Green Thumb Corner

The Showy Mountain Ash, Sorbus decora, is a smaller, rounded, ornamental tree that is grown for its white flowers, handsome foliage, and showy red fruit. These small white flowers bloom from June to July. Its branches spread to form a narrow, open, and round topped crown. The hardiest of the species in this country, it is slow growing and resistant to disease. Own root. It is a main source of food for birds, who will scatter the seeds. The fruits are not edible for humans. This plant is attractive to bees and butterflies. Showy Mountain Ash has average water needs; water regularly; do not overwater.

The Pink Spires Crabapple, Malus 'Pink Spires', is ideal for a confined screen or border planting. This excellent rosy bloom crab, one of the earliest to bloom, was selected by W. L. Kerr, Canada Department of Agriculture, Sutherland, Saskatchewan. In spring it is covered with single pink flowers with red-purple foliage, that turns to green-bronze in summer, and then copper in fall. Pink Spires is a small, hardy, deciduous ornamental tree with a narrow, upright form. It has fair resistance to scab and fireblight, shows good resistance to mildew, and a strong resistance to rust. Pink Spires does well in most soil, but will be more attractive if fed peat and compost.

The Satomi Dogwood, Cornus kousa 'Satomi', produces deep pink flowers that covers the horizontal spreading branches in April to May. This Japanese selection will make an elegant specimen tree. It is very hardy and flowers later than other dogwoods. You will most assuredly note its spectacular not-at-all-white color, which is more like popsicle pink. This kousa blooms not only in a different color, but at a different time; about a month after every other dogwood is through. Being very hardy and disease resistant, Satomi Dogwood prefers full sun to light shade with a well-drained, somewhat acidic soil. Satomi will produce pink-red fruits that appear in autumn.

The Shagbark Hickory tree, Carya ovata, has a distinctive, shaggy bark, conspicuous on tall straight trees, which gives this species its name. It grows well in both wet and dry areas, but prefers well-drained soils. Shellbark hickory trees are also cal

The Shellbark Hickory tree, Carya laciniosa, is also know as bigleaf shagbark, kingnut, big shellbark, bottom shellbark, thick shellbark and western shellbark). This deciduous tree is similar to that of the Shagbark Hickory, but often not quite as shag

The Northwood Maple, Acer rubrum 'Northwood', is an excellent shade tree with ascending branches and a round, oval form. The dark green summer foliage turns orange to red in the fall. This maples is easily grown in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils, but requires moist, slightly acid conditions for optimum growth and color. It is very cold hardy. Reaching an height of 50 feet and a width of 35 feet, it is an excellent specimen tree for the lawn, street or park. It is important to know that this tree has a shallow, flattened root system that may buckle nearby sidewalks or driveways if planted too close.

The Autumn Blaze Ash, Fraxinus americana 'Autumn Blaze', is a COPF introduction by Morden Research Station in Manitoba, Canada. This is the first white ash adapted for the prairie region of Canada and the Dakotas. It has a nice purple fall color, a light seed crop, and good oval form. The original tree is in Roseau, MN. This ash is rarely or never fed on by Japanese beetles. Autumn Blaze is a tall, deciduous tree. As a young tree, it tends to be upright oval in habit, later it develops an open and rounded crown. It is a medium fast growing tree that has ash-gray bark with diamond shaped furrows. The foliage is dark green above, paler on leaf underside. The fruit is not especially ornamental. Autumn Blaze thrives in full sun, on moist well drained soil and needs to be pruned in the fall. When healthy and vigorous, this makes a beautiful specimen tree.

The Renaissance Reflection® Birch, Betula papyrifera 'Renci' (PP12,768), displays brilliant white, exfoliating bark and radiant yellow fall color. These attributes would be enough to recommend this tree! It's heat resistant and has a rapid growth rate of 3-5 feet per year, developing a slender pyramidal shape. It can be grown as a single stem or a multi-stem and like's full sun and moist soil. Renaissance Reflection has superior bronze birch borer resistance. This deciduous, hardy birch is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It will add color and interest to any yard. Plant against a darker background or green lawn to highlight white trunk.

The Camelot® Crabapple tree, Malus 'Camzam', is a dwarf cultivar that has a rounded shape and thick, leathery, dark green leaves with a touch of burgundy. The flowers are fuchsia-pink on white and produce a rich burgundy colored fruit. The 1/2 inch bu

The Japanese Red Maple tree, Acer Palmatum Autropurpeum, is by far, one of the most popular ornamental plants in the plant kingdom. This small deciduous tree is a very showy, versatile species. Japanese Red Maple trees are used as a single specimen or in borders or groupings. This plant can be a single-stemmed small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. The leaves are reddish-purple in spring and again in fall. The Japanese Red Maple tree is used to create a unique bonsai tree. The classic Japanese maple has red-purple leaves which turn a brilliant red in autumn. Prospers in full sun and moist well drained soils.

The Royal Red Maple, Acer platanoides 'Royal Red', is a Norway Maple selection that is similar to 'Crimson King', but with a somewhat slower growth rate, and what some consider, slightly better color. Royal Red is also less vigorous and less prone to frost cracks. A dense shade tree, it has a straight trunk with a well-shaped canopy, and it has a crown which is originally conical before becoming broadly round. Royal Red's glossy foliage is an excellent maroon red all season. It is heat tolerant and moderately drought resistant once established. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average well-drained soil. Adaptable to various soil conditions and is great as a shade or specimen tree. It does well on most soil types and tolerates air pollution.

The Fallgold Ash, Fraxinus nigra 'Fallgold', is a hardy, seedless Ash with deep green leaves that turn to a bright golden yellow in fall. It is upright in habit, and it is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions including poorly drained sites. The Fallgold is a male tree so it is seedless, no messy seeds to pick up. Use this ash as residential street trees, along golf course fairways, or anywhere a strong vertical accent will compliment the landscape. It prefers ample soil moisture and will tolerate periodic flooding since it is usually found growing in standing water in its natural habitat. This ash is not tolerant of severe drought.