Will you be my plant finder?

I've been all over the internet today looking at plant finders but found only a few that let you input criteria and then find plants to match it. So I thought I would post here (my first post on this forum). I'll probably get many more suggestions than all my searches found!

Here's what I'm searching for:

a really dwarf tree or a tree shaped shrub that will get no higher than abt 8 ft.
Hardy in 7a
full sun
flowering
can be deciduous or evergreen

It will be the focal point of the bed at the end of my driveway. My local nursery had some sort of Hydrangea (or was it a Viburnum?) that had been pruned/trained into a tree shape. They said it could take full sun but I
just couldn't beleive it. I think our temps have been in the 90's for abt the last 6 weeks (with no end in sight) and of course barely a drop of rain. Is there a Viburnum or a Hydrangea that could take full sun in this much heat? Other suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Sherry (a.k.a. Tired of searching the Net)

Hi Sherry, welcome to our little club of tree nuts!

To get this started, how about something like Xanthoceras? Or, to follow one of the other threads, one of the Rhus clan? One of the smaller Amelanchier species? Chitalpa? One of the small Cornus? Maybe a small Magnolia? Forestiera? Illicium? Hamamelis? A small Lagerstroemia? (I'm using the Latin names here to make it easier for you to google them and get the intended plant.)

Guy S.

Hi,
In theory a hyd could, but you'd have to water it a lot. The reblooming kind state full sun on their labels but they wilt in afternoon sun (I know, I have to water Radiant Red twice a day in part sun and the label even says full sun)! How about a lilac? They need full sun and will get 8 feet tall, or more. Just prune them right and you'll have wonderful blossoms in spring, prune to keep reblooming every spring and to maintain height and shape. Sun and good drainage is what they love.

Wow! That was fast! Thanks! I recognize a few of the latin names, StarhillForest. The ones I recognize all get taller than 8 ft. (and I'm really a no pruning kind of gal except for a few snips for shape). Cornus is a dogwood right? They do better in part shade in Georgia. I'm intrigued by the Hamamelis tho - sounds familiar - I may have considered it for a different site a while back. I'll revisit that one and check on the ones I didn't recognize.

I love the idea of a lilac,bbinj. I live in an old house and it would fit right in, but I've been steered away from them by nursery personnel bcs of our humidity. Apparently lilacs don't like our Georgia humidity.

Thanks again and keep 'em coming!
Sherry

Hi firstyard,
Hamamelis is witch hazel. Lilacs might be OK, make sure the ground drains, your winters have to be cold enough for lilacs (check on that), and watch out for powdery mildew, which you can control with sprays, organic or otherwise.
If you go to spi8.com, I think it is, he has lots of advice for lilacs for different areas.

I forgot a very important peice of info - my color scheme! It's pink, purple and white. I think that's the reason I didn't go with the Hamamelis.

Another factor - I live in a small town so my selection is somewhat limited. Alas, before gas prices were so high, I would have driven to Atlanta to shop at Pike's but that's not an option now.

Sherry

How about a ginkgo - "Chri's Dwarf"? Although mine is newly arrived and 2 ft tall it looks promising. 8' X 8' is reported to be its ultimate height & spread. Several mail order nurseries carry it. It has the familiar ginkgo leaf shape. Fall color is supposed to be the same as Autumn Gold. It's range is zone 3 to 9.

Yes, the powdery mildew is the problem and I'm just not willing to deal with it. I've already got it on an old crepe myrtle that was already here. I'm trying to go the low maintenance , easy care route. Gee, I guess I have more criteria than I thougt.
Sherry

Here is one idea... It is a Virginia Native; large shrub to small tree; adaptable; fruit attracts birds; tolerant to air pollution; flowers at an early age
Scientific Name: Chionanthus virginicus
Common Name: Fringe tree; Old man's beard
Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Habit: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well drained soil
Texture: Medium to coarse
Form: Spreading, open crown; variable shape between seedlings; often multistemmed
Height: 12 to 20'
Width: 12 to 20'
Leaf: 3 to 8" opposite, simple leaf; yellowish green to brown fall color; not especially showy
Flower/Fruit: Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers suspended from branches in May; male flowers are more showy; dark blue fruit in fall

Remember height is at maturity and could be kept pruned back to 8' fairly easily.

Another idea..... Holly trees, cultivars and hybrids

* generally shrubs; several can be used as small trees for sun or shade locations
* Savannah holly has upright, pyramidal growth habit with light green leaves
- does well in tough sites and usually has abundant fruit
- benefits from nitrogen fertilizer when under heavy fruit load
* Nellie R. Stevens, an upright hybrid with dense branching
- dark green high-gloss leaves
- can be shaped with light pruning
* East Palatka holly, similar to Savannah holly but has darker green leaves and more open growth habit
* Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), excellent native holly under a variety of conditions
- multi-stem small tree that usually grows about 15-20' tall
- can create an effective screen between properties
- produces copious quantities of reddish berries that last into spring
- cultivars available, some with different color fruit (yellow and orange)
- tolerant of coastal conditions

Dovebydesign, I love Chionanthus! I'm putting one in my backyard this fall! Too scared abt size to put one in the front yard tho. 8 ft. is really my limit for this bed and I hate pruning.

Hadn't considered a holly bcs I really want showy flowers for this particular bed.

