Vitex is a genus of about 250 mainly subtropical to temperate plants; the best known species are called chaste tree. Vitex are mostly evergreen plants, but some are deciduous when planted in cooler temperate regions. Vitex – chast tree is commonly grown for its sprays of tubular flowers usually lilac, but also blue, pink, or […] More
Magnolias are trees or shrubs commonly grown for their magnificient blossoms in white, pink, red, purple, and sometimes yellow. Depending on the species or cultivar they can vary from about 10 feet tall to 80 feet tall and often just as wide. Magnolias appear in varied sizes and shapes. Magnolias include both evergreen and deciduous […] More
Franklinia is a small deciduous tree grown for its showy camellia-like white flowers and colorful autumn foliage. Franklinia has a slender, habit when grown from a single trunk. Its open branching shows off camellia-like five-petaled flowers in late summer and early autumn. Flowers appear at about the same time leaves turn red. Franklinia grows to […] More
Prunus is a genus of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs including ornamental flowering cherries and plums. Ornamental cherries and plums bloom in spring. They bear pink or white flowers 1 to 2 inches in diameter; the flowers are borne in clusters that mass along the stems or droop beneath them. The flowers can be […] More
The flowering crabapple is a beautiful, disease-resistant tree with horizontal branches and a dense rounded head. Crabapples grow 20 to 30 feet tall and wide. In spring crab apples are covered with clusters of deep reddish-pink flower buds that open to 1-inch-wide fragrant pink flowers that fade to white. There are many crabapple cultivars in […] More
Dogwoods, Cornus, are small to medium-size trees and shrubs. Many consider the dogwood the most beautiful of flowering trees. White and pink flowers appear in spring and remain on the tree for nearly a month, longer than other flowering trees. Dogwoods are among the most useful of hardy ornamental woody plants. Some grow to fair-sized […] More
Metrosideros–commonly known as New Zealand Christmas tree–is a subtropical tree or large shrub that bears colorful red flowers with many stamens from spring to early summer. Metrosideros is native to New Zealand. Metrosideros can be grown as a specimen, hedge, or screen. It takes well to pruning and clipping. It can be planted on coastal […] More
Lophostemon or Tristania–commonly called Brisbane box or brush box–is an evergreen tree or tall shrub native to subtropical regions of Australia and New Guinea. It can be grown as a shade tree or tall hedge. Where not hardy it can be grown in a cool or warm greenhouse. Brush box–also called Brisbane box–can grow 30-50 […] More
Olea–commonly called olive–is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs best known for producing edible fruits, but some cultivars are fruitless and grown as ornamental plants. Olea is a medium-sized tree growing to as tall as 35 feet and spreading 20 to 30 feet wide. Olives have distinctive grey-green foliage of 1 to 2 inches […] More
Citrus are subtropical, fruit-bearing trees. They can be grown as specimens outdoors and many can be grown indoors. Citrus include limes, oranges, lemons, citrons, grapefruits, mandarins, clementines, satsumas, and tangerines. Nearly all citrus have thick, leathery, and shiny green leaves and stems that are often spiny. They bear handsome flowers that are fragrant, white and […] More
Rhapis–commonly called lady palm–is a reedlike palm whose stems appear in clusters. Rhapis has fronds that are fan-shaped and divided lengthwise into narrow green leaves that can be blunt-edged or pointed. The shiny bright green fronds are divided into five to eight leaves up to 9 inches long and 2 inches wide. Indoors. Rhapis grows […] More
Radermachera is a genus of subtropical shrubs and trees that bear attractive glossy, dark green leaves that are light and wispy. One species, Radermachera sinica, is often sold as a small houseplant though it can grow to 9 feet (3m) tall indoors. Outdoors in its native tropical China, Radermachera can grow to 90 feet (30m) talll […] More
Stephen Albert