Title: Ornamental Plant Selection and Care Section 4: A Selection of Trees and Shrubs for Oklahoma
1Ornamental Plant Selection and CareSection 4 A
Selection of Trees and Shrubs for Oklahoma
2Shrubs for Oklahoma
- Seek year round beauty when possible
- Avoid overpruning shrubs
- Certain species may be found sometimes as small
trees - Often look better when grouped rather than as a
single specimen
3Hollies(Ilex spp.) deciduous and evergreen
- Many forms and sizes available
- Female plants produce colorful berries
- Full sun to part shade
- Deciduous forms are more tolerant of
environmental stresses
American holly
Possumhaw
4Dwarf fothergilla(Fothergilla gardenii)
- Green to blue-green foliage
- Pest-free
- Sun to partial shade
- White fragrant flowers April-May
- Bottlebrush-like flowers are unique
- Moist, acidic soils preferred
- Yellow-orange-red fall color - superb
5Purple ninebark(Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo)
- Often thought to belong up north
- Moisture and perhaps slight shade, particularly
Diablo - White flowers, showy bark with age
- Grow this cultivar primarily for purple foliage
- 5-6
6Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
- Deep lustrous green foliage/semievergreen
- 4-5 high, 4-7 wide
- Broad-spreading mounded habit
- Young stems green
- Bright yellow flower December March
- Prune after flowering
7Japanese kerria(Kerria japonica)
- Year-round beauty
- Yellow flowers intermittent bloomer
- White flower new variety but flawed
- Green showy stems
- Pest-free leaves
- Takes some shade or
- full sun with water
- 4-6 shrub single and
- doubles available
- An Oklahoma Proven selection
8Buttonbush(Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- White flowers late spring and then intermittently
- Tolerates wet areas but doesnt have to be in or
near water - Glossy, pest free leaves
- Persistent button-like fruits
- 5-10 in cultivation
9Beautyberry(Callicarpa americana)
- Nice shrub, either American
- or Asian counterpart
- Grow for fall-winter berries
- Purple is the norm, but white
- berries available too
- Gracefully arching shrub to 5 on avg.
- Full sun to light shade
10Red and black chokeberries (Aronia arbutifolia
A. melanocarpa, resp.)
- Year round beauty- utilitarian value too
- White flowers, clean summer foliage, brilliant
fall color, showy persistent fruits - Use to fill areas, banks, wildscapes, etc.
- 4-6 tall will roam, are leggy in nature
11Oakleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia)
- Offers beauty year-round
- Clean summer foliage oak-like in appearance
- Summer white flowers large panicles
- Fall color can be spectacular
- Shaggy bark on older specimens
12Rose of Sharon, Shrub Althea (Hibiscus syriacus)
- Variable in ht., occasionally seen as trees
but wants to be a shrub - White, pink, purple flowers
- single doubles available
- Late bloomers continuing until frost
- Good for butterflies, bees, etc.
- Old fashioned plant but newer types coming out
all the time
13Winged euonymus(Euonymus alatus)
- Dont confuse with herbaceous burning bush
- Most types get large over 8 at maturity
- Beautiful red fall color
- Remains scale free
- Corky twigs add winter interest
14Butterfly bush(Buddleia spp.)
- White, pink, purple flowers all summer long
- Green to gray foliage
- Sometimes grown as a sub-shrub
- Grow to 5-6 each growing season
- Can prune severely if desirable
- Good for butterflies
15Japanese yews(Taxus cuspidata)
- Grow yews for soft foliage
- Cannot stand wet soils!
- Many will burn in full sun
- All parts toxic
- Grow Thayerae and
- Runyan for sun resistance
- based on 10 year OSU study
- Most in shrub form from 4-8 tall
16Grape hollies(Mahonia spp.)
- Broadleaf evergreen showy foliage, yellow flowers
and showy blue fruits - Easiest to grow is Oregon grape holly
- Leatherleaf mahonia has broader leaflets,
beautiful blue fruits, but slightly less hardy - Vary from 4-6
17Viburnum species(Viburnum spp.)
- Evergreen to deciduous foliage
- Very dwarf to large shrubs
- Rugged, pest-free foliage
- Highly fragrant flowers in many cases
- Magnificent fruits of reds, yellows, etc.
