RECOMMENDED PLANT LIST

Fernbank Design Guidelines*

This list has been prepared based on experience with what plants have thrived in our Fernbank neighborhood during the past 20 years. Considerations are: lot sizes; exposure to sunlight; soil composition; maintenance requirements including pruning, feeding and pest control; deer resistance; noninvasiveness; hardiness to this area; and notably, the estimated size at maturity. These parameters relate to both trees and shrubbery, which can overtake other exterior features such as blocking windows and entryways and the line of sight on our roads.

The tree selections are estimated to grow no more than 40 feet tall with a maximum spread of 20-30 feet at maturity. Consider rate of growth, proximity to the dwelling and to each other. Planted too closely, they will crowd each other and become more susceptible to pests and disease.

The list is not exhaustive and there are some excellent on-line resources to help with your decision. Note that many new cultivars have been developed over the past 20-30 years resulting in a variety of shapes and sizes, and in stronger and more disease and pest free plants.

Shade/Canopy Trees

American Hornbeam
American Smoke Tree
Fringe Tree: Chinese and Virginia
Maples: Brandywine red maple, Coral Bark
Maple, Paper Bark Maple, Trident Maple
(most other maples become too large)
Pagoda Tree
Tri-Color Beech (needs shelter from wind/sun)

Ornamental/Flowering Trees

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, a native tree to this area
Cherry: Yoshino Cherry and Weeping Cherry
Crape Myrtle
Dogwood: American and Chinese (Kousa)
(There are many varieties within these groups)
Flowering Crab
Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac
Japanese Maple: many cultivars
Magnolias: Little Gem and Sweet Bay are Evergreen
Purple Leaf Plum
Rose of Sharon
Redbud (not a long lived tree)
Saucer and Star Magnolia

Evergreen Trees

Blue Atlas Cedar
Blue Spruce (many cultivars can be tricky
without regular inspections for disease and
pests, come in a variety of sizes and shapes)
Chinese Juniper
Cypress: Arizona Blue Ice
Deodar Cedar: Electric Blue, Heavenly Blue
False Cypress Varieties
Green Giant Arborvitae
Hawthorn
Hollies: Mary Nell, Burford Nana,
American, Oakleaf
Pine: Austrian and Swiss

Shrubs

Abelia
Azalea
Barberry
Boxwood
Butterfly Bush (non-invasive varieties)
English Laurel
Fothergilla
Hollies: Inkberry (Glabra) or Japanese varieties
Hydrangea (very susceptible to deer damage)
Juniper (many varieties are available)
Lilac: Miss Kim and Palibin
Nandina (some varieties can be invasive)
Oregon Grape (Mahonia) non-invasive varieties
Osmanthus Goshiki
Pyracantha
Red Tip Photinia
Roses (shrub roses such as Floribundas and Knockouts)

Ground Covers

Ajuga
Blue Fescue
Carpet Roses
Creeping Junipers
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Thyme
Heather
Lamium
Liriope
Pachysandra
Periwinkle/Vinca
Sedge
Soapwart
Sweet Woodruff
Spiraea
Viburnum (choose carefully as some varieties get very large)

Fernbank’s large deer population can be very damaging to our gardens. The selections above have been made with this in mind. While sprays can be useful, nothing seems to be provide 100 per cent deer proofing. Some owners have had limited success with azaleas and rhododendron in sheltered areas. Consider perennials such as ferns, coreopsis, yarrow, lavender, or cranesbill. Notable omissions from the list are hostas and daylilies, which are extremely tasty.

*Revised March 2021 by J. Moore and Elisabeth Staro. Replacing Recommended Plant List in Appendix 3, page 22 of Design Guidelines