#specimen tree

This is an illustration of a mid-sized, stone-landscaped backyard in the summertime.

Design suggestions for a large, full-sun, rustic backyard with stone landscaping in the summer.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun hillside gravel flower bed.

Oxydendrum arboreum

Common Name: Sourwood or Lily of the Valley Tree

Family: Ericaceae

Leaves: Alternate, Simple, 3 to 8″ long 

Buds: Small 1/16″ long, Conical globose

Native Region: 

Size: 25′ to 30′ tall and 20′ in spread

Habitat/Growing Conditions:  Moist well drained soil, Full sun or partial shade. 

Hardiness Zone:  Zone 5

Leaf Color:  Rich green in spring, lustrous dark brown in fall. 

Flower:  White, perfect, urn shaped, 1/4″ long. fragrant

Benefits:  Colonizes on highway embankments and is used by Bee’s to produce honey

Acer Rubrum

Common Name: Red Maple, Scarlet Maple

Family: Sapindaceae

Leaves: Opposite, simple, 2 to 4″ long and wide

Buds: Imbricate, red to green, 1/16th to 1/8th long with rounded bud scale. 

Native Region: Moist bottomlands, rich wooded slopes. 

Size: 40 to 60′ in height. Spread less than equal to height

Habitat/Growing Conditions: Well drained moderately moist soil. Slightly acidic soil. Sun, Part Shade, Shade. 

Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9

Leaf Color: Reddish tinged. Gray cast beneath in summer. Fall color greenish yellow, to brilliant red. 

Flower:  Red, rarely yellowish. 

Cedrus Libani

Common Name: Cedar of Lebanon

Family: Pinaceae

Native: Southwestern Asia

Leaves: Needles evergreen. 

Size: 40 to 60′ with spread of 40 - 60′

Growing Conditions: Prefers deep rich soil moist and well drained. Full sun. 

Leaf Color: Dark Green

Hardiness Zone: 6 to 7

Flowers: Non flowering. 

Benefits: This cedar does the best in the winter among other cedar and withstands drought conditions once established. 

Source: Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Plants