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PERENNIALS |
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Agastache 'Honey Bee Blue' (hummingbird mint)
Heat and drought tolerant plant covered with blue spikes from
early summer through fall. Foliage is fragrant, and butterflies
and hummingbirds are attracted to this plant throughout the season.
Makes an excellent backdrop for bold flowers like Rudbeckias
and Asclepias, growing to about 24-30" tall. Zone 4 |
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Agastache rupestris (sunset
hyssop)
Fantastic perennial with spicy fragrant foliage and tubular,
bicolor blooms that fade from bright orange to cool purple. Heat
and drought tolerant, this plant grows to about 24" and
blooms all summer. We use it in color bowls with annuals, we
llike it so much!. Zone 4 |
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Amorpha canescens (lead
plant)
Prefers dry or well drained site in full sun. Grows to 4' tall
with blue flower spikes in July and August. Excellent interplanted
in native grasses! Zone 3 |
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Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbet'
(yellow columbine)
Pure yellow selection blooming April through early June. Grows
12-24" in height, and will self seed somewhat in the garden.
Zone 3 |
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Aralia racemosa (American
spikenard)
3-5' tall native with crisp green foliage on reddish stems topped
in early summer with stately white plumes followed by clusters
of black drupes. Roots used in root beer and medicinally. Grows
in part to full shade. Zone 5 |
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Arisaem tryphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
This woodland native produces unique brown and green flowers
in a vase shape amidst the green foliage. Plants grow 2-3' tall
in woodland soil. Zone 4 |
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Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly
weed)
Showy orange flower heads bloom in early summer and continue
for a long period on 24-30" plants. Very tough plants tolerate
heat and drought in horrible clay soil. Fanstastic interplanted
with native grasses, Rudbeckias and other native flowers. Butterflies
love it, too. Zone 5 |
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Asclepias syriaca (butterfly
milkweed)
Dusty pink flower clusters bloom in mid-summer atop large, glossy
leaves that resemble a rubber tree plant. Flowers are followed
by large, decorative seed pods. Preferred plant of the Monarch
butterfly. Grows 3-5' tall in full sun to partial shade. Drought
tolerant. Zone 3 |
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Atriplex canescens (four-winged
salt bush)
Shrubby perennial with silver-gray ferny foliage to 2' in height
with inconspicuous flowers that are followed by four-winged seed
pods. Drought resistant plants are preferred by wildlife for
their salt content. An excellent garden plant that we hope will
provide a more long-lived alternative to 'Powis Castle' Artemisia.
Zone 3 |
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Baptisia lacteal (prairie
baptisia)
Stately 3-4' native with white flowers in June followed by black
pods that make wonderful arrangement subjects. Grows in full
sun to light shade and attracts butterflies. Zone 4 |
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GRASSES |
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Andropogon gerardii (big blue stem)
5-6' colorful robust native, turns light red after frost. Excellent backdrop for shrubs and perennials. Also excellent interplanted with tall flowering natives. Grows 5-6' tall and 4-5' around. Full sun. Zone 4
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Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)Fine leaf, sod-forming, warm season native with delicate seed heads and graceful foliage. Grows 12-18" tall and wide. Full sun. Zone 4 |
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Chasmanthium latifolium (northern sea oats)3' grass with attractive, nodding seed heads for groups or massing. Excellent for cut arrangements. Spreads, but who cares! Zone 3 |
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Eragrostis trichoides (sand love)Lovely, delicate 3' warm season native bunchgrass with arching seed heads. Adds a fine texured background around flowering perennials. Grows 2-3' tall and around. Full sun. Zone 5 |
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Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky' (blue switch)
Strongly glaucous blue leaves, strictly upright. Never leans or flops, even in heavy rain. Grows to 5' in bloom in fall, with strong pink tones in inflorescence. Fine specimen with yellow autumn color. Clump spread of 2-3'. Zone 5
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Schizachyrium scoparium (little blue stem)
True deep blue foliage and exceptional burgundy red fall color. Tolerates heat and humidity. Perfect 1-2' grass for mass plantings. Full sun. Zone 5
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Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass)
Stalwart, wide leaf, warm season, 4-5' native with golden, plume-like seed heads. Full sun. Zone 3
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Sporobolus heterolepsis (prairie dropseed)
2' narrow-leaved, fragrant native grass. Incredibly attractive in bloom and seed. Full sun. Zone 4
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SHRUBS |
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Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush
buckeye)
Wonderful large growing native understory shrub with dark glossy
green foliage of five and seven lobes covered in white upright
flower panicles in early summer. A broadly mounding habit, shrubs
will also sucker from the ground spreading to 8-15' across and
8-12' tall. Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is highly adaptable.
