PLANT JOURNAL

COMMON NAME  Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ and ‘Ruby Falls’

BOTANICAL NAME  Weeping Eastern Redbud

ZONE  5 – 9

SIZE  ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ – 12-15’ HT, 10-12’ SP, Weeping Form
‘Ruby Falls’ – 6-8’ HT, 5-6’ SP, Weeping Form

FOLIAGE ​ ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ – emerges multi-toned pink, yellow, burgundy in spring; becomes green in summer
​‘Ruby Falls’ – bright burgundy in spring; will green up a bit by late-summer

FLOWER  Small, pink, pea-type flowers adhering to the branches

FRUIT  Elongated, bean-type seed pods

GROWING CONDITIONS  Full sun to part shade. Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil.

NOTES

PLANT JOURNAL

COMMON NAME    ‘Ice Dance’ Variegated Sedge

BOTANICAL NAME   Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’

ZONE         5 – 9

SIZE       1’ HT x 1’ SP    Groundcover.

FOLIAGE   Green and white strands to 12” long, forming weeping clumps.  Semi-evergreen, though in my garden it’s evergreen.

FLOWER   Small, brown and insignificant in the spring.

GROWING CONDITIONS   Best in part-shade to full-shade.  Can handle full sun, but some of the foliage can burn. Rich, well-drained soil.  Can handle neglect. Spreading, but not overly aggressive.

NOTES  Deer resistant.

I have this in deciduous, wooded areas without any irrigation, trimming or weeding, and it has grown into lush, beautiful colonies.

Tough as nails, and beautiful.

PLANT JOURNAL

COMMON NAME    American Beech

BOTANICAL NAME   Fagus grandifolia

ZONE   3 – 9

SIZE      50 – 80 ft HT  x  40 – 80 ft SP, Excellent shade tree.

FOLIAGE   Alternate, simple, serrated, medium green leaves.  Turn yellow in the Fall.  Leaves turn tan in the winter, and frequently persist through January.

BARK  The bark is one of its most distinguishable characteristics.  The smooth grey surface has enticed many youngsters to carve their initials for posterity.  The tree is quite majestic, and will be an outstanding specimen in any setting.

FLOWER    Insignificant

FRUIT    Showy and edible

GROWING CONDITIONS   Full Sun to Part Shade.  Have noticed it in deciduous woodland settings, and seems to prefer areas near streams or ponds, even though it requires well-drained conditions.  It will not tolerate wet, poorly drained soil.

NOTES   Deer Resistant.  Black Walnut Resistant.

PLANT JOURNAL

COMMON NAME    Fall Blooming Camellia

BOTANICAL NAME   Camellia sasanqua  (native to Japan)

ZONE       7a – 9b    They tend to be a bit hardier than Camellia

Japonica varieties.

SIZE       6-10’ HT,  4-7’ SP  They tend to be smaller than

Camellia japonica varieties

FOLIAGE   Evergreen leaves, a bit leathery in texture, usually glossy

FLOWER    Blooms in late fall to early winter.

‘Autumn Moon’ – pure white,   8’ H, 3’ SP

‘Autumn Spirit’ – deep pink,  4-6’ H & SP

‘Bonanza’ – fuchsia-red,  4’ H, 8’ SP

‘Cleopatra’ – wavy pink,  lg yellow center,  6-8’ H & SP

‘Kanjiro’ – rose-pink, sm yellow center, 8-10’ H &SP

‘Survivor’ – white, lg yellow center,   6-8’ H, 5’ SP

‘Yuletide’ – red, lg yellow center, 6’ H, 4’ SP

GROWING CONDITIONS   Full Sun to Part Shade,

Moist soil, well drained

We are on the Northern cusp for the Camellia in general.  Protect from winter winds.  Have seen success when eastern exposure with a wall at its back.  An enclosed courtyard garden would be an excellent location.

Drought tolerant

Salt tolerant

NOTES    Deer Resistant

PLANT JOURNAL

COMMON NAME     Autumn Moon Japanese Maple

BOTANICAL NAME   Acer shirasawanam ‘Autumn Moon’

ZONE   5 to 7   (some say 5 to 9, but tread with caution)

SIZE    8 – 12’ HT,  8 – 10’ SP   Considered a dwarf Japanese Maple. Slow growing.  Allow plenty of room for this to be a star.

FOLIAGE   New foliage unfurls to chartreuse with hints of pink along the margins.  The foliage remains chartreuse for most of the season, and will turn shades of gold / orange / red in the fall.  Sometimes a brilliant, fiery red.

BARK  Smooth grey bark with an interesting branching structure.

FLOWER    Barely noticeable

FRUIT    Typical 2-winged seeds.  Showy for the brief time they turn pink/red.

GROWING CONDITIONS   Full Sun to Part Shade.   Likes moist, well-drained soil.

NOTES

Excellent as specimen.

Deer resistant, though do protect young trunks of less than 3” C from rutting deer.

Resistant to most pests and diseases.

Low maintenance.

If pruning, be sure to prune to the natural habit.