We are very excited to offer a wide range of new introductions for the 2013 season. At Finke Gardens, we strive to help our customers find the right plant for their unique growing conditions. Some of the new plants will flourish in the poorest soil and the most open exposure and others need the protected conditions offered in a shady nook. This year we have several new varieties of old-fashioned plants such as Deutzia and Quince. Stop in periodically throughout the season to see what's new. Different plants are ready for sale at different times, so there is always something new in stock! With offerings ranging from hardy and adaptable dwarf conifers to an expanded selection of Nebraska natives, 2013 will surely be an exciting year in your garden. Be sure to stay tuned for details on our new homegrown fruit tree program making its debut in September!
New Deciduous Shrubs
- Orange Rocket Barberry
- Venus Sweetshrub
- Orange Storm Quince
- September Beauty Summersweet
- Spring Sensation Deutzia
- Lemon Daddy Hydrangea
- Bobo Hydrangea
- Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea
- Little Devil Ninebark
- Autumn Amber Sumac
- Como Park Rose
- Strawberry Shortcake Raspberry
- Prairie Petite Lilac
- Mini Man Viburnum
- Fragrant Viburnum
- Ovation Viburnum
New Deciduous Trees
- Brandywine Red Maple
- John Pair Caddo Sugar Maple
- Fox Valley River Birch
- Bitternut Hickory
- Summertime Maackia
- Amur Corktree
New Evergreen Trees
New Evergreen Shrubs
Deciduous Shrubs
Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’
The award-winning Orange Rocket Barberry is a compact, upright growing deciduous shrub with small orange leaves that turn a vibrant ruby red in autumn. In early summer, pale yellow flowers may appear and are followed by small, crimson red berries that persist into winter. Use Orange Rocket to light up the landscape in mass plantings, as a specimen plant, or as a focal point in a container.
Calycanthus floridus ‘Venus’
Large, magnolia-like white flowers with yellow and purple central markings are mildly fragrant in early summer and appear intermittently through the season. Glossy green foliage matures to a golden yellow in autumn. It’s moderate size make it useful as a backdrop in a mixed border or a specimen foundation plant. Venus flowers best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade.
Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Orange Storm’
Orange Storm puts on a spectacular early spring display of large double flowers with intense orange color. More than just pretty flowers, Orange Storm Quince is easy to care for, having neither thorns or fruit. Once established, it is extremely drought tolerant. Its small stature makes it a welcome addition to the early spring garden.
Clethra alnifolia ‘September Beauty’
Summersweet is a densely-branched, rounded, deciduous shrub of moderate size and features bottlebrush-like, fragrant white flowers that appear on the current year’s growth. ‘September Beauty’ is a more compact cultivar noted for its September bloom, occurring a month later than most other cultivars. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees. The flowers then give way to dark brown seed capsules, persisting well into winter. It flowers equally well in sun or partial shade.
Deutzia gracillis ‘Kolmaspri’
Spring Sensation will fill your garden with garlands of white blooms from the ground to the very tips of each gracefully, arching stem. Suitable for most soil types, Deutzia are carefree shrubs. Whether you plant it in a mixed border or cascading over a wall, it will be the highlight of your spring garden. Be sure to incorporate this among other flowering plants to keep the show going through the summer.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lemon Daddy’
This exciting hydrangea provides the shade garden with a shocking contrast of glowing lemon yellow. Lemon Daddy is vigorous and quickly reaches its mature size, making a lovely accent plant for that special spot in the garden. This hydrangea isn’t a reliable bloomer in Nebraska, but the showy foliage more than makes up for it. Good soil is preferred, as is supplemental irrigation during dry periods.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘ILVOBO’
Bobo is a delightful dwarf plant that is engulfed by large white flowers in summer. The flowers are held upright on strong stems through fall when they can take on a pinkish tint. This is an undeniable asset to any garden, particularly those with limited space. It won the Gold Florall medal for best novelty plant. Late-blooming hydrangeas prefer a sunny location with average soil moisture.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘RENhy’
Many late-blooming hydrangeas have been introduced recently, but Vanilla Strawberry looks to be a winner. It produces stunning blooms throughout the summer on both new and old stems. The clusters of flowers start out a creamy white, changing to a soft pink and finally to a ripe strawberry-red as they mature. Moderately-sized plants are well suited to the back of the border or foundation, serving as an attractive anchor. Best flowering in full sun.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’
Appropriately named, Little Devil is much like the well-known Diablo, but smaller in every way. Leaves, flower clusters, and mature height are all more compact and delicate. One difference is the leaf color; Little Devil is brighter red and glossy. It grows best in sun or part shade and is tolerant of wet conditions, making it a perfect addition to a rain garden!