Foliage turns yellow in fall. Zone 4 |
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Aesculus pavia (red buckeye)
This woodland native is beautiful in mass under pines and other
large shade trees. Dark green foliage has five to seven lobes,
and is topped with red flower panicles in April and May. Prefers
moisture retentive soils and can grow 15-20' high and wide. Zone
4 |
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Amelanchier canadensis
(Shadblow serviceberry)
Occurring naturally in bogs and along stream beds in the east,
this large, multi-stemmed shrub works well in drier soils as
well. Mature size is variable depending on where it is planted,
growing from 6-20' in height with a dome-shaped habit. White
flowers are followed by edible fruits. Zone 3-7 |
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Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'
(chokeberry)
Excellent for mass plantings and borders, this shrub
blooms in May with white flowers. In fall, bright red berries
appear and last well into winter. Fall foliage can rival the
scarlet of sumac or buring bush. Likes moist or well-drained
soil. Shrubs grow 6-9' tall and 5-8' wide in full sun to part
shade. Zone 5-8 |
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Aronia melancarpa 'Elata'
(black chokeberry)
Persistent black fruit and wine-red fall foliage make this a
useful landscape shrub. Adaptable to most soils, and happy to
grow in sun to partial shade. Lustrous, dark green leaves and
white flowers on shrubs that grow 6-10' high and wide. Zone 3-8 |
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Calycanthus floridus
(sweetshrub, Carolina allspice)
Unusual, fragrant brown-burgundy blooms make this shrub a conversation
piece! Found in many heirloom gardens, this shrub is adaptable
to full sun or part shade in well drained soil. Mature size is
6-10' tall with similar spread. Zone 5-9 |
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Cephalanthus occidentalis
(buttonbush)
Native to North America, this shrub grows with a rounded habit
in boggy soils and produces showy round white blossoms in late
summer. Grows 3-6' tall and around. Zone 5-10 |
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Hamamelis virginiana
(witchhazel)
This native shrub produces fringey yellow flowers in winter,
and can be grown as a large shrub or small understory tree. Foliage
turns yellow in fall. Grows 12-15' tall and wide. Zone 3-8 |
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Ilex decidua 'Sparkleberry'
(deciduous holly, opposum haw)
Plant with a 'Southern Gentleman' to produce berries on you 'Sparkleberry'
females! Excellent dark green foliage of vigorous, dense growth
habit. This is a deciduous holly growing 8-10' tall and 6-8'
around. Plant in sun or part shade. Zone 5-9 |
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Lindera
benzoin (spicebush)
Bruised stems emit a strong, spicy-sweet odor, and bright yellow
flowers cover these stems in April. Foliage turns a pleasing
yellow in fall. Fruit occurs on female plants. Prefers moist,
acid soil in full sun to part shade. This native plant grows
6-12' tall and around. Zone 4-9 |
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Prunus bessyi (western
sandcherry)
This great plains native has grey-green foliage is covered with
1/2" white flowers in April and May. Sweet, purple-black
fruit ripens in late summer and provides excellent wildlife food
source. Great choice for dry, poor soil where it won't shy in
heat either. Grows 4-6' tall and across. Zone 3 |
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Sambucus canadensis (American
elderberry)
You see the large white flower clusters along roadways in summer.
