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Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’
Shaina Japanese Maple
Information source: Great Plant Picks
‘Shaina’ is a smaller growing Japanese maple which becomes a low dense and compact globe of small red foliage. In spring the leaves emerge a bright red which deepen to a dark maroon in summer. The palmate, non-dissected leaves form dense tufts at the ends of short twiggy branches and can develop an interesting and intricate form with some pruning. Deciduous, the maroon leaves turn a brilliant crimson in the fall. The best foliage color develops in light to open shade. This is an ideal selection for containers or as a colorful accent in a small garden. It branches down to the ground, a habit that is unusual for Japanese maple. This slow dwarf will grow best in a rich well-drained soil or sandy soil. To prevent the small leaves from burning at the tips avoid hot locations and water the tree regularly during dry weather. Discovered as a witches’ broom mutation on a Bloodgood Japanese maple in the U.S. in 1960. ‘Shaina’ received the “Award of Garden Merit” from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. A Great Plant Picks selection.
♦ Size: 6-8 feet tall with a mature spread of 4 feet
♦ Exposure: Part shade to full sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9
Adiantum venustum
Himalayan maidenhair fern
The delicate fronds and airy appearance of this little fern belie its character, because it is a trooper. Unlike most hardy maidenhair ferns, Himalayan maidenhair fern is also evergreen. Fronds unfurl in late winter with a warm, bronze blush on black delicate stems and mature to fresh spring green. This fern spreads very slowly and resents wet feet. Plant in a well-drained soil. During dry weather, water every 10-14 days. Doesn’t like to be divided; if division is necessary, make them as large as possible for a speedier recovery. Adiantum is from the Greek, adiantos, meaning unwettable, referring to the water-repellent fronds.
♦ Size: to 6 in. tall by 3 ft. wide
♦ Exposure: light to dappled shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-8
Source: Great Plant Picks
Ajuga reptans ‘Metallica Crispa’
Bugleweed
Crinkled, shiny oval leaves form a dense, evergreen groundcover full of texture. An exceptional effect when planted en masse. Leaves are deep bronze-purple with a metallic finish; color is at its best in sunnier locations and in late summer. Short, upright blue flower spikes appear in spring. Tolerates any soil with good drainage that’s not too dry.
♦ Size: 4 inches (6 inches in flower) x 12-18 inches
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 3-9
Sources: Hughes Water Garden, Forestfarm, Dancing Oaks Nursery
Arbutus unedo
Strawberry Tree
A Great Plant Pick (GPP), Arbutus unedo is at its best in mid-fall when so many other plants are hunkering down for the coming winter. Round ¾-inch yellow fruit ripens to red while, at the same time, the evergreen shrub offers panticles of small bell-shaped flowers reminiscent of Pieris. Flowers are produced from October to December. A protected site is recommended to ensure consistent fruit product. The photo above was taken on a slight slope in a school ground with little protection and no supplemental irrigation. Arbutus requires excellent drainage to thrive. Foliage is a dark, glossy green. Judicious pruning will show off the cinnamon-colored bark. Grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with pruning. Drought tolerant once established. A.u. ‘Compacta’ grows to a slightly more modest 6 feet by 6 feet but maintains all other attributes of the species, including attracting bees and birds. Native to the Mediterranean region. GPP recommends the following companion plants: Cistus x hybridus, Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’, Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, Pieris ‘Brouwer’s Beauty’, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’.
♦ Size: 6-8 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Full sun or light to open shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-9
♦ Bloom time: White blooms Oct.-Dec.
Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Crestatum’
Crested Hart’s Tongue Fern
A flourish of ruffles are at the tips of the leathery, bright green, undivided fronds. For best results, plant in shade with evenly moist, well-drained soil. The evergreen mound reaches 10 inches. An application of lime will help the fern thrive in acidic soils. Deer resistant. These ferns, named after the similarly shaped tongue of a hart, an adult red deer stag, were popular in Victorian England.
