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Broadening the gardeners palette |
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Broadening the gardeners palette |
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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 Callicarpa - Beauty Berry
Chionanthus - Fringe Tree
Callicarpa Deciduous shrub Full sun to part shade Beauty Berry Beauty Berries offer one of the most attractive and distinctive fruit displays found among ornamental shrubs. From late summer into fall, their branches are lined with tight bunches of small lavender-purple berries. The color is so unusual that people seeing them for the first time can’t help but stop and comment on them. Beauty Berries are easy to grow in full sun or light shade and well-drained soil. Because they flower and fruit on new wood, they are best pruned in late winter, which encourages lots of new growth and therefore lots of purple berries. Plant in clusters in the shrub border or at the edge of woods, or use them to line the driveway or provide an unusual backdrop for a perennial border. For best fruiting, plant more than one species or cultivar in close proximity.
C. bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’. An upright shrub with cascading branches. Small mauve flowers in spring are followed by heavy clusters of rich violet-purple fruit at the close of the season. The pointed oval foliage, which is dark green in summer, takes on mauve tones in fall, complementing the berries. Our favorite Beauty Berry. Height: 7–9ft. Zone 6.
C. dichotoma. This species produces an abundance of beadlike lilac berries in small clusters that are arranged alternately on top of the arching branches. Birds love the berries, and cut branches make an interesting addition to fall flower arrangements with the leaves and flowers of ornamental Grasses. Height: 5–6ft. Zone 5.
Calluna Evergreen shrub/Evergreen ground cover Full sun Heather Heathers are summer- to autumn-flowering, tiny-leaved evergreen shrubs for well-drained, acid soils. Their Latin name is derived from the Greek word kalluno, which means “to beautify.” The genus contains just one species, but it is highly variable. Heathers range in size and habit from ground-hugging carpets to compact tufts to broad mounds. Their fine-textured, colorful foliage varies from silver, green, and gold to orange and red. In cold weather, these colors may either darken or become brighter. The small, profuse flowers can be single or double and range in color from white to pink to lavender and magenta. The rich palette of flower, foliage, and form that Heathers offer makes them endlessly useful in the garden. They are superb edging or rock garden plants and make ideal companions for dwarf conifers. They are often planted en masse in raised beds or islands or on gentle slopes, where they interweave perfectly with their close cousins the Winter-flowering Heaths and other plants, such as Lavender or Thyme, that require lots of sun and perfectly drained soil. We grow a long list of cultivars for your enjoyment and creative designs. They are presented in table format on the calluna page, along with details about their cultural requirements. Zone 4. Calluna cultivars are listed in the calluna chart.
Camellia Evergreen shrub Full sun to part shade Most of us think of Camellias as lovely but tender evergreens for the Deep South. William Ackerman and a team of his fellow researchers at the National Arboretum extended the range of Camellias all the way through Zone 6 by crossing spring- and fall-flowering species with a less ornamental but very hardy species from China called C. oleifera. The result is a series of attractive and surprisingly cold-tolerant shrubs that offer fresh alternatives to the short list of flowering evergreens for the Northeast. All have glossy, dark blue-green leaves and a loose, upright, arching habit. They thrive in full sun or partial shade and in humus-rich, acid soil that retains moisture but is also well drained. Like other broad-leaved evergreens, they need a location that is protected from winter winds and require watering during winter dry spells. Zone 6.
NEW C. ‘Pink Icicle’. This is the first spring-bloomer we’ve offered from this series, and the first with pink flowers. The blooms are large (up to 4½in) and double, and they have a lovely shell pink color. They generally open in April. Height after 8–10 years: 5–6ft. Please note that the spring bloomers among the so-called Ackerman hybrids are a bit less hardy than the fall bloomers. This one is rated at –5ºF.
NEW C. ‘Snow Flurry’. Pure white double blooms, 3½in across. They could be mistaken for Peony flowers but for the fact that they appear in fall. Height after 10–12 years: 5ft.
C. ‘Winter’s Hope’. Double white flowers measuring up to 4in across. Bloom begins in fall and continues into winter. Size in 12 years: 6ft x 6ft.
C. ‘Winter’s Star’. Another fall-winter bloomer. The single flowers are reddish purple and about 3½in across. Size after 12 years: 7ft x 5ft.
Campsis Vine Full sun to part shade Trumpet Vine The vines in this small genus are amazingly fast growers with shiny, dark green, fernlike leaves and clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms in summer. Hummingbirds are often seen darting from flower to flower imbibing their nectar. Trumpet Vines grow with abandon under almost any conditions. They tolerate a fair amount of shade, pay no attention to pH, and endure dry, infertile soil and salt spray without ill effects. They climb by means of root like holdfasts, attaching themselves to anything and everything in their path. A handsome cover for masonry or the trunk of a tree. Can be grown (with regular pruning) on a trellis or arbor. Do not allow a Trumpet Vine to climb shingle siding.
C. radicans ‘Flamenco’. A selection of our native species with deep red-orange flowers that you can see for miles. Climbs 30–40ft. Zone 4.
C. radicans f. flava. The golden trumpets of this yellow-flowered form shine against the dark green foliage. Attracts hummingbirds just as well as orange- and red-flowered Trumpet Vines do. 30–40ft. Zone 4.
NEW C. ´ tagliabuana Indian Summer™ (‘Kudian’). PP #13139. This recent introduction from Holland offers pendent racemes of large (3in), bold coral-orange flowers. It is said to be more compact than ‘Madame Galen’, the standard tagliabuana cultivar, but we think that “compact Campsis” is an oxymoron. Until we’re proved wrong, we’ll say it grows 20–25ft. Hardy through Zone 6 and into 5.
Cedrus Conifer Full sun Cedar The Cedars are picturesque conifers with artful branching patterns and evergreen needles in green, blue, and gold. The species grow quite large—to 50ft or more and nearly as wide—but there are many dwarf and weeping cultivars for smaller landscapes. Cedars need ample sunshine and evenly moist, well-drained soil that is neither excessively heavy or light. Growth rates (miniature, dwarf, intermediate, large) are those defined by the American Conifer Society.
C. atlantica ‘Aurea’. Large. An upright tree with short, golden yellow needles overlaying an interior of gray-green. Forms an open pyramid that grows 15ft x 8ft. Zone 6.
