Landscape and Nursery - Plants for Delaware Landscapes Featured at the 2009 UDBG Spring Plant Sale III

This year, the Univeristy of Delaware Botanic Garden spring benefit plant sale features those plants that add to the biodiversity of the landscape and offer food and habitat for wildlife, especially insects and the birds that eat them. Many native plants are featured. This is the third in a series on plants being offered at the UDBG spring plant sale that are recommended for Delaware landscapes.

Morus alba, ‘Chaparral’ Weeping Mulberry, 10-20', full sun to part shade, dry to moist soils. The distinctive architecture of the twisted, weeping branches is best appreciated during the winter months but this weeping form, covered with glossy green leaves, makes a striking specimen throughout the year. Fall foliage is bright yellow. Don’t worry, this is a fruitless form. Photo from Garden State Nursery.

Nyssa sylvatica, ‘Wildfire’ Black Tupelo, 30-50', full sun to part shade, dry to moist soils. The brilliant red fall color is vivid and consistent on this selection of black tupelo. Containerized plants establish reliably, since the root system is completely intact. Native plant. Photo by Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org


Oxydendrum arboreum, Sourwood, 25-30', full sun to part shade, moist soils. An elegant understory tree, sourwood produces clusters of pendulous white flowers in the early summer that attract numerous pollinators. The developing fruits turn upright and contrast with the brilliant red autumn foliage to make it seem as though the plant is still in flower in the fall. Native plant. Photo by Wendy VanDyk Evans, Bugwood.org


Persea palustris, Swamp Redbay, 15-20', full sun to part shade, moist to wet soils. The broadleaf evergreen foliage offers a real treat during the bleak winter months and can serve as a screen or a backdrop for heavily fruited shrubs. Photo by Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org


For more information on the 2009 UDBG Spring Plant Sale go to http://ag.udel.edu/udbg/events/annualsale.html