♦ 6-12 inches tall and wide
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 6-9
Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’
Sundance Mexican Orange Blossom
Hardiness to 0° Fahrenheit, evergreen foliage and sweet smelling white summer flowers are key attributes of this mid-size shrub. C. ternate is native to Mexico. The genus name honors Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy (1799-1859). New foliage emerges chartreuse, maturing to a glossy medium green. White, five-petal flowers resemble and smell like orange blossoms and offer a long bloom time appearing May through summer. Choisya ternate, C.t. ‘Sundance’ and C. arizonica x C. ternate ‘Aztec Pearl’ all received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Works well in containers as well as in a garden setting. Foliage will bleach out if given too much hot sun exposure. Prefers well-drained, fertile soil.
♦ Size: 5-6 ft. tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Partial to full sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 7-10
Clematis ‘Alionushka’
A non-vining, herbaceous clematis recommended by Great Plant Picks. Planted in “the beginner’s garden” at the Rogerson Clematis Collection, Lake Oswego, Ore., because it is considered easy to grow, it was covered in 2.5-inch long lilac-pink blooms when I visited in late June. Blooms summer to fall. Allow it to grow through other plants to reach its 7-foot stature or let it act as a groundcover. Blooms on new growth; prune to 4-6 inches tall in late winter. ‘Alionushka’ needs rich well-drained soil and water during dry weather. Fertilize in spring. Bred in 1969 at State Nikitsky Botanic Gardens , Ukraine, as a cross between climbing hybrid Clematis ‘Nezhdannyi’ and C. integrifolia.
♦ Size: 3 feet wide to 7 feet tall with support
♦ Exposure: Sun to light shade
♦ Hardiness: Zones 5 to 9
♦ Bloom Time: June through summer
Find them at Joy Creek Nursery</>
Clematis orientalis ‘Bill Mckenzie’
Nodding, yellow bell-shaped blooms and silvery seed heads cover this vigorous vine through summer and into fall. Both flowers and seed heads appear on the plant at the same time. Joy Creek Nursery suggests “cutting the entire vine back to a growth point at the end of winter. A light feed can stimulate new growth. It does not take long for the vine to become large again.” Plant in well-drained soil. Roots should not be buried deeply. Needs full sun to part shade and consistent moisture.
♦ Size: 12 10-12 feet
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: UDSA Zone 6-9
♦ Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
Cryptomeria japonica
Black Dragon Japanese Cedar
‘Black Dragon’ is a recent introduction to the diverse family of Japanese cedar. This conifer has a compact pyramidal habit. The needle-like foliage turns dark green, almost black, as it matures and contrasts nicely with the soft, light green new growth in the spring. The plant grows upright with dense and somewhat irregular branches that drop slightly at the ends. It is an interesting specimen in the landscape and easy to grow. The very dark foliage provides contrast with lighter colored neighboring plants. It does well in a container, can be used as a low maintenance hedge or screen, or bonsai. Foliage is fragrant and rarely eaten by deer. Needs fertile, well drained soil. Once established, it is drought tolerant and needs only occasional watering. Cryptomeria is native to Japan and China.
♦ Size: 6 to 7 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide in 10 years
♦ Exposure: Full sun to light shade
♦ Hardiness: 6-9
Daphne odora ‘Zuiko Nishiki’
This Japanese Daphne cultivar offers heavenly fragrance and heavy late-winter/early spring blooms. It has a vigorous, well-branched, upright habit and long, glossy, dark green leaves. Evergreen. Blooms are larger than ‘Marginata’ and even more fragrant. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil.
♦ Size: 3-4 ft. high and wide
♦ Exposure: Part shade
♦ Hardiness: Zones 7-9
♦ Bloom Time: March-April
Drimys lanceolata
Syn. Tasmannia lanceolata
Mountain Pepper
Native to Tasmania, this multi-season evergreen shrub offers attractive deep red stems, deep green leaves, and spring blossoms resulting in black autumn fruit. Requires regular water and moist, well-drained soil. Place in a sheltered spot away from wind.
