Woody Deciduous
(Revised 11 Feb 2011)
Our weather zone is barely warm enough for some of the most ornamental trees and shrubs. The risk of loosing them in our garden in a particularly bad winter is always lurking around. In spite of that, it would be a shame to not even try. We have gardened long enough to realized that even the hardiest plants can come and go as they please despite the best of care. The sooner a gardener learns to move on and plant new plants the better; rather than constantly looking backward and complaining.
Caryopteris ‘First Choice’
Caryopteris 'First Choice'
Cercis canadensis
Apart from the unique airy elegant masses of flowers, this tree also has an artistic looking branch structure that can contribute to the winter scenery. In our experience, this tree is far more reliably hardy to Zone 5 than some books would give it credit for.
A Cercis canadensis in bloom by the pool
Cercis canadensis
Chaenomeles
Flowering quince flowers are artistically pretty enough for painting.
Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold'
Cladrastris lutea
This tree is probably more than 14 years old, and was started from a 2.5 m stock. I was hoping that it will be a big tall tree, but it is taking its sweet time, probably because of the extremely poor soil. Some gardener just south of us complained that this tree gets too big in their yard.
Cladrastris lutea
Cladrastris lutea a closer look
Cornus florida
Cornus florida is perhaps the most ornamental flowering tree in our Zone. I know I will loose this tree when a really bad winter arrive, but I will enjoy it while it lasts; so far about 6 seasons and hopefully many more.
View from the living room bay window - Cornus f. ‘Rubra’ with Acer pal. ‘Shindeshojo’, and Rhododendron ‘Karens’
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Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief'
Cornus kousa x nuttalii ‘Venus’
This is supposed to be hardier than Cornus florida and also bloom later.
Cornus kousa x nuttalii 'Venus'
Cornus kousa x nuttalii 'Venus' flower details
Heptacodium miconoides
Heptacodium miconoides is an unique tree that blooms in September. This tree was introduce into North America in the 80s from China.
Heptacodium miconoides
Heptacodium miconoides
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Giant’
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Giant'
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Giant' fall colour
Kerria japonica pleniflora
Kerria japonica pleniflora
Crabapple is probably one of the few reliably hardy to my area and beyond. Some of them have the annoying habit of shedding yellow leaves throughout summer making a mess.
Malus 'Red Jade'
Malus '?'
Prunus
It is interesting to learn from a Vancouver cherry blossom scout that Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ does not bloom properly there. It appears that warmer weather there would allow this cherry tree to attempt to bloom almost year round resulting in a poor show. The harsh weather here forces this Cherry to bloom once in alternate year resulting is very profuse showy blossoms.
Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'
Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' a closer look
Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' in full bloom
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac)
Syringa vulgaris 'Aurea'; this plant was acquired from RBG plant sale many years ago. It appears to be a somewhat unique lilac
Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’
This viburnum is one of the prettiest flowering shrub that is hardy to our area, but it is mostly ignored.
Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'
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Art is a human activity having for its purpose the transmission to others of the highest and best feelings to which men have risen.
- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy