March 7, 2023
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Wisconsin Native Spring Ephemerals

There are many spring ephemerals native to Wisconsin. Spring ephemerals are like limited edition perennials; they’re only viewable for a short time. A fitting motto for these types of flowers is “live fast, die young,” as they grow and reproduce quickly, maximizing their limited time and taking advantage of optimal conditions such as temperature, moisture levels, and sunlight.
November 30, 2021
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Growing Japanese Maples in Wisconsin

Growing Japanese Maples in Wisconsin Japanese Maples are a highly coveted landscape plant for many good reasons. They have a lot going for them, such as distinctive foliage in leaf form and color, interesting shape, overall size, and beautiful fall color. They are sure to inspire awe and are some […]
October 30, 2021
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Top 10 Asked Questions About Fruit Trees

Top 10 Asked Questions About Fruit Trees Fruit trees are a large part of our inventory, but they bring in more questions than any other category of plant. Our sales staff teamed up with our in-house orchard expert to answer the most asked questions about fruit trees in Wisconsin. We […]
November 13, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Silky Dogwood

Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum Description & Overview Native to Wisconsin’s streambeds and swamps, Silky Dogwood plays an important role in local ecosystems. A great choice for moist or wet areas. This large-to-medium-sized lowland shrub produces spectacular porcelain-blue fruit clusters in late summer which are a favorite of local wildlife. Silky […]
November 13, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Korean Maple

Korean Maple Acer pseudosieboldianum Description & Overview Korean Maple is a compact and delicate tree known for its small, ornamental shrub-like stature and fall color. Korean Maples are great substitutes for Japanese Maples because they’re more cold hardy. It may also be known as Purplebloom Maple as a reference to […]
October 26, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac

Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ Description & Overview A small stature tree with beautiful late spring blooms. Creamy white flowers stand out against its dark green foliage. Incredibly fragrant blooms are sure to fill your landscape with a lovely aroma. Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac is […]
October 6, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides Description & Overview Dawn Redwood is a deciduous, coniferous tree that has an upright, pyramidal form slowly reaching heights of up to 100 feet. New foliage emerges light green in spring and turns into an appealing red-bronze color in fall. This conifer is deciduous, meaning it […]
October 1, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
White Oak

White Oak Quercus alba Description & Overview White Oak is a large, strong, imposing Wisconsin native specimen tree. It has a stocky trunk with wide-spreading horizontal limbs that are picturesque. Its foliage turns to a brilliant display of colors in autumn with showy shades of orange, red, and violet. This […]
September 28, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Hybrid Swamp x Bur Oak

Hybrid Swamp x Bur Oak Quercus x schuettei Description & Overview Quercus x schuettei is a naturally occurring hybrid between the Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and the Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor). This oak is a great choice for lowland areas with saturated soils or sites that are high and […]
September 27, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Ironweed

Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata Description & Overview Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) gets its common name for its tough, rusty green-colored stems among other “iron-like” plant characteristics. This large statured perennial features large clusters of distinctively glabrous bright purple flowers which stand out in the late summer landscape drawing in pollinators from far […]
September 27, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Taylor Juniper

Taylor Juniper is a tall, but very thin, upright-growing columnar conifer commonly used for privacy screens, framing entrances, anchoring the corners of buildings, or as accents in landscape beds. This plant will reach heights of 25 feet tall but with a narrow width of only 2-3 feet. Beautiful, silver-green foliage and a refined, narrow form add elegance to the landscape. It is similar in style to that of Italian Cypress but more dense and able to withstand cold Wisconsin winters.
September 27, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Firedance™ Dogwood

Firedance™ Dogwood Cornus sericea ‘Bailadeline’ PPAF Description & Overview Firedance™ Dogwood is a compact, dwarf nativar of Cornus sericea, the Redosier Dogwood. This Bailey’s Nursery introduction was bred to not only stay small but also to have a much more rounded and uniform habit than its native heritage. This tough, […]
September 17, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Description & Overview Cockspur Hawthorn is a deciduous tree that features a stunning, umbrella-shaped growth habit, spring flowers, fall fruit, and brilliant orange fall color. It’s incredibly versatile in most landscape styles. This tree has large sharp thorns. It’s best to avoid planting in areas where […]
September 17, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn

Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis Description & Overview This Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn is a deciduous tree that features a stunning, umbrella-shaped growth habit, spring flowers, fall fruit, and brilliant orange fall color. It’s incredibly versatile in most landscape styles. This is a naturally occurring variety of Cockspur Hawthorn […]
August 19, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Black Cherry

Black Cherry Prunus serotina Description & Overview Black Cherry is a medium-to-large sized deciduous tree that is native to much of eastern North American, Mexico, and Central America. It typically occurs in both lowland and upland woods and along streams. It is noted for its fragrant white flowers, attractive glossy […]
July 8, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum, the Paperbark maple is a handsome ornamental tree with a small-to-medium stature and year-round interest. This is one of the most beautiful maples, featuring trifoliate leaves and excellent fall color. Perhaps its most striking feature is its exfoliating bark. It peels back in papery curls that are cinnamon-brown to reddish-brown in color. This specimen is a true showstopper.
June 30, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Black Oak

Members of the Quercus genus are at the pinnacle of wildlife value – Black Oak is no exception. This fellow Wisconsinite is commonly found growing in the Southeastern part of the state - naturally occurring in our upland woods, sandy woodlands, or sandy savannas. This oak is known for the charcoal to the brownish-gray color of its trunk, and is distinguished from other oaks by the patches of tan to reddish-brown hairs on the foliage's undersides.
June 24, 2010
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LIST:
Oak Comparison

No tree symbolizes strength and longevity more than the mighty oak. Oaks are at the pinnacle of ecological value. With over 90 different species in North America and about 435 worldwide, Quercus has the most species in a tree genus in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting primarily of large and long-lived trees, Quercus is a true force to be reckoned with.
April 26, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Tuliptree

Also called Tulip Poplar or Yellow Poplar, this rapidly growing deciduous tree is most noted for its large, tulip-like yellow flowers that adorn the canopy in summer. With large, interestingly shaped leaves and growing upwards of 90', Tuliptree is an excellent shade tree.
March 24, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Eastern Cottonwood

Eastern Cottonwood is a Wisconsin native tree known for its towering height, upwards of 90' and its fast growth rate - sometimes over 6' per year in ideal conditions. One of the tallest species east of the Rocky Mountains, it grows best in moist, well-drained, fine sandy or silt loams close to streams.
March 15, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Paper Birch

Paper Birch is a spectacular Wisconsin native tree with thin, white papery bark that peels to reveal the reddish-brown color underneath that becomes pure white with age. Dark-green leaves turn golden in autumn lighting up the landscape with color. Paper Birch also provides shelter and food to birds, pollinators, and small mammals.
March 2, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Eastern Wahoo

Eastern Wahoo is a Wisconsin native shrub with maroon to dark purple flowers in late spring. Commonly referred to as native burning bush, Eastern Wahoo is a large growing shrub that can eventually obtain small tree status. This plant is most well-known for its showy, four-pointed star-shaped fruit and its brilliant fall color.
February 16, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Hoary Vervain

Hoary Vervain is a stunner in the garden with blue-purple flower spikes that bloom from the bottom to the top from May into September. A Wisconsin native perennial, Hoary Vervain attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators continuously throughout the season. Wonderful for borders, prairies, native gardens, or anywhere height and texture is needed.
February 16, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Missouri Gooseberry

Missouri Gooseberry is a wonderful Wisconsin native shrub with white, drooping flowers that bloom from April to May. Edible, tart green fruits ripen to blackish-purple from June to September, making excellent preserves and cooking enhancements. Missouri Gooseberry provides many benefits to wildlife including cover, food, nectar, and pollen.
February 15, 2010
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PLANT PROFILE:
Mayapple

Mayapple is an unusual Wisconsin native perennial with large, tropical-looking, deeply divided leaves. Showy nodding white flowers are hidden by foliage, attracting many pollinators with their fragrance. Edible, green fruits appear after flowering turning golden yellow when ripe.