Woody Ornamentals

Fragrant Abelia has very fragrant pink tubular flowers with white centers that bloom in May and June. The glossy green foliage turns orangey red in fall. Abelia mosanensis is very hardy and easy to grow.  It is prized for its fragrance and may be used as a hedge.  This species is more winter hardy than other Abelias and that's a good thing because it blooms on old wood. This plant was introduced from Latvia. (New name is Zabelia tyaihyonii).

Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek' provides a wonderful presence in the landscape with its plentiful fragrant white flowers and red-tinged stems on new growth. 'Rose Creek' Abelia will bloom beginning in May and last through the summer into September.  Blooms on new wood.  Named ‘Rose Creek’ in reference to a creek of the same name located in Oconee County, Georgia.  An introduction by Dr Michael Dirr. (New name is Linnaea × grandiflora 'Rose Creek'.)

A spreading, rounded shrub, 'Little Richard' Abelia has glossy dark green leaves that sometimes will be tinged bronze. Provides wonderful white, fragrant flowers through the summer until frost.  The blooms attract numerous butterflies (New name is Zabelia dielsii 'Little Richard'). 

Few trees are as showy as the Paperbark Maple, with its cinnamon colored exfoliating bark. The fine-textured leaves have 3 leaflets and change from dark green with silvery undersides in summer to shades of red and bronze in fall. Acer griseum makes a neat oval-shaped small tree which fits into both small and large scale landscapes well.  Originating from Central China, Paperbark Maple prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. It will grow in a variety of soil types, including sand, loam, or clay and is adaptable to a variety of pH levels. One of the last Maples to develop fall color and the leaves persist into winter. 

Armstrong Gold® ('JFS-KW78') Columnar Red Maple comes from the extensive selection work done at J Frank Schmidt's nursery in Oregon.  Acer rubrum Armstrong Gold® has bright golden orange fall foliage on a very tight upright form.  The branches grow at a steep, upward angle.  Besides having good tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions (as do Red Maples in general), Armstrong Gold® makes an excellent street tree because of the dense columnar form.  The tiny red flowers appear in April and are followed by red winged samaras (seeds).

October Glory® Red Maple has green leaves following the attractive red flowers which are one of the earliest signs of spring for us in the Northeast. The fall color of October Glory® is a deep rich red and occurs 2 weeks later than other cultivars. The glossy dark green leaves with red stems have 3-5 lobes and are 3-6” across.  This plant species plays larval host to the coral hairstreak butterfly.  October Glory® is an oval-shaped, wet site tolerant tree that was found by our father, William Flemer III and has proved to be one of the best cultivars for southern hot summers.

Redpointe® ('Frank Jr') Red Maple is an attractive introduction of this very adaptable native tree, developed by J Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery in Oregon.  They chose this selection because of its broad but upswept branching pyramidal habit.  Acer rubrum Redpointe® has a strong central leader and leathery dark green foliage.  The crowning glory is the vivid red early fall color, followed by a regular tidy silhouette in winter.  One of the fastest growing Red Maples in the marketplace.

‘Green Mountain’ Sugar Maple comes from William Flemer III of Princeton Nurseries, from an original outstanding tree found by him in Vermont. Acer saccharum ‘Green Mountain’ is probably a hybrid between the Northern and Southern (nigrum) Sugar Maples, exhibiting both good heat and drought tolerance. ‘Green Mountain’ has a very regular oval silhouette and very showy orange to yellow fall color. With its superior heat tolerance and hybrid vigor, ‘Green Mountain’ can be used in urban situations as long as there is a good amount of soil for the roots.

Acer saccharum Legacy® is a large, oval shade tree prized for the fiery red and orange autumn colors that adorn its dense crown of foliage. This sugar maple is tolerant of drought conditions, and its thick, glossy leaves are resistant to tattering caused by wind, as well as leafhopper damage. Utilized both for its ornamental value in the landscape as well as for the syrup produced by its sap, this particular cultivar of sugar maple is a fast grower and great for use as a specimen tree, shade tree, or street tree where it will not interfere with electrical wires or be heavily impacted by salt spray.

Creamy white flowers on Aesculus parviflora appear in summer on long panicles. Bottlebrush Buckeye offers golden yellow fall color. A dense, mounded, suckering, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub which produces pear-shaped nuts (buckeyes) after flowering.  Aesculus parviflora is a wonderful addition to the landscape to attract hummingbirds. Our neighbor nurseryman Dick Karkalits says it is an absolutely foolproof plant for just about any location, and we agree.

PRN Preferred: This shrub has everything - tolerant of sun, shade, dry or wet soil, showy flowers and native!

We grow our own selection of Red Buckeye, selected by us from a field of mature trees at Princeton Nurseries.  The characteristics that guided our choices were clean, disease-free foliage, very dark showy 5" upright panicles in May, and a strong tree-form habit.  We propagate our selection 'Splendens' from the seed of the five trees we moved to Pleasant Run Nursery.  The resulting plants have the outstanding qualities of their parents, and we grow them as tree-form.  Aesculus pavia 'Splendens' makes a tough beautiful small tree. Besides the flower display and the attractive dark green summer foliage, the fall color is a clean yellow and the brown chestnuts feed the wildlife.

