Lecture - Plant and Family Details List Flashcards
Magnoliaceae
Small family
Trees and shrubs. Simple leaves.
Large flowers usually borne singly.
Fruits are aggregates of follicles or samaras.
Distinctive rings around the stem.
Magnolia virginiana
Sweetbay
Magnoliaceae
Form: Tree
Height: Medium height
Spread: ½ - 1x height
Spacing: same as spread
Zones: Coastline NJ - deep south
Flowers: white, lemon scented - strong. May – June
Uses: Great small patio tree/Specimen tree. Flowers bloom later than most other Magnolias.
Culture: full sun - full shade. Plant only in the spring. Tolerates wet soils
Limitations: Informal. Low density of flowers
Magnolia virginiana cultivar
Magnolia virginiana ‘Henry Hicks’
Henry Hicks sweetbay
Remains evergreen all winter even in cold climates. Denser growth habit
Liriodendron tulipifera
tulip tree
Magnoliaceae
Form: Tree
Height: Very tall - canopy topper
Spread: 30’ – 50’
Spacing: ditto
Zones: Maine/Canada to TX & FL
Flowers: yellow and orange hard to see in the canopy May – June
Fall Color: yellow
Uses: Specimen tree, Shade Tree
Culture: Full sun. Typical soil. Easily transplanted. Best planted in spring.
Limitations Too big for most urban or residential locations. Fleshy roots, somewhat shallow. Weak wood; self-pruning. Flowers too high in tree for showy effect
Annonaceae
Pretty big
All forms except herbs.
Leaves typically alternate, simple.
Vegetative buds naked, elongate. Twigs tend to dry to a black color. Twigs and young stems often zigzag.
Flowers nearly always pendulous. Petals appear similar to sepals, in 3 sets of 3.
Fruit a berry. Seeds are large.
Asimina triloba
paw paw
Annonaceae
Height: Shortish
Spread: Same as height
Spacing: Doesn’t need room
Zones: Canada to TX & FL
Flower Color: maroon-purple, May
Fruit Color: yellowish green, edible, September – October
Fall Color: Yellow
Uses: Naturalizing, Edible Fruits, Street Tree
Culture: Full sun - shade. Needs moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Does best in slightly acid soils. Tends to sucker from the roots – not an ideal plant for small spaces
Limitations: Difficult to transplant when large. Fruits can be a slight maintenance problem but often harvested by raccoons
Lauraceae
Big: Few genera, many species
Deciduous trees and shrubs, herbaceous parasites. Aromatic vegetation. Alternate entire leaves, often thick bladed.
Small, inconspicuous flowers with parts in threes. Flowers radially symmetrical, petals and sepals fused only at the base. Petals and sepals similar. Anthers with flaps at the tips.
Fruit a berry or drupe with single, large seed.
Lindera benzoin
spicebush
Lauraceae
Form: Shrub
Height: Slightly above head
Spread: About a tall person
Spacing: ditto
Zones: 4 – 9
Flower Color: greenish-yellow (dioecious), fragrant Late March – Early April
Fruit Color: Scarlet (♀)
Fall Color: Yellow
Uses: Specimen Border, Naturalizing, All parts are spicy (leaves and fruits can be made into tea)
Culture: Full sun to full shade, best with some shade. Typical soil. Best in acidic soil (pH 4.5 – 6). Difficult to transplant
Sassafras albidum
sassafras
Lauraceae
Form: Tree
Height: Tallish
Spread: About same as height
Spacing: ditto
Zones: Maine to Florida
Flower Color: yellow, small but fragrant Mid – May
Fruit Color: Blue on red stalks August – September
Fall Color: Brilliant orange-scarlet or yellow
Uses: Natively grows in thickets or hedgerows. Makes nice lawn specimen. Seasoning. Food plant for swallowtail butterflies
Culture: Typical, acid soils. Full sun to light shade
Limitations: Few problems. Tap root - difficult to transplant large individuals. Root suckers need controlling. Iron chlorosis in high pH soils
Lardizabalaceae
Small family
All vines.
Flowers unisexual; plants monoecious or dioecious.
The medium-sized, three-parted flowers have the petals and stamens opposite each other.
Ovaries are separate from one another and the fruits are more or less fleshy, or sometimes are follicles.
