Download Administration Center Botanical Reference Guide

Beaver Water District
Administration Building
Botanical Reference Guide
Botanical Names of Plants
1. Acer Palmatum ‘Bloodgood’
2. Acer Saccharum
3. Berberis Thunbergli ‘Rosy Glow’
4. Betula Nigra ‘Heritage’
5. Buchloe Dactyloides ‘609’
6. Buxus Sempiervirens
7. Calamagrostis Acutiflora ‘Karl Forester’
8. Carex Morrowii ‘Variegata’
9. Cupressocyparis Leylandii
10. Cornus Kousa
11. Cynodon Dactylon ‘Tifway’
12. Equisetum Scirpoides
13. Euonymus Alatus ‘Compactus’
14. Gleditsia Triacanthos Inermis
15. Hemerocallis ‘Stella d’oro’
16. Hosta ‘Francee’
17. Hosta Sleboldiana ‘Elegans’
18. Ilex Crenata ‘Soft Touch’
19. Ilex Cornuta ‘Carissa’
20. Ilex Cornuta ‘Needlepoint’
21. Ilex Cornuta ‘Nellie R. Stevens’
22. Iris Ensata
23. Juncus Effusus
24. Juniperus Conferta ‘Blue Pacific’
25. Magnolia Virginiana
26. Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Gracillimus’
27. Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Variegatus’
28. Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
29. Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Moudry’
30. Phalaris Arundluacea ‘Picta’
31. Pinus Strobus
32. Quercus Shumardii
33. Rudbeckia Speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’
34. Salix Babylonica
35. Sedum Spectabile ‘Autumn Fire’
36. Spiraea Bumalda ‘Anthony Waterer’
37. Taxodium Distichum
38. Taxus Media ‘Densiformis’
39. Typha Angustifolla
40. Viburnum Plicatum ‘Mariesii’
For more information about these and other plants visit the link below:
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/alpha.asp
Turf
Buchloe Dactyloides ‘609’ – Buffalo Grass Sod
Aka: Buchloe Dactyloides 'Sharp's Improved'
Common Name: Buffalo Grass
Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Turfgrass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: to 0.5 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Green
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates heat, drought
and a wide range of soils. Adapts to alkaline soils. Avoid frequent watering. When grown as a
turfgrass, mow as needed to a height of 2-3" tall. Also may be naturalized without mowing as a
4-6" tall grass. 'Sharp's Improved' is a seeded variety. May also be established by sod or plugs.
-1-
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Buffalo grass is a fine-textured warm season grass which is native to the Great Plains. It typically
grows 4-6" tall and spreads by stolons. In optimum growing conditions, it can form a low
maintenance turf which survives hot and humid summers with minimal water and fertilizer. The
main disadvantages of buffalo grass as a turfgrass are (1) foliage turns straw-colored from midfall to mid-spring when grass is dormant, (2) somewhat aggressive habit which may result in
spread into adjacent plantings such as flower beds, vegetable garden and borders and (3) will not
tolerate heavy foot traffic. 'Sharp's Improved' is reportedly a vigorous variety with acceptable
quality as a turf grass.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems. Stolons may spread into adjacent areas.
Uses:
Low-maintenance turfgrass. Also frequently planted in parks and golf courses. Effective on dry
sunny slopes where it can also provide some erosion control.
Back to plant list
-2-
Cynodon Dactylon ‘Tifway’ – Bermuda Sod ‘Tifway’
Aka: Cynodon Dactylon 'Sundevil'
Common Name: Bermuda grass
Zone: 6 to 10
Plant Type: Turfgrass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: to 0.25 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Green
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates heat, drought
and a wide range of soils. When grown as a turfgrass, mow regularly to a height of 3/4" to 1.5"
tall, fertilize during the growing season (May to August) and use soil barriers to prevent spread
into adjacent areas. Sometimes overseeded with rye. Bermuda grass has winter hardiness
problems in the Midwest Transition Area, however, and is not recommended as a turfgrass for
St. Louis. Some winter kill is to be expected when winter temperatures dip below 10 degrees F.
'Sundevil' is a seeded variety which is considered even less winter hardy than the species. Needs
regular dethatching.
-3-
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Bermuda grass (also sometimes commonly called wire grass) is a tough, warm season grass
which spreads rapidly by both stolons and rhizomes. In optimum conditions, it will form a dense
lawn which tolerates foot traffic well and excludes many common weeds. On the other hand,
many homeowners consider it to be a noxious weed and expend considerable energy trying to
eradicate it from their lawns and garden areas. The main disadvantages of Bermuda grass as a
turfgrass are (1) foliage turns straw-colored from mid-fall to late spring when grass goes dormant
and (2) highly aggressive habit which results in spread into adjacent plantings such as flower
beds, vegetable garden and borders. 'Sundevil' is a coarse, seeded turfgrass variety which
features light green blades.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. White grubs are the most common insect problem. Brown
patch and dollar spot are infrequent disease problems. Aggressive plant which many
homeowners consider to be a weed.
Uses:
Turfgrass for southern lawns. Also used extensively in southern golf courses for fairway and tee
areas.
Back to plant list
-4-
Groundcover
Equisetum Scirpoides – Dwarf Horsetail
Aka: Winter Scouring Rush / Equisetum hyemale
Common Name: winter scouring rush
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Rush or Sedge
Family: Equisetaceae
Native Range: Eurasia, North America
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 1 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Best grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates an extremely wide range
of soils, however. Will grow in up to 4” of standing water. Spreads to form large colonies in the
wild. Homeowners are often more interested in learning how to eradicate this plant from the
landscape than how to grow it. It is a very aggressive plant which, if not preemptively restrained,
-5-
will spread aggressively by branched, creeping rhizomes. Once established, it can be extremely
difficult to remove by digging because its rhizomes spread wide and deep, and any small section
of rhizome left behind can sprout a new plant. Consider using soil barriers to restrict growth. In
water gardens or tub gardens, plant in pots at water bottom to contain growth (both height and
spread).
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Scouring rush (also commonly called rough horsetail) is a non-flowering, rush-like, rhizomatous,
evergreen perennial which typically grows 3-5’ tall and is native to large portions of Eurasia,
Canada and the U.S., including Missouri. It typically occurs in wet woods, moist hillsides and
peripheries of water bodies (lakes, rivers, ponds). This species features rigid, rough, hollow,
vertically-ridged, jointed-and-segmented, bamboo-like, dark green stems (to 1/2” diameter at the
base) which rise up from the plant rhizomes. Each stem node (joint) is effectively marked by a
whorl of tiny, stem-clasping, scale-like leaves which are fused into an ash-gray sheath (1/4”
long) ending in a fringe of teeth. Teeth are usually shed during the growing season. Each sheath
is set off and accentuated, both above and below, by thin, stem-ringing, black bands.
Photosynthesis is basically carried on by the stems of this plant. Vegetative and fertile stems are
alike in this species, with some vegetative stems bearing, at the stem tips, pine cone-like fruiting
heads (to 1” long) which contain numerous spores. The evergreen stems are particularly
noticeable in winter and can provide significant interest to the landscape. Stems have a high
silica content and were used by early Americans for polishing pots and pans, hence the common
name of scouring rush. Equisetum is not a rush however. Nor is it a fern. Equisetum is the single
surviving genus of a class of primitive vascular plants that dates back to the mid-Devonian
period (350 + million years ago). Today, the equisetums are categorized as fern allies in large
part because they, like the ferns, are non-flowering, seedless plants which reproduce by spores.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Very aggressive spreader.
Uses:
Water gardens. Japanese gardens. Bog gardens. Stream or pond peripheries. Good plant for
covering a wet low spot where nothing else will grow. Interesting plant for large patio
containers. Provides strong vertical accent to any planting.
Back to plant list
-6-
Hosta ‘Francee’ – Francee Hosta
Aka: Hosta 'Francee'
Common Name: Hosta
Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Liliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: June - August
Bloom Color: Pale lavender
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade.
Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Performs best in rich, moist, organic soils. Plants
need consistent moisture during the growing season. Water is best applied directly to the soil
beneath the leaves. Divide plants as needed in spring or autumn. Division is usually easiest in
early spring before the leaves unfurl.
-7-
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Francee’ is generally considered to be one of the best of the white-margined hostas. It is a sport
of H. 'Fortunei Albomarginata'. It typically matures in a dense, arching mound to 21" tall and to
36" wide. Heart-shaped, dark green leaves (to 8" long) have narrow white margins. Foliage holds
good color throughout the growing season. Funnel-shaped, pale lavender flowers in dense
racemes appear in late summer atop leafy green scapes rising above the foliage mound to 30”
tall. M. Klopping & AHS 1986.
Problems:
Slugs and snails are attracted to the foliage, chewing jagged holes in the leaves, and if left
unchecked, can cause serious damage over a fairly short period of time. Leaf spots and crown rot
are less frequent problems. Otherwise, hostas are virtually pest-free and are considered ideal
low-maintenance garden perennials. Leaves, particularly of exposed plants, can be severely
damaged by hail storms.
Uses:
Hostas are a mainstay of shade gardens. This white-margined Hosta makes an interesting garden
specimen. It is also very effective in groups or massed as a ground cover. It can be mixed with
other perennials in shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens.
Back to plant list
-8-
Iris Ensata – Japanese Iris
Aka: Japanese Water Iris / Iris Ensata
Common Name: Japanese water iris
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Iridaceae
Native Range: Japan, northern China, eastern Russia
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: June - July Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Blue, lavender, violet-red, pink, white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Loves acidic, organically
rich, saturated, moisture-retentive soils. During the growing season, it thrives in standing water
(up to 6” deep). However in winter, it is intolerant of both standing water and boggy soils where
rhizomes may rot. In order to meet these somewhat unusual seasonal cultural requirements,
plants may be grown in pots that are sunk half way in water during the growing season but then
removed to dryer ground for fall and winter. Japanese iris grows surprisingly well in garden
soils, albeit less vigorously, as long as it receives consistent moisture. Plant rhizomes
approximately 2” deep in fall or spring.
-9-
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Japanese iris or Japanese water iris is a rhizomatous beardless perennial iris that grows in slowly
expanding clumps to 2-4’ tall. Sword-shaped, linear green leaves (to 24” long) have prominent
midribs. Flowers (typically 3-6” across) have a distinctively flattened appearance. Cultivars
come in single, double and peony flowered forms in a wide range of colors including shades of
blue, lavender, violet-red, pink and white. Blooms early to mid summer (later than both bearded
and Siberian iris). Synonymous with I. kaempferi.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Wet conditions in winter may cause root rots. Watch for
thrips.
Uses:
Moist borders. Water gardens. Japanese gardens. Margins of pools or streams.
Back to plant list
- 10 -
Juniperus Conferta – Blue Pacific Juniper
Aka: Shore Juniper
Common Name: shore juniper
Zone: 6 to 9
Plant Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.5 to 1 foot
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Adapts to a wide range of
soils, but prefers a dryish, sandy soil. Tolerates hot, dry growing conditions, somewhat poor soils
and many city air pollutants. Intolerant of wet soils.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Juniperus conferta, commonly called shore juniper, is a decumbent evergreen shrub that is native
to certain sandy coastal areas of Japan and Sakhalin Island (Russia). It is a dense, low-spreading
plant that grows 10-18” tall and spreads by creeping, branched stems over time to 6-8’ wide.
‘Blue Pacific’ is a trailing, lower growing cultivar that typically grows to at most 12” tall. In
comparison to J. conferta (see C253 herein), ‘Blue Pacific’ is noted for having (1) better blue
foliage color, (2) better ground cover form, (3) denser foliage along the branches and (4) better
- 11 -
resistance to winter injury. Aromatic, awl-shaped, spiny-pointed, blue-green needles (to 5/8”
long) appear in groups of three. Fleshy, blackish, berry-like seed cones acquire a silvery bloom at
maturity.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Junipers are generally susceptible to blights (dieback of
stem tips), particularly in unusually rainy/wet springs. Phomopsis twig blight is of particular
concern. Cedar-apple and related rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot
may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Occasional insect pests include aphids,
bagworms, twig borers, webworms and scale. Watch for spider mites. Foliage on mature plants
will sometimes die back in the center. Less susceptible to winter injury than the species.
Uses:
A versatile, sprawling ground cover that tolerates hot, dry locations in full sun. Rock gardens.
Foundations. Slopes. Mass plantings. Cascade over retaining walls. Particularly effective in
sandy locations along coasts or dunes.
Back to plant list
- 12 -
Sedum Spectabile – ‘Autumn Fire’
Aka: Autumn Fire Sedum
Common Name: sedum
Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Crassulaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: August - September Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Dark ruby red
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers moist soils with
good drainage. Tolerates part shade, heat, drought and poor soils.
- 13 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This small, spreading stonecrop grows to 8" tall and features fleshy, succulent-like, bluish-green
leaves in whorls and clusters of dark ruby flowers which bloom from late summer to early fall.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
A low-maintenance plant for the rock garden or border front. Also can be massed to form a
ground cover for small areas. Interesting plant to grow at the top of a terrace or wall where it can
be allowed to cascade over the edge.
Back to plant list
- 14 -
Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
Aka: Fountain Grass
Common Name: fountain grass
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Bloom Time: August - October Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Pinkish white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Tolerates
part shade, but may not flower in too much shade. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before
new shoots appear. Best propagated by division in spring. Although Pennisetum often reseeds, it
should be noted that this cultivar will not come true from seed.
- 15 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This fountain grass features arching, deep green foliage in an upright clump typically growing to
24" tall. Leaves are deep green in summer, changing to orange-bronze in fall and eventually to
beige in late fall. Foliage usually remains attractive throughout the winter. Showy, silvery to
pinkish-white, wheat-like flower spikes arch outward from the clump in late summer like water
spraying from a fountain. Flower spikes turn brownish as the seed forms, and spikes persist until
late fall or early winter before shattering. 'Hameln' is similar to the species, except the flower
spikes of this cultivar are shorter and the plants are more compact.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Mass or group. Excellent specimen for smaller areas. Foliage and attractive flower spikes of this
compact ornamental grass provide excellent texture, color and contrast to rock gardens, border
fronts or small areas around the home. Also grows well in moist locations such as low spots,
water gardens or on the banks of streams or ponds.
Back to plant list
- 16 -
Phalaris Arundluacea ‘Picta’
Aka: Reed Canary Grass
Warning: Phalaris arundinaceae is listed as an exotic invasive species to Missouri and the
Midwest by the Midwest Invasive Plant Network. The species should not be planted in the
Midwest.
Common Name: reed canary grass
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 2 to 5 feet
Bloom Time: June - July
Bloom Color: White to pale pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Wide range of
soil tolerance from wet (will grow in several inches of water) to dry, clay to sand or acidic to
alkaline. When grown as a ground cover, 4 plants per square yard will quickly fill in such an
area. Rhizomatous. Propagate by division in spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
A rigorous, variegated, invasive, bamboo-like ornamental grass with upright stems typically
growing 2-4' tall (when in flower). Features flat, arching, green and white striped leaf blades
- 17 -
(2/3" wide) which grow 6-12" long and panicles of whitish to pale pinkish flowers which bloom
well above the foliage in early summer. Flowers are quite conspicuous but not particularly
showy. Grass is extremely attractive in spring to early summer, but turns an unattractive brown
by late summer. If cut back hard (e.g., 6" from the ground), it will produce fresh, variegated
foliage. Lacks the winter interest that many other ornamental grasses provide. Sometimes
commonly called ribbon grass, reed canary grass or gardener's garters.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Extremely invasive spreader that is difficult to eradicate
once established because any tiny segment of root or rhizome left behind can sprout and spread.
Use of soil barriers should be considered at the time of planting to prevent rhizomes from
traveling into unwanted areas.
