What’s growing on the Farm!

Posted on February 13, 2017 by RutgersLN

What’s Growing on the Farm?

Did you know that Rutgers Nursery maintains a beautiful 62 acre farm in Stockton, NJ? Since 2013 we have been growing and harvesting a lot of our own trees and shrubs right down the street from our Nursery. Plants from our farm are very hardy and have the added benefit of being grown in local soil, making them better acclimated to our area.

One tree that we’re particularly proud to be growing is the “Fringe Tree,” Chionanthus virginicus, a native to the eastern U.S.

This spectacular tree grows 12-20’ tall and wide, and tolerates full to partial sun. Its multi-stemmed (or “clump”) habit gives it a nice rounded shape at maturity. In late spring, the Fringe tree is covered with drooping clusters of fluffy, fringe-like flowers which can last for over two weeks! Bright green, spear-shaped leaves emerge soon after flowering, which are followed by clusters of black berries on female Fringe trees in autumn- a favorite of songbirds and ground birds.

The Fringe Tree is especially hardy, and is known to tolerate less-than-ideal conditions like urban areas with air pollution or even drought. It is happiest, however, in a moist but well-drained spot with good light and a little space to spread its limbs. This easy to care for tree seldom needs pruning and requires only moderate watering until established.

Keep an eye out for our Fringe Trees when you stop by our Nursery this spring, and ask us to show you what other trees have been locally grown at our farm!

Lighten up!

Posted on June 10, 2016 by RutgersLN

Brunnera Silver Heart

Lighten up! You don’t have to get down in the dumps if you have a sunless garden! A little bit of bright green can add nice pockets of interest to a shady spot, and there are lots of plants to choose from — many of which we carry at our nursery. Here are a few to consider that are very shade tolerant.

Japanese Forest Grass

variegarted j. forest grass

Japanese Forest Grass, variegated

Hostas – try Guacamole or Sum and Substance varieties.

Heuchera, Golden Zebra

Heuchera, Caramel

japanese painted fern

Japanese Painted Fern

A Taste of the Tropics: The Pawpaw!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by RutgersLN

Native to Eastern North America, the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a small tree that grows just about 25-feet at maturity. The tree requires part shade when it’s young, but as it matures can handle full sun. It is primarily found growing natively as an understory tree, and if you’re lucky to find it bearing fruit, it’s a fantastic treat! The fruit resembles young mangoes, has a creamy texture, and tastes like a mix of a banana, melon, and pineapple. Best of all, we are cultivating them on our farm, and young trees should be dug and available this season. Give us a call or check out our website for availability!

The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood – Cherry, or Dogwood?

Posted on February 17, 2015 by RutgersLN

The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood can take on either a tree or shrub-like appearance depending on pruning and placement, reaching a height of 25 feet with a 15 foot canopy. Though ‘cherry’ is in its name, it is in fact a dogwood and produces beautiful cherry-like edible fruit.

The bloom and color of the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood is very similar to Forsythia, blooming as early as March. There are many great qualities that make this tree ideal for our area. For one, it is tolerant of deer, clay soil, and the fruit attracts many different types of birds, making it great for the home bird watcher! Additionally, like many dogwoods, it can handle full to partial sun, making it a versatile choice for many landscapes. What’s more, we are growing these on our farm and they’ll be ready for you to see for yourself soon!

What to do with a Capricious Crape Myrtle

Posted on October 20, 2014 by RutgersLN

Stressful weather conditions are inevitable factors that can harm your trees and shrubs. If you’re lucky, mother nature may grant your plant a second chance. Even with significant seasonal damage, you may be able to revive what’s left if there are signs of new growth. For example, take a look at the crape myrtle ‘bush’ in the foreground. Winter damage killed off the central trunk, but not the entire tree. New shoots came up from the bottom, yielding a more bush-like form, which still produced a multitude of gorgeous flowers in the summertime. This new form can be kept, or you may be able to achieve its former upright appearance. As new “suckers” begin to grow from below, you can select the 3-4 that look the strongest and let them grow, pruning the others away. To encourage the “suckers” to develop nice and straight, twine can be used to help brace the new young trunks upwards.

To learn more about how to revive a stressed crape myrtle, stop by our nursery — our knowledgeable staff is happy to help!

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!

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!

Blazing Glory

Posted on August 29, 2014 by RutgersLN

Who needs Blu-ray when you can get this type of high definition naturally? Whether or not you’re ready for fall, our Japanese Maples sure are, and currently are putting on quite the fiery display. Japanese Maples make a great addition to your backyard landscape, and because they can handle part shade, are excellent for brightening up an area that needs a little kick of color. We have many types to choose from in stock, ranging from adorable ornamentals to stately Japanese Bloodgoods.

Living Color

Posted on August 22, 2014 by RutgersLN

Though it’s August, we’re beginning to fall in love with seasonal color here at Rutgers Nursery!

Our Persian Parrotia has started to put out beautiful hues of fiery copper and apple red. This gorgeous deciduous tree is especially prized for its foliage which changes from a deep forest green in Spring to warm fall hues in late Summer into the Fall. Flowers are rich, pomegranate-like red clusters of small showy buds that appear in the Spring. This magnificent tree is super hearty, and is tolerant of many soil conditions including clay. It also fares well in air pollution making it an excellent choice for parks or city dwellings. The tree’s mature height ranges from 20-30′ tall, and over time, its bark exfoliates to reveal dappled shades of gray green and white.

Category Archives: Plants from Rutgers Nursery