C. a. ‘Glauca Pendula’. Intermediate. The Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is probably the best known and most widely planted of all the Cedars. Curtains of blue needles dangle from arching scaffold branches. An outstanding specimen plant; especially effective when it droops over water or is trained over an arbor. It must be staked to gain height. Without support, it creeps along the ground. Either way, it’s a plant of rare beauty. Ultimate height and width are determined by staking and training. Zone 6.
NEW C. deodara ‘Aurea’. Large. A striking specimen tree with vibrant yellow new growth that matures yellow-green. Its habit is broad and upright. 10ft x 6ft. Zone 7 and into Zone 6.
C. d. ‘Aurea Pendula’. Large. This is not a weeper in the usual sense. Instead, it’s a large, upright tree with wide-spreading horizontal branches that swoop dramatically. The foliage is bright gold in spring, turning yellowish green in summer and winter. 15ft x 8ft. Zone 7.
C. d. ‘Shalimar’. Large. ‘Shalimar’ is the hardiest of the C. deodara cultivars, enduring temperatures down to –15°F without injury. It’s a full-size tree with the upright, dense pyramidal habit for which Cedars are famous and branches that weep at the tip. The new growth is soft and silvery, maturing an attractive blue-green. This is a good selection for a large screen. Size after 10–12 years: 15ft x 8ft. Ultimate height: 40–60ft. Zone 6 and into Zone 5.
C. d. ‘Silver Mist’. Intermediate A slow-growing cultivar with a compact, broad pyramidal habit and a long silvery white new growth s that have an amazingly soft texture. Mature foliage is gray green. An attractive and appealing plant. 7ft x 5ft. Zone 7.
C. d. ‘Viridis Prostrata’. Dwarf. to intermediate. The cultivar name tells you what you need to know. A spreading, ground-hugging mound with bright green needles. It is often staked to give it an upright form with a thick skirt. Height and width depend on how it is trained. Zone 6.
NEW C. libani ‘Pendula’. Intermediate. The weeping Cedar of Lebanon produces a central stem that arches like the backbone of a dinosaur, from which long, thin branches hanging down like so many blue-green “ribs.” Ultimate height depends on staking. Zone 6.
C. l. ‘Sargentii’. Dwarf. This prostrate selection of the Cedar of Lebanon will form a graceful, mounding bush with long, sweeping branches. It can be staked if additional height is desired. The needles are a handsome gray-green. Makes a unique accent plant for a rock garden. Height and width depend on training. Here at the nursery, an impressive 20-year-old specimen planted over the side of an embankment is over 6ft wide and cascades down some 5ft. Zone 6.
Cephalotaxus Conifer Full sun to part shade Plum Yew This small genus of evergreen conifers deserves to be better known. The plants it contains thrive in any soil (as long as it is well drained), tolerate shade, and unlike Yews, to which they bear a close resemblance, are highly unpalatable to deer. Height and habit vary by cultivar, but all are small- to medium-size shrubs that work well in a variety of landscape settings. Zone 6. Growth rates (miniature, dwarf, intermediate, large) are those defined by the American Conifer Society. C. harringtonia ‘Duke Gardens’. Dwarf. A low-growing selection that looks very much like an English Yew. Its glossy, dark green needles are broad and fat, measuring 1–2in long (larger than most Yews). Has an arching, broad-spreading habit but doesn’t need shearing to stay compact. Size in 8 years: 2ft x 4ft.
C. h. ‘Fastigiata’. Miniature. This cultivar has a distinctly columnar habit. It is useful in shrub borders and offers an excellent way to soften the corner of a house. The long needles are an attractive dark-green. 3ft x18in..
C. h. ‘Korean Gold’. Miniature. A fastigiate plant, like the foregoing, but much smaller and finer in texture. The new growth is bright yellow, and it stands out smartly against the mature green foliage. A striking accent plant for the rock garden or dwarf conifer border. 3ft x 18in.
C. h. ‘Prostrata’. Similar to ‘Duke Gardens’ but even lower growing. Size after 8 years: 18in x 4–5ft.
Cercis Deciduous shrub Full sun to part shade Redbud Redbuds are highly esteemed for their bright displays of purply pink, pea-shaped flowers, which appear in abundant clusters along the branches before the leaves emerge in spring, and for their beautiful heart-shaped foliage. Although several species, including C. canadensis, the Eastern Redbud, are native to the United States, they aren’t often seen in landscapes in this area—which gives you an opportunity to introduce your customers to a group of plants that are distinctive, easy to grow, and exceptionally beautiful. Redbuds prefer full sun (but bloom quite well in light shade) and perform best in soil that is evenly moist but well drained. They are not at all picky about pH.
NEW C. canadensis Lavender Twist™ (‘Covey’). A lovely weeping selection of the Eastern Redbud. The twist in the name describes the slightly contorted branches, which make the plant look like a big bonsai. Our plants are grafted at about 5ft, from which point the stems meander downward and outward, forming a striking, lavender-pink cascade in late April. 5ft x 2–3ft. Zone 5.
C. chinensis ‘Avondale’. The Chinese Redbud makes an upright, multistemmed shrub with the usual heart-shaped leaves, but they are thicker and heavier in texture than those of C. canadensis. The pea-shaped flowers, which open in April before the plants leaf out, are a bright purply pink. ‘Avondale’ is an especially floriferous cultivar that buries its bare stems in countless tiny blooms. Plant it in groups in the lawn, or use it as a backdrop for a perennial border. It can also be trained as a distinctive espalier. 6ft x 4ft. Zone 6.
Chaenomeles Deciduous shrub Full sun Flowering Quince Small- to medium-size deciduous shrubs with a bushy, rounded habit and shiny, deep green leaves. Their moment of glory comes in March, when they line their spiny stems with colorful, 11/2in wide, Rose-like flowers. Flowering Quinces require lots of sun to bloom well, but they aren’t fussy about the soil they grow in (provided it is not alkaline). They are very tolerant of dry soil. Use them in clusters in the lawn or shrub border. They also make a good informal hedge; their spines will deter unwanted guests. Zone 5.
C. x superba ‘Cameo’. One of the best double-flowered cultivars. The color is a delicious peachy pink. Mature size is 4–5ft x 4–5ft.
C. x s. ‘Chojubai White’. Pure white, Rose-like flowers with yellow stamens. Shows a strong tendency to rebloom in the fall. It has a low, spreading habit. Size in 9 years: 2ft x 5ft.
C. x s. ‘Crimson and Gold’. Large, velvety red flowers with contrasting golden stamens. It makes a mound about 4ft x 4ft.
C. x s. ‘Texas Scarlet’. This cultivar yields a profusion of scarlet flowers on a compact, spreading shrub. 4ft x 5ft.
C. x s. ‘Toyo-Nishiki’. This Japanese selection produces flowers in three different colors—pink, red, and white—often side by side on the same branch. Its habit is upright, broadening with age. Matures at 6–8ft x 6–8ft.
Chamaecyparis Conifer Full sun to part shade False Cypress An important group of evergreen conifers with countless uses in the landscape. The species are generally large trees with a pyramidal shape, a nodding leader, and foliage carried in drooping, fanlike sprays. From them, numerous cultivars (many of them dwarf) have been selected, providing the landscape designer and gardener with a broad palette of color, form, and texture with which to work. Chamaecyparis make outstanding specimen plants and also work well as accents in mixed borders and foundation plantings. They look superb with Heaths and Heathers, and the miniature selections are ideally suited to rock gardens. Chamaecyparis vary in their light requirements (as noted below), but all thrive in rich, moist, well-drained soil (C. thyoides tolerates heavy, wet soil). They prefer a slightly acid pH and perform best in a location that is protected from strong winds. Chamaecyparis shed their inner needles every other year and when under stress due to transplanting or drought. Clean up the dead needles; regrowth will occur in spring. The American Conifer Society classifies conifers by their rate of growth, as follows. Except as noted, sizes provided in the descriptions are estimates at 10–12 years. Miniature: Maximum annual growth rate of less than 3in. Estimated size after 10–12 years would be 2–3ft. Excellent in rock gardens or troughs or as a special accent. Dwarf: Average annual growth rate of 3–6in. Expected size after 10–12 years: 3–6ft. Ideal for use at the front or in the middle of a border, or as a foundation plant. Intermediate: Annual growth of 6–12in. Height after 10–12 years will be in the neighborhood of 6–12ft. These conifers make handsome lawn or garden specimens and can also be used to make a hedge. Large: Annual growth rate in excess of 12in. Anticipate a height after 10–12 years of 12ft or more. Use as a lawn specimen or a screen. Appropriate only for large properties.
C. nootkatensis ‘Pendula’. Large. This cultivar of the Nootka Cypress, an elegant conifer native to the Pacific Coast from northern Oregon to Alaska, forms a broad pyramid of sweeping branches that bear pendulous sprays of medium green foliage. An excellent source of greens for holiday arrangements, but you’ll have to wait 20 years before you can start cutting. Requires full sun. 12ft x 6ft. Ultimate height: 30–45ft. Zone 4.
Chamaecyparis obtusa – Hinoki Cypress The Hinoki Cypress has yielded dozens of cultivars offering a wide range of sizes, habits, and foliage colors. They have in common a unique sculptural quality, and a mature specimen is a treasure beyond price. Sunlight requirements vary by cultivar. Zone 5, except as noted.
C. o. ‘Blue Feathers’. Miniature to dwarf. The fine-textured, blue foliage is dense and presented on a compact plant with an upright mounding habit. Best in full sun. 2ft x 3ft. Zone 4.
C o. ‘Coralliformis’. Dwarf. A bushy, upright selection with an irregular, pyramidal habit. The dark green foliage is twisted like thick yarn, giving the plant a unique texture. It needs time to reach its potential but is more than worth the wait. Full sun or partial shade. 4–5ft x 3–4ft. In 35 years, it will be approximately 12ft x 6ft.
C. o. ‘Crippsii’. Large. This classic gold-foliaged cultivar makes a great accent plant. The golden, frondlike, feathery branchlets grow in loose, ruffled, horizontal layers, forming a very broad pyramid. Offers excellent winter color and is especially striking when covered with snow. Full sun or light shade. 12ft x 6ft. Very old specimens will eventually reach a height of 30–40ft. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Fernspray Gold’. Intermediate. Flattened branches of fernlike, lemon yellow foliage grow outward from the center to create a loose, ruffled texture. The habit is that of a broad, upright shrub. Best color is found on plants grown in full sun and provided with plenty of moisture. 6ft x 4ft.
C. o. ‘Filicoides Compacta’. Dwarf to intermediate. A handsome and distinctive landscape plant with fernlike, dark green foliage arranged in upright sprays. Slower growing and more compact than ‘Filicoides’, which has an open habit unless it is sheared. Also called ‘Cross Compact’. Selected by Environmentals founder Jim Cross. Full sun or partial shade. 5ft x 3ft..
C. o. ‘Gold Drop’. Miniature. A very fine-textured cultivar with flattened, fine-netted sprays of light coppery- green foliage. It has a dense globose form, eventually growing upright with age. Requires full sun. 3ft x 3ft.
C. o. ‘Golden Fern’. Miniature to dwarf. Very fine, soft-textured, golden foliage with a touch of green that resembles a delicate Fern. A sport of C. o. ‘Fernspray Gold’. Best in full sun, ideally with protection from winter winds. 2ft x 2ft.
C. o. ‘Golden Nymph’. Miniature to dwarf. Squat conical shape. The foliage is a lovely shade of gold that intensifies in the winter.. Requires full sun. 2½ft x 3ft. ft. C. o. ‘Golden Sprite’. Miniature. Dense, very fine, golden yellow foliage forms a neat, round, flat-topped bun. Provide full sun for best color. Grows little more than 1/2in per year. Size after 20 years: 8in x 12in.
C. o. ‘Hage’. Miniature. Tiny dark green foliage forms a very dense globose bush that is slightly conical. Full sun or partial shade. A 20-year-old plant may be 24in x 18.
C. o. ‘Kosteri’. Dwarf. Tightly cupped, scale-like layers of glossy rich green foliage give this little plant a distinctive texture. It has a compact, bluntly conical form. Full sun or partial shade. 3ft x 2ft. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Lynn’s Golden’. Miniature. A small, irregular, pyramidal shrub composed of dense layers of small, fanlike, golden foliage with distinctive curved edges that are etched in green. This neat, sculptural plant is sometimes called the Ceramic Christmas Tree. It requires full sun. Size after 15 years: 36in x 24in.
C. o. ‘Mariesii’. Miniature. This variegated cultivar has very delicate blue-green foliage that is speckled with milky white. Grows very slowly to form a broad, rounded bush. Full sun or partial shade. Size after many years: 4ft x 5ft.
C. o. ‘Meroke’. Dwarf. Gold foliage on a dense, squat conical form. Best color in full sun. A mature plant is 4ft x 21/2ft.
