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TOP 10 APPLES FOR MINNESOTA
- Honeycrisp
This U of M apple has become a national favorite. Our trees are all grown on dwarf rootstocks. They may take a year or two after transplanting to fruit.
- Honey Gold
This nicely shaped tree is the perfect pollinator for ‘Honeycrisp’. Its yellow fruit is best right off of the tree.
- Haralson
Great cooking apple that produces heavy yields. This tree flowers late.
- Fireside
Also, well matched with ‘Honeycrisp’, this is an excellent multi-purpose apple. Our ‘Firesides’ are standard-sized trees.
- Zestar
One of the newest U of M introductions to become really popular, Zestar is a great apple for fresh eating. It is an early bloomer.
- Freedom
This spray-free apple tree outside of New York produces heavy crops of mildly tart fruits that keep well if kept cold.
- Sweet Sixteen
We added this U of M tree due to popular demand. It takes a few years to get going and then produces fruit each year.
- Red Regent
We have this apple because everyone who has it loves it. It bears tasty fruit, that stores well, at a young age.
- State Fair
This heavy producer offers fruit with superb texture and versatile taste. It works well with ‘Zestar’ as a pollinator.
- Wealthy
These trees fruit so heavily at the nursery that they break if we don’t stake them. They tend to bear it every other year. ‘Wealthy’ offers great disease resistance and all-purpose fruit.
TOP 10 HEAT & DROUGHT TOLERANT
- Stonecrop
The Botanical Name is Sedum spp. This incredibly tough, succulent plant is usually the first perennial to emerge in spring.
- Daylily
The Botanical Name is Hemerocallis spp. Daylilies are incredibly tough plants that bloom over a long period- even in partial shade.
- Russian Sage
The Botanical Name is Perovskia. We water our plants at the Carver County Fair during the fair each year and that is it. They’re HUGE!
- Little Bluestem Grass
The Botanical Name is Schizachyrium scoparium. This tough grass used to dominate the prairies of Minnesota.
- Ornamental Onion
The Botanical Name is Allium spp. These lovely perennials have excellent texture. Deer, rabbits and rodents dislike their oniony flavor.
- Weigela
The Botanical Name is Weigela florida. While they may die back a bit over the winter, they tolerate heat and drought beautifully.
- Rugosa Rose
The Botanical Name is Rosa rugosa. Deliciously fragrant flowers bloom against disease resistant foliage. These roses are also salt tolerant.
- Sumac
The Botanical Name is Rhus spp. Varieties like ‘Tiger Eyes’ are stunning and they do not require irrigation at all.
- Bush Honeysuckle
The Botanical Name is Diervilla lonicera / sessilifolia. Great disease resistance and good shade tolerance are other benefits.
- Northern Catalpa
The Botanical Name is Catalpa speciosa. If this tree can survive my neighbor’s kids, it can survive anything!
There are many others, but these are some of my favorites!
TOP 10 ORNAMENTAL TREES
- Redwing Cranberrybush Tree
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 8-12’T x 6-8’W. Pruned into tree form, this lovely plant offers spring flowers, summer fruit and fall foliage.
- Hydrangeas
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 5-8’T x 5-10′ W. Tolerant of partial shade, compact size ideal for small gardens. ‘Quickfire’ and ‘Limelight’ are my faves.
- Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 25’T x 15’W. This narrow version of an old favorite produces sweet smelling, white flowers after other lilacs are finished blooming. This tree does very well in exposed locations.
- Crabapples
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 6-30’T x 5-30′ W. We grow great varieties with excellent disease resistance and fruit retention. My favorite is ‘Royal Raindrops’. Its burgundy foliage is quite similar to that of Japanese maples. ‘Rejoice’ has attractive, ascending branches and rose-colored blooms.
- Bloomerang® Dwarf Korean Lilac
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 7-8’T x 4-5’W. We have high hopes for this new, re-blooming variety.
- MN Strain Redbud
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 20-30’T x 20-25′ W. This early blooming beauty tolerates partial shade. Because it is a legume, it is self-feeding.
