BLUE ATLAS CEDAR

BLUE ATLAS CEDAR

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Pinaceae

PLANT TYPE

Needled Evergreen

ZONE

6-9

CULTURE

Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ requires moist, well-drained soils. Plants grow best in full sun.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Native to the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa, this true cedar can grow up to 60 feet and has inch-long needles that range in color from dark green to silvery-blue.

PROBLEMS

Not susceptible to pests or disease.
 

GARDEN USES

Used as a large specimen.

GOLDEN LARCH

Pseudolarix amabilis

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Pinaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous Conifer

ZONE

4-7

CULTURE

Native to Eastern China, Golden Larch is easily propagated from seed. Plants grow best in full sun, in moist, well-drained soil. Grows 30 to 50 feet tall and spreads 20 to 40 feet wide.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

A beautiful deciduous conifer with lime green foliage. Vibrant golden foliage in autumn.

PROBLEMS

No serious pests or diseases.

GARDEN USES

Makes a great specimen for large landscapes and plants do grow slow enough to be integrated into smaller gardens.

HISTORY

Planted in the 1940s as part of a succession of plantings from the Old Pinetum.

GOLDEN ORIENTAL SPRUCE

Picea orientalis 'Skylands'

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Pinaceae

PLANT TYPE

Needled Evergreen, Conifer

ZONE

4-7

CULTURE

Grow in full sun and in average garden soils. It will tolerate poor coarse soils as well.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

This species is a dense, compact, narrow, pyramid with horizontal branching. ‘Skylands’ characteristics are similar to that of the species except for the branches of ‘Skylands’ are uniformly splashed with golden color.

PROBLEMS

Extremely cold winters will cause the plants to brown and radiant heat will scorch the plants. Avoid planting near pavement.

GARDEN USES

Makes an excellent specimen for smaller landscapes.

GOLDEN DAWN REDWOOD

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush'

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Cupressaceae formerly Taxodiaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous Conifer

ZONE

4-8

CULTURE

Golden Dawn Redwood is a fast growing, deciduous conifer that performs best in moist, deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soils in full sun. It is related to and closely resembles Bald Cypress (Taxodium). It is tolerant of partial shade, but plant in full sun for best golden color results.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

A fast-growing broadly conical tree with delicate golden foliage. Plants grow slower than other species but still puts on 18 inches of growth annually. Develops large trunks with wide buttresses, bark exfoliates in ribbon-like strips.

PROBLEMS

There are no serious pests but it can be susceptible to canker and Japanese beetle damage and it is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

GARDEN USES

Serves as an excellent specimen, can also be used in mass plantings.

HISTORY

Species thought to be extinct until discovered in China by T. Kan. Seeds from these trees were collected and distributed to universities and arboretums. Planted in 2011 as a golden accent to the New Pinetum collection.

FRAGRANT SNOWBELL

Styrax obassia

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Styracaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

5-8

CULTURE

Plant in partial shade in moist, organic, acidic soil. Very cold hardy.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Plants have beautiful smooth grey bark and excellent growth form. 4 to 8-inch, bell-shaped, fragrant, white flowers with showy yellow stamen hang on long racemes in mid-May.

PROBLEMS

No major pests or diseases.

GARDEN USES

Used as a medium to large specimen or lawn tree.

HISTORY

Planted nearly twenty years ago, our plant is roughly 20 feet tall with similar spread.

PERSIAN IRONWOOD

Parrotia persica

COLLECTION

New Pinetum

FAMILY

Hamamelidaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

4-8

CULTURE

Prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Persian Ironwood is adaptable to numerous growing conditions and once established it is extremely drought tolerant.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Mature plants exhibit beautiful exfoliating bark and as a member of the witch hazel family, it has some of the finest fall colors.

PROBLEMS

Pest and disease free, an extremely resilient plant.

GARDEN USES

Makes an excellent specimen or lawn tree and can also be used as a street tree.

HISTORY

Planted almost twenty years ago, this fine specimen stands about 20 feet tall with a 15-foot spread.