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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 Hamamelis - Witch
Hazel
Hydrangea Hamamelis Deciduous shrub/Deciduous tree Full sun to part shade Witch Hazel A genus of deciduous shrubs and small trees noted for their curiously attractive and often sweetly scented spiderlike flowers, which appear in tight clusters along the stems. The Chinese and Japanese species (and their hybrids) are among the first plants to bloom, unfurling their crinkly, straplike petals on warm days beginning in February and continuing until April. Only the Winter Heaths bloom as early. The cultivars offered below are all large shrubs or small trees. Their habit is vase shaped when young, becoming broad spreading with age. Their somewhat leathery foliage is grayish green, often turning vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet in fall. In full sun or partial shade and evenly moist, acid soil, these plants make excellent lawn specimens and bring early color to woodland gardens and shrub borders. They grow slowly to a height of 15–20ft. Zone 5, except as noted.
H. x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’. Deep yellow flowers with a citrus fragrance. They glow on late-winter days. This is the latest of the cultivars we offer to bloom, usually beginning at the end of February. Fall color is yellow-orange. Introduced by the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
H. x i. ‘Diane’. Brilliant red blooms with a light scent. Especially effective when side- or backlit. The leaves turn a rich orange-red in fall.
H. x i. ‘Jelena’. Dense clusters of rich, coppery orange flowers. One of the largest-flowered forms. The blooms have a faint sweet scent. Fall color is a stunning orange-yellow.
H. x i. ‘Pallida’. Abundant and very fragrant lemon yellow flowers. A very early bloomer. Superb planted against an evergreen backdrop and underplanted with a deep pink Winter Heath. Yellow fall color.
H. mollis ‘Goldcrest’. This is our favorite in this handsome bunch. The long-lasting and strongly scented flowers have twisted petals that are a bright red-orange at the base, yellow at the tip. At a distance, the colors blend to create a delicious cantaloupe shade. Fall color is yellow. A true garden delight. Zone 6.
Hedera Evergreen ground cover/Vine Part shade to shade English Ivy English Ivy (H. helix) and its near relative, Persian Ivy (H. colchica), are handsome evergreen ground covers or clinging vines that tolerate dense shade and less than ideal soil conditions. Unfortunately, the species and many of the cultivars grow so rampantly that they become invasive. We grow the following because they are slow-growing and therefore very well behaved. They’re also highly ornamental and perfectly hardy. Reasonably tolerant of salt spray. Zone 5, except as noted.
NEW H. colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’. Big (4–8in) heart-shaped or triangular leaves, each splashed with a broad patch of soft yellow. They give a trellis, arbor, or tree trunk a lush, tropical look, and the wayward stems can be snipped for use in flower arrangements. This Ivy needs ample sunshine for best foliage color. Hardy through Zone 7 and the warmer half of 6.
H. helix ‘Buttercup’. Pure yellow foliage. Makes a glowing carpet or turns a tree trunk into a golden column.
H. h. ‘Conglomerata’. This cultivar has crinkled and congested, dark green foliage that huddles close to the stems. Very slow growing. Makes a tight mat.
H. h. ‘Goldheart’. (‘Oro di Bogliasco’.) Small, deep green leaves with a gold center. Makes a very handsome and easy-to-grow covering for walls, arbors, fences, trees, and decks. Thrives in shade, where it provides a bit of sparkle.
Helleborus Evergreen ground cover Part shade to shade Hellebore An important group of shade-loving evergreen perennials. They do not spread, but can be massed to form an attractive woodland ground cover. All bloom very early—in March or April—and because the weather is generally cool then, the flowers last a long time. To look their best, Hellebores need shade and moist, well-drained, woodsy soil. If exposed to too much sun and wind in winter, their foliage may “burn.” Damaged leaves should be removed before the flowers emerge, so the leaves don’t detract from the display. Zone 5, except as noted.
