What to plant

[TimR]

Hard to go wrong with American dogwood in my book. It’s among my favorites in my hoard and should be good for your area. Our property when we lived in Charlotte NC had lots of it growing wild. Gave away a dozen or so saplings . Redbud was another we had that should do well in your area.

 

[Jperry93]

I was trying to find the best place to post this thread beside the general chatroom, so hopefully this is right.

The wife and I are down to our last major home renovation for a while - overhauling the landscape. We live on 0.7ac in the Philly suburbs (corner lot). The current landscape is far too much for us - huge gardens, unused dated hardscaping, a small fish pond, drainage issues, etc. We are pretty much going to tear it all out and start from scratch with a much more minimalist approach that will give us more usable lawn for the young ones. This may involve taking out some trees that divide the back yard (hawthorn, willow, magnolia), but rest assured I will mill and use anything that gets taken out We are hiring a contractor for this work, and for the most part we are going to put in plants that are low maintenance, resilient, and somewhat colorful. We have a major deer problem around here, and they will eat just about anything, including plants known to be deer-resistant such as Green Giants and Holly.

I do want to pick out some trees or bushes to plant though, so I was hoping to get some suggestions for this climate. Ill probably plant a fruit tree or 2 for the actual fruit (keeping our 2 peach and 2 fig trees as well). It would be cool to have something a bit more unusual/exotic if anyone has suggestions. I already checked and confirmed guaiacum wont survive here

Unusual fruit/wood trees... I notice persimmon down the thread - bear in mind those are dioecious so you'd need at least 2 (if you get lucky and end up with a male and female). Pomegranate is a pretty shrub/tree that doesn't get super big, and grows pretty well.
If you want to go a bit more unusual still, quince and medlar could be fun. Although the main use of the fruit is jellies etc. Medlar jelly (I have made it once) does go really well with game though. If you're talking hardy exotic trees, jujube is a good tree and produces very pretty wood (hardy too).
If you'd be open to a climber, consider a maypop (Passioflora incarnata) - loads of edible passion fruits and a USA native believe it or not :)

 

[daniscool]

Oh yeah. Another good option is plum. Get a good one that doesn’t taste of sugar water and you will he rewarded. It grows kind of slowly but the fruit is well worth it and if you ever cut it down, the wood is usually amazing too. In New Zealand I had this amazing black Doris plum. If you can get those they are really good.

 

[daniscool]

Unusual fruit/wood trees... I notice persimmon down the thread - bear in mind those are dioecious so you'd need at least 2 (if you get lucky and end up with a male and female). Pomegranate is a pretty shrub/tree that doesn't get super big, and grows pretty well.
If you want to go a bit more unusual still, quince and medlar could be fun. Although the main use of the fruit is jellies etc. Medlar jelly (I have made it once) does go really well with game though. If you're talking hardy exotic trees, jujube is a good tree and produces very pretty wood (hardy too).
If you'd be open to a climber, consider a maypop (Passioflora incarnata) - loads of edible passion fruits and a USA native believe it or not :)

We had passion fruit too. Those are a treat. Thinking of it, if tamarillo grows in your area you should definitely plant one of those. Easily the most underrated fruit ever. (Those grow well in NZ too)

 

[Jperry93]

We had passion fruit too. Those are a treat. Thinking of it, if tamarillo grows in your area you should definitely plant one of those. Easily the most underrated fruit ever. (Those grow well in NZ too)

They are great, aren't they! If I had a heated greenhouse, I'd be growing Passioflora ligularis (sweet grenadilla) as its one of my favourite fruits, but they don't do well in the UK climate. I do have a Passioflora tarminiana (banana passion fruit) I have been growing for the last couple of years - just about ok to keep outdoors in the south of the UK. It produced one flower last year for me alas no fruit (yet).
Tamarillo is a great call!!

