Saturday, March 8, 2014
Beyond the Border How to Use Perennials and Grasses in Landscape Settings
Of all the plants I frequently obsess about, herbaceous perennials and grasses are perhaps my favorite. Of all the plant categories, they are the most ephemeral, dynamic plants. One can mark the seasons with these plants; they are harbingers of change. And as a designer, perennials and grasses are the most expressive plants within my palette. Rich layers of bold perennial massings can express a site in powerful ways.
| The British border |
When it comes to designing with perennials and grasses, however, we have a limited language for their use. The perennial border—an intricately arranged, delicate frame of flowers—is really the only concept we have for their use. And while borders can be beautiful, they have limitations. They are generally high maintenance, fussy, and require a high degree of horticultural knowledge. As a result, American gardeners and landscapers are often hesitant to use perennials and grasses because we associate them with British-styled borders. But it does not have to be this way.
Let me propose an alternative. Instead of limiting our landscapes to two distinctly British genres (the manor lawn and the perennial border), let us take the border and explode it out of its box. Let’s blanket our landscapes in bold massings of perennials and grasses. Let’s convert our wall-to-wall carpeting lawns into well-proportioned area rugs surrounded by perennials and grasses. Let’s drape office parks and civic landscapes in vibrant tapestries of flowers, ferns, and sedges.
The American landscape—from the great forests of the East Coast, the iconic prairies of the midland, and the mountains, deserts, and forests of the West—should be ample inspiration for a new, distinctly American garden aesthetic. Like the American landscape, let us use no small gestures. Let us draw on our country’s rich native palette and patterns and distill them into artful, garden spaces. The New Style will not merely imitate our natural landscapes, but interpret them into uniquely modern, human landscapes.
| Over an acre of herbaceous plantings added in the right of way in downtown D.C. Designed for NOMA BID by Thomas Rainer, Derrick Wolbaum, & Elliot Rhodeside, Rhodeside & Harwell. |
Ok, Thomas, enough with the manifesto. Is it really practical to use herbaceous plants on such a scale? Won’t planting huge swaths of perennials and grasses require an enormous effort of weeding, watering, and gardening?
The short answer is yes in the short term, but in the long term, this style of planting can be very low maintenance—even less maintenance than lawn and shrubs. The key to successfully planting large scale perennials and grasses is to combine good plant selection with smart massing.
In the next couple of posts, I’ll get into the nitty-gritty of how to select perennials and grasses for landscape settings. What types of perennials and grasses are best for larger massings? How do you arrange them in a way to minimize their maintenance? How do you make these landscapes full, beautiful, and lasting? Stay tuned . . . I’m giving away all the secrets . . .
Friday, March 7, 2014
Chamaedorea
Chamaedorea
* page under construction...completed Jan 2013
Chamaedorea costarica ( Costa Rican Bamboo Palm )
A clumping palm, spreading rapidly by short underground stolons to form a nice clump.
Some records include: 14 years - 12 feet.
Tolerates as low as 27 F, a colder winter can kill it to the roots but it will reach up to 6 feet by the next summer with a forest of new shoots.
Chamaedorea microspadix
From southeastern Mexico; this Palm makes a clump of Bamboo like stems. It is very fast growing and the dense clumps reach up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet across. A mature clump may have 20 or more stems.
The up to 40 inch fronds are pinnate fronds, up to 40 inches in length, are composed of broad leaflets up to 10 x 2 inches.
The foliage is non-glossy deep green.
After blooming it can produce scarlet berries, ripening during mid autumn and persisting through most of winter.
This palm grows well in sun or shade and tolerates light snow. It is is hardy zones 8 to 10 ( unconfirmed reports of 7 in very sheltered sites ) and is leaf hardy to 15 F. Moderately drought tolerant.
Chamaedorea radicaulis
A shrub Palm reaching 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. leaves are pinnate & up to 3 feet long with dark green leaflets up to 13 x 1 inches. hardy zones 8b - 11; it looses its leaves at 12 F but is known to survive as low as 0 F. Also drought tolorant
Read More..
