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< Back Peony (PAEONIA LACTIFLORA) - 'Festiva Maxima' ​ ​ Previous Next

< Back Aspen, Quaking (POPULUS TREMULOIDES) As the breeze blows the leaves of the Quaking Aspen, the quaking of the flat-stemmed leaves create a rustling sound that is reminiscent of the mountain landscapes we love so much. This attractive tree robed in white, textured bark and small, glossy green leaves is highly adaptable to most soil conditions. It grows natively over a very large are of the northern United States and Canada. Suckering occurs as the tree gets older and if left unclipped can create a grove of Aspens. Fall color is beautiful golden yellow. Growing as high as 40 feet tall with a spread of 30 feet, Quaking Aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North America. It is known widely for it's ability to create a grove from it's suckering roots. If not desired, suckers should be pruned back. Rated at USDA Hardiness zone 2, this tree is an excellent choice in group plantings with evergreens and other deciduous trees and shrubs. Quaking Aspen will grow best in full sunlight and consistently moist well-drained soils, although it is quite adaptable. Grows best in cool, northern climates anywhere from rocky mountain tops to the clay soil in valleys in a wide range of elevations. Generally not tolerant of urban pollution. Aspens require careful monitoring as they are susceptible to a large number of disease problems, including dieback, leaf spots, rusts, powdery mildew and cankers. Diseased trees often suffer premature leaf drop as a result thereof. Common insect visitors include caterpillars, borers, aphids and scale. Treat accordingly. Previous Next

< Back Boxwood (BUXUS) - 'GREEN MOUNTAIN' Lustrous, bright green foliage drapes 'Green Mountain's rounded, upright, conical shape year-round! This vigorous shrub retains good evergreen color throughout winter and is an excellent candidate for topiary forms as it is nicely sculpted by shearing into a hedge or free-form shape. It also makes a striking container, formal garden accent, or specimen in mass plantings. ‘Green Mountain’ is cold-hardy and often referred to as being in the “Green Series” of boxwood. It will bronze slightly in winter especially when exposed to direct sunlight but bronzing will quickly fade as new spring foliage begins to emerge. Deer resistant. Maturing to 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide, 'Green Mountain's naturally conical shape can be pruned regularly to enhance its appearance even further. Rated at USDA Hardiness zone 5, this evergreen bush is content in full to partial sun. Plant in enriched, well-drained, lightly acidic soil. Water deeply and regularly in first growing season to establish root system; reduce frequency once established watering after top 3 inches have dried out. Fertilize in early spring. Prune as needed to shape during winter months when 'Green Mountain' is dormant but not ever after first frost date in spring. Mulch around base to preserve moisture, keep roots cool in summer, and protect roots in winter. Protect from winds and drying out, especially during winter months. Can be used as a hedge or pruned to a variety of formal forms. Can be left as a stand alone specimen around foundations and the back of perennial borders. Previous Next

< Back Juniper Tree (JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM) - 'MOONGLOW' Juniper 'Moonglow' is a very columnar tree with upright, bright, bluish green, needle-like foliage. Many landscapers enjoy it as an accent, combination, or screen planting thanks to it's neat and tidy upright growth. It has slightly blue cast, scale-like needles and the foliage serves as a pleasing contrast to other garden colors. It's branches ascend vertically contributing to the trees overall pyramidal shape. The bark of a 'Moonglow' Juniper is typically reddish brown, but can turn gray over time and exfoliates into thin strips which gives it somewhat of a shredded appearance. It is an easy specimen to grow. Standing at 20' tall and 5-8' wide, 'Moonglow' has a neat and tidy, columnar growth habit. As a cultivar of Rocky mountain juniper, it is cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3 and is very durable. Rocky Mountain Junipers are listed as a selection in the University of Wyoming "Conservation Trees & Shrubs For Wyoming" guide. This variety does best in cool climates and can tolerate a wide range of site and soil types, other than wet sites. It requires full sun for best blue color development and is extremely drought tolerant. Requires no pruning, but will handle it fine if it is clipped and, like most Junipers, is relatively free of insects and diseases. 'Moonglow' Junipers require very little water, but should be watered two to three times per week for the first month after being planted. Continue to monitor throughout the first year by using a trowel to uncover the first two or three inches of soil and checking moisture levels. Once established for a year, fertilize once in early spring (around April) and again in late summer (September) with a slow-release granular fertilizer with an NPK of 16-4-8 or 12-4-8. Junipers can be used in xeriscaping for water wise plantings. Previous Next

< Back Honeylocust (GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS INERMIS) - 'Northern Acclaim' Northern Acclaim® Honeylocust is a good hardy introduction from NDSU with an upright, pyramidal growth habit much like 'Skyline' Honeylocust. Thornless and seedless, this variety of honeylocust grows at a moderate to fast rate with greater winter hardiness than the standard available cultivars in the nursery trade. Maintains attractive bright green foliage during the summer months changing to golden-yellow in the fall. The bi-pinnately and pinnately compound foliage is reminiscent of fern leaves and provides a light, filtered shade. Deer tend to leave honeylocusts alone and they are highly adaptable, tolerant, and reliable. Northern Acclaim® grows at a moderate to fast growth rate to a height of 40-50 feet with a spread of 30-35 feet. It is extremely cold hardy to USDA Hardiness zone 3b-6. Also known as 'Havre' Honeylocust, 'Northern Acclaim' requires full sun and well-drained soils. It is very adaptable to pH and tolerant of more alkali soils. Has shown good drought tolerance, urban tolerance, and has very little leaf litter in the fall making clean up easier than most shade trees with larger leaves. Makes an excellent specimen shade tree in the landscape and is unique enough as a stand alone or to offset other textures and shapes of trees. Resistant to canker disease. Previous Next

< Back Raspberry - 'Heritage' This heirloom variety was long considered the standard variety for production and high-quality fruit by which fall-bearing varieties were judged. Heritage is a highly popular variety for home gardeners. The fall crop is highly productive and ripens from the end of August through October, depending on your location. The berries have good size, color and flavor. The red fruit is good for jam and freezing and is delicious for fresh use, as well. Freezing quality is good, winter hardiness is excellent, fruit is medium-large and firm. Best grown in zones 4 - 8. Preferred soil pH of 6.5 - 6.8 for raspberry plants. This fall bearing raspberry plant bears some fruit the first fall of planting year, and either summers or falls after that depending on how it is managed. Very easy to grow. Previous Next

< Back Strawberry, Everbearing - 'Ft. Laramie' Strawberry This variety was released by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cheyenne Experimental Station in Wyoming!! This cold hard strawberry has survived -30° F and is made for tough Wyoming climates and conditions. 'Fort Laramie' produces large, sweet fruit and has excellent vigor. It is a good choice for commercial growers due to its abundance of runners and it's vigorous nature. An everbearing selection, it pairs well next to Rhubarb and Asparagus. Can be grown in ground, containers, and hydroponically. Hardy in USDA Zones 4A-8B with a height of 6-8 inches and a spread of 3 feet. Requires more than 6 hours of daily sun and light to medium moisture. Plant strawberries in early spring. Water them often through July. Remove flowers the first year and fertilize and water regularly. Do not plant them where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant, or okra were planted the previous year. There is a disease that sometimes attacks these plants that will also attack strawberries. When planting, make sure that the roots are spread apart, and not tightly packed in a small hole. The plant will spread faster if the blossoms are removed so that more runners can be produced. The second year, allow the buds to stay so that fruit can be produced. Because strawberries have shallow roots, they should be fertilized during the growing season. Previous Next

< Back Spruce, Colorado Blue (PICEA PUNGENS) - 'FASTIGIATA' A popular cultivar of the Colorado Blue Spruce due to it's columnar nature and tidy, tight habit, 'Fastigiata' is a narrow, upright tree with stiff bright blue needles. It adds vertical interest to the landscape and incredible blue color making this narrow selection the ideal accent or focal point where space is a consideration. Although it will broaden at the base with age, it will maintain it's tight, upright form that can also be sheared if needed. Since it will not grow as tall as the species, nor as wide, it is the perfect choice for planting in a smaller area. Although several different nurseries indicate different sizes of this specimen, most agree that 'Fastigiata' will reach 20-30' in height and 6-10 feet in width. Our supplier says it should reach 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide under ideal conditions. Rated by the USDA Hardiness scale at zone 3, 'Fastigiata' is cold hardy and tough. Colorado Blue Spruces are listed as a selection in the University of Wyoming "Conservation Trees & Shrubs For Wyoming" guide. It has a moderate growth rate of 6-12 inches per year and needs full sun and well-drained soil. In general, Colorado Blue Spruces can be susceptible to needle cast, canker, and rust. Aphids (particularly spruce gall aphids), scale, budworms, and bagworms can also be an issue. Spider mite invasions can cause significant problems with new growth and overall tree health. Previous Next

< Back Pine, Mountain (PINUS MUGO) - 'TANNENBAUM' The perfect Christmas-tree shaped evergreen with the toughness of mugo pine! 'Tannenbaum' is an upright mugo, with a broad base and pyramidal shape creating the traditional look we all love during the holiday season. The deep green needles carry a hint of gray/blue and hold their color even during winter months. This highly adaptable, hardy tree is believed to be the first single-stem tree form of Mugo Pine to be commercially produced and distributed. It was selected from hundreds of seedlings in the trial beds of McCrory Gardens at South Dakota State University and the original plant reached 10 to 11′ tall and 6′ wide after 25 years. This lovely specimen stands around 11 feet tall and 6 feet wide at maturity, although it could get taller. Some suppliers say it can reach 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. It has a moderate growth rate of about 6-12 inches per year. Like many mugos, it is incredibly cold-hardy and is rated a USDA Hardiness Zone 2. It requires full sun and is highly adaptable to a wide range of environmental and climatic conditions. It is extremely hardy, however, it won't do well in standing water and does need well-drained soil. It is not particular as to soil type or pH and is able to handle environmental salts, as well as urban pollution. Previous Next

< Back Cherry - 'Montmorency' Cherry Tree 'Montmorency' is one of the most popular dessert cherries in North America. Boasting large, bright red fruit and excellent cold-hardiness, 'Montmorency' is self-fertile and will produce even more fruit when paired with another cherry variety for pollination. It's sour cherries are firm and juicy and delicious eaten fresh but most especially in pies, preserves, and juiced. There are many health benefits from cherries and their juice. The flavor is tart and tangy. Montmorency is very cold hardy and disease resistant. Ripens in late June. Self-fertile. (As a side note, this is one of Simply Sunshine's favorite cherry varieties for making pie filling.) An excellent edible shade tree, this zone 4-8 cherry tree reaches about 18-25′ tall and wide at full maturity under ideal conditions. Like all fruit trees, this tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Please note: Various Prunus species are winter hosts of the Damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli, which is destructive to hops Humulus lupulus just at the time of their maturity, so it is recommended that plum trees not be grown in the vicinity of hop fields for their protection. Previous Next

< Back Pear - 'Summercrisp' Pear Tree Very good for colder areas, 'Summercrisp' is an early maturing pear introduced by the University of Minnesota for use in colder climates, where most other pear varieties survive poorly and often do not produce fruit. 'Summercrisp' Pear bears stunning clusters of white flowers with purple anthers along the branches in mid-spring, followed by showy chartreuse fruit marked with a red blush. An abundant crop can be expected in late summer with unique fruit that is best consumed without having been ripened fully. 'Summercrisp' pears naturally taste best while the flesh is firm and crisp. The low canopy of this tree typically clears the ground around 4 feet high and is suitable for planting near power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. In ideal conditions, 'Summercrisp' Pear could grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet, but is said to be 15-20 feet tall and wide in most cases. It boasts an excellent cold hardiness of zone 4 to 8. As with all fruit trees, this tree should only be grown in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves in alkaline soils so be sure to supplement appropriately with chelated iron. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner-city environments. Like any fruit bearing trees, these can be messy if fruit is allowed to drop on driveways or lawns and streets. Disease problems to watch for in pear trees include anthracnose, canker, scab, and powdery mildew. Insect visitors include pear psylla, coddling moth, and borers. Previous Next

< Back Ornamental Plum (PRUNUS NIGRA PRINCESS KAY) - 'Princess Kay' This cold hardy ornamental plum puts on quite a spring show with a multitude of double white blooms and smooth, dark brown bark! ‘Princess Kay’ is a fast growing compact tree with a neat, oval-shaped crown and attractive foliage. The delight doesn't end there - in the fall, leaves turn a spectacular red and when they drop, the gorgeous bark is exposed throughout winter months. Even better still, this is a sterile variety that won't set any fruit! 'Princess Kay' is a quality flowering plum and an excellent, hardy choice for colder areas. PRINCESS KAY® PLUM reaches 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide at maturity and is cold hardy at USDA Hardiness zone 3. When selecting a planting site, choose an area that receives full sun and has well-drained soil. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It does however, have moderate water needs and is not considered drought tolerant. 'Princess Kay' is not particular as to soil type or pH and is also very tolerant of urban pollution. This trees canopy is low - about 3 feet from the ground - and can be planted near power lines. It sets blooms in early spring and is considered deer resistant as well as good for pollination. Once established, it has moderate water needs. Under ideal conditions, can live for approximately 30 years. Prune out any dead branches in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed using appropriate methods as this tree does need occasional upkeep. From time to time, 'Princess Kay' will grow a sucker which can be cut back in summer and any seedling shoots should be pulled. Previous Next