Five plants with AMAZING spring foliage!

[@theosnepenthes8751]

Your description of the Australian possums killing your tree reminded me of the relationship West coast USA gardeners have with squirrels. They don't strip your trees of leaves, but if you enjoy growing fruit or nut trees they can be a real nuisance. They'll eat your whole crop before it's ripe. Squirrels will even eat citrus fruits like oranges! The ironic part is, all the tree squirrels you see in West coast cities were introduced by folks who missed having squirrels in their city parks like they do back East. Only the ground squirrel is native to urban areas. Depending on the city, it's a different species: Eastern gray squirrels were introduced to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and Salem, Oregon, they still thrive in both locations. The largest species of North American squirrel, the beautiful Eastern Fox squirrel, was released in Los Angeles, Davis, Sacramento and Portland, Oregon over a century ago. Urban gardeners have been battling with them ever since! ;-)

[@MyFocusVaries]

So true. Squirrels are why I abandoned growing figs and grapes. I never got to eat any. My neighbour sat one afternoon and watched the squirrels harvest every single one of her slightly unripe persimmons (they didn't eat them--we found them through the year, buried here and there).

[@theosnepenthes8751]

@@MyFocusVaries A study by the University of Richmond found that squirrels fail to dig up and eat up to 74% of the seeds and acorns they bury! They store way more than they need as an insurance policy against rough winters (they maintain this habit even in California with its relatively mild winters compared to the rest of the country). Of course, if the squirrel dies 100% of his larder will remain buried. Squirrels are one of nature's best re-forestry agents as they are constantly planting future trees, one of the biggest positives about them. However, this habit makes them manic fruit and nut pickers. They'll strip a whole tree's crop in amazing speed as you said!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I’d almost prefer the squirrels as at least they would allow the tree to survive! Regards Stephen

[@theosnepenthes8751]

@@thehorti-culturalists Very true! ;-) At least California has magnificent rose gardens, not a leaf or petal shows any insect damage! Thankfully the climate is too dry for Japanese beetle larvae to survive. Back East, the damage they cause to roses is devastating. Every garden has its pros and cons, except Hawaii, which is so gardener friendly that if you shove the bottom foot of a broomstick into the ground, within a week it will sprout leaves! LOL! ;-)

[@dewdan11dnd46]

💞👍✨Thank you for sharing. Such a collection of spring colours and structural interest.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Some lovely spring foliage colour! Thanks for sharing.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@angelaobrien7698]

I love your videos with all the quirky and indepth information and look forward to them every week 💗

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thank you!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Thanks very much for the plant list in the desription. Much appreciated.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Very welcome!

[@SleepyKittens]

I recommend a tree I am growing with less messiness, but colorful foliage, heart shaped leaves, beautiful spring flowers, Cercis Canadensis 'JN2', Rising Sun Redbud.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for sharing! But I don't think we have this one in Australia. Regards Stephen

[@jacqinthegarden]

Hi Stephen and Matthew, could you grow Koelreuteria paniculata coral sun in a large pot? Or could you grow it and keep it a small size with judicious pruning? I only have a large courtyard, but love the features of this tree. Thanks guys.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I think it could be treated like a giant bonsai with regular root pruning in winter and summer pruning could help to control it if in the ground. Regards Stephen

[@jacqinthegarden]

@@thehorti-culturalists thank you, think I'll give it a try.

[@theosnepenthes8751]

That variety of rain tree is very beautiful, unfortunately the common variety (often called Chinese lantern tree because of the papery seed pods) is highly invasive in California. You can find them growing on the side of every road, especially highways. They can survive 9 months straight with no rainfall. Birds swallow the pea-shaped seeds that make a rattle noise inside the paper pods and distribute them within their droppings everywhere especially in backyards that if left unattended soon create rather large weed trees. The yellow flowers are a honeybee magnet, the falling lanterns can create quite a mess. This is the 2nd most common weed tree species (meaning a tree in your yard that was not planted by man, usually wind, a bird or a squirrel is responsible for its location) behind only the most prolific weed tree in CA, the broad leaved privet, Ligustrum lucidum, which is everywhere now.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It has shown a certain amount of weediness in some parts of Australia but not anywhere like you describe. Obviously a KZbin channel that can be seen world wide there are bound to be plants that are problematic in other countries. Regards Stephen

[@theosnepenthes8751]

@@thehorti-culturalists If I were to guess, I'd bet it is the nature of your seed-eating birds. Members of the parrot family tend to crush the seeds they consume (we have escaped pet trade cockatoo, lovebird and parrot flocks in many California cities that successfully breed in the wild, San Francisco is famous for them, but nowhere near the numbers you have in Australia). Whereas our native seedeater species tend to swallow seeds whole, which means they travel through the bird's digestive system unharmed and are released inside a nice plop of natural fertilizer! ;-)

[@Salmagundiii]

If 'Flamingo' is so vastly different from the species (I didn't know that until I watched this video) I wonder if it could be a hybrid with Toona australis?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It is completely different but no one has even suggested that it could be a hybrid apparently. It could be a possibility however. Regards Stephen

[@ValeCreekCottage]

Good evening gentlemen! I’m planting my large garden and there are a couple of shrubs/trees that I find exceedingly difficult to track down that I think have lovely foliage. I’ve got a cornus contraversa “June Snow” but can’t find a variegata version. My next one, is cornus sanguinea midwinter fire, which is available in the UK and USA, but apparently not here in Aus. Can you shed any light on if, when, or where one can get these plants?

[@grandmothergoose]

How far away from the base of the mother plant will the suckers of Toona sinensis pop up? I've ordered one because my son who hasn't been the slightest bit interested in gardening saw me watching the video about fastigiate trees and wowed at the "pink tree" and insisted we buy one and he is now interested in plants. For that I thank you for showing us such amazing and interesting plants, but now I'm wondering if I can get away with planting my "pink tree" in my smallish front yard, or if I'll have to plant it down the back where there's nothing it can get into trouble with.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They don’t sucker all that far and can easily be pulled out if you don’t want them but it will be an ongoing job, perhaps for your son! So pleased we have stimulated some interest in him and long may it continue. Regards Stephen .

[@grandmothergoose]

@@thehorti-culturalists 'not far' is measured in hundreds of kilometres where I live! If less than about 2 metres away it'll be fine in my front yard, but if they'll appear further away than that, I'll need to get it out the back or keep it pot restrained and create a large bonsai. According to my son, I now also have to find a space for the "fluffy bushes" (smokebush). Pink trees and fluffy bushes... what's next in the realm of child delight, some rare and unusual Christmas tree, or a purple lawn? Some of the plants you show is just amazing.

[@cindyrae2605]

Does the straight species have pink new foliage? Thanks.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

No it doesn't. Regards Stephen

[@annebeck2208]

While I am trying to think how I can squeeze one of these beauties in my garden. You did not mention the red foliage of the new growth on roses. I spotted one by the Acer Pseudolantanus Prinz Handjery. In the US many people are worried about Rose Rosette Disease and often panic when the new red growth shows on roses. Personally, I love having the pops of red in my small garden and RRD has not made it to my side of the country.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Great observation! Thanks for watching.

[@kerryjean2223]

Tell me Gentlemen....where are White Cedar native to? My neighbour has two very close to our fence and they are magnificent enormous specimens thanks to my avid watering practice's as well as a natural creek/waterway behind us about 15 metres away in the driest and hottest city in the world, Adelaide South Australia.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It is native to Northern Australia and south east Asia. Regards Stephen

[@kerryjean2223]

Coral Sun is a street tree here in Adelaide South Australia. I first came into knowledge of the tree planted by the local council out the front of a house I had built 22: year's ago in Golden Grove South Australia.

[@kerryjean2223]

I neglected to mention the reason for the above question and was reminded when I heard Matthew ask if the Golden Rain Tree was weedy. I have to pull out literally hundreds of saplings almost year round of the White Cedar, which I guess could be classed as weedy. Adelaide South Australia.

[@kerryjean2223]

5 or 6 year's ago....ooops, sorry to upset your apple cart. Check them out planted along Golden Grove Road, Golden Grove, South Australia if you ever get the chance.

[@kerryjean2223]

I'm always shopping at garden nurseries, especially if they have a Cafe.

[@MDA-rs4uf]

I had a Toona given as a seedling by a friend. It was great bright pink there oregon,,,,but,,,,when I planted it at home here in the southeast US it took over my yard and never turned pink again....I destroyed it with a vengeance...I can't recommend Toona for our hot and wet Southeast.. they got rid of theirs at Wisley Gardens in the UK as well ..... golden rain trees seeds out badly as well.. you'll have a yard full of them eventually so i wouldn't use that here either...sorry to poo poo your suggestions....

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Remember the suggestions are for people from all over the world and many of us will live happily with these trees for years. Regards Stephen

[@ValeCreekCottage]

Good evening gentlemen! I’m planting my large garden and there are a couple of shrubs/trees that I find exceedingly difficult to track down that I think have lovely foliage. I’ve got a cornus contraversa “June Snow” but can’t find a variegata version. My next one, is cornus sanguinea midwinter fire, which is available in the UK and USA, but apparently not here in Aus. Can you shed any light on if, when, or where one can get these plants?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

The Variegated Controversa is rarely available in Australia although I do have one plant of Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea ' for sale and I don't think winter fire is in Australia. Regards Stephen