Regional Picks: Unusual Evergreens – Southern Plains

1. ‘Blue Ice’ Arizona Cypress

Name:Cupressus arizonicavar.glabra‘Blue Ice’

USDA Hardiness Zones:6 to 9

Size:25 to 30 feet marvelous and 8 to 12 feet wide of the mark

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; inert to alkaline , well - drained soil

Whether planted en masse , as a screen or shelterbelt , or singularly to keep its unequaled colour and material body , ‘ Blue Ice ’ Arizona cypress tree evoke an component of garden surprisal . This drought - tolerant conifer ’s powder patrician leaf complement any garden colour schema and provides a cooling illusion on even the hottest summer days . While a well - drained location is a must , miserable grunge are no challenge for this heat - loving conical Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Quirky cones and a signature exfoliate barque in stripes of copper , brass , and amber add another layer of interest as it matures .

2. ‘Pioneer Sentry’ Incense Cedar

Name:Calocedrus decurrens‘Pioneer Sentry’

Zones:5 to 8

Size:35 to 40 feet grandiloquent and 4 feet all-encompassing

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; well - run out stain

‘ Pioneer Sentry ’ is the exclaiming breaker point of incense cedar tree . Its tight , columnar form set it in a painfully confine mathematical group of fastigiate trees suitable for the clime and land of the Southern Plains . How meet that this upright cultivar with rugged cinnamon - dark barque and a heat- and drought - resistant disposal was found in a Portland , Oregon , pioneer graveyard . Infrequently plant outside its genus ’s aboriginal range , ‘ Pioneer Sentry ’ assert its dark green foliage year - round . alone lanternlike strobile birth on the tip of scalelike leafage provide additional interest .

3. Canaert Red Cedar

Name:Juniperus virginiana‘Canaertii’

Zones:3 to 9

Size:20 to 30 feet magniloquent and 12 to 15 feet wide

condition : Full sun to fond nicety ; moist , well - drained territory

This was a must - have coniferous tree in the Southern Plains decennary ago but , for some intellect , fall out of party favor . That ’s a shame because Canaert ruby-red cedar tree ’s compact flesh , class - cycle hopeful unripe foliage , and abundant Chuck Berry output make the works a great choice for test or as a specimen decorative tree . With years , this conifer will disclose its juvenile signifier , exposing an irregular fork habit . While moist , fertile soils are optimum , this red cedar tree is drought tolerant and able to hold longsighted periods of uttermost summer heat . In mast age of berry readiness , this carmine cedar tree will take on an overall blue - gray cast that will diminish to green as hungry winter bird devour the fruit .

4. ‘Saratoga Gold’ Yaupon Holly

Name:Ilexvomitoria‘Saratoga Gold’

Zones:7 to 10

Size:16 to 20 invertebrate foot tall and 12 to 15 foot extensive

Why ensconce for red holly berries when you may have yellowed 1 , instead ? Yaupon holly is a large broadleaf shrub than can be keep as a small tree . It ’s so adaptable , in fact , that some gardeners mold it — without much elbow grease — into an espalier , a topiary , a bonsai , or a hedge . ‘ Saratoga Gold ’ Yaupon holly makes a beautiful ornamental tree with light gray bark ( that never becomes corked ) ; glossy , needleless leaves ; and abundant , pearl - size yellow berries . This holly tolerates various type of soil and wet extremes .

Bill Seaman is an arborist with Arborilogical Services in Wylie , Texas , and serve as a regent for the Texas Historic Tree Coalition .

photograph : ( 1 ) , Doreen Wynja ; ( 2 ) , Thomas Alamy / gapphotos.com ; ( 3 ) , millettephotomedia.com ; ( 4 ) , courtesy of Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens

Get our latest peak , how - to article , and instructional videos send to your inbox .

sign you up …

Regional Picks: Unusual Evergreens - Midwest

Regional Picks: Unusual Evergreens - South

Regional Picks: Unusual Evergreens - Mountain West

Regional Picks: Unusual Evergreens - Northern California

Join Fine Gardening for a innocent engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a special sand clam cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape painting needs , each time of year is filled with a never - terminate list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be thrifty when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - fail by a pair …