The late William Kosar, hybridizer at the National Arboretum, made crosses to two small, hardy Oriental magnolias, Magnolia stellata rosea, and Magnolia lilliifolia nigra. He brought forth small hardy triploid magnolias with hybrid vigor and beautiful goblet-shaped red-purple flowers. These trees bloom before the leaves appear and then continue for at least another 2 weeks for us here, and if happy and watered, bloom less heavily in the fall.

These lovely ladies from the Orient, Kosar named for his office personnel, so we have Ann, Betty, Jane, Judy, Pinkie, Randy, Ricki, and Susan. We grow Ann, Betty, Jane, Susan and Pinkie. Some of these hybrids are said to be susceptible to mildew, but in our Zone 4 climate over 20 years we have not been aware of any significant mildew.

Magnolias Ann and Betty are our favorites:

Magnolia lilliiflora `Ann’ Ann will get to 10’ high; deep purple-red 7-9 petal flowers

Handsome deep green foliage and repeat flowering in late summer or fall.

Magnolia x lilliiflora `Betty’ Blooms are deep purplish red on the outside and white on the inside, 12-15’ copper colored new growth, good grower.

The rest of the `Little Girls’ grow a bit larger, but are quite similar. Magnolia Ricki, has quite pale red blooms, white on the inside, with 9 to 12 petals. All of them have the tendency to rebloom.

Other outstanding magnolias in our list are Magnolia sieboldii, with bicolor bloom late spring and early summer, and Magnolia loebneri `Leonard Messel’.

We should mention a new cultivar of Magnolia virginiana called "Moonglow", said to be hardy to Zone 4 -- fragrant white flowers nearly all summer if happy, and tolerate of wet soils.

Over the years, we have tried about 60 varieties of viburnums and have been able to keep over 40 varieties, that grow well and appear to be hardy for us, in (Zone 4).

Viburnums are easy to grow, are relatively disease free and give the gardener three season beauty.

The garden-worthy varieties flower heavily in the spring, have late summer berries in abundance and lovely fall color.

To quote Michael Dirr, author of THE MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS, the best reference work for woody ornamentals in the U.S.: "A garden without a Viburnum is akin to life without music or art."

The flowers of some varieties are extremely fragrant, others have multi-colored berries on the same cluster in late summer, and nearly all have wonderful fall foliage color. They vary greatly in size, habit and leaf presentation.

We list over 40 varieties. Some of our favorites:

Viburnum carlesii compacta: This is a dwarf form of the Koreanspice Viburnum, Viburnum carlesii. Grows to 1-3’ high and wide, with clusters of fragrant white flowers in early May, followed by clusters of dark red berries and nice russet fall foliage color. This dwarf form is a choice plant for the shrub border. It is a coveted plant because it is hard to find in the nursery trade.

Viburnum cassinoides: Known as the Witherod Viburnum, this Viburnum will get to 6’ high and wide. It has showy clusters of white flowers in May, followed by clusters of berries with all colors from cream to shades of pink,   to red to blue in the same cluster, in late summer. followed by scarlet red fall foliage. Tolerates wet sites. A lovely viburnum not seen often enough in the family garden. Hardy in Zone 4

Viburnum ferrari Candidissimum: The Fragrant Viburnum. This oriental species blooms with the Amelanchiers (Sarvisberry) the end of March or early April, with a strong fragrance. The variety Candidissimum has green leaves and snow white flowers without a trace of purple in the leaves or pink color to the flowers. This variety seems to be a heavy bloomer with red berries turning to black, and nice fall russet color. . Will get 6-8’ and is hardy in Zone 4

Viburnum ferrari Nana: This is a choice dwarf form of Viburnum Ferrari, the Fragrant Viburnum, 2-3’, with fragrant white flower clusters, a pretty crinkled leaf; red berries turning to black, and nice red-purple fall color. This again is a fine dwarf Viburnum and unfortunately hard to find. Zone 4

Viburnum dentatum variety deamii: Arrowwood Viburnum This native from Ohio to Missouri, has lustrous deep green rounded leaves with many sharp teeth. Again, white flower clusters and blue berries in abundance. It has a compact habit will get 8-10’ high and does well in the Midwest.

Viburnum dilatatum Erie: The Linden Viburnum The Erie cultivar of the Linden Viburnum is noted for heavy white bloom, and massive clusters of bright red berries followed by nice red fall leaf color. One of the best Viburnums for three season appeal. It will get 6-8’ high and wide. Hardy in Zone 5; however we have grown it for years and regard ourselves as Zone 4.

