Guest Column

LA’s, Plant Introductions, Spring Reflections and a Kazoo (?)

By Tscharner D. Watkins III

I am a fourth gen nurseryman who reps for wholesale growers and source plant material for clients. Demand was exceptional this past spring and at times frustrating. New plant introductions targeting Landscape Architects and their availability has led me to write this article along with some trends I see.

New plant introductions come out every year. Some are unique and worthy, most are not. One that particularly frustrated me this spring was Spirea Blue Kazoo. The name even blew up in my face. What is a Blue Kazoo? Do we really need more spirea introductions? A limited number of growers grew several hundred to try them out and at the same time literature was sent to LA’s about this ‘new’ introduction and why it belongs in the landscape. So, it got specified on plans and quickly sold out and caused me frustration getting a similar sub approved. This was the norm this past spring and I want LA’s to take note of this. A bigger question is: will LA’s keep specifying this plant next year or not? Will growers grow more next year and sell them? This is why someone invented those ‘gazing globes’ of multiple colors. You can put one out your window or in the garden and stare at it like a crystal ball and try to figure out what to grow next year.

I have a ‘beef’ with out-of-state LA’s and some of the material they specify without researching availability of said plant material in our region. 1,974 Arctostapylos 4" in a BMP, Lindera #15, Oxydendron 4" caliper, Carya glabra 6", Chionanthus 10', Carpinus betulus fastigiate 4", Cornus Appalachian Spring 2"; I could go on. Blue Kazoos! The VNLA should send a Growers Guide to all LA’s from Chicago to New York every year.

New construction is booming, demand is up and I’m seeing some LA’s spec larger material; more 5, 7 and 10 gallon shrubs for that more mature look at the numerous four level apartment complexes with clubhouses and pools. This is where the next generation is living because they are reluctant to obligate themselves to a 30 year mortgage. I’ve stared at my gazing globe and would recommend larger sizes of Abelia, Hydrangeas and Viburnums. No Kazoos!

What happened to Zelkovas? I never really liked a Zelkova. Doug Tallamy doesn’t either because it’s considered a sterile tree in the ecosystem (Crape myrtles are too). I liken it to the sterile line of Rutgers dogwoods which are supposed to be more prolific bloomers but have no fruit. Birds love dogwood berries. We should not fill our landscapes with sterile plants. Back to the Zelkova; demand exceeded supply 10 years ago and now supply exceeds demand. Many LA’s have stopped specifying them and have moved on to Nyssa, Quercus and Ulmus varieties. Red Maples are still popular. We need more Amelanchier, Dogwoods, Nyssa and Ginkgos. Why are Chionanthus virginiana not more popular? Super native tree.

There are many good LA’s, plant introductions, growers and landscapers. We ALL need to work together and at times be flexible. We all carry a ‘kazoo’ in our pocket and I’m just tooting mine! •