ARCTIC WILLOW -- SALIX PURPUREA NANA

Dwarf Arctic willow -- Salix purpurea 'Nana'

Not a willow shape in the classic sense but a graceful blue-wispy accent or border plant for the garden. Compact and refined it is easily shaped by pruning. Bonsai material even. I love the way it sways gracefully in a breeze, definitely an ornamental and can be used in hedges or in clumps. Its blueish foliage lends wonderfully with the burnt coppery tones of cryptomeria.

Salix purpurea 'Nana', is a fast grower and it will tolerate wet soil conditions. This shrub can be used individually, in clumps or even as a hedge, the slender, upright stems which makes for a soft looking shrub which waves beautifully in the wind. To keep it looking it's best, provide regular pruning. The blue-green leaves are very attractive on the mounded shape. A fine textured shrub, with slender and supple twigs that can be used to make baskets

HYPERLINKED USDA CLIMATE ZONE MAP

Autumn color -- Parrotia persica

Parrotia persica -- Persian Parrotia

Essentially this is an upgraded form of the withchhazel. Normaly it grows as a low-branched tree, typically two-thirds as broad as it is tall. I prefer to prune it up to a single trunked tree! Bark exfoliates as it ages and the leaves turn brilliant red, yellow and orange in autumn. This is a must have for the fall garden! This really is one my favorite trees. The other might be Acer griseum! The slow growing Persian ironwood is one tough little tree. It is virtually free of pests and diseases, and tolerates acidic to alkaline soils, heat, drought, wind, urban air pollution and soil compaction. Best autumn color is produced on specimens growing in acidic soil in full sun.

The red flowers resemble the native witch hazel of N. America. They are mostly yellow!

Zones 5-8

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Acer griseum- Paperbark Maple

(Among the rich variety of cultivated maples, this one is distinguished by its peeling tissue-thin coppery bark. Leaves turn orange and scarlet in fall. Easily grown. Recipient of the God Medal Plant Award by the Pennsylvania Horticural Society. Heritage


With a dignified, rounded form, dramatically flaking mahogany colored bark that peels to expose the cinnamon hues beneath, and rich green trifoliate leaves that blaze to a brilliant red each fall, China's Paper-bark Maple is a splendid specimen for just about any place in your garden. This Maple requires well drained soil, and will tolerate sun, shade or wind, but never drought.
Noted most especially for its winter beauty, Acer griseum grows slowly to 20-30' x 15-20'.

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Enkianthus campanulatus-Redvein Enkianthus

This is a very prune-able shrub with heather-like flowers born in clusters in May. Slender branches complement the small leaves, giving the shrub a delicate texture. Its best use is to add add variety to the company of azaleas, and green blobby rhododendrons, kalmia, and camellias. Prefers acidic soil and part shade. It can take full sun, but will have to be well watered and cared for. In some areas of the country it can have incredible fall color.

E. cerneus is larger and has a deeper red flower. Sadly I have only one plant.
The plants are nice healthy tree pot size. About 12" or more.

Heptacodium miconioides -summer blooming

Heptacodium miconioides -- a recent introduction from China.

This multi- stemmed tree bears distinctive small white flowers in the spring and red autumn flowers. The exfoliating bark make this and excent bonsai possibility. Ot has all the ornamental features necessary to be a prized, useful, and well accepted landscape plant. This large shrub or small tree performs at a time when most other plants are at their worst. It is another summer bloomer creamy white, fragrant flowers. In autum the flowers are replaced by an autumn show of cherry red. There is no fall color but the bark is interesting in its own right .

Zones 5-8

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Another interesting summer blooming tree is

Xanthoceras sorbifolium -- Yellowhorn

The hardiest member of an otherwise tropical plant family . Ranges in size fronm 10-15 ft.and is surprisingly drought tolerant. It has fine clusters of white flowers with yellow blotches at the base. Native to China.

Zones 4-7