AMERICAN GARDENER

Growing fruit trees in USDA Zone 5 can be highly rewarding, but it requires more planning than growing fruit in many warmer regions. Zone 5 includes areas where average annual minimum winter temperatures can fall to approximately -20°F to -10°F (-28.9°C to -23.3°C). That level of cold eliminates many popular fruit trees, but it still … Read more

Apricots have one of the more misleading scientific names in the entire fruit world, since the species is officially classified as Prunus armeniaca, a nod to Armenia that stuck after Romans encountered the fruit growing there, even though genetic and archaeological evidence points to the tree actually originating in China more than 4,000 years ago … Read more

The Japanese flowering cherry tree is one of the most recognizable ornamental trees in the world, prized for the brief but spectacular flush of pink and white blossoms it produces each spring. Unlike its fruiting cherry cousins, this tree is grown almost entirely for visual impact rather than for harvest, and it has become a … Read more

American Fringe Tree: A Complete Guide to Its Botany, History, Characteristics, and Landscape Value The American fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is one of North America’s most elegant native ornamental trees. Admired for its cloud-like clusters of fragrant white flowers that appear in late spring, this small deciduous tree has become a favorite among landscapers, homeowners, … Read more

Japanese Stewartia: Classification, Characteristics, Uses, and Growing Guide Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree prized for something relatively unusual in the landscape: four-season ornamental interest. In summer, it produces elegant white flowers with golden-orange centers. In autumn, its foliage can turn shades of red, orange, purple, and yellow. During winter, … Read more

Chinese Fringe Tree: Classification, Characteristics, Uses, and Growing Guide The Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) is a small deciduous tree or large shrub prized for its spectacular display of fragrant white flowers. When the tree reaches peak bloom, the flowers can almost obscure the foliage, creating the impression of a cloud of snow hanging among … Read more

Golden Rain Tree: Classification, Characteristics, Uses, and Growing Guide The golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is a deciduous ornamental tree valued for its clouds of yellow summer flowers, attractive compound foliage, papery seed capsules, and relatively adaptable nature. Unlike many flowering trees that put on their main display in spring, golden rain tree often saves … Read more

Small trees for landscaping near the house solve a problem that full-sized shade trees create the moment they’re planted too close to a foundation: aggressive roots, canopy overreach, and eventual conflicts with gutters, siding, and utility lines. A tree that tops out at 15 to 25 feet, by contrast, can be planted within a reasonable … Read more

Weeping cedar trees occupy a unique place among ornamental evergreens, combining the year-round presence of a conifer with a fluid, cascading form that few other trees can match. Where most cedars grow into tall, rigid pyramids, weeping cedar varieties drape and flow instead, creating a living sculpture that shifts in appearance depending on the angle … Read more

Weeping hemlock stands apart from nearly every other evergreen grown in American gardens, valued not for height but for the loose, cascading form that makes each specimen look genuinely one-of-a-kind. While a standard conifer holds a predictable, cone-shaped outline, weeping hemlock spills and drapes in an irregular pattern that landscape designers often compare to a … Read more