|
Broadening the gardeners palette |
|
Broadening the gardeners palette |
|
Botanical Name: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Berberis – Barberry
Buddleia - Butterfly Bush Berberis Deciduous shrub Full sun The Barberries are grown primarily for their colorful leaves, which are oval in shape and are borne close to the stems, somewhat like those of Boxwood. The flowers aren’t very showy, but they are succeeded by bright red berries that can be appreciated after the leaves drop in autumn. Barberries generally have a rounded habit and grow broader than they are tall. They work well in groups in shrub and perennial borders, and they make excellent hedges. Because their stems are lined with short spines, they are also useful for directing foot traffic. Barberries thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are very tolerant of sandy soil and drought. The following cultivars of B. thunbergii, the Japanese Barberry, are all hardy to Zone 4.
B. thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’. This cultivar is better known in the trade as ‘Crimson Pygmy’. It has striking burgundy-red foliage all through the growing season and fluorescent red fall color. Grows just 2ft tall and as wide and has a dense, twiggy form. Makes a terrific little hedge that never needs shearing and looks superb with other plants that have colorful foliage: Calluna ‘Blazeaway’, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’, Juniperus ‘Silver Mist’, Spiraea ‘Gold Mound’, and Thymus pseudolanuginosus to name a few. 2ft x 2ft.
B. t. ‘Aurea’. The foliage is a glowing yellow in spring, fading somewhat in summer. Whereas purple-leaved Barberries tend to be dark and moody, this one is bright and perky, drawing the eye like a magnet. For an irresistible color contrast, plant with B. ‘Rose Glow’. Height: 3ft.
B. t. ‘Bagatelle’. This neat little shrub was introduced in Europe in 1971 but is only now making its way into the American nursery trade. It’s even more compact than ‘Atropurpurea Nana’, which is said to be one of its parents, and the leaves are smaller. A great edging or hedging plant. Height: 16in.
B. t. ‘Concorde’. Similar to ‘Atropurpurea Nana’, but the first flush of new growth is a deep velvety purple that looks especially striking next to silver or blue foliage. The leaves turn dark red in summer and hold that color both in sunny and lightly shaded locations. The plant grows very slowly to form a compact mound. 2ft x 2ft.
B. t. ‘Golden Ring’. Dark burgundy leaves with a fine gold edge. The edging is most noticeable when the plant is viewed close up. Habit is compact but more upright than that of the other dwarf cultivars. Height: 3ft.
B. t. ‘Helmond Pillar’. An unusual fastigiate form with attractive burgundy-red foliage. Useful where you want more height but space at soil level is tight. 5ft x 18in.
B. t. ‘Kobold’. This green-leaved cultivar bears a striking resemblance to a dwarf Boxwood and can be used in the same way (dwarf hedge, edging). Forms a mound about 2ft x 21/2ft.
NEW B. t. ‘Lime Glow’. This may be the showiest of all of the Barberries, and that’s saying something. From a distance, the foliage reads as bright lime-green. Closer inspection reveals green and cream markings with occasional flecks of pinkish orange. The new shoots have red stems, and the unfurling leaves shift in color from red to orange to yellow, while the undersides, which face outward, are a contrasting creamy white. As you might guess, ‘Lime Glow’ can be used to form countless colorful associations. Try it with Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’), a golden Heather such as ‘Beoley Gold’, or a blue rug Juniper. Upright spreading habit. Height: 3–4ft.
B. t. ‘Rose Glow’. New growth on this tried-and-true selection is rosy pink with reddish purple markings, turning deep maroon as it matures. New and old leaves are often found side by side, providing a lovely color combination. ‘Rose Glow’ has an upright habit with arching branches. Outstanding with ornamental Grasses. Height: 4–5ft.
NEW Betula nigra Heritage® (‘Cully’) Deciduous tree Full sun Many people fall in love with the idea of a white-barked Birch and then plant one (or three), only to discover that their beautiful tree suffers from a variety of pests and diseases, some serious enough to require spraying. Birch lovers in this area would be better advised to plant our native River Birch (Betula nigra), and in particular a selection called Heritage®. It has outstanding peeling bark that varies in color through the year from cinnamon to tan to a cream that verges on white, and it begins to show these colors at a young age. It’s also a vigorous grower that tolerates heat and waterlogged soil (dry soil, too) and shows strong resistance to the bronze Birch borer. The tree has a pyramidal shape when young, becoming oval with age, and it looks terrific as a specimen or in a clump. A grove of these Birches, sited so the low winter sun can reflect off of the exfoliating bark and underplanted with golden Daffodils, is breathtaking. Height in 8–10 years: 20ft. Mature height: 40–60ft. Zone 4.
Bruckenthalia spiculifolia Evergreen shrub Full sun This low-growing, Heath-like shrub from southeastern Europe and Asia Minor has narrow, evergreen foliage and bears short spikes of small, bell-shaped pink flowers in June on a low, spreading mound. Spike Heath serves as an attractive and useful addition to the Heath and Heather garden because it blooms after most of the Heaths are done and before the Heathers begin. Plants flower best in full sun, and like most other members of the Heath family, require well-drained, acid soil. 8–10" x 18". Zone 5.
Buddleia Deciduous shrub Full sun Butterfly Bushes are a diverse group of deciduous shrubs prized for their colorful flowers. The best known are selections and hybrids of B. davidii, which produce an abundance of flowers in arching spikes from June through September and attract many kinds of butterflies. These shrubs add a splash of summer color to a shrub planting and look terrific at the back of a perennial border. They have a tendency to grow quite large and rangy, but can be kept reasonably compact if they are cut back hard (to 1–2ft) in early spring (early March here), just as the new growth begins to emerge. This year we are also offering a less common but no less attractive spring-blooming species known as B. alternifolia. Its flowers appear in clusters, not spikes, along the stems, and they are borne on the previous season’s growth; a hard spring haircut would decimate this Buddleia’s display. All Buddleias require full sun and well-drained soil but are otherwise undemanding.