- Dakota Pinnacle Birch
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 30’T x 7-8′ W. As you might imagine, NDSU’s breeding program generates very hardy trees and this is one of them. Dark green foliage doesn’t pale in the heat and turns gold in fall.
- Shiloh Splash Birch
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 8-12’T x 6-8’W. Superb, variegated foliage stays nice and clean all summer. Plant in a protected location.
- Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 15-20’T & W. Interesting, lateral branching and lustrous foliage complement creamy flowers and dusty rose fruits. Phenomenal food source for wildlife.
- Burning Bush Tree
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 10-12’T x 8-12’W. Good shade tolerance and overall hardiness, excellent fall color in full sun.
TOP 10 SMALL SHRUBS
1.
Magic Carpet
The Botanical Name is Spirea,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 1.5′ T x 2′ W. Multi-colored foliage and
bright pink flowers look lovely together! Very easy to grow.
2.
Minuet
The Botanical Name is Weigela,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 2-2.5′ T x 2-3′ W. Bronze-tinted foliage
and re-blooming rose flowers are showy throughout the summer.
3.
Dakota Sunspot
The Botanical Name is
Potentilla. This plant blooms from late spring until late fall. It is another
winner from NDSU.
4.
Concorde
The Botanical Name is Barberry,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 2′ T x 3′ W. This barberry has a very tidy
shape and deep burgundy foliage. Its color compliments other plants.
5.
Blue Nest
The Botanical Name is Spruce,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 1.5-2′ T x 2-2.5′ W. This tough little
evergreen looks lovely- even in partial shade. Great steel-blue color.
6.
Little Devil
The Botanical Name is Ninebark,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 3-4′ T&W. Tons of tiny, burgundy leaves
make a stunning backdrop for shell pink flower clusters.
7.
Tor
The Botanical Name is Birchleaf
Spirea, The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 2-3′ T&W. I just love the
blue-green leaves on this spring bloomer.
Fall foliage color is brilliant orange-red.
8.
My Monet
The Botanical Name is Weigela,
The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 1-1.5′ T x 1′ W. Lovely pink, white and
green variegation has great disease resistance.
Protect from afternoon sun.
9.
Autumn Magic
The Botanical Name is
Chokeberry, The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 3-5′ T x 2-4′ W. Great shade
tolerance helps this plant fit in under the eaves. Persistent, edible fruit.
10. Gold
Tide
The Botanical Name is
Forsythia, The Tall & Wide of this Tree is 2-2.5′ T x 3-4′ W. This plant
has wonderful foliage texture and early spring bloom. Subtle fall color.
TOP 10 BUTTERFLY PLANTS
- Butterfly Weed
The Botanical Name is Asclepias species. This plant is a host for Monarch caterpillars and a nectar source for many adult butterflies.
- Golden Alexander
The Botanical Name is Zizia aurea. Along with other members of the parsley and dill family, this plant is a host for Black Swallowtails.
- Willow
The Botanical Name is Salix species. These shrubs and trees play host to a variety of butterfly larvae.
- Poplar
The Botanical Name is Populus species. Quaking Aspen, Poplars and Cottonwoods are also the preferred diet of several species.
- MN Strain Redbud
The Botanical Name is Cercis canadensis. Legumes like this tree and Wisteria are the ideal hosts for Silver-Spotted Skippers.
- Purple Coneflower
The Botanical Name is Echinacea purpurea. All you have to do is walk along a patch of purple coneflowers and you will see butterflies.
- New England Aster
The Botanical Name is Aster novae – angliae. These pink and purple beauties draw crowds of butterflies in late summer.
- Blazing Star
The Botanical Name is Liatris species. These easy-care prairie plants are a favorite of many gardeners and butterflies alike!
- Stonecrop
The Botanical Name is Sedum species. In late summer and fall these plants are covered with bees and butterflies.
