Shrubs at Digging Dog
Arctostaphylos to Halimiocistus
Includes Buddleia, Calluna (Heather), Erica (Heath), & Cistus
When the joy of gardening with shrubs is discovered, the gardener can begin to think in terms of the future.
Ease of care and permanence are the two great attributes of this plant group, but the prime motivation for planting shrubs is surely their inÞnite variety of form, which enables them to fulÞll a vast range of functions.
The classic concept of gardens as outdoor rooms is based on planting shrubs for garden walls (hedges) and screens. A sense of anticipation and excitement can be created by dividing and deÞning space with these living barriers, either seasonally with a deciduous selection or year-round with an evergreen.
Developing character with age, shrubs can set the overall tone of a garden, bridging the gap between smaller plants and trees. They can also stand alone as specimens.
Low hedges, clipped or left au naturale, unify the garden by framing beds. Now that we’ve discussed function, we hope the following descriptions will provide an idea of the varied beauty available and inspire you to plant some of these treasures.
Further reading about shrubs:The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers (Second edition, revised and enlarged by Tony Kirkham) by George E. Brown and Tony Kirkham Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Henk Gerritsen and Piet Oudolf Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Michael A. Dirr Dirr’s Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Michael A. Dirr
Manzanita
Sinuous and smooth earthy red branches, waxy urn-shaped blossoms, and handsome, rounded evergreen leaves—that’s Manzanita. From the coast to the mountains, over 40 varieties are indigenous to the Golden State.
Manzanitas require very well drained soil. The best time to transplant is autumn so winter rains can stimulate root growth. Manzanita is a strong, sturdy shrub if these guidelines are followed, even in the interior valleys. By summer, it will be ready for drought, needing only monthly irrigation once established. This is a fine plant for native or Mediterranean settings, and birds will appreciate its tiny apple-shaped fruit. Monterey ManzanitaFull of vigor and bright, fine textured greenery, this coastal California native spreads to form a low, handsome mound. Rubescent brown branches gracefully sweep upwards and sometimes grow in twisted shapes, forming a framework for the upfacing, pointed leaves, reddened stems and dainty white flowers.
Always appreciative of well drained sites, and when grown inland, summertime watering with a little shade, ‘Wayside’ is a superb candidate for banks, rock gardens or native plantings accompanying Erigeron ‘Ron’s Pink’ and Deschampsia ‘Goldgehänge’.
Blooms February–April. Size: 2'–3' high x 6'–8' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Arctostaphylos hookeri Wayside (S-0599)
SOLD OUT
Email me when this plant is available BearberryPolished, trim and fresh-looking, this prostrate evergreen ground cover keeps its composure all year long. Small, rich green leathery leaves glow with wintertime reddish purple tinges while ushering in quantities of light pink urn-shaped flowers, followed by showy red berries. A northern California native reputed to possess astringent qualities, ‘Radiant’ is distinguished by its lush close-to-the-ground mat that requires little care except for light afternoon shade and occasional watering in hot areas.
Blooms March–April. Size: 6"–8" high x 3'–5' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Radiant (S-0668)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart In China, jade was the bridge between heaven and earth; here in the West, it’s the luscious shade that adorns this Manzanita. A standout for the rockery; the oblong and narrow, low growing leaves and red-tinged petioles line long, slender stems to create a closely knit, lustrous ground cover. ‘Vancouver Jade’ turns reddish bronze in winter with pale pink flowers in early spring.
Blooms March–April. Size: 6" high x 3' & spreading; hardy to zone 5.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Vancouver Jade (S-0002)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart Selected primarily for its dense, ground-hugging form and lustrous, jade green foliage, ‘Wood’s Compact’ grows essentially trouble free. With red-tinged petioles, pale pink flowers and endearing small red fruit, it can be planted as a rock garden specimen or as a low growing cover, visually binding ornamental grasses, native shrubs or even Viburnums.
Blooms March–April. Size: 8" high x 4'–6' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Wood’s Compact (S-0003)
SOLD OUT!
Email me when this plant is available Aronia
A versatile North American native originating in Morton Arboretum, this small-statured deciduous shrub proposes something exceptional for each season: fragrant spring flowers, courtly summer foliage, brilliant fall color and persistent winter berries. Flaunting an autumnal pageant of stunning red, burgundy and purple hues, lustrous, deeply green, thickened leaves garb the compact, dense multitude of suckering stems. Airy, Hawthorne-like flowers gathered in white, 2 in. wide, eye catching corymbs precede the heavy clusters of polished purple-black berries that gracefully weigh down branches and bring color to gray December days.
Obliging of low-lying wet areas, dry sandy sites and some shade, easy-to-grow ‘Iroquois Beauty’ thrives in full sun and can reside with equal ease in a small garden, a mixed border or a naturalized setting when planted en masse.
Blooms April–May. Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 3.
Aronia melanocarpa Iroquois Beauty (s-0600)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Azara
Variegated Boxleaf AzaraWhile the species hails from Chile, Azara microphylla ‘Variegata’ originated in Ireland and everything about this evergreen shrub is elegant. Its dainty dark green polished leaves are delicately painted with broad alabaster margins as they cloak sprays of gracefully downward arching branches. Achieving a unique herringbone look, the diminutive leaflets feature smaller, overlapping leaves at their bases and in early spring, tufted flowers laden with the heavenly sweet scent of vanilla.
