Pink swamp azalea 'Betty Cummins'

The Green Man planned to do a post on the delights of our native swamp azalea, which is white. Then, he spotted a pink variation at Rare Find Nursery, who have a few left. Don't hesitate, get this. Or get some white swamp azaleas, too. http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.php/azaleas/r-azalea-deciduous/r-azalea-deciduous-viscosum-betty-cummins.html

The "dove tree" makes a spectacular specimen in your landscape

Saint John's Eve 2015 The dove tree is a small but visually striking specimen tree for poetic spaces in the landscape. Besides the remarkable dove-like bracts produced by the tree, it also features magnificent exfoliating bark for year 'round interest.

Available from http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/3723/dove-tree/

Daylily special on sale at Smokey's

Hemerocallis 'Yuulong' Smokey's is featuring an array of choice plants at 10 for $14.95. Take a look here: smokeysdaylilygardens.com

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' adds size variety

The Green Man picked up hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'a week or so ago to add to a hosta bed. Besides being a charming addition, this variety adds to scale. Often hosta beds lack variation in the size of the plants. Utilizng 'Blue Mouse Ears" is one way of providing greater interest by varying the size of your plants in dramatic ways. For example, hosta 'Empress Wu' also makes a statement about size variation in the genus.

"A delightful miniature variety reaching to about 8in in height, but it's as tough and resilient as any. This dainty charmer makes a neat, symmetrical clump of silvery blue leaves which roll up endearingly at the edges. Derived from the excellent 'Blue Cadet', and one of the best dwarf Hostas." Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is avaible here: www.whiteflowerfarm.com

Wisteria 'Texas White' from White Flower Farm

Order this stunningly beautiful selection now.

Wisteria 'Texas White' www.whiteflowerfarm.com

"Mini-scaping": A few odds and ends worth cultivating

"All you need is one." With time, care, and nurturing, small cuttings and tiny plants will grow and prosper. They will reach a point at which they can be divided, if perennials. The key to "mini-scaping" is really patience, good soil, and care. "Mini-scaping" is the incorporation of much smaller plants into the landscape with the anticipation that they will grow to a mature size to fit the space. For example, you might use a 3 or 5 gallon plant in a bed, but surround it with much smaller plants at a much lower cost. This method works for everything, even your home-made cuttings. Protect and label well what you use. Some small, mail-order firms offer low-prices and interesting items. The knack is to order only those plants that are unusual and hard to find. For more common plants, get stock from a garden center to get your money's worth. The following are some unusual items worth cultivating over time: Hosta 'Empress Wu' This mammoth hosta makes a spectacular specimen in woodland gardens along walkways. One is usually enough, but if you have to space, use three plants, disequally triangulated. Additional specimens dilute the effect. Go with one or three. Make sure to plant for mature size!

"Measures an impressive 4' high and 6' wide with huge leaves that can measure more than 1 1/2' wide and long! This hosta is named in honor of the only female emperor to rule China. A stunning specimen for a shade area! Pale reddish violet flowers in early to mid-summer." www.direct gardening.com Another item to consider is Dicentra spectibilis 'Alba' or white bleeding hearts. This wonderful shade plant is common in red and pink whereas the white and yellow varieties are harder to find. "Old-Fashioned Bleeding Hearts (White)

Traditional Favorite MARCH SPECIAL: FREE $20.00 Off Any Order Of $40 Or More! Offer Expires March 31, 2015. Nature's only heart-shaped blooms trail from arching stems in early to mid spring. Fern-like leaves add an elegant touch. Product Information: Light: Full to partial shade Height: Up to 3' Deer Resistant Bloom Time: Spring Size: Bareroot Zones: 2 to 9" from www.michiganbulb.com The Dorothy Rose columbine is available at other nurseries at higher prices. Small plants are availaable from InterState Nurseries at $2.89 each.

