Botanical name: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’

The Weeping Alaskan Cedar tree is a graceful specimen evergreen tree with a flowy form. Weeping Alaskan Cedar likes lots of sunshine, though in areas where summer highs are often in the 90s, it appreciates some afternoon shade.  Growth is best when given regular water, but not so much that the ground remains soggy for hours.  Its roots are rather shallow, and this tree should be planted in a site that is sheltered from strong winds.  Snow, it can handle.  Alaskan Cedar was designed to shed precipitation of all sorts.  Snow can’t grab onto the waxy sprays of foliage, hanging in long branchlets straight down.

With its pyramidal form, straight trunk and graceful branches dressed in flattened sprays of aromatic foliage, the Alaskan weeping cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis “Pendula”) makes an eye-catching addition to the home landscape. These evergreens — also known as Nootka falsecypress and Xanthocyparis nootkatensis — belong to the Cupressaceae or cypress family and can live up to 3,500 years in the wild. For striking visual impact, plant this tree as a focal point in the garden, around water features, in a large container or train it as a bonsai.

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Botanical name: Picea omorika – Serbian Spruce

Tall and slender, with graceful upswept branches, the Serbian spruce is an elegant evergreen tree as a specimen in the landscape. It has glossy dark green needles with slender streaks of white and distinctive purple cones. Having dark green needles are 1/2 to 1 inch long, with 4 distinct white bands, needles tend to point forward and overlap.
Branches are pendulous and cascading.

Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. This spruce species can be planted in USDA Zones 4-7.  It thrives in a variety of soil types but tends to do best in acidic, well-drained loamy soils with relatively dry conditions. It does not like boggy conditions, preferring locations where it has “dry feet” most of the time, such as well-drained slopes.

Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce get a lot of attention, but if you want a graceful evergreen tree that nobody else on the block has, why not plant a Serbian Spruce? This elegant, underused conifer is known for its picturesque swooping branches and distinctive green and silver two-toned needles. It has a tidy pyramidal habit and will make a first-class addition to your landscape, whether as a single specimen or within a grouping. Birds will appreciate the shelter it provides. And it’s low maintenance—all that will be left for you to do is to decorate it with lights at Christmas-time!

Cultivars and their differences

Dwarf Serbian spruce (Picea omorika ‘Nana’):  A dwarf cultivar growing 8 to 10 feet high.  Shape is conical to globose.

Sky Trails Serbian spruce (Picea omorika ‘Sky Trails’):  Blue-green needles with contrasting white bands underneath; weeping habit.

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Botanical name: Juniperus chinensis ‘Pom Pom Juniper’

Chinese junipers are rugged, but even the toughest of plants will perform better with the proper encouragement from you. Grow your shrubs in full sun. While they will tolerate some drought once mature, young plants should be supplied with a moderate amount of water by the homeowner during dry periods. It is best to select ground that drains well as a location in which to establish them. In terms of additional care after planting, apply an all-purpose fertilizer in spring and again in fall. They may well thrive, though, without any fertilizing.

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Botanical name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tree Hydrangea’

What a breathtaking sight! In mid-summer this color-changing Hydrangea Tree is covered with masses of snow-white flowers. In late summer, the flowers turn a beautiful bluish-pink aging to a purplish pink. There is nothing quite like these trees to add elegance and structure to your garden. Planted in the ground or in containers, these traditional yet hard-to-find specimens provide balance, stature, and scale.

This is an excellent tree for specimen or ornamental planting. It is especially attractive grown in groups of three. The Hydrangea Tree is a lovely, fast-growing specimen tree up to 7-12′ tall. The blossoms grow in panicles up to 8 inches long. They appear on the branches as cream-colored flowers, but eventually mature to purple or deep pink. Tree hydrangeas produce a generous amount of flowers. Often, the tree’s spreading branches are dipped toward the ground with the weight of these blossoms.

Grow Tree Hydrangeas in full sun in order for them to flower best. The soil should be well-drained and enriched by organic matter. A soil pH that is slightly acidic is preferred. The species name, paniculata means “panicled” and refers to the shape that the bush’s flower heads assume. In fact, you will occasionally see the bushes referred to as “panicle hydrangeas.” A “panicle” is defined as a loose, diversely branching flower cluster. The cultivar name, too, is based on what the flowers look like: ‘Grandiflora’ means “large-flowered.”

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Botanical name: Juniperus Procumbens Nana

Juniperus procumbens, commonly called Japanese garden juniper, is a dwarf, procumbent, shrubby ground cover that grows 8-18” (sometimes to 24”) tall and spreads over time by long trailing branches to form a dense mat 10-15’ wide. It is native to Japan. Branches spread parallel to and slightly above the ground. Growth is somewhat slow, typically taking 10 years to spread 10 feet. Spiny-pointed blue-green to gray-green needles (to 1/3” long) are primarily linear and appear in whorls of three.