* page under construction...completed Jan 2013
Chamaedorea costarica ( Costa Rican Bamboo Palm )
A clumping palm, spreading rapidly by short underground stolons to form a nice clump.
Some records include: 14 years - 12 feet.
Tolerates as low as 27 F, a colder winter can kill it to the roots but it will reach up to 6 feet by the next summer with a forest of new shoots.
Chamaedorea microspadix
From southeastern Mexico; this Palm makes a clump of Bamboo like stems. It is very fast growing and the dense clumps reach up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet across. A mature clump may have 20 or more stems.
The up to 40 inch fronds are pinnate fronds, up to 40 inches in length, are composed of broad leaflets up to 10 x 2 inches.
The foliage is non-glossy deep green.
After blooming it can produce scarlet berries, ripening during mid autumn and persisting through most of winter.
This palm grows well in sun or shade and tolerates light snow. It is is hardy zones 8 to 10 ( unconfirmed reports of 7 in very sheltered sites ) and is leaf hardy to 15 F. Moderately drought tolerant.
Chamaedorea radicaulis
A shrub Palm reaching 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. leaves are pinnate & up to 3 feet long with dark green leaflets up to 13 x 1 inches. hardy zones 8b - 11; it looses its leaves at 12 F but is known to survive as low as 0 F. Also drought tolorant
Fast Food or Indigenous Plants
I think Ive always cheered for the underdog, or the team thats losing. So I guess its no surprise that I carry this philosophy through to gardening...
In South Africa, indigenous (native) plants still seem to be the ugly ducklings that few people really want to have anything to do with. Few people seem to see their incredible beauty. Not to mention their environmental advantages.
The majority of gardeners tend to stick to the good old favourites without broadening their horizons. By history or heritage the favourites are the same old exotic plants that I guess my grandparents would have planted.
Dont get me wrong, things are changing... be it ever so slowly. Indigenous plants are talked about a lot, and there is a strong drive by a good portion of nurseries, landscapers and nature lovers to use them.
I suspect our reluctance to use indigenous plants is similar to a preference for coke and fast food over good wine or fine foods. The bright colours or abundant flowers of a lot of the imported plants, seem to hit you in the face with their beauty.
There is none of the looking for that something special thats not immediately obvious. There is no anticipation for the particular part of the year when a favourite shrub sneaks into flower for a few short weeks, or a tree that has blended into the brown winter landscape races into spring with a virile green.
I think this is the responsibility of the landscaper, horticulturist, and plant lover - to show these plants off to the general public. To talk about them, plant them, propagate them. To look for new ways to use them, maybe even alongside some of the plants we ourselves might be tired of.
Hopefully, one day Ill be cheering for the exotics as underdogs...
In South Africa, indigenous (native) plants still seem to be the ugly ducklings that few people really want to have anything to do with. Few people seem to see their incredible beauty. Not to mention their environmental advantages.
The majority of gardeners tend to stick to the good old favourites without broadening their horizons. By history or heritage the favourites are the same old exotic plants that I guess my grandparents would have planted.
Dont get me wrong, things are changing... be it ever so slowly. Indigenous plants are talked about a lot, and there is a strong drive by a good portion of nurseries, landscapers and nature lovers to use them.
I suspect our reluctance to use indigenous plants is similar to a preference for coke and fast food over good wine or fine foods. The bright colours or abundant flowers of a lot of the imported plants, seem to hit you in the face with their beauty.
There is none of the looking for that something special thats not immediately obvious. There is no anticipation for the particular part of the year when a favourite shrub sneaks into flower for a few short weeks, or a tree that has blended into the brown winter landscape races into spring with a virile green.
I think this is the responsibility of the landscaper, horticulturist, and plant lover - to show these plants off to the general public. To talk about them, plant them, propagate them. To look for new ways to use them, maybe even alongside some of the plants we ourselves might be tired of.
Hopefully, one day Ill be cheering for the exotics as underdogs...