Dorothy Rose Columbine Aquilegia 'Dorothy Rose' Unique flowers! A columbine unlike any other! The Dorothy Rose Columbine has lovely, luminescent, light rose-pink flowers that make this an excellent specimen plant. Blooms are quite distinctive as each one has several blooms set inside one another. www.directgardening.com It is important to remember that the low-price mail order firms send small plants with great potential. They ought to be ready to plant immediately upon arrival. In other words, have the plant hole and prepped soil ready to go. These firms will also send you color catalogs upon request.

Beautyberry: an old-fashioned garden favorite makes a come-back

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) American and Japanese beautyberry have a surprise element in that these plants' berries show a remarkable coloration. Depending on the variety, some beautyberries show an opalescent white or light violet fruit in late summer. Guerneys is offering starter plants at a low-cost, but these shrubs ought to be available at larger, independent garden centers. The white variety may be harder to locate, but both are worth having. Makes a good companion plant for hydrangeas and viburnums.

Dramatic Spring color from 'Crimson & God' flowering quince

Here's a superb new item Guerneys is offering. Remember that Guerneys is a low-cost, mail order company, so plants will be small. Just get them in the ground in a proper location;feed and nurture for optimal growth.

"Velvety, crimson flowers have bright gold stamens and put on quite a show in the garden! Low, spreading habit growing just 2-3 ft. tall with a 4-to 5- ft. spread. Looks great in the front of flowerbeds. Blooms from late winter to early spring and attracts butterflies. Potted plants. Zones 4-7. This plant attracts Hummingbirds and butterflies. Zones: 4 - 7. Height: 2 - 3 feet. Shade Requirement: Full Sun to partial shade." Available from www.guerneys.com

A few interesting plants for 2015

Michigan Bulb is a small, mail order plant supplier. They are noted for their modest prices. One caveat is that the size of their stock is small so whatever comes from them is a kind of investment in the future. Nonetheless, if you are a patient gardener, this supplier has some interesting plants to nurture. Here is a photo of 'First Lady' double Siberian iris:

"NEW! This beauty takes center stage when it blooms in midsummer! Its 5" double, silver-blue blooms, veined in white, are absolutely stunning. And, its slightly arching, narrow grasslike leaves remain attractive all season. Thrives under regular to moist conditions. Product Information: Light: Full sun to partial shade Height: 27" Deer Resistant Bloom Time: Midsummer Size: Bareroot" Echinacea 'Southern Belle' Michigan bulb is featuring another interesting item, a coneflower called "Southern Belle.": NEW! This uniquely colored beauty is sure to charm garden visitors. It produces deep, bright magenta double flowers that fade to softer pink in the last weeks of bloom. And, this standout is easy-care, deer resistant and attractive to birds and butterflies. PP23493 Product Information: Light: Full sun Height: 30-36" Deer Resistant Bloom Time: Early summer Size: Bareroot Zones: 4 to 9 Use this coneflower to add a dash of magenta to your garden. Because it is magenta, pair it with white coneflower and then complement it with a red or blue companion depending on your color scheme. Recall that magenta can be overrwhelming as it is red and blue competing for dominance. A third offered item is yellow Dicentra or bleeding hearts

"NEW! Add months of color to your garden with this uniquely colored dicentra! Its fern-like, blue-gray foliage becomes bluer when planted in full sun to part shade. And the foliage creates the perfect backdrop for the long-blooming, sulphur-colored, heart-shaped pendant flowers. Product Information: Light: Full sun to shade Height: 12-15" Deer Resistant Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall Size: Bareroot Zones: 3 to 8" Should you decide to order these items, remember that the size of the plants sent will be small. However, you need only one to start an entire colony with patience. These can be divided and clumps moved to other areas and shared with other gardeners. www.michiganbulb.com

Enthralling helleborus 'Amber Gem' available from Plant Delights

Helleborus x hybrida 'AmberGem' www.plantdelights.com

Exquisite, new hellebore 'Peppermint Ruffles' from White Flower Farm

"Among the new arrivals is Hellebore Winter Thriller™ 'Peppermint Ruffles,' its gently ruffled white petals edged and etched in deep magenta and accented by yellow stamens. Plant one or two types of Hellebores or choose one of our colorful mixes for a shady or partially shady part of your garden." Plant hellebore in conspicuous locations in the landscape where their beauty and intricacy can be fully-appreciated: entries, small walkways, and approaches. Purchase now as supplies run out quickly. www.whiteflowerfarm.com

