These firs should all grow well in the high elevations of the Southeast, above 2500 feet; they are not recommended for the piedmont or lower south (cold hardy, not heat hardy).

Nordmann Fir, Abies nordmanniana - long soft needles are dark green; one of the finest large evergreen trees of all.... very fine examples in the area: at High Hampton Inn in Cashiers; at Peggy Crosby Center in Highlands; tallest Nordmann Fir in North America is in Highlands at the Highland Hiker Log Cabin on East Main Street. 

European Silver Fir, Abies alba- fine towering example at Peggy Crosby Center in Highlands; closely resembles our native Fraser Fir in old age.

Concolor Fir, Abies concolor - Beautiful silvery-blue-green needles smell of tangerines; probably better than Blue Spruce, certainly softer to the touch!

Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea- classic Northeastern native fir, tolerant of some shade; Abies balsamea 'Nana' is excellent slow growing evergreen ground cover

Fraser Fir, Abies fraseri - the finest Christmas tree in the world is unfortunately very finicky to grow....Please inquire before attempting to grow this species.

Blue Corkbark Fir, Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica - Very good drainage required; not for beginners;  high elevation exposures; beautiful blue color but doesn't like our wet climate

King Boris Fir, Abies boris-Regis - European

Turkish Fir, Abies bormulleriana - also called Olympic Fir, similar to and related to Nordmann Fir, used for Christmas trees in the Pacific Northwest.

Korean Fir, Abies koreana - medium size tree; blue selections are desirable; tolerant of some shade; Abies koreana 'Horstman's Silberlock' has striking finger-like branches of silver-blue curled needles

Nikko Fir, Abies homolepis - the only heat-tolerant fir possibly useful in the piedmont; beautiful dark green pointed needles, not as "soft" as most firs.

Spanish Fir, Abies pinsapo 'Aurea' - golden "fingers" are very unusual; best in zone 6, tolerant of dry conditions

 

Cornus controversa 'Variegata' - Variegated pagoda dogwood

Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea' - Native variegated pagoda dogwood (very rare).

Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes' - Variegated Chinese dogwood is more large shrub in form - very nice foliage

Other Well-behaved Dogs:

Cornus kousa 'Blue Shadow' - foliage is blue-green, very attractive

Cornus kousa 'Summer Stars' - very rare, blooms in summer with long lasting bracts

Cornus kousa 'Satomi' - Red flowers, white eye zone

Cornus kousa 'Heartthrob' - Red flowers, knock-out effect

 

 

Golden Redbud, Cecis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' - Brillant gold hearts

Dove Tree, Davidia involucrata - white bracts like "hankerchiefs" in spring

Disanthus, Disanthus cercidifolius - blue-green foliage in summer, pink fall color

Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica 'Vanessa' - more narrow form with good fall color

Heronswood Globe Katsura, Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Dwarf Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum 'Shaina' - True dwarf Japanese maple

Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia 'Sheridan Spire' - more narrow form

Golden Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia 'Gold Rush' - bright gold leaves all summer; winter deciduous

Blue Port Oreford Cedar, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Elwoodii' & 'Van Pelt's Blue'

Weeping Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum 'Cascade Falls' - works in wet areas as well as dry

Weeping River Birch, Betula nigra 'Summer Cascade' - Tremendous potential here...tough and tolerant.

Oriental Spruce, Picea orientalis - beautiful conifer with dark green needles; fine examples grow at the Highlands Town Hall building, Harris Lake, and the Peggy Crosby Center.

Variegated Aralia, Aralia elata 'Variegata' and 'Argenteo-variegata' - very slow growing shub to small tree with huge dissected leaves edged in white or gold. Rootstock will sucker so plan on maintenance, but it's worth it.

Golden Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' - Bright golden foliage keeps its color well through summer; fast growth; very tolerant of poor soils.

See our availability pages for much more!