This decorative Japanese birch has large, pretty, heart shaped leaves. Up to six inches long, in a rich dark green, they turn butter yellow in autumn. The striking bark is orange brown when young, but becomes pinkish grey and peels in narrow horizontal strips as it matures. Early spring's catkins are five inches, the male brownish yellow catkins are slightly longer than the female. A rapid grower, this birch will be about 80 feet with a 40 foot spread when mature. B. maximowicziana needs to be grown in a sheltered position in a woodland garden, preferably in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil.
Propagation: Sow seed of known wild origin in a seedbed in autumn. Root softwood cuttings in summer. Graft in winter. |
For several weeks, from early to mid spring, the slightly fragrant white flowers of Magnolia stellata 'Waterlily' bedeck the tree. The five inch flowers have as many as 32 tepals, arranged in a star formation. The four inch, mid green leaves appear later in spring. A slow grower, it is ideal for small gardens as it seldom gets taller than ten feet with a twelve foot spread. Ideally, it should be grown in moist, well drained, humus rich, acid or neutral soil, in sun or light shade and sheltered from strong winds. However, it will thrive in alkaline soil provided it is given a mulch of well rotted manure and leaf mould each spring.
Propagation: Root greenwood cuttings in early summer and semi ripe cuttings in late summer. Graft in winter. Bud in summer. |
It is wise to plant poplars in large gardens. They grow rapidly, and if sited near buildings may undermine foundations and block drains. However, if you are looking for a small weeping tree and have the space, then P. t.' Pendula' is one of the most beautiful. It is especially attractive in late winter. Its leaves, up to three inches long, appear later in spring. It is known as tremula because its leaves tremble in the lightest breeze. The leaves are bronze when young and turn sunshine yellow in autumn when they persist for several weeks. This poplar will grow in any but a permanently waterlogged soil, but is best in deep, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Take hardwood cuttings in winter. Remove suckers in autumn or late winter. |