I had sworn I wouldn't do it, but if all else fails, I will go with a dwarf crepe myrtle. It's got the shape I want for that bed, there are some very short cultivars (with good resistance to powdery mildew) and the colors fit into my scheme. It's just that they're already everywhere you look! You would think that it's a Georgia requirement to have at least one, if not 6 , crepe myrtles in your yard! Would love to have something a little different.

Abt the gingko, snapple 45, I can't see it in this particular bed but I may have a place for one in my backyard. They are soooo glorius in the fall!

Thanks!
Sherry

Chionanthus virginicus is a favorite of mine and it certainly is showy in spring. You might want to take a second look at Hamamelis but check out H. virginiana specifically. It generally doesn't get much larger than 10-12' which means to me you could easily prune it back, it has spectacular bright yellow fall color, and it flowers at a time when others don't so you'd probably have the only flowering specimen for your yard in the neighborhood. (sigh) The blooms are more of an off white to darn near light yellow though. Other than that, have you considered a Kalmia? Maybe you'll have better luck with them than me.

Yeah, Kalmia is a great idea that I should have thought of first to beat Equil to it! Many of the others we've discussed will exceed 8 feet, including Chionanthus and Hamamelis, if you give them a few years to grow.

Oh yaaa, well here's another one for her to consider-
Viburnum x pragense

http://www.specialtyornamentals.com/plantpics/v-z/viburnum_pragense_flower.jpg

Awesome leathery textured evergreen leaves with knock down gorgeous strikingly pink blooms. Now that would make a statement in your front yard and it shouldn't grow beyond that which was indicated above as being optimal. One thing though, it won't have the classic tree form you were interested in but for those blooms, you might want to consider it.

I didn't know kalmia got that tall, great idea!!

I'm surprised noone mentioned Hibiscus syriacus cultivars which come in pink, purple and white in the same bloom and typically stay in the 8' mark here. You can buy them shaped like a lollipop.

I like Guys suggestions but Dirr mentions Chitalpa doesn't do too well in the south-east. I'd imagine you want a nice blooming plant at this focal point.

Kalmia -yes, I remember looking at that for my backyard. I shied away from it at the time bcs it is poisonous and my little one put absolutely everything in her mouth!! But she's 5 now.....doesn't put too many things in her mouth....how much would she have to eat to make her sick? Does one flower do it or would she have to eat a bouquet?

Prague viburnum - had bad luck with these. Had 3, 2 died. 3rd one is doing much better in part shade rather than full sun, but sure is a slow grower. And I agree abt the shape - not the tree form I am looking for.

I've got to look up that Hibiscus. I've got one out front but it's not the syriacus. I'll hit my torn and tattered Southern Living Garden Book again!
Many thanks again,
Sherry

Here's a sample of what I mean by Hibiscus. The city installed these and they have become quite a hit at a major intersection.

This one is Hibiscus syriacus 'Coelestis' but there are many cultivars to choose from.

Beautiful Hibiscus! I didn't recognize the "syriacus" part but when I looked it up, I saw that it is Rose of Sharon. An old fashioned plant like that would look so good wth my "vintage" (to put it kindly) house. And it reminds me of my childhood - we had one in our backyard. Dare I temp the Japanese beetles? Hmmm.......I'm considering it.

Was thinking today that no one has suggested a dwarf crabapple. Any reason I should avoid one? A while back I did a lot of research and I think I found a couple that fit my criteria and had good disease resistance (reportedly).

This is so addicting! I'm spending as much time on DG as I am gardening. But that will probably change when the weather cools off. Right now this is my gardening "fix".
Sherry

Does the weather EVER cool off in Georgia???

Somehow, coming in tonight nearly seeing stars after another day out working in our Illinois humidity, I can't imagine how anyone could garden in a Georgia summer!

Guy S.

Well, weather.com says we're going down to 90 degrees on Saturday - yippee! Maybe I'll be able to get out and do some weeding. (As if they won't change that prediction by tomorrow!).

I'm actually quite astounded at how my garden is doing. I've only been here 3 years and most of my stuff has been planted in the last 2 years. I hope I'm not speaking too soon (we've probably got another month before we get any relief from the heat) but almost everything is faring much better than I would have thought.
Sherry

I won't speak for Firstyard, but here in S.Alabama I don't do much outside between June and September. If I do it is late in the evening. I do the majority of my gardening late in the fall and winter. The has been days this summer that I have taken three showers in one day.
As far as crabapples, I got burnt on them. I bought a "Brandywine" crabapple tree and it started getting rust on it even though it was supposed to be resistant. Then one morning I went outside and something had eaten every single leaf off of it, but the fruit was still there. It looked like little golf balls dangling from a stick. I cut it down and threw it in the trash pile.
I do agree about the crape myrtles, they are over planted in the south. I have 5 of them myself and that is my limit. The rose of sharon(hibiscus) mentioned earlier is more of an old fashoned shrub that is not much planted anymore but I still like it. "BlueBird" has nice blueish flowers. They get some aphids but they are easily controlled by spraying.
How do like living in "carpet capital USA"? I used to work for a carpet manufacturer and Dalton was considered the home of the industry.

Yes, we're the"Carpet Capital of the World". A not-quite-quaint small town. Very convenient when you need to replace your carpet.

Sorry to hear abt your crabapple. I have one in my side yard that was pretty pitiful when I moved in but is looking better now.