Broussonetia–commonly called paper mulberry–is a deciduous shade tree grown for its fast growth and dense, broad head. It grows to 25 feet (8m) tall and wide and often larger. Broussonetia tolerates pollution, heat, and poor soil. It is popular in urban locations. Broussonetia’s leaves are gray-green, ovate to deeply lobed, and grow to 8 inches […] More
Asimina–commonly called pawpaw–is grown for its tropical foliage and edible fruit. Leaves are large and simple. The fruits are six-inch-long, green berries that ripen dark brown in autumn and taste like bananas or vanilla custard. Asimina is sometimes called the Michigan banana. Asimina is a hardy member of the tropical family that includes cherimoya. The […] More
Symplocos–commonly called sapphireberry–is a large deciduous shrub or small tree that is often grown for its panicles or racemes of yellow or white flowers that appear in spring followed by blue, black, purple, or white berry-like fruits in autumn. There are about 250 species in the Symplocos genus, but only one, S. paniculata, is generally […] More
Bauhinia–commonly called orchid tree or Brazilian butterfly tree–are large shrubs and trees commonly grown for their orchid-like flowers. Bauhinia are tender plants grown in Hawaii, central and southern Florida, and mild-winter areas of California and Arizona. Bauhinia is not fussy about soil as long as the soil is well-drained. Bauhinia is a genus of about […] More
Tamarix — commonly called Tamarisk–are grown for their attractive, feathery foliage of small needle-like leaves and racemes of small pink or rose flowers. They are large shrubs and small trees that grow in windy locations, salt spray, and poor or sandy soil. They can be used as a windbreak, exposed hedge, and in seacoast gardens. Tamarix can be […] More
Symphoricarpos–commonly called snowberry or coralberry–are deciduous shrubs usually grown for their fleshy white to pink or dark blue or purple fruits that hang on the plant well into winter. Symphoricarpos’ fruit is preceded by bell or funnel-shaped, nectar-rich white to pink flowers. Symphoricarpos is very hardy. It is tolerant or poor soil and pollution. It […] More
Juniperus —commonly called junipers–is a large genus of evergreen coniferous plants, some are shrubs and some are trees. Many of them are often used landscape trees, shrubs, and ground covers. There is a form of juniper for almost every landscape use. Junipers have foliage that is needlelike or scalelike or both. Groundcovers range from 2 […] More
Hippophae–commonly called sea buckthorn-is an open, mounding shrub usually grown for its linear, silvery-gray-green leaves and spherical orange fruits. While the flowers are usually inconspicuous, the fruits are showy. Hippophae tolerates low temperatures, wind, poor soil, and salt spray. It is a good screening or informal hedge plant for difficult situations. Grow Hippophae in a […] More
Rhamnus–commonly called buckthorn–is a genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs that are grown for their foliage. Rhamnus are dense spreading slightly rounded shrubs that are suited for shrub borders, background plantings, and informal hedges. Rhamnus produce tiny cup-shaped flowers in racemes or umbel-like clusters. The flowers are often fragrant and usually yellowish-white, greenish-white, or white. […] More
Rhodotypos–commonly called jetbead or black jet bead–is a deciduous shrub that grows rounded and arching. It bears large, papery, four-petaled flowers from spring to summer. In autumn the flowers give way to shiny black berries. The persistent black berries give Rhodotypos its common name jetbead. Rhodotypos is easy to grow and is well suited for […] More
Styrax–commonly called snowbell–are small trees and shrubs with dainty, nodding, bell-shaped fragrant white flowers. The flowers are produced in racemes and panicles in clusters on short branches. Styrax have slender, graceful trunks and strongly horizontal branches; they are flat topped. Leaves angle upward from branches while flowers hang down; the effect is of parallel green […] More
Taxodium–commonly called cypress–are upright conical deciduous or semi-evergreen coniferous trees especially suited to very wet or boggy sites. They are native to warm regions but they readily adapt to normal garden conditions and grow stately size in cold climates. Taxodium grow tall and shaggy. They have cinnamon-colored bark and graceful sprays of short, narrow, flat […] More
Stephen Albert