Slowly growing into a large specimen that emphasizes sophisticated texture and pattern, especially when superimposed against a wall, it begs a sheltered west or south facing site, sulks in hotter climates and can easily be pruned to fit just about any other garden spot.
Blooms March–April. Size: 13' high x 9' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Azara microphylla Variegata (s-0624)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart Berberis
Barberry
Graham Stuart Thomas once commented that the incredible beauty of Barberry foliage must be the reason why gardeners are willing to overlook their thorns, and he went so far as to say
“perhaps they are valuable in combating hooliganism.” This compact Berberis is named for the golden edge that rings its dark reddish purple leaves, a lustrous accent more pronounced in the spring.
Sparkling against the opulent foliage, the small, bell-shaped yellow flowers are enhanced with warmly colored sepals and eventually give way to bright red fruit.
Blooms March–April. Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Berberis thunbergii Golden Ring (s-0411)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart
Butterfly Bush
Around midsummer, when the pendulous racemes of flowers weigh down its boughs, it’s hard to decide which is more satisfying: Buddleia’s abundant, often fragrant blossoms, or the myriad butterflies they attract. Copious, deeply blue trusses and a shorter compact carriage earned this stellar new Butterfly Bush a tie for first place at Longwood Garden’s Buddleja trials. Originally springing up as a chance ‘Lochinch’ seedling in Ellen Hornig’s New York garden and later introduced by Heronswood Nursery, ‘Ellen’s Blue’s gray-green foliage and light stems shape a relatively small, versatile shrub that is easier to slip into your garden than her more hefty cousins. Good-sized and opulent with a sweet fruity aroma, the floriferous performance lulls zesty summertime shades like the orange torches of Kniphofia ‘Shining Sceptre’.
Blooms June to early October. Size: 4'–5' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 5.
MIDSPRING SHIPPING
Buddleja Ellen’s Blue (S-0670)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Himalayan Butterfly BushOne of the softest looking plants in our garden, this exceptional Himalayan native invites a touch every time we stroll by. Displaying white wooly undersides and toothed, wavy-edged margins, the 6 in. long, broadly shaped gray-green leaves are oh so fuzzy! In summer, stout felted branches host densely set
lilac panicles of fragrant, orange-throated flowers. With its downy silver visage, Buddleja crispa makes a luminous partner for Phlox ‘David’ in the mixed border.
Blooms July–October. Size: 4'–5' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Buddleja crispa (S-0583)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart ‘Summer Beauty’ is our favorite pink blooming Butterfly Bush. Headlining large, conical and richly rosy, fragrant trusses that make gorgeous cut flowers, and a tidy, fast growing, yet compact stature of gently curving branches, this Buddleia makes an excellent small specimen.
The handsome pewter-tinged leaves can be blended with the like-hued foliage of Salvia clevelandii. ‘Aromas’ and Lavenders for a restful, silvery garden vista. Include Euphorbia ‘Dean’s Hybrid’s acid-yellow blooms for a more exuberant summer display.
Blooms June–early October. Size: 6'–7' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Buddleja davidii Summer Beauty (S-0584)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart This uncommon South African Buddleja soothes the garden with a composed evergreen appearance. Offsetting the darker green-gray leaf tops, a downy white felt envelops the new growth, foliar undersides and arching stems. Tiny teeth and a bumpy texture define the long narrow, leatherlike foliage that’s reminiscent of willow leaves, while lavender flowers borne in short racemes embellish them.
Stage amid Molinia ‘Bergfreund’ and Sedum ‘Indian Chief’ for contrasting forms and color.
Blooms July–August. Size: 6' high x 6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Buddleja knappii (s-0649)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Originating at England’s Hever Castle, this fine textured Buddleja is graceful and early to bloom. The gray-green deciduous foliage is small and fuzzy, oblong-shaped and silver on the flip side, inheriting the good looks of its Buddleja alternifolia parent. Laden with dense fragrant sprays that showcase orange-throated mauve flowers, the fast growing arched stems die back in colder climates and can be maintained by a hard pruning just after the first frost in warmer areas. Zone 6/7.
Blooms July–August. Size: 7' high x 6' wide; hardy to zone 7.
Buddleja x pikei Hever (s-0648)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Esteemed for its glorious yellow flowers, this recent Mike Dirr hybrid is a cross between davidii and globosa. A handsome silvery foundation supports the breathtaking spectacle of saturated clear yellow blooms. Enhanced by orange eyes, the flowers are held in globe-shaped terminal panicles some 4 to 6 in. long. Blooming for months on end, ‘Honeycomb’ looks vivacious with Persicaria ‘Summer Dance’ and Salvia ‘Blue Ensign’ in the mixed border.
Blooms mid-June–October. Size: 5'–7' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 6.
