How to Create Depth & Interest to Your Yard

If you're looking to add some big and bold texture with some stand-out foliage in your landscape then this list is for you!

Smooth Sumac
Red Dragon Hazelnut
Autumn Gold Ginkgo
Adam's Needle
Northern Pin Oak
Humpback Whale Hosta

Smooth Sumac

The Smooth Sumac is a valuable native plant throughout the northern United States. Very similar to Staghorn Sumac in form and function with the main difference being the smooth new growth on this species. This plant will colonize into small groupings of short, low branching trees. Wonderful for naturalizing in the landscape. Absolutely fabulous fall color! 10' tall x 10' wide.

Smooth Sumac Quick Facts:

Bloom Time: June

Color: Green, Orange, Red

Plant Size: Around 10' tall x 10' wide

Fall Color: Red, Orange

Fruit: Berry Clusters

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil Conditions: Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry

Growing Zones: 3 - 9

Red Dragon Hazelnut

The Red Dragon Hazelnut is a small tree with curled and twisted stems and branches and dark purple leaves. Imagine a Harry Lauder's Walkingstick with purple leaves and you have a good idea how this small tree will perform in the garden. The leaves emerge a dark purple and fade to a dark green with purple undertones in the summer. Mature growth size is around 6' to 10' tall and wide. It's best if this small ornamental tree/shrub is grown in zones 4-9.

Red Dragon Hazelnut Quick Facts:

Bloom Time: May

Color: Green, Purple

Plant Size: Around 6'-10' wide and tall

Fall Color: Orange

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Soil Conditions: Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry

Growing Zones: 4 - 9

Autumn Gold Ginkgo

The common name of this maidenhair tree refers to the resemblance of the fan-shaped leaves to maidenhair fern leaflets (pinnae). The 'Autumn Gold' is an all-male cultivar typically growing at maturity to 40-50' with a symmetrical, broadly spreading habit. The leaves turn a uniform golden yellow in autumn (spectacular when back-lit by early morning or late afternoon sun) and persist for several weeks. When the leaves do drop, they drop rapidly, forming a golden carpet around the tree. No insect or disease problems. Mature size is around 50' high x 30' wide. Hardiness zone 4.

Autumn Gold Ginkgo Quick Facts:

Color: Green, Yellow

Plant Size: Around 50' tall x 30' wide

Fall Color: Golden Yellow

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil Conditions: Normal, Clay, Acidic, Wet, Dry

Growing Zones: 4 - 8

Adam's Needle

Adam's Needle is a "cactus looking" type of deciduous shrub that has dense clumps of erect narrow green leaves. The creamy-white flowers are born on 3-5' tall spikes in mid-summer. The part of the plant that produces the flower will die out after the bloom is finished, and small plants around the main plant will take over. An excellent plant for rock garden or foundation planting. Needs a dry, sunny location. Remove old leaves or winter burned leaves in early spring and allow new leaves to develop from the center of the plant.

Adam's Needle Quick Facts:

Bloom Time: June

Color: Green, White

Plant Size: Around 3-5’ tall (in bloom) x 4’ wide

Flower Color: White

Fall Color: Green

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil Conditions: Normal, Sandy, Clay, Dry

Growing Zones: 4 - 9

Northern Pin Oak

The Northern Pin Oak is a native tree to Waterloo, Wisconsin. This tree is highly adaptable to heavier soils and more alkaline soils than Pin Oak. It is pyramidal in shape when young, attaining a height of about 60' and spread of 45'. It has glossy green leaves that turn red in fall. This works great as a specimen tree or for street trees. Hardiness zone 3.

Northern Pin Oak Quick Facts:

Color:Green, Red

Plant Size: Around 50-60' tall x 35-45' wide

Fall Color: Red

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil Conditions: Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry

Growing Zones: 3 - 6

Humpback Whale Hosta

The Humpback Whale Hosta is also known as the the BIG BLUES! That is what people want in a hosta! This monster sports gigantic heart-shaped, blue-green corrugated leaves. 'Humpback Whale' will perform as a beautiful specimen plant in your shade garden but can also be used for massing. Mature size is around 3' tall x 4-5' wide. The flowers are a pale white in mid-spring. Hardiness zone 3.

Humpback Whale Hosta Quick Facts:

Bloom Time: April - May

Color: Blue, Green, White

Plant Size: Around 3' tall x 4-5' wide

Flower Color: White

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Full Shade

Soil Conditions: Normal

Growing Zones: 3 - 7