Medium-sixed purple-black berries follow in August and September,
and make wonderful jams, jellies and wine! Prefering moist soils,
this shrub can grow in dry sites also but not as vigorously.
Plants mature to a height of 6-10' with a spread of 6-8'. Full
sun to light shade. Zone 3-9 |
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Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Lo'
(dwarf sumac)
Low-growing sumac with rounded leaves that turn vivid scarlet
in fall. Wonderful planted in mass around tall grasses, or alone
on sharply sloping banks and along ditches. Excellent wildlife
food and shelter. Zone 3-9 |
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Rhus typhina (staghorn
sumac)
Hairy branch ends swell in late winter, resembling the horns
of a buck. Lacy, graceful green foliage is speckled with tall,
6-8" burgundy-brown seed shoots throughout summer. Fall
foliage is stunning, brilliant, scarlet red. Excellent wildlife
food source. Grows 8-15' tall and tends to sucker and spread.
Can be kept in check with periodic pulling of baby suckers, or
left to naturalize a large area. Zone 3-8 |
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TREES |
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Amelanchier x grandiflora
'Autumn Brilliance' (apple serviceberry)
A hybrid of Amelanchier arborea and A. laevis, this ornamental
tree has purplish tinged leaves as they emerge and bright red
fall color. An excellent choice for focal points or border planting
where space is limited. Grows 20-25' high and wide. Native from
east coast to Kansas. Zone 5-8 |
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Asimina triloba (pawpaw)
Wonderful large, 6-12" drooping leaves stand out among the
cottonwoods, oaks, maples and redbuds along roadsides and woodland
edges. This native tree produces purple flowers before the leaf
buds open in April and May. They're followed by edible, waxy,
irregular-shaped fruit that tastes like bananas. Fruits are greenish-yellow
and mature to black, and you have to be quick to beat the wildlife
to these unique fruits! Trees grow 15-20 feet, sometimes larger
in really perfect sites. This understory tree requires afternoon
shade. Native from east coast to Kansas. Zone 5 |
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Betula nigra (river birch)
Most commonly grown as a multi-stem specimen, single trunk forms
are also available in limited quantity. Very fast growing, 6'
tall trees can grow to triple that size in 5 years given enough
water and decent soil. Wonderful cinnamon colored exfoliating
bark gives this small tree winter value. We often plant them
in groups of three, five or seven for a small forest look, uderplanted
with grass or evergreen groundcover to set of trunks. Grows to
25' tall with a spread of 10-15'. Native from east coast to Kansas.
Zone 4-8 |
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Carya illinoiensis (pecan)
This massive shade tree is the pecan producer of the industry
in the U.S. Lustrous, dark green foliage does not provide much
fall color, but the nuts more than make up for this shortcoming.
Best growth occurs in moist, well drained soil. It is native
from Indiana and Iowa to Texas and Mexico. Grows 70-100' high
with a sprad of 40-75'. Zone 5-9 |
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Catalpa speciosa
Medium to fast growing native tree with large, hanging, white
flower clusters in summer over giant heart-shaped leaves that
turn yellow in fall. Long pods persist into winter, providing
visual interest and wildlife food. Highly adaptable to heat,
drought and soils. Matures to 45-60' tall with a spread of 30-40'
Zone 4-7 |
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Cercis canadensis (eastern
redbud)
Small vase-shaped tree with heart-sheaped leaves, this native
tree flowers before leafing out in early spring with purplish-pink
petals. Grows well between other trees, where it will grow more
upright and assymetrical. As a specimen, habit is more rounded
to 25' high and across. Native North American tree. Zone 4 |
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Chionanthus virginicus (fringetree)
Native from southern New Jersey to Florida, and west to Texas,
this small, ornamental tree is very difficult to propagate. Cold
hardy to -30° F, the oval habit varies from large shrub to
small tree form. Leaves turn yellow in fall, and white, highly
fragrant, 6-8" long flower panicles appear on previous year's
growth each spring. Prefers moist, acid, well-drained soils,
but is extremely adaptable. Can be planted in full sun, but also
makes a lovely understory woodland planting. Grows 12-20' tall
and wide, sometimes larger. Zone 4-9 |
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Cladrastis lutea (American
yellowwood)
This native tree produces spectacular 12' long fragrant white
flower clusters in early summer, and leaves turn golden yellow
in fall. Grows 30-50' high and 40-55' around. Zone 4-8 |
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Cornus alternifolia
'Pagoda' (Pagoda dogwood)
Whether grown as a single-stemmed tree form or a multi-stemmed
shrubby form, this dogwood has graceful horizontal layering and
white flower clusters in May and June. Purple fruit follows.