Leaves compound.
Akebia quinata
five-leaf akebia
Lardizabalaceae
Form: Vine
Height: pretty high
Spread: Fairly aggressive
Don’t plant
Zones: MA to SC
Fall Color: Deep green (semi-evergreen foliage)
Culture: Full sun or light shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions – moist or dry. Readily transplanted
Limitations: Invasive tendencies but no legal invasive status in MD (assessment in progress). Grows rapidly and kills the plants it climbs on
Ranunculaceae
Big family - few genera, many species
Herbs (mostly) or vines (Clematis)
Sepals often resemble petals
Leaves typically lobed or compound, lacking stipules
Special nectar producing structures called nectaries
Leaves alternate in all genera except Clematis
Flowers typically perfect (having both male and female parts); Clematis has separate male and female flowers
Clematis terniflora
sweet autumn clematis
Ranunculaceae
Form: Vine
Height: Moderate
Spread: Not much
Spacing: don’t plant
Zones: MA-SC, FL in shade
Flower Color: White, fragrant, August – October
Fruit Color: Silver – White
Fall Color: Green
Uses: Vine, climbs by twining. Screen
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Thrives on neglect. Tolerates seashore conditions. Grows in acid or alkaline soil. No significant pests
Limitations: “Vigorous to the point of viciousness” “Engulfs every structure in sight” Difficult to get rid of once established
Berberidaceae
14 Genera 701 species
Shrubs or perennial herbs
Leaves simple or odd-pinnately compound
Plants or leaves often spiny-toothed
Flowers bisexual, radially symmetrical
Parts in 4’s to 6’s
Fruit a berry Inner bark and wood commonly yellow
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry
Berberidaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: Person-high
Spread: about same
Spacing: cheak-to-cheak
Zones: Maine-NC or Georgia if in shade
Flower Color: Yellow with reddish outside - May
Fruit Color: red - Fall, winter
Fall Color: Scarlet
Uses: Borders, Hedges, Mass plantings, Barrier plant
Culture: Best in full sun, tolerates partial shade. Needs well-drained soils. Exceptionally adaptable. Tolerates drought and heat. Tolerates urban conditions. Transplants easily. Deer resistant! Few pests
Limitations: Straight species MD Tier 2 invasive (6/23/2020)
Plant breeding developments:
Dr. Mark Brand, University of Connecticut produced among others: Berberis thunbergii ‘UCONNBTCP4N’ PP30,095 WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® barberry
Berberis thunbergii cultivars
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea
red leaf Japanese barberry:
A naturally-occurring variety that has reddish foliage that tends to fade to green during the summer. Most red foliaged cultivars are derived from this variety. B. t. var. a. ‘Nana’ = synonym to ‘Crimson Pygmy’ - Crimson Pygmy barberry
Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’
rose glow barberry:
New foliage mottled rose pink with deeper red purple. Fall color lasts longer than in the species.
Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’
golden barberry:
Leaves vivid yellow, does not scorch in sun even in southern landscapes; yellow-green in shade. Dense, slow-growing. Does not flower or fruit heavily.
Platanaceae
Extremely small family
Large trees. Bark exfoliates in characteristic plates.
Leaves simple, alternate, lobed. Stipules leaf-like and completely surround the stem. Axillary buds enclosed by petiole base.
Flowers and fruits in dense, spherical heads. Male and female flowers separate. Sepals, petals, and anthers in 4’s
Fruit cluster of achenes each with a tuft of hairs.
Platanus occidentalis
sycamore
Platanaceae
Height: super tall
Spread: almost as wide
Spacing: ditto
Zones: Maine to FL
Uses: Shade tree, Specimen, Street Tree
Culture: Full Sun, Adaptable but grows best in rich moist soils. Tolerates urban conditions. Easily transplanted. Tolerates high and low pH soils. Leave if you have one – however better options in most landscape settings
Limitations: Shallow root system makes them susceptible to drought. Extremely messy (leaves, fruit, twigs). Anthracnose Powdery mildew. Many other disease problems. Too large for many situations. Roots impact built features such as pavement, pipes, foundations
Sycamore Anthracnose
Apiognomonia veneta (Discula platani)
Leaf blight
Thin canopy
Twig lesions
Twig blight
Managing and Controlling:
- Remove symptomatic tissue in fall and winter
- Maintain tree vigor through proper watering and fertilizing
- Treat with fungicide if absolutely necessary
- At or just before bud break in spring (foliar or injection)
- If you can see symptoms on leaves it is too late to treat.
