trees

Allspice Tree

The allspice tree produces both edible seeds used as spices, and leaves to add flavor to your dishes when fresh. Our guide shares more!The allspice tree is a lovely tree on its own and provides dried berries that make everyone’s favorite fall flavor: allspice. The tree is the only spice crop grown exclusively in the western hemisphere, and provided you have the right conditions you can grow it at home too! Allspice originates in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In these tropical areas, growers cultivate regional allspice trees that have distinct flavors. Each region has specific culinary uses for dried berries, and the result is an aromatic cuisine that is unforgettable. So what do allspice trees need to thrive? And how can home growers outside its tropical range help their trees produce berries and harvest them? Keep reading, and we’ll cover all these things, and more… like where the name allspice comes from.The allspice tree (Pimenta dioica) is commonly referred to as Jamaican pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, pimento, pimenta gorda, Jamaican allspice, Mexican allspice, and Guatemalan allspice. It was first cultivated by Maya and Aztec people in Central America, circa 2600 BC and 1250 AD, respectively. The name allspice came about because the flavor of the dried berries is similar to cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There is only one species of allspice in the world. Pimenta dioica is a tropical, ornamental, evergreen shrub in the myrtle family that grows up to 59 feet tall. The tree’s bark is white-grey and peels in sheets like that of birch trees. The root system is deep and spreads wide. Allspice leaves are dark green, oblong, and leathery, and they are high in aromatic content. In mid-summer, the trees grow small white flowers on pyramidal stems that produce pea-sized green berries. Allspice trees are either male or female, and growers should encourage cross-pollination to produce berries. These clustered berries are removed when they’re still green for access to the delicious allspice flavor. They are then sun-dried on concrete until they are dark red and ground into allspice. It takes roughly 3 to 5 months for berries to form after the trees are pollinated. Allspice trees are native to Central America and the West Indies, specifically Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, and Leeward Isle. Allspice was historically used to preserve meats in the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica. It’s cultivated as a key ingredient in jerk seasoning, barbecues, curries, and stews. The spice is also popular in German and British cooking. It’s combined with nutmeg to make pumpkin pie spice in the US. The allspice tree leaves are used with smoked meats to provide a woodier, less intense flavor and aroma. The leaves lose flavor within a couple of days. Therefore they must be harvested and used right away. Cooking with allspice and a combination of other dried spices can fill your kitchen with a pungent aroma that you’ll seek out often.

