Not exactly what you are thinking, but there is a yellow berry Ilex decidua. Flowers done amount up to much (you have to look pretty hard to find them), but then there are bright yellow berries once the leaves are shed until spring. As a bonus they are food for native birds during late winter/early spring, or if there is heavy snow. You could even mix red and yellow to enhance the effect if you like. Also it is a native plant to our area, and tough as nails. Wet/dry soil, it doesn't much care.

Arktrees

I will put that at the top of the list. Thanks Ark! I really like the idea of winter interest from the fruit since it will be off the back porch and visible from my spot in the living room. That reminds me... I also really like Winterking Hawthorn for the fruit appeal, as well as the flowering. Forgot to add that in the original post. We have some kind of holly I keep meaning to make an ID post about that does not have sharp pointed leaves and man do the bees LOVE this thing in flower. It is the wife's fav tree at our place. I think the berries stay green or yellow I can't remember atm.

I also forgot to mention it is a full sun location in sun around 8 am to 7 pm.

Glad to be of help. I know about decidua because it grows very commonly in the area. I kept seeing these REALLY bright red berries in winter on leafless shrubs/small trees, and finally decided to ID it. Later I discovered there are yellow selections as well as red. And since it is such a common native, you probable don't need to worry about a male pollinator.

As for Hawthorn, I know next to nothing about them. Others will be far more help than I.

Arktrees

There is a large one with those bright red berries in the fence line about a half mile my house, so we definitely have them in the local area. I noticed nearly every day in the winter on my way to work.

Finch's Gold Possumhaw is one that I have seen offered a time or two (see link, I know nothing about them BTW). Byers Golden is another. I think I remember reading somewhere that Finch's Gold is superior, but I'm not certain of that. There are many red selections made for particularly bright red berries. It would seem to be a nice effect to have one of each planted a few feet apart so that they grow together and contrast with berry color.

Arktrees

Here is a link that might be useful: Finch's Gold Possumhaw

Anyone have any info/experience with Sorbus aucuparia "Cardinal Royal"? That seems to have more conspicuous flowers (I think), more fruit (it is already pretty large), and better fall color (maybe)? I saw this in stock at 50% off in a 15 gallon pot for an Andrew Jackson. Looks like more of a showcase tree with multi season interest than the holly. Is it invasive? I believe it is native to Europe.

Ark, the wife has seen me typing away and then did read your advice. She has already decided she wants to plant (by she I mean me haha) two red fruiting Ilex decidua close to the ditch fairly close to the bluebird box just out of view to the left in the pic with a yellow fruiting Ilex decidua staggered between them about 5 feet forward. The trees will be around 12 feet from each other. Is that about right to have them grow into one another or do they need to be closer? We are going to the nursery (among other things) tomorrow to check out what they have left. Last time I went to Sharum's they had a lot of holly varieties left in stock.

John,
It's really a matter of your and your wife's personal preference on the spacing. They are growing in thickets more often than not in the wild. They are perfectly happy solitary, or in closely spaced groups. Most references recommend either and anything in between for planting. They are about the most un-picky plant that is not a invasive introduced species that you will come across. BTW, these same characteristics may very well make Ilex decidua invasive outside it's native range, or at least outside of the eastern US. Not a concern for you or I, but others that may read at some point, could be wise to check into it.

The link I included above, has 'Warren's Red' Ilex decidua available as well. Small plants for both, but if you don't find them elsewhere. Also looked at their "garden" rating as well, and it's good. Also have seen Ilex decidua listed at 'Pine Ridge Gardens' near Russellville as well. She may have some. Lastly, make sure you know what the leaves and stems look like, so that you can be on the lookout for mis-labeled plants. Have seen it soooo often at even well known nurseries. Good luck.

Arktrees

I haven't chimed in because I don't really know the climate in Arkansas, but hawthorns are a great genus of plants. Adaptable and a favorite of wildlife for a variety of reasons (fruit, insects nibble on the leaves providing caterpillars for birds, they are twiggy and thorny so they provide good bird cover), they come in all shapes and sizes. Parsley hawthorn has the most beautiful foliage (Crataegus marshallii), I think, but others are popular for large or numerous fruit.

Of course the deciduous holly is very nice as well and it's twiggy/thickety growth would also benefit the birds (as well as the berries). So many nice cultivars available now and that helps it be more available in nurseries than it might have been otherwise.

esh, what kind of climatic conditions does it need?

We average around 40" or precip/year. We average around 6" of snow a year although the last two winters we have had over 20" I think. We have single digit lows in winter but never below 0. Summer is dry June-August and hot with temps in the triple digits half the days is some years. This is will be the hottest June on record in Fort Smith. We will have all 30 days 90*+ for daytime highs and we have already had several days over 100*. Most precip falls in the growing season (probably around 75-80% or more).