A versatile, sprawling ground cover that tolerates hot, dry locations in full sun. Rock gardens. Foundations. Slopes. Mass plantings. Cascade over retaining walls. Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Adapts to a wide range of soils, but prefers a dryish, sandy soil. Tolerates hot, dry growing conditions, somewhat poor soils and many city air pollutants. Intolerant of wet soils.

‘Nana’ is a dwarf, less vigorous form that features spiny-pointed blue-green needles (to 1/3” long). It typically grows 8-12” tall and spreads to 6’ wide over time. Foliage may turn purplish in winter. A dense mound of ground-hugging branches that radiate from the center. Bright green new growth turns a handsome blue-green as it matures. Winter color has a purple tinge. A wonderful evergreen for a group planting on a rocky slope, or trained into an upright staked specimen. Foliage and form is superb when left unpruned.

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Botanical name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’

Shimmering emerald green foliage with a classic narrow, pyramidal form make the emerald arborvitae attractive in all seasons. And unlike other arborvitaes, this cultivar keeps its lustrous color even in the cold winter months. The slow-growing emerald arborvitae is great for specimen or accent planting, hedges, privacy screens and shelterbelts. It also makes a good foundation plant.

The emerald arborvitae can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 3–7. This is an evergreen tree, keeping its foliage year-round. The emerald arborvitae grows to a height of 10–15′ and a spread of 3–4′ at maturity. This tree grows at a slow rate, with height increases of less than 12″ per year. Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. The emerald arborvitae grows well in acidic, loamy, rich, sandy, silty loam and well-drained soils. Arborvitae provides nesting sites and cover for birds and small animals. The flower buds, seeds and foliage are a food source for wildlife.

The name arborvitae, is a Latin form of the French, “l’arbre de vie,” which means, “tree of life.” Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who assigned the Latin name to this species, picked up on other traits. The genus name, Thuja, is from a Greek word for perfume. Squeezing the evergreen leaves releases an aroma that is nothing less than nature’s perfume. The specific name, occidentalis, means “west,” the direction from Sweden where this tree was discovered.

This tree:

• Grows in a pyramidal shape.
• Does not discolor in winter like other arborvitae.
• Features tiny, scale-like, lustrous foliage that displays as a flattened, fan-like, vertical spray.
• Releases a pleasing aroma when leaves are squeezed.
• Can be pruned.
• Should be planted 2–3′ apart for a screen.
• Tolerates heat and drought once established and is cold-hardy to -40°F.
• Works well as a specimen or accent, for hedges and privacy screens, for shelterbelts and as a foundation plant.

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Botanical name: Picea abies ‘Pendula’

This is an excellent specimen plant that is often incorporated into Asian gardens or featured in natural water gardens. Its uniquely trained form fits into very difficult spaces and makes an ideal focal point for courtyards and entry gardens with naturalistic landscaping. Most often planted with boulders and other rock accents or pagoda lights. Brings interest to snow-covered gardens.

Pendula’ is an unusual weeping cultivar of Norway spruce. It is an irregularly shaped evergreen whose form will vary considerably depending upon its early training. Unless staked and supported, it generally does not grow upward, but instead will mostly spread along the ground as a woody ground cover. It can be a very unique specimen in the landscape, particularly if located in a spot where its form can be best utilized. If staked and supported, it can grow generally upright into a 10-15’ tall tree.

Easily grown in average, acidic, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Performs well in rich sandy soils. Prefers cool summer climates, and often grows poorly south of USDA Zone 7. Established plants have some tolerance for dryish soils. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates mild drought. Apply general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.

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Botanical name: Cedrus deodara – Deodar Cedar

Tree expert Michael Dirr has referred to the Deodar cedar as “the most graceful cedar.” And upon first sight, you’ll know why. Elegant, pendulous branches. Attractive coloring. Pleasing shape. Interesting branching patterns. It’s a tree born to be a landscape specimen.ng the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates mild drought. Apply general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.

Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. The Deodar cedar grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It prefers moist soil but has good drought tolerance. The Deodar cedar provides nesting sites, cover and food for mammals and birds such as the woodpecker.

This cedar’s name, Deodar, derives from Sanskrit that translates to “timber of the gods.” The tree is native to the Himalayas. A graceful tree with bluish-green needles, the deodar cedar is an exceptionally beautiful evergreen.

Physical Attributes

• Has a smooth gray-brown bark in its youth and develops short furrows with scaly ridge tops as it ages.
• Has sharp-tip needles that shed in the spring as new growth appears.
• Features bluish-green or silvery needles and a distinct layering branch pattern. This tree is a popular windbreak choice.

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