Coast Redwood Trees

If you want to grow a majestic Coastal Redwood in your landscape, join gardening expert Logan Hailey as she describes how to plant and care for the world's tallest tree! Do you want to grow the tallest tree in the world? If you live between Central California and Southwestern Oregon, you can grow the iconic Coast Redwood tree in its native zone. Also known as California Redwood, these tremendously tall trees grow wild exclusively along the southern parts of the Pacific Northwest Coast. They rarely thrive more than 50 miles inland. However, the stately conifers can be cultivated in many locations around the world with some extra maintenance and modifications. For example, California’s Coast Redwoods have successfully grown on plantations in New Zealand since the early 1900s. Even Hawaii has redwood forests on both Maui and Kauai, but the trees only grow successfully above 6,000 feet in this tropical zone. In colder and drier regions, the redwood cousin, Giant Sequoia—native to the Sierra Nevada Mountains—is a reliable option for a home landscape. This species can also be grown on the East Coast, but they tend to be much shorter. Let’s dig in how to plant and care for your very own Coast Redwood. This tree easily out-lives your great grandchildren and acts like a living legacy of your love for gardening! Crowned the tallest tree in the world, Coast Redwoods are a breathtaking sight to behold. People from all over the globe trek to Northern California to experience the last of wild old-growth redwood forests. These one-of-a-kind conifers grow up to 300 feet tall and can live to be 3,000 years old or more. Only about 5% of the original redwoods remain in the world, but you can play a role in keeping this ancient species alive by planting it in your landscape. Fortunately, this tree doesn’t only grow in its native range. Sequoia sempervirens can be cultivated as a landscape tree in many other places. With proper moisture, temperature, and soil, the seedlings grow into magnificent ornamental specimens in a variety of climates. The species is also one of the fastest-growing trees, averaging a whopping 3 to 10 feet per year! Coast Redwood, or California Redwood, is botanically known as Sequoia sempervirens. It is the tallest tree in the world, reaching up to 300 feet tall. One of the fastest-growing conifers, Coast Redwood is native to a limited range on the foggy Pacific Northwest coast, but it can be cultivated in other areas. These fire-resistant, tannin-rich, ultra-resilient trees have been around since the age of the dinosaurs. They have significant ecological value, and redwood forests even create their own weather patterns! Sequoia sempervirens, or the Coast Redwood, is the tallest recorded tree on the planet, reaching heights up to 300 feet. For comparison, the tallest pine tree is about 260 feet, and the tallest tanoak is 160 feet. A redwood relative, the Giant Sequoia or Sequoiadendron giganteum is the largest tree in the world by volume, but they don’t grow quite as tall as Coast Redwoods. Both species can live to be thousands of years old. They are endemic to California and a small portion of Southern Oregon. It is perfectly legal to grow a redwood in your garden, but it is illegal to cut down, dig up, or propagate a wild protected tree. Instead, you must propagate redwoods from seeds or nursery stock. It is important to match the right species to your climate or make significant modifications to keep the tree alive outside of its native California range: Coast Redwoods are very picky about their environment, requiring lots of humid or foggy air, moist but well-drained soils, and mild temperatures between 30-70°F (-1 to 21°C). Dawn Redwoods, native to China, are more flexible and desirable for ornamental use. Giant Sequoias are ideal for dryer, colder regions, and low-elevation mountains. This coniferous (cone-bearing) tree can be propagated by seed, cutting, or sucker shoots. The seeds tend to have low germination rates, so vegetative propagation is the most common. You can also find varieties of Sequoia sempervirens seedlings at ornamental tree nurseries. If you want to get the largest tree possible in a short amount of time, purchase an established redwood from a tree nursery. Most propagation methods take one to three years to produce saplings large enough to plant in the ground. Growing from seed is a great way to enhance the genetic diversity of redwoods. However, it is not recommended for home gardeners who want a reliable sapling to grow as a shade tree. If you’re growing for ornamental purposes, it is much easier to start with cuttings or established saplings from a nursery. Seed propagation is usually reserved for redwood nerds who are invested in learning about the species. A mature redwood tree can produce up to 100,000 seeds per year, but only about 1 in every 12 seeds is viable. This means the germination rate is very low, and you must plant a lot of seeds to ensure success. To make matters more complicated, most of the seeds are released before the cones fall to the ground. So, if you collect cones from a wild redwood forest, they likely have already lost their seeds unless a squirrel or storm dropped the seed-filled cone to the ground prematurely. So how does one acquire viable seeds? You can purchase redwood tree seeds online or collect them from a mature forest after a major rainstorm. The best time to find redwood seeds is in November and December after a heavy rain. The wind of a storm gives you the best chance to find fallen cones that still have their seeds. Be sure you have permission to collect cones from the area! The U.S. Forest Service allows small quantities of green cones to be collected as long as they are below Incidental Use thresholds. The tiny seeds are about the size of a tomato seed. They must be cold stratified (refrigerated for 20-30 days) to mimic the cold exposure of a natural winter outdoors. It’s best to collect all the cones, place them in a bag or box, and shake them to release the seeds. Move the mix into a ziplock bag with a moist perlite or coco coir blend. The bag should be sealed and occasionally misted with water to ensure it doesn’t dry out. Growing redwoods from cuttings is faster and often more successful than growing from seed. The plants start with more growth than seedlings and take an average of two to three years to be ready to plant outdoors. However, cuttings are a form of vegetative (clonal) propagation that does not offer the genetic diversity of sexual (seed) propagation. Still, this method is most desirable for home gardeners and tree nurseries because you can guarantee you will have the same genetics as the mother redwood. Have you heard of redwood fairy rings? One of the most unique things about this tree is its ability to grow in family groups. The shallow, wide-spreading roots intertwine with the roots of other trees around them. When an old tree dies, the mother tree sends up sprouts from its roots to grow new saplings. These basal sprouts can be found along cut stumps, fallen logs, or expansive redwood root zones. The ability to sprout from the base is very rare in conifer trees. These “sucker shoots” or “stump shoots” are typically found growing in circles around the central stump, hence the nickname “fairy rings.” Scientists used to think that all the shoots in a fairy ring were genetically identical clones, but recent evidence shows that multiple genetics can be intermingled in the circle. Even after the parent tree dies, the young redwoods continue to grow in a circle to stabilize and nourish each other. The only reliable and legal way to propagate sucker shoots is from a mature suckering tree or a fairy ring on your own property or in a neighbor’s yard (with permission). It is illegal to dig up or cut any portion of a wild redwood tree because it is a protected species. The main benefit of propagating by sucker is extremely rapid growth, growing up to 8-10 feet in the first year thanks to nourishment from the parent roots. However, this only works if the sucker has a strong network of fine roots that can be dug up. Transplanting a Coast Redwood is similar to planting other types of trees. If you don’t live in the species’ native growing zone, it is important to amend the soil to ensure proper drainage. Generally, a tree needs at least two or three years of growth (from seed) to be ready to plant outdoors. But if you purchase an established potted tree or bare root specimen, you can plant it right away.