MIDSPRING SHIPPING
Buddleja x weyeriana Honeycomb (S-0558)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Buxus
Boxwood
Littleleaf BoxwoodHallmarked by a well groomed verdure, the low growing ‘Green Beauty’ is second-to-none for hedging or edging, accenting the rock garden or making an architectural statement just about anywhere. Polished, small rounded leaves maintain a crisp, dark green look all year long while cloaking the upright, yet compact semidwarf form.
This versatile evergreen can handle hot and cold weather and makes a plucky counterpoint amid Westringia ‘Smokey’ or Teucrium fruticans (Select Form).
Size: 4'–6' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 6.
AVAILABLE JUNE 2008
Buxus microphylla japonica Green Beauty (S-0650)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Korean BoxwoodWith a tailored demeanor clipped or not, this undemanding Boxwood is second-to-none for hedging, edging, accenting the rockery or sculpting a topiary or bonsai specimen. Young downy branches and lustrous, small elliptical leaves in crisp dark greens define the dwarf rounded form that grows slowly and a little less densely.
A reliably cold tolerant evergreen, it can be planted as a low and refined verdant border, allowing more rambunctious plants to exuberantly spill over.
Size: 2' high x 20" wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE MARCH 2008
Buxus sinica var. insularis (S-0669)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Callicarpa
Purple BeautyberryA beacon for the fall border, this deciduous Korean species is considered by many to be the most refined Beautyberry, and its boldly hued early September fruit occurs well before other varieties. Small and shiny, rounded berry clusters achieve an astonishing, almost electric lavender hue. Flowers are delicate,
diminutive and pink, quietly dressing up its handsome, very green leaf mass and gracefully rounded form.
‘Early Amethyst’ prefers well drained soil, tolerates some drought, appreciates a late winter pruning and produces more fruit when planted in groups.
Blooms August. Size: 3'–4' high x 3'–4' wide; hardy to zone 5.
AVAILABLE APRIL 2008
Callicarpa dichotoma Early Amethyst (S-0587)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart Heaths and Heathers
Heaths (Erica) and Heathers (Calluna) are best en masse. Drifts of their varied forms and flower and foliage colors blend beautifully. They’re also fine companions for Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Pieris and other acid-loving plants in the evergreen shrubbery. The timid might try adding a few winter bloomers to the herb or perennial border for year-round interest. But be forewarned—to plant one is to want them all!
Requiring good drainage and poor, acidic soil, the Heaths and Heathers
are ideal for the coastal garden. Some will perform well inland, preferring
light shade, but they're sensitive to extremes of heat and cold. Wind and
salt spray are tolerated as long as the plants are away from the front lines.
Prune annually, with a shearing after the blooms are spent.
Heather
Callunas’ tiny, scalelike leaves range from deepest green to silver, gold and bronze, with some changing color after a frost. Flowering from mid-to-late summer in cool whites, pinks and purples, the small, bell-shaped flowers are frozen in graceful repose on one-sided spikes. Heathers are marvelous fresh or dried. Named for the Oregon nursery where it originated, this reliable American cultivar offers striking crimson flowers that nearly obscure its low mound of handsome greenery. ‘Corbett’s Red’ is a compact, spreading Heather whose richly hued blooms can be partnered with Spiraea ‘Magic Carpet’.
Blooms August–September. Size: 12" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Corbett’s Red (s-0601)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart During a visit to Ireland’s Wicklow mountains, Miss Meta Archer first spotted a handsome, low growing medium green heather that seemed worthy of introduction way back in 1925. ‘County Wicklow’ has survived the test of time; It’s renowned for both its beauty and vigor, and acclaimed by the American Garden Society as “one of the finest double pink cultivars.”
A parent to ‘Kinlochruel’, this compact Heather offsets summer’s heat with a verdant bushy base and composed, six in. tall, shell pink racemes.
Blooms July–September. Size: 10"–12" high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris County Wicklow (S-0626)
SOLD OUT!
Email me when this plant is available With full bodied colors similar to a fine Pinot Noir, this enticing beauty queen flaunts the darkest hued flower of all Callunas. Deep red buds reveal showy and plentiful, semi-double dark cherry blooms that shade to ruby amid a good-looking, compact darkly green silhouette. Earning Holland’s prestigious Gold Medal award, ‘Dark Beauty’ will beckon you to her side whether she’s poised in the rockery, along a pathway or in a container.
Blooms August–October. Size: 8"–10" high x 14"–16" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Dark Beauty (s-0654)
SOLD OUT!
Email me when this plant is available Renowned for entertaining the richest, most vibrant brick-red foliage, ‘Firefly’ never fails to snap us out of a gray, winter-day funk. Splendid warm shades ranging from salmon to terracotta imbue the foliage the rest of the year, while deep mauve flowers festoon its upright, compact frame in late summer.
Awarded Britain’s coveted AGM award, this vividly colored heather merits a choice niche in your garden.
Blooms August–September. Size: 18"–20" high wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Firefly (S-0653)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Forming a dense low mat of showy bright green foliage, ‘Martha Herman’ is outstanding as a foil or accent with other Heathers and Heaths. Snow white flowers and horizontal spread are the icing on the cake. A real find!
