L AKE C OUNTY N URSERY PROBLEM: The majestic Norway maple (Acer PROBLEM: This American sweetgum tree SOLUTION: This Japaneze zelkova tree (Zelkova platanoides) is a marvelous tree, but it was a (Liquidambar styraciflua) has grown too tall and serrata), a member of the elm family, is a better poor choice for this hell strip, as evidenced by its is interfering with overhead power lines and a choice beneath power lines. crowded, crowning roots. streetlight. PORTLAND GENERAL PORTLAND GENERAL J. FRANK SCHMIDT & E E S LECTRIC LECTRIC ON Right location … perfect tree GROWERS DEVELOP TREES THAT form, with naturally compact, vase-like shapes for the strip between street and PERFORM WELL IN DIFFICULT sidewalk, where they are “unlikely to tangle” with overhead lines. JFS marketing director Nancy Buley LOCATIONS AND SITUATIONS said it takes a long time and a lot of exposure for new introductions to By Elizabeth Petersen finally catch on, but as UtiliTrees have Since gardeners are limited in 2009 proven themselves worthy, those who by the confines of parking strips and employ trees – arborists, urban foresters nearby neighbors, plants for tight spots and landscape architects – are “finally are in high demand. As a result, the starting to specify them.” nursery industry is focused on easy-care Two that Buley recommends are: plants and trees that pack a big design Rugged Charm™ maple (Acer tataricum punch in small locations. ‘JFS-KW2’), a refined selection with a Growers that predicted the current shapely canopy, bright red seed wings need for smaller, easier trees are starting and bold fall color; and Wedding Bells to reap the rewards of their work, even Silverbell (Halesia tetraptera ‘UConn as newer options continue to arrive on Wedding Bells’), an “ideal silverbell” with the scene. large flowers borne prolifically along the branches. Both fit beneath lines, reach- UtiliTrees ing roughly 20 feet by 15 feet. Wholesale tree grower J. Frank For 2009, J. Frank Schmidt intro- Schmidt & Son started about 15 years duces City Sprite® zelkova (Zelkova ser- ago to compile a line of trees with rata ‘JFS-KWI’) for tight urban spaces. A “pedestrian-friendly branching.” So-called chance seedling found at the nursery, the SOLUTION: The Celebration® maple (Acer X UtiliTrees resist damage, tolerate a vari- upright vase-shaped cultivar is a “tough freemanii ‘Celzam’ ) is a good choice near ety of soils, climates and urban condi- workhorse,” Buley said. It’s “not sexy” sidewalks or in planters because its roots won’t disrupt them. tions, and require minimal maintenance. ▲ All are upright branching to columnar in 30 MARCH 2009 ▲ DIGGER 29 Picks ▲ PERFECT TREE It isn’t hard to get growers to talk about plants. The from the tough part is getting them to narrow down their list of favorites to just a handful. Here are some of the PProsros varieties our sources recommended: John Lewis Tiger Eyes® Sumac – It is shockingly JLPN, Inc gorgeous, and like pizza, Salem, Ore. I never get tired of it. The bright colors are great as an accent in big shrub Acer griseum – I love it. It’s a tri-foliate maple borders or containers. More that isn’t the easiest to transplant, but the designers are using it to leaf color during the growing season and the complement annuals and fall is exceptional, and out as an elegant addition to of all shade trees by far Japanese gardens. and away, it has the best dark-cinnamon, peeling bark. Growing these in Maria Zampini container and/or B&B is the Lake County Nursery industry norm. Paperbark Perry, Ohio maple is, without a doubt, a spectacle in any landscape year round. Mr. Bowling Ball™ Arborvitae - Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobazam’ – The perfect no-maintenance plant for the consumer. Never Acer freemonii ‘Autumn Blaze’ – It is such needs trimming, naturally forms a perfect PROBLEM: Buckled sidewalks are expensive in the a durable tree, a cross ball. In addition (and even better), it is a long run and can be prevented by choosing the between silver and red moneymaking plant for the maple that takes extremes grower, as it is practically right species for the right location. of cold and hot and labor free. We only trim produces fire-red fall color. it once, when we put the It performs very well in a liner into a 3-gallon. We like some of the flowering trees, but it wide range of soil types and lightly trim with the power will have many uses for courtyards and the branch structure is very trimmers across the top of solid when exposed to ice the crop to even it up and small gardens as well as beneath wires. and snow. that is it – no side trimming Smaller than other zelkovas, City Sprite necessary. adapts to a variety of soils and tolerates Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ – Red Sunset has drought when established. It is available