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Green Animals Topiary Garden Rhode Island
 |
| Green Animals Topiary Garden |
During a recent visit to Rhode Island I had the pleasure of visiting the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth. This small country estate consisting of seven acres of land overlooks Narragansett Bay and was purchased by Thomas E. Brayton in 1872. Mr. Brayton was the treasurer for the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in Fall River, Massachusetts from 1879 to 1920. He hired Joseph Carreiro who was responsible for creating and maintaining the topiary garden. Carreros son-in-law took over and continued to develop new topiary upon Mr. Carreiros death in 1945. Upon Mr. Braytons death in 1940 his daughter Alice inherited the estate and resided there until her death in 1972. Alice Brayton known for her love of horticulture named the estate after its unique sculptured green topiary. Green Animals Topiary Garden was left to the Preservation Society of Newport County and remains today under their care as a historic landmark.
There are more that 80 pieces of topiary throughout the gardens and one of my favorites were these two teddy bears made of yew (Taxus). The topiary animals are made of California privet and yew while the geometric figures are from California privet and English boxwood.
Here is the mighty lion made of California privet and surrounded by annuals. The beds are planted with annuals that change with each growing season.
Gardener Joe Carreiro designed these driveway arches as an entry to the garden.
The garden houses two arbors, one draped with Magnolia x soulangeana and on this arbor with Grape (Vitus vinifera).
A beautiful perennial border garden shows the colors of late summer. This area was re-designed and replanted in the fall of 2004.
This beautiful Dahlia Display garden is a joint project between the Preservation Society of Newport County and the Rhode Island Dahlia Society. Blooms from this garden are entered into the Dahlia Societys annual show in early September...
and you can see why.
Here is the full garden to give you an idea of the size.
The framework of the garden is made of boxwood and privet hedge.
The topiaries were started in 1901 in a nursery then moved to their present location in 1912.
Every year Green Animals hosts several events and is visited daily by tourists. I truly enjoyed visiting these wonderful gardens along with the mansions of Rhode Island. I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour as well.
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved
Behind The Scenes
Recently, I went back to visit a garden that I completed about 9 months ago. This garden was a little tricky, in that it was a smallish garden with multiple uses. There were 3 main areas to the garden - a front garden with a pool and high walls, an old concrete driveway, and a grassy back garden with a patio area.
Before Photos
There were a couple of good points, that I felt we could use. There were some existing Eugenia hedges that would do a great job of breaking the height of the walls, but they were being cut too short to really make any impact. A medium-sized Leopard tree stood in the corner, which looked great, but possibly gave too much shade for the amount of traffic that the grass was subjected to. Also, there were some beautiful Icebergs growing around the edges of the grass.
The brief revolved mainly around updating the driveway, and improving the garden in general. The limiting factors were the need for parking and keeping an area for turning vehicles that come out of the garage.
I did some initial sketches with a couple of options to choose from, but my client was justifiably worried about losing too much space for parking and turning the cars. We settled on a comfortable balance between parking and aesthetics.
I kept the planting simple, using at the most 3-4 types of plants to an area, and removing the unwanted plants. I decided to keep the Eugenia hedge as a backdrop, with Duranta "Sheenas Gold" as a lower hedge in front, and then either Felicia, Agapanthus, or Plectranthus in the front.
We replaced the concrete on the driveway with Huguenot cobbles from Smartstone, and then planted Dietes grandiflora with Erigeron in between.
On the blank wall to the side, we attached wire to the wall and planted Trachelospermum (Star Jasmine) to climb up to form diamond shapes. This will make the wall seem less stark, and at the same time, spread the scent of Jasmine into the garden.
The brief revolved mainly around updating the driveway, and improving the garden in general. The limiting factors were the need for parking and keeping an area for turning vehicles that come out of the garage.
I did some initial sketches with a couple of options to choose from, but my client was justifiably worried about losing too much space for parking and turning the cars. We settled on a comfortable balance between parking and aesthetics.
I kept the planting simple, using at the most 3-4 types of plants to an area, and removing the unwanted plants. I decided to keep the Eugenia hedge as a backdrop, with Duranta "Sheenas Gold" as a lower hedge in front, and then either Felicia, Agapanthus, or Plectranthus in the front.
