My Favorite…

Trusted Landscape Architects Discuss Their Favorite…

 

TREE: PERSIAN IRONWOOD

Persian Ironwood Tree Michael W. Olivieri, RLA, ASLA
Michael and Sons Nurseries, Inc.
Elmsford, NY
(914) 592-6620
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia Persica) Parrotia persica (Persian Parrotia) is currently one of my favorite trees. Parrotia has all of the attributes of a great tree. Multi colored exfoliating bark, three seasons of different leaf color and great pest resistance. What else can a tree lover ask for? It is a multi-stemmed small tree that reaches about 30′ in height and 20′ in width. The leaves open a reddish purple in spring, harden off to a glossy green and treat us to yellow-orange-red in fall. A tiny crimson flower gives an early season surprise to anyone that takes the time to take a close look – similar in form to the early season flower of Witch Hazel. Plant this tree as a foundation tree or a small street tree. Parrotia prefers well drained soils and full sun.

SHRUB: RAINBOW DROOPING LEUCOTHOE

Rainbow Drooping LeucothoeWilliam R. Boyce ASLA, CLA, RLA
Biosphere
Saddle River, NJ
(201) 236-3628

[email protected]
www.biospherela.com
Rainbow Drooping Leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana) This evergreen shrub, which can get 3′-5′ tall and 4′-5′ wide is a very versatile plant. It works in shady locations and is rabbit and deer resistant. It is a colorful shrub, which has red stems, colorful mottled leaves and white drooping flowers, which are fragrant and bloom in the late spring to early summer. These flowers are useful in cut arrangements. This plant is effective as a hedge or a ground cover. It works in wet situations, as well. We have found this plant compliments other specimens such as the colorful peony, as well as boxwoods.

GROUNDCOVER: JAPANESE GARDEN JUNIPER

Japanese Garden Juniper Linda Corson RLA, ASLA
Linda Corson Landscape Architecture
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 247-5619

[email protected]
Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’) This is my favorite groundcover for sunny conditions. It provides beautiful, fine textured, bluish green foliage year round and creates a low, soft, slightly mounding impression as it spreads. A tough, dwarf, plant that, once established, will stabilize slopes or berms that are subject to erosion. It can also be used as a great accent plant and is sometimes draped on or over a structure or wall. It is advisable to arrange new plants in a staggered row pattern as it looks better when they grow together and also helps to prevent erosion. An application of 1-2″ of mulch once or twice a year will discourage weeds until the plants grow together. New plantings require regular watering until the plants are established and new growth begins (first year) after which they are essentially maintenance free.

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