I just looked up Crataegus marshallii and it is not native in my county but is in 3 counties surrounding mine the nearest being less than 20 miles away. I would think it would do well here.

j,
I had a 12+ yr old Cladastris, over 10 ft tall, that did just what you've described - had leafed out, but then lost all leaves - they wilted, turned yellow and fell off, in all the rain we had back in May. Has begun to push a few small anemic looking leaves here and there in the canopy, but I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to do a lot of pruning to remove dead wood, and the whole tree may have to go.

Agree with esh about the handsome foliage on the parsley haw - they grew wild in the woods of east-central AL where I grew up - but I might be more inclined to plant one of the mayhaw selections for their larger fruit - though cedar(juniper)-hawthorn rust can be a problem.

Hate to hear that lucky. Did you ever get to see it bloom?

Ark: I went to Sharum's this morning and they don't have any yellow fruiting hollies or the Warren's Red. I did place an order with them for 5-7 gallon (whatever they can locate) because the wife would like a little larger than those offered on the website you posted.

I also went to purchase the mountain ash to plant where one of the dead sourwoods I planted this spring resides. It had a really funky looking form after I drug it out of the tree pen. As much as I wanted it, it was too funky looking(same thing that keeps from buying a chinese pistache even though they are some of the prettiest in fall around here). I am strongly considering a hawthorn for that spot.

Don't blame you for wanting larger plants. I included a link simply because I did a quick search for a supplier. Honestly, I did not expect them to have it, but you never know for sure. One thing about fall, if it's late enough, you should be able to easily confirm they are correct plants. Leaf lose and properly colored berries without true thorns should go a long ways to help ID.

Arktrees

'Winter King' is quite susceptible to rust around here. Can't speak for your area though.

Thornless Cockspur is a better selection. 'Crusader' is quite nice but might be a little smaller than you'd like.

j0nd03,
If your in the mood to go to Tulsa, Sander's has 7 gallon Warren's Red listed in their Tulsa inventory.

Arktrees

Here is a link that might be useful: Sander's

Ark that brings up a question I have. Say go to Tulsa and buy one. Will the 80 mph on the turnpike rip all the leaves off? Would I need to wrap the tree or something like that? Honestly, our selection of trees in the nurseries around here is not that great. This dilemma has kept me from purchasing scarlet oak, rotundiloba sweetgum, and milky way kousa's in NW AR. What is the best way to transport fairly large trees long distances like that in a truck on the interstate?

Oh absolutely you have to wrap it! You can't put a leafed out tree (or shrub) in a pickup.

Or use a van.

j)nd03,
The local nurseries put everything on flatbed trucks, or a trailer an covered tightly with plastic tarps to keep the plants from taking the full blast. If they are not protected, then leaves will be torn off, and/or burned as the excess air flow will remove moisture from the leaves far faster than it can be replaced. I have brought plants as much as about 1 hour drive in the open in the back of a truck, BUT on rainy cool, wet, near 100% humidity days. I also took back routes where I did not drive nearly as fast. I have also used tarps for longer distance stuff as well. In your case, probable the best option is to use a trailer/truck and wrap everything in tarps (like you can get at Lowes etc.), and then strap it down. Then it would not hurt to put another tarp over everything to shade it in the weather we are currently having. Of course bigger stuff needs a bigger hauler. If you don't have a truck/trailer of have a friend/family that would let you take advantage of them, then it can be rented (i.e. Enterprise and a weekend rate for one day), but of course that raises total cost. But it might be worthwhile for several plants. Also might rent a U-Haul for a day as well. Just some thoughts.

Arktrees

Not sure if you remember but I almost went to be with Jesus when I planted a freakin' big ol' WK Hawthorn earlier this year.

So far it looks incredible has done very well, despite the insane temperature fluctuations, etc, we have had.

It's really beautiful in its structure, the bark, berries, etc.

Can't give you a long term opinion yet but I'm hoping it's supposed resistance to rust holds true in Indy!

Whaas: I just looked at the thornless cockspur and I do really like the fruit,flowers and fall color. Just from the pics I saw, I do think winterking has slightly more attractive winter form, but that is probably due to the pruning habits of the owners or just the available pics I saw. Is TC more resistant to rust than the winterking?

Ark: The day I rent a Uhaul to transplant trees is the day I spend the majority of my free time at work on a tree forum.. err wait.. damn it!

Glad you are enjoying your tree, dude!