Uses:
Probably not a good candidate for the border because of the aforementioned invasive
characteristics. Will quickly colonize and serve as a dense, weed-free ground cover in areas
where invasiveness in not a concern. Effective in boggy areas, in water gardens (submerged in
several inches of water) or in wet areas along streams or ponds where it also can help stabilize
banks. Also effective in dry locations, including desert gardens, where it is somewhat less
invasive.
Back to plant list
- 18 -
Hosta Sieboldiana – ‘Elegans’
Aka: Reed Canary Grass / Hosta
Common Name: hosta
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Liliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May - July Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Mostly white with a lavender tinge
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. No special
culture is required. Soil should be kept moist, however, especially in hot, sunny conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This is a very large hosta growing to 30" tall and 48" in diameter. Features large (13" x 10"),
heart-shaped, thick-textured, heavily corrugated, surface-cupped, blue-green leaves and racemes
of funnel-shaped, mostly white flowers with a violet tinge on scapes up to 36". A dependable and
versatile perennial requiring little care. Grown primarily for its beautiful foliage which provides
color, contrast and texture to the landscape. Dense foliage crowds out garden weeds. This species
is a slow grower and will take several years to reach mature shape. May also be listed as Hosta
Sieboldiana var. Elegans.
- 19 -
Problems:
Although slugs and snails can be serious problems, and leaf spot and crown rot lesser problems,
hostas are otherwise virtually disease and pest-free, and are ideal, low-maintenance garden
perennials.
Uses:
A mainstay of the shade garden. This very large hosta may be best utilized as a specimen or large
clump planting in shaded areas of the woodland garden, perennial border or naturalized area. It is
also effective on a slope where it can help reduce soil erosion.
Back to plant list
- 20 -
Juncus Effusus – ‘Soft Rush’
Aka: Corkscrew Rush
Common Name: corkscrew rush
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Rush or Sedge
Family: Juncaceae
Native Range: Cosmopolitan
Height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: June - August
Bloom Color: Yellowish green to pale brown
Sun: Full sun
Water: Wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in wet soils, including standing water, in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best in
full sun. Needs ample moisture and grows well in standing water up to about 4” deep. Plants are
often slow to establish, but once established will slowly spread by creeping roots. Plant in
containers in water gardens. Plant elsewhere in containers sunk in mud if control of possible
unwanted spread is desired.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
The species, known as common rush or soft rush, is a grass-like, rhizomatous perennial that
features cylindrical upright green stems in spreading clumps to 30” tall. It is one of the true
rushes. This plant is commonly known as corkscrew rush because it features a tuft of cylindrical,
tightly-spiraled, corkscrew-like green stems (to 1/4” thick) which uncoil as they grow and spread
out in all directions (both upward and prostrate). Clumps typically grow to 14-18” tall with a
- 21 -
similar spread. Insignificant, tiny, yellowish green to pale brown flowers appear in compact
clusters (cymes) at or slightly below the stem tips in summer. Corkscrew stems are often cut for
floral arrangements. To some, spiral-type rushes are unique and interesting foliage plants whose
corkscrew-like foliage provides texture and contrast to gardens. To others, the spiral-type rushes
are little more than tangled weeds. De gustibus non est disputandum.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
May be grown at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas, among wet pebbles or
rocks or in several inches of standing water. Good water garden accent. Adds a certain amount of
authenticity to transitional waterside areas. May help control soil erosion on banks. Effective in
containers.
Back to plant list
- 22 -
Hemerocallis – ‘Stella d’oro’
Aka: Daylily
Common Name: daylily
Zone: 3 to 10
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Liliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.75 to 1 foot
Spread: 0.75 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: May - August Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Yellow with deeper throats
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Daylilies do well in
a wide range of well-drained soils, but prefer a deep, fertile loam. Deadhead spent flowers daily
for neatness and remove scapes when flowers have completed bloom. Daylilies should be
divided to maintain vigor when the clumps become overcrowded. Tolerant of summer heat and
humidity.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This diploid cultivar features profuse 2.75-inch diameter yellow flowers with ruffled edges and
deeper yellow throats. Flower is classified as a miniature. Flowers are borne on naked stems
- 23 -
(scapes) above a clump of arching, linear, blade-like leaves. Individual flowers open for one day.
This multiple AHS award winner has become perhaps the most popular daylily in cultivation in
large part because of its compact size, vigorous growth, profuse bloom and extremely long
bloom period. (Jablonski 1975.)
Problems:
No serious problems. Daylilies are extremely adaptable perennials. They are easy to grow, quick
to multiply and virtually pest-free.
Uses:
Provides color and contrast to the perennial border when grown in clumps or when massed over
larger areas. Also appropriate for the rock garden. The fountain-like leaves provide elegant
foliage, color and texture for the garden when the flowers are not in bloom. Daylilies can crowd
out weeds and form a verdant ground cover.
Back to plant list
- 24 -
Carex Morrowii – ‘Variegata’
Aka: Japanese grass sedge
Common Name: Japanese grass sedge
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Rush or Sedge
Family: Cyperaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: April - July Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Brown
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Silver variegated Japanese sedge should be grown in moist, rich loam in partial shade. It will
grow in full shade and even tolerates full sun in cool climates. Propagation is by plant division in
the spring and seeding in the fall. This sedge is also an attractive container plant. It should be
given a mixture of one-half peat moss / one-half fertile soil and kept constantly moist, but well
drained.
- 25 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
The semi-evergreen leaves of this clump-forming sedge have green margins with a broad white
stripe down the middle. The arching leaves form a low mound that adds a bright accent to the
dark spaces of a shade garden.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
In hot climates and in full sun, the leaves may bleach to an unattractive yellow.
Uses:
This sedge is useful as a ground cover especially under trees or as border edgings. It is most
effective when grown in large clumps or massed plantings. It is also attractive as a specimen
plant or ground cover near water gardens.
Back to plant list
- 26 -
Rudbeckia Speciosa – ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’
Aka: Black-Eyed Susan
Common Name: black-eyed Susan
Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 2 to 2.5 feet
Bloom Time: June - October Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Orange / yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates hot and humid
summers as well as some light shade. Deadhead to prolong bloom. Divide when clumps become
overcrowded.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This species of coneflower is a Missouri native which occurs in both dry and moist soils in open
woods, glades and thickets. An upright, rhizomatous, clump-forming, free-blooming coneflower
which typically grows to 3' tall, often forming colonies in the wild. Features daisy-like flowers
(to 2.5" across) with yellow rays and brownish-purple center disks. Prolific bloom production
over a long mid-summer to fall bloom period. Oblong to lanceolate, medium green foliage. Good
- 27 -
cut flower. This species is infrequently sold by nurseries because of the excellent varieties and
cultivars available there under (e.g., see 'Goldsturm'--I780 and 'Viette's Little Suzy'--P520).
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Mass in bold drifts in the perennial border, cottage garden, meadow, native plant garden or
naturalized area. Provides excellent bloom and color for the late summer.
Back to plant list
- 28 -
Shrubs
Spiraea Bumalda – ‘Anthony Waterer’
Aka: Anthony Waterer
Common Name: Japanese spirea
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Rosaceae
Native Range: Japan, China
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Spread: 5 to 7 feet
Bloom Time: June - July Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Pink
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils.
Remove faded flower clusters as practicable (light shearing is an option) to encourage additional
bloom. Flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter to early spring if needed.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Japanese spirea is a dense, upright, mounded, deciduous shrub which typically grows 4-6' tall
with a slightly larger spread. Leaves (to 3" long) are oval and sharply toothed. Features
numerous tiny pink flowers in flat-topped clusters (corymbs) in late spring to mid-summer.
Foliage may turn attractive shades of red and orange in autumn, but this usually does not occur
on a regular basis. Attractive to butterflies. Species is uncommonly sold by nurseries because of
- 29 -
the availability of numerous cultivars which are considered to be superior landscape plants. Most
cultivars grow smaller (2-4' tall).
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack
other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew, root rot, aphids, leaf
roller and scale.
Uses:
Borders, cottage gardens or informal hedge. Incorporates well into foundation plantings.