Amelanchier laevis has white flowers in early April. The reddish purple fruit of Allegheny Serviceberry is loved by birds. Good reddish orange fall color of Amelanchier laevis makes it a wonderful landscape choice to provide interest for each season. A wet site tolerant plant, A. laevis has an added attribute of retaining its leaves throughout the summer unlike A. canadensis, and it also has heavier and fewer stems forming the clump.

Small white flowers of Amelanchier x grandiflora Autumn Brilliance® emerge from pink buds in April. Apple Serviceberry has berries in June that will turn magenta to purple and are prized by many birds, including Mocking birds. Autumn Brilliance® has brilliant orange-red fall color (hence the cultivar name).  A wet site tolerant plant introduced by nurseryman Bill Wandell of Illinois.  This Amelanchier has an added attribute of retaining its leaves throughout the summer unlike A. canadensis.

‘Robin Hill’ Apple Serviceberry blooms in early spring, producing pink flower buds that open to soft pinkish white. The flower clusters mature to bluish purple fruit in early to mid summer, which is rapidly consumed by birds. The berries were an appreciated source of fruit for early settlers. The green summer leaves take on orange and red shades in fall. Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’ is compact and resilient, both as a multi-stem and a single-stem tree. It is a cross between Amelanchier canadensis and Amelanchier laevis and supposed to be more resistance to mildew.  We just started growing this cultivar in 2022 and have been very impressed with it.  This is a good choice for urban and tight locations.

'Massachusetts' Bearberry has small shiny evergreen leaves with small pinkish white bell-like flowers in April and May, often followed by red fruits. The berries provide winter forage for many mammals, including bears.  Arctostaphylos  is a prostrate, flat-growing plant best grown in acid soil and sandy, well drained sites.  Grows well in poor infertile soils.  There are large colonies of Bearberry in the NJ Pinelands.  'Massachusetts' produces abundant flowers and fruits; it has smaller leaves than the species.  The leaves feed several species of caterpillar,  such as the Hoary Elfin.  Selected by Bob Tichnor of Oregon from seed collected in Massachusetts.  It is also salt tolerant.

Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' is a deciduous shrub with white flowers in May. The bright red fruit of this Red Chokeberry ripens in late summer and persists into winter. The glossy foliage turns brilliant red in fall. This cultivar differs from the species; it is more compact, produces larger and more numerous fruit plus has superior red fall color.  It forms a suckering colony and is wet site and salt tolerant.

Ground Hug™ Black Chokeberry ('UCONNAM012') was developed in Connecticut by Dr Mark Brand, to answer the need for tough native groundcover shrubs.  Aronia melanocarpa Proven Winners® Color Choice® Ground Hug™ stays low while suckering to a wide, densely branched groundcover thicket.  The delicate white spring flowers are followed by glossy black fruit in late summer (an important food source for wildlife).  Then the crowning glory is the vivid orange and red fall foliage.  Because of Ground Hug's™ vigorous spreading habit it would work well as a slope stabilizer. (used to be Ground Hog)

Low Scape Hedger® Black Chokeberry ('UCONNAM166') is a selection of our native Aronia, chosen for its compact upright habit. In mid spring Low Scape Hedger® produces a quantity of showy white racemes held above the lustrous green foliage. During the summer the dense habit makes a good choice for short hedges. In the fall the leaves turn striking shades of orange and red, brightening up the landscape for a prolonged period before dropping. Fruit production is limited, but native pollinators benefit. Developed by Dr. Mark Brand and Dr. Bryan Connolly of U. Conn.

Low Scape Mound® Black Chokeberry ('UCONNAM165') is an unusual Aronia melanocarpa form produced by Drs. Mark Brand and Bryan Connolly of U. Conn. Low Scape Mound® performs as a groundcover instead of an upright shrub, so it works well as an erosion control plant as well as an edger. The green spring foliage is topped by lots of attractive white racemes. The showy flowers are followed by shiny black fruit in late summer, providing important food for wildlife. The fall color is a deep red, persisting for several weeks.  A good native sub for Deutzia.

PRN Preferred: The habit of this versatile native is both low and broad, and the foliage is beautiful throughout hot summers and cool falls.

'Viking' Black Chokeberry has glossy dark green leaves which turn a striking red in fall. The white, spring flowers are followed by large purplish black fruit, which birds love (and they are full of anti-oxidants). The site adaptability (Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' likes both wet and dry conditions) and the suckering habit make it an excellent shrub for reclamation use, as well as an attractive landscape plant. Dr. Mark Brand of Connecticut found this native beauty.  2020 PHS Gold Medal Plant!

PRN Preferred:  A good shrub for wetland reclamation plantings, a more compact variety with very large glossy foliage.

