Trees

A redbud tree is a tree with showy magenta flowers that bloom in spring and dark bark. It is native to eastern and southern North America, spreading from Ontario to Florida. As it is a flowering...

The magnolia tree is the state tree of Mississippi and is native to Asia, North America and the West Indies. There are about 80 species of magnolia trees but the most popular types produce large,...

Homeowners prune trees for safety, aesthetic and health purposes. Cutting trees permits new growth and encourages the tree to grow in a selected direction. To remove large branches, or if the...

Sometimes called a silk tree, the mimosa tree is an elegant flowering tree that grows in temperate climates. Mimosa trees were brought to the United States from China in 1745 and are considered an...

The saucer magnolia, or Magnolia x soulangiana, is a fast growing magnolia tree that can reach up to 25 feet tall. The lovely fragrant blossoms are white with a pink interior and open in late...

Guava is a low, spreading tree that fruits throughout the year. In the United States guava are grown predominantly in southern Texas, southern California, Hawaii, and Florida. The guava tree...

Ficus trees make great indoor plants because they tend to thrive in even minimal sunlight. They also require regular pruning to keep them at a reasonable, manageable size, otherwise they will very...

The camphor tree is a type of evergreen native to Asia and considered an invasive plant in some parts of the U.S., including Florida. The camphor tree has oval or elliptical shaped, olive-colored...

Russian olive is a small tree or shrub native to Europe and Asia. It can grow up to 30 feet tall and its leaves and young branches are covered by silver to rust-colored scales, which give Russian...

Topiary trees are not only unique conversation pieces, but quite often they also are works of art. Properly training a topiary tree takes a lot of pruning and shaping until the tree learns to grow...

The Kieffer pear, Pyrun communis, is resistant to fire blight and lives a long time. It bears has yellow-green fruit late in the season and it is self-pollinating. Pruning always seems like a...

Trimming back hibiscus promotes new growth and prolific flowering. Clearing away dead or pest-damaged wood also improves plant health. Shaping done each spring maintains a beautiful, healthy hibiscus.

Cedar logs can be used to create firewood or can be milled for lumber. Cedar is nice for firewood because it splits easily and cleanly and produces a high heat. It burns faster than other kinds of...

Pomegranate trees beautify any yard with their globes of red fruit and fragrant blossoms. Pomegranates ripen in late fall, typically October or November, and the trees can be grown in the United...

Junipers are evergreen plants that can vary in size from shrubs to tall trees. Pruning a juniper tree is an important part of its healthy growth, but it must be done correctly. If it is not done,...

If you need a fast-growing tree in your yard, consider a Japanese silk tree, or mimosa. Originating in Asia and Africa, it arrived in the U.S. in 1745 and thrives in zones 6 to 9. The tree grows...

Red cedar trees do not often require pruning to create a strong, healthy tree. Due to the size and breadth of a cedar tree maintenance pruning may be required to remove hazardous limbs from...

Anyone who has happened upon a photo of an adorable koala munching on its dinner has at least a passing familiarity with the eucalyptus tree. Indigenous to Australia, most of the dozens of species...

How you prune your Asian pear tree will depend on whether you are growing a young tree or pruning an established tree. By pruning your young tree properly, you can create a healthier established...

The bosc pear tree is a leafy green variety producing brownish fruit every year once matured. Known as a winter pear, the fruit can be stored below 40-degrees F for six to eight weeks, then kept...

Colorado blue spruce trees have a columnar pyramidal shape that can be maintained through proper trimming. Damaged and diseased branches should be cut off each year to promote healthy growth. Use...

Fig trees produce sweet, exotic fruit and have a unique leaf that adds texture to any garden. The tree is adaptable to most climates, but will not survive extreme dangers of frost. It is important...

The Eastern red cedar tree is actually a variety of juniper well known for the enticing odor of the wood and ornamental evergreen leaves. 

Cedar trees tend to grow in a disorganized...

Chinese red fig trees, also known as Chinese pistache, can reach up to 60 feet in height. They get their name from the red fruit they produce, which eventually ripens to a dark color. Proper...

Cedar trees are evergreens native to mountainous areas of the Mediterranean and the Himalayas. Well known for their enticing woody smell and ornamental leaves, cedars tend to grow in a...

