Author Archives: ru jia

Aucuba japonica

Aucuba japonica

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Common name: spotted laurel

Family name: Garryaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Mr. Goldstrike’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  7 to 9

Mature height and spread:  6-10ft; 5-9ft

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: moist and well-drained soils; part shade to full shade

Leaf arrangement: leathery, glossy, elliptic to narrow-ovate; half of the margin are teethed

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): tiny purple flowers, white anther; fruit are berry-like drupes, red

Limitations: shade tolerant, air pollution tolerant

Suitable uses:  hedge, screen, indoor houseplant

Quick ID description:  leathery, glossy, berry-like fruit

Photographs:

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Syringa vulgaris

Syringa vulgaris

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Common name: common lilac

Family name: Oleaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Sensation’ ‘Little Boy Blue’ ‘Charles Joly’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 to 7

Mature height and spread:  8-15ft; 6-12ft

Form: deciduous shrub, multi-stemmed, upright

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: average, medium moisture, well-drained soil; full sun

Leaf arrangement: opposite, pointy, heart shape leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): fragrant, 4-lobed flowers

Limitations: tolerates light shade

Suitable uses: specimen, borders, hedges, cottage garden

Quick ID description:  opposite, heart shape, pointy; fragrant flowers

Photographs:

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Source: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/syvu1.htm

Stranvaesia davidiana

Stranvaesia davidiana

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Common name: common stranvaesia

Family name: Rosaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  7-9

Mature height and spread:  10-15ft; 8-10ft

Form: evergreen shrub, upright, all season plant

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils; full sun to part shade

Leaf arrangement: toothless, glossy, alternate

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): white flower, red berry

Limitations: Avoid wet soils

Fall colour:  red to orange

Suitable uses:  specimen, evergreen, screen, hedge, border

Quick ID description:  toothless, alternate, red berry

Photographs:

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Rhododendron kiusianum hybrids

Rhododendron kiusianum hybrids

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Common name: kiusianum azalea

Family name: Ericaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Murasaki Shikibu’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  7

Mature height and spread:  1m; 1-2m

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: acidic soils, full sun to part shad

Leaf arrangement: alternate, tiny, white fur on the leave

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bell-shaped flowers, red to purple

Limitations: drought tolerant

Suitable uses:  borders; ornamental shrub

Quick ID description:  white fur, bell-shaped flower, red to purple

Photographs:

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Source: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/rhkius2.htm

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Rhododendron ‘Vulcan’

Rhododendron ‘Vulcan’

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Common name: vulcan rhododendron

Family name: Ericaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  4

Mature height and spread:  1-1.5m; 1-1.5m

Form: evergreen shrub, bushy

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: moist but well-drained

Leaf arrangement: simple leaves, longer than ‘Unique’

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): red bell-shaped flowers, solitary or short racemes

Limitations: leaf spot

Suitable uses:  flower garden, ornamental shrub

Quick ID description:  longer leaves, bell-shaped flowers, red flowers

Photographs:

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Source: http://www.robsplants.com/plants/RhodoVulca

Rhododendron ‘Unique’

Rhododendron ‘Unique’

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Common name: unique rhododendron

Family name: Ericaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6

Mature height and spread:  1.5-2.5m; 1.5-2.5m

Form: evergreen shrubs

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: Moist but well-drained

Leaf arrangement: round leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): nearly white flowers, bell-shaped; pointy buds

Limitations: may be affected by powdery mildews

Suitable uses:  ornamental shrub

Quick ID description:  round leaves; bell-shaped flower, white

Photographs:

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Source: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/3plants.htm#rhuni

Quercus robur

Quercus robur

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Common name: English oak

Family name: Fagaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Concordia’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  5-8

Mature height and spread:  40-70ft; 40-70ft

Form: deciduous tree; broad-spreading, roungded

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: average, medium, well-drained soils; full sun

Leaf arrangement: short petiole; 3-7 blunt lobes per side; blue-green below

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): catkin; fruit has long stalks, oval acorns

Limitations: adapt to a wide range of soil conditions

Suitable uses:  shade tree

Quick ID description:  short petiole; catkin; long stalk acorn

Photographs:

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Source: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/quercus/robur/

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Source: http://www.botanicgarden.be/

Pyrus calleryana

Pyrus calleryana

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Common name: callery pear

Family name: Rosaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Chanticleer’ ‘Bradford’ ‘Aristocrat’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  5-9

Mature height and spread:  25-35ft; 13

Form: deciduous tree; upright-branched

Water use: dry to medium

Soil requirements: humusy, well-drained loams, full sun

Leaf arrangement: oval, gloosy dark green above and slightly paler below

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): white, five-petaled flower, abundant; small, inedible, greenish-yellow fruits

Limitations: Tolerates some drought once established; adaptable to heavy clays; tolerant urban conditions

Fall colour:  from yellow and orange to red, pink and purple

Suitable uses:  street tree, flowering tree

Quick ID description:  oval, slightly paler below; white, five-petaled flower; greenish-yellow fruits

Photographs:

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_calleryana

Prunus lusitanica

Prunus lusitanica

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Common name: cherry bay

Family name: Rosaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6-9

Mature height and spread:  12m; 8m

Form: deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs

Water use: medium to low

Soil requirements: well-drained; moderately fertile soil ; sun or partial shade

Leaf arrangement: alternate, oval, 7–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): Small, fragrant white flowers, racemes; small, dark purple fruits

Limitations: powdery mildews

Suitable uses: hedge; screen

Quick ID description: fragrant; alternate; oval; red fruit

Photographs:

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_lusitanica

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Photinia x fraseri

Photinia x fraseri

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Common name: Fraser photinia

Family name: Rosaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  7 to 9

Mature height and spread:  10-15ft; 10-15ft

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade

Leaf arrangement: Leathery, oval, dark green leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): fragrant flower; red fleshy fruit

Limitations: drought tolerant, full shade tolerant

Suitable uses:  hedge

Quick ID description:  leathery, oval; fragrant flower; red fruit

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.flowerspictures.org/plants/photinia-fraseri/photinia-fraseri_19.html

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Source:http://www.cuyamaca.edu/academics/departments/oh/plants/files/Thumbnail_Pages/Photinia_fraseri.aspx

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