This tree is quite unique since it looks like an evergreen but sheds its needles/leaves in the fall. The fall color is a magnificent coppery/bronze. This one does well in wet soil, in the standing water swamps of the south, you will see this tree produce "knees", which are actually the roots sticking out of the water! Grows to 50-70' Tall and 20-30' Wide.

~Shawnee Brave is a narrower variety that maxes out at 20'wide.

Birch are an interesting group of plants. They have an exfoliating bark and usually a yellow fall color. There are also varieties which have purplish foliage throughout the season. They are generally fast growing and are most often sold in clump form, although single stems are available in limited quantity. Some of the varieties that we carry include:

‘Heritage’ River (45-50’H x 30-35’W) is a vigorous grower with a broad pyramidal shape. It has creamy white/beige exfoliating bark. Does well in poor soils and is resistant to the bronze birch borer.

‘Japanese Whitespire’ (30-40’H x 15-20’H) is fast growing with a narrow-pyramidal growth habit. Lighter green foliage turns yellow in fall. Borer resistant.

‘Renaissance Reflection’ (60’H x 25’W) is a fast growing paper birch. Highly resistant to bronze birch borer.

‘Royal Frost’ (30-40’H x 15-20’W) is a cross between ‘Whitespire’ and ‘Crimson Frost ‘. It retains its burgundy foliage color from spring through summer, it then turns yellow-orange to red in the fall. Attractive cinnamon to white bark.

‘Summer Cascade’ (12’H x 10’W) is a fantastic new weeping river birch. Weeping habit and peeling bark start at a young age.

‘Young’s Weeping’ is a bizarre hybrid which has pendulous branches which have been trained in a zigzag or serpentine pattern.

Non fruit bearing cherries are grown for flowers and/or foliage. Canadian Red and Merlot Bird are purple leafed varieties; Double Weeping Higan and Snow Fountain are weeping varieties, and Kwanzan is an upright flowering type.

‘Canadian Red’ (20-30’H x 15-20’W) is a very hardy variety with fragrant white flowers in the spring. Maroon-red foliage, emerges green and matures to maroon within 4 weeks. Oval to rounded shape.

‘Merlot Bird’ (25’H x 16’W) has darker burgundy foliage and less suckering. Abundant red-merlot fruit in the fall.

‘Double Weeping Higan’ (12-15’H x 10-15’W) is a small tree with graceful weeping branches. Double rose-pink flowers in mid-spring.

‘Snow Fountain’ (10-15’H x 15-20’W) Cascading branches covered with snow white flowers in spring. Small dark green leaves turn golden-orange in the fall. Full Sun.

‘Kwanzan’ (30’H x 20’W) Small upright tree produces clusters of double rose-pink flowers in early spring. One of the two types of cherries planted in Washington D.C. Should be planted in a protected area.

Crabapple is the most adapted flowering tree for our area. They reliably produce heavy amounts of flowering. Available in sizes from 8’ x 8’ to 25’ x 25’, there is a crabapple for every site. Flowers are available in reddish pinks to hot pink, soft pink, and white. The fruit on most crabapples is smaller than it used to be, it is now about size of the tip of your pinky finger. We recommend crabapples for their tolerance of poor soils, and reliable flowering each year!

‘Adirondack’ (15-18’H x 12-16’W) has dark pink buds opening to a white flower with a pink edge. Lots of orange-red fruit.

‘Ann E.’ (10’H x 10’W) has cardinal red buds with a white edge. Bright red persistent fruit; it has a nice weeping form with green foliage that turns bright yellow in the fall.

‘Cardinal’ (15-20’H x 15-20’W) this one has bright red flowers on a vase shaped tree with small deep red fruit in fall. Disease resistant.

‘Coralburst’ (8-10’H x 12-15’W) is a compact dense and round specimen. It has coral-pink blooms with dark green foliage. Disease resistant. We love this one for tight courtyards, etc.

‘Donald Wyman’ (20’H x 25’W) this is an old fashioned and large variety, upright becoming rounded with age. Pink blooms open to white, has showy persistent red fruit.

‘Firebird’ (5’H x 8’W) is very compact and slow growing. White flowers in spring are followed by small, dark red fruit in late summer/fall. Very resistant to apple scab.

‘Golden Raindrops’ (18’H x 13’W) is an upright vase shaped specimen with deeply cut leaves and a fine texture. White flowers with yellow fruit.

‘Sir Lancelot’ (8-10’H x 8’W) has red buds which open to white blooms. Compact and dense canopy, gold fruit and gold fall foliage.

‘Prairifire’ (15-20’H x 20’W) Upright, rounded habit heralds this very hot pink crab. Purple foliage turns green as it matures. Disease resistant.

