American Hazelnut Corylus americanaIf you like unusual seed capsules, the American Hazelnut is for you. With a shrubby growth habit, the hazelnut works well in landscaping. Preferring full sun, it is a medium to fast growing species, obtaining 10 to 15 feet in height and width. Although it can be trained to take on the form of a small tree, it is typically a multi-stemmed clump.
Catkin-type flowers appear in spring and edible nuts mature in September/October. It is best planted in multiples to ensure cross-pollination. Nuts are encased in an unusual, sculptural capsule and are enjoyed by wildlife of all kinds – squirrels, deer, birds, turkeys to name a few. The hazelnut adapts well to a range of environments, but does best on well-drained loams with full sun.
Catkin-type flowers appear in spring and edible nuts mature in September/October. It is best planted in multiples to ensure cross-pollination. Nuts are encased in an unusual, sculptural capsule and are enjoyed by wildlife of all kinds – squirrels, deer, birds, turkeys to name a few. The hazelnut adapts well to a range of environments, but does best on well-drained loams with full sun.
Red Chokeberry's Time to Shine!
When people think of a red-fruited shrub for winter garden interest, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) often comes to mind. And while winterberry is a wonderful native shrub, another option for flashy winter color is red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia). The brilliant red fruits of red chokeberry are called pomes (same as apples and pears) and form in graceful dangling clusters in autumn. Being somewhat low in fat and protein, birds don't line up early for the chokeberry buffet. This means humans can enjoy their colorful beauty longer since they tend to adorn the branches into mid to late winter. Eventually when the more desirable foods are gone, the pomes provide a late winter and early spring food source for birds and small mammals.
Red chokeberry can be leggy and spread quite a bit due to suckering, so it fits nicely in a naturalized setting. It's a hardy shrub that grows 6-10' tall and 3-6' wide. It appreciates acidic moist soil in a sunny spot and will even grow in boggy areas and survive occasional flooding. Red chokeberry is a very adaptable plant that can also be found in the forest understory and in dry thickets. The shrubs do need protected from deer and rabbits when young.
The beauty and wildlife value of red chokeberry isn't limited to winter. Its masses of spring blooming white flowers provide nectar and pollen to butterflies, flower flies, and native bees such as mason, miner, and bumblebees. The plant is also a host for several species of moths and hairstreak butterflies and provides food for their caterpillars. Red chokeberry sports shiny green leaves through summer and displays brilliant fall foliage in shades of orange, red, and purple.
If you have the space to let red chokeberry spread to form a colony as it often occurs in the wild, the masses of flowers and fruits will provide a showstopping display. Whether grown as a specimen or in a colony, red chokeberry makes a beautiful statement in all four seasons.
When people think of a red-fruited shrub for winter garden interest, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) often comes to mind. And while winterberry is a wonderful native shrub, another option for flashy winter color is red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia). The brilliant red fruits of red chokeberry are called pomes (same as apples and pears) and form in graceful dangling clusters in autumn. Being somewhat low in fat and protein, birds don't line up early for the chokeberry buffet. This means humans can enjoy their colorful beauty longer since they tend to adorn the branches into mid to late winter. Eventually when the more desirable foods are gone, the pomes provide a late winter and early spring food source for birds and small mammals.
Red chokeberry can be leggy and spread quite a bit due to suckering, so it fits nicely in a naturalized setting. It's a hardy shrub that grows 6-10' tall and 3-6' wide. It appreciates acidic moist soil in a sunny spot and will even grow in boggy areas and survive occasional flooding. Red chokeberry is a very adaptable plant that can also be found in the forest understory and in dry thickets. The shrubs do need protected from deer and rabbits when young.
The beauty and wildlife value of red chokeberry isn't limited to winter. Its masses of spring blooming white flowers provide nectar and pollen to butterflies, flower flies, and native bees such as mason, miner, and bumblebees. The plant is also a host for several species of moths and hairstreak butterflies and provides food for their caterpillars. Red chokeberry sports shiny green leaves through summer and displays brilliant fall foliage in shades of orange, red, and purple.
If you have the space to let red chokeberry spread to form a colony as it often occurs in the wild, the masses of flowers and fruits will provide a showstopping display. Whether grown as a specimen or in a colony, red chokeberry makes a beautiful statement in all four seasons.