C. o. ‘Nana’. Miniature. An extremely slow-growing selection with tiny dark green foliage. Horizontal branches form a flattened, globe-shaped bush. Full sun or partial shade. A very old specimen would be less than 24in x 24in. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Nana Aurea’. Miniature to dwarf. The golden version of ‘Nana Gracilis’ (see below). The new foliage is a bright gold. It makes a handsome contrast with the dark green mature foliage. An attractive specimen with an upright, pyramidal habit. Full sun or partial shade. 3ft x 2ft.
C. o. ‘Nana Gracilis’. Miniature to dwarf. The most popular of the dwarf Hinoki Cypresses. It has beautifully cupped and modeled, rich green foliage. Forms dense, broad upright-globe.. Grows well both in full sun and partial shade. Size after 12 years: 30–36in x 20in. Eventually reaches a height and width of about 5ft. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Nana Lutea’. Miniature. A sport of ‘Nana Gracilis’ with cupped, lemon yellow foliage. Forms a dense, bushy mound, becoming pyramidal with age. Holds its color well through the year, but the foliage may burn in full sun. Provide afternoon shade. A 20-year-old plant would be no more than 4ft tall.
C. o. ‘Pygmaea Aurescens’. Dwarf. A broad, low-spreading cultivar with loose sprays of olive-green foliage. Winter foliage has a rich coppery bronze cast. Worth planting for its winter coloring alone. Needs full sun. 11/2ft x 3ft.
C. o. ‘Reis Dwarf’. Dwarf. An interesting and unusual selection with dark green foliage that is sometimes congested and sometimes long and thin. The plant is bun shaped when young, eventually growing upright, with an asymmetrical form. Each plant develops its own unique and handsome character. Requires full sun. 3ft x 2ft. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Repens’. Dwarf. Short, fine-textured sprays of bright green foliage all year round. The low, broad-spreading habit makes this a most desirable and useful form. Full sun or partial shade.15–18in x 24–30in.
C. o. ‘Rigid Dwarf’. Miniature. Stiff branches carry dense dark green foliage. Habit is upright. Similar in look to ‘Nana Gracilis’, but slower growing. Full sun or partial shade. Height in 20 years: about 36in. Zone 4.
C. o. ‘Snowflake’. Dwarf. Tight sprays of gray-green juvenile foliage speckled creamy white. Good air circulation is required to keep the foliage looking fresh. Compact, upright form. Grows in full sun or partial shade. A mature plant would be about 4ft tall.
C. o. ‘Spiralis’. Miniature. The dark green, cup-shaped foliage is twisted into a spiral, giving the small, conical form an interesting, sculptural appearance. Requires full sun. 3ft x 1ft.
C. o. ‘Split Rock’. Dwarf. Distinctive blue-green foliage—both juvenile and adult—is presented on a small, dense, pyramidal shrub. This is among the bluest of the Hinoki Cypresses. Needs full sun. 3ft x 3ft.
C. o. ‘Tetragona Aurea’. Intermediate. A broad, pyramidal form with rich, bronze-gold foliage. The main branches sweep slightly upward. Somewhat similar in appearance to ‘Fernspray Gold’, but more congested growth gives it a heavier texture and the foliage color leans to orange-gold rather than lemon-yellow. For best color, plant in full sun and provide plenty of moisture. 6ft x 4ft.
C. o. ‘Topsie’. Miniature. This outstanding cultivar forms a broad, flat-topped globe of curved, deep green, fanlike foliage that turns chocolate green in winter. A rare and very special plant, unique in form and color, that was selected here by Jim and Conni Cross. Full sun or partial shade. Size at 15 years: 15in x 30in.
C. o. ‘Verdoni’. Miniature. Deep, rich, golden foliage overlays an interior of dark green. This dense, irregular, conical form positively glows in the winter landscape. Our favorite gold-leaved dwarf. Best in full sun. Grows just 1/2in per year. Size in 35 years: 4ft x 3ft. Zone 4. Chamaecyparis pisifera - Sawara Cypress This group offers a range of different foliage colors and textures. The leaves of some cultivars are narrow and stringlike. Other cultivars produce nothing but juvenile foliage, which has a soft feathery feel and look. Except as noted, the following can be grown either in full sun or partial shade. All but ‘Snow’ are hardy to Zone 4.
C. p. ‘Boulevard’. Intermediate. This old favorite has attractive, soft, silverblue foliage. Its habit is conical or pyramidal. Size after 10 years: 6ft x 4ft. Ultimate height is 15–20ft.
C. p. ‘Curly Tops’. Dwarf. The soft blue foliage of this selection is curled and contorted—the plant looks as though it has a perm. It holds its blue color well, even in partial shade. Has a neat globe shape. 3ft x 3ft.
C. p. ‘Filifera Argenteovariegata’. Dwarf. Green foliage with creamy yellow variegation. The form is an irregular mound, sometimes becoming a broad pyramid. Size in 25 years: 6–7ft x 4–5ft.
C. p. ‘Filifera Aurea Nana’. Dwarf. This dwarf version of the Golden Threadleaf Cypress forms an irregular mound of stringlike foliage whose tips are flushed with gold. 3ft x 3ft.
C. p. ‘Golden Mop’. Dwarf. A fine four-season shrub. It has the brightest gold color of any of the Golden Threadleaf Cypresses. Grows slowly to form a bushy mound. Some plants eventually produce a strong leader. Remove it to preserve the mounded form, or let it be, and the plant will take on a pyramidal shape. Plant in full sun for best color. 21/2ft (5ft if it forms a leader) x 3ft.
C. p. ‘Juniperoides Aurea’. Dwarf. Soft-textured, golden foliage over a dark green interior. The plant has a low, globe-shaped, neat compact habit. Needs full sun. 3ft x 3ft.
C. p. ‘Snow’. (‘Mikko’.) Dwarf. A highly ornamental shrub with white-tipped new growth that overlays the mature gray-green foliage. The fernlike juvenile leaves have a soft texture. Plants have a compact, rounded shape. Best planted in a partially shaded site that is protected from prevailing winter winds. Can be pruned to maintain size, which also encourages plants to produce more of the showy new growth. 4ft x 4ft, reaching 6ft x 6ft after 25 years. Zone 6.
C. p. ‘Squarrosa Lombarts’. Dwarf to intermediate The soft-textured foliage of this compact shrub changes with the seasons. The new growth starts out bronze, then turns light gray-blue. At the approach of winter, it changes to an attractive plum color. ‘Squarrosa Lombarts’ has a broad upright habit and a nice rounded outline. Its moderate size and shifting colors make it a good companion for perennials in a mixed border. Requires full sun. Size in 8–10 years: 31/2ft x 4ft.