‘Purple Prince’ (20’H x 20’W) Purple foliage becoming bronze green. Buds are deep red opening to a deep pink. Bright red fruit.

‘Red Barron’ (12-15’H x 5-6’W) Columnar habit makes this crab better for a smaller space. Foliage is purple fading to a bronze green, dark red flowers and fruit.

‘Red Jewel’ (15’H x 12’W) this beautiful tree has a gorgeous red fruit, which it is named after. Pink buds open to white, fruit is persistent.

‘Royal Gem’ (5-8’H x 5-8’W) Compact growth habit, leaves are crimson red, turning green with maturity. Single rose-red flowers, orange-red fall color.

‘Sargent’ (6-8’H x 12’W) is a dwarf crabapple that grows wider than tall. Pink buds open to fragrant white flowers. Small bright red fruits are favored by birds.

As a group Dogwoods are one of the showiest flowerers that we can grow in Kankakee County. They require a protected site and would be better suited to an established neighborhood or wooded area where there is wind protection. They prefer moist but well drained site…you know, soil utopia! That said, Dogwoods are most often seen in the heaviest, muckiest clays of the South. They average 20’ High and 20’ Wide. The fall color is magnificent from yellow-orange-reddish purple. The flower colors are as below.

‘Cherokee Brave’ What we would refer to as “true red flowers”. They open a darker rusty color until they have faded back to white.

‘Cherokee Princess’ This one has a “pink blush”, we would refer to this as a white bloomer.

Pink Flowering has a very nice soft pink flower.

Kousa Dogwood: These are a bit more adapted to our area and will tolerate cold a bit better. All are white flowering.

‘Milky Way’ (20’H x 30’W) Broad and bushy shape. White flowers in spring. Foliage turns purple scarlet in fall.

‘Wolf Eye’ (8-10’H x 8-10’W) is a variegated variety that can be used as a shrub or small tree. Flowers are white.

‘Stellar Pink’ (18-20’H x 15’W) is an excellent grower with soft pink flowers. Bright red foliage in the fall.

‘Pagoda’ (15-20’H x 20-25’W) Pale yellow flowers in May, have blue black fruit. Round shape overall with very strong horizontal layering. Terrific red fall color.

‘Golden Glory’ (20-25’H x 10-15’W) Upright and free flowering, definitely has a different flower type than florida dogwoods. Yellow flowers in very early spring are followed by bright, red cherry-like fruit in summer.

There are many newer varieties of Elm which are now available as substitutes for Ash. The new varieties are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, so they can be expected to have a long, healthy life span.

We carry many varieties of beautiful maple trees. The most popular include: Freeman Maples are a cross between Red and Silver Maples. These crosses have produced trees with the best attributes of both parents. Mainly, the stronger wood and excellent fall color of the red maple, the poor soil tolerance and faster growth rate of a silver maple. 90% of the time these crosses also produce seedless varieties. These trees are more tolerant of heavy clay than red maples.

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ (50-60’H x 40’W) This dense oval head is covered in orange/yellow/red fall color. Displays excellent drought tolerance after it is established. Fast growing.

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Fantasy’ (50’H x 40’W) Upright oval shape with an excellent crimson fall color. Discovered in Illinois.

Acer x freemanii ‘Celebration’ (45’H x 20-25’W) Compact upright shape with strong gold fall color and excellent tolerance of poor soils.

Acer x freemanii ‘Marmo’ (45’H x 35’W) Vigorous grower with a uniform upright habit. Fall color is a mottled blend of red/green/burgundy/yellow/and gold.

Acer x freemanii ‘Sienna Glen’ (60’H x 40’W) Better resistance to frost cracking on this well branched tree. Consistent red to burgundy red fall color.

Acer x freemanii ‘Scarlet Sentinel’ (40’H x 20’W) Fast upright grower, makes an excellent tree for narrow areas. Yellow-orange to orange-red fall color.

Red maples (Acer rubrum) are often referred to as “Hard Maples”. They produce a small seed and generally are a slower growing tree. Well known for their fiery red fall color. We carry the following hybrids:

‘Autumn Flame’ (35’H x 35’W) is the first red maple to color in the fall. Dense rounded shape.

‘October Glory’ (30-60’H x 40’W) has good oval to rounded form. Brilliant orange to red fall color that lasts longer than most other maples.

‘Red Sunset’ (45’H x 35’W) is the most popular red maple. It is a vigorous grower with strong symmetrical branching habit. Retains its brilliant red autumn color for an extended period of time.

‘Sun Valley’ (40’H x 35’W) has a uniform dense oval head. Dark green foliage turns bright red fairly late in the season.