- Garden Phlox
The Botanical Name is Phlox paniculata. These brightly-colored flowers are easy to grow and provide an excellent nectar source.
*Native grasses and wildflowers are always a good bet. Butterflies seem most attracted to white and pink blooms.
TOP 10 FOLIAGE SHRUBS
- Sem Ash Leaf Spirea
The Botanical Name is Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’. Height: 3.4′ Width: 3.5-4′
- Shining Sensation Weigela
The Botanical Name is Weigela florida ‘Bokrashine’. Height: 5-6′ Width: 3-4′
- Orange Rocket Barberry
The Botanical Name is Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’. Height: 4-5′ Width: 1-2′
- Tiger Eyes® Sumac
The Botanical Name is Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’. Height/Width: 6′
- Amber Jubilee Ninebark
The Botanical Name is Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’. Height: 5-6′ Width: 4′
- Redwing® American Cranberrybush
The Botanical Name is Viburnum trilobum ‘J.N. Select’. Height: 8-10′ Width: 6-8′
- Magic Carpet Spirea
The Botanical Name is Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’. Height: 18″ Width: 2′
- Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
The Botanical Name is Diervilla lonicera. Height: 4′ Width: 3-4′
- Summer Glow Tamarisk
The Botanical Name is Tamarix ramosissima ‘Summer Glow’. Height: 8-10′ Width: 6-8′
- Little Devil Ninebark
The Botanical Name is Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’. Height/Width: 3-4′
TOP 10 LOW-MAINTENANCE PERENNIALS
- Stonecrop
The Botanical Name is Sedum. Tolerates temperature extremes & drought, emerges early.
- Feather Reed Grass ‘Karl Foerster’
The Botanical Name is Calamagrostis. Extremely adaptable and tolerant, great backdrop plant
- Black-Eyed Susan
The Botanical Name is Rudbeckia. Tough and reliable late bloomer
- Daylily
The Botanical Name is Hemerocallis. Tolerates heat, drought and partial shade. Long bloom time.
- Hens & Chicks
The Botanical Name is Sempervivum. Tough and adaptable. “Babies” can be used to start new plants
- Periwinkle
The Botanical Name is Vinca minor. This lovely little groundcover is tough enough to grow beneath trees.
- Dead Nettle ‘Purple Dragon’
The Botanical Name is Lamium maculatum. Blooms all summer in part to full shade with very little care
- Golden Dead Nettle ‘Herman’s Pride’
The Botanical Name is Lamiastrum. Forms a tidy globe of variegated foliage. Literally grows anywhere!
- Siberian Iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’
The Botanical Name is Iris sibirica. Plant in a moist location with part to full sun and forget about it
- Tall Garden Phlox ‘David’
The Botanical Name is Phlox paniculata. This adaptable late bloomer has excellent mildew resistance
TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Proper Irrigation
Water thoroughly and deeply, then allow the soil to dry out for a few days to encourage root growth. Don’t rely on rain for moisture & water more when it is hot or windy.
2. Mulch
Mulch helps keep soil moisture and temperature consistent. It eliminates competition from weeds and prevents mower injuries.
3. Balanced Nutrition
Apply slow-release fertilizers early in the season or top dress the surrounding soil with compost. Use half-strength water-soluble fertilizers only as needed to give small plants a boost. Stop feeding altogether by mid to late July.
4. Proper Siting
Give plants the amount of light and type of soil that they need to flourish, based on the needs of their species.
5. Pull Weeds!
They compete with plants and harbor insects’ pests. They also block air flow, promoting fungal growth.
6. Dead Head
Remove spent flowers and dried foliage.
7. De-sucker
Prune off aggressive shoots that grow at the base of trees as soon as you notice them and as low as you can cut them.
8. Thin Out
Fast growing shrubs should be thinned out every 2-3 years by cutting out 1/3 of the oldest, thickest stems at their bases.
9. Divide
Dig up and divide overgrown flowers in the spring.
10. Have Fun!
Gardening can be very relaxing. It is also great exercise! Make a hobby out of it and you will be richly rewarded.