As we spend our days here at the nursery, we would love to talk to each and every customer that visits. But we know that isn’t always possible. The Picks of the Week will be a great opportunity for us to share with you our suggestions for good, reliable plants we think you should know about. We hope it’s the next, best thing to speaking to you in person!
Amelanchier 'Autumn Brilliance' in brilliant fall color
My pick of the week is
Amelanchier x
grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, the common name for which is Apple Serviceberry. I especially like it in its multi-stemmed form, although we also carry a single stem tree form. ‘Autumn Brilliance’ forms a small tree around 20-25’ tall and wide. Delicate white flowers appear in fleecy racemes in early spring. The small leaves allow filtered light to penetrate through to the ground, and then turn a wonderful mix of red, brick and orange in the fall. The little fruits are loved by birds, which will clean the tree of fruit very quickly in the fall. Even the shiny, speckled bark is interesting. Serviceberry can grow in full sun or part shade, is very hardy in this area, and is virtually trouble free. –Rich Hornbaker
Taxodium distichum 'Peve Minaret'
My pick of the week is Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’ – Dwarf Bald Cypress. If I could have a pick of the year, this might be it. It just seems to scream, “Hug me! I’m awesome!” I have always loved Bald Cypress trees. Old growth Bald Cypress, whether they are in the swamps of Florida or at the arboretum down at U of I, are magnificent specimens. They have a unique, prehistoric look to them that demands attention. To be able to shrink that magnificence into a cute, little, huggable dwarf form that fits well into almost any residential landscape is something that should be celebrated. This dwarf Bald Cypress is one tough little tree, too. It tolerates wet, clay, poorly drained soils, which makes it one of very few specimens that do so. Use it as a patio tree or along side a foundation for some vertical interest. Its needles turn a rusty orange in autumn before they fall, which gives it some seasonal interest as well. –Dave Hornbaker
Euphorbia ‘Bonfire’
My pick of the week Euphorbia ‘Bonfire,’ a newer variety of Cushion Spurge, is one of the most colorful sunny perennials I’ve seen. In late spring, glowing yellow bracts (the leaves surrounding the insignificant true flowers) are as eye catching as any bloom. And the foliage is just as colorful, too! The top growth is a combination of deep purple, red and orange while the new undergrowth is green, and then the whole mound deepens to burgundy and then becomes a rich red in the fall. Grows to 12”-18” with a spread of 30” and will grow in full to partial sun. This picture shows one in my yard on the north side of the house. The foliage color is best in a sunnier location. -Molly Hornbaker Blogg