We replaced the concrete on the driveway with Huguenot cobbles from Smartstone, and then planted Dietes grandiflora with Erigeron in between.
The triangle bed between the driveway and patio, was previously a blank grass area. This left the patio area exposed. We moved some of the roses from the shadier north part of the garden into this bed, and then planted Lavender at the back, with Erigeron in front. The wire that can be seen in front of the bed, was to keep Bella the boisterous rottweiler out of the new flower beds. It gives a minor shock when you touch it (Ive tested it!). After a couple of times of being shocked, the animals stay out of the bed. At this point you can turn it off, and even remove it, and the animals still wont go back into the beds.
We installed an irrigation system throughout the garden. In the main grassy area, we used pop-ups. In the rest of the beds and along the driveway, because of their awkward shape, we used drip irrigation pipes. This would also keep evaporation to a minimum, and therefore save water. The drawback with these pipes seems to have been their tendency to come apart at the joins, unless the hose clamps are extremely tight.
We installed an irrigation system throughout the garden. In the main grassy area, we used pop-ups. In the rest of the beds and along the driveway, because of their awkward shape, we used drip irrigation pipes. This would also keep evaporation to a minimum, and therefore save water. The drawback with these pipes seems to have been their tendency to come apart at the joins, unless the hose clamps are extremely tight.
Nearly a year after planting, I am very happy with the growth. Unfortunately, a caterpillar seems to have gotten into some of the Agapanthus, and eaten them. The hedges still need to fill out a bit, but are looking quite healthy. The drip pipe gives the odd bit of trouble, when the pressure is high. Im looking forward to visiting this garden 2 years from now, when everything is more fully grown.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Lest We Forget
I wrote about this garden on the GardenVisit website, but here I can post many more pictures and give a better overall feel for what the father and son duo of landscape architects are trying to do at Sericourt. Located in Picardie, France near the fields of Azincourt and Flanders, Yves Gosse de Gorre and his son have created a garden full of topiary poetry and symbols that explore the nature of man in this battle scarred land. The structure is dramatic, softened by thousands of roses in the Spring and Summer, with swathes of poppies lest we forget.
Its a garden of metaphors, some literal, some vague. Edgy and thoughtful, but with humour never far away.
A Cross marks hope in an area filled with billowing flowers.
Read More..
Its a garden of metaphors, some literal, some vague. Edgy and thoughtful, but with humour never far away.
The Armies of Yew soldiers, Two armies face each other and also look rather uncannily like tombstones.
The Council of War
The Avenue of Humanity
A Dove of Peace takes flight
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Paulownia
A genus of 6 species of trees which are among the worlds fastest growing. All are native to eastern Asia though some have been planted in temperate to warm regions around the world. They have been cultivated in China for over 3000 years and are valued for their strong but light timber. The fine-grained, soft, warp resistant wood is used for boxes and chests. Timber may produced on plantation trees as early as 5 years and if cut while dormant, harvested trees regenerate from their existing root systems. The leaves are rich in nitrogen and the roots are excellent for preventing soil erosion. The Paulownias roots survive forest fire and will resprout after.
Massive large trees, they can be equally massive underground. One tree had a root spread of 9000 square feet ( 2.8 times the canopy ). Paulownias are very deep rooted trees with a well developed root system.
Paulownias prefer full sun on moist, fertile, well drained soils. Young trees should be protected from excessive wind which damages the massive leaves. Young trees hate competition and the roots should be kept free of weeds and turf. Insect pests and disease problems do not normally occur.
They are propagated either from root cuttings in winter or seed sown either in autumn or spring. The seed is collected from the ovoid woody brown capsules borne in upright clustes during Autumn. The dried seed pods often persist through the winter after having split open to release hundred of seeds.
Most can grow 15 feet in the first year from seed with ideal conditions. They can also grow up to 30 feet in a single year from stump sprouts.
Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in 104 F ( 40 C ) water then left in water at room temperature for 24 hours. They can also be grown from root cuttings.
Young trees can be pruned back in March to 2 or 3 basal buds to induce vigorous growth of a strong single trunk. Spent flower clusters may be removed from young trees to increase vigor.
