unappreciated native plant,”110 writes Patricia A. Taylor. One of Christopher Starbuck’s selections for uncommon trees for specimen planting. Cultivation: Part shade; takes sun. Well-drained, mulched soil, preferably acidic. No serious insect pests or diseases. Tolerant of black walnut tree toxicity. Note: Endangered or presumed extirpated in parts of the Midwest. Nature Note: The flowers attract bees and ruby-throated hummingbirds (p. 91) and the tree hosts 7 species of butterflies and moths. “If you plant silverbell, oaks, birches, willows or black cherry in your yard, you may attract the spectacular prometha moth.”111 Squirrels use the trees for dens and eat the seeds; birds use the trees for nesting. Zones: 4–8.
More Native Alternatives:
CATALPA, p. 86; CHERRY SPP., p. 82; CRAB APPLE SPP., p. 89; CUCUMBERTREE, p. 111; FLOWERING DOGWOOD, p. 94; FRINGE TREE, p. 105; GREEN HAWTHORN, WASHINGTON HAWTHORN, and other native HAWTHORN SPP., p. 106; PAWPAW, p. 113; REDBUD, p. 92; SASSAFRAS, p. 99; SNOWBELL, p. 116; YELLOW BUCKEYE, p. 98; YELLOWWOOD, p. 96.
See Summer Trees for AMERICAN HORNBEAM, p. 182; AMERICAN LINDEN, p. 190; BLACKGUM, p. 218; HOP HORNBEAM, p. 183; OHIO BUCKEYE, p. 184; RED MAPLE, p. 197; SOURWOOD, p. 186.
See Fall Trees for AMERICAN MOUNTAIN ASH, p. 255; MOUNTAIN MAPLE, p. 252.
See Spring Shrubs for ALTERNATELEAF DOGWOOD & OTHER NATIVE DOGWOODS, p. 49; AMERICAN BLADDERNUT, p. 41; AMERICAN SMOKETREE, p. 65; RED BUCKEYE, p. 33; VIBURNUM SPP. (BLACKHAW, NANNYBERRY, RUSTY BLACKHAW VIBURNUMS), p. 69.
See Summer Shrubs for FRANKLIN TREE, p. 147.
Nonnative:
CALLERY PEAR. See BRADFORD PEAR, p. 76.
Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata)
Nonnative:
CHERRY, PLUM. Family: Rosaceae. Genus: Prunus. Cherry, Plum Disease and Cultivation Note: “Unfortunately, countless insects and diseases contribute to the decline of many of these plants. In general, Prunus species prefer moist, well-drained, acid to near neutral soils,” writes Michael A. Dirr.112 Sun, regular pruning, and avoiding crowding are also needed. Early blooming creates susceptibility to frost damage. The period of full bloom for some introduced cherry blossoms is very limited, “usually less than a week.”113 Due to weather, blooming for introduced ornamental cherries is often limited to two or three days. Few have fall color. Despite their beauty, nonnative cherries and plums and their numerous cultivars have relatively short life spans, compared to other ornamental species. “On average, ornamental cherry trees live between 15 and 20 years.”114 Cultivar Note: Suckers from damaged roots of purple-leaved grafted cultivars will be green, not purple; AMUR CHERRY, AMUR CHOKECHERRY, MANCHURIAN CHOKECHERRY (Padus maackii, syn. Prunus maackii). Origin: Korea, Manchuria. Height: 20–30 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Exfoliating bark, fragrant white flowers in April to May, small black cherries. Maintaining tree form requires pruning. Zone: 2; MYROBALAN PLUM, CHERRY PLUM (P. cerasifera, P. cerasifera var. pissardii). Origin: Eurasia. Height/Spread: 15–30 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White or pinkish flowers in April. Purple foliage. The leaves will turn green if grown in the shade. Has a bad habit of cross-branching. May spread or naturalize by self-seeding. Sometimes used as a rootstock. Purple-leaf plums, including the many cultivars, are fast growing but disease susceptible and short lived, declining at 10–15 years. Cultivar Note: Suckers from green-leaved rootstock are green-leaved, not purple. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 4–8; EUROPEAN BIRD CHERRY (Padus avium var. avium, syn. Prunus padus). Origin: Europe, Asia. Height/Spread: 20–40 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 3–6; JAPANESE FLOWERING CHERRY, ORIENTAL CHERRY (P. serrulata). Origin: China, Japan, Korea. Height/Spread: 50–75 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White to pink flowers. Its cultivars often suffer from viruses, live 10–15 years, and are not hardy in Zone 5. Zones: 5–8; MAHALEB CHERRY (Cerasus mahaleb, syn. Prunus mahaleb). Origin: Europe, Asia. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers, black fruits. Invasive in the Chicago area. Zones: 5–8; NANKING CHERRY. See p. 17; SARGENT CHERRY (Cerasus sachalinensis, syn. Prunus sargentii). Origin: Japan, Korea, Russia. Height/Spread: 25–75 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Pink flowers. Life Span: Sometimes up to 20 years. Zones: 4–8; SWEET CHERRY, MAZARD CHERRY (Cerasus avium, syn. Prunus avium). Origin: Europe, Northern Africa. Height/Spread: 15–30 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers. Life Span: Up to 25 years. Zones: 3–8; WINTER-FLOWERING CHERRY, FLOWERING CHERRY (P. subhirtella). Origin: Japan, Korea, Russia. Height/Spread: 20–45 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Nonfragrant pale pink to white flowers. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in Ohio. Zones: 4–7; Cultivar: WEEPING FLOWERING CHERRY (P. subhirtella ‘Pendula’). Height/Spread: 20–30 feet. Zones: 5–8.
More Nonnatives:
PEACH (Amygdalus persica, syn. Prunus persica var. persica). Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 5–8.
See Spring Shrubs for CHERRY, PLUM, ALMOND, p. 16.
Native Alternatives:
Конец
