New and Featured Plants

from Pleasant Run Nursery

With so many options available in the world of horticulture, we find it helpful to be reminded of choices which offer us out-of-the-ordinary characteristics. At Pleasant Run Nursery, we search out those plants which we think are special, with the aim of increasing landscape diversity and adaptability. We will change this list often, because there's no such thing as too many choices, and we want to share our enthusiasm for underutilized, landscape-worthy plants with you.

Buddleia davidii 'Miss Ruby'

'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii 'Miss Ruby' is about as close to red as a Buddleia gets. Since it is a cross with B. 'White Ball', its habit is more compact than its other parent, B. 'Attraction'. Developed by Dr. Dennis Werner of the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Buddleia davidii 'Miss Ruby'

Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'

'Blue Zinger' Glaucous Sedge
Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' has beautiful grey-blue foliage that is similar in color to Festuca 'Elijah Blue', but 'Blue Zinger' is much more tolerant of different sites, going from shade to full sun. It spreads rapidly to make a good tight groundcover.
Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'

Ceanothus x pallidus Marie Bleu™('Minmari')

Ceanothus x pallidus Marie Bleu is a breakthrough in blue-flowering Ceanothus that is hardy enough to survive in the Northeast. Soft fluffy blue flowers appear in late Spring on a compact, clean-foliaged plant. Developed by Minier Nursery of France and long awaited by those who love these blue plants on the West Coast.

Ceanothus x pallidus Marie Bleu™('Minmari')

Cercis yunnanensis 'Celestial Plum'

Yunnan Redbud
Yunnan Redbud has bright plum-pink flowers in April covering the stems, followed by lustrous heart-shaped leaves. It makes an attractive, hard-to-find shrub. It was introduced by the JC Raulston Arboretum of Raleigh, NC (like so many other note-worthy plants).
Cercis yunnanensis 'Celestial Plum'

Clerodendrum tricotomum

Harlequin Glorybower
The very fragrant white flowers in Summer of Harlequin Glorybower are followed by striking bright blue fruits in red calyxes. Becomes a large suckering shrub. The only non-tropical member of a beautiful family.
Clerodendrum tricotomum

Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta'

Compact Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta' is the most compact of the Summersweets. This fragrant white flowered beauty was found and introduced by a great nurseryman of our area, Tom Dilatush. We've been waiting a long time to get our hands on this plant and to top it off, it won a P.H.S. Gold Medal for 2010! Wet site and salt tolerant.
Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta'

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono'

'Akebono' Paper Bush
The deeply fragrant clumps of tubular flowers on Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono' are orange and bloom for a long time in late Winter. Foliage is tropical looking in Summer. Put it in a sheltered spot where you'll be sure to smell the fragrance in Winter.
Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono'

Gentiana clausa

Closed Gentian
Closed Gentian has cobalt blue purse-like blooms that appear on the tips of the stems in September. Lustrous green foliage and wet site tolerant.
Gentiana clausa

Hamamelis virginiana 'Little Suzie'

'Little Suzie' Common Witchhazel
The fragrant sulfur-yellow flowers of Hamamelis virginiana 'Little Suzie' appear in Fall on a very compact dark green plant. Fall color is yellow and it drops its leaves well so that flowers are more visible. Found and introduced by our esteemed nursery colleague, Harald Neubauer of Hidden Hollow Nursery in Tennessee in honor of his wife, Suzie. Salt tolerant.
Hamamelis virginiana 'Little Suzie'

Helianthus angustifolius 'Low Down'

'Low Down' Swamp Sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius 'Low Down' are covered with bright yellow flowers in September and October. In referring to its short stature, Dr. Allan Armitage refers to it "as if someone sprayed the species with pixie dust."