Jacaranda Trees

When it comes to tropical, flowering trees, few specimens hold a candle to the magical and beautiful jacaranda tree. If you’re planting one of these special trees, there are a few important factors to consider. Here, gardening expert Melissa Strauss will help you get off on the right foot with your beautiful tree. Jacaranda mimosifolia is a stunning landscape tree. It is best known for the abundance of bluish-purple flowers it produces in the spring. In warmer climates, it can bloom at any time of year, but spring is the most common bloom time. I remember the first time I laid eyes on one of these trees in bloom. They are simply magnificent and stunning. Not only do they have great ornamental value, they also make excellent shade trees. They grow quickly, and have a lovely umbrella-shaped canopy once mature. The jacaranda tree is in cultivation in most areas of the world with tropical and subtropical climates. There are a large quantity in Pretoria, South Africa. The sheer number of them has earned the city the nickname “Jacaranda City.” In the United States, they are very popular in California, Arizona, Florida, and Hawaii. J. mimosifolia is native to South America. Specifically, you can find it growing naturally in southern Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina. It grows in wooded ravines, bushlands, riverbanks, and grasslands. Much of the native population has been threatened by deforestation for agriculture and logging. This is a beautiful semi-evergreen or deciduous species that can reach heights of 25′-50′ tall at maturity. It grows very quickly, putting on three to four years of growth per year in its first few years. In its first year, a jacaranda is capable of growing up to ten feet tall. This is only under optimal conditions, though. When grown in tropical conditions, a jacaranda tree will be closer to its full 50 feet tall at maturity. In cooler, subtropical climates, the tree will be smaller. The canopy of a full-sized mature jacaranda can be as large as 30 feet wide. Once established, it is drought tolerant. The canopy is lush and rounded, making it an excellent shade tree. It can be single or multi-trunked, depending on pruning. It has a large, open canopy. The foliage is feathery and fernlike, and the leaves can grow to a foot long. The bark is thin, gray and smooth on young trees, developing fine scales as it ages. In early summer, large clusters of flowers form all over the canopy. The blooms are trumpet-like and the most stunning shade of purple. The flowers persist for up to two months. A mature tree is a breathtaking sight during the summer months. As a landscape element, this tree gets major points for its ornamental value. It has a lush, tropical appearance, and makes a nice shade specimen. The wood is smooth, pale, and hard. It is often used in carpentry, and for making carvings and handles for tools. In tropical climates where the tree is common, you’re likely to see it at local nurseries and landscape supply stores. You might find it near another type that it resembles, the Royal Poinciana. The two are similar and need similar care. Small, young trees are available at several online retailers. This is a large tree, and that needs consideration when choosing a location. It has roots that grow close to the surface, so plant it away from sidewalks and other concrete slabs to avoid disruption. Choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sun daily. Plant in spring or fall so that it has time to establish while the weather is mild. Water your tree well a few hours ahead of planting to minimize stress. Dig a hole that is as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. No need to dig down deeper as long as the soil is loose. Transfer the jacaranda into the hole, position it as you prefer, and backfill with native soil. Mulch over to hold in moisture and protect the shallow roots, keeping the mulch away a few inches from the trunk. For the first month, water two to three times per week. If the leaves look wilted, water. After the first month, you can ease off of watering gradually. As long as you don’t see the leaves wilting, it should be fine with watering once per week for the duration of its first year.

