AMERICAN GARDENER

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

Weeping trees for small gardens solve a design problem that upright trees can’t: they add height and movement without the wide canopy spread that swallows a compact yard. A cascading form draws the eye downward in a way no other tree shape does, which makes even a single specimen feel like a finished focal point. … Read more

Gardeners looking for tall flowers that bloom all summer are usually trying to solve the same problem: a bare fence line, an empty back border, or a cutting garden that fizzles out by midsummer. Height does more than fill space — it creates layers, draws the eye upward, and gives pollinators a landing strip visible … Read more

Small greenhouses for the backyard have become one of the fastest-growing categories in home gardening, driven largely by shrinking suburban lot sizes and a growing interest in extending the growing season without committing to a sprawling, permanent structure. Most small to medium backyard greenhouses under about 120 square feet do not require a building permit … Read more