Vines and Ornamental Trees Flashcards
Flame Maple
Acer ginnala
Plant Description
Acer ginnala is a small tree (15-20 feet tall, with a similar or wider spread), which naturally grows in a multi-stemmed form. If left unpruned, it may develop a form more reminiscent of a large shrub. The bark of Amur Maple is smooth, and gray-brown with light vertical stripes forming on mature stems.
The leaves are 1.5 to 3 inches long and a mild green color with bright red petioles. The leaf shape is very recognizable with three lobes, the central lobe being much longer and wider than the two lobes on either side and the margin of the leaf is serrated irregularly.
The fruit of Acer ginnala, known as a samaras, appears in early summer and is retained into fall. The wings of samaras are typically red or rusty brown color in summer, and the samaras will fade to a brown by the end of fall. The samaras are nearly parallel in arrangement, hang in clusters and can be quite profuse on the tree. Preceding the samaras are small, insignificant white panicles of flowers with a mild scent.
Amur Maple is extremely cold hardy and performs best in areas with mild summers and cold winters. It is tolerant of most soil types and moisture conditions.
Landscape Use
The small size and multiple-trunk form makes the Amur Maple an excellent accent tree. It is especially beautiful when under lit with lighting.
Points of Interest
It is particularly susceptible to developing iron chlorosis and, if the plant is chlorotic, can develop leaf burn when planted in full sun.
Notable Cultivars
Flame Famous for its consistent production of deep and vibrant red fall color. The samaras have red wings, giving this variety some added color interest throughout the summer.
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Plant Description
Acer palmatum is a small tree (up to 25 feet tall) with a seemingly endless number of cultivars. Commonly known as Japanese Maple, its varieties are famous for their delicate foliage, good fall color and interesting form. While a borderline species in many parts of the Rocky Mountain region, Japanese Maples are so highly regarded that many homeowners will continue to plant one even after several previous unsuccessful attempts. If planted in the right location and cared for appropriately, Acer palmatumwill thrive and provide a wonderful accent plant.
The tree tends to form a broad rounded habit, often being wider than it is tall. This horizontal form is visually reinforced by the vertical layering that naturally appears within the canopy of the tree. It can be found in both a multi-stem or single-stem form. It has a very airy texture, and often feels light in the landscape.
The leaves of Acer palmatum typically have 5-7 deeply-cut lobes, with some having up to 9 lobes. Leaves on any dissectumvarieties have leaves so deeply cut that the leaf is spindly and lace-like in appearance. The lobes can vary from being very wide, to very narrow. The margin of the leaf in most cultivars are usually noticeably serrated. The leaf size can vary from 2 to 5 inches long. Red-leafed varieties are the most popular, but green and variegated varieties also exist in significant numbers. The samaras are typically smaller than half an inch an not a noted ornamental feature of the species.
Acer palmatum prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil. Most varieties are slow growing and will need ample water for many years before they well established. While they do not handle extreme cold temperatures well, my experience is that winter wind causes more damage than the temperatures alone.
Landscape Use
Use as a center piece specimen tree. Should be planted in a protected location in colder environments, especially to protect the plant from any winter winds. Many species are suitable for planting in large pots when grown in zone 5 or above.
Points of Interest
e aware that there is a great deal of variety that exists in the cultivars of Acer palmatum in regards to size, form, leaf color and texture.
Notable Cultivars
Bloodgood A large Japanese Maple (20 feet tall) with purple-red foliage that is retained well on the tree. One of the most cold hardy varieties of Acer palmatum, making it an excellent selection for our climate.
Emperor I A larger Japanese Maple (20-25 feet tall) with vibrant purple-red leaves that are deeply lobed. It grows faster and is more resistant to late frosts and heat damage than Bloodgood.
Hogyoku Large, green leaves turn golden orange in the fall. Upright in form, with a moderately fast growth rate.
Rhode Island Red A dwarf form with dark red leaves and an excellent round shape.
dissectum Crimson Queen This small variety (10 feet tall) has a weeping form with multiple layers, creating a cascading appearance. The leaves are deeply cut and serrate, and very lace-like in appearance. There can be anywhere from 5-11 lobes per leaf.
