Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Twisty Baby’ (Dwarf Black Locust)  Before planting this tree, it’s important to appreciate the entire tree, for better or worse. It is a native to the southeastern United States, but is considered an invasive species in some regions.   What’s to Love:  Robinia ‘Twisty Baby’ is a fast-growing, small, deciduous, specimen tree (8-10’ tall), best utilized as a focal point in the garden. It has graceful, curving branches, dripping with fragrant white racemes in spring (5-7” long) that smell like orange blossoms. Prune only in spring, just after bloom, to avoid removing next year’s flower buds. The tree is deer resistant.    Black Locust trees are considered an excellent nectar source for honey bees. Bee keepers harvest the monofloral honey from Robinia pseudoacacia (False Acacia, sometimes labeled American Acacia) for its low acid content and its high fructose content, which allows it to stay liquid for a long time.  The Cautionary Side:  Locust borers can be a problem, riddling the trunk and branches with holes where they lay their eggs. When winter ends, larvae burrow into the trunk, weakening the tree, causing it to become stunted and diseased, often killing the tree.  Suckering will occur around the trunk, and these new shoots should be removed regularly to maintain the integrity of the tree. Watch for scale, leaf miner, powdery mildew and canker and treat immediately, or remove infected branches and dispose of carefully. Situate the tree in a well-drained location to avoid root-rot and fungal disease (Phytophthora), especially in regions receiving heavy rainfall. Information on twig blight and cankers can be found here.  In France and Italy, the flowers of Robinia pseudoacacia are eaten as beignets: battered, deep fried in oil, and sprinkled with powered sugar. However, other parts of the plant are considered poisonous. Information, here on which parts of the plant are edible, and which are poisonous.  In regions with heavy snow and ice, the contorted branches are susceptible to winter storm damage.

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Twisty Baby’ (Dwarf Black Locust) 

Before planting this tree, it’s important to appreciate the entire tree, for better or worse. It is a native to the southeastern United States, but is considered an invasive species in some regions.  

What’s to Love: 

Robinia ‘Twisty Baby’ is a fast-growing, small, deciduous, specimen tree (8-10’ tall), best utilized as a focal point in the garden. It has graceful, curving branches, dripping with fragrant white racemes in spring (5-7” long) that smell like orange blossoms. Prune only in spring, just after bloom, to avoid removing next year’s flower buds. The tree is deer resistant.   

Black Locust trees are considered an excellent nectar source for honey bees. Bee keepers harvest the monofloral honey from Robinia pseudoacacia (False Acacia, sometimes labeled American Acacia) for its low acid content and its high fructose content, which allows it to stay liquid for a long time. 

The Cautionary Side: 

Locust borers can be a problem, riddling the trunk and branches with holes where they lay their eggs. When winter ends, larvae burrow into the trunk, weakening the tree, causing it to become stunted and diseased, often killing the tree. 

Suckering will occur around the trunk, and these new shoots should be removed regularly to maintain the integrity of the tree. Watch for scale, leaf miner, powdery mildew and canker and treat immediately, or remove infected branches and dispose of carefully. Situate the tree in a well-drained location to avoid root-rot and fungal disease (Phytophthora), especially in regions receiving heavy rainfall. Information on twig blight and cankers can be found here. 

In France and Italy, the flowers of Robinia pseudoacacia are eaten as beignets: battered, deep fried in oil, and sprinkled with powered sugar. However, other parts of the plant are considered poisonous. Information, here on which parts of the plant are edible, and which are poisonous. 

In regions with heavy snow and ice, the contorted branches are susceptible to winter storm damage.

A little ‘Ambiance’ this morning from another Amaryllis.   I ordered a few extra Amaryllis bulbs in January and I’ve been potting them up over the last few months so I have weeks and weeks of blooms. I soak the bulb roots in an organic compost tea from Authentic Haven Brand for about 20 minutes before potting them, and then I water lightly over the next few weeks. The end result: multiple flower stems and huge blooms. After the flowers fade, I’ll put them in the ground in an area reserved for Amaryllis. This is a flower bulb that can be enjoyed through early summer, with a little planning ahead. 

