WikWorks, Inc: Specimen Trees in the Landscape

Specimen Trees in the Landscape

With any planting design, you have multiple layers to work with. One layer is the ceiling or canopy (this layer also can contain your wall) of which your trees are a part of. Next you have the understory or subcanopy of which your smaller trees and shrubs are contained in and one of the final layers is the floor containing perennials. When I work with the ceiling/canopy/wall layer of a design, the placement of a beautiful specimen tree is crucial to adding the "wow" factor to the final product. One of my main ways of adding the "wow" factor to a design is by choosing certain specimen trees that can hold their own no matter what the season.

Acer griseum

Paperbark Maple

This is an uncommon plant in american gardens due to propagation issues, but in a winter landscape, it has few peers. The rich cinnamon to reddish brown exfoliating bark commands center stage, especially when framed by snow. It is a small tree, ranging from oval to rounded in outline. Bluish green leaves turn brilliant red in fall. When it comes to specimen trees, no finer tree could be recommended.

Cedurus atlantica

Atlas Cedar

Atop the class of evergreens is the magnificent Atlas Cedar. In youth, the habit is pyramidal and sparsely branched. With age the tree becomes denser with broadly horizontal branches, giving the Atlas a grand and noble appearance. It is tolerant of acid and alkaline soil conditions and once established it is quite tolerant of heat and dry soils. When planted in a crowd, this form shouts for attention.

Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'

Winter King Green Hawthorn

No other hawthorn selection has received as much attention as "Winter King'. The beautiful rounded habit, almost vase-shaped branching structure, and distinct gray-green stems provide ideal architecture. The lustrous dark green foliage, white flowers and red fruit are outstanding. It is an excellent choice as a small ornamental tree or for use against an evergreen background.

Stewartia pseudocamellia

Japanese Stewartia

If you are and avid gardener and have never seen one of these trees before, upon seeing this, you will have one in your landscape shortly. Flowers and fall foliage can be memorable, but the exquisite lightning-bolt pattern of the exfoliating bark is the real show, bringing pizazz to the winter garden. In youth it is pyramidal-oval, then becoming more open and rounded with maturity. White Flowers open in July adding more interest to an already superb specimen.