Common Trumpetcreeper, Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Plant Description
Campsis radicans has been described as a litmus test for gardeners. Dirr says of Trumpet Vine: “If you cannot grow this: give up gardening.” While this is an overstatement of the vigorous nature of this vineCampsis radicans, it is not far from the truth. Trumpet Vine will grow in basically any soil condition, with plenty of moisture or in scorching drought. In ideal conditions it will sucker profusely and it is an able climber, with clinging holdfasts that enable to climb rapidly and securely. At maturity it can grow in excess of 30 feet in length.
The leafs are oppositely compound, with 9 or 11 leaflets per leaf. Each leaflet is ovate in shape, up to 4 inches long, and coarsely toothed. The color is dark green, but may turn a more lime green in full sun in our climate. The underside of the leaf is slightly pubescent.
The most noticeable feature of Trumpet Vine, and from whence it gets its name, is the bright tubular flowers that are very showy throughout summer and into early fall. They are 2.5 - 3 inches long, with a little over an 1 wide, with some cultivars being much larger. The flowers are red or orange in color, born in large clusters, and very profuse.
Landscape Use
Use as a screen along a fence or to climb up and over a trellis or arbor. It can be used to soften the wall or edge of a building, but it may cause damage to masonry in the long-run. Its high tolerance of salt makes it an ideal choice for next to walks or roads, where winter salting is performed for snow removal. It is also a good selection for particularly difficult growing locations.
Jackman Clematis
Clematis x jackmanii
Plant Description
Clematis x jackmanii is one of the most loved flowering vines in America today. It is famous for its large, bright and profuse flowers that put on a showy display throughout the summer. Although it can be a bit finicky to grow, it performs extremely well in the right conditions. While the plant needs good sun exposure, it is important to keep the roots and base of the stems protected from extreme heat (such as occurs against a western or southern-facing wall) or the vine will wilt and die back. It is best to shade the roots and stem base with plantings or mulch. It prefers equally moist soil conditions for best growth and flower production.
Clematis is a herbacious-woody plant, with the majority of the vine being herbaceous in nature. The stems are reddish-brown or grey brown in color. Older stems have parallel ridges running the length of the stem. The leaves are are bright green, oppositely pinnately compound, with 2-4 inch leaflets. The leaflets are typically ovate, but can vary quite a bit in form, with very noticeable venation pattern. The bottoms of the leaves are slightly pubescent.
The flowers are large (4-7 inches in diameter), 4 to 6 petals. There are an endless number of colorations available. The flowers bloom from early summer and will continue to bloom through until the first frost in fall. Once the flowers are done blooming, seed heads that look like sea anemones appear on the plant.
Landscape Use
Use as a climbing vine for its flower production. It needs a trellis or other climbing aid, but will readily twine around the structure without assistance. It is not suitable as a screen along a fence because it requires heavy pruning to encourage new growth and good flowering.
Points of Interest
Prune back every fall to within 2 feet of the ground in order to get good new growth next season.
Filbert or Hazelnut
Corylus sp
Plant Description
Corylus, also known as the Filbert or Hazelnut, is a small tree or large shrub (12-15 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide). While some are available in single-stem form, most Filberts are available in a multi-stem form. It has an upright and rounded form, with an open base where leafing is more sparse. It grows well in full sun in dry soil.
The 2-4 inch long leaves are dark green and broadly ovate or cordate in shape. The margin of the leaf is doubly serrated. The underside of the leaf is pubescent, with the top side being slightly pubescent as well. Both male and female flowers appear on a single plant in the spring. The male flowers are long catkins, which can be quite showy; the female flowers are red, but very small and inconspicuous.
Fruit begins to form on the plant in the summer, with a somewhat-showy green husk encasing the nut during the summer. The fruit, a hazelnut, ripens in the fall and is edible and grown as a commercial crop.
Landscape Use
Its form makes it a great selection for shrub borders or for use in a naturalized planting bed. Also a good, non-messy fruit producing plant.
Points of Interest
It is susceptible to blight, especially in moist climates.
Notable Cultivars
Corylus maxima Purpurea - Purple Giant Filbert A large shrub (15-20 feet high) with dark purple leaves in spring, fading to dark green in the summer.
Corylus avellana Contorta - Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick The stems are extremely twisted and contorted. The branching pattern provides a great accent during the winter months.
Corylus avellana - European Filbert Grows up to 20 feet tall and forms a very dense shrub. One of the most productive fruit producers, with nuts that are of a good size and flavor.
Corylus colurna - Turkish Filbert This tree form of Filbert can grow up to 40 or 50 feet tall. It is upright, almost columnar in nature, and is an excellent selection for difficult areas such as parking strips or island plantings because of its tolerance of poor soil. Not utilized enough in modern landscapes.