A little ‘Ambiance’ this morning from another Amaryllis.  

I ordered a few extra Amaryllis bulbs in January and I’ve been potting them up over the last few months so I have weeks and weeks of blooms. I soak the bulb roots in an organic compost tea from Authentic Haven Brand for about 20 minutes before potting them, and then I water lightly over the next few weeks. The end result: multiple flower stems and huge blooms. After the flowers fade, I’ll put them in the ground in an area reserved for Amaryllis. This is a flower bulb that can be enjoyed through early summer, with a little planning ahead. 

Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony) is native to China, where it is known as Mudan.  In front of the Audience Hall of Mu Tsung Huang Ti … there were planted thousand-petalled tree-peonies. When the flowers first opened the fragrance of their perfume was perceived by everyone. Each blossom had a thousand petals, large and deeply red. Every time His Majesty gazed upon the sweet-scented luxuriance he would sigh and say, ‘Surely such a flower has never before existed among men!’ (Ninth-Century Chinese Writer) Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 6: Biology and Biological Technology, Part 1, Botany, by Joseph Needham (Cambridge University Press 1986).  The tree peony is not actually a “tree” but more of a woody-shrub preferring some shade from harsh afternoon noon. The woody stalks produce the next season’s flowers and should be left in tact throughout the winter (unlike herbaceous peonies which die to the ground each season). They are very slow to establish, but well worth the wait. Huge blooms appear in mid-spring (before herbaceous peonies) and the flowers are surrounded by lovely fern-like foliage with a reddish tinge.  

Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony) is native to China, where it is known as Mudan. 

In front of the Audience Hall of Mu Tsung Huang Ti … there were planted thousand-petalled tree-peonies. When the flowers first opened the fragrance of their perfume was perceived by everyone. Each blossom had a thousand petals, large and deeply red. Every time His Majesty gazed upon the sweet-scented luxuriance he would sigh and say, ‘Surely such a flower has never before existed among men!’ (Ninth-Century Chinese Writer)

Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 6: Biology and Biological Technology, Part 1, Botany, by Joseph Needham (Cambridge University Press 1986). 

The tree peony is not actually a “tree” but more of a woody-shrub preferring some shade from harsh afternoon noon. The woody stalks produce the next season’s flowers and should be left in tact throughout the winter (unlike herbaceous peonies which die to the ground each season). They are very slow to establish, but well worth the wait. Huge blooms appear in mid-spring (before herbaceous peonies) and the flowers are surrounded by lovely fern-like foliage with a reddish tinge.  

An open meadow is transformed when the crabapples bloom.  

Malus ‘Prairifire’ (Crabapple) is a medium-sized flowering landscape tree with a rounded head for full sun, preferring moderately wet soil. (The trees in these photos are planted along the edge of a natural streambed running through a wide open meadow.) ‘Prairifire’ is one of the best crabapple trees for the southeast, resisting many of the usual problems that Malus is known for. The April flowers are followed by masses of small crabapple fruits that persist into fall, a favorite fruit for birds.  

Crabapples are effective in mass plantings, but because they are considered smaller landscape trees, they are also a good choice for patio trees, or specimens for the front yard. 

A chart from NCSU showing the best crabapple trees for the landscape can be found here. 

Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ (Dogwood) 

This beautiful three-season understory tree is grafted on Cornus kousa rootstock, which makes is more resistant to anthracnose, a common disease among native dogwoods (destructive fungus appearing on leaves and twigs). In spring, it reliably delivers a spectacular flower show with snow-white blossoms four inches across. The flowers are replaced by berries that persist through winter and provide food for birds. In the fall, leaves turn burgundy-bronze with red and orange highlights, making it one of America’s favorite full-season landscape trees. 

An American Indian legend reveals the story of a young and beautiful Cherokee princess who was slain by a jealous lover for not returning his affections. As she lay dying under a dogwood tree, she used the flower petals to restrict the flow of blood from her wounds, to no avail. It is believed that the tip of each dogwood flower now bears a red blemish in her honor.