Helianthus angustifolius 'Low Down'

Heucherella x 'Burnished Bronze'

'Burnished Bronze' Foamy Bells
Bronzy-chocolate foliage shows off the pink flower spikes beautifully in Spring. A tough, versatile cross between Heuchera and Tiarella, with the strengths of both parents. Reblooms intermittently in Summer.
Heucherella x 'Burnished Bronze'

Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball™ ('Abetwo')

Incrediball™ Smooth Hydrangea
The very large white mophead flowers of Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball™ appear in June and July. Flowers age to a lovely chartreuse-green before turning tan, and are great in dried arrangements.
Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball™ ('Abetwo')

Hydrangea macrophylla Mini Penny™

Mini Penny™ Big Leaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla Mini Penny is a smaller version of Dr. Dirr's reblooming 'Penny Mac' with blue/pink mophead flowers all summer over leathery green leaves. Good foliage disease resistance and salt tolerance.

Hydrangea macrophylla Mini Penny™

Hydrangea paniculata 'Big Ben'

'Big Ben' Hardy Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Big Ben' is a new selection from Pieter Zwijnenburg Jr., with very large, somewhat open panicles and showy red stems. The flowers progress from white to a good rose-pink and are produced from August through September.
Hydrangea paniculata 'Big Ben'

Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom'

'Phantom' Hardy Hydrangea
The enormous white panicles of Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom' look like H.'Limelight' on steroids. Blooming from late July through September, the huge flower heads start out ivory and progress to white with yellow tips. Another wonderful contribution from Pieter Zwijnenburg Jr. of Holland.
Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom'

Iris germanica 'Harvest of Memories'

'Harvest of Memories' German Bearded Iris
The large bright yellow flowers of 'Harvest of Memories' German Bearded Iris appear in May and June, with the addition of reliable Fall blooms. An amazing flower to see in October!
Iris germanica 'Harvest of Memories'

Koelreuteria paniculata 'Coral Sun'

'Coral Sun' Golden Rain Tree
'Coral Sun' Golden Rain Tree is a recent introduction from Holland. The new foliage on this small tree is an amazing mix of orange and red, maturing to a medium green, with bright yellow flower panicles in mid-Summer. Papery seed capsules, like little Chinese lanterns, add to its late Summer and Fall interest.
Koelreuteria paniculata 'Coral Sun'

Lobelia cardinalis 'Fried Green Tomatoes'

'Fried Green Tomatoes' Cardinal Flower
'Fried Green Tomatoes' Cardinal Flower has tall tomato-red flowers spikes in August and September. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The foliage is particularly striking, starting as a purple-red rosette in Spring, aging to bronze by late Summer. Loves wet sites.
Lobelia cardinalis 'Fried Green Tomatoes'

Magnolia x 'Rose Marie'

'Rose Marie' Magnolia
Magnolia x 'Rose Marie' has a very large flower that is a bright-rose-pink on the outside and a softer pink on the inside. A product of a cross involving M. 'Daybreak', Rose Marie blooms for an extended period in April and May.
Magnolia x 'Rose Marie'

Magnolia x loebneri 'White Rose'

'White Rose' Magnolia
Magnolia x loebneri 'White Rose' has a great number of white petals that make this fragrant Magnolia look remarkably like its name. A seedling of JC McDaniel's 'Ballerina', it blooms in early April and is followed by bronzy new growth.
Magnolia x loebneri 'White Rose'

Musa acuminata 'Siam Ruby'

'Siam Ruby' Banana
Musa acuminata 'Siam Ruby' has huge leaves that are a brick-red with many green flecks and stripes, making a stunning tropical effect. Lots of sun and moisture will make it grown amazingly in one Summer.
Musa acuminata 'Siam Ruby'

Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke'

'Peggy Clarke' Japanese Apricot
Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke' has deep pink double flowers cover the stems in January and February making an unexpected Winter show. Great for forcing indoors. Dr. JC Raulston loved this plant.
Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke'

Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol'

'Lace Parasol' Winged Elm
Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol' has corky winged twigs that provide Winter interest and small green leaves in Summer make its weeping habit noticeable. The much-missed Dr. JC Raulston listed 'Lace Parasol' as one of his favorite plants.
Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol'