TOP 10 APPLES

FOR MINNESOTA
1) Honeycrisp- This U of M apple has
become a national favorite. Our trees are
all grown on dwarf rootstocks. They may
take a year or two after transplant to fruit.

2) Honeygold- This nicely shaped tree is

the perfect pollinator for 'Honeycrisp'. Its
yellow fruit is best right off of the tree.

3) Haralson- Great cooking apple that

produces heavy yields. This tree flowers
late.

4) Fireside- Also well matched with

'Honeycrisp', this is an excellent multi-
purpose apple. Our 'Firesides' are
standard-sized trees.

5) Zestar- One of the newest U of M

introductions to become really popular,
Zestar is a great apple for fresh eating. It
is an early bloomer.
6) Freedom- This spray-free apple tree
out of New York produces heavy crops of
mildly tart fruits that keep well if kept cold.

7) Sweet Sixteen- We added this U of M

tree due to popular demand. It takes a few
years to get going and then produces fruit
each year.

8) Red Regent- We have this apple

because everyone who has it loves it. It
bears tasty fruit, that stores well, at a
young age.

9) State Fair- This heavy producer offers

fruit with superb texture and versatile
taste. It works well with 'Zestar' as a
pollinator.

10) Wealthy- These trees fruit so heavily

at the nursery that they break if we don't
stake them. They tend to bear every-
other-year. 'Wealthy' offers great disease
resistance and all-purpose fruit.
TOP 10
BUTTERFLY
PLANTS
1) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias species)- This plant

is a host for Monarch caterpillars and a nectar

source for many adult butterflies.

2) Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)-  Along with

other members of the parsley and dill family, this

plant is a host for Black Swallowtails.

3) Willow (Salix species)- These shrubs and trees

play host to a variety of butterfly larvae.

4) Poplar (Populus species)- Quaking Aspen,

Poplars and Cottonwoods are also the preferred

diet of several species.

5) MN Strain Redbud (Cercis

canadensis)- Legumes like this tree and Wisteria

are the ideal hosts for Silver-Spotted Skippers.

6) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)-  All

you have to do is walk by a patch of purple

coneflowers and you will see butterflies.

7) New England Aster (Aster novae-

angliae)- These pink and purple beauties draw

crowds of butterflies in late summer.

8) Blazing Star (Liatris species)- These easy-

care prairie plants are a favorite of many gardeners

and butterflies alike! 

9) Stonecrop (Sedum species)- In late summer

and fall these plants are covered with bees and

butterflies.

10) Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)-  These

brightly-colored flowers are easy to grow and

provide an excellent nectar source.

*Native grasses and wildflowers are always a

good bet. Butterflies seem most attracted to

white and pink blooms.

TOP 10 FOLIAGE
SHRUBS
1) Sem Ash Leaf Spirea

(Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem') Height: 3.4' Width: 3.5-4'

2) Shining Sensation Weigela

(Weigela florida 'Bokrashine') Height: 5-6' Width: 3-

4'

3) Orange Rocket Barberry 

(Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket') Height: 4-

5' Width:  1-2'

4) Tiger Eyes® Sumac

(Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger') Height/Width: 6'

5) Amber Jubilee Ninebark

(Physocarpus opulifolius 'Jefam') Height: 5-6'

Width: 4'

6) Redwing® American Cranberrybush

(Viburnum trilobum 'J.N. Select')  Height: 8-10'

Width: 6-8'

7) Magic Carpet Spirea 

(Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet') Height: 18"

Width: 2'

8) Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle

(Diervilla lonicera)  Height: 4' Width: 3-4' 

9) Summer Glow Tamarisk

(Tamarix ramosissima 'Summer Glow') Height: 8-

10' Width: 6-8'

10) Little Devil Ninebark

(Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna

May')  Height/Width: 3-4'

TOP 10 HEAT &

DROUGHT
TOLERANT
1) Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)-  This incredibly

tough, succulent plant is usually the first perennial

to emerge in spring.

2) Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)-  Daylilies are

incredibly tough plants that bloom over a long

period- even in partial shade.

3) Russian Sage (Perovskia)- We water our

plants at the Carver County Fair during the fair

each year and that is it. They're HUGE!

4) Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium

scoparium)-  This tough grass used to dominate

the prairies of Minnesota. 

5) Ornamental Onion (Allium spp.)- These lovely

perennials have excellent texture.  Deer, rabbits

and rodents dis-like their oniony flavor.

6) Weigela (Weigela florida)-  While they may die

back a bit over the winter, they tolerate heat and

drought beautifully .

7) Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)- Deliciously

fragrant flowers bloom against disease resistant

foliage.  These roses are also salt tolerant.

8) Sumac (Rhus spp.)- Varieties like 'Tiger Eyes'

are stunning and they do not require irrigation at all.

9) Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla

lonicera/sessilifolia)- Great disease resistance

and good shade tolerance are other benefits.

10) Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)-  If this

tree can survive my neighbor's kids, it can survive

anything!

There are many others, but these are some of my

favorites!
TOP 10 LOW-
MAINTENANCE
PERENNIALS
1) Sedum (Stonecrop)

Tolerates temperature extremes & drought, emerges early 

2) Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) 'Karl Foerster'

Extremely adaptable and tolerant, great backdrop plant 

3) Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

Tough and reliable late bloomer

4) Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Tolerates heat, drought and partial shade. Long bloom time. 

5) Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks)

Tough and adaptable. "Babies" can be used to start new plants

6) Vinca minor (Periwinkle) 

This lovely little groundcover is tough enough to grow beneath trees.