- Exceptional fall color
- Sun or shade
18Heavenly bamboo, Nandina(Nandina domestica)
- Many cultivars available from 2-6
- Many have attractive fruits
- Can be cut back when desired
- Provides exotic looking foliage
19Vitex, Chaste tree(Vitex agnus-castus)
- Fast growing small tree or large shrub to 15-20
tall - Panicles of blue-purple, lilac or lavender
flowers July-August - Cultivars produce deep blue, white or pink flowers
20Winter honeysuckle(Lonicera fragrantissima)
- Large shrub 6-10 tall
- Creamy white, tinged pink or red, lemon-scented
spring flowers - Adapted to many soils and pH levels, does not
like wet sites - Sun to part shade
- Makes good hedge, screen, mass, or background
21Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
- Evergreen to deciduous
- Large shrub to low spreading groundcover
- Bright red fruit, some with black
- Sun or light shade well adapted except for wet
areas - Some disease and insect problems
22Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
- Dwarf to large shrubs or small trees
- Drought tolerant
- Summer flowers, some have good fall color and
excellent bark - Light pruning or nearly to the ground as desired
23Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)
- Medium to large shrub
- Early spring flowers from orange, red, scarlet to
white - Performs well in dry sites chlorotic in high pH
soils - Few pest problems
- Spring flowers are best ornamental feature
24Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
- Tree or shrub, upright to spreading to
groundcover types - Prefer open sunny locations
- Light, sandy, moderately moist soil though will
grow just about anywhere including dry clay soils
25Lilac (Syringa spp.)
- Common spring flowering shrub
- Powdery mildew can be a problem
- Small to large shrubs (tree forms available too)
- Prefer full sun
- Many cultivars available
26Mugo pine (Pinus mugo)
- Evergreen shrub from 3 up to 15-20
- Tolerates calcareous soils
- Prefers deep, moist loam in full sun to partial
shade
27Spirea (Spiraea spp.)
- Several to choose from
- Spring or summer blooming varieties
- Many drought tolerant when established
- Full sun tolerant of many soils except wet ones
28Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
- Prefers acid, well-drained, moist soil
- Sun to half shade
- Blooms early summer through frost
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Lustrous dark green leaves in summer turning
bronze-red in fall, persist into winter
29Southern waxmyrtle (Myrica cerifera)
- Grows 10-15 tall
- Glossy olive-green evergreen leaves, aromatic
- Tolerant to wide range of soil conditions
- Full sun or half shade
30Euonymus (Euonymus spp.)
- Many to choose from
- Evergreen or deciduous
- Some have interesting fruit and nice fall color
- Scale and powdery mildew can be a problem
31Trees for Oklahoma
32Amur maple (Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala)
- Glossy dark green foliage turn to shades of
yellow and red in fall - Excellent red fruiting types
- 15 20
- Multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree
- Can become chlorotic west of I-35
33Caddo maple(Acer saccharum Caddo)
- A sugar maple ecotype native to W Oklahoma
- Thicker leaves than N. E. U.S. maples
- Thus more appropriate for W Oklahoma
- Good fall color, but can vary
- Shade tree to 40-65
34Shantung maple(Acer truncatum)
- Slightly smaller maple
- to 20-30
- Pest-free leaves
- Showy purple/red new
- growth all summer long
- Star-shaped leaf attractive
- Fall color variable
- Needs to be used more
35Chinese pistache(Pistacia chinensis)
- Attractive tree year round
- Pest-free leaves
- Good fall color of orange, yellow or almost
purple - Showy fruits on female trees
- Matures to 45
- Awkward growth habit when young
36Lacebark elm(Ulmus parvifolia)
- Grow for breath-taking bark
- 35 at maturity
- Small, non-messy leaves
- Pretty fall red fruits
- Needs some corrective pruning when young
- Avoids Dutch elm disease better than most native
elms
37Cedar elm(Ulmus crassifolia)
- Native elm usually overlooked
- Bark wont be as showy as lacebark elm
- Technically susceptible to DED, but not likely
to occur - Durable shade tree with leather-like leaves, very
dark green, quite showy - Grows to 40 high
38Kentucky coffeetree(Gymnocladus dioicus)
- Appropriate throughout OK
- Ornamental characteristics yr.-round
- Rugged bark, white summer flowers, tropical
looking leaves, yellow fall color and beautiful
fruit pods - Turf grows well under this tree
- Grows to 40-50
- Espresso (male) available in limited quantities
39Deciduous magnolias(Magnolia spp.)
- Many species/hybrids to choose from
- Mainly white and pink flowers
- Position in landscape where they wont warm up
too quickly - Easier to grow than southern magnolia
- Vary from 6-20 high
40Redbud (Cercis spp.)