Jonagold apples are a hybrid of the Jonathan and Golden Delicious varieties. This variety was first developed in the US in 1943, and released for commercial production in 1968. It is known for its...

Japanese cherry trees, also known as weeping cherries or flowering cherries, are small trees formed by grafting. They have highly ornamental branches filled with cascading blooms that require...

Bradford pear trees are popular landscape trees. Jan Haldeman, Erskine College biology professor, reports Bradfords grow quickly with beautiful spring flowers and attractive autumn foliage. The...

Dutch elm disease (DED) is a fungal disease unique to elm trees which is spread by elm bark beetles. The trees first wilt and yellow in the uppermost branches and eventually die. Once one tree in...

While the limbs of most trees branch upward from the trunk, the branches of weeping trees cascade downward from the crown. Gardeners choose weeping trees to be the focal point of their landscapes...

Weeping river birch trees, with their craggy branches and dramatic cascading crown, add interest to any landscape. Savvy gardeners often plant river birches in areas that suffer from mild drainage...

Pruning can harm a tree when improper cuts are made. Fungal diseases, reduced harvests and weak structures are the result of gardeners making flesh cuts or pruning off healthy branches. Using...

Most apple and pear trees must be pruned at regular intervals throughout their life, but only ball-wrapped or bare-rooted apple and pear trees need to be pruned at first planting. All apple and...

Trimming fruit trees will give you a more productive harvest, remove diseased and winter damaged branches and give your fruit tree an aesthetically pleasing shape. According to North Carolina...

Apple trees bear fruit in one of three locations. Tip bearing apple trees produce fruit on the ends of new branches, which it grew the previous year. Spur bearing apple trees produce apples on...

Desert climates, despite their brutal heat and dry conditions, boast a bevy of plant life. Long reaching cactus, tiny flowering shrubs and even tall, sweeping trees decorate many landscapes in...

Weeping cherry trees can be pruned to have a natural or mushroom shape. Many gardeners decide to keep their flowing branches, yet prune the bottoms to prevent the tree from looking messy....

Many of us associate the tall sinewy cypress tree with the stylized shocks of deep green and black color with which they were represented in the famous paintings of Vincent van Gogh--most notably,...

Growing your own apricots can be a rewarding process--and homegrown apricots always taste better than store-bought ones. To get the most fruit from an apricot tree it is important to properly care...

Chinese willow (Salix matsudana), also called Hankow willow or corkscrew willow, is a tall winter-deciduous tree that is admired for its showy late winter "pussy cat paw" flowers and contorted...

Bradford pear trees are considered ideal street trees, as they feature lovely white blossoms and they usually do not grow too large or their roots become so big that they crack sidewalk pavement....

Black mulberries are purple berries that look similar to blackberries. Because they are delicate, mulberries are not typically sold in grocery stores, however mulberries are so delicious that if...

Ornamental evergreens grow to be less than 25 feet tall. There are a multitude of evergreens to choose depending on your personal taste and space. Because evergreens remain green during the...

Weeping cherry plants are notorious for their elegant beauty. Sweetly arching branches stretch from a center knot toward the ground. Each branch is heavily laden with aromatic white...

Flowering peach trees bloom twice as heavily as regular ones. They produce white, pink or candy-striped flowers throughout the early growing season. They are primarily decorative, since their...

Evergreens are trees and shrubs with glossy, often spiny leaves that do not drop in the winter. They stay green all year round and grow very large, offering shade and a clear space for planting...

The Prairiefire crab tree, or crab apple (Malus "Prairiefire"), is a variety of flowering tree highly regarded for its springtime flowers in cold winter regions. A disease-resistant selection,...

There are many types of flowering willow shrubs that home gardeners can use to enliven their gardens. Shrub willow is a fast-growing and low-maintenance plant. It prefers moist, well-draining soil...

Pruning hedges or trees requires some skill and knowledge. When done incorrectly, the specimen can become weak and diseased. The use of an electric saw will save time and effort, but knowing how...

The fruitless mulberry tree is a mulberry varietal that offers the scenic beauty of a mulberry tree without the messy cleanup. The fruitless mulberry is native to North America and Asia and hardy...