Platanus ×acerifolia
London plane tree
Platanaceae
Platanus occidentalis × Platanus orientalis
Height: Tallish - good for streets
Spread: same
Spacing: same
Zones: (Maine) Upper NY - Georgia (FL)
Uses: Street tree. Shade tree. Parks, golf courses
Culture: Same as P. occidentalis. Extremely tolerant of many conditions including urban
Limitations: Approaching monoculture plantings in many places. Variable susceptibility to many diseases including powdery mildew and anthracnose
Comparison of sycamore, oriental plane tree, and London plane tree
Platanus ×acerifolia cultivars
Platanus ×acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’
Bloodgood plane tree
Greater resistance to anthracnose than unselected P. ×acerifolia, But more recently has shown susceptibility. Not ozone tolerant – late summer stippling and leaf drop
Platanus ×acerifolia ‘Liberty’ and Platanus ×acerifolia ‘Columbia’
- Resulted from controlled crosses of symptomless Platanus orientalis × two susceptible Platanus occidentalis
- Progeny were exposed to anthracnose and evaluated for susceptibility.
- Symptom free clones were evaluated for growth form, landscape
attributes, and tolerance of street conditions. - Highly resistant to anthracnose and powdery mildew
- Resist inward spread of wood decay by compartmentalizing damage
Cercidiphyllaceae
Tiny family
Trees.
Male and female flower separate.
Plants dioecious.
Flowers lack petals. Sepals on male
flower minute.
Fruit a follicle.
Leaves opposite to alternate on same
plant.
Leaves simple with primary veins
palmate.
Spur shoots present.
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
katsura tree
Cercidiphyllaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 45’ – 55’ (100’)
Spread: 30’ – 40’
Spacing: 30’ – 40’
Zones: 4 – 8
Flower Color: n.s., reddish, March – April
Fruit Color: n.s., tan – brown, persist all winter
Fall Color: yellow to apricot
Uses: Elegant shade tree, Specimen tree, Planted in groves. Plant in large spaces: large lawns, parks, golf courses
Culture: Best fall color in full sun. Best in rich, moist well-drained soil. Needs water in extended drought, especially when young pH adaptable
Limitations: No severe pests. Not easy to transplant. Large size limits planting locations
Iteaceae
2 Genera 18 Species
Trees to shrubs
Pith chambered
Leaves alternate, spirally arranged
Leaves evergreen or deciduous
Leaf margins serrate, sometimes with glands at the tips of the teeth
Stipules small, on leaf base or adjacent stem
With superposed axillary buds
Inflorescence: spikes, racemes or panicles in leaf axils
Flowers small, sepals and petals in fives
Sepals and petals fused to form a hypanthium
Fruit a capsule
Itea virginica
Virginia sweetspire
Iteaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 3’ – 5’
Spread: 5’ – 10’
Spacing: 5’ – 10’
Zones: 5 – 9
Flower Color: White, fragrant June - July
Fruit Color: n.s. brown capsule
Fall Color: yellow, to orange, to scarlet, to purple
Uses: Shrub borders. Foundation plants. Naturalizing in moist areas
Culture: Full sun to full shade. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Tolerates wet or dry soils. Prefers acidic to neutral soils. Very easy to propagate from cuttings
Limitations: No serious pests or diseases. Not tolerant of extensive drought until it is well established. Can spread beyond intended area if soils are very moist.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Henry’s Garnet sweetspire
Fall Color: deep red purple, lasts longer than for species
Flowers showier
More cold tolerant (to Zone 3)
Hamamelidaceae
27 Genera 82 species
Trees and shrubs.
Stellate or tufted hairs.
Leaves mostly alternate, simple.
Leaves often with entire margins at the base, toothed above.
Strongly stipulate leaves.
Smallish flowers often in dense clusters.
Petals often strap shaped.
Ovary at least partly inferior.
Fruit a capsule or aggregate of capsules.
Seeds often with ballistic dispersal.