Willow Trees

Willow trees have a graceful, almost magical look to them. They are well suited to moist locations near ponds and wetland borders. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen introduces the diverse world of willows and how to best grow these trees in your landscape. Willows are a group of trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that includes over 350 species worldwide. While some willows blend into their surroundings without standing out or being noticed, other varieties are highly ornamental and useful in the landscape. The weeping willow is probably the most easily recognized, known for its long, graceful branches. As a general rule, willows are fast-growing trees that love wet areas. They aren’t suitable for all landscapes, but if you live near a pond, lake, stream, wetland, or occasionally flooded area, a willow could be an ideal tree. Willows thrive in these wetter areas where other tree species struggle. A few willow species are more tolerant of occasionally dry soils, but all willows appreciate constant moisture. If you decide to use a willow tree for your property, consider it more than just a tree. Look for a willow with an appealing structure. These trees often appear very elegant during the growing season when they are leafy and green. In the winter, the bare branches have their own unique appeal. Many willows have fascinating forms that you can appreciate all year round. If you have a plot of land with plenty of space and moist soil, let’s dig right in and look at the details of how and where to grow a willow tree. There are around 350 species of willows worldwide. Willows are found in many temperate regions around the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. Many of the more ornamental willows, such as the weeping willow and pussy willows, originated in Europe and Asia. These trees have been widely cultivated for landscaping, erosion control, and the floral industry. Willows typically grow in moist to wet soils. They thrive along the edges of ponds, lakes, streams, and wetlands and are very tolerant of occasional flooding and saturated soils. They are fast-growing but often short-lived. Many species of willow spread to form small colonies along waterways, creating a natural floodplain erosion control. All willows are deciduous shrubs or trees. Smaller varieties, such as the pussy willow, can be pruned into a bush-like form, while larger varieties, such as the weeping willow, grow to be impressive, thick-trunked trees. The weeping varieties are highly ornamental, with long, gracefully drooping branches that cascade downwards, overlapping each other like elegant fringes. Most willow varieties have an upright growth form with a rounded or vase-like crown. These trees and shrubs tend to have similar leaf shapes. Many long, thin, lance-like leaves line the thinner woody stems, giving them a densely green overall appearance. Willows tend to leaf out early in the spring and hold their leaves until late fall. In the autumn, willow leaves typically turn from green to yellow before dropping for the winter months. Willows bloom in the spring. Most species are dioecious, having separate male and female flowers on different plants. Both trees have showy catkins, often with a white, fuzzy appearance. Male and female flowers bloom at the same time, both attracting pollinators, which then help these plants cross-pollinate. The female plants then produce seed pods, sometimes releasing the seeds with tufts of white fluff to help them disperse in the wind. These trees are remarkably easy to propagate. Willow seeds are ready to germinate as soon as they mature, and willow cuttings readily take root with minimal effort.

Durian Vs Jackfruit: What’s The Difference?

