Srp770 1996 Woody Ornamental Evaluations
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. 1996 WOODY ORNAMENTAL EVALUATIONS 25th Year Edition Report of Progress 770 Wichita Horticulture Research Center Agricultural Experiment Station Kansas State University, Manhattan Marc A. Johnson, Director This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. TABLE OF CONTENTS SPECIES AND CULTIVAR TRIALS Page New Plant Introductions . 1 Effect of Landscape Exposure on Taxus and Buxus Cultivars . 2 Crape Myrtle Evaluations . 4 Hardy Evergreen Azalea Evaluations . 6 Fruit Thinning of Crabapple by Florel® . 9 Evaluation of Maple Species and Cultivars . 11 Shantung Maple Performance . 13 Hardiness of Lacebark Elm Selections . 15 PRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION TRIALS Selection of Improved Osage Orange Cultivars . 16 Evaluation of Cottonwood and Hybrid Poplars . 17 Effect of SPIN OUT™ on Container Plants . 19 WEATHER SUMMARY . 21 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 22 The Horticulture Research Center was areas are devoted to orchard and vegetable crops. established in 1970 on a 40-acre tract of land at 95th and South Hydraulic, Wichita, KS and Research in ornamentals emphasizes evaluations expanded to 80 acres in 1991 for the purpose of of plants for hardiness to Zone 6a-USDA. evaluating horticultural plants for south central Additional research includes selection of Kansas, including turf, ornamentals, fruit, and improved cultivars, propagation and exposure vegetable crops. The soil is a deep alluvial studies, plus field and container production deposit of Canadian fine sandy loam and Elandco evaluations for the Kansas nursery industry. silt loam with a slightly acid reaction (pH Research results also help meet the growing 6.0-6.8). Texture varies from very sandy to a demand for horticultural information by both the somewhat heavier, silt loam. Most of the large rural and urban populations of south central ornamental evaluations are conducted on the Kansas. heavier soils, whereas the sandy COVER: Urbanite Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) i This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. SPECIES AND CULTIVAR TRIALS New Plant Introductions John C. Pair Primary objectives of the ornamental research program at the Horticulture Research Center are the introduction, evaluation, and, in some cases, Commercial Sources propagation of plant materials that have shown superior performance in adaptability and offer Acer buergenianum potential for landscape use in south central Acer x freemanii Celebration™ Kansas. Sources of ornamental plants received Berberis x Golden Carousel™ for evaluation include the USDA Regional Plant Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine' Introduction Station at Ames, Iowa; other Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' university experiment stations, arboreta and Cornus florida 'Red Beauty' botanic gardens; and numerous commercial Cornus florida 'Wonderberry' sources. During the past year, the following Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride' accessions were received for evaluation: Fraxinus americana ' Chicago Regal' Fraxinus americana ' Empire' USDA Plant Introduction Station Fraxinus americana ' Kohler' Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Aureafolia' Aesculus pavia A22071 Fraxinus pennsylvanica ' Centerpoint' Betula platyphylla A22552 Fraxinus pennsylvanica ' Skyward' Diervilla ( splendens A19145 Ilex glabra ' Shamrock' Forestiera neomexicana A19065 Ilex serrata x verticillata ‘Bonfire' Nyssa sylvatica A22072 Ilex verticillata ' Shaver' Physocarpus ribesifolius A10078 Itea virginica ' Henry's Garnet' Spiraea miyabei PI578119 Malus ' Cranberry Lace' Malus ' Maypole' U.S. National Arboretum Malus ' Orange Crush' Phellodendron amurense ' His Majesty' Acer rubrum 'Brandywine' NA59907 Potentilla fruticosa ' Pink Beauty' Acer rubrum NA5772 Pyrus ussuriensis ' Edgewood' Ulmus americana NPS3-487 Robinia pseudoacacia ' Bessoniana' Ulmus americana 'New Harmony' Robinia pseudoacacia ' Pyramidalis' Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge' Spiraea decumbens ' White-Lace' Ulmus japonica NA64463 Ulmus castanaefolia Ulmus x Jefferson NA62001 Ulmus avidiana Ulmus parvifolia 'Ohio' Ulmus lamellosa Ulmus parvifolia 'Pathfinder' Ulmus macrocarpa Ulmus wilsoniana 'Prospector' Ulmus rubra ' Lincoln' Ulmus japonica ' Accolade' Ulmus x 'Vanguard' Xanthocerus sorbifolium 1 