Fall Color

One in the Plants Plus Series – a mix of new and past training presentations, printed materials and other references focused on specific plants or topics to help you increase your knowledge so you can better answer gardening questions. To get 2 hours of continuing education credit complete the videos, reading and take a short quiz! This Plants Plus package focuses on the science of fall color.

Tree Roots

One in the Plants Plus Series – a remix of past training presentations, printed materials and other references focused on specific plants or topics to help you increase your knowledge so you can better answer homeowner questions. To get two hours of continuing education credit for watching the video presentations and reading the articles, just complete the short quiz! This Plants Plus package focuses on different aspects of tree roots and bare root trees.

Kiwifruit, Actinidia spp.

What’s brown and fuzzy all over and green inside? Well, the kiwifruit, of course. This Chinese fruit was popularized when it was imported into New Zealand, renamed kiwifruit instead of Chinese gooseberry, and developed as an export crop. Today this fruit crop is grown in many places worldwide, but there is more than just the kind found at the grocery store. To learn more about kiwifruit, read this article…

Fothergilla

Fothergillas are multi-season beauties grown as ornamentals well outside their original range. These low maintenance small shrubs, native to the southeastern US, have eye-catching blooms in spring and vibrant fall color in autumn. Learn more about these easily grown members of the witch-hazel family…

European Larch, Larix decidua

Not all conifers are evergreen, and larch is one example of a conifer that loses its needles every year. The European larch is a large, deciduous tree hardy to zone 2 that is often grown as an ornamental (the North American species, including are rarely offered in the horticulture trade). Learn more about Larix decidua in this article…

Serviceberry, Amelanchier spp.

If you’re looking for a small tree with attractive white blossoms in spring and small fruits that can be food for animals or humans, consider one of several species of serviceberry. There are a number of plants in the genus Amalanchier that are graceful trees or shrubs that can provide year-round ornamental interest in the landscape. To learn more, read this article…

Forsythia, Forsythia spp.

As one of the first shrubs to flower, the showy yellow flowers of forsythia are the ultimate symbol of spring in many places. This tough, early-blooming, medium-sized shrub does well in the urban landscape, but does have some drawbacks. Learn more about forsythia in this article…

Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis

Need a small tree with spring flowers and interesting structure? Unless you live way up north eastern redbud may fit the bill. With selected strains and cultivars hardy to zone 4, this North American native offers showy pink flowers in early spring before most other trees are even leafing out. To learn more about Cercis canadensis, read this article…

Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata

If you want a small tree or large shrub with large, showy white or pink flowers in early spring, star magnolia is a great choice. There are several cultivars of this deciduous ornamental with bold, glossy foliage and interesting winter architecture, making it a good specimen plant at any time of the year. Read more about Magnolia stellata in this article…

River Birch, Betula nigra

Betula nigra is a tall native tree that makes a great ornamental for large spaces because of its graceful form and attractive bark. It is one of the most culturally adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches, thriving in moist soil, but is somewhat drought tolerant once established. To learn more about river birch, read this article…