Rhus trilobata ‘Autumn Amber’
An excellent choice for large-scale ground cover and erosion control. It was developed in New Mexico, so you can be assured it is drought tolerant. Autumn Amber Sumac produces small yellow flowers in spring that may be followed by velvety orange fruits. Fall color is brilliant golden yellow-orange. Stems and foliage are fragrant when crushed. Performs best in full sun, and will adapt to any soil type.
Rosa ‘BAIark’
An excellent choice for beginners, this is one durable rose! It was selected in Minnesota for its hardiness and disease resistance. Foliage is dark green, tinged with burgundy and makes a wonderful background for the flowers. The double blossoms are medium red and appear throughout the season. The shrub’s overall form is gracefully arching, lending a touch of elegance to the landscape.
Strawberry Shortcake Raspberry
Rubus idaeus ‘Strawberry Shortcake’
This exciting new dwarf, thornless red raspberry has an endearing, rounded growth habit and is perfectly suited to large patio containers as well as the vegetable garden. It may spread slightly in the landscape, but the compact form requires no staking. It produces full-sized, nutritious and super sweet berries in mid-summer. This showstopper will be a lovely addition to the balcony, patio, or garden. Best in full sun.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Prairie Petite’
People love the nostalgic fragrance of grandma’s old-fashioned lilac blossoms, but few people have room for the large shrub they grow on. Other dwarf varieties smell nice, but they just aren’t the same. This problem is finally solved with the introduction of ‘Prairie Petite’ lilac from the University of Nebraska. This variety features the old-fashioned blossoms on a plant that only grows 3 to 5 feet high! Best in full sun.
Viburnum burejaeticum ‘Mini Man’
A rare Chinese species named after the Bureia mountains in China. The plant is similar to V. lantana, but its leaves are shinier and narrower. The variety Mini Man is less than half the size of the species. Young shoots are covered with a dense down which they loose the following year, revealing an almost white bark. Fertile white flowers in May producing fruit that progress from red to blue-black. Red-yellow fall color.
Viburnum farreri ‘Candidissima’
Candidissima is among the most fragrant of the viburnums. It is also one of the earliest to produce its white blossoms. The flowers’ scent is more spicy than sweet and lingers in the early spring air. The leaves are a soft yellow-green throughout the season and feature an interesting texture. Cut stems may be brought indoors and placed in a vase of water to force the blossoms for indoor enjoyment. Best in part shade.
Viburnum prunifolium ‘Ovazam’
Ovation is a slower growing selection of blackhaw that is self scaffolding, forming a very tight and compact, upright, columnar structure. It is perfect for screens or limited space areas. New foliage emerges a subtle rosy-pink, maturing to crisp celery green. Flowers are typical of the species and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Fall color is a rich burgundy.
Deciduous Trees
Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’
‘Brandywine’ was released in 1994 after 12 years of evaluation by the U.S. National Arboretum. Fall color lasts up to 14 days or more, gradually turning from red to a brilliant red-purple. It is a seedless male selection and can be used in the landscape without fear of generating undesirable seedlings. 'Brandywine' is oval in shape with a moderately-fast growth rate, making it an excellent shade tree. Avoid planting in compacted clay soils.
Acer saccharum var. Caddo ‘John Pair’
While most sugar maples tend to suffer from drought stress and leaf tatter in the Plains states, Dr. John Pair of Kansas State University has selected this cultivar for it’s resistance to these problems. The leaves are thick and almost leathery, and turn to a brilliant red-orange in Autumn. Although it isn’t considered a fast grower, the wood is strong and durable giving you years of enjoyment.
Betula nigra ‘Little King’
A smaller version of the regular river birch, this cultivar is at home in many of today’s urban landscapes. It features attractive exfoliating bark in colors of tan, cream, and copper. The branches are very dense making it an ideal candidate for a privacy screen if its lower branches are left in tact. When the lower branches are removed, it makes a wonderful small accent tree. Plant it in a moist part of the yard for best results. Highly resistant to the bronze birch borer.
