#arborticulture

Plant of the Day

Monday 25 November 2019

The beautiful form Platanus orientalis f. digitata (oriental plane) is distinguished by its deeply incised leaves. It can become a large and long-lived tree developing wide spreading branches with flaking bark. It makes an excellent specimen tree.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 22 June 2019

The contrast of the flower colours and forms with the pink, horizontal Achillea millefolium 'Lilac Beauty' (yarrow) and purple, vertical Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Balkan clary) provide a dramatic display. Both of these herbaceous perennials grow best in full sun. The pruned tree in the background is Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ (weeping silver pear).

Plant of the Day

Monday 21 October 2019

The beautiful planting of Cercidiphyllum japonicum (katsura tree) at Scampston Walled Garden, Yorkshire, UK, was turning shades of yellow, orange and pink in an autumnal display. The air was filled with the smell of burnt sugar or candy floss given off by the leaves. This must be one of my favourite tree species.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 3 November 2019

At the Beth Chatto Garden, Essex, UK, the whorls of needles of Pseudolarix amabilis (golden larch, false larch) are turning golden-yellow. This deciduous conifer is a monotypic genus producing a medium-sized tree and needing neutral or acidic soil conditions.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 12 December 2019

Continuing to grow well at Marks Hall Arboretum, Essex, UK, are a plantation of the monotypic genus Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi pine). This evergreen coniferous tree species was only discovered in 1994, in an Australian rainforest. The needles can grow up to 4cm long, and male and female cones appear on the same tree; the female cones are almost spherical and male cones are more elongated.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 26 October 2019

The beautiful golden autumn foliage of Acer saccharinum (silver maple, water maple, white maple) in a woodland garden. This North American deciduous tree has vigorous growth and thrives on moist soil.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 25 July 2019

This year the Catalpa trees have been covered in flowers and at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley, UK, the specimen of Catalpa bignonioides (Indian bean tree, catawba) planted in the 1950s is now a magnificent tree, as the plant has aged the branches have lowered and some are now touching the ground. Nearby the golden foliage form, Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' (golden Indian bean tree), was flowering and this cultivar is often ‘stooled’ (cut back in winter) to encourage more dramatic, larger foliage. The Catalpa × erubescens 'Purpurea' (purple hybrid catalpa, purple Indian bean tree) was producing new shoots with blackish-purple leaves that later turn dark green, the foliage contrasts with the flowers.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 28 September 2019

A large specimen of Carpinus betulus (common hornbeam) was covered in hop-like fruit. This deciduous broadleaf tree is native to the south of the UK and the timber is extremely hard and strong. It was traditional used for ox-yokes (a wooden beam fitted across the shoulders of an ox to enable it to pull a cart), butchers' chopping blocks and cogs for windmills and water mills.