Read 'Plant Profile: Smoke bush ‘Flame’ (Cotinus coggygria ‘Flame’)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

The clouds of pink flowers appear after the flowers of most spring blooming trees and shrubs and before the summer blooming ones, like crepe myrtle, begin. The simple, blue gray foliage is attractive all summer but is eye catching in the autumn when it turns bright orange-red. This attractive tree is tough and can be grown in parking lots as well as garden beds and containers. Once established it is drought tolerant and can be used in dry rocky soils without irrigation.

Type: Deciduous shrub/small tree.

Outstanding Feature: Orange-red autumn foliage.

Form: Round, symmetrical.

Growth Rate: Slow.

Bloom: Large panicles of small flowers in spring and early summer produce of cloud of purplish pink.

Size: 10-15′ h x 10-12′ W.

Light: Full sun.

Soil: Prefers well drained loam but tolerates clay, sand, acid and alkaline soils.

Hardiness: Zones 5b-8.

Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to Verticillium wilt ; no pests of important.

Propagation: Softwood cuttings in spring; layering.

Comments: Life span is about 20 years.

Read 'Plant Profile: Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

When we moved from an old historic brick house in Annapolis to the brand new brick house in North Carolina we were not thrilled with the starkness of the look and missed the ivy covered walls to which we were accustomed. No, problem; the head gardener ordered Boston Ivy (not really an ivy) and within one year our house looked as though it had been on its site for years. After another year we were also treated to the magnificent scarlet autumn foliage of this spectacular vine. And no, this vine does not hurt the mortar or brick of the house; it climbs by producing branched tendrils equipped with sticky disks that do not penetrate the surface. (It may, however, hurt painted surfaces.) This vine is deciduous (drops its leaves) and in the winter so its woody leafless stems adorn our house with beautiful patterns. Note that the vine shades your house in summer reducing air conditioning costs, but lets the sun through in winter warming your house and decreasing heating costs.

Type: Woody deciduous vine.

Outstanding Feature: Scarlet foliage in autumn; stem patterns in winter.

Growth Rate: Rapid.

Bloom: Inconspicuous but followed by small dark blue berries attractive to some birds.

Size: To 60’.

Light: Full sun to light shade.

Soil: Slightly moist to slightly dry conditions; fertile loamy soil; tolerates soil containing clay or stony material.

Hardiness: Zones 4-9.

Pests and Diseases: Mildews can be a problem; Japanese beetles can damage leaves but plants usually recover.

Propagation: Softwood cuttings late spring to early summer.

Comments: Tolerates city conditions.

Read 'Plant Profile: Red maple ‘Schlesingeri’ (Acer rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

The red maple announces its presence in early spring with a huge haze of red, produced by a myriad of tiny red flowers borne on the tips of the twigs all over the tree. This beautiful sight can be see at a distance and is one of the earliest signs of spring in many areas of the country. In a similar fashion, the brilliant red color of this red maple signal the onset of fall. ‘Schlesingeri’ is an old cultivar but one of the earliest by as much as a month.

Type: Deciduous tree.

Outstanding Feature: Very early, brilliant red autumn coloration. Leaves have white undersides, making them very attractive off the tree as well as on it.

Form: Elliptical.

Growth Rate: Fast.

Bloom: Tiny red flowers in early spring followed by red winged fruit (samaras).

Size: 50’ H x 40’ W.

Light: Full sun.

Soil: Moist, average soil.

Hardiness: Zones 4-9.

Care: In areas where snow and ice storms are common, prune to encourage a strong framework with a single trunk and branches growing perpendicular to the trunk. Annually remove weak branches and those with narrow crotches at the trunk.

Pests and Diseases: No significant pests or diseases.

Propagation: Trees may be grown from seed but will vary greatly in characteristics and may not have the autumn coloration as the parent tree. Graphed trees ensures consistency.

Comment: Good subject for bonsai.