Blooms July–August. Size: 12" high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Martha Herman (S-0009)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Offering a clean and classic look out in the garden, this Calluna’s frosty white spires are highly valued by florists inside as well. Later to flower than most Heathers, the elegant fall blooms are showcased against handsome deep green foliage on upright branches. Counterpose its pert stance with
Acaena saccaticupula’s low-lying, silvery blue leaves.
Blooms September–October. Size: 16" high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris October White (S-0576)
SOLD OUT!
Email me when this plant is available Bedizened with golden foliage in spring that bronzes during the warmer months, asserts orange highlights in fall and for a Christmas time display radiates red tinges, ‘Robert Chapman’ is a year-round carousel of color. His glowing dense habit supports stiff stems arranged at varied heights and come summer, abundant soft lavender-pink blooms.
J. W. Sparkes just might have been contemplating this celebrated heather’s zealous display when he named it after his friend, Charlie Chapman’s hard working son.
Blooms August–September. Size: 18" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE JUNE 2008
Calluna vulgaris Robert Chapman (S-0627)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Bursting with lush growth in spring, ‘Sister Anne’s gray-green foliage contrasts nicely with its shell pink flowers. A winter chill will add a hint of purple to the foliage. This Heather is a dense mounding ground cover for lining walks or filling rocky nooks.
Blooms July–September. Size: 6" high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE MAY 2008
Calluna vulgaris Sister Anne (S-0011)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart New foliage growth blazes orange-yellow, maturing to deep green, with medium pink flower spikes on a loosely mounding form.
Blooms July–August. Size: 20" high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Spring Torch (S-0013)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart With so many upright and horizontal stems, this Heather has an especially wild appearance in its youth. When it matures, however, it develops into a dense, tight mound of unusual foliage: burnt orange-yellow on the upper half and lime-green below, where it is protected from the sun.
During the winter months the color intensifies, making the shrub appear almost as though it’s on fire. During the summer, the color spectrum is extended with lavender- pink flowers blooming along the upper portion of the stems.
Blooms late July–August. Size: 15" high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Wickwar Flame (s-0177)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart A delightful melding of warm colors, ‘Winter Chocolate’ is a year-round standout in our Heather garden. Radiantly cloaked with chartreuse, chocolate and golden hues for winter, spring's new growth brings creamy salmon red tips. As the days grow longer, the foliage coloring broadens to a pleasing range of oranges, pinks and yellows, toned by bright greens. As if this isn’t enough, soft lavender blossoms just about smother the plant in late summer.
Blooms August–October. Size: 12"–20" high x 18"–2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Calluna vulgaris Winter Chocolate (S-0470)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart
Heath
Heaths have fine, short, needlelike evergreen leaves that vary from deep green to silver, gold, or chartreuse. Tiny, urn-shaped flowers sparkle like hoarfrost, in shades from white to pinks and rosy purples. Though most floriferous in winter and early spring, (and highly welcome at that dreary time!), a scheme for year-round color can be developed by combining with Callunas. A beacon of dazzling color, the low-to-the-ground mat is cloaked in distinctive needlelike foliage set aglow with gilded yellow hues and bronzy red tips. Resulting as a sport from ‘Vivellii’ and named by J. W. Sparkes in 1955 for his sister-in-law, this lambent beauty is further heightened when her carmine-red racemes unfurl, cheering up a drab winter landscape.
Blooms February–March. Size: 6"–9" high x 12"–15" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Erica carnea Ann Sparkes (S-0637)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart This shining starlet guarantees a year-round performance. Bred by Germany’s Kurt Kramer, ‘Golden Starlet’ is favored for its bright golden foliage, snowy white blooms and tidy, low spreading habit. During the summer months, the leaves attain a glowing yellow hue, while
cooler weather brings lime-green accents and splendid flowers that last all winter.
Blooms December–March. Size: 6" high x 16" wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica carnea Golden Starlet (S-0457)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Deemed one of the loveliest and most decorative Heaths, this highly touted Erica displays bright rosy red flowers on a tidy, compact mound of Yew green foliage. Be sure to reserve a prominent spot for ‘King George’s abundant blooms, so you can easily relish them during winters’ gray days.
Blooms December–March. Size: 6"–9" high x 18"–2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica carnea King George (S-0214)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Donning the name of a castle in Wigton, Scotland, ‘Myretoun Ruby’s low spreading, Yew-green needles and deep reddish purple blooms achieve a gemlike opulence. Perhaps the darkest red flowering carnea cultivar in cultivation, this Erica’s saturated blossoms age with
bright crimson highlights. Nestle amid Ajuga ‘Emerald Chip’, and relish the wintertime splendor.
Blooms December–March. Size: 10"–12" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica carnea Myretoun Ruby (S-0175)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Distinguished by large, two-toned blooms and a robust yet gracious form, ‘Pink Spangles’ paints the winter landscape with a truly dynamic floral display. Shell pink sepals and rosier pink petals that open from lime-colored buds ornament this superb ground cover’s medium green, spreading foliage.
Blooms January–March. Size: 9"–12" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
AVAILABLE MAY 2008
Erica carnea Pink Spangles (S-0213)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Creamy buds open into white flowers on this old favorite in the trade. A vigorous ground cover, it can handle inland heat and tough conditions. ‘Martha Herman’ is its best mate.