 

[Mike Hill]

First question I have is how much sun will these new plants have to live in. Makes a major difference. As for a shrub that is low maintenance, there are many. Oak Leaf Hydrangea is one I could heartily recommend. Is a native, has great "flowers" most of the summer, but likes some protection from midday sun. In PA, may not make as much difference. Withhazel, Carolina Allspice, Allegheny Serviceberry, dogwood (even the "twig" type), buddleia, and even redbud. Azaleas - there are some natives that are deciduous and could grow in your area as well as all the evergreen ones you can get at garden centers. Rhododendrons, are native and may grow, but they generally need some shade as well as Kalmia. As far as herbaceous, it would be hard to beat peonies (can be very long-lived), lilies ("bulbs" that are hardy), but don't like mole or voles playing with them. A new to me perenniel that I've grown to cherish is hellebore (very deer-resistant), but like shade. I love hostas, I have over 150 varieties, but they generally need shade, and I think deer like them. There are a number of native Viburnums. Carolina Silverbell is a stunning tree in flower and doesn't grow huge. Same with Sourwood. The bush magnolias (tulip and star) are good choices. Non-natives could be Japanese maples - there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Trident Maple is a maple that doesn't get too big. I have a 40+ year old one that is maybe 20'-25' tall. I bought it to bonsai, but because of traveling, did not have time and just planted it in the yard. There are lots of choices in smaller or even dwarf forms of evergreen trees and hollies. Boxwoods and yew can be low-maintenance if you choose smaller varieties, however, boxwoods can die out in very cold temps.

Just about any fruit can be grafted onto dwarfing rootstock and yield a smaller to drastically smaller tree. I have one apple left that I grafted onto very dwarfing rootstock, 40+ years ago, that is maybe 6' tall. Or, you can control size by pruning - especially summer pruning. If you want to chance it a little, however, they seem to not be bothered by temps down to single digits and they bloom late (after probable frosts) is the Japanese Persimmon. If choose correctly, they self pollinate and some are not as tannic even when not as ripe.

Don't know about deer-damage on any of these.

 

[Big Ry]

Unusual fruit/wood trees... I notice persimmon down the thread - bear in mind those are dioecious so you'd need at least 2 (if you get lucky and end up with a male and female). Pomegranate is a pretty shrub/tree that doesn't get super big, and grows pretty well.
If you want to go a bit more unusual still, quince and medlar could be fun. Although the main use of the fruit is jellies etc. Medlar jelly (I have made it once) does go really well with game though. If you're talking hardy exotic trees, jujube is a good tree and produces very pretty wood (hardy too).
If you'd be open to a climber, consider a maypop (Passioflora incarnata) - loads of edible passion fruits and a USA native believe it or not :)

Yeah I'm going to need to pay more attention to the pollination aspect i guess. I didn't ever realize that was a concern. Persimmons are native to this region, though we are kind of at the edge of where they can grow. I don't know of any in the area either, so i have no idea if i could assume that they would be able to reproduce naturally. I also don't even like persimmon fruit. I really just wanted a Diospyros in my yard lol

I think quince, pomegranate, and passion fruit need warmer climates. I'm not aware of those being grown in this area. Maybe quince would work but not the other two.

 

[Big Ry]

Oh yeah. Another good option is plum. Get a good one that doesn’t taste of sugar water and you will he rewarded. It grows kind of slowly but the fruit is well worth it and if you ever cut it down, the wood is usually amazing too. In New Zealand I had this amazing black Doris plum. If you can get those they are really good.

Plum is one I'm considering and does grow here

 

[Mike Hill]

Tamarillo is a great call!!

Except, they are subtropical and require frost free - zones 9-11 to live outside.

 

[Mike Hill]

Yeah I'm going to need to pay more attention to the pollination aspect i guess. I didn't ever realize that was a concern. Persimmons are native to this region, though we are kind of at the edge of where they can grow. I don't know of any in the area either, so i have no idea if i could assume that they would be able to reproduce naturally. I also don't even like persimmon fruit. I really just wanted a Diospyros in my yard lol

I think quince, pomegranate, and passion fruit need warmer climates. I'm not aware of those being grown in this area. Maybe quince would work but not the other two.

No on the tropical passion fruit (not hardy), but yes for the native (Maypops), but they are a vine and would need support and something to grow on. If you go that route, maybe grapes or hardy kiwi.

