Stellar Pink Dogwood

Most people are familiar with our native Flowering Dogwood and the Kousa Dogwood, but the Rutger's Hybrid Stellar Series are a group of Dogwoods that go somewhat unnoticed. Not only are they a nice family of small trees to know, it's also important to understand why these hybrids were introduced.   

Dr. Elwin Orton  at Rutgers University developed these hybrids to increase borer resistance and plant vigor. By crossing C. florida and C. kousa he was hoping improve disease resistance and also produce pink bracts on a Kousa. The hybrids below were introduced in the early 1990s and have been proven to show good resistance to borers, powdery mildew and anthracnose, three problems that can affect our native Flowering Dogwood.

We currently have three of the six that make up the Stellar Series in stock. Take a look:

'Aurora' - This produces many white bracts that turn creamy white as they age. It is probably the hybrid that most resembles our native dogwood in habit - 18' H&W.   

'Constellation' - Flowers slightly earlier than 'Aurora' and is white with a tinge of green. It's an upright grower with branches low on the trunk reaching 17'H x 14'W.

'Stellar Pink' - Here is the pink form with soft pink bracts also on a low branching tree. Upright grower reaching  20'H x 19'W   

It's easy to find a place for these small trees - as specimens, at corners of buildings, in groupings, in front of evergreen screens. They prefer moist, acidic soil that is well drained. Plant in sun to part shade and give them a good start with products such as PHC 3-4-4 or Roots with Micorrhizae.

Stop in and take a look soon! 

If preserving the environment is on your agenda, then consider using the Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia. They are loaded with flowers right now and the honey bees seem to love them! So named because unlike most Dogwood which have opposite leaves, this native has an alternate leaf pattern. The common name reflects the flat top and architectural habit. A small native tree that does triple duty with spring flowers, interesting habit and nectar for our pollinator friends.         

l-r 'Minuet', 'Java Red', 'Red Prince', 'Variegata' and 'Wine & Roses'

Yes, in bud and full bloom are our PC Grown Flowering Weigelas. Several selections available, choose from some interesting smaller varieties like 'Minuet' or go for variegated foliage with white flowers edged in soft pink. The popular 'Wine and Roses' has darker foliage and so does 'Java Red'.  

Weigelas are great flowering shrubs for the mixed border or foundation planting. Use the dwarf varieties in perennial borders or along walkways. No real pests or diseases affect this old-fashioned shrub. Plant in full sun for best performance. Prune to shape after flowering.  Check them out while they're in bloom!   

"I'm looking for an evergreen that tolerates seashore conditions. What do you recommend?"

Answer:  

While we have always touted its virtues as an excellent screening plant, Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x 'Green Giant') nonetheless surprised us by outperforming other evergreens on properties in close proximity to Long Island Sound during Irene last fall.

Some of the traditional seashore evergreens include Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii), Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana). While these trees had varying levels of success, all generally suffered more damage than Green Giant. Another issue is that they have notoriously poor root systems, making establishment of them difficult. Additionally, for that reason, all three are generally available in the spring only, because it's risky digging them in the fall if they haven't been root pruned.

Other evergreens that have done well by the shore include Vanderwolf Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf'), Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens), and Bosnian Pine (Pinus leucodermis).

Submit your landscaping question via email to sbarbier@planterschoice.com and you'll be entered in a monthly drawing to receive 10% off your next purchase (pick up only, does not apply to deliveries). Please use "Question of the Week" in the subject line and let me know if you want your name and business mentioned. 

Yarrow 'Moonshine'  in Watertown

Heather has sent us a list of great looking perennials - in stock and in good supply - ready for your next job!  

Achillea x 'Moonshine' (Yarrow) plants in bud and bloom

Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star' (Purple Coneflower) nice full plants

Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchess de Nemours' (Peony) full size plants ready to bloom

Salvia nemerosa 'May Night' (Salvia) budded and blooming

Stachys byzantina 'Countess Helen von Stein' (Giant Lamb's Ear) gorgeous foliage plant currently full in their pots!   

Belle of Georgia Peach

Gorgeous fruit trees, many with fruit set started, will please many who want to get a home orchard started. Mix and match - choose from apples, pears, cherries and more. Includes espaliered varieties in containers! Buy two and save! Cash and carry - no tagging of fruit trees.   

Vanhoutte Spiraea

Spiraea x vanhouttei 6 gallon - A nice vase-shaped Spiraea with arching branches and double white flowers. Has an added punch with orange fall color! Deer resistant, drought tolerant, low maintenance - a tried and true favorite! Buy 5 or more and get 10% off!     

Stop by either yard, mention this email and receive 10% OFF  

Valid: May 19th - May 25th     

*Price is net. No further discount applies. 

Incoming this week- Boxwood spirals and topiaries plus our own Caladiums!  

Deciduous Trees
Cercidiphyllum jap. (Katsura)

Fagus sylvatica 'Riversii', 'Tricolor'

Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) 'Shawnee Brave'

Nice selection of roses!

Deciduous Shrubs 

H. mac. 'Blushing Bride', 'Endless Summer', 'Nikko Blue', 'Pia', 'Twist N Shout'  

Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' (Virginia Sweetspire) 

Ligustrum oval. (Privet)

Roses Flower Carpet, 'Blushing Knockout', 'The Fairy', 'New Dawn' 

Broadleaf and Specimen Evergreens

Topiary Boxwood are in!

Buxus (Boxwood) Common, 'Suffruiticosa', 'Justin Browers', 'Vardar Valley',  'Wintergreen' and Boxwood topiaries and spirals! 

Cryptomeria jap. 'Yoshino' (Japanese Cedar) 

Euonymus  'Aureo Marginatus', 'Chollipo', 'Silver King', 'Manhattan'

Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly) 'Chesapeake', 'Compacta', 'Hoogendorn', 'Soft Touch', 'Schwoebel upright', 'Sky Pencil', 'Steeds' 

I. glabra 'Shamrock' (Inkberry) 

I. x 'Blue Maid' (Blue Holly) 

Pyracantha ang. 'Yukon Belle' (Firethorn) 

Evergreens for Screening

Picea pungens (Blue Spruce)

Thuja occ. (Eastern Arborvitae) 'Emerald Green'

T. plicata (Western Arborvitae) 'Green Giant'

Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock)

Groundcover & Ivy

Parthenocissus tri. 'Green Showers (Boston Ivy) 

Great tropical selection!

Annuals & Tropicals

Agapanthus africanus 'Queen Anne' (African Lily) 

Canna indica 'Phasion', 'Tropicana'   

Musa acuminata 'Zebrina' (Dwarf Banana) 

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) 

Trachycarpus fort. (Windmill Palm) 

Yucca fil. 'Ivory Tower'

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