NEW B. alternifolia. This large shrub or small tree (it can be trained as a standard) looks for all the world like a weeping willow. Its long, arching stems are clothed with narrow dark green leaves that are just fuzzy enough to take on a gray cast when viewed from a distance. The June blooms, however, are very un-Willow-like. They are a light bluish purple and softly fragrant, and they open in 1in clusters in the leaf axils of the previous year’s growth. The effect is that of a cool fountain that sways in a gentle late-spring breeze. This Buddleia is at home in a shrub border and makes a nice background for a flower garden. Growth is vigorous on young plants. Size after 5–6 years: 10ft x 10ft. Zone 5.
NEW B. davidii ‘Attraction’. The flowers of this recent introduction are a luscious, velvety, magenta-red—a real improvement over the purplish red of the previous red-flowered standard, ‘Royal Red’. The plants are more compact, too. Upright habit. Height after 5–6 years: 6–8ft. Zone 5.
NEW B. d. ‘Pink Delight’. We’ve been comparing the various Buddleia cultivars, and this one is a standout. The reason is simple: ‘Pink Beauty’ has the largest and densest flower panicles of any Butterfly Bush we’ve seen. They can reach up to a foot long and be fully 4–5in in diameter at the base. The color is a rich, clear pink with no sign of muddiness. Habit is upright with a rounded silhouette. Size after 6–7 years: 8ft x 8ft. Zone 5.
B. x weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’. This new hybrid was discovered by Michael Dirr among plants he brought back from England in 1996. Its flowers are creamy yellow with an orange eye. There are a handful of other hardy, yellow-flowered Butterfly Bushes, but Dirr says this one is by far the best in every way. A vigorous grower, but it’s a little less hardy than the B. davidii cultivars. 8ft x 8ft. Zone 6.
B. ‘White Ball’. A truly compact Butterfly Bush with a tight rounded outline, abundant white flowers, and attractive silvery foliage. It looks as though it has been sheared into a ball. Height: 3–4ft. This cultivar is still new in the trade, so hardiness is a question mark. Zone 6 for sure, perhaps Zone 5.
Buxus Evergreen shrub Full sun to part shade These small-leaved evergreen shrubs are used frequently as hedges in formal gardens and to define paths and garden beds. Because they take shearing so well, they can also be shaped into topiaries. Boxwoods grow best in full sun or light shade and in evenly moist but well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acid pH. Their foliage may “burn” in winter if they get too much direct sun or are exposed to icy winds. The ideal location provides a wind break and protection from the afternoon sun during the winter months.
Buxus microphylla – Little Leaf Boxwood The leaves of the Little Leaf Boxwood are, as the name suggests, smaller and finer than those of the Common Boxwood (B. sempervirens). The plants are also more densely branched and compact. Zone 6.
B. m. ‘Compacta’. Kingsville Boxwood. An extremely slow-growing Boxwood. Forms a dense, hard bun of dark green foliage that takes on a lovely golden cast (like tarnished brass) in full sun. Size after 15–18 years: 1ft x 1ft.
B. m. var. japonica ‘Morris Dwarf’. The deep, dark green foliage is broader and rounder than that of ‘Compacta’. Grows a bit faster than ‘Compacta’, but it’s still very dense. Size after 18 years: 11/2ft x 11/2ft. Buxus sempervirens – Common Boxwood This is the classic Boxwood species. It grows faster (which is to say slightly less slow) than B. microphylla and matures at a larger size. Zone 6 and into Zone 5.
B. s. ‘Elegantissima’. Lustrous green foliage with a creamy edge gives this cultivar a lighter, brighter feel. Habit is dense and domed. Size after 15 years: 2ft x 3ft.
B. s. ‘Graham Blandy’. A fastigiate cultivar that forms a dark green column. Use in pairs on either side of an entrance or as a focal point. Size after 12 years: 6ft x 2ft.
B. s. ‘Suffruticosa’. This centuries-old selection is considered to be the standard edging Boxwood. It grows slowly and will hold almost any shape you want to give it. Left to its own devices, it becomes a neat, dwarf globe. Height: 3ft.
B. s. ‘Vardar Valley’. Perhaps the hardiest of the B. sempervirens cultivars; it is reliable to –15°F or colder and holds its deep dark green color through winter. Forms a flat-topped mound. Size after 12–15 years: 2ft x 4ft. Buxus sinica var. insularis Formerly known as B. microphylla var. koreana. Similar in appearance to B. microphylla but much hardier, enduring –20° to –25°F. Plants in this group are the best choices for cold areas.
B. s. var. insularis ‘Justin Brouwers’. A sharp-looking cultivar introduced in 1989 but still rare in the trade. It has small, pointed, emerald-green leaves and grows slowly to form a squat mound. It is similar in habit to B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ but much hardier. Maintains its deep green color all through winter. Size after 12–15 years: 2ft x 3ft.
B. s. var. insularis ‘Tide Hill’. This rugged little Boxwood has soft-textured, oval leaves that hold their bright green color through very severe winters. It has a broad, spreading habit that is much less formal than that of other Boxwoods. Size after 12 years: 1ft x 3ft. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Home |
Catalog |
Directions
Environmentals, Inc., 22275 Main Road, Cutchogue, New York 11935, (631) 734-6439, Fax (631) 734-6452 info@environmentalsnursery.com
|
