Mackenzie & Eric
South side: Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’ This deciduous shrub is noted for its very early flowering time. wispy habit, and golden leaves. In late March and early April, before its leaves have unfurled, its slender branches are covered with dazzling white flowers borne in numerous clusters. Its feathery leaves emerge gold and gradually change to bright green, creating a pleasing contrast with other, more stolid shrubs. In autumn its leaves turn bright orange and remain on the plant almost until Christmas in some years. Plant Height (10-year): 3 ft. 6 in. Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 3 ft. 6 in. Plant Height/Width-Mature: 5 ft. 0 in. This small spirea prefers full sun to light or open shade. Plant it in rich moist to well-drained soil, although it will tolerate clay if the drainage is adequate. Provide regular water to this small shrub to keep it looking its best through the summer. A few older stems can be pruned to the ground immediately after flowering every year. Alternatively, cut the entire shrub back to six to eight inches tall after it blooms every three or four years and allow it to regrow. Plant Width-Mature: 5 ft. 0 in.
Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' - Autumn fern . An easy-to-grow evergreen fern that features bronzy-red new growth. upright young fronds contrast nicely with the glossy, dark green mature fronds. The overall effect is quite colorful throughout the growing season, with coloration more pronounced in bright light conditions.
South end of bed: Bombshell Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata 'Bombshell' A petite form that is well branched producing an abundance of flowers that are just about non-stop from Summer to Fall. The tidy habit is covered with white flowers and backed by green foliage. Little if any pruning is required to maintain its elegant shape. Fast grower to 2-3 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide. Partial sun Water regularly to maintain wet or evenly moist soil - weekly or more.
Helleborus x sternii (or Wester Flisk) HYBRID HELLEBORE. This hybrid hellebore is the product of two great parents. Corsican hellebore brings somewhat coarse blue-green foliage, green flowers and cold hardiness to the match, while Helleborus lividus (from Majorca) is a cold-tender, compact grower with lovely burgundy stalks and flowers. It is compact with beautiful, blue-green leaves set off by burgundy stalks. Its flower buds are flushed with deep red and open in late winter to reveal their chartreuse interiors. The flowers are held on strong stalks and last well, looking good into late spring. Evergreen perennial Plant Height (10-year): 2 ft. 6 in. Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 2 ft. 0 in.
ANNA'S RED HELLEBORE Red-violet flowers and new bronzy green foliage marbled with vibrant pink makes ‘Anna’s Red’ a magnificent harbinger of spring in the winter garden. As the flowers mature they deepen to a burgundy-red and the pink veins on the leathery leaves matures to a cream remaining attractive through the coming seasons. Full sun/shade .9' x 2'
Carex flagellifera 'Toffee Twist' BRONZE SEDGE Evergreen Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial Finely textured mounds of bronze foliage work well in containers, as edging, or as groundcover. Evergreen and easy care. Growing Conditions Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10 Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun Water Needs: Drought-tolerant, Average Description Size: 18 - 24 tall x 18 - 24 wide Shape / Form: Clumping Foliage Texture: Fine Foliage Quality: Flowing / Movement, Grass-like Features: Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Winter Interest, Year-round Interest Foliage Color: Bronze / Copper, Brown / Chocolate Uses and Applications Landscape Uses: Container, Edging, Groundcover, Hell Strip, Lawn Alternative Special Situations: Deer Resistant Wildlife: Deer Resistant More Design Considerations Season of Interest: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Year-round Interest, Three Seasons of Interest Plant Behavior: Clumping Collections: Plants That Earn Their Keep Care and Maintenance Maintenance Level: medium
North side: Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ Sundance Mexican orange is a handsome evergreen shrub with luminous golden foliage that lights up the garden even in -especially in -winter. Clusters of white sweet-smelling star-shaped blossoms, similar to orange blossoms (thus the common name), fill the garden with fragrance in spring, and then again in fall, with sporadic blooms all summer. On a practical note, with attractive foliage filled out all the way to the ground, Mexican orange is an ideal candidate for narrow foundation planting beds and is easily kept beneath window height.
Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Variegata' VARIEGATED PURPLE MOOR GRASS Deciduous Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial Small to medium-sized ornamental grass with white variegated foliage. Great as part of a mixed border or is lovely planted en masses as a groundcover. Growing Conditions Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun Water Needs: Average, Regular / Even Description Size: 24 - 36 tall x 18 - 24 wide Shape / Form: Clumping Foliage Texture: Fine Foliage Quality: Airy / Frothy, Flowing / Movement, Grass-like Features: Attractive Foliage, Fall Color, Long Blooming, Low Maintenance Foliage Color: Ivory / Cream, Variegated, White Bloom Season: Summer, Fall, Jul, Aug, Sep Uses and Applications Landscape Uses: Beds and Borders, Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Small Gardens Special Situations: Courtyard / Urban Garden, Deer Resistant, Once-a-Year Maintenance Wildlife: Deer Resistant
Fuchsia ‘Dying Embers’ HARDY FUCHSIA Hummingbird paradise! Smaller flowers with dark red, lacquered sepals and a rich aubergine (eggplant-colored) corolla, but borne in profusion from summer until frost. 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and about the same in width during the growing season with colorful flowering beginning in early summer until frost before going dormant for the winter.