Liquidambar styraciflua
sweetgum
Hamamelidaceae (now Altingiaceae)
Form: Tree
Height: 50’ – 70’ (100+)
Spread: 25’ – 40’
Spacing: 25’ – 40’
Zones: 5 – 9
Flower Color: n.s April - May
Fruit Color: green in summer, brown in fall
Fall Color: Scarlet, yellow, orange
Uses: Shade tree, Avenue tree, Specimen Windbreaks
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Soils ≤ pH 7. Prefers moist soils but widely adaptable to a variety of conditions once established. Moderately drought resistant
Limitations: Fruits drop endlessly with high viability. Aggressive, shallow root system lifts sidewalks and curbs. Extremely sensitive to construction activities. No serious pests or diseases. Difficult to transplant when large
Liquidambar styraciflua cultivars
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Burgundy’
burgundy sweetgum
Wine-red color in fall and on new leaves. Leaves may persist into winter
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Festival’
festival sweetgum
More conical, narrow and upright than the species. Less cold hardy (7 – 9).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’
rotund sweetgum
Rounded lobe tips. Fruitless. Yellow to orange fall color some years, burgundy others; narrow pyramidal form. Not reliably hardy in Zone 5. Original tree discovered in the wild in North Carolina in 1930
Fothergilla gardenii
dwarf fothergilla
Hamamelidaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 3’ – 5’
Spread: 6’
Spacing: 4’ – 5’
Zones: (4)5 – 8(9)
Flower Color: White, fragrant; stamens showy Late March – early April
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: Yellow to Orange to Red
Uses: Shrub border, Foundation plants, Mass plantings, Naturalized settings
Culture: Grows in full sun to shade. Needs full sun to develop fall color. Prefers moist soils but will not tolerate standing water. Does best in acidic soils
Limitations: Relatively trouble free. Drought stress in hot dry situations, avoid windy sites
Hamamelis virginiana
common witchhazel
Hamamelidaceae
Form: Small Tree
Height: 7’ – 10’
Spread: 15’ – 20’ (30’)
Spacing: 8’ – 15’
Zones: 3b – 8(9)
Flower Color: Yellow, fragrant, Oct. – Dec.
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: light yellow
Uses: Patio Tree, Screen, Border
Culture: Performs well in shade. Full sun for best fall color and bloom. Great variation in adaptability. Not very tolerant of high pH
Limitations: No serious pest or diseases. Does not tolerate extremely dry conditions
Vitaceae
14 genera, 850 species
Mostly vines.
Leaves alternate.
Leaves with palmately
compound, lobed, or veined
blades.
Leaves with stipules that fall
early.
Commonly with tendrils or
inflorescences opposite the
leaves.
Stems often with lots of
lenticels.
Inflorescence a cyme and small
flowers.
Fruit a berry.
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
porcelain berry
Vitaceae
Form: Vine
Height: 25’+
Spread: 25’+
Spacing: 0
Zones: 4 – 8
Flowers: n.s., greenish-white
Fruit Color: yellow to lilac to bright blue
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: None recommended. In the past used for showy berries. Climbing over trellises and fences
Culture: Best in full sun to partial shade. Transplants readily. Needs support. Extremely fast growing. Tolerates dry soils
Limitations Invasive habits but no legal invasive status in MD. Covers other species
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ‘Elegans’
Variegated leaves when grown in the sun.
More deeply lobed leaves.
More compact growth habit.
Slightly less aggressive than the species.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper
Vitaceae
Form: Vine
Height: 30’ – 50’
Spread: 30’ – 50’
Spacing: 30’ – 50’
Zones: 4 – 9
Flowers: n.s., greenish-white
Fruit Color: Purple violet, Sept. – Oct.
Fall Color: Brilliant red
Uses: Climbing over walls, fences and trellises
Culture: Grows in full sun to full shade. Tolerant of the most trying conditions. Will grow at the seashore
Limitations: Not strong enough for use on buildings. Can easily get away from you and considered a weed by many. Susceptible to leaf spot. Susceptible to canker
Parthenocissus tricuspidata
Boston ivy
Vitaceae
Form: Vine
Height: 40’ – 60’+
Spread: 30’+
Spacing: 10’ – 30’
Zones: 4 – 8
Flowers: n.s.
