The weather forecast for Atlanta this weekend looks promising for getting out and working in the garden. It has been a long cold, wet winter and I eagerly await the arrival of my early daffodils which most years would be in full bloom by now. I realize I have a lot of clean up to do including cutting back my Tardiva hydrangeas (I cut them back to about 10”) and cleaning up perennials. I will also spread red pepper flakes around my violas in an effort to keep the ubiquitous squirrels from digging and making a mess. If it rains I’ll spread some more. It’s not very high tech but it seems to help and requires a minimum of effort.
red buckeye
During these cold days I have been thinking about some of my favorite spring flowering trees including Aesculus pavia, red buckeye, Chionanthus retusus, fringe tree, Cornus mas, cornelian cherry dogwood, Halesia tetraptera, carolina silverbell and Styrax obassia, fragrant styrax. I was thrilled when I purchased my styrax from Piccadilly Farm in Bishop, Georgia last fall. It’s only about waist high so I probably won’t get many blooms this spring but someday soon it will be a beautiful specimen. It produces masses of fragrant white bell shaped flowers.
Among the earliest bloomers Cornus mas (typically from mid-February to March) produces vivid yellow flowers on bare peeling branches. The selection ‘Golden Glory’ matures at about 25,’ making it perfect for small gardens. For carpeting under this beauty I recommend Helleborus x hybridus and early blooming varieities of daffodils. Blooming in April, the red buckeye has handsome palmate leaves and bright red to red-orange blooms. (This native is poisonous if eaten so keep it away from animals and small children.) While our native fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus , also known as grancy grey beard is beautiful in its own right , it’s Asian counterpart Chionanthus retusus appeals to me for its glossy foliage, fleecy white blooms, handsome bark and sometimes dark blue fruits. While it makes a fine specimen tree in the garden I have also seen it thriving as a street tree in Savannah, GA.
Another April bloomer, carolina silverbell is covered with white pendulous blossoms which are beautiful to look up into. In summer the attractive winged fruits add to its charm.
In addition to my familiar favorites there are a host of spring flowering trees that are garden worthy. I recently spoke with Luca Gianturco of Scottsdale Farms and Tiffany Fischer of McMahan’s (and GardenHood) about some of the trees they are excited about for this spring. Here are a few of their recommendations. It’s worth noting that one tree showed up on both of their lists and neither knew what the other had said. This makes me pay attention to Aesculus x carnea ‘Ft. McNair’ which has light pink flowers with a yellow throat and disease resistant foliage.
Magnolia 'Butterflies'
Luca Gianturco, Scottsdale Farms
15639 Birmingham Hwy
Hwy 372
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770-777-5875
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance , autumn brilliance serviceberry –flowers are pink in bud and open to white
Cercis canadensis – many different selections of redbud
Magnolia ‘Butterflies’- with canary yellow flowers
Tiffanny Fischer
GardenHood
353 Boulevard SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-880-9848
Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Spring’- the flowers on this redbud are deep purple-red in bud and open to bright, bright pink
Magnolia ‘Jon Jon’- A Gresham hybrid, this late blooming selection has flowers that are deep reddish-purple at the base and lighter towards the tips.
Magnolia liliflora ‘Nigra’- also late blooming with deep dark burgundy flowers (almost black)
Prunus campanulata- early blooming small cherry tree with single pink flowers
