Every spring we hear from eager customers, "What do you have that is new this year?" I'll admit, I have fallen into the same trap. Even though I know the tried and true plants will not steer me wrong, I'm always curious to see what new beauties are on the market. Or sometimes it is the thrill of finding a tree that has not been available for the longest time and now it can be mine. This year we have some exciting surprises for you in our Menomonee Falls holding yard!

Malus 'Cranberry Lace' - flowers

Malus 'Little Troll'

Malus 'Orange Crush' - spring foliage

Malus 'Woven Gold' - spring bloom

Ornamental Crabapples:

My favorite time at the nursery is when the crabapple trees are in bloom and around every corner I can smell the epitome of spring. Brisk winds release the petals in showers that get stuck in my hair as souvenirs. So I was pleasantly surprised to see some hard to find, nearly one-of-a-kind, crabapples make their way from our Jackson fields to the Menomonee Falls nursery. If one of the following crabapples peaks your interest, as they did mine, give us a call because we have limited quantities.

Cranberry Lace Crabapple

If you have a small yard, this narrow, upright hybrid will fit perfectly. Deep rose buds opening to varying shade of semi-double to double flowers give way to red-green, disease-resistant foliage, and abundant red fruit. (25ft. tall x 13ft. wide)  

Golden Dream Crabapple 

Another good hybrid for smaller spaces; disease-resistant, clean green foliage with pale pink buds that open to loads of single white flowers. Bright yellow fruit turns a coppery-gold after freezing and is persistent until late winter (when they soften for the birds to eat). (20ft. tall x 25ft. wide)

Little Troll Crabapple

A compact, weeping habit with tiny orange-red fruit that is loved by birds. Glowing red buds open to white flowers that cascade down the branches. (20ft. tall x 20ft. wide)

Moon Glow Crabapple 

While my favorite time at the nursery is when crabapple trees are in bloom, Moon Glow makes me eager for the fruit. The excellent reference book Flowering Crabapples, the Genus Malus by Father John Fiala describes them best as "lime-chartreuse with rosy cheeks, turning to pale lemon with rose-coral cheeks, firm, persistent". (25ft. tall x 25ft. wide)

Orange Crush Crabapple 

As sweet as a soda, Orange Crush has unusual orange-crimson flowers against dark green-purple leaves. The spreading habit of this tree is gracefully loaded with deep maroon fruits. (22ft. tall x 22ft. wide)

Woven Gold Crabapple

The delicate, semi-weeping form of Woven Gold makes a lovely specimen in the yard. Carmine-red buds open to single, snow-white flowers. But the most stunning display is when the firm, persistent gold fruit creates a cascade effect on the branches late in the season. (22ft. tall x 22ft. wide)

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Espalier Fruit Trees:

Espalier trees have been around for centuries, but this year it seems they are going through a renaissance. Pronounced "is-PALL-yay", these trees have been trained to grow flat against a support, such as a wall or trellis. We currently have or will be stocking espalier fruit trees in the following varieties: Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Spartan, and Hat Trick. 

Espalier Apple Trees - Notice the "screen" form

For more information on these varieties, read our 2015 Fruit Tree Stock brochure.

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Beech Trees:

We also have varieties of beech trees in espalier (like above) and weeping forms. My own yard seems to be calling out for a gorgeous, single-stem, Tri-color Beech. The branching structure alone is quite picturesque. But then add the purple spring foliage edged with irregularly rose-pink margins, and you have a real stunner. The foliage becomes green-edged with light pink and cream in hot weather.

Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' - Notice the "weeping" form.

Fagus sylvatica 'Rohanii' - spring interest foliage

Fagus sylvatica 'Tricolor' ('Roseo-marginata')

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Asian Maples:

Some very intriguing Japanese Maples like Viridis Laceleaf, Tsuma Gaki, and Tobiosho have made their way to the holding yard. However, because Japanese Maples can be quite finicky in southeastern Wisconsin, I am most excited about the Northern Glow® Maples. Introduced by Professor Emeritus Ed Hasselkus at UW-Madison, Northern Glow® is a cross between Acer pseudosieboldianum and Acer palmatum. The Korean Maple parentage makes them much more tolerant of full sun and cold winters, however they will also be well-suited to a shade garden.

Acer pseudo. x palmatum 'Hasselkus' (Northern Glow Maple) - Notice the leaf form and stunning fall color.

Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Viridis' - in autumn

Acer palmatum 'Tobiosho' - great color contrast

Sigh. I think I'm going to need a bigger yard.