In the far northern parts of the range, these trees are sometimes cut back to the ground each winter to be grown as a massive foliage perennial for tropical effect.
Paulownias do grow in the cooler summer climates of western Europe however are much more vigorous in the eastern U.S. and the warmest parts of Ontario, Canada due to their love of hot humid summers. In fact Paulownia tomentosa has shown invasive tendencies naturalizing into the wild from Arkansas to southeast Pennsylvania; south to Louisiana to South Carolina.
Late spring frosts where they occur may damage the flowers however generally not the foliage which is late emerging. Care should be taken mowing around trees as trunk damage can later result in rot.
An interesting website on Paulownia found on internet ( link below )
American Paulownia Association Inc.
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/
Another Intersting Site
http://paulowniatrees.com/html/photos.html
* photos of unknown internet source
* videos found on Youtube
Paulownia elongata
A very rapid growing tree known to increase trunk diameter at a rate up to 3.5 inches per year. It is among the worlds fastest growing trees and is used for reforestation and timber plantations in the U.S. and China. Also valuable for biofuel production.
Some records include: 1st year - 15 feet; 5 years - 37 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches; 13 years - 60 x 37 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.7 feet; 19 years - 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet; largest on record -
The foliage is very large and the flowers are light purple.
Similar in appearance to Paulownia tomentosa.
Paulownia fargesii ( Sichuan Paulownia )
A large tree common at elevations of 4000 to 7500 feet in western China where it is native. Some records include: 5 years - 37 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 inches; 11 years - 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.5 feet; 31 years - trunk diameter of 3.5 feet; 75 years - 170 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet; largest on record - . the growth occurs at temperatures above 46 F from June to September.
The flowers, up to 4 inches in length are white to violet though usually lilac and having golden anthers. They are borne in clusters up to 18 x 12 inches in size during mid to late spring before the foliage emerges.
Hardy zones 6 to 10
Paulownia fortunei ( White-Flowered Paulownia )
A straight trunked, rounded large tree native to China south of the Yangtze river delta. Some records include: 1.5 years - 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 inches ( stump sprout ); 4 years - 23 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 inches; 5 years - trunk diameter of 13 inches; 6 years - 37 feet; 10 years - 52 feet; largest on record - 170 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.
The leaves are up to 10 x 7 inches.
The fragrant, white to soft violet flowers, up to 4 x 3 inches are borne in upright terminal panicles in spring before the foliage emerges. The flowers are the largest of any Paulownia and are often spotted within.
The bark is gray-brown.
Hardy zone 6 to 10, requiring hot summers to thrive.
Paulownia glabrata
Some records include: 5 years - 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 inches; largest on record -
Paulownia kawakamii ( Taiwan Paulownia )
Also called Sapphire Dragon Tree. A sturdy, erect large tree native to Taiwan and less commonly neighboring parts of China. It is critically endangered due to habitat loss in the wild. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 16 feet; 11 years - 33 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches; 21 years - 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 16 inches ( average ); largest on record - 66 x 60 feet ( larger trees likely exist ).
The heart shaped leaves borne on the stems in pairs are huge, reaching over 12 inches, even up to 24 x 24 inches on vigorous shoots.
The flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are pale purple and white, borne in terminal clusters.
Hardy zone 6 to 9
* video found on Youtube
Paulownia tomentosa ( Royal Paulownia )
Also called Empress Tree, Princess Tree & Hairy Paulownia. A large broadly columnar tree native to north and central China, Korea and Japan. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate ( non stump sprout ) - 20 feet; 1st year - 13 feet ( from seed ); 1st year - 27 feet ( from root cutting ); 2 years - 23 feet; 3 years - 35 feet; 5 years - 37 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 14 inches; 11 years - 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 30 inches; 18 years - 40 inch trunk diameter; 20 years - 82 x 82 feet; largest on record - 170 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 7.6 feet. Longest lived - unknown ( typical lifespan is over 80 years ). The Paulownias large leaves cast a dense shade.