Viburnum Juddii: The Judd Viburnum This hybrid of the the Koreanspice viburnum has a finer leaf than the species, has the same strongly fragrant clusters of white flowers, is compact in habit and will get 6’ high or so, Again, red berries and good fall red color.

Viburnum mohawk: This is another hybrid of the Koreanspice Viburnum, 6-8’, flowers are pink in bud for about two weeks, then open as a very fragrant white cluster, followed by red berries. Leaves are lustrous and deep green before turning to an excellent red in in the fall.

Viburnum nudum Winterthur :The Smooth Witherod Viburnum This outstanding cultivar from Winterthur gardens covers itself with white creamy flowers in flat cymes, followed by showy clusters of berries that go from white to pink to orange to red to blue and then to black, with mixtures in the same cluster. The fall leaf color is an extravagant yellow-orange-red mix, most pleasant to the senses. The plant will get 5-6’ and does require acid soil. Hardy in Zone 5

We have started a collection of Oriental hornbeams. These small trees are favorite Bonsai subjects for good reason: interesting leaf detail, wonderful bark, excellent habit, reddish catkins, and extravagant fall leaf colors on some of the species that make them four season plants.

We especially like:

Carpinus koreana: The Korean Hornbeam 10-15’ Small intricate leaf, compact habit, and orange-red fall colors. Delightful small tree

Carpinus japonica: The Japanese Hornbeam to 20’ Branches of this small tree radiate like the ribs of a fan, with handsome narrow deeply incised elliptical leaves, and yellow or plum fall color. Leaves are quite elegant. Insect and disease resistant.

Carpinus fargesii: Another Korean Hornbeam to 10-15’. Bronze-red spring foliage, going back to shades of red in the fall. Oval toothed leaf, dense habit, most attractive

Other oriental hornbeams in our inventory are Carpinus cordata, the Heartleaf Hornbeam and Carpinus laxiflora, the Looseflower Hornbeam, elegant small trees for the discerning gardener.

Our maples are small, tough, and hardy maples from the Orient, that rival or exceed our own sugar maples for gorgeous fall color. Among the best examples are:

Acer ginnala: The Amur Maple.

Dependable 15-18’ small tree, 3 lobed light green leaf goes to bright red color in the fall (selected cultivars). It is hardy to Zone 3 and popular in the Midwest; withstands heavy pruning and does well in shade.

Acer manschuricum: The Manchurian Maple.

fantastic 30-40 ‘ tree. 3 lobed leaf , disease and insect free, that turns a brilliant rose-red in early fall Hardy in Zone 4. Very hard to find in the trade, and this is a shame.

Acer psuedosieboldianum: The Purplebloom Maple.

Lovely smaller tree 15-25’. The7-9 lobed leaf turns to wonderful tints of orange, scarlet and crimson in the fall . Handsome compact habit Hardy to Zone 4

Acer japonicum: The Full Moon Maple.

20-30’ 7-11 lobed leaf. Assumes rich yellow and crimson colors in the fall

Acer truncatum: The Painted Maple. Another lovely small maple, hardy to zone 3b, with 5-7 lobed leaves that go to an excellent yellow-orange-red color

Acer triflorum: The Three Flowered Maple.