H. foetidus. The Bear’s Foot Hellebore forms broad mounds of handsome, deeply cut, dark green leaves. Large clusters of pendant, pale green, bell-shaped flowers, each with a maroon rim, open in April and May. Unlike those of other Hellebores, the flowers appear at the tips of stems produced the preceding summer. Plant along walkways or outside a window where you like to linger. Makes an attractive skirt for a Hamamelis. “Foetidus” means “fetid,” but you’ll have to get down on all fours and put your nose in the flowers to detect any odor. 18–24in x 18–24in.
H. niger. The Christmas Rose is so named because it is often in bloom for Christmas in England. Here, late February or early March is more like it. The cupped flowers are soft white, flushed with pink as they mature, a process that takes several weeks. The fingered foliage is dark blue-green and leathery. 8–12in x 12in. Zone 3.
H. orientalis. (H. x hybridus.) Lenten Rose. This is the workhorse of the group: tough, reliable, adaptable, and colorful. Under ideal conditions, it forms a dense mound of leathery, dark green, serrated leaves. The cupped flowers rise from the ground in late March or early April. They vary in color (plants are raised from seed) from white to pinkish purple to maroon and persist until well into May. Plants often self-sow. 15–18in x 15–18in.
H. o. Royal Heritage Strain. This richly colored seed strain from Wayside Gardens includes lots of burgundy-reds, with an occasional black, purple, or white. The flowers are often spotted. 15–18in x 15–18in.
H. o. White Magic Strain. A seed strain from New Zealand that yields plants with large, clear white flowers that have central clusters of golden stamens. The blooms are shown to advantage by the dark green foliage. 15–18in x 15–18in.
Heptacodium miconioides Deciduous shrub Full sun to part shade Seven Son Flower This deciduous small tree was introduced to the United States just 20 years ago but is already widely appreciated among knowledgeable gardeners for its late-season bloom. Its has handsome, broad, dark green foliage; abundant fragrant clusters of white, starlike flowers in August and September; and a dazzling fall display of purplish red calyxes. Peeling brown and straw-colored bark is the finishing touch. This multistemmed tree grows quickly and has an upright habit, spreading with age. It makes an excellent lawn specimen and is well suited to the border, provided it has plenty of room to develop its best form. Thrives either in full sun or partial shade and in moist but well-drained, acid soil. Mature height: 15–20ft. Zone 5.
Hibiscus Deciduous shrub Full sun Rose of Sharon The Rose of Sharon has long been popular for its large and colorful, bowl-shaped flowers, which begin to open in July and continue on through the better part of September. They are set off by lustrous, dark green, 3-lobed foliage, which is very late to emerge in spring. Plants are generally erect in habit, forming large multistemmed shrubs, though more compact selections (we offer two) can also be found. All require full sun but grow well in any soil that is neither soggy nor excessively dry. They are best planted alone in borders or in small groups and make effective screens or informal tall hedges. Zone 5.
NEW H. syriacus Blue Satin™ (‘Marina’). PPAF. This recent Dutch introduction replaces the old French cultivar ‘Blue Bird’, which is a weak grower and hopelessly mixed up with other blues in the trade. Blue Satin bears 4–5in, single, sky blue flowers with a darker center all through the second half of summer. Plants are vigorous but compact, growing 5–8ft ´ 5–6ft.
NEW H. s. ‘Purpureus Variegatus’. This is the hard-to-find variegated Rose of Sharon. It’s also the slowest-growing selection we’ve ever seen. The creamy white variegation is irregular but prominent, covering up to half of the leaf surface; this plant seems to leap out from surrounding greenery. The flower buds are a rich purple, but for some reason, they never open. That’s fine with us; we love the dots of purple superimposed against the striking foliage. Size in 10 years (based on our observations after two): just 3ft ´ 3ft.
