Saratoga Tree Nursery Sale Highlights 2009
New Species for 2009
Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) is a riparian species. New shoots grow extremely straight and were once prized by Native Americans for making arrows. The abundant blue to purple berries are a favorite of many bird and wildlife species, and are an important food source for migratory birds. One of the most distinctive looking viburnums. Because of its handsome appearance and durability, arrowwood makes a beautiful ornamental shrub on moist sites. It is recommended as a preferred native substitute for invasive Russian olive and non-native shrub honeysuckles.
River Birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing riparian species that tolerates wet, frequently flooded soils. It has the most southerly range of the birch species, and is much more heat tolerant than other birches. It grows best in full sun and prefers a slightly acid soil. Although it is surprisingly drought resistant, it does prefer good soil moisture. It typically grows as a multi-stemmed tree, a habit which shows off its spectacular multi-colored peeling bark in warm shades of tan, brown, pink and cream. River birch has become popular as a showy native ornamental and can be used instead of introduced species such as paperbark maple.
Fruit of the osage-orange tree
Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) is an intriguing Ice Age survivor that once grew as far north as Ontario, and whose unusual large fruits were likely eaten by mastodons and other extinct species. After the Ice Age, it ended up being restricted to a small range around the Texas-Oklahoma border, where the local Native American tribes used its tough hard wood for bows. European settlers planted it for hedges and used the rot-resistant wood for fence posts and railroad ties. Osage-orange is hardy in zone 5 and grows well in central and southern New York. It can be planted as a hedge to provide wildlife cover and food. The fruit is sometimes eaten by deer and the seeds are popular with squirrels and birds. This species has considerable potential for biofuel production, and specialty timber for applications such as boatbuilding. It is also being studied as a source of multiple drug and chemical compounds from its sap and seeds.
Manager's Recommendations
Toringo Crabapple (Malus seiboldii) is a valuable wildlife species, especially for late winter, holding its fruit well into February when few other foods are available. It is a better choice than wild apple in many situations, since the shoots and bark are not severely browsed by deer. Although this species is native to Asia, it is recommended in preference to native crabapples because of its disease resistance. Native crabapples are extremely susceptible to several major diseases, notably cedar-apple rust.
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) is an important timber tree with wider site tolerance than most other birch species and hardy to zone 3. Young trees have smooth shining bark ranging from reddish-brown to black. Older trees have blackish bark with distinctive large plates. As one of the few birches with dark-colored bark, it often goes unrecognized as a birch, yet it makes a handsome landscape tree with its insect-resistant dark green foliage and vivid yellow fall color. The twigs and inner bark have a strong wintergreen scent and flavor and were once used to make oil of wintergreen. The seeds are a good winter food for songbirds, while the leaves and twigs provide good browse for deer.
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) is one of the best northern timber pines for sterile sandy or gravelly soils. It is extremely cold hardy, growing well even in zone 2. The distinctive red-brown platy bark and straight trunk make Red Pine easy to identify. Plantation-grown trees develop tall straight trunks, widely used for poles and saw timber. Open-grown trees grow dense crowns and make interesting landscape trees. Red Pine requires full sun for best growth. The seeds are food for many bird and mammal species.
American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) is a true mountain tree, growing on high rocky slopes and summits. At lower elevations, it prefers cool moist sites. It is extremely hardy, growing well even in zone 2. One of our most beautiful small native trees, it has compound leaves and dense clusters of white flowers, followed by showy red-orange berries. The berries are held well into winter and are eaten by many birds and small mammals. Mountain ash is a favored browse food for moose and deer, and is also browsed by grouse, snowshoe hares, martens and fishers. This species prefers a sunny location with good soil moisture.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a tough handsome multi-stemmed shrub that can even grow in urban areas with adequate soil moisture. In full shade it develops an interesting open habit. In full sun it grows into a dense specimen shrub. Bright yellow leaves in early fall are followed by tiny highly fragrant yellow flowers. It is one of the only native plants which blooms in late fall and early winter. This is a very good species to plant along paths and near buildings where people can enjoy the scent of the flowers. When ripe, the seed capsules explode open and may shoot seed 30 feet or more. The seeds and buds are a favorite winter food for grouse. It is also the source of medicinal witch hazel.
Bayberry fruit in winter
Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica, formerly Myrica pensylvanica) is well-known as a good species for coastal areas because of its salt tolerance, but it is also excellent for urban areas, especially near frequently salted roads and sidewalks. This sun-loving shrub is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, and is also very resistant to insects and diseases. It can be pruned as a hedge or allowed to spread as a low maintenance ground cover shrub. As one of the few shrubs that fixes nitrogen, bayberry is valuable for improving poor soils. It is very winter hardy and will grow in zone 3. In warmer zones it is often evergreen, holding its aromatic leathery green leaves all winter. The leaves make wonderful potpourri, and the waxy gray berries are the source of fragrant bayberry candles. The berries are held well into winter and are eaten by many bird species.
Bayberry as landscape plants
Wild grape growing on a trellis to create a green wall
Wild Grape (Vitis riparia), the familiar wild grapevine with its attractive reddish-brown shredded bark, is not only a top wildlife species but is also one of best native vines for urban use. Tough, hardy and fast-growing, it can be used to cover fences and shade structures. It climbs with strong coiling tendrils and can be grown on wall trellises as green walls to help cool buildings. It can grow tall enough to shade sides of multi-story buildings and is recommended as a native substitute for invasive wisteria vines. Wild grape provides important wildlife benefits especially in urban areas. Berries are winter food for many bird and animal species, the bark is used by birds for nest material, and the vines are preferred nest sites for species such as cardinals. Wild grapes can also be used by people. The fruit is very tart when it first ripens and makes excellent preserves. After a hard frost the berries become very sweet. Grapevine prunings make excellent wreaths and decorations.