		Another rare maple. It is a trifoliate maple with a 3 lobe leaf, light green, changing to orange and rose-red color. The bark is exquisite, amber in color with vertical fissures.
THREE SPECIAL PLANTS A SUPER TREE: HEPTOCODIUM MICONOIDES. THE SEVEN SON’S FLOWER TREE Michael Dirr, the guru of woody ornamentals for many of us ordinary gardeners, reports that Heptocodium miconoides has become the horticultural rage in the Northeast, in his latest book, Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs. (1998). It is also a winner of the prestigious Gold Medal of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This is a small tree under our observation over 13 years and during this time has shown no winter injury (one winter of -30 degrees) and no disease problems. This is a tree that blooms heavily from late August through September. The flowers are white, with the scent of jasmine. There are seven inflorescences in each flower cluster, hence the name by the Chinese of "Seven Sons Flower". The botanical name: Heptocodium miconiodes. The calyx of the flower turns red in October, and lights up the tree, right up into November The tree puts on an even greater show with the red calyces in October. The bark is indeed beautiful, smooth like a crape-myrtle, a light mottled tan, that peels in long strips. Deep green leaves stay on the tree well into November, then change yellow. We feel this tree will be popular, when it becomes better known and available. The tree was found by the fabulous plant hunter `Chinese’ E. H. Wilson in 1906. It is so rare in China, it was `lost’ for 73 years, and not found again until 1980 by plant hunters from the USDA and the Arnold Arboretum. We were lucky to obtain two rooted cuttings from the Arnold Arboretum in 1986 and now have a tree about 18’ high and 6’ wide, the source of our propagation efforts by cuttings. We think 20’ will be about as big as the tree will grow in our climate. We have a fair supply of blooming size plants for the coming season. ANOTHER SUPER TREE: THE DINOSAUR TREE This most ancient of trees, Gingko biloba, goes back to several hundred million years ago, a time when Dinosaurs roamed the earth. The fan-shaped split leaf suggests the Maidenhair fern, so another name is the Maidenhair Tree. The Japanese call it the Ducks' Foot tree for the unique shape leaf. It has been a sacred temple tree in China and Japan for many centuries. A wild stand of Gingko in a remote area of China was discovered several hundred years ago. Whether these trees were escapees of the temple trees is not known. Fossil petrified forests of Gingko have been found in Washington State in the U.S. The remarkable longevity of these ancient trees is due in part to its fantastic immune system, which protects it from all manners of diseases and insects. It is tolerant of urban pollutants and quite pH adaptable. The tree itself can live for hundreds of years and grow massive trunks to 100 feet high or more over the centuries. The remarkable immune system of this tree contains many alkaloids and other chemicals that have medicinal properties. The Chinese have used extracts of the leaves for centuries as medication for a variety of ailments. These extracts have become increasingly popular worldwide in the last 15 years especially in Germany and France. One report claims that in 1989, over 100,000 physicians worldwide wrote 10 million prescriptions for Gingko extracts. The chief effect of the extracts is to increase blood flow to the brain and extremities and also act as an anti-oxidant, and is said to improve memory and brain function. It has become increasingly popular in the United States, and there are now Gingko tree farms in the Carolinas that produce thousands of Gingko trees. The leaves are cropped annually to be converted into Gingko extracts. The Gingko is actually a broad leaf conifer, the male form producing small cones with pollen to fertilize a single pistil flower of the female. The pollen is motile and can actually swim. Female trees do not produce seed for from 20 to 50 years. The seed is the size of a small plum and covered with a layer of soft pulp with a malodorous smell when squashed. When washed clean of the pulp the seed can be roasted like a chestnut, and is sold on the street corners in China as a treat. The unique fan-shaped leaf turns a glorious bright yellow in the fall and this alone is good reason to grow a gingko. It will eventually become a large tree, but may take a century or so to get that way. HOW ABOUT A REBLOOMING DISEASE FREE LILAC THE LITTLE LEAF LILAC Such a lilac is SYRINGA MICROPHLLA `SUPERBA’, a dwarf (to 6’ high and wide) lilac that is compact and dense, with a smaller leaf than the French Lilacs, a pretty green leaf that is remarkably free of the usual leaf diseases, in our experience, over the last 20 years. Is blooms heavily with pink bloom in the spring, with sporadic summer bloom if kept watered, and then blooms freely in the fall. An added bonus is the strong lilac fragrance of the flowers. The common name of this lilac is Little Leaf Lilac, and the cultivar is `Superba’. These plants are native in northern and western China, and are perfectly hardy in Zone 4. The fragrance of these Lilacs, in May and June, when combined with the fragrance of the early spring blooming Viburnum ferrari, and the early May bloom of the Koreanspice Viburnum,Viburnum juddii, will keep a garden with the most pleasing fragrance, until summer, when Clethra alternifolia, the Summersweet Shrub, comes along with its perfume to take over.
Prices - Shrubs
12-24 inches	$25-35	in pots, bags, or B&B
24-36 inches	$35-65	in pots, bags, or B&B
4-6 feet	$55-200	B&B
Exceptions are grafted plants, dwarf, or miniature shrubs and few rare items.
My partner, Chris Frommelt is very busy doing landscape design and garden installations.  If you would like help with your landscape or garden, call Chris.  Her cell phone is 563 580 5498;  Eugene Coffman's cell phone is 563 581 0385. Happy Gardening!
For more information email ewcoff@earthlink.net