Back to plant list
- 30 -
Ilex Cornuta – ‘Carissa’
Aka: Carissa Holly
Common Name: Chinese holly
Zone: 7 to 9
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Native Range: China, Korea
Height: 8 to 15 feet
Spread: 8 to 15 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-9. If attempted in the St. Louis area, it should be sited in a
protected location (e.g., south side of a building). Where winter hardy, it should be grown in
average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in locations
protected from cold winter winds. Part afternoon shade is best in hot summer climates. Avoid
poorly drained soils. Good tolerance for heat and periods of drought. Prune in winter if needed.
Plants of this species are dioecious (separate male and female plants). Female plants need a male
pollinator in the area in order to bear fruit.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Chinese holly is native to China and Korea. It has naturalized from garden plantings in North
Carolina and Alabama. It is a broadleaf evergreen that typically grows as a shrub to 8-10’ tall,
but may be trained as a small tree to as much as 25’ tall. Unusually shaped rectangular leaves (to
4” long) have three large spines at the apex. Dull white flowers appear in May. Flowers are
- 31 -
fragrant but generally inconspicuous. Pollinated flowers give way to berry-like red drupes (1/3”
long) which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Birds are attracted to the fruit.
Problems:
Potential insect problems include holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly and scale. Potential
disease problems include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew. Plants are also
susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves in high pH soils). Winter
hardiness is a significant problem in St. Louis.
Uses:
This species is infrequently found in commerce, but a number of popular cultivars are commonly
sold. Effective as a specimen or in small groups or as a hedge. Foundation plantings. Foliage and
fruit provide good color for the winter landscape.
Back to plant list
- 32 -
Taxus Media – 'Densiformis'
Aka: Yew
Common Name: yew
Zone: 4 to 7
Plant Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Taxaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils of near neutral pH in full sun to part shade.
Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good. Also tolerant of full shade and
considerable pruning. Intolerant of temperature extremes. Prune or shear as desired in early
spring before new growth appears.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This hybrid yew cultivar is a semi-dwarf, dense, spreading, evergreen shrub which typically
grows in a mound to 3-4' tall but spreads to 5-7' wide. Yews are classified as conifers, but female
plants (yews are dioecious) produce red, fleshy, single-seeded fruit instead of cones.
- 33 -
'Densiformis' is a female cultivar. Lustrous, dark green, thin-needled foliage. The popular Taxus
x media hybrid cultivars are crosses between Japanese yews (Taxus cuspidata) and English yews
(Taxus baccata). All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.
Problems:
Long-lived and generally considered a low-maintenance shrub with no serious insect or disease
problems. Plants may wilt and die if grown in heavy, poorly drained soils. Foliage may brown in
winter (winter burn) from exposure to dry winter winds. Twig dieback may occur in winter or at
other times in the year as a result of damage caused by sudden and extreme winter temperature
changes.
Uses:
Frequently used as a specimen, small hedge or foundation plant.
Back to plant list
- 34 -
Euonymus Alatus – ‘Compactus’
Aka: Dwarf Burning Bush
Common Name: dwarf-winged burning bush
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Celastraceae
Native Range: None
Height: 9 to 11 feet
Spread: 9 to 11 feet
Bloom Time: May - June Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Yellow/green
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Adaptable shrub
which tolerates a wide range of soils except for wet, poorly-drained ones. Also tolerates
considerable shade. Strong, branching growth habit enables plant to tolerates heavy pruning.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Compactus' is a popular burning bush cultivar. It is a deciduous shrub which is not all that
"compact" since it typically grows in a mound to 10' tall with a slightly larger spread, though it
can easily be kept shorter by pruning. It features elliptic to obovate, dark green leaves (to 3"
long) which turn bright red in fall (sometimes more pinkish in shade). Fall color can be
spectacular and gives rise to the common name. Small, yellowish-green flowers appear in May
but are not showy. Small fruits (1/3" red capsules) appear in fall, but are usually hidden by the
- 35 -
foliage. Corky bark ridges on the branches of Euonymus alatus give rise to the additional
common name of winged euonymus for the species. However, the corky ridges are absent or
very reduced in size on the stems of 'Compactus'. For a truly compact burning bush, see
Euonymus alatus 'Rudy Haag' (R440) which typically grows from 3-5' tall.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Versatile shrub with outstanding fall color. Specimen, group or mass. Hedge, screen, shrub
border or foundation plant.
Back to plant list
- 36 -
Buxus Sempiervirens – ‘English Boxwood’
Aka: English Boxwood
Common Name: boxwood
Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Buxaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 4 to 5 feet
Bloom Time: April - May
Bloom Color: Greenish yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Best grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers
moist, sandy loams. Tolerant of pruning and shearing. In USDA Zones 5 and 6, this boxwood is
best sited in a sheltered location which protects it from winter winds. Avoid cultivating around
plants because they have shallow roots. Roots a appreciate a good mulch.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This boxwood cultivar is a dense, compact, many-branched, broad, mounded evergreen shrub.
Slow annual growth (to 1.5" per year). Typically grown as a 2-3' tall shrub with a larger spread.
Apetalous, greenish yellow flowers (separate male and female flowers on the same plant) appear
in spring. Flowers are sparse and insignificant, but fragrant. Small, round to obovate, medium
green leaves (to 1 1/8" long) with a blue hue.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
Boxwoods can be somewhat temperamental plants to grow in the St. Louis area where foliage
tends to bronze (turn unattractive brownish yellow) in harsh winters, particularly if plants are
- 37 -
located in open areas exposed to winter winds. Otherwise requires little special care other than
annual pruning. Some susceptibility to blight and leaf spots. Root rot can be a problem in poorly
drained soils. 'Vardar Valley' shows good resistance to two of the three main insect pests of
boxwood (leaf miner and mites), but is subject to psyllid infestations in certain areas of the U.S.
Uses:
Best as a hedge or foundation plant. May be massed, grouped or used as a specimen or accent.
Formal gardens or shrub borders.
Back to plant list
- 38 -
Calamagrostis Acutiflore – ‘Karl Foerster’
Aka: Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Common Name: feather reed grass
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Bloom Time: May - February Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Pinkish-purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soil in full sun. Does well in heavy clay soils, unlike
many of the other ornamental grasses. Prefers moist, rich soils which do not dry out. Blooms in
light shade, and appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Cut clumps to
the ground in late winter just before the new shoots appear. This grass will not self-seed in the
garden because seeds are sterile.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Karl Foerster' is a hybrid (C. arundinacea x C. epigejos) feather reed grass cultivar which is
valued for its early bloom, vertical lines and ability to grow in wet soils. It is a slowly-spreading,
- 39 -
clump-forming, cool season ornamental grass which features an erect, slightly arching, slender
clump of narrow, stiff, rich green leaves growing to 3' tall and 2' wide. Leaves produce little fall
color, eventually turning tan in winter. In June, tightly-vertical flower stalks rise well above the
foliage to 6' tall bearing narrow plumes of feathery, purplish-green flowers which turn golden as
the seeds mature in summer and eventually tan. Clumps generally provide good continuing
winter interest. 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year award.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Mass, group or specimen. Excellent vertical accent for borders and for narrow spaces in the
landscape. Also effective in moist low spots or on pond/stream banks.
Back to plant list
- 40 -
Miscanthus Sinensis – ‘Gracillimus’
Aka: Maiden Grass
Common Name: eulalia
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 4 to 7 feet
Spread: 3 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: August - February Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Copper maturing to silver
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide
range of soils from well-drained sandy soils to the heavy clays present in much of the St. Louis
area. Prefers moist soils. Best in full sun. Less vigorous with decreased flowering and tendency
to flop in too much shade. Tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Clumps slowly expand in
circumference by short rhizomes, but retain tight clump shape. Foliage should be left standing
throughout the winter for visual interest and to provide protection for the crowns. Substantial
clumps tend to flop (or totally collapse when subjected to heavy winter snows), and will often
benefit from some support. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter just before new shoots
appear.