♦ Size: 6 feet tall x 4 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Partial to full sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 7b-10
♦ Bloom time: Early spring
Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Burgundy’
Pineapple Lily
Photo courtesy of Rare Plant Research
The aptly named Pineapple Lily is an easy to grow exotic bulb with many attributes. Harkening from South Africa, it has fleshy burgundy sword-shaped leaves and hundreds of waxy burgundy flowers arrayed on a stalk in a way that resembles a pineapple; the tufts of leaf-like bracts on top of the bloom stalk further enhance the resemblance. Eleven species are found in the summer rainfall areas of southern Africa. According to Wikipedia, “Eucomis is of Greek origin, “eu-” meaning “pleasing” and “kome” “hair of the head”, thus referring to the tuft of leaf-like bracts that crown the inflorescence of the species in this genus. Flowers are pollinated by flies. Water regularly during the growing season; they do best in a drier environment when dormant. The Pacific Bulb Society has some thorough information on various Eucomis species.
♦ Size: 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade in warmer climates
♦ Hardiness: Zone 6b-9
♦ Bloom time: Late Summer
Available through Dancing Oaks Nursery, Forestfarm, and Rare Plant Research.
x Fatshedera lizei ‘Aureomaculata’
Tree Ivy
‘Aureomaculata’ is known by many names: Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’, Fatshedera ‘Aureomaculata’, Fatshedera ‘Aureovariegata’, and the list goes on. It’s also known as an evergreen vine that performs well in protected shady locations (cold winds may damage leaves, but they are quickly replaced with new growth) or sun. A variegated cross between Fatsia japonica and Hedera, ‘Aureomaculata’ has large leaves—up to 10 inches—splashed with gold. Tip prune to increase branching and density. Can be grown as a climbing vine or as a mounding groundcover.
♦ Size: 6-8 feet tall x 6 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Sun-Shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zone 7b-10b
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’
Witch hazel
Considered one of today’s best cultivars of witch hazel, ‘Jelena’ is grown both for the fragrant, coppery-orange, late winter flowers and its excellent red and yellow autumn foliage. It is a cross between Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica) and Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis) and was named in 1954 by Robert de Belder after his wife. Easily grown in well-drained, organically rich soils with adequate moisture. It flowers best in full sun but will tolerate part shade. Prune in spring after flowering to control shape and size. Use in shrub borders, woodland gardens, or as a screen or tall hedge.
♦ Size: 8-12 feet tall by 8-12 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Full sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: Zones 5 to 8
♦ Bloom Time: February to March
Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ PP10,793
Kopper King Mallow
Dark purple, coppery foliage sets off enormous (up to 12 inches) light-pink-almost-white flowers with dark red eyes and red veining. Individual flowers typically only last one day. Foliage for this hardy hibiscus is slow to emerge, often waiting until June when the soil warms. The mid-summer to fall blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Fine Gardening suggests interplanting with spring bulbs and overplanting with annuals for year round color without disturbing the hibiscus. For best foliage and flower color, plant in full sun with slightly moist soil. Kopper King was introduced in 1997 and is the result of 50 years of breeding by Fleming’s Flower Fields, Nebraska, that resulted in a compact, sturdy cultivar. (The Flemming brothers are the same hybridzers that introduced Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’ and many other garden staples.)
♦ Size: 4 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Full Sun
♦ Hardiness: Zone 4-9
♦ Bloom time: Mid-summer to early fall
Hosta x ‘Guacamole’
An herbaceous perennial, ‘Guacamole’ is easy to grow in average, well-drained soils with medium moisture. It will tolerate full sun in cool summer climates, however it is happiest in part shade conditions with morning sun. ‘Guacamole’ is a large Hosta with 11″ by 8″ leaves and avocado green foliage with darker green margins (leaves will be more chartreuse in the sun). It is a sport of H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’. In my garden, it hasn’t been bothered by slugs. Plant hostas in the shade or woodland garden. It will form large, dense clumps. Its soft lavender flowers are fragrant and bloom in July to August. ‘Guacamole’ was the American Hosta Growers Hosta of the Year for 2002 and is a Great Plant Pick.
