Your Gardening WebsiteTips and Advice on Gardening

The Texana Nuttall Oak tree, Quercus texana, also known as Spanish oak, Nuttall’s oak, Texas red oak, Spotted Oak, Rock oak, and red river oak, is a large deciduous native tree of the red oak group. The Texana Nuttail tree has a wide-spreading, rounded crown. Fruits are oval acorns (to 1 1/2″ long) with scaly cups. Dark green leaves (4-8″ long) are deeply divided into 5-7 spiny, pointed lobes. Leaf shape is reminiscent of the closely related pin oaks and schumard oaks. Fall color comes late, but often includes quality shades of red. Species name is in reference to the state of Texas where this oak was apparently first identified. Gray-brown bark, initially thin and smooth, later developes narrow scaly ridges. The acorn matures in two seasons. The wood is used as red oak lumber. The acorns are eaten by water fowl and many small mammals.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

Prune – European – French Improved, Prunus domestica ‘European French Improved’, is a late-season prune that is medium, long and oval. Its fruit is dark purple with a sweet, mild-flavored flesh. Ripening in late July to mid-August, this tree is productive and a regular bearer. A medium and rich flavored prune, French Improved is very sweet when fully ripe. This freestone is good for drying, but too sweet to can. European French Improved Prune is a vigorous and a cold hardy tree.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

Magnolia – Susan, Magnolia x ‘Susan’, is one of the eight “Little Girl” magnolias. Susan has erect flowers that are a reddish purple color with slightly twisted petals that will smother the stems before the leaves emerge. It is late blooming so avoids frost damage to the flower buds. A bushy shrub that grows about 15 feet tall and wide, Susan will embellish the landscape every season! Susan Magnolia grows as a multistemmed large shrub or small trees, bearing slightly leathery leaves that stand up well to summer heat and drought. Winter reveals the plant architecture highlighted by smooth grey bark and fuzzy flower buds. It grows best in full sun to light shade; prefers loam soil with adequate moisture; tolerates poorly drained, heavy clay soils or dry areas.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

The Gobbler Sawtooth Oak tree, Quercus acutissima, produces acorns in 5 years, supports wildlife, and is fast growing tree. The ‘Gobbler” Sawtooth Oak, is the same as the Sawtooth Oak but produces a smaller acorn. The smaller acorn is desirable as a food source for wild turkeys. This deciduous tree has a moderate water requirement and has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. The Gobbler begins bearing acorns in the fifth or sixth year in a nursery location. The Gobbler grows fast for an oak tree. Fall leaf color will be yellow to golden brown. Leaves may persist into winter. This tree will bear heavy in alternate years and it is a very adaptable Oak tree that can tolerate droughty conditions.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

The Grape Hyacinth ‘Dark Eyes’, ‘Muscari armeniacum’, a fall planted bulb, produce unassuming flowers that add a sweet, fragrant touch to the spring garden. This is very unique grape hyacinth with contrasting white tips that form a compact cluster that looks like an upside-down bunch of grapes. The flowers remain beautiful for a long time and they are very attractive to bees.Grape Hyacinths are a hardy, no-care, early spring flowering bulb. They are excellent as cut flowers, for rock gardens, beds, borders, and under trees and bushes. Muscari often multiply and spread over the years. Try planting a large drift of Muscari armeniacum in your garden for a flowing effect.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

The Imperial Honeylocust, ‘Gleditsia trianthos inermis “Impcole”, is a great lawn tree and street tree that is useful for the light shade it casts, which permits turf to grow beneath the canopy. This 35′ tall tree has a compact spreading habit. It produces few pods and has very fine-textured foliage that turns yellow in fall. This thornless male cultivar is used for boulevard, specimen, parks, and reidential plantings. The Imperial Honeylocust is very drought tolerant. This tree also has some resistance to deer.

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.