- 41 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Maiden grass is noted for its narrow green leaves with a silver midrib which form a substantial,
rounded, arching clump of foliage typically growing 4-6' tall (to 8' when in flower). Foliage turns
yellowish after frost, but quickly fades to straw-beige by winter. Tiny reddish-copper flowers
appear in tassel-like inflorescences above the foliage in late September, gradually turning into
silvery white plumes as the seeds mature. Blooms later than most Miscanthus cultivars. Flower
plumes persist well into winter providing good winter interest. 'Gracillimus' is an old and very
popular cultivar.
Problems:
No frequently occurring insect or disease problems. In some areas of the U.S., miscanthus
mealybug and miscanthus blight are becoming significant problems. Miscanthus mealybug
causes stunted growth and is difficult to eradicate because it lives inside the stems. Miscanthus
blight is a fungal disease which attacks the blades and sheaths. Mature clumps of 'Gracillimus'
(3-4 years +) produce substantial foliage which sometimes needs support.
Uses:
Versatile ornamental grass, but clumps need lots of room. Accent, specimen, grouping, mass or
screen. Borders, meadows, wild gardens, cottage gardens, naturalized areas or pond/water garden
peripheries.
Back to plant list
- 42 -
Viburnum Plicatum – ‘Mariesii’
Aka: Mariesii Doublefile Viburnum
Common Name: doublefile viburnum
Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 10 to 12 feet
Spread: 12 to 15 feet
Bloom Time: April - May Bloom Data
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers
moist loams, but tolerates a wide range of soils. Do not allow soils to dry out in the heat of the
summer. Prune as needed immediately after flowering. Propagate vegetatively.
- 43 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Mariesii’ is a doublefile viburnum noted for its distinctively layered horizontal branching. It is a
broad, dense, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 10-12’ tall and spreads to
15’ wide. Non-fragrant flowers in flat-topped, lacecap-like clusters bloom in profusion along the
branches in April or May. Flower clusters appear in two rows or files, hence the common name.
Each flower cluster (4-6” wide) has small non-showy inner fertile flowers with a showy outer
ring of pure white sterile flowers. Pollinated fertile flowers give way in summer to red berry-like
drupes which eventually mature to black. Fruits are ornamentally attractive and a food source for
birds. Ovate, serrate, dark green leaves (to 5” long) turn reddish purple in fall. ‘Mariesii’ honors
Chelsea gardener Charles Maries (1851-1902).
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Specimen or groups. Shrub borders, foundations or hedges.
Back to plant list
- 44 -
Pennisetum Alopecuroides – ‘Moudry’
Aka: Moudry Fountain Grass
Common Name: fountain grass
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 2.5 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: August - October Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Blackish brown
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Tolerates
part shade, but may not flower in too much shade. May freely self-seed in optimum growing
conditions to the point of being considered very weedy. Seed plumes may be removed before
seed ripens if this grass is located near beds or lawns where self-seeding would be a problem.
'Moudry' does not reliably come true from seed, however, and should be propagated by division.
Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
- 45 -
'Moudry' is a warm season ornamental fountain grass cultivar which typically grows in graceful,
spreading clumps to 2-3' tall and as wide. It is most noted for its distinctive dark purple flower
spikes. Features narrow, medium to deep green leaves (to 1/2" wide) in summer, changing to
golden yellow in fall and fading to beige in late fall. Foliage usually remains attractive
throughout the winter. Showy, purplish-black, bristly, bottle brush-like flower spikes arch
outward from the clump in late summer like water spraying from a fountain (hence the common
name). Flower spikes turn brownish as the seeds form, and spikes usually persist until late fall or
early winter before shattering.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Specimen, group or mass. Foliage and attractive flower spikes of this ornamental grass provide
excellent texture, color and contrast to borders, foundations and open areas. Also grows well in
moist locations such as peripheries of water gardens, ponds or streams.
Back to plant list
- 46 -
Typha Angustifolla – Narrow-leaved Cattail
Aka: Cattail
Common Name: cattail
Zone: 3 to 10
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Typhaceae
Native Range: North America, Europe, northern and central Asia, northern Africa
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: June - July
Bloom Color: Yellow (male); green (female)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in rich loams in full sun to part shade in water to 12” deep. Cattails are aggressive
colonizers that if left unrestrained will crowd out most other marginal plants. Plant in containers
or tubs to restrain spread. If planted directly in the muddy shallows of ponds or pools, site plants
carefully because the roots go deep and are hard to eradicate once established. Plants may selfseed.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Common cattail is native to marshes, swamps and wetlands in North America, Europe and Asia.
It is the common cattail found throughout the State of Missouri. It is a marginal aquatic perennial
- 47 -
that spreads by creeping rhizomes to form dense colonies in shallow water. Features narrow,
upright, sword-like, linear, mostly basal, green leaves (to 7’ long) and a stiff, unbranched central
flower stalk that typically rises equal to or slightly less than the height of the leaves (usually
around 6’ tall but infrequently to as much as 10’). Plants are monoecious, with each flower stalk
being topped by two sets of minute flowers densely packed into a cylindrical inflorescence.
Yellowish male (staminate) flowers are located at the top of the inflorescence and greenish
female (pistillate) flowers are located underneath. In this species, the staminate and pistillate
flowers are not separated by a gap. Flowers bloom in summer. After bloom, the male flowers
rapidly disperse, leaving a naked stalk tip. The pollinated female flowers turn brown as the seeds
mature, forming the familiar cylindrical, sausage-like, cattail fruiting spike (to 9” long in this
species). Foliage turns yellow-brown in autumn. Fruiting spikes usually persist to early winter
before disintegrating. Cattails are valued for both fresh and dried flower arrangements. Large
stands of cattails serve as important nesting areas and cover for wildlife.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Aggressive spreader outside of containers.
Uses:
Water gardens, ponds.
Back to plant list
- 48 -
Ilex Cornuta – ‘Needlepoint’
Aka: Needlepoint Holly
Common Name: holly
Zone: 7 to 9
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Native Range: China, Korea
Height: 8 to 15 feet
Spread: 8 to 15 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-9. If attempted in the St. Louis area, it should be sited in a
protected location (e.g., south side of a building). Where winter hardy, it should be grown in
average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in locations
protected from cold winter winds. Part afternoon shade is best in hot summer climates. Avoid
poorly drained soils. Good tolerance for heat and periods of drought. Prune in winter if needed.
Plants of this species are dioecious (separate male and female plants). Female plants need a male
pollinator in the area in order to bear fruit.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Chinese holly is native to China and Korea. It has naturalized from garden plantings in North
Carolina and Alabama. It is a broadleaf evergreen that typically grows as a shrub to 8-10’ tall,
but may be trained as a small tree to as much as 25’ tall. Unusually shaped rectangular leaves (to
- 49 -
4” long) have three large spines at the apex. Dull white flowers appear in May. Flowers are
fragrant but generally inconspicuous. Pollinated flowers give way to berry-like red drupes (1/3”
long) which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Birds are attracted to the fruit.
Problems:
Potential insect problems include holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly and scale. Potential
disease problems include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew. Plants are also
susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves in high pH soils). Winter
hardiness is a significant problem in St. Louis.
Uses:
This species is infrequently found in commerce, but a number of popular cultivars are commonly
sold. Effective as a specimen or in small groups or as a hedge. Foundation plantings. Foliage and
fruit provide good color for the winter landscape.