C. p. ‘Squarrosa Minima’. Miniature to dwarf. This interesting selection has soft, gray- blue, tightly congested foliage. The plant may produce offshoots of coarser foliage. These shoots can be removed to maintain a neat globelike habit or used to shape the plant into any number of topiary forms. Best in full sun. 3ft x 3ft.
C. p. ‘Tama-himuro’. Miniature. A very hard-to-find cultivar that forms a perfect globe of soft-textured, sparkling blue foliage in summer. It never needs shearing yet always looks as though it’s just had a haircut. The blue color turns an attractive deep gray color in winter. Makes an excellent focal point. Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ makes a great underplanting for this conifer. 2ft x 2ft.
C. p. ‘Tsukumo’. Miniature. This little fellow is popular with rock gardeners and makes a terrific bonsai specimen. It forms a very dense, broad globe of fine-textured, mid-green foliage. Grows just 1/2in to 1in per year. Size after 15 years: 18in x 10in.
C. p. ‘White Pygmy’. Miniature. This is one of the slowest growing C. pisifera selections, making a flattened bun just 8in tall. The new growth is white at the tip; the mature foliage is light green. Makes a bright accent in a trough garden. Best planted in a partially shaded site that is protected from prevailing winter winds. Size after 15 years: 8in x 12in. Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic White Cedar The Atlantic White Cedar is found growing in bogs and swamps and along streams all up and down the East Coast. It is less well known than its cousins, but its tolerance of wet soil makes it very useful. Also grows well in evenly moist soil. Thrives in full sun or partial shade. Zone 4.
C. t. ‘Heatherbun’. Dwarf. A selection with dense, gray-blue juvenile foliage that turns an attractive plum-purple in winter. Forms a broad, upright mound. 4ft x 4ft.
C. t. ‘Little Jamie’. Miniature to dwarf. This neat little dwarf forms a tight cone of bright green foliage that turns purplish in winter. Resembles a Dwarf Alberta Spruce, but its foliage is softer. 3ft x 2ft.
C. t. ‘Red Star’. (‘Rubicon’.) Miniature to dwarf. The unique starlike foliage is a lovely reddish purple in spring, turning blue-green in summer, then a dark red-purple in winter. Grows slowly to form a squat pyramid. An exceptional dwarf conifer. 3ft x 2ft.
Chimonanthus praecox ‘luteus’ Deciduous shrub Full sun to part shade Wintersweet This unassuming shrub bears amazingly fragrant flowers at a time when most other plants are still deep in winter slumber. In late winter (February–March), starry, light yellow, 1in blooms line its bare stems, perfuming the crisp air and foreshadowing the spring to come. Branches can be cut and forced into bloom indoors, promptly filling a room with their sweet, spicy scent. Wintersweet is a multistemmed shrub with an arching habit. It requires well-drained soil but is otherwise adaptable, tolerating a broad range of soil types and pH and flowering as well in partial shade as it does in full sun. It is best planted along a walkway or flanking an entrance, where its fragrance is within easy reach of passing noses. Beautiful underplanted with Christmas Roses (Helleborus niger). 6–8ft x 4–6ft. Zone 7.
Chionanthus virginicus Deciduous shrub/Deciduous tree Full sun to part shade Fringe Tree Our native Fringe Tree (sometimes called Old Man’s Beard) produces large (6–8in) panicles of frilly, lightly fragrant, snow-white flowers just as the big, lustrous leaves are beginning to expand in early June. Up close, the flowers do look like fringe, but from a distance, they take on a frothy appearance, transforming the plant into fluffy clouds of bloom. Fringe Trees are difficult to propagate (which explains why they are so hard to find in the trade) but easy to grow. They prefer evenly moist, acid soil and bloom well in full sun or partial shade, where they form large shrubs or small trees. Because they are late to leaf out, Fringe Trees are best used in a shrub border or along the edge of woods. They make a stunning backdrop for a bed of Tall Bearded Irises. 12–18ft x 15–20ft. Zone 4.
Clerodendrum
trichotomum var. Fargesii Harlequin Glory Bower Deciduous shrub/Deciduous tree Full sun to part shade An interesting shrub from the Far East that produces bouquets of intensely fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers in late summer (July into August) and, even more appealing, a crop of unusual and attractive fruits in fall. The fruits are glazed, porcelain blue balls that rest on fleshy, star-shaped, candy-apple red calyxes—there’s nothing else quite like them in the plant world. Clerodendrum makes a suckering shrub with large, fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves. It often dies back (sometimes to the ground) over winter. Prune out the deadwood in spring, and it will recover in time to bloom in late summer. Plant Clerodendrum in full sun or partial shade and evenly moist but well-drained soil. It makes a handsome and distinctive addition to the shrub or perennial border. 6–10ft x 6–10ft. Zone 6.
Clethra Deciduous shrub Full sun to shade Summer Sweet, Sweet Pepper Bush Clethra are among the best shrubs for summer color and fragrance. Beginning in July and continuing into August, they produce abundant spikes of white or pink flowers that have a sweet, spicy scent. This display is presented against a backdrop of lustrous, dark green leaves that turn a bright golden yellow in fall. C. alnifolia and its selections are also noted for their tolerance of wet soil, shade, and salt spray. Zone 4, except as noted.
C. alnifolia. Our native Summer Sweet forms dense colonies in swampy areas up and down the East Coast, bristling with fragrant, creamy white spikes during the dog days of summer. It flowers equally well in average soil if irrigated during summer dry spells. Summer Sweet is a suckering shrub with a very upright habit. Where moisture is abundant, it spreads to form a thicket. Height: 8ft.
C. a. ‘Hummingbird’. A compact cultivar discovered in Georgia by Fred Galle. It grows just over 3ft tall and spreads by rhizomes. It is very floriferous and fragrant. Despite its southern origins, it endures –30°F without injury. Height: 3ft.
C. a. ‘Ruby Spice’. There have been pink-flowered Clethras in the trade for years, but most are a very disappointing pale pink. ‘Ruby Spice’ is the delightful exception. Its spikes are a deep reddish pink that you can appreciate at a distance. Their fragrance is just as strong as that of the species. Discovered in 1992 by Andy Brand at Broken Arrow Nursery in Connecticut. Height: 8ft.