Blooms October–January. Size: 10" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica carnea Springwood White (S-0016)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Twisted HeathIt was a British couple, Mr. and Mrs. Letts, whose keen eyes first noted this summer flowering beauty in the wilds of Cornwall and later introduced it. Ample-sized, more than abundant and long blooming, the luminous amethyst flowers sparkle like gems upon ‘Purple Beauty’s vigorous, low growing habit that makes an exquisite, dark green bushy ground cover.
Blooms June–October. Size: 12" high x 22" wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica cinerea Purple Beauty (S-0471)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Applauded throughout the world as one of the most cherished heaths, this Erica’s deep cherry-red blooms have as much charm as the story behind them. Mrs. Maxwell’s discerning eye first spotted its good-looking, robust form while on her honeymoon in Cornwall, England and promptly sent home cuttings! Elevated above a low, deep green bush, the long, upright racemes of cylindrically arranged, irresistible blooms open from the bottom up and when spent, persist through the winter burnished in russet-brown hues.
Blooms July–September. Size: 18"–2' high x 2'–2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica vagans Mrs. D. F. Maxwell (S-0607)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Deep magenta flowers decorate this durable evergreen when most plants are dormant. It’s happiest in full sun and interesting with Hebe ‘New Zealand Gold’. Some experts believe ‘Furzey’ has the best flower color among Ericas.
Blooms October–January. Size: 12" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica x darleyensis Furzey (S-0018)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Unparalleled among red flowering Ericas, this ornate Heath takes its name from Kurt Kramer of Germany. Stiff branches hold darkly green foliage, enhanced in winter by bronze highlights and closely set chartreuse buds that open into cerise-magenta blooms.
Blooms November–January. Size: 15" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Erica x darleyensis Kramer’s Red (S-0564)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Ceanothus
New Jersey TeaThe heritage of this versatile hybrid is uncertain, but her reputation as a flirty, long blooming semi-evergreen is widespread. Amid speculation about an additional cross between x delileanus and the eastern species, Ceanothus ovatus, ‘Marie Simon’ is not adversely affected by summer watering, which is unusual for a Ceanothus.
Try planting her in the mixed border, where she flaunts a decidedly feminine display of fluffy rose-pink panicles and ornamental red seed capsules cushioned by wine-colored stems and long, serrated leaves.
Blooms June–October. Size: 5' high x 5' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Ceanothus x pallidus Marie Simon (s-0246)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Chaenomeles
Quince
While Quince were once coined “one of the most precious and invaluable of the early flowering shrubs” by British author, Mrs. C. W. Earle, this particular cultivar headlines numerous top ten lists as a preeminent spring blooming woody. Heralding winter’s end, gorgeous double blossoms with soft apricot-pink shades are poised in stalkless clusters on stout naked stems. Fine-toothed, deciduous leaves later host edible and perfumed reddish yellow berries known to make delicious preserves.
Easily maintained when allotted a sunny, well drained site, numerous springy branches form a dense, compact thicket that can be grown along a pathway or dramatically spotlit against a wall.
Size: 4'–5' high x 3'–5' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Chaenomeles speciosa Cameo (S-0655)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Choisya
Valued for its fragrant flowers and aromatic, evergreen foliage, this elegant small shrub is a hybrid bred to life by Peter Moore, Hillier’s propagator. The white blossoms burst forth in profuse clusters from pink buds. Almost almond in scent, they are hosted terminally on slender, glossy and
trifoliate dark green leaflets.
Resistant to deer, ‘Aztec Pearl’s handsome rounded visage will form a close-knit and finely textured low screen or informal blooming hedge in your garden.
Blooms June–July. Size: 4'–5' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 8.
AVAILABLE APRIL 2008
Choisya Aztec Pearl (S-0562)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart
Rockrose
This genus from the Mediterranean region fortunately grows exceptionally well in our mild climate. These evergreens are called Rockroses for their conspicuous single papery blooms, resembling wild rose blossoms. Though these last only a day, they arrive in such profusion, carpeting the ground beneath, that one can count on color for 2 or 3 months.
Fast growing and appreciative of well drained sites, they tolerate drought, poor soil, ocean winds, salt
spray and even desert heat. Cistus vary from low spreaders to tall, imposing bushes, and are terrific for informal hedging and screens. Olivier Filippi, guardian of the French National Cistus collection, kindly gave us this delightful Eric Sammons hybrid. A robust descendant of Cistus dansereaui ‘Decumbens’, ‘Ann Baker’ is pleasingly attired with delicate, white saucer-shaped flowers, centered by a
singular sanguine marking and a small yellow splash on each petal. Slightly undulating and lacking petioles, the handsome, dark green leaves clasp arching, red-tinged stems.
Noteworthy for blooming later than most other Rockroses, ‘Ann Baker’ prolongs the flowering period well into September, and is a welcome addition to the Mediterranean garden alongside Lavender, Rosemary, and other Rockroses.
