Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994 TAG: 9404210189
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Joe Hunnings
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Handbook No. 63, 1200 Trees and Shrubs - Where to Buy Them, is an excellent source of plants not commonly available in nurseries or garden centers. You can order a copy from Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225.
These trees are reasonably reliable and hardy throughout Virginia:
Amur Maackia (Maackia amurenis) is moderately fast growing, developing a rounded head at maturity. Its major interest is the small, white, late-summer flowers arranged in branched clusters four to six inches long, although its bronze-colored bark adds winter landscape interest. It is easily grown and has no major pest problems. Height: 20-30 feet; spread: 20-30 feet.
Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis) is a far showier member of the redbud genus than our native trees. A multi-stemmed, small tree, it is covered with vivid, rosy-pink to purple flowers in early spring about the same time as the Eastern redbud. It is tolerant of poor soils and hot locations, thus it makes an excellent specimen or screen. Height: 10-20 feet; spread: 15-20 feet.
Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) is difficult to establish, but once established, it is truly beautiful. Franklinia was discovered in Georgia; however, no native trees have been found since 1790. All trees growing today are descendants of the ones collected before that time. It is an upright, slow-growing tree, noted for its large, white, fragrant flowers which open in late summer. The foliage turns orange to red in the fall.
A fertile, moist, well-drained soil is preferred. Avoid hot, dry exposures. No serious pests have been reported. Height: 10-30 feet; spread: 6-15 feet.
Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) has dense, lustrous foliage; showy flowers; yellow to reddish purple fall color and flaking, varicolored bark, all of which combine to make the Stewartias beautiful all seasons of the year. Its white, two-inch flowers create a spectacle in midsummer when few other trees are in bloom.
The old bark peels off in irregular patches revealing lighter colored, inner bark, thereby providing intense winter interest. It is difficult to transplant and should be planted while small. It grows best in a protected location, in good soil with a regular supply of moisture. Height: 30-40 feet; spread: 20-25 feet.
Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina) is an attractive, moderately fast growing, native tree. The delicate, white, bell-shaped flowers, about one-half inch long, appear in late spring. They hang all along the underside of the previous year's branches, making a well-grown tree a uniquely beautiful sight when in bloom.
Two- to four-winged seed pods add interest in the fall of the year. The mountain silverbell, H. monticola, is a larger tree with much larger flowers (two inches long), but is more difficult to find in nurseries.
Both species should be planted where they can be observed at close range. Both species are free from serious pest problems. Don't plant in heavy or wet soils, and avoid hot, dry exposures in the Tidewater area. Height: 30-45 feet; spread: 20-25 feet.
Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus) is a unique, small tree with graceful, small, waxy, white flowers hanging from the curving, horizontal branches in early summer. Flowers appear after the leaves are fully developed, but the leaves are arranged on the upper side of the branches leaving the pendulous flowers clearly evident below.
The dark-green leaves; wide, spreading growth habit; and beautiful flowers combine to make this an outstanding specimen tree. It needs rich soil and adequate summer moisture. No serious pests are known. Height: 20-30 feet; spread: 20-30 feet.
Sourwood or Lily-of-the-Valley tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is a slow-growing, pyramidal, native tree with dense, lustrous, leathery foliage. Sprays of small, white flowers cover the tree in midsummer.
The brilliant-scarlet, autumn color is one of the most vivid fall colors of any tree species. The fruits are dried capsules that hang on the tree until late in the winter.
The summer flowers, graceful pyramidal growth habit, brilliant fall color, and persistent seed pods give this tree interest through every season of the year.
Sourwood needs to be watered during the summer when rainfall is deficient. It may have difficulty in the Tidewater area. Height: 25-30 feet; spread: 20 feet.
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) is far more tolerant of full sun and dry, compacted soil, making it a good substitute for the native flowering dogwood in many urban landscape situations.
Different from the native dogwood, the Kousa dogwood flowers after it leafs out; has larger bracts with pointed tips; has good, red, fall color and a larger, showier, red fruit than the native dogwood. It would be a better dogwood to use in the Tidewater and Richmond areas in sunny locations. Height: 20-30 feet; spread: 20-30 feet.
by CNB