My Favorite Tree
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
In the front yard of the townhouse where I grew up stands a 25’ tall Japanese Maple that grew with me and played an integral role in my career choice. This great tree has beautiful red foliage in contrast to the smooth silver bark. Low branching provides great architecture from the trunk out. The size of a Japanese Maple makes it perfect for patios, lawns, and even townhouses.
Steven Talcott, Landscape Designer
Great American Landscapes, Clarksburg, MD
(301) 972-5681 • greatamericanlandscapes.com
My Favorite Shrub
Dwarf Fothergilla
Fothergilla gardenii
Fothergilla is a versatile shrub as it can be used as a compact specimen or massed. I’ve used Fothergilla in both formal gardens and naturalized open woodland plantings. The deciduous shrub typically grows about 3’ tall and wide. The leaves are a lovely blue-green and the early spring flowers are fragrant, white terminal bottlebrushlike spikes, about 2 inches long. As leaves hold late, brilliant orangish-red fall foliage offers extended garden fall interest.
Dharshini Joseph, Principal/Founder
Dharshini Joseph Landscape Architecture, Falmouth, MA
(774) 226-8580 • dharshinijoseph.com
My Favorite Ground Cover
Common Bearberry, Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Bearberry is a native spreading evergreen ground cover often found in sandy locales across the northeastern United States including the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and Cape Cod, Massachusetts—one of my favorite places! Although the species is very delicate during the establishment period, once it settles in it can be quite hardy. Bearberry can grow up to one foot in height with small pink and white flowers that emerge and eventually turn into red berries that will last through the winter.
Michael Hunton, PLA, ASLA
Langan, New Haven, CT
(952) 474-9500 • langan.com