♦ Size: 2 feet tall by 4 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Part shade to full shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-9
Hosta ‘Liberty’ PP#12,531
Voted the 2012 Hosta of the Year, Liberty is a large, upright hosta with wide, dramatic margins. Introduced by J. Machen, Jr. in 2000, it’s been described as “eye-popping” and “one of the finest hostas ever introduced.” Liberty is a tetraploid sport of ‘Sagae’, the 2000 Hosta of the Year, and it is the first patented Hosta to be chosen. Its thick, dark green leaves are edged with a wide, golden yellow border that changes to cream in summer. The leaves reach up to a foot in length and their thickness contributes to Libery’s slug resistance. In early summer, spikes of hummingbird-friendly lavender flowers appear.
♦ Size: 39″ tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Part to full shade
♦ Hardiness: Zones 3-9
♦ Bloom Time: Early summer
Iris x robusta ‘Gerald Darby’
Only a few iris offer more interest than their spring blooms. A hybrid of two species native to North America (I. versicolor and I. virginica), ‘Gerald Darby’ is one of the exceptions. Spring foliage offers a stunning dusky purple coloration at the base of the sword-shaped leaves. Although the purple blush on the leaves fades, the medium blue-violet flowers with bright yellow signals are held on almost black stems. It is happiest in moist soil but will do fine in regular garden conditions. Click here and here for more photos and descriptions.
♦ Size: Usually 3-3½ feet, taller in perfect moist conditions
♦ Exposure: Full to part-sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 4-9
Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Hopi’
Hopi Crepe Myrtle
Developed by Dr. Don Egolf at the U.S. National Arboretum for cold tolerance, this crepe myrtle blooms well in cooler climates like the Pacific Northwest. A small deciduous tree or large shrub with multi-season interest, pink blooms begin appearing in July and typically last for several months. With maturity, the taupe-colored bark begins to peel and offers an appealing display. Fall color, as shown in the photo, is a vibrant red. A deep soaking once a week in summer is recommended. Mildew resistant. Amending the planting hole is discouraged; plant in well-drained soils.
♦ Size: 10 ft. high x 8 ft. wide
♦ Exposure: Full sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 6-9
Source: Whitman Farms
Laurus nobilis
Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay
Native to the eastern Mediterranean, Laurus nobilis is an evergreen tree or shrub with aromatic green, glossy leaves. Its leaves are valued for their fragrance and are used for flavoring savory dishes. Left unpruned, it is a dense pyramidal ornamental that can grow to over 20 feet in mild climates; protect from winter wind. It can be sheared and is also good in containers. Prune lightly mid-spring, or up to several times a year to maintain a more compact shape. Requires well drained soil. North of Zone 8 it can be grown as a house plant (place outdoors in summer and bring indoors before fall frost for overwintering in a cool area with bright light). In ancient times, leaves of this tree were woven into wreaths to crown the victors of various contests (Laurus, means to laud or praise, and nobilis, means noble or renowned). Medicinally, bay laurel has been used as an antiseptic and a digestive.
♦ Size: 12-20 feet high by 15 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 8-10
Lonicera nitida ‘Twiggy’
Twiggy Box Honeysuckle
‘Twiggy’ is a very compact and slower growing relative of ‘Baggescens Gold’. Its tiny, glossy leaves hold their bright chartreuse color into winter adding a bright spot to the garden. Evergreen in warmer climates. Performs well in acid soils; requires regular summer water. Can be clipped into a low hedge or used in containers. ‘Twiggy’ comes to us from England.
♦ Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: UDSA Zone 6-9
Sources: Cistus Nursery, Dancing Oaks Nursery, Joy Creek Nursery
Magnolia sieboldii
Oyama magnolia
Oyama magnolia is a superb plant for the woodland as it is accustomed to growing beneath the forest’s larger trees. Native to southeastern China, Japan and Korea; it is the national flower of North Korea. Fragrant white flowers with rose-red stamens are produced through May and June, with a trickle of blossoms through the rest of summer. Easy to grow, it flowers best when planted in full sun to light or open shade. It will thrive in a rich moist to well-drained soil, but will tolerate sand and clay if the drainage is adequate. Protect from wind. Regular summer water will allow the best flowering and healthiest growth, but well established plants can tolerate occasional watering during dry weather.