Now available: New helleborus 'Merlin' from Plant Delights

"We have been most impressed with the Heuger hybrid Helleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin' in our trials. The 28" wide clump of dark green leaves is topped in late winter with 1' tall stalks of outfacing medium pink flowers. Okay, that's nice enough reason to grow Helleborus 'Merlin', but as the flowers age, their color intensifies to an incredibly rich, dark, dusky pink that's truly hard to describe, but resembles something like fall sunset in the high desert."

Buy at: www.plantdelights.com

New shrubs from White Flower Farm: Hydrangea 'Fire Light'

Hydrangea paniculata 'Fire Light' has an ideal size and blooms from July through September. Check it and other new selections here: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/63163-product.html

Additional correct tree selections for large sites

The Green Man has been busy with exciting, new projects throughout the snowy weather. Spring 2015 will be here soon, and you'll be wanting trees for your homesite. Most take small to medium trees that max out at about 25 to 30'. Nonetheless many fine species are the right trees to plant on large estates or extensive sites. Always select a tree for its mature size. White fir (Abies concolor) is a terrific conifer for groupings to provide year round green:

White fir Check www.waynesboronursery.com to locate a retail outlet near you. Also, many new cultivars now exist with varying characteristics, such as degree of blueness. White fir makes a good substitute for the overplanted blue spruce. Another large site choice is black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). The fall coloration is spectacular. This tree adds value to your property. Also, it looks great in groupings of 3.

Black tupelo A correct large site tree for swampy areas or pondside is bald cypress (Taxodium distichum):

This tree looks evergreen, but it will give your some fall color before shedding its needles. Finally, of the maples, cultivars of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) are a fine choice. They do provide dense shade. Avoid red maples as they are overplanted and invasive. No 'Crimson King' Norway maples, and certainly avoid silver maples. Striped maple is good as well as upright Japanese maples, Amur maples, and hedge maples.

"Get into galanthus": the snowdrop

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/plants/11408155/Snowdrop-paradise-a-collectors-dream.html

Latest news from New York's Plant-O-Rama 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/garden/at-plant-o-rama-in-brooklyn-the-message-was-that-beauty-is-no-longer-enough.html?hpw&rref=garden&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Check out the new February 2015 newsletter from Plant Delights

and for Saint Valentine's Day give a gift certificate to someone you love: Visit Plant Delights here: www.plantdelights.com

Trees for large sites

Many clients have extensive acreage on which to plant trees, so here are a few trees that grow large and are appropriate for large sites. Always plant for the mature size. Purple European Beech (Fagus sylvatica riversii)

Photo: www.monrovia.com More info: http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2550/rivers-purple-european-beech/ Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginica)

Less well-known is hophornbeam, which offers 4-season interest and is tough. Will max out at about 35'. Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) 'Morris Blue'

The Green Man considers elegant Korean pine to be the most graceful of all pines. Plant in groupings of 3, 5. This pine maybe difficult to locate, but it is worth looking for.

Plant witch hazel for more late Winter/early Spring color

Witch hazel is a shrub to incorportate into your landscape as a complement to flowering quince varieties. However, witch hazel will grow to become a large tree-like shrub over time. Hence, siting correctly is critical. It works best on large properties that can accommodate the mature size, close to 15' by 15' Also, this is an "understory" plant, and TGM recommends using it in the transitional zone of your landscape between lawn areas and the wooded spaces beyond it. For example site a flowing quince at the edge of your property and the witch hazel slightly beyond it in the wooded area. Here is a comprehensive list of witch hazel varieties. 'Arnold's Promise,' in brilliant yellow is the most popular cultivar followed by 'Jelena' and 'Diane.' These cultivars ought to be readily-available at quality garden centers. http://www.canadiangardening.com/plants/trees-and-shrubs/witch-hazel-a-tree-that-blooms-in-winter/a/1344/3