H. s. ‘Snowdrift’. Large (4in) bright white flowers. Long blooming, with a sturdy, upright habit. 8–12ft x 6–10ft.
Hydrangea Deciduous shrub/Vine Full sun to shade A diverse genus of mostly deciduous shrubs and vines that are valued for their large heads of summer flowers. We offer a broad selection of species and cultivars that includes compact and bushy H. arborescens, H. macrophylla, H. serrata, and H. quercifolia; tall and imposing H. paniculata; and the Climbing Hydrangea, H. anomala subsp. petiolaris.
H. anomala subsp. petiolaris. The Climbing Hydrangea is a large woody vine that clings to wood, bark, and masonry with the aid of rootlike holdfasts. It is slow to become established, then grows with amazing vigor, cloaking a tree trunk, a trellis, or a wall with its lovely, exfoliating cinnamon branches and its dark green, heart-shaped foliage. In June, lacy, flat-topped clusters of white flowers appear in abundance. They eventually dry in place, adding an interesting texture to the distinct layered habit of this vine. In fall, the leaves turn a handsome yellow. The Climbing Hydrangea will grow in full sun or shade but needs rich, moist, well-drained soil. Don’t allow it to climb shingle siding. Mature height (or width): 60–80ft. Zone 4.
H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’. A low-growing, suckering shrub with a rounded habit, deep green leaves, and huge heads of creamy white flowers—up to 1ft across. Flowering begins in June and continues into September. As the blooms mature, they turn green, then a tawny brown, remaining attractive all the while. They are excellent for cutting, fresh or dried. This buxom beauty is at her best in partial shade and evenly moist but well-drained soil; she’ll grow in full sun if moisture is ample. Unlike H. macrophylla and H. serrata, ‘Annabelle’ flowers on new wood, so she can (and should) be cut back hard—to 12in—in late winter. Feed heavily at the same time, then stand back: despite the heavy pruning, a mature plant will grow 5ft x 6ft in one growing season. Zone 4. Hydrangea macrophylla An invaluable summer-blooming shrub with a multitude of uses—in woodland gardens, formal gardens, cottage gardens, island beds, and containers. There are a large number of cultivars, all of which can be classified by the way they present their flowers. Hortensia, or Mophead, selections produce dense, globe-shaped heads of showy sterile flowers. Lacecaps bear more delicate, flattened heads of small fertile flowers surrounded by large sterile flowers. The flowers of both kinds are excellent for cutting. Foliage is large, oval in shape, toothed, and medium to dark green in color. Hydrangea macrophylla and its subspecies, varieties, and cultivars are unusual in that flower color is affected by the availability of a key element—aluminum—in the soil (or potting mix). If a plant takes up aluminum, its flowers will be blue; if aluminum is absent or unavailable, the flowers will be pink. Aluminum is generally present in the soils of the Northeast, but its availability is governed by soil pH—the more acid the soil, the more available the aluminum becomes and the bluer the flowers are. In less acid soil (Hydrangea macrophylla grows poorly in alkaline soil), the aluminum is less available and the flower color tends to pink. Hence, it’s possible to adjust the flower color of a plant growing in the landscape by either raising or lowering the soil pH. These Hydrangeas thrive either in full sun or partial shade, but they require evenly moist, well-drained, acid soil that contains plenty of organic matter. They are very tolerant of seaside conditions. They can be pruned immediately after flowering to control size and remove unproductive old stems. Their habit is round and shrubby. Mature size of most cultivars: 4–6ft x 4–8ft. Zone 6, except as noted.
H. m. ‘All Summer Beauty’. Hortensia. A compact selection with flowers that vary from rich blue to pinkish blue according to the pH of the soil. It blooms on new growth as well as the previous season’s wood, so you won’t lose everything in a cold winter. Height: 3–4ft.
H. m. ‘Ayesha’. Hortensia. The flowers of this cultivar are distinct from all the others in this species. They are cupped and have a waxy quality; they resemble the flowers of a Lilac more than they do those of a Hydrangea. They are also lightly fragrant (scent is rare in Hydrangeas). Flower color is strongly affected by soil pH, varying from pale blue through white to pale pink.
