Ambleside Gardens & Nursery

WHAT'S IN OUR GARDEN!

Styrax Japonica

JAPANESE SNOWBELL

The Japanese Snowbell is an unusual small ornamental tree that is relatively uncommon. Growing to a height of about 20 feet with an almost equal width, Japanese Snowbell has a rounded outline with a picturesque and twiggy branching habit. It blooms in early June with many clusters of small flowers that hang down from the branches. Perfect as a small ornamental tree off a patio, Styrax Japonica is well-behaved, pest-free, and grows well in full sun or partial shade. Related varieties are Styrax Japonica 'Pink Chimes' (a light pink flowering tree) and Styrax Japonica 'Carrillon' (an unusual weeping form).

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Chionanthus virginicus

AMERICAN FRINGETREE

Chionanthus retusus

CHINESE FRINGETREE

Beautiful in bloom, both of these trees make magnificent spring flowering specimans.

Native to the United States, Chionanthus virginicus is also call Old Man's Beard. Lightly fragrant clusters of fleecy blooms cover this tree before its leaves appear. Rounded in habit, the American Fringetree can grow up to 20 feet. The Chinese Fringetree has smaller flower clusters and smaller glossy leaves. It can also grow to 20 feet and has an irregular rounded habit with exfoliating bark.

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Azalea viscosum x arborescens Azalea viscosum 'Betty Cummins'

HYBRID AZALEA 'LOLLIPOP' HYBRID AZALEA 'BETTY CUMMINS

Azalea viscosum 'Lemon Drop' Azalea austrinum x atlanticum 'ChoiceCream'

HYBRID AZALEA 'LEMON DROP' HYBRID AZALEA 'CHOICE CREAM'

Hybrid Deciduous Azaleas

Years ago, Henry Thoreau wrote of his delight in finding the native wild azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) blooming around Walden Pond in Massachusetts. This and other native varieties can still be found throughout the eastern United States; and many have been crossed providing the gardener with a wonderful group of deciduous shrubs. Many of these deciduous azaleas have fragrant flowers with colors ranging from white to deep pink to red to yellow. Early blooming varieties flower in late April and early May and late blooming varieties flower into July. All of the deciduous Azaleas prefer rich well-drained soil and will bloom for longer periods if given some afternoon shade.

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Syringa Meyeri

TOPGRAFTED DWARF KOREAN LILAC

This garden gem blooms in late April into early May, and like all lilacs, has wonderfully fragrant blooms. Compact in growth habit, the Korean Lilac rarely grows to more than 5' in height with an almost equal width. The flowers are a purple red and are smaller and more compact than those of the common and French Hybrid lilacs. Korean Lilac has smaller leaves than the other larger growing lilacs, and is not prone to the powdery mildews that affect other lilacs. Like all lilacs, Korean Lilac prefers a sunny location with well-drained soil. Syringa Meyeri can be often found in top-grafted form creating a compact and well-behaved small tree.

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Fothergilla Major

BOTTLEBRUSH

Bottlebrush, a native of southeastern United States is more deserving of a space in the garden. Lightly scented flowers appears in late April into early May. Bottlebrush is a great companion to mid sized evergreens such as rhododendron, azaleas, and hollies. Fothergillas are happy in either partial shade or full sun. Their fall color is a marvelous blend of yellow, orange and red. Readily available varieties are Fothergilla gardenii and Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy', both of which are more compact growing eventually becoming about 5' to 6' tall and nearly as wide. Fothergilla 'Blue Mist' is another very compact variety known for the blue cast to its foliage. For the enthusiastic gardener, Fothergilla is sometimes available in tree form or topgrafted onto a compatible stem and rootstock. As a topgraft, Fothergilla makes a fantastic small tree, and can be a unique garden statement.

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Viburnum Carlesi
KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM

Carlesi Viburnum, native to Korea, is a traditional garden favorite long enjoyed for the delightful spicy-sweet fragrance of its flowers in mid to late April. Blooming before the leaves fully mature, clusters of pink to red buds open into 2-3 inch diameter round snowballs. This plant grows slowly with an upright, rounded habit eventually reaching 6 to 8 feet in height and width. Pruning should be done in late spring so that next year's flower buds have time to develop. Like many viburnums, the fall color is usually a reddish purple. Carlesi Viburnum grows happily in partial shade to full sun and prefers well-drained soil. It is a great deciduous companion to medium growing evergreen shrubs and works well as a foundation planting or border garden speciman. Few gardens are complete without this favorite.