The sometimes lightly lobed, taper pointed heart shaped leaves are up to 12 x 12 inches on older trees, up to 40 x 36 inches in length on young vigorous shoots. The downy foliage is bright green at first, turning to deep green in summer then to yellow-brown in autumn.
The trumpet shaped, foxglove-like flowers, up to 3 inches in length are violet-blue outside, yellow inside. Up to 50 to 60 flowers are borne in the upright terminal panicles in mid to late spring before the foliage emerges.
The curved, stout twigs are light gray.
The bark has shallow orangish furrows and broad greenish-gray ridges.
Hardy zone 6 to 10 as a tree ( tolerating -12 F to 106 F ). It is root hardy in zones 4 and 5 and is even known to be grown as a massive foliage perennial as far north as Montreal where it reaches up to 12 feet in a season. Young trees in zone 6 should be protected from winter winds though are fully hardy once established.
Tolerant of salt, pollution and poor soil. Royal Paulownia is NOT tolerant of swampy sites and can be killed by as few as 3 days of flooding during the growing season.
* photo taken on March 1994 @ Longwood Gardens near Philly
* photos taken on June 15 2010 in Harford County, MD
* photos taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photo taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co, PA
* photo taken on Aug 27 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA
* photo taken on Oct 22 2012 in Harford Co., MD
* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photo taken on Sep 5 2013 in Elkridge, MD
* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 @ Hampton Ntl. Historic Site, Towson, MD
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
* videos found on Youtube
Lilacina
Flowers are hairy, lilac-purple on the outside; yellow on the inside.
Read More..
Massive large trees, they can be equally massive underground. One tree had a root spread of 9000 square feet ( 2.8 times the canopy ). Paulownias are very deep rooted trees with a well developed root system.
Paulownias prefer full sun on moist, fertile, well drained soils. Young trees should be protected from excessive wind which damages the massive leaves. Young trees hate competition and the roots should be kept free of weeds and turf. Insect pests and disease problems do not normally occur.
They are propagated either from root cuttings in winter or seed sown either in autumn or spring. The seed is collected from the ovoid woody brown capsules borne in upright clustes during Autumn. The dried seed pods often persist through the winter after having split open to release hundred of seeds.
Most can grow 15 feet in the first year from seed with ideal conditions. They can also grow up to 30 feet in a single year from stump sprouts.
Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in 104 F ( 40 C ) water then left in water at room temperature for 24 hours. They can also be grown from root cuttings.
Young trees can be pruned back in March to 2 or 3 basal buds to induce vigorous growth of a strong single trunk. Spent flower clusters may be removed from young trees to increase vigor.
In the far northern parts of the range, these trees are sometimes cut back to the ground each winter to be grown as a massive foliage perennial for tropical effect.
Paulownias do grow in the cooler summer climates of western Europe however are much more vigorous in the eastern U.S. and the warmest parts of Ontario, Canada due to their love of hot humid summers. In fact Paulownia tomentosa has shown invasive tendencies naturalizing into the wild from Arkansas to southeast Pennsylvania; south to Louisiana to South Carolina.
Late spring frosts where they occur may damage the flowers however generally not the foliage which is late emerging. Care should be taken mowing around trees as trunk damage can later result in rot.
An interesting website on Paulownia found on internet ( link below )
American Paulownia Association Inc.
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/
Another Intersting Site
http://paulowniatrees.com/html/photos.html
* photos of unknown internet source
* videos found on Youtube
Paulownia elongata
A very rapid growing tree known to increase trunk diameter at a rate up to 3.5 inches per year. It is among the worlds fastest growing trees and is used for reforestation and timber plantations in the U.S. and China. Also valuable for biofuel production.
Some records include: 1st year - 15 feet; 5 years - 37 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches; 13 years - 60 x 37 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.7 feet; 19 years - 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet; largest on record -
The foliage is very large and the flowers are light purple.
Similar in appearance to Paulownia tomentosa.