Asarum europaeum EUROPEAN WILD GINGER. European wild ginger has distinctive, glossy dark green, kidney-shaped leaves and grows as a tight and compact groundcover. This wild ginger is ideal for deep shade and can tolerate dry conditions once established. Its slow growth will keep it from taking over and overwhelming smaller plants in the shade garden. evergreen Plant Height (10-year): 0 ft. 6 in. Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 1 ft. 0 in. Sun/Light Exposure: open to deep shade Water Requirements: occasional watering to drought tolerant when established Great Color Contrasts: silver, white Great Color Partners: green, brown, bronze
Firepower Heavenly Bamboo Nandina domestica 'Firepower' One of the best coloring nandinas! New foliage has fresh green coloration, with red highlights as it ages. Brilliant red foliage develops in the fall and persists through winter. Neat, low evergreen mounds are terrific for borders, massing and containers. Requires little care and no pruning. Full sun/part sun. Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers. 30 in. tall and wide. Plant as a single specimen in smaller gardens and courtyards, where its color provides a focal point or accent. Use in clusters for a powerful presence in more spacious landscapes. Perfect as a lacy overhang that won't b...
‘Lemon Lime’ Nandina Finally, a Nandina for those of you who don't want red in your gardens! Lemon Lime has chartreuse new foliage that fades to a nice green, and will not turn red, even over the winter. Feature Bright lime green new foliage Special Features Deer Resistant, Disease / Pest Resistance, Easy Care, Water-wise Landscape Use Border, Container, Cut Flowers/Foliage, Garden Bed, Hedge, Mass planting, Slope Exposure Full sun to part shade Dimensions 3-4 ft H x 3-4 ft W Plant Type Evergreen
Brachyglottis greyi - Daisy Bush One of our absolute favorite 'ever-silver' shrubs! Glistening mounds of persistent, felted white foliage with fashionably 'crimped' edges…3' tall and eventually 4-5' wide (you can keep it smaller), looks great all year. A fine contrast for the shrub garden or the border – also keen in the Mediterranean Garden! Drought tolerant, deer resistant. Yellow daisies in summer (I remove them…but this a personal problem with yellow daisies on an otherwise dignified shrub). Easy, fast, fudge free! Rarely offered!
The citrus lemon-yellow blades edged in green add a refreshing zest even in the winter garden. Neat habit is perfect for container planting. Colorful year-round, the flowing arching mounds of Carex Eversheen is perfectly suited for shade but can handle some sun in cooler climates. A pleasing addition to any spot as it bends and sways with the warm summer breezes. A nice edger.
All Gold' Japanese Hakone Grass Hakonechloa macra EXPOSURE PART SHADE TO SHADE The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). MATURE SIZE 14" 24" Height 9 - 14" Spread 18 - 24" This plant is hardy in zones 5 - 9 A vigorously growing, all gold version of the Hakone grass. A cascading habit makes it perfect for the landscape or container. Spreads slowly through rhizomes Plant Type: Perennial Height Category: Short Garden Height: 9 - 14 Inches Spacing: 18 - 24 Inches
Abies nordmanniana 'Hunnewell' HUNNEWELL NORDMANN FIR Evergreen Conifer, Shrub Hunnewell Nordmann fir is a slow growing dwarf conifer and forms a compact bun. Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade Water Needs: Average Description Size: 18 - 24 tall x 24 - 30 wide Shape / Form: Compact, Irregular, Mounding Foliage Texture: Fine Features: Attractive Foliage, Dwarf / Compact Plant, Low Maintenance, Winter Interest, Year-round Interest Foliage Color: Blue, Green, Silver / Gray Uses and Applications Landscape Uses: Container, Mixed Border, Small Gardens, Specimen, Structure / Foundation Special Situations: Courtyard / Urban Garden
Magic Daydream Abelia A total knockout, from the glossy, green and white variegated foliage with a pink splash to the large, fragrant blooms that change color from white to pink. Use in shrub borders, mixed containers or as a single potted specimen on a balcony or terrace. Evergreen. Moderate growing; reaches 2 ft. tall and wide.
Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty' (box honyesuckle) One of the best new, small shrubs in years! A mere 3' high and wide…arching branches outfitted in bright yellow and green leaves that are evergreen sparkle all year – takes full sun and moderate shade (but needs good light to keep it's brilliance) – not fussy about soils – minimal care – easy – eventually you may have some fragrant flowers but don't hold your breath…this is a FOLIAGE plant!
Hebe 'Karo Golden Esk' Bright green leaves are scaly and have a ferny or coniferous appearance. White flowers in summer are on old wood and can be hidden by leaves, but we this Hebe is all about the foliage, so it's okay. Grows wider than tall, 2' x 3'. Sun, mostly shade. Well-drained, drought tolerant.
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’ DWARF HINOKI CYPRESS No garden should be without a dwarf selection of Hinoki cypress and this is one of the best. ‘Nana’ is a very slow-growing cultivar. Its dark green branchlets twist tightly and flatten into small overlapping fans, forming what look like little green cups. Even old plants rarely reach heights over 2 feet tall. ‘Nana’ and ‘Nana Gracilis’ are often confused in the trade. Both are outstanding conifers and differ mainly in height. Look carefully at nursery plants to evaluate their compactness. FS/LSH
Brunnera This is one of the best perennials to brighten the woodland garden. The large, heart-shaped, silver leaves are laced with green veins, producing an eye-catching effect. From late winter to early spring, delicate sprays of azure blue flowers—reminiscent of forget-me-nots—appear. Like all Brunnera, this is easy to grow and forms a full, vigorous clump. It’s also slug resistant—a bonus in the woodland garden
Little Heath Pieris Pieris japonica 'Little Heath'. A neat, compact shrub with a yellow-green variegation on the margins of the gray-green leaves; new leaves are pink. Showy clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers add to the beauty in spring. Great for use as a low hedge, foundation plant, or container plant. This is a perfect little plant for sheltered gardens needing solid foundational shrubs. Works well on north side of house or in areas influenced by buildings and tree shade. A natural in the acidic conditions beneath conifers and hardwoods. A beautiful light plant for the dappled shade of woodland gardens where greens tend to fade into darkness.Evergreen. Filtered sun, Partial shade, Partial sun. Slow growing; reaches 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide.
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