Reliable Living Anchors
Arborvitae is one of the most versatile and beloved staples of the American landscape. This genus of coniferous trees and shrubs belongs to the cypress family. In Latin, arborvitae means tree of life. The name’s origin dates back to the 16th century, when French explorer Jacques Cartier learned from Indigenous peoples that arborvitae’s foliage could…
Upright Junipers and Columnar Arborvitae
Upright evergreen trees are prized in the landscape for their reliability and stand-up coolness. Taylor Juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’) Like squirrels stock up on nuts for winter sustenance, upright juniper and arborvitae store water and nutrients in their roots. This enables them to slow their growth when the ground is frozen but not go dormant.…
Vertical Plants Enhance Small Spaces
Grow “up” to make the most of garden areas with limited footprints. Vertical, compact plants and shrubs like the following add height, color and texture that can make city lots, decks, patios, containers and small yards look larger. Blackhawks Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Blackhawks Big Bluestem With a garden height of 5 feet and spread…