Fruit Color: Bluish black berries in fall
Fall Color: Dark red
Uses: Wall covering - holds well on buildings Climate control in buildings
Culture: Grows in full sun to full shade. Tolerant of trying conditions. Tolerant of salt
Liabilities: Can become invasive. Susceptible to Japanese beetle. Tendrils and adhesive discs hard to remove from buildings. Not good on trellises or fences
Lythraceae
31 genera, 620 species
Corolla is often crumpled in bud – petals are “crinkly”.
Petals “clawed”.
Often 10+ stamens of unequal length.
Calyx is thick and ribbed.
Fruit a dry capsule.
Opposite to sub-opposite leaves.
Often with exfoliating bark.
Lagerstroemia fauriei
Fauriei crapemyrtle
Lythraceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 20’ – 25’
Spread: 15’ – 20’
Spacing: 15’
Zone: (6)7 – 9
Flower Color: white (not exceptional) - Summer
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: Red
Uses: Specimen, Accent, Patio tree. Spectacular exfoliating bark
Culture: Best in full sun. Prefers well drained soils. Resistant to powdery mildew
Limitations: Flowers not exceptional. Non-recurrent flowering
Lagerstroemia indica
crapemyrtle
Lythraceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 15’ – 20’
Spread: 15’ – 20’
Spacing: 10’ – 20’
Zone: 7 – 9
Flower Color: profuse bloom; white, pink, red - August - frost
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: Yellow – orange – red
Bark: Tan
Uses: Specimen, Accent, Patio tree. Recurrent flowering: profuse and prolonged summer bloom
Culture: Full sun. Prefers acidic soil. Best in loamy, moist well-drained soils. Blooms on new growth. No insect problems. Transplant in spring
Limitations: Susceptible to powdery mildew. Can be cold damaged in Zone 6
Pruning Lagerstroemia
Remove flowering stalks after bloom to encourage second blooming
Prune vegetative stalks in spring or summer (before August) to ensure winter hardiness
Remove all but 3-4 main stems
Lagerstroemia Cultivar Selections
Breeding began at the National Arboretum in 1962 to increase disease resistance within Lagerstroemia indica.
A few examples….
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Catawba’
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Cherokee’
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Conestoga’
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Powhatan’
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Potomac’
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Seminole’
Lagerstroemia hybrids
Lagerstroemia indica
- Pro: Recurrent blooming
- Con: Powdery mildew
Lagerstroemia fauriei
- Pro: No powdery mildew
- Con: No recurrent bloom
Hybrids:
- Resistant to powdery mildew
- Different size groups
- New bark colors
- Recurrent bloom
- Potentially increased hardiness
Lagerstroemia cultivars - hybrids
Lagerstroemia fauriei arrived in the U.S. in the 1950s.
Lagerstroemia indica × Lagerstroemia fauriei
Lagerstroemia × ‘Acoma’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Lipan’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Sioux’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Tonto’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Yuma’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Chickasaw’
Lagerstroemia × ‘Pocomoke’
Five original plants and their progeny intercrossed for five generations.
The first cross was made in 1967
Final cross was made in 1989
‘Chickasaw‘ was released 1997
‘Pocomoke’ was released in 1998
Lagerstroemia × ‘Natchez’
Natchez crapemyrtle
Lythraceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: to 21’
Spread: 21’ – 30’
Spacing: 10’ – 20’
Zone: (6)7 – 9
Flower Color: White
July - Frost
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: Orange – bronze
Bark: Cinnamon brown
Differences from L. indica:
- Spectacular exfoliating bark
- Resistant to powdery mildew
Differences from L. fauriei:
- Recurrent blooming
Bignoniaceae
110 genera, 800 species
All are woody.
Stems with lenticels.
Most have opposite leaves.
Leaves may be simple or compound.
Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical and often large.
Petals fused into a tube.
Fruit a capsule with many seeds.
Seeds are usually flattened and winged.
Campsis radicans
trumpetcreeper / trumpet vine
Bignoniaceae
Form: Vine
Height: 30’ – 40’
Spread: 15’ – 30’
Spacing: 10’ – 15’
Zones: 4 – 9
Flower Color: Orange to scarlet.
