This is a gardening site isn’t it?  I probably should tell you about a few plants other than tomatoes.  Part of the point of this site was to inform readers about some of the not so common, yet easy to find landscape plants available in your local nursery.  I intended on starting with my all time favorite tree, but lighting conditions were such that photographing it didn’t work out quite right.  Instead, I’m going to tell you about my husband’s favorite tree.

The idea is to create a little bit of an information sheet that you could print out and add to a collection of “cool plants I’d like to have.”

Variegated Box Elder or Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’

Height: 20′

Spread: 15′

Hardiness: USDA zone 3 – 9

Habit: rounded pyramidal and often irregular.  Somewhat of a scraggly appearance.  Not your full and bushy tree

Texture: coarse in winter, medium in leaf

Culture: adapts well to many conditions, full sun, wet, dry or poor soils.  Often short lived

Pests: few noted

The Flamingo cultivar of the Box Elder is an interesting form of a rather uninteresting Maple.  Leaves are complex and a beautiful spring green edged in creamy white.  New shoots are a brilliant pink aging to green.  Color is best in cooler weather.  Cut back in late winter to encourage extension growth which is often more pink and cream.

This is an interesting plant for the landscape.  It is not as common as some of the other Maples, but has it’s place in the landscape.  Neighbors often ask us what that tree is and are stunned to hear it is a type of Maple.  Be careful because often times branches will revert to the non-cultivar variety and are not as attractive.  Prune out reverted sprouts.

We have had this tree in our garden since we moved into our house.  It has doubled in height in 5 years, standing 15′ high now.  As it matures it will grow slower and fill out somewhat.  The Variegated Box Elder is a lovely little tree that deserves more attention.