"9 plants that dazzle even in snow"

Here's quick tutorial article from the UK Telegraph on Winter plants you ought to have in your landscape for Winter and early Spring interest. http://www.houselogic.com/photos/gardens/winter-plants/slide/flowering-quince-chaenomeles/?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=topss&cid=pm_pn_outbrain_topss

"Winterberry — a deciduous version of holly — loses its leaves in late fall, leaving behind dazzling sprays of lipstick-red berries. Most species of holly are either male or female, so you’ll have to pair them up to get berries. Plant in spring or fall." TGM uses 'Sparkleberry' with 'Apollo' as the pollinater Various cultivars: 'Afterglow' - A 3- to 6-foot tall female cultivar with orange-red fruit. X 'Apollo' - A large plant, to 10 feet, male, used as a pollinator for 'Bonfire' and 'Sparkleberry'. 'Aurantiaca' - A female with red fruits that change to golden orange. A 4-foot, compact form. X 'Bonfire' - A large, vigorous shrub with small red fruit in clusters. 'Bright Horizon' - Vigorous and upright, large red berries are produced in tight clusters. 'Cacapon' - Red fruit and dark green foliage, more upright than 'Afterglow'. 'Jim Dandy' is a suitable pollinator. 'Early Male' - A male used to pollinate 'Afterglow' and 'Red Sprite'. X 'Harvest Red' - Heavy production of red fruit. 'Jim Dandy' - A male often used as a pollinator for 'Afterglow', 'Aurantiaca', 'Cacapon', 'Red Sprite', and 'Shaver'. 'Late Male' - A male selection used to pollinate 'Winter Red'. Probably a southern type. 'Oosterwijk' - Bright red berries persist longer than those of other cultivars. 'Jim Dandy' is a suitable pollinator. 'Raritan Chief' - A male selection with a low, dense, spreading habit. 'Red Sprite' ('Compacta', 'Nana') - Multi-stemmed shrub, compact with large red fruit. 'Select' - A female that produces heavy crops of berries. 'Shaver' - An upright form with large red fruit. 'Southern Gentleman' - A male pollinator for 'Winter Red' and 'Select'. X 'Sparkleberry' - A female that may reach 12 feet with good fruit production. 'Spriber' (Berry Nice TM) - Excellent production of red fruits. Use 'Southern Gentleman' as a pollinator. 'Sunset' - A female with large red fruits. Performed poorly in Wisconsin for Eggerss and Hasselkus. 'Winter Gold' - Yellow fruits. 'Winter Red' - Grows to 7 feet with brilliant red fruit. Plants grown in Wisconsin had a tall, leggy habit and were inferior to other cultivars. Courtest www.conknet.com Here's a source for 'Purple Majesty' millet, easy yo grow from seed http://www.burpee.com/flowers/millet/millet-purple-majesty-prod000279.html

English delphiniums from Langdon and Blackmore

Delphinium elatum'Faust' 5 hard-to-find varieties from White Flower Farm http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com

Another correct maple for landscaping: Amur maple 'Beethoven'

The scientific name is Acer ginnala, and this medium-sized maple native to the Amur River valley in China definitely makes the list of correct maples for your site: "A tightly-branched and narrow, columnar form. Has bright red samaras that compliment the large, deep hunter-green foliage. Fall foliage is red and gold." Wayneboro whole nursery can give you the name of a retail dealer in your area. www.waynesboronursery.com

'Metro Gold' maple adds fall color and is tough

Here's a species to add to your list of desirable maples for your site: Acer campestre, which is the hedge maple. The variety called 'Metro Gold' features many desirable qualities. One caveat: this is a large maple which will produce substantial shade. Take that into account. It looks best around the edges of your property in an open spot. "This upright, narrow oval cultivar has a tighter shape than Queen Elizabeth™ and is much narrower than seedling hedge maple. Selected by nurseryman Herman Panacek, it produces fewer seeds than typical and has an improved, bright yellow fall color. This is an excellent street tree selection from a species that has earned a reputation as a tough city tree." Read more about it here: http://www.jfschmidt.com/introductions/metrogold/index.html