- Oklahoma redbud 10-12 also in white,
- Eastern redbud white and purple/red forms
- Forest Pansy purple foliage
- Covey/Lavender Twist - Weeping redbud
- All of the above of native origins
41River birch (Betula nigra)
- Taken for granted, but still the best birch for
Oklahoma - Beauty is provided year round by attractive
exfoliating bark - Yellow fall color
- Grows to 45 high
- Leaf and twig drop (cladoptosis) is normal in the
dead of summer - Relatively pest-free
42Oaks(Quercus spp.)
- Many native and exotic oaks
- to choose from
- Chinkapin oak
- Shingle oak
- Burr oak
- Willow oak
- Nuttall oak
- Swamp white
- Sawtooth oak
43Planetree vs. Sycamore(Platanus spp.)
- Similar but hybrid planetree resists anthracnose
- Both large and considered messy by some
- Bark can be exquisite!!!
- The trouble and mess of these trees are usually
justifiable - Large to 40 and up in OK
44Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)
- Grow for purple or green foliage
- Smoke-like flowers in summer
- Showy bark shape of trunks/lichens
- Vary in height from large shrub to small tree at
20
45Sweetgum, Fruitless sweetgum(Liquidambar
styraciflua Rotundiloba)
- Provides year-round beauty
- Shiny, aromatic foliage
- Brilliant fall color
- Corky stems add winter interest
- Fruits of common sweetgum are attractive although
messy - Fruitless type slightly more narrow, less fall
color
46Western soapberry(Sapindus drummondii)
- Problems with fruits and bugs do exist, but have
been greatly exaggerated - Grow for durable nature of tree
- Other utilitarian uses should be considered such
as windbreaks
47Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
- 40 60
- Light green, bluish green, to silver green
foliage color - Specimen tree, good alternative to blue spruce
- Young plants may look awkward
48Arizona cypress(Cupressus arizonica)
- Cold hardier than often believed to be
- Green, gray or blue foliage forms
- Blue Ice and others outstanding
- Unique cross-shaped foliage
- Exfoliating bark over time
- Many OK cities still in the red cedar rut
- 35 under OK conditions
49Bald cypress(Taxodium distichum)
- Does not require growing in or near water
- Attractive orange brown trunk
- Lacey, almost fern-like foliage
- 60 plus by 2/3 wide
- OK Proven tree
- Common, yet still underutilized in certain
communities
50Dawn redwood(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
- Looks like a bald cypress
- Has opposite rather than alt. leaves
- Trunk more orange at maturity
- NO knees under any condition
- Occasional hardiness issues
- A Chinese tree that deserves more use
- Easily 60 even under stress
51California incensecedar(Calocedrus decurrens)
- Native to W. U.S.
- Does well in OK
- Retains green foliage in winter
- Handsome bark with age
- In cultivation expect only 40 tall
- Needs some protection from wind
- Winter irrigation important first few yrs.
52Junipers (Juniperus spp.)
- Grow here because they are adapted
- Although many are native/naturalized, still not
perfect - Various forms available tree, shrub,
groundcover - Some have better disease resistance than others
53Limber pine(Pinus flexilis)
- Provides soft look and feel in the landscape
- Beautiful blue or green needles
- More resistant to pinewood nematode
- Ask for cultivars in the trade
- Expect a 30-40 tree at least
54Western red cedar(Thuja plicata)
- Use for fast growth 3/year
- Good for hedge rows, mass plantings or single
specimens - Many cultivars and hybrids to choose from
- Deer and bagworm resistant
- Mature ht. varies from 25-45 x 20-30
55Some Undesirable Trees
- Bradford Pear
- Silver Maple
- Pin Oak (central western OK)
- Flowering Plums
- Mimosa
- Black Locust
- Honeylocust
- Willow
- Poplar
- Sycamore
- Fir
- Spruce
- Pine (certain spp.)
56- Ornamental Plant Selection Care
- Program developed by
- Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
- Oklahoma State University
- David Hillock, Assistant Extension Specialist,
Horticulture - Phil Pratt, Area Extension Specialist, Plant
Pathology - Tom Royer, Assistant Professor, Entomology
- Mike Schnelle, Extension Specialist, Ornamental
Floriculture - Jim Shrefler, Area Extension Specialist,
Horticulture - Sharon von Broembsen, Extension Specialist, Plant
Pathology