Back to plant list
- 50 -
Ilex Cornuta – ‘Nellie R. Stevens’
Aka: Nellie Stevens Holly
Common Name: holly
Zone: 6 to 9
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 15 to 25 feet
Spread: 8 to 12 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Greenish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Grow in organically rich, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part
shade. Prune in winter if needed. Ilex ‘Edward J. Stevens’ and Ilex cornuta males reportedly will
serve as good pollinators for this female plant. However, ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ can bear some fruit
without fertilization from a male pollinator because it is parthenocarpic (from Greek parthenos
meaning virgin and karpos meaning fruit). This plant has better heat tolerance than many of the
hollies, and is a good selection for hot southern areas. It is not reliably winter hardy throughout
the St. Louis area where it should be sited in a protected location.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Nellie R. Stevens’ is a hybrid between I. aquifolium and I. cornuta. It typically grows as a large
broadleaf evergreen shrub with dense, conical form to 15-25’ tall and 8-12’ wide. It also can be
trained to grow as a small tree. Oblong, glossy, dark green leaves (to 4” long) have spiny
margins (typically 2-3 spines per side). Small greenish-white flowers appear in spring (April),
- 51 -
but are generally inconspicuous. Flowers give way to often abundant amounts of berry-like
bright red fruits (to 1/3” diameter) which ripen in fall and persist into winter.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Potential insect problems include holly leaf miner, spider
mites, whitefly and scale. Potential disease problems include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and
powdery mildew.
Uses:
Hedge, screen, windbreak, barrier or border. Specimen. Small tree.
Back to plant list
- 52 -
Berberis Thunbergli – ‘Rosy Glow’
Aka: Rosy Glow Barberry
Common Name: Japanese barberry
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Berberidaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Spread: 4 to 7 feet
Bloom Time: April - May Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but needs
full sun to produce best foliage color. Very adaptable shrub that is tolerant of many pollutants in
urban areas. Also tolerates some drought, but will not do well in poorly drained, wet soils.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This Japanese barberry cultivar is a dense, deciduous shrub which grows 3'-6' tall. First leaves
are purple, but new shoots emerge as a rose-pink mottled with bronzish to purplish red splotches.
Leaves are of variable sizes (.50" to 1.25" long). Many branched, reddish-brown stems have
sharp thorns. Tiny, yellowish flowers appear in late April to early May, but are often hidden by
the foliage and are not considered showy. Bead-like, bright red berries form in fall and often last
through the winter. The berries are attractive to birds.
- 53 -
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious problems. Some susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, root rots, wilt,
aphids, barberry webworm and scale.
Uses:
Japanese barberry forms an excellent barrier or hedge. It is also effective when planted in groups
or as a specimen.
Back to plant list
- 54 -
Ilex Crenata - ‘Soft Touch’
Aka: Japanese Holly
Common Name: Japanese holly
Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: Greenish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide
range of growing conditions, including clay soils and urban pollution. Prefers light, moist, acidic
soils with good drainage. Chlorosis (leaf yellowing) may occur in alkaline soils. Japanese hollies
are dioecious (separate male and female plants). 'Geisha' is an all-female cultivar which needs a
male pollinator in order to produce fruit. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout USDA
Zone 5 where it should be grown in a protected location with a winter mulch.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Geisha' is a dwarf, evergreen Japanese holly cultivar which is noted for producing yellow berries
in fall as opposed to the more usual purple to red. It grows somewhat slowly in a rounded mound
- 55 -
to 3-4' tall. Features elliptic to obovate, glossy green convex leaves (typically 1/2 to 1 1/4" long).
Japanese holly foliage somewhat resembles boxwoods more than hollies. Tiny, greenish-white
flowers appear along the stems in the leaf axils in late spring. If pollinated, the flowers give way
to yellow, berry-like drupes (1/4" diameter) in fall. Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Spider mites can be troublesome. Nematodes are a
problem in the South.
Uses:
Small hedge. Foundation plant. Shrub border. Rock garden.
Back to plant list
- 56 -
Miscanthus Sinensis – ‘Variegatus’
Aka: Variegated Japanese Silver Grass
Common Name: eulalia
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 5 to 9 feet
Spread: 4 to 5 feet
Bloom Time: July - February Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Reddish-brown
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Best grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of
a wide range of soils from well-drained sandy soils to the heavy clays present in much of the St.
Louis area. Prefers moist soils. Best in full sun. Less vigorous with decreased flowering and
tendency to flop in too much shade. Tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Clumps slowly
expand in circumference by short rhizomes, but retain tight clump shape. Foliage should be left
standing throughout the winter for visual interest and to provide protection for the crowns. Cut
foliage to the ground in late winter just before new shoots appear. 'Variegatus' is a substantial
grass which tends to flop more than most other Miscanthus cultivars, and generally needs
staking. Clumps can easily collapse in winter from the weight of heavy snow.
- 57 -
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Variegatus' is a variegated eulalia grass cultivar which typically grows in an arching, rounded
clump to 5-6' tall (flower plumes can increase height to as much as 7- 9' tall). Features leaf
blades variegated with green and white stripes, with white being the predominant color from a
distance. Foliage fades to tan after frost. Tiny reddish flowers appear in tassel-like inflorescences
which rise above the foliage clump in September, gradually turning into silvery plumes in fall as
the seeds mature. Plumes persist well into winter providing good winter interest.
Problems:
No frequently occurring insect or disease problems. In some areas of the U.S., miscanthus
mealybug and miscanthus blight are becoming significant problems. Miscanthus mealybug
causes stunted growth and is difficult to eradicate because it lives inside the stems. Miscanthus
blight is a fungal disease which attacks the blades and sheaths. 'Variegatus' is considered to be a
medium maintenance plant because mature plants usually need staking.
Uses:
Versatile ornamental grass. Accent, specimen, grouping, mass or screen. Borders, meadows, wild
gardens, cottage gardens, naturalized areas or pond/water garden peripheries.
Back to plant list
- 58 -
Taxodium Distichum – ‘Bald Cypress’
Aka: Bald Cypress
Common Name: bald cypress
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Taxodiaceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Height: 50 to 70 feet
Spread: 20 to 45 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Brown
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet, moisture retentive but reasonably well-drained soils in
full sun. Prefers moist, acidic, sandy soils, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging
from somewhat dry soils to wet soils in standing water.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Bald cypress is a long-lived, pyramidal conifer (cone-bearing tree) which grows 50-70' tall (less
frequently to 125'). Although it looks like a needled evergreen (same family as redwoods) in
summer, it is deciduous ("bald" as the common name suggests). It is native to southern swamps,
bayous and rivers, primarily being found in coastal areas from Maryland to Texas and in the
lower Mississippi River valley to as far north as the southeast corner of Missouri. In the deep
South, it is a familiar sight growing directly in swampy water, often in large strands, with its
branches heavily draped with Spanish moss. In cultivation, however, it grows very well in drier,
- 59 -
upland soils. Trunks are buttressed (flared or fluted) at the base, and when growing in water,
often develop distinctive, knobby root growths ("knees") which protrude above the water surface
around the tree. Soft, feathery, yellowish-green foliage (1/4" long, flat needles in two ranks)
turns an attractive orange/cinnamon-brown in fall. Rounded, wrinkled, 1 inch diameter, purplishgreen cones mature to brown. Heavy, straight-grained, rot-resistant wood has been used for a
variety of purposes including barrels, railroad ties and shingles. Closest relative is the dawn
redwood (Metasequoia) which is also deciduous. Taxodium in Greek means resembling yews
(Taxus) in reference to the flat needles. State tree of Louisiana.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Chlorosis often occurs in alkaline soils. Bagworms, gall
mites and spider mites are occasional insect pests and twig blight is an occasional disease pest.
Uses:
A large ornamental tree for parks or large lawns. Good selection for growing in wet soils either
in low spots or near water.
Back to plant list
- 60 -
Acer Palmatum – ‘Bloodgood’
Aka: Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Common Name: Japanese maple
Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Aceraceae
Native Range: None
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Spread: 15 to 20 feet
Bloom Time: April Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers lightly dappled
shade. Plant in a location protected from strong winds.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This Japanese maple cultivar (non-dissected type) is a small, rounded, deciduous tree which
typically grows to 15-20' tall and features purplish-red flowers in spring, deep reddish-purple
summer foliage, red samaras in late summer to early fall and good crimson-red fall color. As
with many maples, the flowers are rather attractive close up, but are not particularly showy from
a distance. Palmate leaves (5-7 lobes) are 2-5" long. May also be grown as a multi-stemmed
shrub.
- 61 -
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to stem canker. Foliage tends to leaf out early
in spring and is subject to damage from any late frosts.