H. m. ‘Blue Billows’. Lacecap. This recent introduction is very hardy and shade tolerant: Its parents were found growing on the wooded slope of a Korean mountain. It’s also quite compact, rarely exceeding 3ft in height. Flowers are light blue, turning deep crimson as they age. ‘Blue Billows’ blooms earlier than ‘Blue Wave’ and has nice mahogany fall color. 3ft x 3ft.
H. m. ‘Blue Wave’. Lacecap. A classic French cultivar with flowers that vary from gentian blue to pale pink according to the pH of the soil. It’s a robust grower with leathery dark green leaves. One of the best known and most widely planted of the Lacecap Hydrangeas.
NEW H. m. ‘Domotoi’. Hortensia. Double flowers with overlapping, serrated sepals give the conical flower heads a distinctive texture. Flower color ranges from a delicate pastel blue in extremely acid soil to pale pink in slightly acid soil. Plants are compact. Height: 3–4ft.
NEW H. m. ‘Dooley’. Hortensia. A big, blue mophead cultivar introduced by woody-plant guru Michael Dirr and named after Vince Dooley, the former football coach at the University of Georgia. What sets this plant apart is its ability to produce flower buds along the sides of the stems and not just at the tips. These lateral buds are less prone to injury from late frosts. ‘Dooley’ also produces some of its flowers on the current season’s growth, which extends flower production into fall and allows a plant that has been killed all the way back to the ground in winter to deliver a surprise late-season show.
H. m. ‘Enziandom’. (‘Gentian Dome’.) Hortensia. Full heads of sterile flowers that are a very deep rich blue in strongly acid soil, bright pink in less acid soil. The flowers have white eyes when they first open.
H. m. ‘Forever Pink’. Hortensia. A compact selection with pink flowers that lean to red in cool weather. It blooms on the current season’s growth and holds its color well in all but the most acid soils. Height: 3ft.
H. m. ‘Glowing Embers’. Hortensia. Sumptuous heads of deep pink to dark red are carried above handsome, leathery, dark green foliage. Resistant to “blueing,” even in extremely acid soils. Has a compact habit. 3ft.
NEW H. m. ‘Goliath’. Hortensia. If size matters to you, then you’ll appreciate ‘Goliath’. Its flower heads, which vary according to the soil pH from pastel blue to soft pink, are very big and very full. Happily, they are borne on a plant that is vigorous enough to carry the weight. Size after 8–10 years: 6ft x 6ft.
NEW H. m. ‘Harlequin’. Hortensia. This is the only picotee Hydrangea we know of. The flowers are pinkish red with a thin white margin of pure white. The variegated look of the blooms invests the plant with a sort of visual effervescence that makes it difficult to use in combinations but ideal as a specimen in a setting where it can be viewed close up. It’s also slower growing and more tender than most of the other Hydrangeas we grow. All of this suggests that its ideal use is in containers—on a porch, next to a door, by the pool. 3ft x 3ft. Zone 7.
H. m. ‘Lemon Wave’. Lacecap. A variegated selection with gentian blue flowers. Foliage is green with lemon yellow margins. This is not the most vigorous or hardy of Hydrangeas, but its golden variegation sets it apart. Plant in a protected spot and prune in early spring to reduce the likelihood of winter injury. Zone 7.
NEW H. m. ‘Nightingale’ (‘Nachtigall’). Lacecap. The sterile florets are a mesmerizing blue-purple that is so deep and pure it’s hard to believe it’s real. They are set off by healthy dark green foliage. ‘Nightingale’ is a good grower and a great performer, but it’s more tender than many other cultivars. Zone 7.
H. m. ‘Nikko Blue’. Hortensia. This old and very popular cultivar has bright blue flowers and thick, dark green foliage.
H. m. ‘Pia’. Hortensia. A dwarf with small heads of bright pink to carmine-red flowers, each with a white center. The flower heads dry nicely to a very deep red. Height: just 11/2ft.
