More new cultivars always springing up
The great Mid-States Hort. Expo (MSHE), ?Where Spring Buying Begins,? will be the next two days, Jan. 4-5 in Louisville. Their success last year induced more to exhibit the second year.
MSHE is TNLA?s nursery trade show. It is a partnership with the Ky nursery assoc. (KNLA) and SNA. It is housed in the South Wing C of the Ky. Expo Center in Louisville, just off I-65 and I-264.
It appears that about a third of the 300 exhibitors will be from Tennessee.
‘
I took all of the ornamental plant classes offered by UT Knoxville in the early ?70s, and really thought I knew all the ornamental plants. I was so proud when I forced myself to learn to spell ?Metasequoia glyptostroboides.?
I learned a few more plants working in Memphis. Then I moved here. But I knew most of the plants we produced here.
Then new cultivars began showing up on about everything. I haven?t kept up with all the red maple cultivars. Many of the new crape myrtle cultivars are great.
I was scanning several catalogs recently of some of our more innovative propagators that grow the new and different. I was truly impressed reading the descriptions of the new offerings. I have seen very few of these and only know what was written in the catalogs of those offering these new introductions. Let me share a few with you.
Since I began typing this list 15 months ago, I have added new cultivars that I found in several trade magazines. I am not sure if any of them will be the next Bradford, but several might be good enough to learn more about and even add to your inventory. I will share this list over the next few weeks. If you grow any of these let me know.
? Acer buergeranum ?ABTIR? ? Street Wise Trident Maple was introduced by Tree Introductions. Each flush emerges reddish-purple, then matures to a lustrous dark green, burgundy fall color, bark exfoliates in shades of gray, brown and orange; grows to 30′ tall, 25′ wide; PP# 9576.
? Acer negundo ?Kelly?s Gold? ? Kelly?s Gold Box Elder Maple, bright yellow new growth holds well through summer heat. Interior foliage is yellow green. One of the brightest yellows available in a small tree; but it is still a box elder. Locally propagated by Little Rest.
? Acer saccharum ?John Pair? ? John Pair Sugar Maple. Symmetrical and rounded form small stature, selected from Caddo Co, Okla. seed source, foliage stands up to summer heat. Zone 5, 30’x30′, glossy green foliage, red fall color, J. Frank Schmidt offers it.
? Acer saccharum ?Reba? ? Belle Tower (TM) Sugar Maple adapted to heat and humidity, a Tennessee selection tested at Auburn. Summer foliage is fresh and bright green compared to other sugar maples that suffer in hot weather. It is among the narrowest and upright forms. Zone 5, 45’x18′, narrow oval shape, bright green foliage, orange yellow fall color, J. Frank Schmidt offers it.
? Acer tataricum ?JFS-KW2′ ? Rugged Charm (TM) Maple. Bright red seed wings (samaras) float in bright contrast against green leaves. Zone 3, 20’x15′, compact broad oval, medium green foliage, yellow-orange to red fall color, clusters of white flowers in May, J. Frank Schmidt offers it.
? Betula nigra ?Whit XXV? ? City Slicker River Birch, ppaf. Creamy-white bark; dark green leaves, gold fall foliage; good vigor and drought tolerant; zones 5-9. Lacebark. A chance seedling. White bark develops when stems are about one inch diameter. Leaves are similar in color but smaller than Heritage and larger than DuraHeat under the same conditions.
? Betula utilis ?Madison? ? White Satin (TM) Birch. Selected by Dr. Ed Hasselkus of the University of Wisconsin, original tree has resisted borers for 30 years, cold hardy, satin white bark, zone 4, 35’x20′, broadly pyramidal to oval shape, dark green foliage, golden yellow fall color, J. Frank Schmidt offers it.