♦ Size: 10 feet tall and wide (vase-shaped)
♦ Exposure: Full sun to open shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-8
♦ Bloom time: May-June
Source: Great Plant Picks
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’
Beardtongue
The intense electric blue flowers are captivating; tubular flowers are up to 1.5 inches long. They are a shade not seen in many blooming perennials and dead heading will prolong bloom. Like other penstemons, ‘Electric Blue’ needs good draining soil and should be planted in full sun. It is drought tolerant once established. Penstemon heterophyllus, commonly called foothill penstemon, is native to hillsides, grasslands, chaparral and open forest areas in the foothills of California mountain ranges at elevations below 5500′. Attracts hummingbirds and is a good cut flower.
♦ Size: 1 – 1.5 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Full sun
♦ Hardiness: Zones 7 to 10
♦ Bloom Time: May to July
Picea glauca ‘Pendula’
Weeping White Spruce
With its pendulous limbs, blue-green needles and narrow, conical shape with a strong central leader, the weeping white spruce is a sentinel in the landscape. ‘Pendula’ is an excellent conifer specimen for a garden with limited space. Needles emerge a light green in spring and slowly change to its signature blue-green over time. The limbs and foliage hug the trunk, sweeping right to the ground. Although highly adaptable, it does best in sun or light shade in rich, moist areas with acidic soil.
The original tree was propagated by D. Hill Nursery from a tree in a native stand near Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The elegant conifer was nearly lost to cultivation. Jean Iseli, Iseli Nursery, Ore., “rediscovered” the selection in 1982 at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois.
♦ Size: 10 feet tall in 10 years, ultimately to 40 feet and 8 feet wide at the base
♦ Exposure: Full to partial sun
♦ Hardiness: USDA zones 2-9
Pinus strobus ‘Sea Urchin’
Eastern White pine
Sea Urchin is a dwarf conifer. The species can grow to 100 or more, whereas Sea Urchin only grows 1-2 inches per year to 2-3 feet in 10 years. It has a natural globular shape with densely packed, short needles. The bluish-green needles are soft to the touch. Requires well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. It was found by Sidney Waxman of Connecticut University.
♦ Size: 2-3 feet tall by 2-4 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Full sun to filtered shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zone3-8
Source: Conifer Kingdom
Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Red Tip’
Mountain Plum Pine
This adaptable evergreen conifer is an easy to grow and colorful selection from Tasmania. In spring the new growth is deep red with a burgundy blush. This colorful new growth matures to a dark green in early summer. If grown in full sun red will blush the tips again through the winter. Its low spreading habit is useful in the garden and it can tolerate pruning well and can even be sheared to create a low hedge. Once established it is drought tolerant. Colors best in full sun.
♦ Size: 3-4 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Sun to open shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-10
Source: Great Plant Picks
Polygala chamaebuxus var. grandiflora ‘Kamniski’
Milkwort
The pea or orchid-like flowers of this small, evergreen, mat-forming, groundcover shrub are profuse in late winter to early spring. Deep purple-pink wings with yellow central petals create a bright spot in the garden when it is most needed. According to an old folk belief, cows that grazed on milkwort increased their milk production, which is how it acquired its common name. ‘Kamniski’ is a robust clone developed from specimens collected in the Dolomite Mountains by Peter & Patricia Cox of Glendoick Nursery in Scotland. Underutilized in the garden, all it requires is well-drained soil and some moisture so that it doesn’t dry out if it is situated in a hot, sunny location.
