieties that stall small and compact but still bear lots of fruit.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a fantastic crop for garden beds and containers. When choosing a type, consider how much room you have for your plants to spread and also if you would like them to ripen all at once or throughout a long season. Strawberries are self-fertile so only one variety is necessary. There are three classes of strawberries: June-Bearing (also called summerbearing) strawberries produce one large crop in June and have many vigorous runners. Ever-Bearing strawberries produce a smaller crop in June, then fruit again in late summer to frost. Day-Neutral strawberries fruit continuously throughout summer and fall and have very few runners. Growing Tips Choose a sunny site. Six hours of sun is a minimum and ten+ hours is best. Strawberries prefer moist, well-drained soil. Avoid overhead watering to help reduce fungal diseases. Harvest by cutting the stem rather than pulling the strawberries. Fertilize lightly in the spring and again after harvest for summer-bearing varieties. See more details on how to grow strawberries and how to build a Wooden strawberry planter.

Raspberries

When you choose your raspberry plants from our Nursery, don't be surprised to see plants that look too small to bear a bountiful harvest. Take our word that with the right environment and care, you'll have plenty of sweet treats. There are two types of raspberries to consider: everbearing will usually give you a crop mid-summer and in early fall, while summer-bearing varieties will give you one big harvest in late summer. Planting Raspberries Choose a location that receives full sun to part-sun and has well-draining soil. Consider your space and plant supports before putting your cane fruit in the ground. Raspberries benefit from having a support system. The traditional method of trellising cane fruit (raspberries, blackberries, etc.) is to create two rows of posts and tying up wires, although stakes and twine also work. Raspberries also have roots that travel and will sprout new canes. Be mindful of where you're planting; it's a great idea to give them their very own garden bed. If you can provide a raised bed, that's all the better. Raspberry Care Raspberry plants have relatively shallow root systems, so keeping a weed-free bed will minimize root competition. A layer of compost mulch helps a lot. As previously mentioned, suckers grow from travelling root systems. Keep an eye on canes that will pop up around your garden and prune them out if they're in inappropriate areas. As with most fruiting plants, take care not to allow your plants to dry out during the summer, especially as they're bearing fruit. For more information about growing and pruning, see our caning berries care sheet.

Grapes

Grapes are another fruit that we're fortunate to be able to grow well in the PNW. There are two types of grapes to consider: wine grapes and table grapes. Table grapes often produce better than wine grapes, so unless you're making wine, we recommend selecting a table grape variety. Planting Grapes Choose a location that has a lot of sun, heat, with lean, well-draining soil. Grapes can thrive in rocky soil and they don't need a lot of love and attention to produce well. Grapes love warmth; top dressing with gravel or planting next to an area with reflective sun are great ways to hold heat in. Grapes are self-fertile, and so you don't need more than one plant. One plant needs a lot of room to spread. If you'd like to have multiple grape plants, we recommend putting them at least 8 feet away from each other and training them in opposite directions on a trellis.