They're both big fruits with spiky rinds, but when comparing durian vs jackfruit, how do you distinguish them? We break them down for you! Durian trees and jackfruit trees may be very different, but there’s often a lot of confusion about the fruit they bear. You’ll find them both in Asian markets. They’re both tropical fruits. But the distinct differences in the durian vs jackfruit debate are pretty pronounced. Both jackfruit and durian originate in Asia. Both jackfruit and durian fruit are highly sought after worldwide, and they thrive in similar climates. Some of you reading this now may be well aware of the difference, for instance, in the scent given by either fruit. But to someone who is just now seeing them side-by-side, they may be confused as to what is what. Yes, the fruits look similar, but there are plenty of other differences between them as well. Beyond botanical differences, the durian fruit has a much different place in culinary delights than that of jackfruit. Let’s cover what these fruits are, and how they diverge. That way you can decide which one you want to grow or use in your kitchen. What is Durian? The durian tree is a tropical tree that can reach up to 165 feet tall. The evergreen tree produces sharp, bumpy fruit that some people love and some people hate. In certain parts of the world, the fruit of the durian tree is banned in markets and public transportation due to its overpowering pungent smell. It’s eaten raw, pureed, or cooked into various dishes. The edible pulp of the durian tree has a pungent taste just like the durian smell. The average durian size is 2 to 7 pounds in weight. This may be one clue to the differences between jackfruit and durian. The name ‘durian’ comes from the Malay word for thorn. What is Jackfruit? The jackfruit tree also grows a tropical fruit that is known and loved across the world. The jackfruit tree itself grows up to 66 feet tall and remains green all year round. Jackfruits also have a thorny rind, and ripe jackfruit can emit latex that is difficult to wash off hands and clothing. Ripe jackfruit is used in tropical fruit salads. Raw jackfruit is also cooked and used as a meat substitute. Jack fruit is the largest fruit in the world, weighing an average of up to 55 pounds per fruit. People sometimes say the fruit inside the rind smells like the yellow gum, Juicy Fruit, a bubble gum that is well-known in North America. What’s the Difference? Durian Vs Jackfruit: How can you tell these apart? While we’ve touched on some of the differences in the jackfruit versus durian debate, let’s examine those divergences more closely. That way we can settle the remaining questions that arise when we think about jackfruit vs durian. Botanical Structure The jackfruit tree trunk has a diameter of 12 to 31 inches. The thick, glossy leaves are about 6 to 8 inches long, and the tree grows up to 66 feet tall. The durian tree, as we’ve discussed in the last section, grows up to 165 feet tall. The trunk diameter is roughly 60 inches. The leaves are also glossy and dark green, but they look more like coffee leaves than that of the jackfruit tree. In addition, while the jackfruit tree contains latex in all parts of the tree, the durian does not. The overall natural tree shape is different too. While jackfruit has a semi-circular structure, durian tends toward a more pyramidic shape. Another contrasting element in our discussion of jackfruit vs durian lies in the botanical structure of each tree’s flowers. Jackfruit flowers are yellow to peach in color, while durian flowers are white to red. They pollinate differently (which we will discuss a bit later), and have divergent botanical formations. The flowers of jackfruit versus durian don’t just reveal color variations. The durian flower nods, with petals that droop downward, whereas the jackfruit flower has fleshy, upright petals that grow directly from the trunk of the tree. Fruit structure is probably the most divergent aspect in the deliberation of jackfruit vs durian. While both have bumpy skin and require that gardeners wear gloves to handle them, one notable difference is their size. Jackfruit is the largest fruit in the world, averaging out at 55 pounds per fruit, whereas durian fruit doesn’t usually get bigger than 7 pounds each. As we mentioned before, jackfruit contains latex, and durian does not. The unripe durian tastes rich and bittersweet. Jackfruit pulp tastes like a cross between a banana, mango, and pineapple. The jackfruit smell is musky and fruity, while durian fruit is known for its intense odor. Some say durian smells like sweet cheese, while others say it’s more like rotting onions. Growth Habits The two fruits have differences in terms of their origins and the ecosystems they exist in. Both prefer a tropical environment. But whereas jackfruit enjoys humid lowlands in Southern India, durian prefers the rainforests of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Durian needs rich soil, and jackfruit can do without as long as the ground is loamy and well-draining. Jackfruit is also part of the mulberry family, and durian is part of the mallow family. Jackfruit prefers hotter environments than durian fruit. Compare durian’s ideal temperature of 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit with jackfruit’s high heat tolerance, up to 120 degrees. Jackfruit trees live to be 100 years old while durian trees live for twice that amount – sometimes multiple centuries. The flowers cluster together and produce fruit on branches, while those of jackfruit grow in clusters directly on the trunk. Durian fruits contain a single inch-long oval seed that is viable for only a few days after the fruit is harvested. Jackfruit seeds are much more plentiful and can be grown up to a month after the jackfruit meat is harvested. Jackfruit has large seeds that are shaped much like sunflower seeds. It’s important to plant durian seeds as soon as possible. With jackfruit, you can take more time. The flowers on a durian plant are either male or female, and require cross-pollination for the development of edible fruit. Jackfruit doesn’t require cross-pollination because the trees bloom both male and female flowers. Up to this point, it looks like growing jackfruit is a tad easier than growing durian fruits. It takes roughly 3 to 4 years for jackfruit to produce fruits. Durian trees can take up to ten years to develop edible fruits. Jackfruit and durian have different seasonal timings as well. Durian produces one crop per year, and jackfruit produces 2 crops over an entire season. Agriculture Typical large-scale growing operations differ, which is why we’re covering them in this discussion of jackfruit vs durian. While jackfruit is not grown commercially as widely in Malaysia, where its most popular, durian is. Jackfruit is often grown along roadsides in India. Durian fruits are produced on small hectare-sized farms where they’re grown with trees that produce other fruits. Jackfruit and durian are both primarily produced in India, but don’t let this similarity fool you. Jackfruit is a much more profitable crop than durian, mostly due to the variety of culinary uses for jackfruit. Commercial Uses We mentioned earlier that durian is banned from some markets due to its overpowering scent. Jackfruit doesn’t have the same problem, because its smell isn’t offensive in and of itself. Jackfruit and durian can be found in the same markets, though for different reasons. Aside from the edible portion of the fruits, there are other ways the plant is used. Jackfruit wood is used to make furniture and musical instruments, such as the udaki, which is a drum made from jackfruit wood and goatskin. Durian plants don’t have the same utilization as jackfruit plants do. Another big commercial difference in durian vs jackfruit is the use of jackfruit as a meat substitute. The unripe jackfruit has a stringy texture that simulates pulled pork, thus it’s an excellent substitute for meats in that format. Durian, with its rotten onion smell and taste, doesn’t have the diversity that jackfruit does in the meat substitute department. Thailand and Malaysia produce 90% of the world’s durian fruits. India produces the most jackfruit. As a result, jackfruit and durian have different commercial values when it comes to which nations produce them. Nutrition The edible flesh of the jackfruit is a healthy snack! And the nutritional value of durian is high as well. Durian nutrition varies from jackfruit in that it contains more B vitamins, making it an energy-dense fruit. Jackfruit nutrition involves higher counts of Vitamin A, E, B5, and B6. Durian is also much higher in dietary fiber and Vitamin C than jackfruit is, which means it is a more nutrient-rich fruit. Compared to jackfruit’s 46% Vitamin C content, durian’s 66% content makes it a better source overall. Both have multiple and differing health benefits. Durian is great for treating high blood pressure because it’s lower in saturated fat. It’s also lower on the glycemic index, making it safer for people with diabetes. Medicinally, the two fruits are used in different ways. Durian is used in combatting obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and may improve issues with digestion, insomnia, high blood pressure, and depression and anxiety. Jackfruit has different applications at different times. When the jackfruit is unripe, its carotenoid levels are lower. But when the jackfruit turns yellow and becomes ripened jackfruit, it’s a great source of antioxidants, which fight cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Culinary Uses If you want to know about the differences of any fruit, their culinary uses will clue you in most of all. Not only is the jackfruit taste more of a sweet taste than durian, but it’s also more versatile. People eat jackfruit in sweet and salty dishes. Green jackfruit is more commonly used in soups, salads, and as a meat substitute. Ripe jackfruit tastes sweet and goes well in fruit salads or the pulp is blended into ice cream. Possibly my favorite use of jackfruit involved taking the soft mushy fruit inside the fruit pods and mixing it with cream and other tropical fruits. Delectable! When it comes to durian, taste is more nuanced and complex than even the best-tasting jackfruit. While the unique flavor of durian is used in sweet dishes, it has an undertone that is a bit salty. Some say it tastes like scrambled eggs, but the pulp inside the thorny casing has so many uses. People throw durian in sticky rice dishes or blend it into ice cream. Unripe durians are odorless and tasteless and are sometimes made into chips and breads. They’re often eaten fresh and ripe too.

