April 3, 2023 With the worst of winter weather fading in the rearview mirror with the promise of more hospitable weather ahead, it’s time to start thinking about your spring planting. It’s also your chance to get your hands on the newest, most unique trees and shrubs. When you want your lawn and garden to be the envy of the neighborhood and your curb appeal to skyrocket, investing in lesser-known, higher impact trees and shrubs can be just the ticket. Here are a few of the most exciting new entries to the market, sure to give your landscaping that “wow” factor everyone wants. Weigela “Vinho Verde” – Looking for a variegated, compact weigela with a massive visual appeal? Sporting lime green leaves with striking black margins that can occasionally revert to all black foliage and reddish-pink flowers during its blooming period, this beauty’s maximum height is between 3 and 5 feet. “Vinho Verde” does best in full sun but can thrive with light shade. Parrotia Golden BellTower – Parrotia, which is sometimes also known as Persian Ironwood, is an easy-to-grow, drought-resistant showstopper that tolerates many soil types. The Golden BellTower is a columnar tree with deep gold foliage throughout the season before shifting to a stunning blend of apricot and gold autumn coloring. Branches are strong and the growth habit tight, resulting in a heavy measure of resistance to limb loss through winter weather. Parrotia Golden BellTower tops out at about 25 feet tall, and typically reaches a width of 10 to 12 feet in 25 years. The narrow growth habit makes it ideally suited to smaller spaces. Sterile Barberries – Japanese barberries are popular because they’re beautiful and durable, but they are known for being wildly invasive. So much so, in fact, that the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is banning all but certified sterile varieties. The WorryFree barberry series, courtesy of University of Connecticut, lets you enjoy the reliability and deer resistance barberries are known for without the stress of difficult-to-control spreading. Prunus “Ruby Ruffle Patio Peach” – Offering heavier blooms than many other varieties, this small flowering tree blooms with dark pink flowers in the spring, giving way to an eye-catching dark burgundy foliage that retains its color throughout the season. This smaller tree does well in containers or in the ground, providing an extra measure of versatility. Sting™ Arborvitae – When you have a very narrow corner that’s begging for a tall, shockingly thin evergreen, this new arborvitae could become the star of your show. Capable of thriving in the narrowest garden beds, containers or in the ground, Sting™ Arborvitae reaches heights of 15 to 20 feet with ease but retains a slim 12- to 18-inch width. Staggeringly low maintenance, this arborvitae doesn’t even require pruning to maintain its beautiful shape. Firefly™ Nightglow™ Bush Honeysuckle – Even the most meticulously designed and diligently maintained property has a challenging site or two, which is where the Firefly™ Nightglow™ Bush Honeysuckle shines. Late spring to early summer brings vibrant clusters of yellow flowers to the end of each branch, with deep purple foliage that shifts to a flaming scarlet in the autumn. Deer resistant but attractive to pollinators, this bush honeysuckle will reach around 3 feet in height and 3 feet in width and is not picky about soil type, pH or moisture. Enjoy your outdoor living spaces more with exciting, aesthetically pleasing additions brand new to the market for 2023. Not sure what your space needs? Front Range Arborists is a full-service tree and shrub care company dedicated to providing support for any property with trees and shrubbery, including tree trimming, removal, pest control and new planting consultations. Contact Front Range Arborists to schedule your free consultation today, so you can be the envy of the neighborhood all year long.