Partial shade (afternoon is best) makes this plant easier to
establish, and the Pagoda seems to us to be easier to grow than
Cornus florida. Grows 15-20' tall and wide. Native from New Brunswick
through Minnesota and south through Alabama. Zone 3-7 |
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Diospyros virginiana (persimmon)
Though not the most beautiful tree, it does provide dependable
toughness and tasty fall fruit! Pyramidal to oval habit with
green foliage turning yellow to reddish purple in fall. Fragrant
white lily-of-the-valley-like flowers in late spring are followed
with 1 1/2" yellowish-red to pale orange berries, which
ripen in fall. Adaptable to very dry conditions, trees grow 35-60'
tall with a 20-35' spread. Native from Connecticut to Florida,
and west to Texas and Kansas. |
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Franklinia
alatamaha
Another rare, hard to find plant that can be grown as a large
shrub or small tree form. Originally found in Georgia in the
late 18th century, it has virtually disappeared from the wild
and now exists only in cultivation. With upright, airy branches
and 5-6" long leaves that turn orange and red in fall, the
3" white flowers (resembling mockorange blooms) opening
in late summer are an added surprise to this wonderful plant.
Prefers moist, well drained, acid soil for best results. Grows
10-20' tall and 6-15' wide. Zone 5-8 |
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Gymnocladus dioica (Kentucky
coffeetree)
Wonderful native shade tree that grows 60-75' high with a 40-50'
spread. Bluish-green, bipinnate leaves are covered in summer
with white flower clusters. Widely adaptable to different soils,
city conditions and drought. Native to the eastern half of the
US. Zone 4 |
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Halesia carolina (Carolina
silverbell)
Ntive to the eastern half of the US, this understory tree grows
30-40' high with a spread of 20-35'. Found along streams and
in sheltered coves in its native range, single and multi-trunk
specimens make pretty mid-sized trees. White, bell-shaped flowers
open in spring. Prefers moist, acid, well-drained soil in sun
or shade. Zone 5 |
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Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet
gum)
An excellent ornamental tree with finely shaped leaves, lovely
overall symmetrical form and outstanding fall color, this tree
is an excellent choice for the landscape. Beware of the seed,
encapsulated in spiny balls that fall to the ground each fall.
Planted away from traffic areas, it performs well in dry soils
as well as moist soils. Prefers low pH. Native to the eastern
half of the US and south, then west to Mexico. Zone 5 |
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Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip
tree)
This native has a unique leaf shape. Shortly after leafing out,
tulip shaped flowers of yellow, orange and green appear. Golden
yellow fall foliage. A moderately fast-growing tree, it is highly
adaptable to different soils and conditions. Cone-like fruit
is present into winter, providing interest and wildlife food.
Grows 60-80' high with a spread of 35-45'. Native to the eastern
half of the US. Zone 4 |
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Magnolia virginiana 'Sweet
Bay'
Very fragrant, creamy-white flowers in May and June over large,
glossy, dark green leaves that resemble a rubber tree plant.
