A Walking Tour of the Plant Gallery with Jim Brophy!

Posted on September 25, 2014 by RutgersLN

Rutgers Nursery carries (and grows!) many beautiful specimen plants. On Saturday, September 27th at 11 am, Jim Brophy, owner of Rutgers Nursery will lead a tour through our Gallery of Plants. We spoke with Jim about these special plants.

What is the Gallery of Plants?

To me, the specimens we carry in our Plant Gallery are those that serve more as artistic pieces. They both improve the landscape and intrigue the beholder.

What’s your favorite specimen tree/shrub and why?

As you might guess, it’s hard for me to pick just one! A few of my favorites include the Fernleaf Maple (Acer Japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’), Paperbark Maple (Acer Griseum), Japanese Snowbell (Styrax Japonica), and the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) — whose foliage right now is quite spectacular!

Are specimens harder to maintain than other plants?

Contrary to what one may think, they actually require less maintenance! You generally get the benefit of the slow growth and hardiness of a specimen plant — with the exception of the Dawn Redwood, which is hardy and grows exceptionally fast!

Are there any special needs for specimen plants from a care perspective?

Like any plant, it truly depends on its needs as far as nutrients, light requirements, and pruning. Most are very easy to care for.

Is there anything attendees should bring to the walk (aside from questions!).

Attendees are welcome to bring pictures of their property to help assess which specimen might be a good fit. They are also welcome to take pictures as well!

For more information on plants carried or grown by Rutgers Nursery, click here.

Sourwood Tree

Posted on September 19, 2014 by RutgersLN

Believe it or not, this showy flowering tree is native to our area, offering eye-catching color along with sweet, fragrant summertime blossoms. The Sourwood tree prefers acidic, rich, well-drained soil, and can reach heights of 20-40.’ As it’s typically an understory tree, it can handle part sun as well as full, making it quite adaptable to landscape location. The Sourwood tree gets its name because its leaves have a sour taste — which contradicts its sweet shades of peachy orange and red as it comes into fall color (another sweet fact is that bees love its blossoms, and sourwood honey is a delicious local treat).

This color is truly boldness to behold — stop in for a visit!

Naturally Adorned

Posted on September 15, 2014 by RutgersLN

Put away those holiday lights — these bejeweled

plants are deckedout for any occasion!

Columnar White Pine

This gorgeous evergreen exhibits classic and beautifully decorative cones in the fall. Elegant and slender in habit, this tree is great in a grouping or as an individual specimen, reaching a mature height of about 30′ tall, and 10′ wide.

Serbian Spruce

This majestic spruce produces compact cones of a deep purple hue. Combine that with a height reaching 50′ tall and 20′ wide, it’s not hard to see how this tree is a true show stopper.

Dragon’s Eye Pine

This slow growing, stripe-needled pine is another tree that’s two-fold ornamental. Vibrant alternating yellow and green needles truly illustrate its name, and light, creamy green cones are wonderful cool season highlights.

Arrowwood viburnum

This viburnum variety boasts showy white flowers in the spring which turn into super beautiful glossy blue drupes in the fall. This shrub reaches a mature height of about 8′ tall and 8′ wide, and attracts both birds and butterflies.

Blue Princess Holly

Bright, cheery berries adorn this deep, blue-green foliaged holly that reaches a moderate height of 10′ tall and 8′ wide. This is an excellent choice for a partially sunny spot that could use a little brightening up!

Cranberry Viburnum

This festive, fall-berried viburnum has a sweet lacecap bloom in the spring that attracts a host of friendly pollinators! Come fall, blooms burst into gemmed bright cranberry red clusters.

This is No Mellow Yellow

Posted on September 5, 2014 by RutgersLN

Golden hues abound at the nursery, and these gorgeous trees are certainly stealing the spotlight.

The Ogon Dawn Redwood (also appropriately called Gold Rush), is a chartreuse, pyramidal variety that is fast growing and can reach a mature height of up to 80 feet! It puts on a fantastic, eye-catching display in any garden landscape.

Frans Fontaine Hornbeam is also quite literally beaming, displaying its stately columnar shape, which is excellent planted individually, as a hedge, or for situating in narrow planting spaces. With an average height of 30′ tall and about 12′ wide, it takes and becomes its own spotlight!

Our Maidenhair Ginkos are also letting down their golden hair, with vibrant bright yellow fan-like leaves. This gorgeous ornamental shade tree can get 40′ tall with a canopy of 25.’ It holds a pyramidal shape, and is drought tolerant and can handle many soil types.

Come in and experience the glow!

Monthly Archives: September 2014