7) Lamium maculatum (Dead Nettle) 'Purple Dragon'

Blooms all summer in part to full shade with very little care

8) Lamiastrum (Golden Dead Nettle) 'Herman's Pride'

Forms a tidy globe of variegated foliage. Literally grows anywhere!

9) Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris) 'Caesar's Brother'

Plant in a moist location with part to full sun and forget about it

10) Phlox paniculata (Tall Garden Phlox) 'David'

This adaptable late bloomer has excellent mildew resistance

TOP 10
ORNAMENTAL
TREES
1) Redwing Cranberrybush Tree- 8-12'T
x 6-8'W: Pruned into tree form, this lovely
plant offers spring flowers, summer fruit
and fall foliage.
2) Hydrangeas- 5-8'T x 5-10' W: Tolerant
of partial shade, compact size ideal for
small gardens. 'Quickfire' and 'Limelight'
are my faves.
3) Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac- 25'T x
15'W: This narrow version of an old
favorite, produces sweet smelling, white
flowers after other lilacs are finished
blooming.  This tree does very well in
exposed locations.
4) Crabapples- 6-30'T x 5-30' W: We
grow great varieties with excellent disease
resistance and fruit retention. My favorite
is 'Royal Raindrops'.  It's burgundy foliage
is quite similar to that of Japanese
maples.   'Rejoice' has attractive,
ascending branches and rose colored
blooms.
5) Bloomerang® Dwarf Korean Lilac- 7-
8'T x 4-5': We have high hopes for this
new, re-blooming variety.
6) MN Strain Redbud- 20-30'T x 20-25'
W: This early blooming beauty tolerates
partial shade.  Because it is a legume, it is
self feeding.
7) Dakota Pinnacle Birch- 30'T x 7-8'
W: As you might imagine, NDSU's
breeding program generates very hardy
trees and this is one of them.  Dark green
foliage doesn't pale in the heat and turns
gold in fall.
8) Shiloh Splash Birch- 8-12'T x 6-8'W:
Superb, variegated foliage stays nice and
clean all summer.  Plant in a protected
location.
9) Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn- 15-
20'T & W:  Interesting, lateral branching
and lustrous foliage compliment creamy
flowers and dusty rose fruits.
Phenomenal food source for wildlife.
10) Burning Bush Tree- 10-12'T x 8-
12'W: Good shade tolerance and overall
hardiness, excellent fall color in full sun. 
TOP 10 TIPS FOR
SUCCESS
1) PROPER IRRIGATION- Water
thoroughly and deeply, then 
allow the soil to dry out for a few days to
encourage root growth.
Don't rely on rain for moisture & water
more when it is hot or windy. 

2) MULCH- Mulch helps keep soil

moisture and temperature consistent. It
eliminates competition from weeds and
prevents mower injuries.

3) BALANCED NUTRITION- Apply slow-

release fertilizers early in the season or
top dress the surrounding soil with
compost. Use half-strength water-soluble
fertilizers only as needed to give small
plants a boost. Stop feeding altogether by
mid to late July.

4) PROPER SITING- Give plants the

amount of light and type of 
soil that they need to flourish, based on
the needs of their species.

5) PULL WEEDS!- They compete with

plants and harbor insect 
pests. They also block air flow, promoting
fungal growth.

6) DEAD HEAD- Remove spent flowers

and dried foliage.

7) DE-SUCKER- Prune off aggressive

shoots that grow at the base
of trees as soon as you notice them and
as low as you can cut them.

8) THIN OUT- Fast growing shrubs should

be thinned out every 2-3 years by cutting
out 1/3 of the oldest, thickest stems at
their bases.

9) DIVIDE- Dig up and divide overgrown

flowers in the spring.

10) HAVE FUN!- Gardening can be very

relaxing. It is also great exercise! Make a
hobby out of it and you will be richly
rewarded.

TOP 10 SMALL
SHRUBS
1) Spirea, 'Magic Carpet'- 1.5' T x 2' W: Multi-colored

foliage and bright pink flowers look lovely together!

Very easy to grow.

2) Weigela, 'Minuet'- 2-2.5' T x 2-3' W: Bronze-tinted

foliage and re-blooming rose flowers are showy

throughout the summer.

3) Potentilla, 'Dakota Sunspot'- This plant blooms

from late spring until late fall. It is another winner from

NDSU.

4) Barberry, 'Concorde'- 2' T x 3' W: This barberry

has a very tidy shape and deep burgundy foliage. Its

color compliments other plants.

5) Spruce, 'Blue Nest'- 1.5-2' T x 2-2.5' W: This tough

little evergreen looks lovely- even in partial shade.

Great steel-blue color.

6) Ninebark, 'Little Devil'- 3-4' T&W:  Tons of tiny,

burgundy leaves make a stunning backdrop for shell

pink flower clusters.

7) Birchleaf Spirea, 'Tor'- 2-3' T&W: I just love the

blue-green leaves on this spring bloomer.  Fall foliage

color is brilliant orange-red.

8) Weigela, 'My Monet'- 1-1.5' T x 1'+:  Lovely pink,

white and green variegation has great disease

resistance.  Protect from afternoon sun.

9) Chokeberry, Autumn Magic'- 3-5' T x 2-4' W:

Great shade tolerance helps this plant fit in under the

eaves.  Persistent, edible fruit.

10) Forsythia, 'Gold Tide'- 2-2.5' T x 3-4' W: This

plant has wonderful foliage texture and early spring

bloom. Subtle fall color.