Carya cordiformis
The bitternut hickory (or swamp hickory) is a large shade tree native to Southeastern Nebraska and much of the Midwest. When planted on rich, moist (but well-drained) soils it makes its best growth, but it will adapt to other sites as well. Compacted soils should be avoided. Nuts are generally avoided by wildlife. This tree is an excellent choice for diversifying our urban forest as well as naturalized rural areas.
Maackia amurensis ‘Summertime’
Amur Maackia is tolerant of drought once it is established and its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen allows it to grow on poorer soils. It blooms in July with 8-inch panicles of fragrant white flowers. The bark on older trees is also showy with mottled patches of olive green and gray. New growth emerges in spring with a soft silvery sheen and matures to a rich lustrous green. An ideal small tree for less than ideal growing conditions.
Phellodendron amurense
The amur corktree is native to the Amur River region of China. It matures to a medium-sized tree with stout branches and a wide-spreading habit. Its most interesting feature is the soft, spongy, cork-like bark. The tree prefers locations with deep, rich, well-drained soil and is reported to be tolerant of urban conditions.
Evergreen Trees
Abies nordmanniana
The Nordmann fir is native to parts of Turkey and the Caucasus, but is well-adapted to life on the plains as well. The glossy, emerald-green needles and layered branching make this one of the most attractive conifers in the landscape. This tree is excellent for screening views, wildlife shelter, and windbreaks. Avoid planting in heavy clay soil or new construction sites.
Picea abies ‘Tompa’
When our Tree and Shrub manager saw this rare variety in a catalog he couldn’t resist. Customers often ask for the Dwarf Alberta Spruce, but we don’t grow it because it tends to get spider mites. This Norway spruce has the same habit, texture, and slow growth rate but with much less spider mite problem.
Picea mariana ‘Golden’
This rare cultivar features the typical gray-green foliage of the species, but with the added frosting of gold on the upper surface. This slow-growing tree is pyramidal in form with a somewhat open branching habit. Black spruce is more tolerant of wet areas than many other conifers and prefers full sun.
Picea orientalis ‘Pendula’
The weeping oriental spruce features gracefully drooping branches that hang down nearly vertically along the trunk. An added bonus is the slow growth rate resulting in a smaller tree that can find a home in nearly any landscape. The short glossy needles and elegant weeping habit make this an attention-grabbing focal point.
Pinus koraiensis ‘Silveray’
Korean pine is a rather rare tree in this country. The variety ‘Silveray’ with it’s silvery-blue foliage is even more rare. The pine cones are large and can be used for winter decorations. Use this medium-sized conifer as an attractive focal point or in a mass for screening. Best in full sun.
Evergreen Shrubs
Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wee Willie’
A versatile, truly dwarf form of boxwood whose neatly and densely arranged leaf pairs give it a unique texture and attractive appearance. The foliage retains its emerald green color year round, even through the coldest winters. The plant makes an excellent topiary specimen or low hedge. Wee Willie® can be grown in sun or shade, put prefers well-drained soil.
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Cream Ball’
Falsecypress is gaining popularity in eastern Nebraska as an ornamental dwarf conifer. This variety’s foliage features creamy white tips on the “needles”- the perfect plant to brighten a shady wooded corner of the yard. As an added bonus, Cream Ball forms a slow-growing bun and will tuck nicely into many established yards. Falsecypress can be a bit tricky to grow, but will reward the gardener with unmatched beauty.
Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’
Although this variety has been in the trade for many decades, it is back at Finke Gardens after an extended absence. This low growing juniper provides a dense mound of branches that radiate from the center in an architectural pattern. The new growth is bright green turning to bluish green as it matures and takes on a purple tint in the winter. Wonderful as a mass planting on a rocky slope. Best in full sun, but tolerant of most soil types.
Picea mariana ‘Nana’
A miniature bun-type conifer with a slow growth rate. The dark green needles are densely arranged on the branches and feature a white stripe on the underside. Use this versatile evergreen for structure in the perennial border or for winter accent near an entryway. Black spruce is more tolerant of wet areas than many other conifers and prefers full sun.
Taxus cuspidata var. Capitata ‘Captain’
Captain Yew is an improved selection of the typical pyramidal yew. Its foliage is darker green and holds its color better through the winter. It is also more vigorous than the species. A perfect “miniature Christmas tree”, it can be used in foundation plantings or to anchor a mixed perennial border. Sun or shade in well-drained soil.