Fruit Color: n.s. Green, 3” – 5” long
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Climbing on walls and trellises. Can form nice boundaries. Accent. Specimen. Espalier
Culture: Grows in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates trying conditions. Tolerates seashore conditions.
Liabilities: Can spread VERY rapidly. Very hard to get rid of once established. Not a strong climber – holds on by aerial rootlets
Campsis radicans cultivars
Campsis ×tagliabuana ‘Madame Galen’ hybrid trumpet creeper
Campsis radicans × Campsis grandiflora
- Larger flowers and more flowers than C. radicans
- Not as cold hardy as C. radicans (Zones 5 – 9)
Catalpa bignonioides
Southern Catalpa
Bignoniaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 45’
Spread: 45’ - 55’
Spacing: 45’ – 55’
Zones: 5 – 9
Flower Color: White with yellow and purple spots
Fruit Color: Green to brown, straight slender pod.
Fall Color: n.s.
- Similar to Catalpa speciosa
- Smaller
- Flowers ~ 2 weeks later
Catalpa bignonioides cultivar
Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana’
Catalpa speciosa
northern catalpa
Bignoniaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 50’ – 60’ (90’)
Spread: 25’ – 35’ (40’ – 50’)
Spacing: 25’ – 35’ (40’ – 50’)
Zones: 4 – 8
Flower Color: White with yellow and purple spots
Fruit Color: Green to brown pod. Pod slightly curved.
Fall Color: Yellow, not spectacular.
Uses: Specimen tree. Shade tree. Great flowers
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant. Tolerant of many soil conditions
Limitations: Needs large area for best effect. Fruits can be maintenance problem. Can be weedy. Susceptible to powdery mildew
Paulowniaceae
1 Genus 6 Species
Trees.
Leaves opposite.
Inflorescences terminal.
Flowers large, bilaterally symmetrical.
Calyx lobes fused to one another, corolla lobes fused.
The calyx is densely brown tomentose.
Fruit a capsule.
Seeds winged.
Paulownia tomentosa
empress tree
Paulowniaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 45’ – 60’
Spread: 30’ – 40’
Spacing: 30’ – 40’
Zones: (5)6 – 9
Flower Color: Pale violet, fragrant - Mid-May
Fruit Color: n.s. brown capsules
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Not recommended. Shade tree in the past
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Extremely rapidly growing. Prefers moist, well drained soils but tolerates a range of conditions. Tolerates pollution. Tolerates seashore conditions. Needs protection from wind.
Limitations: Messy, leaves drop over long period. Fruits look unkempt. Coarse. Dense canopy excludes other plants. Invasive habits (2000+ seeds per capsule; MD assess in progress)
Verbenaceae
34 genera, 1175 species
Vines, trees, shrubs, or herbs.
Stems often square.
Leaves opposite and simple
or palmately compound.
All parts strongly scented.
Flowers bilaterally symmetrical.
Petals fused.
Typically with 4 stamens.
Ovary with four ovules.
Caryopteris ×clandonensis
bluebeard
Verbenaceae
Caryopteris incana × Caryopteris mongholica
Form: Shrub
Height: 3’ – 5’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Spacing: 2’ – 3’
Zone: 6 – 9
Flower Color: Blue
July – Sept.
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Massing. Low border. Flowers late in summer. Leaves stems and flowers fragrant
Culture: Tolerates heat and drought. Full sun. Tolerates seashore conditions (sandy and salty soils). Can be cut to the ground, flowers on new wood. Best in well drained soil. Transplants easily
Limitations: Needs to be pruned hard or it can be leggy and unattractive. Weedy, may seed into areas if not deadheaded
Callicarpa japonica
Japanese beautyberry
Verbenaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 4’– 8’
Spread: 4’– 6’
Spacing: 3’– 6’
Zones: 5–8
Flower Color: n.s. pink, white or lavender. - July - August
Fruit Color: Violet to metallic purple. Fall
Fall Color: Yellow
Uses: Same uses as C. dichotoma but C. japonica may benefit from cross pollination for fruit production
Culture: same. Transplants easily. Well-drained soil. Full sun to light shade
Limitations: Irregular fruiting in C. japonica. Can look ratty with age – rejuvenates well
Callicarpa japonica cultivar
Callicarpa japonica ‘Leucocarpa’
white-fruited Japanese beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Early Amethyst’
early amethyst purple beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Duet’
Vitex agnus-castus
chaste tree
Verbenaceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 10’ – 12’
Spread: 16’
Spacing: 5’ – 15’
Zone: (6)7 – 8(9)
Flower Color: Lilac – purple, fragrant. June – Aug.