Oh, I completely agree on the U-haul thing etc., I didn't want to make a judgement as to how badly somebody might want to do something. So it was just a possible, not an endorsement. Not for me to say. ;-)

Arktrees

haha I meant I would not put it out of the realm of possible since I do keep a GW tree forum window open at work. The wife would have a hay day (sp?) with that.. I can only imagine the grief I would get from her if I did that but I make the money soo... ;-)

Got to make it a win-win with her. You want her to have the nicest home as possible, and you LOVE doing these things, for both of you, and making her happy. Then some flowers/chocolate/cheesecake wouldn't hurt so that she will forgive you for telling her an obvious lie. :-))

At my house, I'm the tree guy, and take care of the lawn, but she is the one for the shrubs/perennials/wildflowers and beds. Though they do cross. Why we have three crabapples. One that I liked (Pairefire), and two that she wanted (Harvest Gold and Scarlet Brandy Wine).

Arktrees

Then some flowers/chocolate/cheesecake wouldn't hurt so that she will forgive you for telling her an obvious lie. :-))

C'mon guys, don't give all the secrets away!

Perhaps instead there is something fun for her to do in Tulsa that might sweeten the trip?

Really long off topic post ahead! - RaYOR

It started out "for both of us and our homestead" but now she knows I am just OBSESSED! haha She does like the flower beds I have put together and some of the ornamental trees surrounded by flowers I have planted. I have offered on several occasions to take her shopping for the tree/plants of her choice but she has only taken me up on a DD Blanchard southern magnolia. Ken, whaas, and ademink among others are not good for tempering my planting desires.

I am going to spend the next two evenings hand watering everything that is not attached to a soaker hose and then do the soaker carousel this weekend. I wish she could help with that but we have a 8 week old and a 2 yo that she is busy with during the day. She has a nice house, car and jewelry so she pretty much gives me free reign with the "forest" I am planting and trying to maintain through these last 2 years of aweful drought in the summer/fall. Hopefully, we can get some kind of pattern change the first week of July but I am not holding my breath. We have many established old trees really suffering (some died late summer last year - even oak and hickory) that already have leaves turning yellow or brown, sometimes in large patches. At this point, it looks like the sweetgums in Greenwood will be leafless before October :( It is not looking good for the rest of summer.

I also have 2 PF crabs and 1 HG crab. The HG is doing spectacular so far and the 2 PF had very strange flowering this spring (their first spring in the ground). They both flowered, stopped (all the rain?) then continued a few weeks later. I am guessing because they were newly planted but the HG was too and it flowered normally.

I was going to just email this to you, Ark but I don't think you have an email set up. Sorry to bore everyone else!

Esh, if we go to Tulsa, we go to Babies R Us, the huge mall nearby, and eat at Ted's Cafe Escondido on the way out. This is her SOP in Tulsa haha We really want to go to the zoo, but it is way too hot for the kids to be out

Hmmm, I don't see anything to set up an email. I will try to send you something.

I know what you mean about watering. I water everyday. In addition to what I have planted, I have many in pots as experiments, and trees that I have collected to give to friends/family/neighbors. I start some from seed most every year. This year I have Scarlet Oaks from acorns that are over 1' tall and growing very well. Then add to that, the new crabapples, new dogwood, new 2" caliper Scarlet Oak for our yard, and the lawn. I water everyday for the potted stuff, and every weekend for the established trees. I water the established trees, so as to reduce the stress on them in hopes of increasing growth next year, as we had NO shade when we moved in. I have bought timers to put on the hoses/sprinklers, so I can set them up and walk away. Wish I had brains enough to do it last year, but I didn't. But the pots are a daily chore.

Yes my S.O. knows I'm obsessed as well. You don't see her on the tree forum..... I started the same way, but she soon figured out that I couldn't help myself, and turned the trees over to me with a few exceptions. For example, she wanted a Sugar Maple, I didn't (grows to slow), but relented cause she wanted it. And what do you suppose happens, "I" end up with two Sugar Maples. LOL. I was not implying anything in my earlier post. My apology if it came across otherwise. While my S.O. knows I'm obsessed, she also knows that I will turn almost anything into a game with her, and so that was what I was doing with my earlier post. I have to say one of her greatest attributes in relation to me is PATIENCE. And yes, your wife has her hands more than full with two little ones. Maybe you need to tell her your going to rent a U-Haul for trees, just so she can have the fun of giving you crap about it. ;-)

As for the weather, thankfully La Nina is gone. Problem is drought re-enforces itself. So Texas and north Mexico being in some of the worst drought on record, is re-enforcing the current weather pattern. IF we are VERY lucky, Arlene moving in to some of those exceptional drought areas will help put a dent in the drought feedback, so that perhaps patterns can begin to change. Or weaken the upper high enough that it get moved around, and edges can moisten up, which could then further weaken it. Time will tell, but keep your fingers crossed.

Arktrees

Tulsa Zoo is great. Got to go there once, didn't get to see it all though. I keep threatening to go to MoBot, but haven't done so yet. May try to go and hit it near peak color in the fall this year.

Arktrees