Wintercreeper Euonymus
Euonymus fortunei
Plant Description
Euonymus fortunei is a semi-evergreen, low-growing shrub-vine. Its size and shape is variable from plant to plant, even within the same cultivar. It can spread like a groundcover, may form a low mounded shrub, form a taller shrub or even climb a wall thanks to its ability to cling to walls.
It is extremely adaptable to soil type and moisture condition, as long as it is not consistently wet. It grows equally as well in full sun or full shade. It is fast growing and, if left unchecked, can quickly overwhelm other plants. Branches typically spread low over the ground and have aerial roots on the bottom of the stem.
The leaves are typically ovate to oblong with serrated margins, and smaller than one inch. They are glossy and slightly thick and are arranged oppositely on the stem. During the winter the leaves will slightly discolor and some will fall from the plant, though most will be retained throughout the winter season, especially in plants with a groundcover or low shrub form.
Landscape Use
Very suitable for use as a groundcover or foundation planting. Because it is quick growing and easily pruned it can be trained into a hedge, though it is difficult to achieve the tight, rectalinear forms possible with other hedge plants such as Boxwood or Privet because of its irregular growth habit.
Notable Cultivars
Coloratus Low, spreading habit with dark green leaves that turn purplish in the winter.
Emerald ‘n Gold Spreading shrub with green leaves with yellow margins.
Emerald Gaiety Green leaves with white margins, the leaves have a pink overcast during the winter. 4 feet high and wide.
Golden Raintree
Koelreuteria paniculata
Plant Description
This mid-sized tree is well noted for its well-rounded form, showy summer blossoms and striking fruit. It is a good selection for an urban tree because of its moderate size (30 feet high and wide) and tolerance of poor soils and urban pollution. It is a fairly quick growing tree, especially in a location with good soil and watering, however, it will still thrive and perform well under less hospitable circumstances.
The bright green leaves are pinnately compound and arranged alternately on the stem. The leafs can be between 10-15 inch long and wide, with 7 to 15 leaflets per leaf. Each leaflet is between 2 and 4 inches long, roughly elliptic in shape and have an irregularly serrated margin. The petiole is reddish, especially towards the base of the leaf. Overall, the foliage of the Goldenrain Tree is quite attractive in its own right and provides a nice visual texture to the tree.
Koelreuteria paniculata is most noted for its showy yellow blossoms and fruit, both of which appear during summer. The blossoms occur in 12-15 inch long panicles on the outer edge of the canopy. Its late blooming period makes Goldenrain Tree an excellent choice for providing greater diversity in a landscape. Following the blossoms, yellow, puffed out, papery seed capsules appear on the tree in hanging panicles. They look like a form of origami artwork hung in the tree, and are quite ornamental at their best near the end of summer and into fall. By fall they have changed to a golden brown color and persist on the tree through winter.
Landscape Use
Because of its tolerance of urban pollution it is especially suited to use as a street tree, though it will need adequate moisture. It can also be used as an ornamental accent tree or even as a small shade tree.
Points of Interest
Because of its quick growth rate, Koelreuteria paniculata is susceptible to wind and snow breakage.
Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia x soulangiana
Plant Description
The Magnolia tree produces one of the most beautiful blossoms displays imaginable. Its showy display of large saucer-shaped white, pink or purple blossoms in early spring is unbeatable. The flowers first appear in large, colorful buds which are silky to the touch and slowly open to a 5-10 inch wide blossoms. Sadly the blossoms are short lived and will fade within two weeks, but the short period of profuse blooming is spectacular.
Saucer Magnolia will grow into a small multi-stem tree up to 25 feet high in our climate. It matures into an upright and spreading form with an irregular shape. The dark green leaves are 3-6 inches long and elliptic, trailing to a point on the tip of the leaf. The bottom of the leaf is pubescent. The leaves appear once the blossoming is largely completed and have a bronze overcast during the beginning of spring.
Saucer Magnolia should be planted in full sun and given plenty of water. It is tolerant of many different soil types, though it prefers slightly acidic soil.
Landscape Use
Use as a flowering specimen tree.
Points of Interest
The buds and blossoms are especially susceptible to frost and cold damage. Because of this, flowering can be unreliable in zone 4 and disrupted by a cold snap in our climate, especially during an early spring.
Magnolia x soulangiana is susceptible to leaf spot, mildew and scale.