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: n.s
Uses: Specimen. Massing. Screen. Border. Aromatic foliage
Culture: Tolerates heat and drought. Easily transplanted. No severe insect or disease problems
Limitations: Exotic looking but difficult to combine with other shrubs. Not hardy north of New York City. Can be invasive
Vitex negundo var. heterophylla
cutleaf chaste tree
Verbenaceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 10’ – 15’
Spread: 15’ – 20’
Spacing: 10’ – 20’
Zone: 6 – 8
Flower Color: Lavender
June – Sept.
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Specimen or border. More delicate texture and better form than V. agnus-castus. Hardier than V. agnus-castus. Aromatic foliage
Culture: Tolerates heat and drought. Easily transplanted. No severe insect or disease problems. Needs full sun
Limitations: Flowers not as showy as V. agnuscastus but leaves add interest
Oleaceae
24 Genera 615 species
Trees and shrubs.
Opposite leaves.
Simple or odd-pinnately compound leaves.
No stipules.
Stem somewhat enlarged and flattened at the nodes, but no line across the node.
Lenticels obvious, often raised.
Flowers with 4 sepals and 4 fused petals (or none), 2 anthers.
Flowers unisexual or perfect.
Chionanthus retusus
Chinese fringe tree
Oleaceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 20’ – 30’
Spread: 20’ – 30’
Spacing: 20’ – 30’
Zones: (5)6 – 8
Flower Color: White, fragrant - June
Fruit Color: Blue-black on ♀ plants
Fall Color: Soft yellow, not consistent
Uses: Specimen plant, especially in small sites. Can plant spring flowering species underneath it
Culture: One of the last plants to leaf out in spring. Tolerates partial shade, best in full sun. Best in moist well drained, organic soil but adaptable. Air pollution tolerant. Drought tolerant. Flowers on current season’s growth
Limitations: None significant. Not as cold hardy as Chionanthus virginicus
Chionanthus virginicus
fringe tree
Oleaceae
Form: Shrub to Tree
Height: 10’ – 15’
Spread: 10’ – 15’
Spacing: 10’ – 15’
Zones: 4 – 9
Flower Color: White, fragrant; ♂ flowers larger, more effective - May - June
Fruit Color: Blue-black on ♀
Fall Color: Yellow
Uses: Large shrub to small tree. Specimen plant, especially in small sites. Can plant spring flowering species underneath it
Culture: One of the last plants to leaf out in spring. Tolerates partial shade, best in full sun. Best in moist well drained, organic soil but adaptable. Prefers acidic soils. Air pollution tolerant. Flowers on previous season’s growth
Limitations: None significant. Male plant needed to set fruits. Slightly less showy than C. retusus as flowers are held below leaves v. terminal
Fraxinus americana
white ash
Oleaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 40’ – 50’ (100’)
Spread: 30’ – 50’
Spacing: 30’ – 50’
Zones: 4 – 9
Flower Color: n.s. - April
Fruit Color: n.s. green samara, on ♀ plants
Fall Color: yellow to purple or maroon
Uses: Shade tree. Avenue tree. Grows more slowly than green ash but ultimately is larger with better structure
Culture: Widely adaptable to various soils and climates. Tolerates moderately poor, dry soil. Prefers full sun
Limitations: Not as adaptable as green ash. Weak branch angles. Many diseases and insect pests:
- Ash yellows
- Banded ash clearwing moth borers
- Emerald ash borer
Fraxinus americana cultivars
Fraxinus americana ‘Junginger’ Autumn Purple®
Male, therefore seedless
Reddish-purple fall color
Fraxinus excelsior
European ash
Oleaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 30’ – 40’
Spread: 25’ – 35’ (–90’)
Spacing: 25’ – 35’ (–90’)
Zones: 5 – 7
Flower Color: n.s. - April
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: clear yellow
Uses: Specimen tree
Culture: Prefers rich, loamy soil. Full sun to half sun. Tolerates high pH soils
Limitations: Borers. Large Size
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
green ash
Oleaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 50 – 60’ (80’)
Spread: 30’ – 40’
Spacing: 30’ – 40’
Zones: (2b)3 – 9
Flower Color: n.s. April
Fruit Color: n.s. green then brown on ♀ trees
Fall Color: yellow
Uses: Shade tree. Street tree. Specimen tree
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Tolerates poor soils. Tolerates high pH. Tolerates urban conditions: road salt, compacted soils. Grows quickly (2’ – 3’/year). More upright and irregular in growth than white ash
Limitations: Fertile and abundant seed. Emerald ash borer. Banded ash clearwing moth. Scale. Ash yellows
Fraxinus pennsylvanica cultivar
Fraxinus pennsylvanica ‘Patmore’ Patmore green ash
Selected from seedlings from Alberta, Canada Male clone = fruitless
Very cold hardy to -40 degrees
Leaves persist longer into fall
Straight trunk and uniform symmetrical branching
Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum
Regel privet
Oleaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 4’ – 5’
Spread: 6’ – 10’
Spacing: 6’ – 10’
Zones: 4 – 7
Flower Color: n.s., white, unpleasantly scented - Late May –early June
Fruit Color: blue-black
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Informal hedge. Border. Screen. Considered to have the best form of the Ligustrums
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Tolerates salt from roads. Extremely tolerant of poor, dry soils. Branches grow horizontally
Limitations: Tier 2 MD Invasive plant. Does not do well to the south of us. Foul smelling flowers
Ligustrum ovalifolium
California privet
Oleaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 10’ – 15’
Spread: 8’ – 12’
Spacing: 3’ – 10’
Zones: 5 – 7(8)
Flower Color: white - Late May
Fruit Color: globose, black, minimally produced
Fall Color: green (semievergreen here)
Uses: Shrub. Outstanding formal hedge. Border
Culture: Sun to partial shade. Tolerates salt from roads. Branches grow vertically
Limitations: Not reliably hardy north of New York City. Foul smelling flowers
Ligustrum ×vicaryi
golden vicary privet
Oleaceae
Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’ × Ligustrum vulgare
Height: 12’
Spread: 10’
Spacing: 2’ – 10’
Zones: 5 – 8
Flower Color: White
Fruit Color: Blue black
Fall Color: Golden yellow
Uses: Same as other privets. Yellow foliage
Culture: Needs full sun to develop good color. Best heavily pruned. Plant with dark colored plants for best effect
Limitations: Not effective planted by itself. Shaded leaves turn sickly green
Syringa reticulata
Japanese tree lilac
Oleaceae
Form: Tree
Height: 20’ – 30’
Spread: 15’ – 25’
Spacing: 15’ – 20’
Zones: 3 – 7
Flower Color: white, foul smelling (privet-like) Early – to mid–June
Fruit Color: n.s., green capsules
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Most trouble free lilac. Specimen tree. Street tree. Mass plantings
Culture: Full sun for good flowering. pH adaptable. Easily transplanted. Prefers cool summers. Prune after flowering
Limitations: Fewer problems than other lilacs. Powdery mildew. Leaf blight. Borers. Frost injury to young leaves. Foul smelling flowers
Loganiaceae
14 genera 420 species
Annual herbs to shrubs or vines.
Leaves opposite, joined by line.
Flowers with parts in 4’s- or 5’s.
Flowers somewhat bilaterally symmetrical.
Petals fused together into a tube.
Sepals fused.
Seeds without wings.
Buddleia davidii
butterfly bush
Loganiaceae
Form: Shrub
Height: 6’ – 8’ (15’)
Spread: 6’ – 10’
Spacing: 6’ – 10’
Zone: 5 – 9
Flower Color: white, pink, purple, red
Fruit Color: n.s.
Fall Color: n.s.
Uses: Shrub. border. Massing. Flowers profusely in late summer and fall. Flowers attract butterflies
Culture: Full sun. Tolerates moderate ocean front conditions. Heavy pruning yields fewer, larger flowers. Well drained soil best. pH adaptable. Blooms in one year from seed
Limitations: Too coarse to be used in most situations, although small and more refined selections have been made. Can be invasive if not deadheaded or sterile cultivar
