Which Trees, Shrubs and Vines Should I Choose?
A garden is not a garden without some sort of tree, shrub or vine present. There are some types that are easy to grow at any time of the year. Each of the plant listings contains descriptions, proper soils, and sunlight requirements.
Sugar Maple
- Proper Name: Acer Saccharum – Zone 3-7
- Description: This tree is planted mainly because of its popular red, orange, and yellow colored leaves. Sugar maple is mainly harvested to produce maple syrup and maple lumber for furniture. This short trunk, spreading tree can reach heights of 50 to 70 feet. The leaves themselves are approximately 4” to 5” in diameter consisting of 5 lobes.
- Soil Recommendations:This tree requires plenty of room to grow in well drained fertile soil
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- How to Grow Properly: This tree requires plenty of room to grow in well drained fertile soil. Avoid planting sugar maples in dry soil or near streets where road salt is used.
- Where to Keep Them: This tree is best set far from the home because branches can extend up to 10 feet. This tree is mainly used for shade and, once mature, it is very resistant to storm damage
White Oak
- Proper Name: Quercus Alba – Zones 4-9
- Description: White oak trees are known to grow to incredible sizes. Some trees have been measured at 150 feet tall with 80 feet spread. Not only do these trees reach to massive heights, but they also last a long time. White oak trees have been known to reach the great age of 800 years!! As a youngling, the tree has sort of a pyramidal shape but rounds out once it reaches maturity. The white oak leaves are dark green in the summer time and turns red as the fall season passes.
- Soil Recommendations: Rich, slightly acidic, well drained soil
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- How to Grow Properly: Place it as a small tree in rich, slightly acidic, well drained soil. It requires full sunlight and the growth process is quite slow.
- Where to Keep Them: Since this tree reaches massive heights and widths, they are best situated in large spacious areas such as parks and large properties.
Dogwood
- Proper Name:Cornus Florida – Zones 5-8
- Description: This is one of the more popular flowering trees that may reach a modest height of 20 feet. The blooming period develops large pink and white flowers that appear all over the tree. After the leaves emerge, the flower color changes to yellow with each flower head being much smaller. The leaves develop a scarlet color during the fall and red berries are produced for hungry birds and animals.
- Soil Recommendations:The dogwood requires rich, acidic, well drained
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Partial Shade
- How to Grow Properly: The dogwood requires rich, acidic, well drained soil sitting in full sun or partial shade. Water generously and frequently because this tree cannot withstand long periods of drought.
- Where to Keep Them:The dogwood provides year round beauty and makes it an excellent accent plant. Furthermore, because of its relatively small size, it can be placed in homes with smaller lots.
Rosebud
- Proper Name: Cercis Canadensis – Zones 4-9
- Description: Native to the eastern parts of North America, redbuds grow distinctive reddish purple flowers before the leaves emerge in the spring. The leaves are heart shaped and are about 6” in diameter. This tree is smaller than most with slightly drooping branches. It has been seen reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet.
- Soil Recommendations: Well drained soil
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Partial Shade
- How to Grow Properly: Plant the young trees in well drained soil that is in partial shade or full sun. It is recommended to trim the upper portion of the tree so the leaves at the bottom receive an adequate amount of sunlight.
- Where to Keep Them: You can place them at the borders of your homes in a spacious environment where competing trees are at least 15 to 20 feet away. Plant them in groups or as a single tree.
Yellowwood
- Proper Name: Cladrastis Kentuckea – Zones 4-8
- Description: Found in Kentucky and North Carolina, the yellowish color of the bark gives its name. This slow growing tree can reach heights of 30 to 50 feet with the spread being much wider. During late spring, pea like flowers emerge that closely resembles wisteria.
- Soil Recommendations: Well drained acidic soils
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- How to Grow Properly: Plant yellowwoods in well drained acidic soils that are exposed to full sunlight. These trees dislike alkaline soils and, once mature, can be drought tolerant and cold resistant.
- Where to Keep Them: This is a perfect tree for flowers and foliage but plant them where you require the most amount of shade.
Blueberry
- Proper Name: Vaccinium Species – Zones 4-7
- Description: These shrubs have white, bell like flowers during the spring. They produce edible blueberries in the summer and they have pointed green oval shaped leaves that feel a bit leathery. These dense shrubs can get to be 2 to 5 feet tall and just as wide. An interesting fact is that a mature blueberry shrub can produce about 10 quarts of blueberries every year.
- Soil Recommendations: High acidic well drained soil
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Bright Partial Shade
- How to Grow Properly: Plant these shrubs in high acidic well drained soil. They require full sunlight or bright partial shade. Plant several different types together to develop good pollination.
- Where to Keep Them: You can place them as a part of shrub borders or along the edge of wooden areas where there is bright partial shade.
Camellia
- Proper Name: Camellia Japonica – Zones 7-9
- Description: Theses shrubs originated from China and Japan and consist of beautiful red, pink, or white colors. The flowers can be double or single and can be 3” to 5” apart. The leaves themselves are deep green and can be about 4” in diameter. If matured, camellias may take the forms of small trees about 20 feet tall but average heights are around 5 to 10 feet.
- Soil Recommendations: Place them in moist, acidic, well drained soil
- Sunlight Requirement: Partial Shade
- How to Grow Properly: Place them in moist, acidic, well drained soil that is in the partial shade. Protect the plants form wind and ice during the winter season. Also, mulch so that you can keep the roots moist and you can even prune if you want to improve the form.
- Where to Keep Them: These plants make great accents and can be used as foundation plantings. You can also place them along the edges of woodland areas where there is ample coverage from the sun.
Lilac
- Proper Name: Syringa Vulgaris – Zones 3-7
- Description: Lilacs can withstand the hardest of winters and still blossom during the spring time. They can be tall plants consisting of highly perfumed lavender flowers. The flowers range from white, pink, to purple and the plants can grow to be 12 feet high and 15 feet wide.
- Soil Recommendations: Neutral well drained soils are best conditions for lilacs
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Partial Shade
- How to Grow Properly: Neutral well drained soils are best conditions for lilacs. They can grow in partial shade but full sunlight is recommended.
- Where to Keep Them: Lilacs are good accent plants but remember that they are almost worthless after the mid summer bloom. They can also be planted in a line along walkways or planted closely in groups to create a hedge.