♦ Size: Slow growing to 6-8″ tall by 24″ wide
♦ Exposure: Sun/Part Shade
♦ Hardiness: Zones 6 to 8
♦ Bloom Time: November to March
Polystichum polyblepharum
Japanese Tassel Fern
Originating in Japan and southern Korea, this glossy-leaved, low maintenance, evergreen fern is a wonderful addition to the landscape. Requires well-drained, moist soil but keep moisture away from its crown or it may be susceptible to crown rot. As new fronds unfurl from a central rosette, they flip over to form tassels, giving the plant its common name. A Great Plants Pick for the woodland garden or shady border. Cut fronds make a nice addition to floral arrangements.
♦ Size: Fronds reach 32″ in length
♦ Exposure: Part-shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-8 (possibly to zone 9)
Sciadopitys verticillata
Japanese Umbrella Pine
The oldest—and biggest—known living specimen is more than 700 years old and is located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Considered a living fossil, Japanese Umbrella Pine is one of the oldest of all conifers dating back about 230 million years. Highly valued in Japan, it was first introduced to Europe in the mid 1800s. The sole member of its genus, this slow growing evergreen conifer offers a unique needle texture and is named for the whorls of shiny, 2-5 inch somewhat flattened dark green needles that encircle its branches like ribs of an umbrella. Young trees rarely offer cones. Prefers moist, acidic and well-drained soil. Avoid exposure to winter winds. Several cultivars are available offering golden foliage or a more columnar or compact form.
Sources: conifers.org, Wikipedia.org, Fine Gardening online plant guide, www.hort.uconn.edu.
♦ Size: 25-40 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide at maturity
♦ Exposure: Full sun with some shade at midday, or partial shade.
♦ Hardiness: 5-9
Scilla peruviana
Peruvian Lily, Cuban Lily, Hyacinth-of-Peru
Native to the western Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal and northern Africa, this clump forming bulb bears a rounded cushion of dense small flowers with small yellow anthers on 12 inch fleshy stems. Flower color is usually intense blue, but can also be white, pink or violet. Strap-like, shiny green leaves. It is in leaf for much of the year, flowering from spring to early summer, with a two month dormancy during the summer months. Adapted to cool, rainy winters and dry summers (no supplemental water when dormant). Prefers a sunny, well-drained location, but tolerates shade.
The scientific name peruviana (of Peru) results from confusion over the origin of the specimens from which the species was described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753. Linnaeus was given specimens imported from Spain aboard a ship named Peru and was misled into thinking the plants had come from that country. The rules of botanical naming do not allow a scientific name to be changed merely because it is potentially confusing.
♦ Size: 12 inches tall; clump forming
♦ Exposure: Sun to part-shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zone 8-11; Zone 7 with protection
♦ Bloom time: Late spring/early summer
Sources: Flora, www.suite101.com, Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, www.Wikipedia.com
Thuja plicata ‘Zebrina’
A fast-growing, cone-shaped arborvitae with bright yellow-banded foliage. Best color in full sun. Moderate to fast grower. Excellent as a specimen or privacy screen. Easy to grow in average to moist well-drained soil. Trim to keep it at your preferred height and width. Foliage is attractive in floral designs and for winter holiday decorations.
♦ Size: 30-35 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide
♦ Exposure: Full to partial sun
♦ Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Viburnum lantana ‘Variegatum’
Wayfaring tree
Exceptional foliage displays streaks and splashes of green and creamy-yellow variegation that differs on each leaf. Slow growing and easy to prune, this deciduous shrub is a good understory plant and does well in full shade. Flattened domes of creamy white flowers appear in May and are followed by fruit that changes from green to red to black. Good for hedges.
♦ Size: 10-15 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Part shade to full shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-8
Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’
European Cranberry Bush
An easy to grow deciduous shrub that performs in full sun or part shade and tolerates a range of soils. Lacecap-type white flowers bloom in May followed by drupes of glossy red translucent berries. Leaves have attractive purplish fall color and berries often persist into winter. Dense, mounding growth habit with 3- to 5-lobed leaves. Makes a nice hedge or filler plant. Blooms and fruits reliably.
♦ Size: 4-6 feet tall and wide
♦ Exposure: Sun to part shade
♦ Hardiness: USDA Zones 4-8