Pomegranate - largely not hardy, but there are some varieties that have come over from the Russian area of the world that are hardier. I have not tried one yet. There are some that are living here in Nashville that the Kurdish brought with them.

Quince - should be fine, both the fruiting and flowering kind. The flowering kind does usually have thorns though.

A slow growing tree is ginko. Make sure you get a male one - no smelly fruit. And now come in a variety of sizes and shapes (columnar, dwarf).

Elderflower and Sumac are both natives. Sumac may be hard to find to buy, but Elderflower isn't too hard to find.

A nursery I have bought not-common fruiting trees/shrubs from various times is Edible Landscaping.

Me- I'd grow more figs!!!! BTW, please show me a picture of your figs as they ripen.

 

[Webb]

It sounds like you suggesting planting a dessert bar for deer which just happened to be one of his issues.

 

[Mike Hill]

Agree, that's why I put the last sentence into my first post. But, there ain't much that deer won't touch, especially if food is scarce. I've had deer on the property (I live midway between downtown and the outskirts), but only rarely, so I don't have that problem, but rabbits, moles, voles, chipmunks, squirrels I do have and have either found ways to circumvent some of the damage, or just given up and let them feast. Have a couple of cats that keep the chipmunks and voles down, but they don't dig for moles, and the squirrels and big rabbits just laugh at them. Now, young, small tender rabbits are a taste treat, especially the heads and front quarters!

 

[daniscool]

Except, they are subtropical and require frost free - zones 9-11 to live outside.

Ah. I didn’t know.

 

[Nature Man]

You might want to contact a local Master Gardener’s Club and get some free advice. Chuck

 

[Big Ry]

First question I have is how much sun will these new plants have to live in. Makes a major difference. As for a shrub that is low maintenance, there are many. Oak Leaf Hydrangea is one I could heartily recommend. Is a native, has great "flowers" most of the summer, but likes some protection from midday sun. In PA, may not make as much difference. Withhazel, Carolina Allspice, Allegheny Serviceberry, dogwood (even the "twig" type), buddleia, and even redbud. Azaleas - there are some natives that are deciduous and could grow in your area as well as all the evergreen ones you can get at garden centers. Rhododendrons, are native and may grow, but they generally need some shade as well as Kalmia. As far as herbaceous, it would be hard to beat peonies (can be very long-lived), lilies ("bulbs" that are hardy), but don't like mole or voles playing with them. A new to me perenniel that I've grown to cherish is hellebore (very deer-resistant), but like shade. There are a number of native Viburnums. Carolina Silverbell is a stunning tree in flower and doesn't grow huge. Same with Sourwood. The bush magnolias (tulip and stella) are good choices. Non-natives could be Japanese maples - there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Trident Maple is a maple that doesn't get too big. I have a 40+ year old one that is maybe 20'-25' tall. There are lots of choices in smaller forms of evergreen trees and hollies. Boxwoods and yew can be low-maintenance if you choose smaller varieties, however, boxwoods can die out in very cold temps.

Just about any fruit can be grafted onto dwarfing rootstock and yield a smaller to drastically smaller tree. I have one apple left that I grafted onto very dwarfing rootstock, 40+ years ago, that is maybe 6' tall. Or, you can control size by pruning - especially summer pruning. If you want to chance it a little, however, they seem to not be bothered by temps down to single digits and they bloom late (after probable frosts) is the Japanese Persimmon. If choose correctly, they self pollinate and some are not as tannic even when not as ripe.

Don't know about deer-damage on any of these.

A lot of the plants you mentioned are common for landscaping around here. We also have several already, including 2 Japanese maples, 2 hollys, numerous boxwood bushes, 1-2 magnolia trees, and some grafted trees (cherry & Willow i think?). We also have Eastern white pines, 3 callery pears, some other type of pear, 3 Birch, green giants, emerald green arborvitae, hawthorn, some other ornamental Cherry, and what I believe is a redbud due to the flowers on the trunk.