This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. Effect of Landscape Exposure on Taxus and Buxus Cultivars Alice LeDuc, John C. Pair, Jerry Longren, and Mike Daratt Five cultivars of boxwood selections were (-13F) for Manhattan and -23˚C (-10F) at established in 12 different landscape exposures Wichita were recorded, along with sharp 24-hour in the spring of 1995 at both Manhattan and temperature drops of 31-32˚C in January and Wichita, zones 5 and 6, respectively (Fig. 1). March. Extremely dry, desiccating conditions Included were Buxus microphylla 'Winter Gem'; persisted throughout the winter (see weather data B. microphylla japonica 'Green Beauty'; and B. Figs. 1 and 2, p. 21). sempervirens xkoreana 'Green Velvet', 'Green Mountain', and 'Glencoe'. Taxus x media Differences in cultivar performance were cultivars planted were 'Hicks', 'Runyoni', noted between the two sites, especially with 'Thayerae' and 'Wardi'. The primary objective respect to boxwood. Most noticeable differences was to determine the cold tolerance and the occurred with 'Green Beauty' boxwood, which winter color of the boxwood cultivars as affected was severely damaged in Manhattan by bark by exposure. Because of severe winter splitting but survived much better in Wichita. conditions, boxwood data are presented after one Best winter color was exhibited by 'Green winter. Some replacements were required Velvet' and 'Glencoe', but 'Green Mountain' because of transplant loss. These replacement sustained considerable bronzing of foliage from were made in the spring of 1996. With Taxus, winter sun. the objective was principally to evaluate heat At Manhattan, only 'Glencoe' in protected tolerance. Because of transplant loss and the locations exhibited good winter color. Shaded number of replacements needed , the data on locations on the north, northeast, and northwest yews will be presented later. produced the best plant quality. Poorest performance occurred on the south and southeast The 1995-96 winter was one of great exposures (Table 1). extremes. Midwinter low temperatures of -25˚C 2 This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. 3 This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. Crape Myrtle Evaluations John C. Pair and Linda Parsons Many new cultivars of Lagerstroemia have Numerous new introductions received from been introduced in recent years. In zone 6 the National Arboretum in 1995 plus several (USDA), crapemyrtle can be considered a commercial cultivars were planted in the spring cutback shrub, because it may be only root hardy for an evaluation of their hardiness and in severe winters. Nevertheless, during hot ornamental characteristics. Many are quite dwarf summers from early July through September, no and very worthy of use in island beds and shrub other species of woody shrub blooms more borders or as large ground covers. Preliminary profusely. observations are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Flowering of Lagerstroemia indica selections at Wichita, KS 1. Lagerstroemia Color Avg. 1995 Avg. 1996 Beginning accession #/Name Flowering Rating Date of Flowering NA 54973/Wichita Pinkish lavender 6 7/11 NA 62914 Dark pink 7 8/3 NA 62919 Pinkish lavender 6 8/5 NA 63871 Dark pink 5 7/20 NA 63872 Dark pink/lavender 6 7/22 NA 63873 Lilac/lavender 6 7/25 NA 63874 Dark lavender 5 7/29 NA 63878 Dark lavender 4 7/30 Little Chief Red 5 7/3 Velma's Royal Delight Purple 1 Flowering rated on a scale of 0-9 with 0=no blooms and 9=outstanding. In addition to the National Arboretum bottom heat at 70˚F in a cool greenhouse and introductions, several selections of local origin potted on May 20. Apparently, rooting success were included for comparison. Among them is may have been related to the amount of winter 'Velma's Royal Delight' and a few other selections injury to the wood prior to taking cuttings ( Table of various colors from the same source. 2). Rooted cuttings were lined out for further Hardwood cuttings were taken on February 9, evaluation of hardiness, flowering, and other 1996 and rooted in perlite: peat (70:30 v/v) over ornamental qualities. 4 This publication from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service has been archived. Current information is available from http://www.ksre.ksu.edu. Table 2. Rooting of Lagerstroemia indica selections by hardwood cuttings 1. Selection Color Percent Rooting Velma's Royal DelightPurple 75 " Crimson Crimson 63 " Coral Coral 13 " Pink Pink 13 " White White 6 Byers