Native to the eastern coast of the US and west to Texas, these
Magnolias bloom slightly later than saucer magnolias that suffer
from late frosts in our area. Trees grow 15-20' high and wide.
Zone 5 |
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Nyssa sylvatica (black gum,
tupelo)
The earliest to turn in fall, it shimmers yellow, orange and
scarlet red in full color. A pyramidal tree that can become more
rounded at maturity. Dark grey bark is thickloy ridged, and summer
foliage is deep glossy green. Highly adaptable, but prefers moist,
acid soils. It can also tolerate poorly drained soils. Grows
30-50' high and 20-30' across. Native from Maine to Florida and
west to Texas. Zone 4 |
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Ostrya virginiana (ironwood)
Pyramidal in habit, becoming rounded at maturity with greyish
exfoliating bark. Yellow fall color. Excellent tolerance for
harsh city conditions, and highly adaptable to soils and light.
Grows 25-40' high and 20-40' wide. Zone 4 |
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Oxydendron arboreum (sourwood)
This native tree provides stunning fall color. Can be trained
to a tree or shrub growth habit. Fall color is best when planted
in full sun. Found in the southeastern US. Zone 5 |
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Platanus occidentalis (sycamore)
Also called London Plane Tree, this grand native has leaves as
big as platters, and beautiful exfoliating bark. Prefers moist
soils, and grows well in poorly drained sites. Grows 75-100 high
with a spread of 60-80' or more. Native to the eastern half of
the US. Zone 4 |
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Populus deltoides (cottonwood)
This native tree provides food for wildlife, and is a fast growing
shade tree. Leaves that look and sound wonderful in the breeze.
An excellent choice for areas with poor drainage. Native cottonwoods
are widespread especially along creeks and waterways from Canada
south to Texas. Zone 2 |
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Prunus serotina (black cherry)
White flowers along 4-6" long racemes in May are followed
by copious amounts of red and black fruit. Black cherry grows
abundantly in the wild forests of the northeast, and was used
by colonists to make furniture. An excellent native tree with
nice ornamental qualities, and useful for wildlife. Zone 3 |
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Quercus bicolor (swamp white
oak)
Lustrous dark green leaves turn yellow-brown and sometimes russet-red
in fall. An excellent choice for poorly draining sites. Grows
50-60' high and wide. Native from Canada south to Arkansas. Zone
3 |
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Quercus coccinea (scarlet
oak)
Brilliant red fall foliage gives this oak it's common name. Highly
adaptable, this oak does especally well in moist, well drained
acid soils. Grows 60-70' high and 40-50' wide. Native from Maine
to Florida and to eastern Kansas. Zone 4 |
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Quercus imbricaria (shingle
oak)
Lustrous dark green leaves are not very oak-like in shape, but
persist into winter like their cousins. Adaptable to many soil
conditions. Grows 50-60' high and wide. Native from Pennslyvania
south to Arkansas. Zone 4 |
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Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
Very hardy and tremendous in size, this is a stately specimen
to use in the landscape. Acorns are large size, and have a fuzzy
fringe. Leaves are four to ten inches long. Grows 70-80' high
and wide very slowly. Nova Scotia to Texas. Zone 2 |
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Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin
oak)
This oak has nice yellow to orange-yellow fall foliage. Tolerant
of dry limestone soil. Grows 40-50' tall and wide, but will grow
larger in more favorable condtions. Native from Vermont to Nabraska,
and south to Mexico. Zone 4 |
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Taxodium distichum (bald cypress)
This tree is a deciduous conifer. It's finely textured foliage,
stately size and overall adaptability make this a fine focal
point for any landscape. Similar looking to dawn redwood (Metasequoia),
these trees grow 50-70' high and 20-30' wide. In boggy sites,
trees through up woody "knees" to breath, like a snorkel!
Will also tolerate drier sites. Native to the eastern half of
the US. Zone 4 |
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