NEW C. barbinervis. The Japanese variation on our native Clethra offers less fragrance but more refinement. It forms a large, rounded shrub that has a very attractive outline and handsome gray-and-brown bark that exfoliates as the plant reaches maturity. In July, usually well in advance of C. alnifolia, it produces a shower of drooping, 6in long flower panicles that are succeeded by equally appealing seed heads. The Japanese Clethra requires some time to reach it’s potential but is more than worth the wait. 10ft x 10ft. Zone 5.
Conradina verticillata Evergreen shrub Full sun Cumberland Rosemary The true Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is not reliably hardy in the Northeast, so we offer Conradina in its place. It has very fragrant, needlelike, silvery green foliage that resembles that of Rosemary, and lavender, Snapdragon-like flowers in late spring. Its habit is low and spreading, each plant forming a dense, evergreen mound. Like Rosemary, Conradina requires excellent drainage, thriving in poor, sandy soil and tolerating drought. It flowers best in full sun and looks terrific flowing over the edge of a retaining wall. 1ft x 2ft. Zone 5.
Cornus Deciduous shrub/Deciduous tree Full sun to part shade Dogwood The Dogwoods are highly ornamental trees and shrubs that offer some combination of the following: showy flowers, attractive foliage, handsome bark, and colorful fruit. We offer a long list of Kousa Dogwood cultivars, plus the red-twigged C. alba ‘Siberian Pearls’ and a yellow-twigged selection of C. sericea, the Red Osier Dogwood.
NEW C. alba ‘Siberian Pearls’. This shrubby, suckering Dogwood is grown primarily for its iridescent red bark. When the leaves come down in fall, it becomes one of the most prominent plants in the landscape, its naked stems glowing red hot in winter sunlight. It works well in a mixed border, but is most effective when massed on a south- or west-facing bank. The cultivar name refers to the fruit, which would be ornamental if the birds didn’t gulp it down so quickly. Upright habit, arching with age. Size in 10 years: 8–10ft x 5–10ft.
Cornus kousa – Kousa Dogwood The Kousa Dogwood, which is native to Japan, Korea, and China, has grown rapidly in popularity as our native Flowering Dogwood has suffered at the hands of a variety of pests and diseases. It is a stately small tree that grows to a height of 20–30ft. In youth, it has a distinct vase shape, but as it matures, it becomes more rounded, with strong horizontal branching. Its moment of glory comes in early summer, when star-shaped, creamy white bracts all but obscure the deep green foliage. The nondescript true flowers come and go quickly, but the showy bracts persist for several weeks despite summer heat, turning pink with age. As if this weren’t enough, the Kousa Dogwood also has attractive ball-shaped red fruit, reddish purple fall color, and handsome bark that begins to exfoliate as the tree matures. Kousa Dogwoods flower best in full sun (or light shade) and require well-drained, acid soil. They are resistant to the pests and diseases that plague the Flowering Dogwood. Height, except as noted: 20–30ft. Zone 5.
C. k. var. chinensis ‘Milky Way’. Plants bearing this name have especially large and abundant floral bracts. They look as though they have been caught in a very late blizzard. Fruit set is often heavy. Size and habit are the same as the species. Makes an outstanding lawn tree. Also useful for softening the corner of a house or office building.
C. k. ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’. This cultivar was selected by Environmentals founder Jim Cross among seedlings at Lustgarten Nurseries. It has a graceful weeping form and a lovely winter silhouette. A striking specimen plant. Size after 12 years: 7ft x 5ft.
C. k. ‘Gold Star’. A lovely gold-and-green variegated selection. Each leaf has a prominent gold blaze. Protection from afternoon sun helps preserve the golden coloring. In fall, the foliage turns attractive shades of green, gold, and mahogany. Grows slowly to the size of a large shrub. Perfect for small landscapes. Height: 12ft.
NEW C. k. Heart Throb® (‘Schmred’). PP #9283. The reddest of all of the Kousas we’ve seen—the bracts open reddish to rose-pink and darken with age. The “flowers” are also very large, measuring almost 4in across. Wonderful deep green foliage. A mature specimen has a wide, rounded head.
C. k. ‘Lustgarten Weeping’. A sister plant to ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’. It weeps even more strongly and must be grafted to a standard to keep it up off the ground. We graft plants on standards as low as 2ft and as high as 5ft. After 12–15 years, they form wide domes 6–8ft wide.
C. k. ‘Orton Variegated’. A slow-growing cultivar whose leaves are often (but not always) streaked with white. It has an upright habit and grows just 6ft x 4ft.
C. k. ‘Satomi’. This is as close to a true pink Kousa Dogwood as you’ll find. The bracts start out cream flushed with pink, and as they mature, the pink grows in intensity, approaching red before they fall. The plant has a well-branched, upright habit. Requires full sun for darkest pink bract color. 15ft x 7ft.
C. k. ‘Summer Stars’. An especially long-blooming cultivar. The creamy bracts can persist for up to 10 weeks, often holding until the fruit shows. The dark green foliage generally turns a handsome burgundy in fall. 10ft x 6ft.
C. k. ‘Wolf Eyes’. This recent introduction has attractively variegated leaves, which are gray-green with a broad white edge. The foliage is supposed to be less prone to scorching in dry conditions than that of other variegated cultivars. Fall color is an excellent pinkish red. This plant grows slowly, becoming a rounded shrub. It has strong possibilities as a foundation plant or as an accent plant in a shrub border. 6ft x 6ft.
C. sericea ‘Silver and Gold’. A variegated, yellow-twigged selection of the Red Osier Dogwood with smooth yellow stems and bright cream-and-green foliage. The yellow twigs add color to the winter landscape and complement early-spring bloomers such as Rhododendron ‘PJM’. The variegated foliage provides summer interest. Plants are low growing and stoloniferous. They make stunning accent plants in shrub and mixed borders. 4ft x 6ft. Zone 3.
Corokia cotoneaster Evergreen shrub Full sun Here’s an interesting evergreen shrub for the avid plant collector. It has wildly contorted and bent branches, which bear tiny, spatulate leaves of bronze-green that persist through winter. In late spring or early summer, sweetly scented, star-shaped yellow flowers appear. They are sometimes followed by cherrylike orange or red fruits. Corokia needs sun and well-drained soil and tolerates salty air. If conditions suit it, it will eventually achieve a height of 5–8ft with a similar spread. Like many natives of New Zealand, its tolerance of cold is limited, but it does fine in Zone 7 if planted in a protected site.