Sun exposure would depend on planting location. The front end and 1 side get little sun. The front gets the least, because it's shadowed by the house and by very tall trees across the street (est. 100ft+ tall). The back of the property gets a lot of sun unless you're near the pines. So there are options.

Agree, that's why I put the last sentence into my first post. But, there ain't much that deer won't touch, especially if food is scarce. I've had deer on the property (I live midway between downtown and the outskirts), but only rarely, so I don't have that problem, but rabbits, moles, voles, chipmunks, squirrels I do have and have either found ways to circumvent some of the damage, or just given up and let them feast. Have a couple of cats that keep the chipmunks and voles down, but they don't dig for moles, and the squirrels and big rabbits just laugh at them. Now, young, small tender rabbits are a taste treat, especially the heads and front quarters!

The deer are starved around here. I have them on video eating the holly in front of my house. They have also wrecked the bottom 1/3 of the green giants, which is normally known to be deer-resistant. The deer cannot reach the peaches on the peach trees, and they won't touch fig cause the white secretion is poisonous.

 

[daniscool]

A lot of the plants you mentioned are common for landscaping around here. We also have several already, including 2 Japanese maples, 2 hollys, numerous boxwood bushes, 1-2 magnolia trees, and some grafted trees (cherry & Willow i think?). We also have Eastern white pines, 3 callery pears, some other type of pear, 3 Birch, green giants, emerald green arborvitae, hawthorn, some other ornamental Cherry, and what I believe is a redbud due to the flowers on the trunk.

Sun exposure would depend on planting location. The front end and 1 side get little sun. The front gets the least, because it's shadowed by the house and by very tall trees across the street (est. 100ft+ tall). The back of the property gets a lot of sun unless you're near the pines. So there are options.

The deer are starved around here. I have them on video eating the holly in front of my house. They have also wrecked the bottom 1/3 of the green giants, which is normally known to be deer-resistant. The deer cannot reach the peaches on the peach trees, and they won't touch fig cause the white secretion is poisonous.

Another idea would be apricot. Amazing wood that dries somewhat better than plum. Fruit is very nice and is usually more varied in flavour (meaning you are more likely to find a subspecies you really really like) it also makes amazing jam.

 

[Big Ry]

Another idea would be apricot. Amazing wood that dries somewhat better than plum. Fruit is very nice and is usually more varied in flavour (meaning you are more likely to find a subspecies you really really like) it also makes amazing jam.

Yeah, too similar to peaches in my opinion, but apricot is an option

 

[Firewood Potter]

hostas, I have over 150 varieties, but they generally need shade, and I think deer like them.

I dont know about Nashville but here in North Alabama deer prefer hosta over anything growing in our yard. We have lots of hosta.

 

[DLJeffs]

I don't know much about what to plant but I know one thing NOT to plant - sweet gum. Those prickly seed pods are terrible to have around.

 

[Jperry93]

Yeah I'm going to need to pay more attention to the pollination aspect i guess. I didn't ever realize that was a concern. Persimmons are native to this region, though we are kind of at the edge of where they can grow. I don't know of any in the area either, so i have no idea if i could assume that they would be able to reproduce naturally. I also don't even like persimmon fruit. I really just wanted a Diospyros in my yard lol

I think quince, pomegranate, and passion fruit need warmer climates. I'm not aware of those being grown in this area. Maybe quince would work but not the other two.

Funny enough, I almost bought a persimmon tree (sapling) myself a couple of years back as I am very keen on the fruits (and wood). The dioecious aspect stopped me in my tracks though as I really didn't want to have to buy three of them. The wood on them is nice, and I get the diospyros thing. Diospyros lotus could work - its a chinese tree, so capable of tolerating a fairly harsh winter and produces more of a plum style fruit.

I have managed to get my pomegranate trees through snow here before, although I guess it depends how cold it gets. Here we often get around -4 celcius in the winter, so thats probably around 25F for you? You might manage with a maypop as those are a native and more cold tolerant than most of the other Passioflora. This being said, you are more north than me, and I suspect PA gets some lake effect weather? I'd say if you can grow figs, then you might be alright with pomegranate and quince.