I don't know much about plants, but I want a large tree. Can you tell me where to start?

Here are a few things to take into consideration when you are selecting a tree:

• Do you want something that will keep its leaves year-round (Evergreen; still may change color with the seasons) or will lose its leaves during the winter (Deciduous)?
• Which of the following are you looking for in a tree?
  • Shade
  • Showpiece in the spring
  • bold fall color?
• How much sun does the area get?
• What are the conditions of the area you will be placing the specimen? Will it be close to the house, Street, Driveway, Power lines, or is the area Sloped? And is the area very wet or dry?

After you have answered these questions we would love for you to come and talk to one of our very knowledgeable staff members to help you get things started.

What do #1, #3 mean on your plants?

This can be a little confusing. In the nursery industry we number our pots i.e. #1, #2, #3, etc. The number means approximately 'gallon'. We don't call them 'gallon' anymore since they are not precisely 1 or 2 gallons.

What exactly does 'Hardy' mean, and what is our hardiness zone in the Portland area?

Sometimes the hardy zones can be a little tricky to figure out. Hardiness is the lowest temp that a plant has been observed to survive at. The lowest temperature that we usually get is about 10 degrees F, that would be pretty rare to see it that low though. It never really drops below 20 around here. You do have to keep in mind though that there are microclimates, there can be cold and warm pockets and windy areas that cause the temperature to come down. Plants acclimatize slowly in winter months and need a little time in colder weather to prepare and adapt for severe cold.

What do the various measures of plants mean?

• Height: Most plants are measured from soil of plant to top of crown.
• Spread: Spread is used for mounding and dwarf plants. Spread is measured from drip line to drip line.
• Caliper: This measurement is taken 6 inches from the soil. It is the diameter of the trunk.
• Type:
  • Pom Pom: This is a straight upright or lowered multi branched forms with many balls of foliage that looking as if they are floating in all directions.
  • Hindu Pan: This mostly applies to pines that are cultured into a large upright, Asian style form. Unlike Pom Pom the areas of foliage are sheared into flat-topped forms.
  • Spiral: This is as very traditional corkscrew topiary, Used in many formal gardens.
  • Tiered: These are plants that have been cultured with pruning or grafting to make a vertical arrangement.
  • Standard or Std: These are plants that have been grafted to an understock designated height.

Why does the same kind of plant sometimes vary in price?

Here at Garden World we have a co-op operation. The growers set their own prices so that you can get the highest quality plant material attainable and yet affordable, but this means that some of the prices vary slightly.

What do the various measures of plant growth mean?

• Slow: 0-6 inches per year
• Medium: 6-12 inches per year
• Fast: 12 or inches feet per year
• Plant Growth Habit:
  • Cascading: Generally a horizontal, weeping form
  • Fastigiate: This is a narrow up-right, columnar, it probably won't become half as wide as it is tall.
  • Globose: This is a globe like shape, that can become as tall as it is broad.
  • Pendulous: This is weeping and it usually will grow close or along to the ground unless you stake it.
  • Prostrate: This is a ground creeping habit, It usually gets much wider that it is tall.
  • Pyramidal: This is a conical habit. Pretty typical of most conifers.
  • Spreading: This plant has horizontal branching, and the plant will most of the time be twice as wide at maturity as it is tall.
  • Upright Broad: These are ascending branches that tend to spread with age, and usually becomes half as wide as tall.
  • Upright Narrow: This means that the plant has lateral branching that will vary, a narrow profile similar to Fastigiate plants.
  • Upright Open: This has lateral branching that is widely spaced.