Paulownia fargesii ( Sichuan Paulownia )
A large tree common at elevations of 4000 to 7500 feet in western China where it is native. Some records include: 5 years - 37 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 inches; 11 years - 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.5 feet; 31 years - trunk diameter of 3.5 feet; 75 years - 170 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet; largest on record - . the growth occurs at temperatures above 46 F from June to September.
The flowers, up to 4 inches in length are white to violet though usually lilac and having golden anthers. They are borne in clusters up to 18 x 12 inches in size during mid to late spring before the foliage emerges.
Hardy zones 6 to 10
Paulownia fortunei ( White-Flowered Paulownia )
A straight trunked, rounded large tree native to China south of the Yangtze river delta. Some records include: 1.5 years - 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 inches ( stump sprout ); 4 years - 23 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 inches; 5 years - trunk diameter of 13 inches; 6 years - 37 feet; 10 years - 52 feet; largest on record - 170 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.
The leaves are up to 10 x 7 inches.
The fragrant, white to soft violet flowers, up to 4 x 3 inches are borne in upright terminal panicles in spring before the foliage emerges. The flowers are the largest of any Paulownia and are often spotted within.
The bark is gray-brown.
Hardy zone 6 to 10, requiring hot summers to thrive.
Paulownia glabrata
Some records include: 5 years - 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 inches; largest on record -
Paulownia kawakamii ( Taiwan Paulownia )
Also called Sapphire Dragon Tree. A sturdy, erect large tree native to Taiwan and less commonly neighboring parts of China. It is critically endangered due to habitat loss in the wild. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 16 feet; 11 years - 33 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches; 21 years - 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 16 inches ( average ); largest on record - 66 x 60 feet ( larger trees likely exist ).
The heart shaped leaves borne on the stems in pairs are huge, reaching over 12 inches, even up to 24 x 24 inches on vigorous shoots.
The flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are pale purple and white, borne in terminal clusters.
Hardy zone 6 to 9
* video found on Youtube
Paulownia tomentosa ( Royal Paulownia )
Also called Empress Tree, Princess Tree & Hairy Paulownia. A large broadly columnar tree native to north and central China, Korea and Japan. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate ( non stump sprout ) - 20 feet; 1st year - 13 feet ( from seed ); 1st year - 27 feet ( from root cutting ); 2 years - 23 feet; 3 years - 35 feet; 5 years - 37 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 14 inches; 11 years - 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 30 inches; 18 years - 40 inch trunk diameter; 20 years - 82 x 82 feet; largest on record - 170 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 7.6 feet. Longest lived - unknown ( typical lifespan is over 80 years ). The Paulownias large leaves cast a dense shade.
The sometimes lightly lobed, taper pointed heart shaped leaves are up to 12 x 12 inches on older trees, up to 40 x 36 inches in length on young vigorous shoots. The downy foliage is bright green at first, turning to deep green in summer then to yellow-brown in autumn.
The trumpet shaped, foxglove-like flowers, up to 3 inches in length are violet-blue outside, yellow inside. Up to 50 to 60 flowers are borne in the upright terminal panicles in mid to late spring before the foliage emerges.
The curved, stout twigs are light gray.
The bark has shallow orangish furrows and broad greenish-gray ridges.
Hardy zone 6 to 10 as a tree ( tolerating -12 F to 106 F ). It is root hardy in zones 4 and 5 and is even known to be grown as a massive foliage perennial as far north as Montreal where it reaches up to 12 feet in a season. Young trees in zone 6 should be protected from winter winds though are fully hardy once established.
Tolerant of salt, pollution and poor soil. Royal Paulownia is NOT tolerant of swampy sites and can be killed by as few as 3 days of flooding during the growing season.
* photo taken on March 1994 @ Longwood Gardens near Philly
* photos taken on June 15 2010 in Harford County, MD
* photos taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photo taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co, PA
* photo taken on Aug 27 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA
* photo taken on Oct 22 2012 in Harford Co., MD
* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photo taken on Sep 5 2013 in Elkridge, MD
* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 @ Hampton Ntl. Historic Site, Towson, MD
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
* videos found on Youtube
Lilacina
Flowers are hairy, lilac-purple on the outside; yellow on the inside.
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