WHAT IS AN IMPROVED NATIVE
Part TWO: EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS
With the need to ban invasive plant species the last several years there has been a push to plant natives (Please review The Invasive Trees and Shrubs blog for details). Unfortunately, some of the natives are not super tough or dependable. Improved natives are indigenous plants that have developed by nurseries because of their exceptional qualities and dependability. If you want to plant natives, we have few great native trees and to consider.
Disclaimer Plants do not come with an instruction manual but with a little research you can pick the right plant for the right spot. Please take note of size, light and soil moisture requirements. If you choose a plant that grows naturally in part shade in wet areas and you plant it in sandy soil in full sun, guess what? The plants we recommend are tough and pretty adaptable but not bullet proof.
ten EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS to consider
American Holly A very large shrub or small native tree. It can be used as a screen plant or as an ornamental. In the late fall and winter the females red berries are beautiful and it’s a great plant for birds. Hollies need male plant to pollinate female plants. There are a handful of Improved natives to try; Dan Fenton, Jersey Princess and Miss Helen
A close up of the leaves and fruit of a female American holly
A close up of the cones and foliage of Balsam Fir Canaan
Balsam Fir Canaan is an improved native with a more uniform shape with dense cones that are slightly smaller. Balsam fir is probably best known as a Christmas tree but it makes a nice evergreen tree. Its blue green foliage and upright cones make it a interesting large evergreen.
White Pine One of the most common trees in New England. From giant old timers to seedlings, they seem to be everywhere. This trees seeds germinate readily and that’s why it seems to grow everywhere. Whether you love it or hate it, this tree is tough, adaptable and it has several wonderful cultivars. This species is the work horse of our woodlands. The white pine tree can be planted for screen to create a natural border. It needs to be pruned to a conical shape in order to keep its bottom bows full but it responds very well to hand pruning As long as you plant it in full sun it will thrive; There are dozens of improved native cultivars, These are a few of our favorites to consider; fastigiate, nana and soft touch.
A Dwarf white pine makes a great foundation or specimen plant
Red Cedar Glauca
Eastern Red Cedar A prolific small evergreen tree that seems to seed everywhere. Even though this is a native it is distributed by birds like an invasive. You see it seeding itself in fields, gardens and even beaches. It is a super tough tree that is very adaptable. It has beautiful blue fruit in the fall. Like most evergreens it performs well in full sun. A few improved natives to look into; glauca, gray owl, emerald sentinel.
American Arborvitae a small evergreen tree used primarily for privacy hedges. It is used more for its toughness and dependability than its beauty. However like most plants because it is so adaptable you see it everywhere. As long as you plant it in a mostly sunny exposure it should perform. Its Achilles heal is because it grows with multi-upright stems it can be devastated by heavy snow. The nurseries have done a good job developing some varieties with better structure. A few improved natives to try; emerald green, thin man. Hetz and spiral
Hetz American Arborvitae
A large specimen Sargeant Hemlock
Canadian Hemlock A great large evergreen tree. It usually grows naturally in hillsides around ledge out cropping’s. A beautiful graceful tree that has been used for privacy hedges for decades. Unfortunately, there are two invasive insects from Asia that were accidently imported years ago that have ravaged many of our native stands. Adelgid and elongate hemlock scale are the two insects that effect hemlocks that can be easily controlled on private properties however most municipalities don’t have the resources. Walking through a hemlock forest is a beautiful experience and it is sad to see these trees dying. There are several Improve Native varieties of hemlocks that have been used in our landscapes for years. A few we recommend; Coles prostrate, summer snow Stewart’s dwarf and the classic Sargent developed at Arnold Arboretum. We included these plants because they are iconic and beautiful but unfortunately planting hemlocks will probably mean the need to treat for these insects.
Inkberry A medium to large shrub although most of the varieties in the trade today are smaller than the straight species, Nice small deep green leaves with small black fruit in late summer (hence its name). It can be planted in some shade but it does perform better in full sun. It is an easy plant to grow. Like most hollies the more often you prune it the less likely it gets leggy as it grows. It is one of a few evergreens that responds well to rejuvenation pruning. It is a great substitute to boxwood which has so many insect and disease issues. As mentioned earlier we only see the Improved Natives in the nursery trade; Compacta, Gem Box, Densa and Shamrock is the most widely used.
Inkberry Shamrock
Juniper Blue Chip
Bar Harbor Juniper or as we Bostonian’s say Bahh Harbahhh
This is a wonderful ground cover juniper that grows along the ground. It is very pretty when its foliage weeps off walls. It will tolerate dry soils and thrives in full sun. It is very salt tolerant which makes it a good choice for harsh seaside exposures. It’s beautiful bluish green foliage turns somewhat purple in the colder months. This is an under used plant. A few Improved Natives to try; Icee blue, Andorra Youngstown and Blue Chip.
Rosebay or Maximum Rhododendron The largest rhododendron species in New England. It grows in natural stands which can grow15 -25 feet high and wide. It has very large leaves and is one of the last to bloom in late summer. The blooms are a very light pink almost white. It will perform in partial sun but it is a one of the few evergreens that will perform as a screen in deep shade. For best results as an understory plant the soil should be prepared with some compost, peatmoss and old wood chips. That seems like a lot of work but since there are so few natural evergreens that will perform in deep shade its best to mimic its natural habitat. A few Improved Natives to consider, Mr. Blue Stem, Pink Rosebay and Midsummer
Pink Maximum Rhododendron
Mountain Laurel Sarah
Mountain Laurel a wonderful medium to large shrub. It is often found in the woodlands of New England but it thrives in The Carolinas where it can grow to an astounding 15 feet. Its flowers bloom in late spring and they have a most interesting shape. Its smooth leaves are often covered with a leaf spot disease. This can be treated and it is less prevalent on its many hybrids. A very tough plant that can grow in sun or shade. It responds ok to hand pruning but it responds best to rejuvenation pruning or being cut to 3-inch stubs in early spring. Many nurseries do this wait a few years and then collect these vigorous plants for sale. Ther are dozens of varieties; A few improved natives we recommend; Sarah, Elf, Minuet, Tiddlywinks, Nipmuck and Olympic fire.
BONUS EVERGREEN TREE
Olga Mezitt Rhododendron
PJM Rhododendron
Although it’s not a native, this plant was developed by Ed Mezitt at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton in the 1940s. It’s a lepidote (scaly leaf) cross between the native Carolina rhododendron and Dauricum rhododendron (native to Siberia and Korea). Rhododendron ‘PJM’ is named for Peter John Mezitt (Ed’s dad and the founder of Weston Nurseries) and is a staple of many landscapes in Massachusetts and much of eastern North America. Its small leaves are maroon in the colder months, and it has bright purple blooms early in the spring. It seems to be planted on almost every property. It is incredibly tough and cold hardy. It performs well in either sun or shade. It responds very well to aggressive hand pruning and rejuvenation pruning. It is one of the few plants that can be planted in almost every exposure, is truly low maintenance, but needs good drainage. There are several lepidotes like ‘PJM’, but ‘Olga Mezitt’ and ‘Weston’s Aglo’ are my favorites; they have pink and deep pink blossoms respectively a little later in the spring. This information was provided by Wayne Mezitt
If you have questions about tree service or plant health care or would like an estimate, give us a call at 978-768-6999 or click here to contact us.
If you’d like to learn more about What is an Improved Native – Deciduous Trees just click here.
For directions to Mayer Tree Service just click here.
If you’d like to visit us in Essex click here for directions.
Visit our Google Website for our Essex Location here.
If you’d like to visit us in Lincoln, click here for directions.
Visit our Google Website for our Lincoln Location here.