Planters' Choice Weekly Picks!
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 Friday, March 26, 2010
Serviceberry Amelanchier
Serviceberry SeasonsNeed an early blooming tree that will take center stage in more than one season? Try a Serviceberry!
Known by many other names (Shadblow, Juneberry, Shadbush, Downy Serviceberry) they're exactly what's needed to greet us in spring, feed the birds in June and create a splash of warm colors in fall. Clusters of white flowers open in April before and as the leaves emerge. The June fruit, which is loved by birds, matures to purplish-black. The leaves turn amazing oranges and reds in fall - perhaps its best season. The smooth, light gray bark on slender trunks is an added plus - a respectable addition to the winter landscape.

Best of all - It's one of our native trees! You'll find them along the edges of woods, streams and ponds. Reaching about 25', it's in the company of other understory trees like Redbud and our Flowering Dogwood. Yes, it likes moist soils and is often used for wetland mitigation, but it's also quite happy as a specimen. Use them to transition from the yard to woods or create a woodland garden using other natives. Mountain Laurel, Inkberry, Aronia, Clethra and ferns would be perfect companions. Try them against an evergreen backdrop and watch the spring flowers and fall color pop.

Amelanchier canadensis, 6-20' tall. A suckering, multi-stemmed shrub, perfect along wet areas.
A. lamarckii (Lamarcki Serviceberry) slightly smaller, but same flowers and fall color.
A. x grandiflora, a naturally occuring hybrid between A. arborea and A. laevis,  'Autumn Brilliance' has abundant flowers and great red fall color. 20-25' H.
'Robin Hill' is the pink flowering form. Pink buds open to  light pink flowers that fade to white.

They'll be blooming soon, so stop by and take a look.
Hungry for color?
Perennials early springThe perennial houses are uncovered and ready when you are for your spring jobs! A mosaic of early spring growth fills the pots and our imaginations. Some are up and about to bloom like Hellebores for instance, and others are just beginning to poke their first leaves up. Your customers will enjoy watching them take off!
NOW
transplant 1-step
Boxwoods in the Newtown Yard

Off the trucks this week in Newtown:

Abies koreana 'Horstmann's Silberlocke' 36-42" (Korean Fir)
Azaleas assorted 3 gallon
Buxus sempervirens (Common Boxwood), many sizes
B. 'Wintergreen' 24-30", 'Graham Blandy' 36/42", 'Newport Blue' 24-30"
Carpinus betulus 'Pendula' 5", (Weeping Hornbeam), very limited
Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Pendula' 5" (Weeping Katsura), very limited
Cladrastis kentukea 4.5" (American Yellowwood), very limited
Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes' 3/4' a wonderful small variegated form.
C. mas (Cornelian Cherry) In flower now, limited
Magnolia 'Galaxy'
Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry)
Syringa meyeri 'Palabin' (Meyer Lilac)
S. vulgaris (Common Lilac) 'Katherine Havemeyer', 'Ludwig Spaeth', 'President Grevy',  'Sensation'-nice sizes
S. x prestoniae (Preston Lilac) 'Donald Wyman', 'James McFarlane'
Ulmus glabra 'Camperdownii' (Camperdown Elm), 3" & 5" very limited
Viburnum dentatum 'Chicago Luster'
Viburnum x rytidophylloides 'Alleghany'
V. rhytidophyllum (Leatherleaf Viburnum)
V. x pragense (Prague Viburnum)
V. carlcephalum 5-6, 6/8'
Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria) 'Pink Pearl'
 
Evergreens! The weather has been on our side as far as getting some early loads in. 'Green Giants' Arborvitae has begun to ship with more coming next week.
 
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', 'Glauca Pendula 4/5' (Atlas Cedar)
Cephalotaxus h. 'Fastigiata  Killer gorgeous!
Chamaecyparis filicoides 5/6'
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis' 36-42" (Hinoki Falsecypress)
Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly) 'Helleri', 'Hoogendorn', 'Schwoebel Upright', 'Soft Touch', 'Steeds'
Ilex glabra 3 & 7 gallon (Inkberry)
Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket' 7/8' (Rocky Mountain Juniper) One of the narrowest Junipers.
Pices abies 'Cupressina' 5/6' (Norway Spruce) Columnar form, 12-15' H in 10 years
P. abies 'Pendula' 4/5' (Weeping Norway Spruce)
Picea pungens 'Procumbens' 30-36", 36-42" (Colorado Spruce), spreading
Pinus strobus 6/7', 7/8' (White Pine)
Taxus (Yews) densiformis and hicksii
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' 5/6', 6/7' (American Arborvitae)
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' 10/12'

Watertown Yard Calamagrostis b.
Acer palmatum dissectums (Japanese Maples) Many varieties and sizes, well stocked
Buxus (Boxwood) great selection!
Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist' (Eastern Redbud) Weeping form.
Calamagrostis brachytricha (Korean Reed Grass) seen at right. A wonderful grass with rose-purple inflorescence.
Lupinus (Lupines) are up and looking spectacular!
 
Enjoy your weekend!

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140 Huntingtown Rd.  Newtown, CT 06470  Tel. 203-426-4037  Fax 203-426-8057 
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