American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) 20' to 30' tall and 10' to 15' wide, conical shape, single-or multi-trunked, dense and compact. Dark green leaves are small and scale-like, leaves overlap to form flattened, rope-like shoots. Branchlets in horizontal planes or sprays Gray bark on the surface, reddish-brown in the furrows; furrows divide into relatively narrow strips Prefers full sun, moist air, moist, deep, loamy soil, tolerant of somewhat wet soils. Quite adaptable/tolerant once established, easily transplanted. Can be sheared to maintain shape and size. Useful for hedges, screens. New England native. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/t/thuocc/thuocc1.html
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) 40-50 x 8-20 aromatic evergreen, broad pyramid to dense column. moderate growth rate Gnarled fluted trunk, handsome reddish brown bark exfoliates in long strips. Rich green scale-like prickly (browse resistant) foliage, closely pressed to stem and overlapping, with strong cedar scent to them Male trees make covered with tiny brown cones, female trees with small light blue cones called juniper berries, late summer through winter. Sun to part shade, prefers sunny airy sites. Moist to dry soils, prefers moist well-drained, doesn t tolerate shade or swamps, but adapts to extremes of heat, drought, wind, poor soil, prospering where few other plants survive Native to old fields, pastures, swamp margins. New England native. Use for specimen, masses, windbreaks, hedges, screens, difficult sites; Wood for cedar products, fence posts; juniper berries flavor gin Attracts songbirds (over 80 species), butterflies, small mammals. Photo 1, 3, 4, 5 Pat Breen, Oregon State University www.oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants Photo 2 http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/j/junvir/junvir1.html
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) 50' to 60' tall by 20' to 30' wide, slow growth rate. Slender, conical shape, fine to medium texture. Dark, shiny green needles up to 1, resinous buds. Easily transplanted, well-drained, acidic soil dislikes heat and dry air. Can function as specimen tree, Christmas tree. Bird and animal shelter Native to New England. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/abibal/abibal1.html
Concolor Fir (Abies concolor) Evergreen tree, 50' to 75' tall by 20' to 30' wide, slow to medium growth rate. Pyramidal, dense, formal shape. Native to American West Needles green with blue cast arranged horizontally on the stem, curving up and out. Cylindrical cones 4" to 5" long, green then brown. Whitish-gray smooth bark, except for occasional resin blisters. New stems yellow-green. Sun, prefers deep, moist, well-drained soil, but less fussy about soil moisture than other firs. Tolerant of most climates and city conditions. Easily transplanted, more adaptable than other firs. Specimen tree with exceptional foliage. Uniiversity of Connecticut Plant Database http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/abicon/abicon1.html
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Large evergreen tree with conical form, 60' to 80' tall in cultivation, with 15' to 20' spread. Horizontal branches with pendulous branchlets, unique species that is not fir (which are Abies sp.) 1" to 1.5" needles, spirally-arranged, color varying blue-green to gray-green or shiny, bright green Smooth bark on young trunks, reddish brown ridges with age. Prefers sun, and moist, slightly acid, well drained soil, generally dislikes hot dry sites, and high winds. Useful as large shade or lawn tree, Christmas tree, in groups or clustered. Native to Western U.S. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/psemen/psemen1.html
Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) Evergreen tree, 30' to 40' tall by 20' to 25' wide, pyramidal shape with horizontal branches. Slow growth rate. Pine-scented dark green needles, ½ to 1" long, densely covering stem. Resinous buds. Tan to medium brown cones, purplish when immature Fine to medium texture Smooth green bark turns brown and plate-y with age. Prefers sun to part shade and moist, well-drained loam, cooler climates, avoid excessive heat, Performs better in dry sites than Balsam Fir. Useful as accent or specimen, a favored Christmas tree. Native to Appalachian Mountains http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/abifra/abifra1.html
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) 40' to 70' + tall, 25' to 30' spread, pyramidal shape, fine textured, soft, graceful, horizontal to pendulous branches. Flattened needles, 0.25" to 0.75" long, dark green above, 2 whitish bands on underside. Many small cones, 0.5" to 1.0" long, turn light brown in the fall. Brown bark changes from smooth, to flaky and scaly, to wide flat ridges. Prefers full sun/partial shade, cool, moist, well-drained soils, tolerant of relatively heavy shade. Avoid dry soils and hot locations, very windy sites, salt. Hemlock wooly adelgid controllable in cultivation through yearly application of dormant oil spray (non-toxic). Typically found on cool, moist northern and eastern slopes. Useful as lawn tree, specimen, screen/hedge, groves/small groupings. Can be pruned heavily in the spring for hedging. New England native. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/
Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) 50' to 70' by 20' to 40' wide evergreen tree, pyramidal and dense when young with age becomes flat-topped with spreading branches and umbrella shape Needles 4" to 6" long Cones shiny yellow-brown, 2 to 3" long Very striking bark on mature trees, thick gray-brown to silvery plates Needs full sun, relatively adaptable to most soils, fairly tolerant of heat, pollution, urban conditions, salt tolerant Evergreen tree useful as a specimen, a windbreak or screen, in mass plantings, urban plantings, and highway and seaside planting requiring salt-tolerance. European native. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/
Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Evergreen tree 30' to 50', almost the same in width, horizontal branching habit. In youth has a conical shape, in age becoming an attractive flat-topped, spreading tree. Medium growth rate Stiff, serrated, green to blue-green needles, needles have a 360 degree twist Gray-brown bark peels to show a red-orange color, especially on upper trunk and branches. New stems are green and change to brown Prefers full sun and well-drained, acidic soil, very tolerant of infertile and dry soils, wind resistant, transplants easily Native to Europe and parts of Asia Attractive specimen, shade tree, accent plant, Christmas tree, good for mass plantings and screens, difficult sites. European native. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pinsyl/pinsyl1.html
White Pine (Pinus strobus) 50 to 80' tall by 30-50' wide, up to 100' tall, fast growing, conical in form when young, becoming picturesque with age. Thin flexible needles, 4" long, light green with a bluish cast. Light brown 6-8" cones, often numerous. Smooth gray to gray-green bark, furrowed with age. Prefers sun and moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; easily transplanted, easily grown, not tolerant of strong winds, salt, vulnerable to ice/heavy snows Good specimen for parks or other large spaces, as Christmas tree New England native. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pinstr/pinstr1.html
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) 30' to 60' tall by 10' to 20' spread, narrow, dense, conical shape, opens with age. Slow growth rate. Horizontal, stiff branches tend to go to the ground. Long, curved, stiff needles, blue-green, spread around stem, with more above stem than below. Cones cylindrical and pointed, up to 5" long and about 1" wide, violet color turning to a medium brown. Full sun, prefers organic, moist soil, somewhat drought tolerant for a spruce, very adaptable Useful as specimen, large shade tree, screen, in groupings or mass plantings Native to the Rockies. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/picpun/picpun1.html
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Conical shape, 40' to 60' tall and 35' to 30' wide, fairly dense when young, becoming a bit more open with age. Fast growth rate when young, slows down with age. Horizontal branches and pendulous branchlets. 0.5" to 1" long medium-green stiff pointed needles, needles point downwards and towards the stem tip. Terminal pink flowers. 4" to 6" long narrow cones at the ends of branches, light green turning medium brown at maturity. Peeling gray brown bark in thin scales. Prefers full sun, well-drained, sandy acidic soils, needs room to develop Useful as specimen, large shade tree, screen, windbreak. Native to northern and central Europe http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/picabi/picabi1.html
White Spruce (Picea glauca) Narrow conical form, 40' to 60' tall and 10' to 20' wide, dense when young, more loose and open with age. Branches held horizontally. Medium growth rate. Stiff and pointed medium bluish green needles, 0.5" to 0.75' long, on upper-side of branch. 1" to 2.5' long cones towards the ends of branches, cone scales thin and rounded, with smooth margins, light green color turning to a light brown at maturity. Prefers full sun, well-drained, sandy, acidic soils. Useful as specimen, windbreak, screen, hedge, Christmas tree, in mass plantings, and along the seashore, because salt tolerant Native to northern New England and Canada. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/picgla/picgla1.html
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Evergreen low trailing groundcover 3" to 6" tall, spreads many feet Prefers partial shade, tends to yellow in full sun/high heat Moist, well-drained and fertile soil Relatively adaptable Useful as groundcover, filler around other plants Useful for erosion control Thin, wiry stems Glossy dark green leaves, 1" to 2" long Leaves leathery when mature Showy, early spring blue flowers Photo 1 www.hort.uconn.edu/plants Photo 2 Missouri Botanic PlantFinder www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder