Corkscrew WillowThe Corkscrew Willow tree, Salix matsudana, ‘Tortuosa’, is a small to medium-sized, upright spreading tree of about 30 feet in height with a 15-foot-spread. This deciduous tree is also known as Tortuosa or Dragon’s Claw Willow. The main ornamental feature of this plant is the contorted and twisted branches and twigs. Branches arise from the trunk at an acute angle and grow up almost parallel to the trunk before they curve back to the horizontal. The winter branch pattern is most interesting and accounts for the popularity of the tree. Corkscrew Willow trees tolerate any soil, especially wet soils with poor drainage. It is a fast growing tree with narrow light green leaves.
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Peony - Tree - Yoshino gawaThe Tree Peony Yoshino gawa, ‘Paeonia’, produces enormous bright pale pink of rare beauty. Every garden needs a tree peony. There was a time, many years ago in ancient China, when the only person who could own a tree peony was the Emperor himself. We’re not sure what the penalty was for infringing this law, but it can’t have been very pleasant. Fortunately for us, tree peonies are now slightly more available. There are very few plants that can compete with a tree peony in full bloom. They flower from late April to early May but the flowering season does vary from year to year. A mature plant can have in excess of a hundred flowers and these can be 10″ or more across! The flowers range in color from maroon, crimson, scarlet, various shades of pink, to pure white. There are also tree peonies with yellow or purple flowers. The Chinese refer to the tree peony as ‘Moutan’. This has been variously translated but probably means ‘The Emperor Flower’. While the tree peony originated in China, it had found its way to Japan by the 8th Century AD. Japanese tree peonies tend to have less double flowers than their Chinese peers, and the flowers are more open and delicate. Growing only 4-5′ tall, these exceptional Tree Peonies are sub-zero hardy and bloom for a lifetime.
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Hybrid PoplarThe Poplar Hybrid tree, Populus Hybrid, will grow six feet per year with average and normal conditions This fast growing tree is often planted as a hedge, screen, windbreak, or to line a road or drive. You can expect this tree to be over 20 tall and 15 wide in just three years. It can grow to over 70 tall. This deciduous tree will require supplemental water until established. When you need shade in a hurry, we suggest the fast-growing Hybrid Poplar trees. We haven’t found any tree that grows like it. It normally lives 30-50 years. It is wind, disease, and insect-resistant and it can take the cold as far north as Canada. This poplar is often used to reforest after forest fire, and to reclaim land after strip mining. But, the best use is to provide beauty and a quick, cool, shade tree for new homes.
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