Pride of Kansas plants for 2009
Amy Jordan, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Each year K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Nursery and Landscape Association, the Kansas Arborists Association and the Kansas Forest Service recognize plants well-adapted to the prairie climate through the Pride of Kansas program.
A tree, shrub, and perennial make the list of “tried and true” that should thrive in just about any landscape in Kansas.
The 2009 Pride of Kansas tree of the year is the Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii). This tree is native to much of the Eastern United States and as far west as Central Kansas. It occurs mainly on limestone soils, rocky riverbanks, and usually on higher ground than Bur oak. Occurrence and abundance of Chinkapin oak appear to be related to soil reaction and texture. It grows best on medium acid to moderately alkaline, well drained soils. It is a moderate size tree, usually irregular in form. Generally it develops a low spreading crown with low branches. Mature height is 30 to 60 feet and spread is 20 to 40 feet.
Chinkapin Oak is seen at 70 to 90 feet in height when found in the wild but is more often seen at 40 to 50 feet in height with an equal or greater spread when grown in cultivation. It grows at a moderate rate when young but slows considerably with age,
eventually developing into a broad, rounded canopy with strong branches. Young trees often exhibit a straight central leader with numerous branches originating at the same node. The yellow/green, deciduous, lobed leaves turn shades of red, yellow, orange and brown before dropping in fall. Like most trees Chinkapin oak grows best on deep, well-drained, fertile soils, but will grow on dry limestone bluffs and hillsides. It does not like poorly drained soils. Chinkapin oak has adapted to Central and Eastern Kansas. Few known major insects or disease problems exist with this tree.
Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina, is a scraggly-looking shrub commonly seen growing on roadsides and other disturbed areas through the eastern US and Canada. The species is not typically considered a good garden plant, as it suckers rampantly, can grow to 30 feet and is not particularly ornamental. Tiger Eyes™, a 2004 release from Bailey Nurseries, is a big departure from the typical staghorn sumac and is the 2009 shrub of the year. This golden-leaved, dwarf, slow-spreading selection is a valuable addition to the landscape.
This striking foliage plant offers a long season of interest with deeply-cut, almost lacy leaves. The new growth starts out a vivid chartreuse, but soon changes to a bright yellow. It remains that color throughout the growing season, without burning even in full sun. In autumn the plants turn a brilliant scarlet-orange layered over the yellow The plant has an open, loose form with a flat crown, and the branches angle upward, while the lacy leaves droop downward, resulting in an elegant, almost Oriental look overall. The branches in winter can be quite picturesque. This is a plant to add dramatic impact in a garden. It can be used as a specimen plant, integrated with other shrubs in the middle of the border, or used in mass plantings. Its bold architectural quality makes it an interesting focal point, yet it can also be used as a transitional shrub between the cultivated landscape and unmanaged areas.
The perennial of the year is Russian sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia. It is an attractive plant with gray-green leaves and square, silvery-gray stems that produces an airy cloud of color late in the summer. The tiny, purple-blue, tubular flowers are arranged in whorls along long stems. The silvery foliage and open architecture add an almost-Mediterranean feel to the landscape, and can be useful as a filler plant. It is also useful for separating stronger colors. Use it as a specimen in small areas, in mass to intensify its presence in large spaces, or in a long, wide row as a divider hedge. Plant Russian sage in full sun and well-drained soil, spacing the plants about 18 inches apart. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. After the plants are established they can tolerate drought very well. Once well-established, Russian sage is easy to grow, with essentially having no disease or insect problems.