THREE TREES FOR SUMMER INTEREST

Spring is a wonderful time of year.  But spring isn’t the only time plants are actively putting on a show.  Spend a few minutes with me exploring some unique and fun trees you might consider that would lend interest to your landscape during more than just Spring.

Again, never in any particular order, I’d hate to offend any of my plant friends by not having them come in first, but we’ll begin with the Basswood or Linden.

Linden Blooms (Handy Andys)

Linden is by every mark a shade tree!  Achieving heights of forty to fifty feet with spreads of at least twenty-five feet, these trees make their presence known in a landscape.  In addition to their size, they have another attribute that sets them apart.  These trees offer a yellow fragrant bloom that usually appears sometime around early to mid-July.  A fragrance comes in the air during that time of year that I instantly recognize.  Once I smell it, I go looking!  These flowers do mature to a “seed” or “nut” of sorts.  While not a true “nut” tree, the seeds resemble such.

Harvest Gold Linden (Bark) (Handy Andys)

Have no fear, however; these aren’t messy trees.  Eventually, when these “fruits” mature and drop, they are generally no larger than the eraser of a pencil. Rich green leaves cover these trees throughout the entire summer.  Yellow fall color sets these trees apart.  There are three distinct linden types that we carry at the Nursery.  All have attractive attributes; however, the Mongolian linden, or Harvest Gold, is perhaps the most distinctive.  An exfoliating bark adorns this tree as it ages, offering even more diverse characteristics than the summer bloom.

Next up, the Tree Lilac.  This lilac is not of the same species as its famous shrub relative.  As such, it blooms not in May but in mid to late June.  White blooms fill this tree in early summer.  Sometimes these blooms mature to brown pods that may shed over time.  Often, these seeds don’t fully develop in modern cultivars. Relatively mess-free, the lilac offers dark green leathery foliage that tolerates heat and wind well.  An ornamental tree by tree standards, the Tree lilac usually stays under twenty-five feet when mature.  Great for beneath power lines or for smaller spaces, there are many things to like about Tree Lilac.  Unfortunately, not as much fall color is to be expected from these trees; however, they do hold their leaves quite long and resist the changing of the seasons.  Eventually, hues of yellow and purple can be observed.

Koolkat Foliage (Handy Andys)

Last up, a tree new to us at Handy Andy’s this season, the Katsura Tree.  NDSU’s woody plant program released the Koolkat cultivar of Katsura with attributes that make it well-suited for our region.  The unique foliage of the Katsura is heart-shaped or “cordate,” as we plant folk call it.  Tough, blue-green, leathery leaves turn a rich apricot in the fall.  This tree was also bred to go dormant earlier in the season, contributing to its winter hardiness.  Expect the Koolkat to be one of the first trees in your landscape to display its fall color.  

In closing, remember that Fall is indeed the best time to plant anything that is “year after year”.  Any tree, shrub, or perennial plantings often perform well when planted in the fall.  Our primetime window for our region is best considered to be Labor Day.  

As always, we hope you’ve enjoyed sharing plants with us.  Remember that we’re here to assist you with your plant-related needs.  Indoors or out, plants are our thing!  See you soon!