Blooms May–September. Size: 2-1/2'–3-1/2' high x 5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus Ann Baker (S-0559)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart Silvery pink, crepe-paperlike petals float over this evergreen shrub’s ripple-edged gray-green foliage. Equally at home in tough coastal or inland environments, it combines beautifully with Rosmarinus ‘Santa Barbara Blue’ and Lavandula ‘Richard Gray’.
Blooms May–September. Size: 2-1/2'–3' high x 6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
AVAILABLE MAY 2008
Cistus Anne Palmer (S-0187)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart A refined Eric Sammons hybrid of Cistus inflatus parentage and distant Cistus ladanifer ancestry, this small-statured Cistus presents delicate white flowers. A single dark maroon mark is attractively painted at the base of each petal, enhancing the sunny yellow center. Lining red-tinged stems, the textured linear leaves are slightly reflective and provide a contrasting foil for Helianthemum ‘Cheviot’.
Blooms May–June. Size: 3' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus Little Gem (s-0477)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart Parented by Cistus laurifolius and Cistus canescens, this compact, mounding Cistus delivers a wild, undomesticated presence to the landscape. A lavish display of silvery pink flowers dressed in tissue-paper delicacy shimmer against green, lance-shaped leaves with gray undersides and undulating margins. Showy gilded stamens upstage the cheerful, white-centered petals.
Plant ‘Silver Pink’ amid Nepeta ‘Snowflake’ and fellow Mediterranean Euphorbia myrsinites for an engaging collage of foliar colors, flowers and textures.
Blooms May–July. Size: 3' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus Silver Pink (S-0602)
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Regarded by Eric Sammons as perhaps the most successful of his unreleased hybrids, this well-bred Cistus claims Cistus populifolius subsp. major and Cistus inflatus as its parents. ‘Snow Fire’ closely resembles ‘Snow White’, except for a slightly smaller, more spreading stance and its decorated blooms, whose blazing marks undoubtedly kindled the “fire” in this cultivar’s name. Dainty white overlapping petals surround a golden eye, and each is brushed by a prominent burgundy-red patch at its base. The bright green, wavy-edged leaves and reddish stems respond quite well to pruning.
Blooms April–August. Size: 4'–4-1/2' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus Snow Fire (s-0560)
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The name ‘Snow White’ surely refers to the multitude of orange-centered, papery white flowers that embellish this choice mounding Cistus. Perhaps even more noticeable are the large, intricately-winged buds. Deep red in color, and covered with a downy fuzz, they nearly obscure the
bright green, undulating foliage for most of the season, adding to its soft, alluring appearance.
Blooms April–August. Size: 6' high x 8' wide; hardy to zone 8.
AVAILABLE MAY 2008
Cistus Snow White (S-0401)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart From afar, its easy to mistake this Cistus’ pure white, 5 in. wide flowers for those of a Romneya. Against cinnamon-colored stems and two-toned leathery leaves that are a glistening bright green on top and silver beneath, the frilly, unusually large, gold-centered blooms deliver an
awe-inspiring presentation.
Yielding a sticky, sweetly fragrant resin known as Labdanum, the vigorous growing ‘Bennett’s White’ can be planted with Lavandula ‘Ana Luisa’ in a dry Mediterranean garden where its superlative flowers and pleasant aroma will undoubtedly turn quite a few heads.
Blooms April–May. Size: 4'–5' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus ladanifer var. petiolatus Bennett’s White (s-0596)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart Dotted with soft yellow, one inch wide, paper-thin blooms, this splendid Rockrose celebrates a flower color that is pleasantly unique! Rose-scented, overlapping petals swirl around a sunlit hub, while slender green leaves—long, tapering and ripple-edged—garb its small, well-branched frame. Collected on the Mediterranean island of Majorca by Harold Read, ‘Vicar’s Mead’ makes an airy evergreen companion for Isoplexis canariensis.
Blooms April–May. Size: 4' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus monspeliensis Vicar’s Mead (S-0636)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart So named because of the ½ in. blood red spot at the base of each good-sized, paper-thin white petal, this dense, striking Cistus comes to us from Ken Montgomery of Boonville, California. Its deep green, glossy linear leaves and young stems are fragrant and sticky to the touch. Bold, deer resistant and
adorned with eight-chambered brown seed pods, ‘Red Eye’ deserves to be displayed as a specimen.
Blooms March–May. Size: 5' high x 5'–6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus palhinhaii Red Eye (S-0024)
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Email me when this plant is available We favor this upright, robust Cistus for its decorative leaves and large showy flowers. A Cistus ladanifer and Cistus populifolius hybrid backcrossed once again with Cistus ladanifer, ‘Maculatus’s foliage is fastened by reddened petioles, tapers to a point and features margins so evenly rippled that the edges are pulled up. The intriguing slender greenery elevates 3 in. wide, billowy white blossoms whose closely arranged petals flaunt a striking, almost triangular, wine-colored mark at their bases while encircling a bright gilded hub of stamens.
Blooms late April–mid-July. Size: 6' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus x aguilarii Maculatus (S-0603)
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Add to Cart An excellent shrubby ground cover, this Cistus displays luminous flowers against a vigorous and glossy, dark green foil of wavy-margined, lance-shaped leaves. Each ornate snowy white petal is elegantly marked with a prominent burgundy blotch at its base.