‘Bacon’ Avocado Trees

‘Bacon’ avocados are mild and creamy, with excellent cold tolerance. This large avocado tree is a wonderful addition to the cooler climate landscape. Read on as gardening expert Melissa Strauss discusses how to care for this tasty tree. In recent years, avocado toast has taken the world by storm. From coast to coast, American restaurants have caught the avocado craze, and I don’t mind one bit! Amazing avocados are a powerhouse of nutrition. They are an excellent source of healthy fats and are chock full of an incredible number of nutrients. Avocados are not a new discovery, though, and in fact, they have been in cultivation for thousands of years. Central Americans have been enjoying the benefits of this fruit for a very long time. ‘Bacon’ is a hybrid variety that originated on the Buena Park ranch of James E. Bacon. It took about 20 years for Mr. Bacon to get around to registering the tree, but by the 1950s, it had gained popularity along the West Coast. Its excellent cold tolerance made it especially popular among gardeners in cooler climates. Its popularity continued to grow throughout the 1960s. Cold tolerance, in combination with overall attractiveness, were factors in its rise. Unfortunately, with the rise of the thick-skinned and richly flavored Hass, the 1980s saw a severe descent for ‘Bacon.’ In recent years, however, this variety has seen a resurgence. Many farmers and gardeners plant ‘Bacon’ specifically as a pollenizer for the ‘Hass’ avocado. Many home gardeners plant them for the same reason. They are tall, upright trees with attractive foliage and make nice ornamentals in addition to bearing a great quantity of fruit. This hybrid that hails from Buena Vista, California. However, its ancestry has roots in two different species of avocados that are native to Mexico. Avocados go back about 10,000 years, and their initial cultivation was in Tehuacan, Mexico, a Puebla state. ‘Bacon’ avocado has a tall, upright growth habit. It typically reaches about 20 feet tall but has been known to grow taller. It is a type B avocado, meaning that it requires another plant for pollination. A type B avocado has flowers that open as female on the first day and male the second. This trait encourages cross-pollination. This is an attractive avocado tree with deep green, glossy foliage. It often grows in a pyramidal shape, which is unusual for this genus. In terms of fruit, this variety produces a great number of large fruits. They are a thin-skinned type, and the skin does not peel away as easily as a Hass or other thick-skinned variety. The skin is bright green with yellow dots, and it does not darken as it ripens. ‘Bacon’ avocados have large seeds and pale greenish-yellow flesh. The creamy, buttery flesh is the main attraction for this avocado. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Avocados are not difficult to propagate. You can propagate them by seeds, cuttings, layering, and grafting.

