Plant of the Week: Brandywine™ Viburnum

I can't believe it is the last full week of 2018! You wouldn't know it is the middle of winter here in Michigan...temps are supposed to get up to the low-50s today. Makes for a nice trip into work. I'll take as many easy winter commutes as I can get, because I know we'll make up for it with plenty of white-knuckle drives in January and February.

It looks like Jane is already looking forward to next fall with her plant of the week post. But like she says, the winter months are a great time for garden planning.

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday thus far, and that your New Year is festive and safe.

See you in 2019.

- Natalie 

More than just fall beauty.

Viburnum nudum is a native viburnum and has a lot to offer besides its elegant good looks.

The time for Brandywine™ Viburnum is more typically fall, when the glossy foliage turns burgundy and the abundant berries transform to pink, blue and purple. But now is a good time to think about making room for this lovely plant in your landscape planning. It's hardy to USDA Zone 5 and grows 5-6' tall and wide. Site it in full sun or partial shade.

We initially selected Brandywine™ as a pollinator for one of our favorite plants, 'Winterthur'. Like many plants, Viburnum typically needs another selection of Viburnum nearby in order to fruit. Some require a plant of the same species, others are more open-minded.

Brandywine™ is unusual in that it fruits well without a pollinator, making it a good choice for places where there isn't room for several plants.

This is a good plant for moist to even boggy sites. Wildlife enjoys its fruit, and the Spring Azure butterfly may choose it as a host plant.

Like other Viburnum, it isn't especially tasty to deer although it isn't as deer-resistant as V. dentatum or maybe V. carlesii.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.

Plant of the Week: Anna's Magic Ball® Thuja

Maybe it's the holidays, but Jane's Plant of the Week has a special place in my heart because its name reminds me of family.

My husband Joe grew up in a big Italian family. And like many big families, a grandparent played an active role in helping to raise their grandchildren. Joe's maternal grandmother was a constant presence in their lives and he has lots of wonderful stories about her. Her name was Anna, but they all called her Nunu. A little over twenty years ago she was able to meet and hold our first born child...who we named Anna after her. I just think it's a beautiful old-fashioned name - it's special to us, and it always makes me happy to hear it.

Like the plant of the week, Anna (or Nunu) tiny, but strong and she made a huge impact on a lot of lives. So as the holidays approach, here's to family and the plants that remind us of them!

- Natalie

If you can see it over the snow, it's perfect!

Sometimes you just need a little evergreen meatball. Here you go - but this one is a bright golden color rather than the green you may have expected.

Anna's Magic Ball® Thuja occidentalis is a delightful little plant that's ideal for edging borders or incorporating into patio planters. The only challenge may be seeing it above a heavy snowfall: it gets just 15" tall. Snow won't be a problem for it, though, as it's hardy into USDA Zone 3.

Anna's Magic Ball® Thuja

Anna's Magic Ball® is a useful landscape plant; there always seems to be a need for evergreens that stay small.

That bright color is a fun and often unexpected addition to landscapes. I'm generally pretty suspicious of yellow foliage, especially on evergreens. It can be garish or look anemic. But this little plant has a nice, fresh color that is quite healthy and appealing.

The only issue with it, as with other T. occidentalis, is that deer like it. But since it's so small it will often escape their notice or can be sprayed with repellent pretty easily.

Consider all of what T. occidentalis has to offer: it's adaptable, including a resistance to juglone so you can plant it near a black walnut. It will tolerate clay soil, wet soil, air pollution - lots of tough situations that other plants don't like. And while Anna's Magic Ball® is a tiny little thing, T. occidentalis comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors so you can find the one that's right for you.


Here's a 30-second video describing Anna's Magic Ball; share it with your readers so they can become familiar with this new little plant

And if you would like some inspiration on how to use it in the landscape, check out this Garden Answer video.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.