Notable Cultivars
Magnolia stellata - Star Magnolia Star Magnolia is smaller than Magnolia x soulangiana, growing to be about 15 feet high. The white blossoms are also smaller. The blossoms have many narrow petals, giving the flower a light appearance.
Magnolia x loebneri Merrill - Merrill Magnolia Merrill Magnolia is a larger Magnolia (up to 35 feet high). The white blossoms resemble those of the Saucer Magnolia, but are slightly smaller in size.
Flowering Crabapple
Malus sp.
Plant Description
Crabapples are one of the most common species of trees used in commercial and residential landscapes because of their hardy nature and beautiful spring blossoms. Because of the vast number of different varieties of Crabapples, it is difficult to generalize about their habit and form. The most consistent features is their spring blossoms, serrated leaves, alternate branching pattern, shiny gray bark at maturity, and production of pome fruits (though several new varieties are fruitless). See the cultivar descriptions below for a more detailed description of the characteristics of each individual cultivar.
Landscape Use
Use as a small flowering accent tree. Any crabapple that drops its fruit should be kept away from major walking thoroughfares because the fallen fruit they will create an unsightly and slippery mess when stepped on.
Points of Interest
Crabapple is especially susceptible to fire blight, which appears to burn the ends of the branches by blackening the wood, fruit and foliage. They can also be susceptible to cedar apple rust, scab and mildew.
Magnolia x soulangiana is susceptible to leaf spot, mildew and scale.
Notable Cultivars
Royal Raindrops
It is has a rounded form reaching 20 feet high and 15 feet wide. Bright magenta single-blossoms in the spring are followed by purple leaves with five lobes, the central three lobes being longer than the outer two. In fall, the leaves turn a bright orange. The fruit is red, 1/4 inch in diameter and persistent. It has exhibited good disease resistance to all of the major crabapple diseases.
Pink Spires
This tree has an upright, oval form - 15 feet high and 10-12 feet wide. The single-blossoms are bright pink, and the elliptic leaves emerge purple in the spring and turn a dark green in the summer. It is very susceptible to fire blight. The deep red fruit is persistent.
Louisa
Bright red buds open into true pink single-blossoms. It has a broad spreading or weeping form, that is especially graceful when the tree is in bloom. The dark green leaves are elliptic and serrated. It will reach a height of 10-15 feet, with the width varying. The fruit is yellow and 3/8 inch wide and is persistent. It has good resistance to all of the major crabapple diseases.
Spring Snow
Spring Snow is a larger crabapple (up to 25 feet high) with a naturally rounded form. The branching is very dense, which means that the blooms are plentiful and especially showy. The single-blossoms are white and fragrant. It is an especially popular crabapple because it is almost entirely fruitless. Unfortunately it is not as resistant to disease, and is especially susceptible to scab and fireblight.
Prairifire
A very popular variety with bright magenta blossoms and purple elliptic foliage in spring. During the summer the foliage slowly fades to green, but retains purple hues on the underside of the leaf. The fruit is 1/2 inch in diameter and persistent. It is one of the most stunning blooming crabapples. Reaches 20 feet high and wide.
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Plant Description
Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a vigorous woody vine, and vigorous to the point that it could be considered an aggressive and noxious weed in many circumstances. It grows extremely fast in almost any condition, and very little seems to stop it. At maturity, the vine can spread up to 50 feet long. The vine climbs by means of holdfasts at the end of tendrils, which hold the vine very securely.
The dark green leaves are palmately compound, with five leaflets per leaf, and can grow 4-5 inches long. Each leaflet is lanceolate in shape with a serrated margin. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. New leaves form along young branches of the vine and have a bronze overcast. In fall, the leaves turn bright red, creating a very stunning display of color.
In the fall, blue berries ripen on the vine and provide some interest into the winter. The 1/4 inch diameter fruit appears in panicles on bright red stems. Do not confuse the fruit with that of Mahonia, which is a lighter cast of blue and appears in tight clusters, instead of panicles.
Landscape Use
Because of its ability to tightly grasp a vertical surface, it is well suited for use as a vegetative screen or to soften the side of a building. Care should be taken to provide adequate space for the vine to spread.
Points of Interest
If there is a plant that is immortal, this may be it. I have tried many different strategies to remove a specimen from my yard for 5 years now, with limited success. Vigilance is required to successfully remove one.
