Artisan Gardens Blog

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

• This classic Northwest favorite has numerous cultivars, but the species is beautiful too, even without the leaves.
• This tree is a slow grower, yet when fully mature, the gracefully layered branches of a multi-stemmed tree, will spread out to 25′ wide and 15′-25′ tall.
• The tree also has great fall color!
• Plant it in partial shade in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/acepal/acepal1.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/acer_palmatum.html

Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’)

• This tree is beautiful year round, but during the winter months, it is stunning. The vivid orange bark brightens up the gray winter landscape, and on rare sunny blue sky days, the contrast against the deep blue winter sky is electric. Striking.
  
• This tree adapts to many soil types but it will be healthiest when planted in moist, well drained soil, in a sunny to partly sunny spot.
• It will grow to 20 to 25’ tall and 15 to 20’ wide.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=66

http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/utopia.korea/297.html?p=1&t=3 lots of stunning photos

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/acer_palmatum_sangokaku.html

The Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)

• Yes, another exquisite maple to add interest to the winter landscape! The most distinguishing feature of this tree is its cinnamon brown exfoliating bark. Breathtaking.
• Like the other maples, this one will adapt to different soils, yet it will prosper in a moist well drained sunny location.
• It will mature to about 20′-30′ tall and wide.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2197&searchterm=small%20tree&searchtype=category

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/acegri/acegri1.html

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=Q110

Arbutus ‘Marina’

• The Marina is a good stand in for the splendid, but hard to transplant, Madrona.
• Its many ornamental qualities include:
• glossy evergreen leaves
• exfoliating cinnamon mahogany brown bark
• pink bell shaped flowers and red fruit in the winter
• Plant this marginally hardy tree, in a sunny protected location, in well drained soil.
• It will mature to about 20-30′ high and wide
• Note: purchase plants grown in Washington. Lift the plant out of the pot, and check to see that it is not root bound.

Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica)

• If you like color, then you will love this tree.
• On mature trees, the bark exfoliates into a mosaic of gray, green, white, and brown.
• Red purple emergent leaves unfurl to green.
• This tree has the most beautiful continuum of fall colors; brilliant yellow, apricot, scarlet, and more occur simultaneously.
• Plant in full sun in well drained soil.
• The multi – stemmed tree will grow to 30 ft tall and 20′ wide.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=L480#lbl_culture

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=7904&searchterm=small%20tree&searchtype=category

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/parper/parper1.html

Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)

• On older trees, the dark brown bark exfoliates to a camouflage of lighter brown.
• Vivid fall color
• The tree will mature to a 20-40′ tall pointed oval.
• In June. the tree is sprinkled with simple flowers, resembling a white single camellia.
• Plant in light shade, in moist, well drained soil, enriched with organic matter.

For superb photos and information, please visit:

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/stps1.htm

Orangebark Stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha)

• vivid fall color
• cinnamon brown bark
• During early summer, the tree is sprinkled with small simple flowers, resembling a white single camellia.
• Plant in light shade, in moist, well drained soil, enriched with organic matter.
• 30′ tall by 15′wide
• If you have an opportunity visit, the Washington Park Arboretum has a stunning collection of mature Stewartias.

For superb photos and information, please visit:

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/stmo1.htm

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2857&searchterm=small%20tree&searchtype=category

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/stewartia_monadelpha.html

Flowering Crabapple Disease Resistant Cultivars

• You can buy most any flower color, fruit color, shape, and size your garden requires.
• A variety of growth habits are available from columnar to upright to weeping.
• Crabapples prefer full sun and are adaptable to different soils.
• When choosing an ornamental crab apple, be sure to select varieties resistant to scab and mildew.

Some disease resistant varieties are:

Adirondak

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2633&searchterm=small %20tree&searchtype=category

Golden Raindrops

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2639&searchterm=small %20tree&searchtype=category

Strawberry Parfait.

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2636&searchterm=small %20tree&searchtype=category

Check the lists below for more disease resistant cultivars.

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1809/eb1809.html

http://maritimefruit.wsu.edu/Handout_Ornamentals10.pdf

Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus spp.)

• Dogwoods are understory trees with graceful branching, beautiful flowers, and deep, rich fall color.
• Be sure to plant disease resistant varieties such as Rutgers hybrid dogwoods:

Cornus ‘Aurora’

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=D394

Cornus ‘Celestial’,

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=D395

Cornus ‘Stellar Pink’,

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=J890

Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

• The pagoda dogwood flower does not have the large bracts, surrounding the flower, that we associate with the typical dogwood flower.
• Its outstanding ornamental feature is its tiers of horizontal branches.
• It will grow from about 15-25′ tall and will spread out as wide or wider.
• Locate in part shade to full sun in moist, well drained soil.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2375&searchterm=small%20tree&searchtype=category

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/coal.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cornus_alternifolia.html

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa)

• The bark is an exfoliating irregular gray to brown patchwork.
• Bright red fall to winter fruits resemble plump raspberries.
• Older trees branch in strong horizontal lines.
• Summer flowers and deep red fall color add seasonal interest.
• Plant in a sunny to partly shady location in well drained soil with organic matter.
• Will grow 20-30′ tall and wide.
• Beautiful.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J910#lbl_culture

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/corkou/corkou1.html

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/display?id=2379&searchterm=small%20tree&searchtype=category

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Rosemoor/About-Rosemoor/Plant-of-the-month/June/Cornus-kousa-var–chinensis

http://hcs.osu.edu/plantlist/description/co_kousa.html

Franklin Tree (Franklinia altamaha)

• vivid orange red fall color
• During the summer, 3” wide, fragrant, simple flowers, resembling a white single camellia are sprinkled throughout the canopy.
• Plant in full sun in moist, well drained soil, with lots of organic matter.
• 20′ tall by 15′ wide
• warning: difficult to transplant

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/f/fraala/fraala1.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/franklinia_alatamaha.html

Kilmarnock Willow (Salix caprea ‘Pendula’)

• This small weeping tree will probably go unnoticed throughout much of the year.
• Yet, in the early spring, it is a beautiful curiosity, for it is covered with soft silvery catkins that glow in the warmth of sunny days. Throughout the course of a month, the catkins will mature to a brilliant gold.
• For a stunning fresh or dried flower arrangement, cut some branches and bring indoors.
• To get this miniature tree, a weeping willow is often grafted on to a single tree trunk.
• It will grow to about 6-8 feet tall and 6′ wide.

For additional photos and information, please visit:

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/sacak.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/sacak2.htm