Blooms May–July. Size: 2' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus x dansereaui Decumbens (s-0413)
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Add to Cart A merlot-colored triangular brush stroke boldly brands each overlapping tissuelike petal, etching a distinctive 5-pointed star with a pronounced golden center. Large blossoms, spanning 3 snowy white in. across, are cupped, rimpled and renown for their long lasting flowery pomp.
Named after a private English garden and parented by Cistus ladnifer and Cistus inflatus, ‘Jenkyn Place’s small vigorous frame blends shapely red-tinged green stems and narrow sticky, pucker-edged deep green leaves that smell spicy and taper toward their tips.
Blooms April–July. Size: 4'–5' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus x dansereaui Jenkyn Place (S-0621)
Each $8.00
Add to Cart With overlapping, sheet white petals drawn together by prominent, golden clusters of stamens, the jubilant-looking, 2 in. wide flowers remind us of sunnyside-up eggs. A Cistus laurifolius and Cistus inflatus progeny, this vigorous, tall growing Cistus hosts long and pointed, dark green leaves that are gray-green below, narrowly shaped and sticky. Its sizable presence, handsome foliage and perky floral
display makes it a good neighbor for Rhamnus ‘Variegata’.
Blooms late Size: 6' high x 4'–5' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Cistus x oblongifolius (S-0604)
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Add to Cart Achieving the delicacy of parchment, each white overlapping petal features a striking maroon brush mark at its base. The large flowers are drawn together by a predominant yellow eye, while poised amongst wavy, dark green narrow leaves. Upright and sticky, red-flushed stems forge a rounded profile that can be associated with Perovskia abrotanoides and Eryngium ‘Blaukappe’ for an arresting union.
Blooms May–June. Size: 5'–6' high x 5'–6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
AVAILABLE JULY 2008
Cistus x purpureus Alan Fradd (S-0652)
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Glory Bower
Indigenous to China and the Himalayas, the Glory Bower grows into a vigorous suckering, semiwoody shrub that rouses a lot of spirited appeal, especially late in the season. Numerous, straight-backed deep purple-red stems stand in sharp relief to a dark green sea of large, coarsely textured heart-shaped foliage. Ruggedly bold and handsome, the somewhat reflective, paired leaves are toothed and patterned with wine-tinged midribs, while ample-sized, fragrant clusters of loosely arranged rose-red florets float overhead.
Flourishing in the shade of larger woodies as deer pass it by and dying to the ground during cold winters, Clerodendrum’s compact form must be maintained in warmer climates by a hard, early spring pruning and subsequent pinchings, and where it’s very hot, shade is a must.
Blooms August–mid-October. Size: 4'–5' high x 3' & spreading; hardy to zone 7.
Clerodendrum bungei (S-0625)
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Summersweet
SummersweetJust like candles on a birthday cake, the larger, more upright flowers of this superlative Michael Dirr
selection are a splendid sight. A glossy late spring flush of tooth-edged leafage in emerald hues sets the stage for the abundant creamy white flowers. Made even more dazzling by their spiced-honey scent, the 6 in. long blooms form nearly horizontal, close-knit cylindrical spires.
In autumn, foliage matures to a pleasing yellow. Strongly vertical, slightly downy brown branches and persistent seed spikes etch winter’s somber landscape. With a compact mounding habit, this Clethra offers a winsome presence in small spaces, and is a choice feature for a patio pot. Give this easy-to-grow shrub moist, slightly acidic soil and, where summers are hot and dry, shade each afternoon.
Blooms late June–July. Size: 2-1/2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE APRIL 2008
Clethra Sixteen Candles (S-0585)
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Valued for their handsome evergreen foliage and easy care even when the going gets tough, this well groomed genus hails from the Southern Hemisphere. Their rounded, leathery leaves are borne in opposite pairs and garb a fast growing, sun-loving frame that appreciates good drainage, handles drought, wards off deer and begs an easily viewed position anywhere fine foliar texture is appreciated. A twiggy stage where shadows and light become the cast, ‘Beatson’s Gold’ captivates an audience with variegated foliage and a distinctive horizontal branching pattern. The narrowly oval, tiny leaves are lime-yellow and rimmed by a crisp dark green. Stiff and upright, this handsome New Zealand native can be planted as a specimen, a formal or informal hedge or as a screen. It happily resides in coastal climates, obliging nearly any soil type, especially very dry ones.
Size: 8' high x 6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Coprosma Beatson’s Gold (S-0026)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Accentuated by a marvelous surface so highly sheened it seems unreal, small, thick, almost succulent-looking foliage exhibits bronzy red and green hues. The lustrous, ovoid-shaped leaves angle upward while their tips curve down, and come winter transmute deep purply rubescent shades. Erect and not as wide-angled as ‘Beatson’s Gold’, light-colored reflective stems define a compact bushy shrub that casts cozy glimmers on Mediterraneans or fellow New Zealanders like Uncinia rubra or Carex tenuiculmis.