H. m. ‘Sister Theresa’ (‘Soeur Thérèse’). Hortensia. Pure white flowers borne in domed heads. Each flower has a tiny blue heart in the center. The white holds for a long time before changing to pink and finally brown. This cultivar is best planted in partial shade. Combine or alternate with ‘Glowing Embers’ or ‘Nikko Blue’.
H. m. ‘Taube’. Lacecap. Very large, dark reddish pink flowers are set off by broad green leaves.
H. m. ‘Tokyo Delight’. Lacecap. Abundant, graceful flower heads composed of tight clusters of pink fertile flowers and showy white sterile flowers. The sterile flowers have a tiny red eye, and they turn bright crimson as they mature. Foliage is mid-green, taking on a purplish red color in fall. Plants are large by the standards of this group, but the flowers make them seem light and delicate.
H. m. ‘Variegata’. Lacecap. This cultivar combines lovely pale blue flowers with leaves that are edged with creamy white. It is less hardy and less vigorous than other Hydrangeas, but it’s worth coddling a bit, for it makes a superb accent. Plant in a protected spot and prune in early spring to reduce the likelihood of winter injury.
Hydrangea paniculata This large, late-blooming species and its cultivars have been planted in American gardens for more than a century and remain widely popular. They have a quaint, old-fashioned look that suits them for use in both town and country, next to houses of a certain age. They are quiet and unobtrusive until mid- or late summer, when they produce loads of huge, pyramidal or rounded heads of white flowers that glow brightly for several weeks before turning pink and eventually light brown. The flower heads are excellent for cutting, fresh or dried. The size of these vigorous shrubs can be controlled by pruning them hard in early spring (they flower on the current season’s wood). Easy to grow in full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Height: 8–12ft. Zone 3.
NEW H. p. Limelight® (‘Zwijnenburg’). PPAF. As the name suggests, the flowers of this recent Dutch selection are not the usual white but a glowing lime green. They are clustered into 6–12in, rounded heads that begin to appear in late July and hold their color until fall, when they turn a delicious deep pink. Not so long ago, a plant with green flowers was almost impossible to sell. Today, green flowers are appreciated, even coveted. Your more sophisticated customers will reward your good taste by snapping up this outstanding new shrub.
H. p. ‘Pink Diamond’. White conical flower heads up to 12in long become bright pink as they mature, then turn a deep shade of rose. Bloom starts in midsummer.
H. p. ‘Tardiva’. As the name suggests, this selection is a late bloomer. Its creamy white, 6–8in long, cone-shaped panicles wait until late summer or early fall to appear. (We usually see color by early August here.) An excellent source of cut flowers, and because the flower heads are more open and delicate, it’s a better choice than other selections for use in a mixed border.
NEW H. p. The Swan™ (‘Barbara’). PPAF. The individual florets that comprise the flower heads of this new Belgian cultivar are very large—as much as five times larger than usual. Because they are pure white, they are very showy, but because the petals (sepals, actually) don’t overlap, they manage to be graceful at the same time. The Swan is striking and distinctive and utterly lovely.
H. p. ‘Webb’s’. An improvement on the venerable PeeGee Hydrangea. Most of the pure white flowers are of the showy sterile variety, and they are presented in large and very uniform moplike heads. These heads are so heavy that they weigh down the branches, giving the shrub a cascading look that is very striking. Bloom begins in late July.
Hydrangea quercifolia – Oakleaf Hydrangea The Oakleaf Hydrangea is well named, for its leaves really do bear a striking resemblance to Oak leaves. They are deep green in summer, then turn marvelous shades of deep red, orange, and purple before falling in autumn to reveal exfoliating cinnamon bark. The Oakleaf Hydrangea is worth growing for its foliage alone, but it also offers handsome, creamy white flowers borne in large pyramidal heads in midsummer. They turn pink and purplish tones with age. This native of the southeastern United States requires cool, moist, rich soil. Its foliage colors best in full sun, but it grows just fine in partial shade. It has an upright habit with a rounded silhouette and makes an excellent choice for the shrub or mixed border. Also appropriate in a woodland setting. Zone 5.
