(Ponytail Palm, Variegated Ponytail Palm)

Heat and drought are no problem for this tough plant. Ponytail palm is a tall, palm-like plant that is not a true palm but is closely related to agave. It has an upright, fleshy, trunk-like stem that becomes swollen at the base, where is stores water. This is topped with clusters of long, curved, sword-shaped leaves that hang down giving the appearance of a pony’s tail. When mature, it produces panicles of fragrant cream colored flowers that are pollinated by bats.

Ponytail palm thrives in hot...

(Manchurian Birch)

A beautiful, upright, white-barked deciduous tree, this native of Northeast Asia is known in gardens primarily by its variety japonica. The single or sometimes branched trunk is clad in chalky, milk-white bark, giving it year-round interest. Attractive elongated pores (lenticels) decorate the trunk and branches. The relatively large, triangular, toothed leaves alternate along dark brown twigs. The leaves turn yellow in autumn. The foliage tends to emerge in early spring, making it vulnerable...

(Japanese White Birch)

A beautiful, upright, white-barked deciduous tree, this native of Japan is the most widely grown variety of Manchurian birch. The single or sometimes branched trunk is clad in chalky, milk-white bark, giving it year-round interest. Attractive elongated pores (lenticels) decorate the trunk and branches. The relatively large, triangular, toothed leaves alternate along dark brown twigs. The leaves turn yellow in autumn. The foliage emerges later in spring than that of typical Manchurian birch, making...

(River Birch)

River birch is a handsome, often multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central and southeastern United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades on white, rust-orange, gray and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its medium-green leaves turn a dirty yellow in the fall. Its seeds ripen in late spring, much earlier than other birch species.

This tree is a wise selection for...

(Dura-Heat® River Birch, River Birch)

Dura-heat river birch is a handsome, often multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the southeastern and central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of salmon to cinnamon exposing a creamy-white inner bark. Dura-Heat ('Bnmtf') river birch has a pyramidal shape, dark green, diamond-shaped, double-toothed leaves and is quite heat tolerant. Dura-Heat is a bit more compact than other river birches but still matures to a...

(Heritage™ River Birch, River Birch)

Heritage river birch is a handsome single or multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. It has elongated catkins (pendant flower stalks) which appear in spring. Small cones with winged seeds follow in the late summer and fall. The larger-than-usual, glossy, medium-green leaves are diamond-shaped and have a double-toothed margin. The foliage turns...

(Little King River Birch)

Little King river birch, also marketed as the Fox Valley birch, is a handsome multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its medium-green leaves turn a dirty yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches on the ground, especially...

(Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch)

Developed by Studebaker Nurseries in New Carlise, Ohio, Tecumseh compact river birch is a handsome multi-stemmed, fast growing tree whose parentage can be traced to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. It has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its glossy green leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches on the...

(Black Birch, River Birch, Summer Cascade River Birch)

A selection of river birch, ‘Summer Cascade’ is a pendulous, fast growing, deciduous tree selected from a species native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful flaking, peeling bark that mingles many shades of tan, rust-orange and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins that appear in spring, and its dark green leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches, especially after storms....

(Paper Birch)

Paper birch is a medium to large, deciduous tree that is native of the extreme northern United States, Alaska and much of Canada. It is most valued for its beautiful white papery bark that is accented with bands of black. In fall its medium green leaves turn a pretty yellow, and in winter its stark white bark contrasts nicely with evergreens.

This very hardy tree does best in cold climates and excels in moist, but well drained sandy loam soils. Paper birch does not tolerate difficult sites,...