Boston Ivy
Parthenocissus tricuspidata
Plant Description
Parthenocissus tricuspidata is a woody vine similar in appearance to Ivy, from whence it garners one of its common names: Boston Ivy. It is essentially identical to Parthenocissus quinquefolia in its habit and vigorous nature. Consequently, it could also be labeled as an invasive species due to its propensity to over run an area.
The large, thick leaves of Boston Ivy are a dark, lustrous green and have three lobes. Each lobes ends in a point and the margin of the leaf is irregularly serrated. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stems. In the fall the leaves turn an attractive shade of purplish-red.
In the fall, blue berries ripen on the vine and provide some interest into the winter. The 1/4 inch diameter fruit appears in panicles on red stems.
Landscape Use
Because of its ability to tightly grasp a vertical surface, it is well suited for use as a vegetative screen or to soften the side of a building. Care should be taken to provide adequate space for the vine to spread.
Points of Interest
Parthenocissus tricuspidata is perhaps the most famous vine in America - though many people remain ignorant of its identity- as it is the vine that grows along the outfield wall of Wrigley Field in Chicago, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Flowering Plum
Prunus cerasifera
Plant Description
This tree is a commonly used ornamental tree or small sized shade tree (15 to 30 feet high and slightly narrower). Commonly known as the flowering plum, it is used primarily for its showy pink blossoms in spring and purple foliage throughout summer. Many of the popular varieties are very hardry, able to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the winter, as well as hot, dry conditions in the fall. While Dirr is quite negative about Prunus cerasifera, it is a good selection for our harsher climate, but is over-used in the landscape.
In the spring, small pink blossoms (less than an inch wide) appear in profusion all along young stems. The blossoms have a pleasant, but strong fragrance. The blooms appear before the leaves, which will begin to appear towards the end of the bloom period. The leaves are ovate, 1 1/2-2 1/2 inches long and arranged alternately along the stem. The margin of the leaf is finely serrated. Although the leaf color of the actual species is green, most of the commercially available cultivars are purple leaved.
Reddish-purple fruit ripens in the late summer and early fall. It is edible, and actually quite flavorful, but only 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Birds will pillage the fruit once it is ripe, but a sizable portion of it will still find its way to the ground.
Landscape Use
Use as a larger sized ornamental flowering tree. Its purple foliage provides an attractive accent in a shrub border, but loses its impact when several are put together. Think twice about using it in high foot-traffic areas because of the falling fruit.
Points of Interest
Iron chlorosis is particularly problematic in our climate, and may cause the tree to have orangish-red foliage during the summer.
Notable Cultivars
Mt. St. Helens: A mutation of Newport, it is faster growing, faster to leaf out and more upright in its growth habit. The leaves are slightly larger and retain their purple color throughout the season better than other varieties of flowering plum. It reaches 20 feet high and wide.
Newport: An old favorite thanks to its hardiness. The leaves emerge purple before fading slightly to a bronze-purple color. Its branching habit is very dense and even somewhat erratic. 18-20 feet high and wide.
Thundercloud: Another purple leaf variety. Slightly more upright in its branching habit. It reaches 20 feet high and wide.
Japanese Lilac Tree
Syringa reticulata
Plant Description
Syringa reticulata is an excellent, but very under-utilized species. It is not available in large numbers commercially, which is unfortunate, because its fragrant blossoms, good form and tough-as-nails constitution makes it an ideal selection for our climate. It grows into a moderate sized, upright tree, 20-30 feet high and 15-25 feet wide.
The bark is reddish colored on new growth and turns to gray on the old. The most noticeable feature of the bark is the very distinct lenticels, arranged vertically on the bark. The bright green leaves are ovate, 2-5 inches long, and come to a crooked point at their ends. They are arranged oppositely on the stem. The leaves emerge early in the spring, before most other trees.
In the summer, large panicles of white blossoms appear on the fringes of the tree’s canopy. They are larger than most blossoms found on lilac bushes, and can be over a foot long and nearly as wide. However, they are airier than traditional lilac blooms, with the individual blossoms being smaller in size. They are very fragrant. Similar to Syringa reticulata, capsule fruit born on panicles emerge after the blooming is over.
Landscape Use
Its small size makes it a good selection for an ornamental flowering tree. Its tolerance for poor soil and drought conditions makes it an excellent choice for a street tree as well.
Notable Cultivars
Ivory Silk: This tree has a good vase shape, making it especially good as a street tree. The blossoms are white and the fragrance is good. Reaches 20 feet high by 15 feet wide.
