Favorite flowering plants and trees

American Bittersweet

Attracts birds A deciduous vine-like shrub that grows 20 feet but continues growing as long as there is something to climb upon. Showy three lobed capsules, yellow orange on the inside, with crimson seeds; ripens in October. Collected and used for dried flower arrangements. Plant 18 inches apart. A twining vine which can easily be grown on fences, against walls, or on the ground. This plant can be self-pollinizing, but don't count on it. To get berries, plant at least 5 plants within 30 feet of each other. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Butterfly Bush

Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies This is a graceful plant that grows to a height of 5 to 7 feet. It is a rapid grower and should be pruned to the ground each March to encourage new growth. Buddleia davidii is the Black Knight version; with dark, midnight-blue flowers that appear in mid-summer. Dead-head faded flowers and it will rebloom throughout the fall. Plant in full sun, well drained soil. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Crocus

Very early bloomer Crocus (plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of perennial flowering plants that grows from a corm, growing naturally from the Aegean (where crocuses appear in Minoan frescos at Santorini), across Central Asia. As one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, the large hybridized and selected "Dutch crocus" are popular with gardeners. However, in areas in which snow and frost occasionally occur in the early spring one has to plant them carefully as it is not uncommon in these regions for the crocuses to bloom early, only to suddenly wither and die from a unseasonable "post-winter" frost or snowfall. The spice saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus, a fall-blooming species. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Daffodil

Traditional 'Easter flower' Daffodil is the common English name of the botanical name Narcissus, a showy genus of large-flowered early bulbs. Most daffodils look yellow, but yellow-and-white, yellow-and-orange, white-and-orange, pink, and lime-green cultivars also exist. Daffodils grow perennially from bulbs. In temperate climates they flower among the earliest blooms in spring: to this extent daffodils both represent and herald spring. They often grow in large clusters, covering lawns and even entire hillsides with yellow. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Dogwood

Berries food for birds Grows to 40 feet. Dense lustrous, green foliage, turning scarlet in the fall. Clusters of white flowers up to 5 inches in diameter bloom in May. Bright red berries in clusters in the fall. Does best in rich, moist soil, but is known to grow well in average well drained soil. The white dogwood is considered to be the best ornamental of all trees. Native to the northeastern United States. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Forsythia

Early bloom, fast growth Very fast, upright growth to 7 feet; spread of 5 feet. One of the best plants for fast flowering screen. Deep golden flowers early spring. This plant can easily be pruned after blooming to maintain desired heaith and will bloom better next year. For hedge, plant 4 feet apart. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Gladiolus

The most elegant of all summer blooming bulbs. Perfect for cut flower arrangements. Hardy in zones 8-10. 'Winter hardy' hybrids are available for northerly zones. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Iris

Irises can be used as foundation plantings and along walks, drives and fences. A delightfully brilliant color display enhanced by attractive sword like foliage. They thrive in every section of the U.S, and can take extreme heat or cold along with almost any type of soil. Various hybrids and dwarfs available to match different needs. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Lavender

Attracts butterflies and bees Very aromatic, small bright lavender-blue flower spikes. Semi-evergreen, aromatic gray foliage retains its sweet fragrance for years when cut. Height 12 to 16 inches and spread 12 to 24 inches. Excellent dried flower, cut flower or can be used to make a low growing hedge. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Lilac

Very fragrant Old fashioned lilac (Syringa vulgaris) has dense, vigorous growth to 15 feet. Spread 6 to 10 feet. Masses of light lavender flowers in late spring. Old flowers should be cut off as soon as flowers fade. An old fashioned favorite, makes a wonderful flowering screen if spaced 6 feet apart. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Pasque Flower

Good for naturalizing or border plant Also called the Lenten Rose or May Day Flower. A member of the Buttercup family. Pretty clump of finely divided, hairy leaves followed by silke seeheads in spring. Grows 6 to 12 inches in height, spreads 6 to 8 inches. A favorite early spring bloomer, sometimes as early as March. The violet-purple flowers resemble the crocus. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Likes well drained dryish soil. Hardy, easy to grow. Pasque flower makes a showy display in a rock garden. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Redbud

Very effective as mass planting Height 20 to 30 feet. Spread 25 to 35 feet. Flowers are perfect, reddish-purple in bud, opening to a rosy-pink with purplish tinge in early spring. Large, dark green, heart shaped leaves 3 to 5 inches long and wide. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Royal Princess Tree

Paulownia tomentosa, also called Empress Tree. an extremely fast growing tree. Height and spread 30 to 40 feet. Large leaves, up to 2 feet across. Clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, pale violet with darker spots and yellow stripes inside, spring. Relatively new tree for American tree farmers. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Shadblow Serviceberry

Fruits quite attractive to birds. Amelanchier candadensis. Also know as Juneberry. height 25 to 30 feet. One of the first native trees to bloom in early spring. Serviceberries are covered with billowy masses of small white flowers in racemes. Berry-like edible fruits in summer, are maroon-red. Fall color is yellow to red. Fast growing. Top of page. Habitat homepage

Tulip

Tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. They are native to southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia from Anatolia and Iran (where the flower is suggested on the nation's flag) east to northeast China and Japan. The centre of diversity of the genus is in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan. They are perennial bulbous plants growing to 10-70 cm tall, with a small number of strap-shaped, waxy-textured, usually glaucous green leaves and large flowers with six tepals. Top of page. Habitat homepage

These are just some of the various plants, shrubs, and trees I and my father have planted and nourished over the last 5+ years. The rural project was our joint project and now my responsibility alone, planned as a Wildlife Habitat and certified as such by the National Wildlife Federation. The urban project is my home and my project.

There are many more plants and trees in the two projects. Some are experiments, like the pecans (which are not normally able to handle the Ohio winters but these are listed as a 'hardy' hybrid). Others were chosen for their Fall colors, their fruit for the wildlife, or just because they are old favorites.

Planting in the rural project is in the monitoring stage as I give the various species and hybrids time to grow. I will evaluate how well the various ones do, and in the next phase plant those that appear to do the best job of surviving, growing, and providing the Wildlife Habitat with what is needed.

The urban project is targetted at color and diversity. This is the first year, so I still have much to do.

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