Discover the history, care tips, landscape uses, and fun facts about Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’ (Upright Japanese Yew). Learn why this hardy evergreen has been a Canadian landscape favourite for over a century—and how to grow it successfully in your own garden.
Discover the history of Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety,’ including the origin of the name Fortune, its best landscape uses, care requirements, pest pressures, and recommended companion cultivars. Learn how to grow this versatile variegated evergreen and share your own experiences.
Euonymus alatus, commonly known as burning bush, is a popular yet invasive landscape shrub in Canada. Learn about its origins, ecological impact, landscape uses, fun facts, and how to grow it responsibly.
Buxus ‘Green Gem’ is a hardy, compact boxwood developed by Sheridan Nurseries in Canada. Learn its origins, best landscape uses, growing tips, pest challenges, and why the Box Tree Moth may threaten its future in modern landscapes.
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ is a variegated Tatarian dogwood prized for its red winter stems and all-season beauty. Learn its origins, best landscape uses, and common disease issues.
Late winter is the perfect time to protect your trees and shrubs with a dormant spray. I just published a new blog post explaining why dormant oil and lime sulphur are so effective here in Ontario, and which pests and diseases they help control.
Abies concolor, or White Fir, brings soft blue‑green needles and a clean citrus fragrance to Ontario landscapes. Hardy to Zone 3 and tolerant of drought once established, it thrives in well‑drained, slightly acidic soils and full sun. Its low pest pressure—limited mainly to issues like adelgids, budworms, and occasional root rot in wet soils—makes it a reliable, underused alternative to blue spruce.
I was at Humber College on Friday teaching my Level 1 Horticulture Technician Apprentices, and during our break I did what any plant‑obsessed instructor does—I wandered into the greenhouse. Amid the succulents and tropicals, one plant practically posed for me: Cereus forbesii ‘Spiralis’, commonly known as the Spiral Cactus. If you’ve never seen one, imagine a cactus … Read more
There’s something unmistakably nostalgic about Abies balsamea, the balsam fir. Its resinous scent lingers in the air long after you brush past it—a classic northern fragrance that feels like winter cabins, quiet forests, and home.
Although Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) is widely planted across Canada, especially in Ontario, it’s not without issues. I’ve never been its biggest fan, but there’s no denying its usefulness in challenging Canadian landscapes where few conifers tolerate urban stress, road salt, or poor soils. Below is a fresh, Canadian‑context overview of its origins, hardiness, landscape … Read more
