Dogwood and holly trees at Glenstone
Five Sure-Fire Natives
We asked Mike Burke , the staff arborist at Glenstone Museum , to offer his list of the most dependable native trees for homeowners to try :
n Flowering Dogwood – Cronus florida ‘ Appalachian Spring ’ A generation ago , it seemed native dogwoods might die off completely due to a fungal disease known as dogwood anthracnose . A specimen that would be named Cornus florida ‘ Appalachian Spring ’ was found growing wild about an hour up the road from Glenstone at the Camp David Presidential Retreat on Catoctin Mountain in 1990 . Now widely available at garden centers , it has unusually large leaves and berries , with good red fall color , and , most important , 100 percent resistance to dogwood anthracnose . Flowering dogwood prefers partial shade and acid , well-drained soil though this species will tolerate full sun .
n White Fringetree – Chionanthus virginicus Less ubiquitous in the landscape than the dogwood , though at least as stunning in flower , the white fringetree is a great selection for a specimen large shrub / small tree . The white fringetree prefers full sun to partial shade and moist , fertile , acid soils , but is quite adaptable and virtually disease- and pest-free .
n Swamp White Oak – Quercus bicolor One of the most beautiful oaks , and adaptable to harsh urban environments , the swamp white oak is a great selection for a tall specimen . Growing to 100 feet , it can endure wet or dry areas , compacted soils and full sun to partial shade .
amendment . Our recycling room showcases our 12-stream waste diversion program that keeps as little material as possible from winding up in the trash . During the growing season , one of our horticulturists , Margy Rodgers , cultivates a wide variety of herbs and cut flowers in raised beds that are utilized at our two on-site eateries , the Café and the Patio . A trained Master Gardener , Margy is often on hand to offer growing tips .
“ The expert staff here takes a lot of pleasure in sharing information about what we do ,” says Matt Partain . “ We see this landscape as a resource for the county in showcasing how these natural systems can be both beautiful and functional .”
Paul Tukey is an award-winning journalist , author , filmmaker , and former HGTV host who now serves as the Director of Environmental Stewardship for the Glenstone Museum in Potomac , Maryland .
Glenstone is open Thursdays - Sundays , 10 am- 5 pm . Visitors are invited to explore the grounds or participate in self-guided sculpture tours . Admission to Glenstone is free and visits can be scheduled online at : www . glenstone . org . Same-day visits can be scheduled online . n American Holly – Ilex opaca Because deer don ’ t eat them , we plant these everywhere at Glenstone . A great evergreen selection with attractive red fruit in winter , the hollies are relatively un-fussy and pest free . Plant them in moist , acid , well-drained soil if you have it , but specimens at Glenstone have shown a tolerance to alkaline soils .
n Pawpaw – Asimina triloba This is a great native fruit tree selection , which bears the largest edible fruit of any North American tree . The flavor of pawpaw fruit is often compared to bananas , but with hints of mango . Its custard-like texture and sweetness make it a wonderful addition to desserts ( my personal favorite is a pawpaw milkshake ). These trees prefer moist and well-drained soil found in bottom land and near streams .
Split-Rocker , 2000 . Stainless steel , soil , geotextile fabric , internal irrigation system , and live flowering plants . 37 x 39 x 36 feet © Jeff Koons