Corylopsis Deciduous shrub Full sun to part shade Winterhazel A small genus of graceful deciduous shrubs native to the Far East. They are valued for their early display of fragrant yellow flowers, which open in pendulous clusters in late March, well before the leaves emerge. They require evenly moist but well-drained, acid soil and flower well in full sun or partial shade. Winterhazels can be used in the shrub border, along foundations, or at the edge of woods. They are especially effective when they have an evergreen background to show off their glowing yellow flowers. Lovely underplanted with blue-flowered bulbs such as Chionodoxa.
C. pauciflora. Buttercup Winterhazel. This species has a neat, bushy, compact habit that makes it useful where space is tight. Its early-spring flowers, which remind us of popcorn, are a lovely primrose yellow, and they have a light sweet scent. The small, serrated leaves are a beautiful blend of pink, green, and amber as they emerge, turning a pleasing light green for summer. 3ft x 3ft. Zone 6.
C. spicata. The Spike Winterhazel grows a bit faster than its cousin and has a more open habit. Its pale yellow flowers are also larger and more numerous and to some noses, more fragrant. The broad, oval foliage is a rich purple as it unfurls and an attractive blue-green in summer. 4ft x 4ft. Zone 5.
Corylus avellana ‘contorta’ Deciduous shrub Full sun Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick The European Filbert or Hazelnut is generally grown for its tasty nuts, but not this one. ‘Contorta’, better known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, has beautifully twisted and contorted weeping branches that are particularly striking when dusted with snow. In late winter, 2–3in long, yellowish brown catkins appear, dangling like ornaments from the wiry skeleton. They are followed by broad, fuzzy, droopy leaves that turn yellow before they drop in late fall. Mr. Lauder’s Walking Stick needs full sun and well-drained but evenly moist soil. It is not picky about pH. Use this unusual shrub as an accent in a shrub border or as a specimen near a walk or entryway. Its lovely, twisted branching is most striking when illuminated against an evergreen backdrop. Height: 6–8ft. Zone 4.
Cotinus Deciduous shrub Full sun Smoketree, Smokebush A small group of deciduous shrubs or small trees that gets its common names from the smoky pink flower panicles that appear at the tips of the branches in early summer and remain attractive for many weeks. We offer two selections of C. coggygria that are grown more for their colorful foliage than for their flowers. They thrive in full sun and any well-drained soil, and they tolerate drought (once established). Left unpruned, they can grow quite large, forming upright, spreading, multistemmed shrubs. An annual hard pruning in late winter or early spring, will result in an exceptionally handsome thicket but prevents the appearance of “smoke” in summer. Zone 5.
NEW C. coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’. PP #13,082. A recent introduction from Holland that has brilliant golden yellow foliage. In fall, it turns bright shades of coral, orange, and red. Striking with the dark purple of ‘Velvet Cloak’. It needs full sun for best color (the foliage turns green in shade). Even soil moisture prevents leaf scorch. 8ft x 7ft.
C. c. ‘Velvet Cloak’. Outstanding deep purple foliage that holds its color all through summer, drawing the eye like a magnet. ‘Velvet Cloak’ makes a stunning lawn specimen or a bold accent plant for the shrub or mixed border. Three magnificent specimens can be viewed at Longwood gardens. 10ft x 10ft.
Cotoneaster Deciduous shrub/Evergreen shrub/Evergreen ground cover Full sun A very useful group of shrubs that offer attractive, Boxwood-like foliage and beautiful fall berries. Some are deciduous, others evergreen. The deciduous kinds often produce striking and long-lasting fall foliage displays to accompany their colorful fruit. Cotoneasters come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but we prefer the low, mounded or prostrate cultivars. They are terrific edging plants, whether in a border or along a walk (where their twiggy branches soften stone, concrete, or brick). They make dense ground covers that thrive on steep banks where mowing is difficult or impossible. And they also look great meandering over and around stones in a rock garden. Cotoneasters need abundant sunshine to fuel their vibrant fall foliage and fruit displays, but they’ll grow in almost any well-drained soil and are remarkably drought tolerant. All are hardy to Zone 5, except as noted.
Deciduous Cotoneasters C. adpressus ‘Little Gem’. This compact beauty forms a dense, broad dome. In fall, the tiny, glossy, dark green foliage slowly turns scarlet, just a few leaves at a time. They sparkle in clear autumn sunlight as if they were, yes, little gems. A great choice for a rock garden or as an edging for a sunny border. Fruit production is sparse. 18in x 3ft
C. horizontalis ‘Perpusillus’. (C. perpusillus.) A low-growing form with the fishbone branching pattern that is typical of the species. The foliage is a glossy dark green in summer, taking on reddish purple tones before dropping late in fall. The fruits are bright red and abundant. Size after many years: 1ft x 5–7ft.
C. h. ‘Variegatus’. The dark green leaves have a fine white edge, which adds a bit of sparkle. In fall, they turn varying shades of pink, blue, and gray, providing a unique play of color that carries over a long distance. On top of all this, ‘Variegatus’ has the usual crop of bright red berries. Plants form a flat-topped mound. Different, attractive, and very useful. 2ft x 5–7ft.
Evergreen Cotoneasters NEW C. dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’. Abundant white flowers in April are succeeded by a heavy crop of coral-red fall fruit on this low, spreading shrub. The foliage is a rich glossy green that may take on maroon tones in winter. Makes an excellent ground cover and looks terrific cascading over a wall or creeping onto a walk. 1ft x 3–6ft.
C. d. ‘Mooncreeper’. This cultivar forms a mat of glossy green leaves that take on purple tones in winter. The fall berries are bright red. ‘Mooncreeper’ hugs the ground but spreads broadly, the branches rooting where they touch soil. A handsome and effective ground cover. Height: 3–6in.
C. d. ‘Streib’s Findling’. (C. procumbens.) A creeping ground cover with tiny dark green leaves. It puts on a good show of little white flowers, which become vibrant red fruits in fall. Height: 4–6in.
C. microphyllus ‘Teulon Porter’. This prostrate spreader makes a plush, dark green mat. Its leaves are very small and very fine. They are interspersed with scarlet fruits in autumn. 6in x 3ft.
C. m. var. thymifolius. (C. linearifolius.) Narrow, glossy, deep green leaves line the stiff branches of this low, spreading plant. The scarlet berries ripen in fall. A good choice for the rock garden. 12in x 21/2ft.
