Original species have stood the test of time and still sell well, while new smaller columnar hybrids of Quercus are coming on strong With fossils found as old as 55 million years, oaks have been entwined with human history since it began. Because of their longevity and massive proportions, the largest oak species in the […]
Diversifying the tree palette
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In response to climate change, growers have become more conscientious about offering a mix of natives and clonal selections When he began working in urban forestry more than 20 years ago, Scott Altenhoff and his team would refer to a list of trees known to be strong performers in different conditions. “We would call them […]
High times for low-water plants
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Retail garden centers increasingly turn to drought-tolerant varieties that beat the heat The summer of 2015 was a turning point in the Northwest, which suffered the longest heat wave in 75 years. Portland had more days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit than any other year in recorded history up to that time. That year marked a […]
Low-water lawn alternatives
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Miniclover, ecolawn and a variety of groundcovers grow landscapes that are green and drought tolerant Expansive lawns in Europe and the rising popularity of golf in the late 1900s launched America’s obsession with a perfect plot of grass. The invention of the rotary mower and the development of climate-adapted grass varieties made a landscape of […]
A string of succulent successes
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Thanks in large part to social media, the market for indoor succulents is larger, more varied and more popular than ever before Ann Patterson, houseplant buyer at Portland Nursery, said she has been collecting succulents for a long time. She called them lovely, intriguing little plants. “They’re interesting looking with lots of different textures,” Patterson […]
Trendy shade trees, part two
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In a prior installment regarding shade tree trends, published in the August issue of Digger, we talked about flowering shade tree trends. This time, we will discuss shade trees that don’t necessarily have prominent flowers, from Acer to Zelkova, and we’ll also include some columnar and native options.
Hot, hardy hydrangeas
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The historic heat dome of June 2021 left homeowners panicked about their crispy hydrangeas and wondering how the plant can thrive as climate change continues to bring unprecedented weather events. Even before last year’s record-breaking temperatures, breeders saw the effects of climate change and began selecting for better heat and
cold tolerance.
The shifting shade tree market
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What people find useful can change with societal trends as well as improved genetics Shade trees are such a presence in everyone’s daily lives in so many ways, that many different factors can influence changing trends in terms of what’s grown and what’s sold. At home, the pandemic pushed people towards making their backyard spaces […]
A spruce for any landscape
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Versatility and deep selection have made the genus a top seller for Oregon growers With about 35 species, a plethora of cultivars, and all its uses that shape our world, it’s not surprising that trees in the Picea genus are a popular landscape plant and top sellers over other conifers. What’s more, Oregon sells 35% […]
A new day for crabapples
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This flowering tree is on the upswing, thanks to disease resistance and all-season beauty Crabapples have enjoyed a bumpy history. Originating in the mountains of Kazakhstan, crabapples’ spring flowers landed in Chinese palace gardens and were carried along the Silk Road to Europe. Beyond their beauty, crabapples can act as a blanket pollinator for an […]
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