Size: 4'–6' high x 3'–4' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Coprosma Roy’s Red (s-0651)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Because of the handsome horizontal growth of its long slender stems, and the exceptionally elegant variegation of its small lustrous leaves, this New Zealand native is a first-rate evergreen ground cover. Small, neatly cream-margined gray-green leaves display attractive, translucent white berries preceded by inconspicuous flowers. Its low-lying branches provide a deft transition between upright shrubs such as Rosmarinus ‘Herb Cottage’ or Cistus ‘Bennett’s
White’.
‘Variegata’ willingly accepts a wide range of soils, can handle wind and salt spray, and promises a dense handsome form if pruned regularly.
Size: 12"–2' high x 4'–6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Coprosma kirkii Variegata (S-0586)
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Australian Fuchsia
Hailing from Down Under, in Australia’s western Victoria on a limestone cliff top, it’s a happy chance that Mr. Pat Urbonus came upon this stalwart beauty. The tidy, semi-upright mound entertains a dainty gathering of pretty pink starry flowers, whitening as they age. Enveloped by a soft-looking rust-colored fuzz, the light stems and green oval-shaped leaves with pale gray-green undersides possess an untiring resilience to drought, wind, coastal frontlines, pesky deer and pruning. ‘Western Pink Star’ can be sited in a favored patio vessel or massed in a dry border amid Mediterraneans and grasses such as Stipa arundinacea.
Blooms May–June. Size: 3' high x 4'–6' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Correa alba Western Pink Star (S-0638)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart Everyone loves this chance evergreen hybrid from U.C. Davis, except those pesky deer. It makes a great windbreak, forming a dense, tidy mound of smooth topped, fuzzy bottomed leaves and soft rust-colored stems, while tolerating coastal breezes. Small white, star-shaped flowers borne at the leaf axils are a nice touch in the drab months of late winter. Beware of overwatering!
Blooms January–March. Size: 8' high x 8' wide; hardy to zone 8.
Correa alba (Bronze Select) (S-0343)
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Spike Winter HazelStiff, twiggy branches zigzag dramatically among the pale yellow flowers, accented with cardinal red anthers, and petals both buttery yellow and pistachio green. The final touch to all this beauty is the sweet, incenselike perfume. The new leaves that follow often emerge with a pinkish tinge, maturing to
crisp deep green. Their rounded shape resembles hazelnut leaves.
Provide a sheltered location and acid soil, and be sure to include the flowers in an early spring
bouquet.
Blooms March–April. Size: 6' high x 8' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Corylopsis spicata (S-0029)
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Smoke Bush
Smoke BushAn arresting beacon as the sun casts a ruby glow through its purple-black leaves, ‘Grace’ inherits her elegance from Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ and Cotinus obovatus. The sprays of tiny deep pink flowers throw a smoky, wine-colored fog over its robust form, and a close glance reveals bright yellow at the center of each bloom. Lovely in contrast with the silver
foliage of Teucrium fruticans (Select Form), ‘Grace’ conveys a stately presence matched by few other plants.
Blooms July–August. Size: 12' high x 12' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Cotinus Grace (s-0394)
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These profuse and long blooming deciduous shrubs are Asian natives named after Johann van der Deutz, a lawyer, town councilor and amateur botanist from Amsterdam. Easy to cultivate in any well drained soil, Deutzias are some of the most beautiful early summer flowering shrubs. Drink in the pearlescent splendor of this fresh vintage whose frosty, star-shaped blossoms sparkle amid spirited lemon-green foliage that is serrated and burn resistant. Exploding from immaculately white, clustered buds, the delicate fragrant flowers adorn gently arching branches.
A luminous companion for Viburnum ‘Mary Milton’s deep greenery with the small textural leaves of Ajuga ‘Emerald Chip’ skirting below, ‘Chardonnay Pearls’s compact profile assures a bright crispness all season. (PPAF)
Blooms late May–early June. Size: 3'–4' high x 3'–4' wide; hardy to zone 5.
Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls (S-0605)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart Sichuan DeutziaAlthough its Latin name is a bit cumbersome, this rare, slow growing shrub is second to none for summertime bloom. An appealing framework of graceful branches and deciduous, dark green, serrated leaves that elegantly taper to a slender point entertains loose, dome-shaped clusters of elfin, starlike flowers for many, many weeks. Illuminated in refreshing snow-white hues, the Sichuan Deutzia appreciates shelter from harsh or cold winds and brings refined charm to a mixed bed with Dicentra ‘Margery Fish’ carpeting the ground beneath.
Blooms July–August. Size: 4'–6' high x 4'–6' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora (S-0640)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart ‘Rosealind’s origins can be traced all the way back to Ireland’s Donard Nursery where this highly prized floriferous Deutzia was raised by Leslie Slinger in the 1950s and subsequently named in her daughter's honor.
Resulting from a cross between Deutzia purpurascens and Deutzia sieboldiana, ‘Rosealind’s elegantly arching red-tinged stems are dressed with copious erect sprays of petite, lavishly colored, rose-pink starlike blooms. Slender medium green foliage covers her upright not-too-tall profile, which makes a stellar specimen, especially where space is limited.
Blooms May–June. Size: 4'–6' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 5.
MIDSPRING SHIPPING
Deutzia x elegantissima Rosealind (S-0671)
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