"Winter blues"? Join us at Wintertyde to make it through with diverting activities

The Green Man invites all readers to become "Wintertyders," by following the Wintertyde calendar. Wintertyde is a new season that fits snuggly into the "dead of Winter." Wintertyde helps you make it through a long Winter by breaking it up into discrete, short segments of holidays and activities with protocols to follow. Visit us here: www.wintertyde.blogspot.com

Additional correct trees for home landscaping

Amalanchier 'Autumn Brilliance' The Green Man has 3 additional trees to add to your short list of correct trees for landscaping your site. Serviceberry. Use 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberries have few problems and offer 4-season interest. Ginkgo. 'Autumn Gold' is a reliable cultivar. This is a large tree for the periphery of your site Koelreuteria paniculata. This is medium size tree with few problems. It works well with Japanese ("KEL-roo-TER-ia") Also, work in 3's when siting, and use asymmetrical triangulation for placement. Finally, always select and plant your trees for the mature size.

Choose the correct trees for Spring planting

Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) Photo courtesy nl.tree-pictures.com January and February are good months to walk around your landscaping site to determine where you want your trees. Increasingly, homeowners are doing their own landscaping, especially in a depression economy. Hence it's critical to select the correct trees and to site them properly. TGM has also noticed that it's difficult to find a definitive list of what to plant on the Internet. This post will solve that problem. First of all, be advised that the majority of the trees at a garden center or box store are not suitable. Demand causes these businesses to stock the wrong trees, such as 'Bradford' callery pears and silver maples. Over the next few months, TGM will post articles on the correct trees. In the meantime, remember to site your trees for the mature size;otherwise, they will generally grow to close to the house. Trees must be at the very least 1/2 the mature diameter from the foundation. So, a 30' wide mature tree has to be at the very least 15' from the house. In general, do not plant any trees that max out at over 30' near the house. Use large trees on the periphery of the property, and give them room. A Short List of Trees to Avoid 'Bradford' pear. Use'Cleveland Select' or 'Chanticleer.' Silver maples. Use only Japanese maples and paperback maples near the house. Large maples such as sugar need lots of space, and they produce incredibly dense shade. Good tree to have on the periphery. Avoid the invasive 'Crimson King' Norway maple. All birch trees. Except river birch. All ash trees. All crabapples and mountain ash. All flowering dogwoods. These trees have all sorts of pest and disease issues that you do not want. A Quick List of Correct trees River birch, esp. 'Heritage.' Black tupelo Magnolias Crape myrtles Kousa dogwoods These trees add value to your property. More next time.

Exciting, new perennials for Spring 2015 from White Flower Farm

"NEW! Hemerocallis 'Fooled Me' As bright and colorful as pinwheels, these golden 5½″ blossoms have a deep red eye and finely crimped, red picotee edges. Winner of the AHS Stout Silver Medal and Award of Merit. Daylilies (properly, Hemerocallis) are the plants every gardener dreams of. They offer glorious flowers in every shade except blue, a long season of bloom (though individual flowers last but a day), and a robust disposition that makes them easy to transplant, easy to maintain, quick to multiply, and resistant to pests. They make a carefree and colorful ground cover." http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/new-spring-perennial-plants.html

Plant Delights Nursery Spring 2015 catalog available by mail

Plant Delights' new catalog is beautifully-rendered and contains a variety of hard-to-find items to enhance your landscape. Order a copy for your horticultural library today. Price is 10 stamps or 1 box of chocolates (seriously). Now available:

www.plantdelights.com

New web specials from White Flower Farm

To start off 2015, White Flower Farms is offering some "web specials" not offeredin their new Spring catalog. For example, this: Anemonella thalictroides 'Oscar Schoaf'

www.whiteflowerfarm.com