Uses:
Ornamental, compact understory tree grown primarily for its attractive foliage and shape.
Specimen/accent or group around the home or yard or periphery of the border or rock garden.
Multi-stemmed shrub form is effective in small groupings in shrub borders.
Back to plant list
- 62 -
Betula Nigra – ‘Heritage’
Aka: Heritage River Birch
Common Name: river birch
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Betulaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 40 to 70 feet
Spread: 40 to 60 feet
Bloom Time: April - May
Bloom Color: Brown (male) and green (female)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. River birches
are perhaps the most culturally adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. Prefers moist, acidic,
fertile soils, including semi-aquatic conditions, but also tolerates drier soils. Adapts well to heavy
clay soils and will tolerate poor drainage. Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This river birch cultivar is a vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized tree which can be grown as
either a single trunk or multi-stemmed tree. As a single trunk tree, it develops a pyramidal habit
when young, but gradually matures into a more rounded habit, typically growing 40-70' tall.
Multi-stemmed trees form a more irregular shaped crown, and are often considered the superior
- 63 -
growth habit for this tree. This cultivar features salmon-cream to brownish bark which exfoliates
to reveal a creamy white inner bark that can be nearly as white as the white-barked birches.
Leathery, diamond-shaped, dark green leaves (1.5-3.5" long) with doubly toothed margins are
larger and glossier than the species and turn a respectable yellow in fall. Flowers are contained in
drooping, brownish male catkins (2-3" long) and insignificant, smaller, upright, greenish female
catkins, both of which appear in spring on the same tree. The plant was found growing in St.
Louis, Missouri by Earl Cully. Although the Royal Horticultural Society lists this plant as
cultivar 'Heritage' it appears that the correct cultivar name is 'Cully'. The plant is being sold
under the trade name HERITAGE. U.S. Plant Patent #4,409 issued April 24, 1979.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
One of the most disease-free birches. River birches in general and 'Heritage' in particular is
extremely resistant to the bronze birch borer and also has good resistance to leaf spot diseases.
Some susceptibility to aphids and leaf miners and to iron chlorosis in high pH soils, but these are
somewhat minor problems in comparison to the birch borer.
Uses:
Excellent (as specimen or in small groups) for lawns, parks, and commercial properties and, in
particular, for wet soils along ponds or streams or in low spots. Frequently planted with a dark
foliage or shady background. An excellent choice for the St. Louis area, and generally a good
substitute for the paper birch in hot and humid climates in USDA Zones 5 to 9.
Back to plant list
- 64 -
Cornus Kousa
Aka: Kousa Dogwood
General Culture:
Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained, sandy soils in full sun to part
shade.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Kousa dogwood (also sometimes commonly called Japanese dogwood) is a small, deciduous
flowering tree or large multi-stemmed shrub which typically grows 15-30’ tall with a vaseshaped habit in the early years, eventually maturing to a more rounded habit. As in the case of
flowering dogwood (see Cornus Florida – C280), the showy parts of the Kousa dogwood
“flower” (3-5” across) are the four white petal-like bracts which surround the center cluster of
insignificant, yellowish-green, true flowers. However, the showy bracts of Kousa are narrowly
pointed whereas the bracts of flowering dogwood are rounded. Bloom occurs in late spring
(several weeks after flowering dogwood). Flowers are followed by berry-like fruits (to 1”
diameter) which mature to a pinkish red in summer and persist into fall. Fruits are edible, but are
usually left for the birds. Dark green foliage turns reddish purple to scarlet in autumn. Cornus
Kousa var. chinensis (Chinese dogwood – H640) is very similar to the species, except it is
slightly more floriferous and its showy flower bracts are slightly larger.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. This plant has better disease resistance and better cold
hardiness than flowering dogwood, and is an excellent alternative to flowering dogwood in areas
where dogwood anthracnose is a problem.
- 65 -
Uses:
A stunning flowering tree or large shrub with good fall color. Plant as a specimen or in small
groupings on residential property around homes, near patios or in lawns. Also effective in shrub
borders, woodland gardens, bird gardens or naturalized areas.
Back to plant list
- 66 -
Cupressocyparis Leylandii
Aka: Leyland Cypress
Common Name: Leyland cypress
Zone: 6 to 10
Plant Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 60 to 70 feet
Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Best grown in moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils,
including relatively lean ones. Takes well to pruning and shearing. Seed produced is viable, but
may not be true to the mother plant.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Leland cypress is a bi-generic fertile hybrid between Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
and nootka false cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). It is a fast-growing (18-36” per year in
early years) evergreen conifer with a dense, broad-columnar to narrow-pyramidal habit that
typically grows as a tree to 60-70’ (less frequently to 100’) tall in landscapes unless pruned
otherwise. From its nootka false cypress parent, it inherits its habit, foliage and winter hardiness,
- 67 -
and from its Monterey cypress parent, it inherits is branching pattern and rapid growth. Features
flattened sprays of gray-green foliage on slender upright branches and dark brown fruiting cones
(to 3/4” across), each with 8 scales. Scaly, reddish-brown bark. Common name honors C. J.
Leland who grew some of the first of this hybrids at Leighton Hall, Welshpool, Wales in 1888.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Canker and root rot may occur. Watch for bagworms.
Uses:
Fast growing hedges, screens and windbreaks (10-15’ tall). Specimen.
Back to plant list
- 68 -
Quercus Shumardii
Aka: Shumard Oak
Common Name: Shumard Oak
Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Fagaceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Height: 40 to 60 feet
Spread: 30 to 40 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Greenish
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates
a wide range of soil conditions including wet soils.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Shumard oak is a medium sized, deciduous tree of the red oak group. Pyramidal in youth but
spreads to a broad open crown with age. Typically grows at a moderately fast rate to a height of
40-60' (to 100' in the wild). Shiny, dark green leaves (6-8" long) with deep, spiny lobes (usually
7-9 lobes). Fall color appears late, but is often a respectable brownish red. Insignificant flowers
in separate male and female catkins appear in early spring as the leaves emerge. Fruits are acorns
which are usually not produced until the tree has reached the age of 25 years. Indigenous to
central and southern Missouri in moist locations in bottomlands and lowlands, including sites
- 69 -
along streams and lakes, valleys, floodplains and at the edge of swamps. However, in the St.
Louis area, it is most often found on dry, elevated sites. Similar in appearance and habit to scarlet
oak (Quercus coccinea - R700).
Problems:
Generally a durable and long-lived tree, but is susceptible to a large number of potential diseases
and insect pests, including anthracnose, canker, leaf spot, rust, blight, galls, caterpillars, borers,
leaf miners, oak lace bug and oak mite. Chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves while the veins remain
green) often occurs when soils are not properly acidic. Can be difficult to transplant and
establish.
Uses:
Shade tree, street tree, lawn tree. Does well in wide range of soils from dry locations to wet
ground and low spots.
Back to plant list
- 70 -
Acer Saccharum
Aka: Sugar Maple
Common Name: sugar maple
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Aceraceae
Native Range: Eastern North America
Height: 40 to 80 feet
Spread: 30 to 60 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Greenish
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers fertile,
slightly acidic soil. Shade tolerant.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Sugar maple is a deciduous, Missouri native tree which will typically grow 40' to 80' tall
(sometimes to 100') with a dense, rounded crown. This tree is a main component of the Eastern
U.S. hardwood forest and is one of the trees which is most responsible for giving New England
its reputation for spectacular fall color. Medium green leaves (3-6" wide with 3-5 lobes) turn
yellow-orange in autumn, sometimes with considerable color variations. Fruit is the familiar twowinged samara. Sugar maples are long-lived trees which grow relatively slowly (somewhat faster
in the first 35 years). Native Americans taught the early colonists how to tap these trees to make
maple syrup which has now become a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and Canada.
Excellent shade tree.
- 71 -
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to verticillium wilt. Leaf scorch may
be a problem in drought conditions. Has been frequently used as a street tree, but is generally
intolerant of road salt, soil compaction and pollution.
