It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. - Robert Louis Stevenson
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree, And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, But dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches. - Robert Frost, Birch Trees
Bringing China To Your Landscape
Part Six
by Ronald E. Rothhaas Jr.
The Arbor Doctor
Recently, I visited the home of a local family to look at their landscape. While approaching the house, I was greeted by the family’s two daughters, ages 8 and 10, both adopted from China. We had a delightful visit. It turned out that the family had lived in China for 8 years and traveled back and forth frequently.
They related an unfortunate experience which I have witnessed as well. On their frequent trips back and forth, there were almost always couples bringing back adopted babies. Occasionally they would overhear these couples talking negatively about China and the visit. One time, they heard someone say that they were glad to be leaving that "God forsaken country" and be returning to the United States. Indeed, on only the second day of my adoption trip, a couple in our group exclaimed that they couldn’t wait to find a hamburger and a Starbucks, get their baby, and get out of China.
I only bring this up because of how tragic I find it to be. Part of the agreement we signed with our adoption agency was to teach our child about China and to love China. To be an orphan from China adopted by a family who hates China would, it seems to me, be comparable to being an African orphan adopted by Archie Bunker. I am probably largely preaching to the choir since membership in FCC likely means you are interested in your child’s country of origin.
However, if you are a waiting family reading this, realize that China is not the United States. Don’t expect it to be. It has its problems, not the least of which is its communist government and human rights violations. But it is an incredible country with wonderful people, a rich history, and incredible natural beauty. I fell in love with China. That is why I write these articles!
For some people, winter can be a trying time. The out of doors can be cold and sometimes rather drab. Of course, people like me, who have never completely grown up, still get excited over snow, but that’s another story! Many times we pick plants for our yard based on what the flowers look like. Unfortunately, plants may bloom only a few days out of the year, and then we have to look at them for the next 51 weeks. There are quite a few plants which have berries or bark character which give them beauty into the winter. One family of plants which provides good winter interest is cotoneaster.
I never really realized it until researching the subject, but most cotoneasters originate in China, mainly central and western China. Expeditions sent to western Sichuan province and the eastern Tibetan provinces by Harvard University have found wonderful bio-diversity, including most of the known cotoneasters. The Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts, holds many specimens collected during these expeditions.
Cotoneaster is generally a shrub, ranging from a ground cover to a mid-size shrub. Most cotoneasters get small white, pink, or rose colored flowers in the spring which are nice but not particularly showy. The main show is in the fall and early winter. Starting in the late summer, the berries which follow pollination of the flowers start to turn bright, cranberry red. These berries, which can last into the early winter, provide color during times when other plants may be brown or drab.
Cotoneaster leaves are deciduous or semi-deciduous, meaning they drop off eventually in the fall or winter. However, they often turn beautiful shades of red and scarlet and hang on for some time. Many cotoneasters are actually evergreen in the south where it is not as cold.
Occasionally cotoneaster will be grafted onto a standard, or trunk, making a small ornamental tree. However, more commonly it is planted in conjunction with other plants as a ground cover or low shrub. It works well with other landscape plants and does not rapidly take over as some do. However, cotoneaster is a dense shrub and tends to collect leaves and garbage which are difficult to clean out of its dense thicket of branches. Nonetheless, cotoneaster is very popular, to the point that it is sometimes overused by some landscape architects.
Cotoneaster is yet another plant which originates in China. You may already have it in your landscape and not realize it, or you may wish to consider adding it. It is available through most nurseries and garden centers. For other trees of Chinese origin which provide winter interest, see articles in past OUR SILK ROAD newsletters on lacebark pine and lacebark elm.
About the author: Ronald Rothhaas is the proud father of Melanie Fei Min and the husband of Bridget. He owns Arbor Doctor, LLC, which specializes in tree preservation, landscape care, and tree and shrub installation.
You may contact him at 513-661-2673 or Ron@ArborDoctor.com