Gingko Trees

Gingko trees are geological relics that bring history and beauty to our landscapes. Join gardening expert Logan Hailey as she shares how to grow and care for gingko trees. Considered living fossils, ginkgo trees are among the last of their kind. These stunning 25 to 80-foot-tall trees have uniquely fan-shaped leaves that turn vibrant golden-yellow in the autumn. As the last surviving members of the ancient Ginkgoacaeae plant family, these tremendous trees are geological relics that make enchanting landscape specimens for fall color. Although they are native to China, these trees grow well in most parts of the United States, from USDA zones 3 through 9. Ginkgos are known for their memory-enhancing herbal qualities, but the seeds of female trees can also be quite stinky if left on the ground. Fortunately, seedless all-male cultivars are now available to avoid the smelly cleanup. Let’s dig into everything you need to know about planting and growing this living fossil in your yard! Native to China, ginkgo trees have been admired for hundreds of thousands of years in gardens, ornamental landscapes, and urban parks. The oldest known ginkgo tree in North America is located in South Philly’s Bartram’s Garden, allegedly planted in the 1700s. But the oldest ginkgo in the world is over 3,000 years old and grows outside a Buddhist temple in Xi’an City, China. The long-lived trees show no signs of slowing down, and many speculate that they get more vibrant and healthy as they age. In the fall, the ground beneath each tree is shockingly blanketed with golden-yellow leaves that shine through even the foggiest days. If you plant one in your yard, you can enjoy an equally stunning show that will reliably return every year for generations to come. Ginkgo biloba is among the oldest living tree species. The deciduous tree is the last remaining species of the ancient Ginkgoacaeae family. Sometimes called maidenhair trees, the distinctive fan-shaped leaves turn extraordinarily bright yellow in the fall. The massive trees grow up to 80 feet tall and can live for thousands of years, earning them the title of “living fossils.” Gingko is notable for its medicinal qualities for the brain and memory. The tree’s extracts have been used as an herbal medicine for many centuries, and modern science has proven the neurological benefits for memory enhancement, as well as prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Intriguingly, this ancient tree is quite tolerant of drought and urban pollution, making it a popular landscaping tree for city streets, parks, and buildings. It is virtually pest-and-disease-free and tolerates cold weather. The trees can be planted as large single-specimen shade trees or at a closer spacing for a privacy hedge. The pyramidal shape and few branches make for a striking focal point, and the fan-shaped leaves turn from pretty green to striking gold every fall. Gingkos are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female trees. The male trees are preferred for cultivation because the female trees can be stinky. Female trees produce yellow cherry-like “fruits” that dangle in pairs. The fleshy fruit-like structure is actually a seed that resembles a plum seed or a nut. These nuts are traditionally used in soups and medicines. Gingko “fruits” are not technically fruits, but rather fleshy seed ovaries. They are notoriously stinky when they fall to the ground. A gorgeous row of ginkgos grew on my college campus and regularly shed their “fruits” on the ground every fall. The orangish-tan fleshy seeds were so pretty, yet they smelled like vomit as they rotted on the concrete. It is a smell you will never forget! Horticulturalists have struggled to properly sex-identify the trees when they’re young, but by propagating with cuttings or using the male-only cultivars that we will discuss below, you can ensure a sleek, stink-free landscape. The trees naturally grow straight up with a pyramidal structure averaging 40 to 80 feet tall but often exceeding 100 feet at maturity. Dwarf varieties are also available. The bark is fissured and gray with a corky texture. As trees age, the bark becomes more deeply furrowed like an ancient wrinkled wise being. The interior wood is light-colored and soft and was once used for religious furniture. However, it is too soft to serve structural purposes, and nobody wants to cut down a living fossil! Gingko leaves are fan-shaped with irregular toothing along the widest edge. There is a distinctive notch that splits the leaves into two lobes, hence the name bi-loba, as in “two.” The leaves are cheery lime green and turn dull and grayish in the summer, then yellow and eventually gold in the autumn. They stay on the tree late into the season for long-lasting color, then rapidly fall at the same time, creating a pretty skirt of gold. The leaves are most commonly used in herbal extractions for memory-enhancing supplements and teas. These tremendous ancient species are native to China and grow throughout the world as ornamental and medicinal plants. Ginkgo biloba trees date back over 270 million years to the Permian Period when Earth’s crustal plates were still in the single continental formation of Pangea. About 70% of terrestrial plant and animal species on Earth went extinct during this era, but the majestic ginkgo survived. Ginkgo trees are widely cultivated but are listed as highly endangered in the wild. Planting one in your yard can help preserve an ancient species (though clearly, ginkgos don’t need much help from humans to survive through the ages). An interesting fact about ginkgos is that they are gymnosperms, which means “naked seed” in Latin. These trees are so old that they pre-date flowering plants! Most gymnosperms are coniferous, like redwoods, pines, and firs, but ginkgos are broadleaf gymnosperms. While their dangling “naked seeds” look similar to fruits, they are technically naked ovules or kernels with a fleshy covering. The trees don’t produce any flowers; instead, the pollen from a male tree reaches the open ovules of a female tree, and they fertilize each other. While you can propagate ginkgo from seed, it is more common to propagate by cutting so you can ensure you have a male tree that won’t drop any stinky seeds in your yard. Grafting is sometimes used to jumpstart a new tree.