Uses:
Excellent specimen tree for the lawn or parks. May be used as a street tree as long as it can be
located on a street and in a location where road salt, soil compaction and pollution will not be
significant problems.
Back to plant list
- 72 -
Magnolia Virginiana
Aka: Sweetbay Magnolia
Common Name: sweet bay magnolia
Zone: 5 to 10
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Magnoliaceae
Native Range: Eastern United States
Height: 10 to 35 feet
Spread: 10 to 35 feet
Bloom Time: May - June Bloom Data
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in acidic, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, rich, organic
soils, but, unlike most other magnolias, tolerates wet, boggy soils. Also does quite well in the
heavy clay soils of Missouri. Appreciates a protected location in USDA Zone 5 where it is not
reliably winter hardy throughout.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Sweet bay magnolia is native to the southeastern United States north along the Atlantic coast to
New York. In the northern part of its cultivated growing range, it typically grows as either a 1520' tall tree with a spreading, rounded crown or as a shorter, suckering, open, multi-stemmed
shrub. In the deep South, it is apt to be more tree-like, sometimes growing to 60' tall. Features
cup-shaped, sweetly fragrant (lemony), 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers (2-3"
diameter) which appear in mid-spring and sometimes continue sporadically throughout the
summer. Oblong-lanceolate shiny green foliage is silvery beneath. Foliage is evergreen to semievergreen in the South, but generally deciduous in the St. Louis area. Cone-like fruits with bright
red seeds mature in fall and can be showy. See also Magnolia virginiana var. australis (A640)
which primarily differs from the species by being somewhat taller, having more fragrant flowers
and being more likely to be evergreen.
- 73 -
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils. Not reliably
winter hardy in the St. Louis area.
Uses:
Excellent specimen tree for lawns or tall multi-stemmed shrub for shrub borders. Use in
foundation plantings, near patios or on the periphery of woodland areas. Often planted in parks.
Will grow in wet soils such as those found in low spots or near ponds/streams.
Back to plant list
- 74 -
Gleditsia Triacanthos Inermis
Aka: Thornless Honeylocust
Common Name: honey locust
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Central and eastern North America
Height: 60 to 80 feet
Spread: 60 to 80 feet
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Color: Greenish-yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Best grown in organically rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of a wide range of
soils. Also tolerant of wind, high summer heat, drought and saline conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Honey locust is native from Pennsylvania to Iowa south to Georgia and Texas. In Missouri, it
commonly occurs in moist soils of low woodland areas in valleys and along streams, and in drier
soils of upland slopes and pastures throughout the state (Steyermark). It typically grows 60-80’
(less frequently to 120’) tall with a rounded spreading crown. Trunk and branches have stout
thorns (to 3” long) that are solitary or three-branched. Pinnate to bipinnate yellow green leaves
with ovate leaflets (1/2” to 1 1/2” long). Pinnate leaves have 10-15 pairs of leaflets and bipinnate
leaves have 4-7 pairs of pinnae. Feathery leaves cast a sun-dappled shade. Leaves turn yellow in
fall, but sometime drop off early without providing any significant fall color display. Greenish
yellow to greenish white flowers appear in racemes in late spring (May-June in St. Louis).
Flowers are followed by long, twisted and flattened, dark purplish-brown seedpods (to 18” long)
which mature in late summer and persist well into winter. Seedpods contain, in addition to seeds,
a sweet gummy substance that gives honey locust its common name. Specific epithet comes from
- 75 -
the Greek acantha (thorn) and tri (three) in reference to the three-branched thorns. Species plants
are generally not sold in commerce. Thornless varieties and cultivars that produce few if any
seedpods are the preferred plants (e.g., Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis). Genus name honors
Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch (1714-1786), medical doctor and one-time Director of the Berlin
Botanical Garden.
Problems:
Honey locust is susceptible to a large number of potential disease problems, including leaf spot,
canker, witches’ broom, powdery mildew and rust. Borers and webworms are common insect
problems in some areas. Leaflets are too small to rake, which is good, but seed pods are
unattractive on the tree and messy when they fall. Thorns on species plants can be just plain
nasty.
Back to plant list
- 76 -
Salix Babylonica
Aka: Weeping Willow
Common Name: Babylon weeping willow
Zone: 6 to 8
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Salicaceae
Native Range: Northern China
Height: 30 to 40 feet
Spread: 30 to 40 feet
Bloom Time: April - May
Bloom Color: Silver green
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Thrives in moist
soils. Avoid dry soils. Prefers full sun. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring. This
species may not be reliably winter hardy in the St. Louis area, and is best grown in the southern
parts of the U. S.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Native to China, weeping willow (sometimes called Babylon weeping willow) is a small
deciduous tree that grows to 30-40’ tall with a broad rounded crown of branches that weep to the
ground. Many consider this tree to have the best form of the weeping willows available in
commerce. Branchlets are typically green or brown (not yellow as with S. alba ‘Tristis’).
Weeping willow can be a spectacular specimen at the edge of a pond with its branches gracefully
weeping down and touching the water, however, it is often very difficult to site this tree in a
residential landscape. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing in silvery green
catkins on separate male and female trees. Flowering catkins appear in April-May, but are not
showy. Narrow, lanceolate, finely-toothed leaves (to 6” long and 3/4” wide) are light green
- 77 -
above and gray-green beneath. Variable fall color is usually an undistinguished greenish-yellow.
This tree has more pendulous branching and is more compact than Salix alba ‘Tristis’ (see
C144). The specific epithet was given to this tree by Carl Linnaeus who mistakenly believed it to
be the biblical willow of Babylon. The true species may not be available in commerce any more.
Problems:
Susceptible to numerous disease problems including blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots and
cankers. It also is visited by many insect pests including aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs and
caterpillars. Wood is weak and tends to crack. Branches may be damaged by ice and snow. Litter
from leaves, twigs and branches may be a problem. Shallow roots may clog sewers or drains and
make gardening underneath the trees difficult.
Uses:
Weeping form of this tree is quite beautiful when the tree is planted in appropriate settings.
Weeping willow may be grown most effectively in moist soils along streams, ponds or other
water bodies. It is generally not recommended for use as a specimen in residential landscapes
because of its susceptibility to breakage, potential insect/disease problems, spreading roots and
litter potential.
Back to plant list
- 78 -
Pinus Strobus
Aka: White Pine
Common Name: eastern white pine
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Pinaceae
Native Range: Southeastern Canada, eastern United States
Height: 50 to 80 feet
Spread: 20 to 40 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers full sun, fertile soils and
cool, humid climates. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Intolerant of many air
pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and ozone.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Eastern white pine is a rapid-growing, long-lived, needled evergreen tree that is native to the
northeastern United States and Canada (State tree of Maine and Michigan). Although pyramidal
in its early years, it matures to a broad oval habit with an irregular crown. Typically grows 50-80'
in cultivation, but will grow to 100' tall in the wild, with records existing to over 200'. Landscape
size and shape can be controlled through pruning, however, to the extent that white pine may be
sheared and grown as a hedge. Bluish green needles (to 5" long) are soft to the touch and appear
in bundles of five. Cylindrical, brown cones ( 4-8" long) are usually not produced until 5-10
years. An important timber tree (perhaps more so in the 18th and 19th centuries than now) which
- 79 -
was and is valued for its lightweight, straight-grained wood (orange heartwood and white
sapwood).
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
Generally a low-maintenance tree. Some susceptibility to white pine blister rust which is a bark
disease that is usually fatal. Species of Ribes (e.g., currants or gooseberries) are the alternate host
for white pine blister rust and may be considered as candidates for elimination in areas where
white pines are under attack. White pine blister rust is not considered to be a problem in Missouri
however. Also some susceptibility to white pine weevil which is an insect pest that attacks
terminal shoots thus damaging the shape of the tree.
Uses:
An excellent specimen tree for lawns or parks. Site in areas with adequate space to accommodate
future growth. May be planted as a hedge, however, with regular shearing to control growth and
shape.
Back to plant list
- 80 -