Christmas is coming, with shipping season in hot pursuit – high time to follow Santa’s holiday advice. Make a list and check it twice to make sure you’re stocked up for spring planting and tree sales. Our “elves” are hard at work digging, grading, storing and allocating the harvest. Santa’s list includes several favorites including a maple with fall color to rival that of his signature red suit. Our “Knotty” list is short but sweet, with Bakeri Colorado Blue Spruce found on our B & B list, and the others at Northwest Shade Trees.
Santa’s elves have some great suggestions for stocking stuffers, too. A trio of apple trees – three yummy varieties nestled into one container. Yum! And they’ve rounded up a few of the rare and coveted new ginkgo cultivar, Goldspire! We hope you’ll enjoy these Christmas specials and get them before they’re gone.
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Red indeed! Fall color of this noble native of the Northeast and Upper Midwest rivals that of Santa’s suit when its medium to dark green leaves turn bright red in autumn. This fast growing, broad headed tree is well-suited for lawns, parks, golf courses, boulevards, commercial areas and other large-scale landscapes. Adaptable to varied growing conditions, it grows quickly and matures to a height of about 50 feet with a spread of about 45 feet. Cornell University’s Woody Plants Database recommends it in their urban trees collection, in part because it tolerates salty soil. (Availability: Bare Root, Container, Root Bag)
Spring Showers Snowbell
Styrax japonicus ‘Spring Showers’
Just hear those sleigh bells ringing . . . . or are those Snowbell flowers jingling? Santa suggests that you pack some into the sleigh (i.e.., add them to your order) so you’ll have plenty on hand for spring sales. Late bud break makes this cultivar a good choice for areas subject to late spring freezes. Because it flowers two to three weeks later than is typical of the species, its flowers are less likely to be damaged by a late winter cold snap. Fragrant white, bell-shaped flowers dangle beneath the lustrous dark green foliage in late spring.
Developed by the US National Arboretum’s landscape plant breeding program in McMinnville, TN, Spring Showers was trialed for more than a decade prior to its release in 2011. Height and spread of this conical small tree at 10 years of age – approximately 12’ x 8’. See USNA fact sheet for details and photos. (Availability: Bare Root, NWST)
3-N-1 Combo Apple Clump
(Malus ‘Braeburn, Gala, Granny Smith’)
Santa’s gift baskets of fruit and snacks left on the fireplace hearth are always popular. Think outside the big box stores and load up on these fruitful treasures. Our elves got creative this spring and added a new dimension to our fruit tree lineup. This compatible group of three apple cultivars will cross pollinate and deliver a bountiful crop of Gala, Granny Smith and Braeburn apples. Garden centers will find them to be a great addition to their home orchard/urban farm plot product line. Not to be confused with our 4-in-1 Combo Apples that are grafted onto a single rootstock, these are created by establishing three bare root trees in a #10 or #15 container. Individual apple varieties are described and pictured in our Fruit Tree Guide. (Availability: Container)
Starlight® Dogwood
Cornus kousa x nuttallii ‘KN-43’ PP 16293
Soaring high above the earth, Santa and his reindeer are guided through the night sky by Rudolph’s bright nose and the light of countless sparkling stars. Far below, you’ll find Starlight® on our availability list. Over the years, since we first offered it in 2005, it has become a favorite among the dogwoods we offer. When winter ends, its clean, dark green foliage unfurls to set the stage for large, firm, long-lasting creamy white flowers that appear in late spring. Mildew and anthracnose-resistant foliage blankets the branches of this upright oval tree developed at Rutgers University. A smattering of orange fruits of 3/4-inch diameter appears among the leaves in late summer and last into fall, when foliage turns to bright red orange. 30’ x 20’, to zone 6. (Availability: Bare Root, B & B, NWST)
Snowdrift® Crabapple
Malus ‘Snowdrift’
Santa and his team encounter many snowdrifts on their Christmas Eve journey, but none as attractive and fragrant as our Snowdrift Crabapples. This old favorite ranks among the best of the white-flowering crabs – a welcome sign of spring when they burst into bloom and their snow-white flowers crown its dense, rounded canopy. Blooms are followed by glossy green foliage that has good resistance to scab, fair resistance to fireblight and excellent resistance to cedar-apple rust and mildew. Persistent fruits are orange and about 3/8” in diameter. Introduced by Cole Nursery Company in 1965, this upright spreading tree continues to be widely planted and is one of the more formal-looking cultivars due to its uniform and symmetrical canopy that develops as it reaches an approximate height and spread of 20’ x 20’. (Availability: Bare Root)
Goldspire Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba ‘Blagon’
The perfect stocking stuffers, these Goldspire Ginkgoes are a great fit for just about any urban space. Their narrow form makes them a good fit for the leap down the chimney with Santa, too. When your customers discover this unique cultivar in your garden center, it will be like Christmas in July! Introduced from France, it is causing quite a buzz in the marketplace, thanks to its densely branched, tightly fastigate growth habit that forms a narrow, symmetrical spire at a younger age than is typical of other columnar selections. A fruitless, male selection, its fan-shaped green leaves turn in autumn to the bright golden yellow that is typical of other ginkgo cultivars. Height and spread are approximately 45’ x 12’. (Availability: Container)
All aboard – hop on the trade show train
‘Tis the season for snowflakes and winter trade shows. We invite you to shake off the chill of winter by joining us at one or more of these events. Loaded with educational sessions and networking opportunities, they are great venues for connecting with friends and customers, and for learning about what’s new in the tree world. Our local sales representatives will be on hand to discuss which trees are best suited for your region, and the best fit for your production process. Please stop by to discuss your tree needs!
Our winter calendar includes 12 events in January and February where we look forward to connecting with you in person. We look forward to sharing our usual marketing bounty – reference guides, catalogs, brochures, availability lists, our brand new 2023 wall calendar – and – POSTERS!
Yes, our all-new set of five gorgeous, colorful, informative posters are hot off the press, updated to showcase our new and unusual offerings. To pick up your complimentary set, simply stop by our booth early in the show – while supplies last. If you miss out, or don’t make it to your local show, your regional sales rep will be distributing them on their regular rounds to nurseries in their territories.
Look for us at these shows, where our field representatives and staff will look forward to greeting you. See you soon!
| Show Name | Booth # | Dates | City | State |
| Northern Green Expo | 726 | January 10-12, 2023 | Minneapolis | MN |
| Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) | 454, 456 | January 11-13, 2023 | Baltimore | MD |
| North Carolina Green n Growin | 1113 | January 19-20, 2023 | Greensboro | NC |
| Idaho Horticulture Expo | 206 | January 19-20, 2023 | Boise | ID |
| Gulf States Horticultural Expo | 1318 | January 19-20, 2023 | Mobile | AL |
| Utah Green | 239 | January 23-25, 2023 | Sandy | UT |
| Great Lakes Trade Expo | 806 | January 24-26, 2023 | Grand Rapids | MI |
| Kentucky Green Industry Conference | January 25-26, 2023 | Louisville | KY | |
| Indiana Green Expo | 308 | Jan. 30-Feb 1, 2023 | Indianapolis | IN |
| ProGreen Expo | 1510 | Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2023 | Denver | CO |
| iLandscape | 1514, 1516 | February 1-3, 2023 | Schaumburg | IL |
| Norcal Spring Trade Show | 543 | Februrary 9, 2023 | San Mateo | CA |
