DEL.ICIO.USERICA GLASENER
Plant lovers leave tips for Southern favorites
Tree sale in Piedmont Park offers variety
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Fall is for planting, and on Saturday Trees Atlanta will host its ninth annual tree sale in Piedmont Park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. I always look forward to this sale not only because it supports tree planting in Atlanta but because it offers great trees for sale!
In reading over the list of offerings for this year I was thrilled to see many of my favorites, including some rare and unusual choices like the Dove tree, Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma.’ This particular selection is noted for producing flowers even as a young tree at only 4 feet tall. When it’s in bloom, the showy bracts look like white doves or handkerchiefs dancing in the breeze. Another tree that I have long admired in other people’s gardens is the Paperbark maple, Acer griseum. With its satiny bark and handsome foliage, this tree shines in every season. A native that promises to please, and, one I think I’ll have to find room for in my garden, is Yellowwood, Cladrastis kentuckea. This medium-sized tree offers handsome foliage, smooth gray bark and long drooping clusters of white wisteria-like flowers in late spring.
Erica Glasener
Japanese maple trees offers incredible diversity, which will enhance the look of your garden.
Erica Glasener
Davidia involucrata, ‘Sononma’. When it’s in bloom, the showy bracts look like white doves or handkerchiefs dancing in the breeze.
Erica Glasener
The red-orange color of ‘Winter King’ is shown during the fall and winter, allowing for an illuminating addition.
Erica Glasener
Cercidiphyllum japonicum foliage. Katsura tree- A great ornamental that provides landscape interest during every season. It is worth noting though that it requires a moist well-drained soil.
As much as I like trees, I thought it would be interesting to find out which trees (and a few tree-friendly vines, too) some of my fellow plant lovers recommend for Southern gardens.
GREG LEVINE OF TREES ATLANTA
• Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush Buckeye; Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye; and Aesculus sylvatica, Painted or Georgia Buckeye
• Fagus grandifolia, American Beech. It is difficult to find a source for this tree, and it is second only to White oak for its ornamental bark and peach-colored leaves.
• Gordonia lasianthus, ‘Swampee.’ If you like Franklinia, this tree is similar but much easier to grow.
• Quercus coccinea, Scarlet Oak. The best fall color for an oak.
• Magnolia ‘Butterfly’, ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Lady Bird.’ Three different yellow flowered selections of magnolia.
• Decumaria barbara, native climbing hydrangea. This semi-evergreen vine is happy climbing up into treetops or scrambling as a ground cover.
• Wisteria frutescens, ‘Amethyst Falls,’ Amethyst Falls wisteria. A selection of native wisteria that blooms at a young age and is not as aggressive as Japanese or Chinese wisteria.
ART MORRIS, BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST, BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS
• Acer palmatum cultivars, Japanese maples. For one species there is an incredible diversity.
• Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Katsura tree. Art thinks this is a great ornamental that provides landscape interest during every season. It is worth noting, though, that it requires a moist, well-drained soil.
• Cornus kousa, Kousa Dogwood. A great species that doesn’t suffer from anthracnose or powdery mildew.
• Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn redwood. Easy and fast growing, this deciduous conifer makes a choice specimen. Art points out that it will eat up a lot of real estate.
• Nyssa sylvatica, Black Gum tree. Art and I agree that this is an underused native with spectacular fall color and a dramatic silhouette in the landscape.
• Quercus falcata, Southern red oak. The most stately native oak tree.
• Sophora japonica, Scholar tree. A fast grower that is also drought tolerant and tough.
WALTER REEVES, AUTHOR, RADIO AND TV HOST
• Bignonia capreolata, ‘Tangerine Beauty,’ Cross vine. A selection of native vine that blooms its heart out.
• Cercis canadensis, ‘Forest Pansy,’ Forest Pansy redbud. Walter likes the purple foliage of this native and the fact that it does well in sunny locations.
• Crataegus viridis, ‘Winter King,’ Winter King hawthorn. Color in the fall and winter with red-orange fruit, fruit, fruit!
• Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe tree. Great blooms and handsome foliage.
• Euonymous americanus, Heart’s-a-burstin. Walter says he gets lots of people who want him to ID this plant when it is in flower.
• Sassafras albidum, Sassafras. Plant this tree at the edge of a woodland garden.
• Styrax japonicus, Japanese snowbell. Walter likes the cute little white bells and the winter silhouette.
Remember bigger is not always better, especially with trees. Container-grown trees are more affordable and will quickly catch up (over a three- to four-year period) with larger balled and burlapped trees.
For a complete list of trees offered at the Trees Atlanta Sale and directions visit www.treesatlanta.org/treesale
Erica Glasener is an Atlanta horticulturist and host of HGTV’s “A Gardener’s Diary” at 7 a.m. Thursdays.
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