All Zone 3 (or hardier) Plants

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Ribes rubrum

History: Developed in Holland, White Pearl currants, like all white currants, are actually an albino mutation of red currants. This variety has been popular in Europe for quite some time, although aside from its place of origin it appears there is little information on how it came to be. 

Why We Grow It: These delicate translucent berries are white with a pinkish-gold hue, making them delightful to see growing in the garden. They have sweet and mild flavour that is slightly floral. The plant itself is quite cold hardy and bears prolific crops.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum

History: Patriot was developed by the USDA and Maine Agriculture Experimental Station where it was first bred in 1954. It was selected for its cold hardiness and resistance to root rot. Patriot was released in 1976 and given its name to mark the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Why We Grow It: Patriot produces large berries with excellent flavour that are a bit on the softer side. The fruit ripens early in the season and is great for fresh eating, baking, preserving, and freezing! It is more tolerant of the cold and of wet soils than other blueberries and can be grown even in a clay soil. 

Species: Aesculus glabra

History: Ohio Buckeye is native to Walpole Island in Ontario and some central and southern states in the United States. The Shawnee name for the tree is 'hetuck' which means 'eye of the buck' due to the nut's resemblance to a deer's eye. Indigenous peoples such as the Lenape traditionally use the nuts for medicinal uses, tanning leather, and jewellery. Ohio Buckeye is the state tree of Ohio and people from Ohio and graduates of Ohio State University are sometimes called 'buckeyes'. Unsurprisingly, the nuts have an important cultural place in Ohio. There is a candy resembling the nuts called 'buckeyes' that are popular and the nuts make numerous appearances in Calvin and Hobbes whose author is from Ohio. Its wood is too soft to be used for much and it has limited uses as a street tree since it is considered messy due to the nuts it drops.

Why We Grow It: Ohio Buckeye is an attractive ornamental tree with its large, palmate leaves and notable yellow flowers in spring. Although the tree is toxic and generally not fed on by wildlife, the large flowers are very attractive to a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds!

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Vitis vinifera, and small amounts of other Vitis species from North America

History: Bred by Elmer Swenson in Wisconsin, Somerset is one of numerous varieties he created for growing in our cooler North American climates. This cultivar has become increasingly popular in recent years and has good potential for commercial growing. The variety was released in 2002.

Why We Grow It: One of the hardiest, highest quality seedless grape varieties out there, this is an excellent table grape: sweet, spicy, with strong notes of strawberry. The grapes have beautiful pink flushed skin and are most decadent if allowed to sit on a sunny window sill for a week or so after harvest. Although the fruit is on the smaller to medium end of the scale, the vines produce large, heavy clusters that more than compensate for the size of the individual grapes. The grapes have a firm texture with some crunch.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Acer saccharinum

History: Silver maples are native to southeastern Canada and the central and eastern US and is one of the most common trees in its range due to its quick growth and tolerance of a wide range of conditions. Indigenous peoples traditionally use the trees as a source of food, medicine, and wood for weaving, carving, and lumber. The tree was also commonly planted ornamentally, especially after the decline of elm trees due to Dutch Elm Disease, but fell out of favour due to their need for pruning and weak branches. However, their visual appeal means they are still cultivated and they can be found growing in a variety of climates around the world including Norway, Jerusalem, and Argentina. 

Why We Grow It: These fast growing soft maples aren't without their issues. Special care needs to be taken when planting one since they require a lot of space, can clog drain pipes with their roots, and have weak limbs which need to be pruned lest they break off and/or make the tree unsightly. They are also not nearly as useful for maple syrup as their cousin the sugar maple. However, they are an excellent wildlife tree, providing ample habitat and an early source of food. With their height, unique leaves, and general visual appeal, along with their tolerance of many conditions, it is also easy to see why they were once so popular as urban trees.

Seasonal Bonus! We have an abundance of Silver Maples this year, we are offering 40 packs of 30cm+ grade for $240 (50% off!)!