Dwarf Ginkgo Varieties

Most have heard of the infamous Ginkgo Biloba tree, with it's unique shaped foliage, and stunning fall color. No one can resist getting one for their landscape! But most people don't know is that there are dwarf varieties out there. You get the unique foliage, and fall color compacted into a shrub or small tree!

"Jade Butterfly" Ginkgo

Mature Size: 12'-15' tall and 10' wide

"Mariken" Ginkgo

Mature Size: Shrub form: 2'-3' tall and 2'-3' wide
Standard: (Standard is the Dwarf version grafted onto the trunk of a regular Ginkgo rootstock.) Mature Size: 4'-5' tall and 2'-3' wide

                Traditional Ginkgo Trees

                       "Jade Butterfly" Ginkgo

                         

                        "Mariken" Ginkgo

               

                   Standard "Mariken" Ginkgo

                         

MOST Cold Hardy Broadleaf Evergreens

This post is a link to a video I made. Check it out! 🌿

https://youtube.com/watch?v=VDK4plW4igw&t=9s



NatureMan

My Private Plant Growing Station

I have been growing and experimenting with plants for a while. I have an outdoor area on the side of my house where I grow and experiment with perennials, trees, and shrubs. Sometimes I buy them, and sometimes I propagate them mostly by cuttings or digging them up from the wild. I rarely do seeds, but sometimes I do. In the winter even the most cold hardy plants can not survive in pots. When plants are above ground the cold wind burns the roots and kills the plant. So either each and every pot needs extreme protection and some kind of heater, or put them in a greenhouse or cool garage. I use a special storage shelf in my garage. Their is a major problem with that though. I have a heated garage. So it is room temperature in my garage. It is extremely difficult to keep my plants dormant for a long enough time. Last winter I was only able to keep them dormant for maybe about 3 months or so. Most have survived and are still thriving. What I do to keep them dormant is in extremely cold days like below zero days or at least temps below freezing keep the garage door up for 10-30 minutes per day so that the bitter cold air counteracts the heat. Also when ever there is snow on the ground I place a lot of snow over each plant to keep them cold and from drying out too much. Yes, snow does insulate, but it is also freezing, and helps stay cold enough to help counteract the heat of the garage as well. Both of these methods help in keeping them dormant for at least a long enough time. I left all my plants outside unprotected for at least several frost's/freezes, making sure not to leave them out when it dips below 25°F or so. This helps guarantee the go dormant before placing them in the garage. Last year they went completely dormant the first week of November or so. Our first average freeze is mid-October. They awoke from dormancy in early/mid February. It was still freezing out and they would die if they were placed outside. So I kept them in my indoor propagation room with plenty of sunlight untill they could go outisde. The last freeze in Indy is Mid-May. This Bringd me to my propagation room. I overwinter annuals and Tropicals, grow houseplants, and propagate plants in here. It keeps me busy during the winter months as well. I hope to invest more into this hobby and get more space!

NatureMan

LAST WINTER

'Edith Bogue' Southern Magnolia Large Leaf

On my 'Edith Bogue' Southern Magnolia I have found a huge leaf, bigger than all the others. This may be the biggest Southern Magnolia leaf I have ever seen! I measuered it at over 10.5 inches long. Just shy of a foot long! I am curious just to how large Southern Magnolia leaves can get. What is the largest one you have ever seen? Please let me know, is it just me or is this abnormally large for a Southern Magnolia? Let me know if you have found any bigger this. If so please share pictures! Thanks!

NatureMan

Best Blue Spruce Varieties

The Colorado Blue Spruce is an amazing tree! It's blue frosted needles present themselves all year round! Adds great color to the landscape and will bring eyes to your yard!

Blue Spruce USDA Zone Hardiness: 2-7

"Globosa" Blue Spruce: a dwarf shrub only maturing to 4-5' tall by 3-4' wide. Has a "globe" shape to it with little maintenance required.

"Sester Dwarf" Blue Spruce: Dwarf tree maturing to 10' tall by 3-5' wide.

"Fat Albert" Blue Spruce: Wide growing spruce maturing to 40' tall by 20-25' wide.

"Hoopsi" Blue Spruce: Considered the most blue form. Maturing to 30-50' tall by 10-20' wide.

"Blue Totem" Blue Spruce: Extremely upright maturing to 20' tall by 3-5' wide.

"Iseli Fastigiate" bigger growing extremely upright maturing to 40' tall by 10' wide. 

Needlecast Alternatives: The Blue Spruce in some areas are extremely susceptible and lots die from the disease. 

Blue Atlas Cedar: Not pyramidal like most Conifers outward uneven branches adds a really cool unique texture to the landscape. Not as hardy as blue spruce. Hardy in USDA Zones: 5-9. Columnar version does exist to add a more pyramidal shape.

"Paul's Select" Norway Spruce: semi-dwarf tree maturing to 15-20' tall by 10-15' wide. 

Dwarf Blue Spruce's are rarely susceptible to needlecast, due to smaller form and low weak branches. So "Sester Dwarf" and "Globosa" are good varieties to not have to worry about needlecast. 

NatureMan