been a mainstay in the nursery industry for Corinthian® Littleleaf Linden - Tilia cordata as bare root liners in sizes up to 1-inch years, and there’s no doubt as to why. It has ‘Corzam’ – No trimming is necessary for caliper this year. one of the very best fall this Linden to maintain a pyramidal shape. It colors for red maple with a has evenly spaced mélange of yellow, peach, branches all around Meeting the market orange and red, and the the trunk, and John Lewis, owner of JLPN, Inc., leaves are glossy dark green the branches are a propagation nursery that brings new in the summer, which is festooned with very deciduous trees to the trade, agrees rare. It’s a strong grower thick leaves. This and has stood the test of cultivar is resistant to that people need compact solutions. time in the industry. the Japanese beetle “But they still want as many plants,” aerophyte mite. he said. Peggy Anne Montgomery JLPN offers about 185 varieties Bailey Nurseries Ultra™ Common Hackberry - Celtis of one-year, cutting-grown product to St. Paul, Minn. occidentalis ‘Ulzam’ – This wholesale growers across the country. hackberry is disease-free, Lewis seeks trees with “strong market- and stronger growing able qualities” that he defines as a com- Twist-n-Shout Hydrangea (Hydrangea than the species and other macrophylla) – This selections. Also significant bination of geographic or environmental reblooming lacecap is a higher percentage bud need, a specific use in the landscape, is tough, hot and take compared to other and the “Wow! factor.” blooms on every cultivars. terminal, with upright, It is important to adjust to market red stems, a lighter demands, Lewis said, but “chasing the bloom and great fall trends” carries a high risk, and growers color. with diverse product lines will fare bet- ter in hard economic times and when the market is glutted. 30 MARCH 2009 ▲ DIGGER ® O RE RootMaker G ON D E P ARTMENT OF F ORESTRY Lewis said that overproduction of certain shade trees has “wiped out the market for some of the ‘meat and pota- toes’ trees, so we are left with the ‘con- diments,’ and there is always demand for the out of the ordinary.” One such “condiment” tree, the deciduous tree American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) adapts to many con- ditions, including part shade, develops spectacular fall color, and provides food for wildlife and shaggy, reddish-brown bark in winter. The hunt for winners ® Some introductions grown by JLPN come from the work of Jim Zampini, founder of Lake County Nursery in Make it happen. Ohio. Daughter Maria Zampini, now president of the 60-year-old business, From Start to Finish ® credits the New Introductions program RootMaker this 4-inch diameter willow oak ® with bringing 125 trees and shrubs to was grown in the RootMaker system. the green industry. Jim’s work is well known to growers worldwide, and many in Oregon count themselves among the .® licensed growers that trial and evalu- The Original Root-Pruning Container System ate Lake County’s new selections. Using RootMaker® Products Co., LLC the name “ZAM,” such trees offer four 1-800-824-3941 www.rootmaker.com 32 ▲ MARCH 2009 ▲ DIGGER 31 Pieris #1 / #3 1-888-373-0318 www.pleasanthillnursery.com 35271 Brabham Road Well branched Pleasant Hill, Oregon 97455 Heavily budded PHN AD: Oan Digger - March 2009 32 MARCH 2009 ▲ DIGGER J. FRANK SCHMIDT & SON ▲ PERFECT TREE seasons of beauty with little or no main- tenance, improved disease and insect resistance and reliable performance. Crabapples make the grade This year, as earlier introductions wind their way from grower to retail, a new ZAM crabapple debuts. Show Time™ (Malus ‘Shotizam’) is quickly earning a reputation among growers for the “phenomenal color” of its blooms. Zampini said they are “florescent fuch- sia red,” but “seeing is believing.” “Oregon growers are great at shar- ing with their colleagues,” and when Show Time™ was in bloom at Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery, Dan Nelson contacted other growers who saw for themselves what makes this crabapple unique. The disease-free street tree “cal- ipers up really good. A new crabapple has to be special, since the market is soft,” said Zampini. Recent introduction Malus Royal Raindrops® from J. Frank Schmidt also meets the need for a small-scale, vigor- NARROW TRACTORS. ous, disease-resistant tree. “(It’s) the BROAD SERVICE. nicest crabapple in a long time,” said Nancy Buley. The handsome, purple, We have cut-leaf tree features dramatic magenta specialty blooms, brilliant fall color and a long- narrow lasting display of red fruits. “It provides tractors the look of a purple-leaf plum, but per- perfect for forms better,” said Buley, who told of your needs. a state forester in Olympia, Wash., who replaced her own Thundercloud Plum with Royal Raindrops®.