C. salicifolius ‘Repens’ Large Leaf Form. The foliage of this plant is long and narrow, resembling that of a Willow. Its color is a lustrous dark green, taking on burgundy tones in winter. An abundant crop of bright red fruit appears below the leaves in fall and persists until spring. As its name suggests, ‘Repens’ has a low, spreading habit and wispy, arching branches. It looks beautiful in groups or cascading over walls. 1ft x 5ft. Zone 6.
C. s. ‘Repens’ Small Leaf Form. As above, but the foliage is smaller and narrower and more obviously pointed. It gives the plant a finer texture, which is desirable in locations where the plant will be viewed at close range. 1ft x 5ft. Zone 6.
Cryptomeria Conifer Full sun to part shade Japanese Cedar The lone species in this genus is an evergreen conifer with fine, curved needles that are green in summer and take on striking bronze or purplish tones in winter. In the wild, the Japanese Cedar grows to 100ft or more, but as is often the case with conifers, there is an abundance of compact cultivars, some of them downright tiny. All thrive in full sun or light shade and rich, moist (but well-drained), acid soil. They are reliably hardy through Zone 6 (some perhaps into Zone 5) but require a location protected from desiccating winter winds. The growth rates provided (miniature, dwarf, intermediate, large) are those defined by the American Conifer Society.
C. japonica ‘Black Dragon’. Dwarf. The foliage of this handsome selection has the unusual habit of darkening as the season progresses. It starts out light green and slowly turns a deep black-green. Makes a nice foil for bright colors. Plants have a compact, pyramidal form. 3ft x 3ft.
C. j. ‘Compressa’. Miniature. A very compact, globe-shaped conifer with densely layered vertical branches. Its needles are a dark green (blue-green inside the plant), turning deep reddish bronze in winter. This rare and choice plant is ideal for bonsai or rock garden use. Grows about 2in per year. 20in x 15in.
C. j. ‘Elegans Nana’. Dwarf. A dense, spreading cultivar that forms an asymmetrical mound. The fine-textured juvenile foliage is green in summer, reddish brown in winter. 1ft x 3ft.
C. j. ‘Globosa Nana’. Dwarf. The foliage is quite similar to the towering species but is carried thickly on a low, broad, rounded form that grows just a fraction of the size. The leaves are medium green in summer and soft blue-green in winter. This is a very attractive cultivar that is not to be confused with ‘Globosa’, which is smaller and turns an unpalatable rust red in winter. Mature size: 6ft x 6–8ft.
C. j. ‘Sekkan-sugi’. Intermediate. An upright form with striking pale yellow new growth that seems to weigh down the branch tips. The tree looks as though it’s still wet after a golden shower. In summer, the foliage turns bright green. Height: 6–8ft.
C. j. ‘Tansu’. Miniature. This cultivar forms a broadly pyramidal shrub with fine, bright green needles that turn deep reddish green in winter. It is well suited to a rock garden. Also makes a lovely accent in a Japanese garden. 1ft x 2ft.
C. j. ‘Tenzan-sugi’. Miniature. An extremely slow-growing plant; it grows no more than 1/2in per year. It forms a very congested bun consisting of tiny, light green foliage. This is the slowest growing Cryptomeria we’ve seen. We don’t know how large it will get, but our best guess at 10–12years is 8in x 1ft.
C. j. ‘Vilmoriniana’. Miniature. Similar in size and shape to ‘Compressa’, but the foliage is light green in spring, dark green in summer, and has a reddish purple cap in winter. Its habit is a bit more open. Whatever your color preferences, these two shrubs make handsome and highly ornamental plants. 20in x 15in.
C. j. ‘Yoshino’. Large. Forms an imposing, cone-shaped conifer, like the species, but its summer foliage is a bright blue-green. In winter, the needles take on bronze tones (plants in sheltered locations stay green). An outstanding lawn tree or screen. Mature height: 30–40ft or more.
Cytisus Evergreen shrub Full sun Scotch Broom Europeans make frequent use of Brooms, but most American gardeners and landscapers, while familiar with the name, have never laid eyes on one. We’re very fond of Brooms and believe they deserve wider use in this country. Their chief assets are their drop-dead display of fragrant pea-shaped flowers (the plants become quite literally fountains of bloom in late May or early June) and their tolerance—indeed, preference—for poor, dry, sandy soils, which are quite common near the sea. Brooms produce masses of slender, grass green stems that arch outward to give the plants a broad, rounded shape. They can be massed to create a blaze of color, or they can be used as an exclamation point in a perennial border, along a fence, or behind a mailbox. The flowers are excellent for cutting, and bloom is so heavy that you can fill a vase without marring the display. Brooms need full sun and occasional pruning, and that’s about it. Zone 5.
C. ‘Bicolor Red’. We selected this hybrid for its striking burgundy-and-pink flowers. Be prepared to field questions from customers when this beauty blooms. Height: 6–8ft.
NEW C. ‘Carla’. This large-flowered cultivar combines ruby-red, pink, and white to delicious effect. We planted a pair in urns for our garden party in 2002, and everybody wanted to buy them. Height: 5–7ft.
C. ‘Cottage’. A dwarf Broom that’s perfect for a small garden. It bears loads of pale, creamy yellow flowers on stems that grow to just 2ft.
C. decumbens. A prostrate species for the rock garden or the edge of a sunny shrub border. Also makes an effective ground cover. It forms a thick mat of twiggy stems that disappear under a wave of bright gold flowers in May. Grows 6–10in tall and spreads many times as wide.
C. ‘Hollandia’. This award-winning cultivar has bicolor flowers of cerise and cream. Height 6–8ft.
C. hybrid I-70. Stunning yellow flowers with a dark rust center. This is our selection, and, no, we didn’t name it after an Interstate. We’ve been too busy propagating it to give it a proper name. Suggestions welcome. Height: 6–8ft.
C. x kewensis. This hybrid was raised at Kew gardens in England in 1891 but remains almost unknown in this country. It makes a low spreading plant with long, sprawling stems, so it makes a good ground cover. In May, it covers itself with a mass of cream-colored flowers. 12–18in x 4–6ft.
C. ‘Lilac Time’. A compact hybrid with pretty lilac-pink flowers. Height: 4ft.
C. ‘Lucky’. We selected this plant for its large, multicolored flowers, which blend orange, yellow, and pink. From a distance, they look peach. Height: 5–7ft.
C. ‘Madame Butterfly’. Another of our selections. Its large flowers are a glowing yellow. A vigorous, upright grower. Height: 6–8ft. |