H. quercifolia. The species, in all its elegant simplicity. It spreads slowly by stolons to form small colonies. Mass on an open slope or along the edge of woods. 5ft x 5ft.
H. q. ‘Alison’. A large-flowered form discovered by Michael Dirr on the University of Georgia campus. The 10–12in panicles of white flowers are held erect above foliage of lustrous dark green. Fall color is an intense burgundy red. Height: 6ft.
H. q. ‘Sike’s Dwarf’. A dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea. Perfect where space is at a premium. Grows just 2–21/2ft x 4ft.
H. q. ‘Snowflake’. New sterile florets open on top of older ones, making the flowers look double. They are borne in large (12–15in) flower heads that weigh down the tips of the branches. Height: 5–6ft.
H. q. ‘Snow Queen’. The 6–8in flower heads of this selection from Princeton Nurseries have larger and more abundant sterile florets, which increases their impact in the landscape. They stand upright above attractive, dark green foliage that turns a dark mahogany in fall. 6ft x 6ft.
Hydrangea serrata This species is closely related to H. macrophylla, but its leaves and flowers are smaller and its stems narrower, which means it has grace and elegance that its better known cousins sometimes lack. It marries well with perennials and other shrubs in a mixed border. Growing requirements are the same as for H. macrophylla, but plants are hardier—through Zone 6 and into Zone 5.
H. s. ‘Beni gaku’. Lacecap. The upward-facing, sterile florets open white, then, beginning at the tips, turn rich pink and finally bright red. The evolving display is always enchanting. 4ft x 4ft.
H. s. ‘Bluebird’. Lacecap. The lovely, lacy flowers of this vigorous cultivar are the palest of blues in very acid soil, shifting to pale pink in soils with a pH near neutral. The fertile flowers in the center are darker in color. Foliage turns an attractive coppery red in fall. 5ft x 5ft.
H. s. ‘Preziosa’. Hortensia. This showy, heavy-blooming cultivar grows in beauty as the season progresses. The leaves start out dark green, then turn bronze and ultimately burgundy. They complement dome-shaped flower heads that open cream with pink edges and quickly take on darker pink tones, until they reach red, violet, and finally a very deep wine color. A real knockout and an excellent performer in the landscape. 6ft x 6ft.
Hypericum Evergreen shrub Full sun to part shade St. Johnswort The shrubby Hypericums are valued for their summer displays of bright yellow flowers, their fine blue-green foliage, and their tolerance of dry soils. Most are compact, growing no more than 3 or 4ft tall, so they are useful as edging plants in the shrub border and mix easily with perennials. They can also be massed to produce a bold splash of summer color. Like other summer-blooming shrubs, Hypericums flower on the current season’s growth and can be pruned hard in late winter. The result is more and larger flowers and, in the case of ‘Albury Purple’, more of the colorful new growth. Hypericums flower best in full sun but tolerate partial shade. They require well-drained soil. The following Hypericums are both semievergreen, holding their foliage late into winter.
H. androsaemum ‘Albury Purple’. The purple in the name is found not in the flowers but in the foliage, which looks as though it has been brushed at the tips with deep reddish purple paint. The leaves hold their color until clusters of buttercup-shaped yellow flowers appear in mid- to late summer. The flowers are followed by attractive red fruits, which turn black as they mature and provide winter interest. ‘Albury Purple’ has a low, mounding habit and grows to a height of 2ft. Zone 6.
H. kalmianum. This extremely hardy North American species forms a dense, mounding shrub covered with small, blue-green leaves. In midsummer, showy yellow flowers, up to 11/2in across, open in threes at the tips of the stems. A large grouping of these little shrubs in full bloom glows with all the intensity of the summer sun. Height: 2–3ft. Zone 4. 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
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