Pluot Tree

The interspecific pluot tree is a hybrid of plums and apricots that produces juicy, delicious fruit.If you love the taste of plums and apricots, you may be thrilled to know there is such a thing as a pluot tree. Pluots are a hybrid of plums and apricot fruit trees that were developed by Floyd Zaiger, a renowned botanist. By crossing other hybrids and hand pollinating various fruit trees, Floyd brought the pluot into existence. Thanks to Floyd, you can practice gardening pluots in their gardens. Many people eagerly await pluot season to enjoy ‘Flavor King’, ‘Flavor Supreme’, ‘Flavor Queen’, or semi-dwarf ‘Dapple Dandy’ pluot. Most commonly, pluots are grown in areas that have distinct winters, but you will probably find the fruit of pluots in stores while they’re in season. If you want to have the incredible sweetness of pluots in the early summer, keep reading! Pluots are exceptional, but require the same care as a plum tree. If you have experience with different types of plum trees, you know you can tackle caring for pluot trees. Even with no experience, it’s possible to grow one to fruition. Pluots grow much like plums, on small trees that reach 16 to 36 feet tall and spread up to 10 feet wide without pruning. They are perennials with shallow roots.Pluots have oblong green leaves with a pointed tip, while some varieties have purple leaves. In the spring season, clusters of flower buds sprout from tree branches. Then, attractive pink to white four-petaled flowers bloom. In three to four months, trees set fruit in the fall season. Most pluots don’t produce until the third or fourth year of growth, so those who choose to grow them in their garden should know they are in for the long haul. Pluots do not self-pollinate, and most varieties need a second tree to produce fruit in late summer. Choose trees that have a pollination match for what you want to produce. For instance, a ‘Flavor Grenade’ pollinates with another ‘Flavor Grenade’. Alternately, grow a ‘Flavor Grenade’ with its direct ancestor, ‘Inca Plum’, because it is successful in cross-pollination with the “child” variety. ‘Santa Rosa’ plum plants cross-pollinate with certain pluots as well. With these, you’ll need to grow two trees at once or grow a multi-grafted tree of four varieties that will automatically self-pollinate. Today, pluots in season are popular at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. The fruit is about the size of a large apricot fruit, plum-like, and has smooth skin. Depending on the variety, the flesh of the fruit is red to yellow. The skin is dark purple, red, or yellow. There are many variations. The taste and flavor of the fruits are intensely sweet and somewhat tangy. People enjoy them fresh, in jams and jellies, and in cobblers and pies during their season.

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!