'Mango' Pawpaw is a slow growing tropical looking tree which bears delicious yellow fruit in October.  The fruit is large and smooth skinned, with delicious soft flesh surrounding a few brown seeds.  All Pawpaws are significant hosts for butterflies and moths, and are still commonly found in patches in old farmyards because settlers depended on Asimina triloba for the delicious fruit.

'Pennsylvania Golden' Pawpaw is an early ripening form of our largest native fruit. The flesh is yellow and the taste is reminiscent of mango, banana and pineapple. Pawpaw ice cream is one of the greatest desserts we have ever eaten. Asiminas are important hosts for the larvae of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, as well as the Pawpaw Sphinx Moth. Pawpaws are often found colonizing shady riverbanks along the Mid Atlantic and Southern plains.

'Prolific' Pawpaw has large delicious early ripening fruit in early fall.  The flavor is complex, with hints of banana and mango, resulting in the old common name of 'Poor Man's Banana'.  The 3 lobed hanging flowers in early spring are among the more interesting bloom forms, with 3 fleshy brown petals and a somewhat unpleasant odor (since they need flies and beetles to pollinate them).  The leaves are large and tropical looking.

'Sunflower' Pawpaw, a somewhat self-fertile variety of a wonderful but under utilized native fruit tree. Asimina triloba 'Sunflower' Pawpaw's yellow fruit is ready in October.

'Sweet Alice' Pawpaw was found by Homer Jacobs in West Virginia in 1934, and became a common farmyard fruit tree because of its large sweet orange yellow fruit produced in September and early October. The habit is somewhat more compact than some other selections and the fruit set is plentiful. All Pawpaws fruit best when planted near 1 or more other cultivars, because cross pollination between different clones is important for a good fruit set. The interesting purple brown flowers appear in April and May.

'Wilson' Pawpaw was found in the wild in Kentucky.  The fruit is medium to large sized and has golden yellow flesh when ripe in the fall.  The interesting purple brown flowers are produced in early spring and are set all along the branches.  Since all Pawpaws except 'Sunflower' are "self-incompatible", it is best to plant 2 or more cultivars for good fruit set.  The harvest period is fairly long for Pawpaws, as the fruit ripens over a month.

We grow a broad selection of these wonderful but underutilized native Pawpaws. They are all ultimately 25' and perform best in full sun. Their delicious yellow fruits ripen in September or October and taste like a combination of mango and banana custard. The fruit production is the most prolific when they have a pollinator. The interesting tri-lobed purple brown flowers appear along the stems in mid spring. The beautiful Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly and the Pawpaw Sphinx Moth depend on Asiminas in order to reproduce. Contact us for our cultivar list.

'Emily Rose' Aucuba is a dark green female selection with superior cold tolerance.  The slender lustrous leaves are evergreen , and make a great setting for the large shiny red fruit.  The berries color up in mid to late winter, and are retained well into the summer, providing a log lasting show.  Any male form planted nearby will provide adequate pollination.  Aucuba 'Emily Rose' was an introduction from Hines Nursery of California.

'Hosoba Hoshifu' Aucuba is a showy evergreen for shady locations, with long narrow shiny green leaves speckled liberally with bright yellow spots.  'Hosoba Hoshifu' is a female Aucuba, which produces shiny red long lasting fruit when planted near a male form (most green and yellow Aucubas are male).  The fruit is large and very showy as it persists throughout the winter.  Plant in a sheltered spot protected from winter winds and afternoon sun. 

'Rozannie' Aucuba is a compact evergreen form which has large, very lustrous green leaves.  They look almost artificial because they are so shiny and perfect.  Even more amazing are the enormous bright red berries which remain on 'Rozannie' for several months.  Since birds (and deer) do not eat the fruit, the show goes on for a long time.  A compact female form, tolerant of a wide range of soils.  Per landscape designer Lisa Fernandez, the plant looks lush and gorgeous, even planted in the dreaded super shady corner of Collins Park in Philadelphia.  Nothing had survived there in the past and Aucuba 'Rozannie' has flourished.  

Aucuba japonica 'Variegata' has shiny green leaves sprinkled with gold spots, and is evergreen. Variegated Japanese Aucuba is often called 'Gold Dust' Aucuba.  Best foliage colors generally occur in part shade locations; the gold spots on the may fade in too much shade.

Dura-Heat® ('BNMTF') River Birch has lighter bark than Heritage® Birch, showing lovely whitish tan exfoliating bark at a young age.  Since it hails from Georgia, its heat tolerance is excellent, with the result that its compact dark green leaves are retained all summer.  The fall color is yellow, and its striking bark makes it a particularly welcome addition to the winter landscape.  Like all River Birches, Dura-Heat® is very tolerant of wet sites and resistant to typical Birch diseases.

Heritage® ('Cully') Riverbirch is one of the best Birches for the Northeast.  Discovered in a St. Louis suburb and tested and introduced by the extraordinary plantsman Earl Cully. Noted for it's cold hardiness, beautiful creamy exfoliating bark, disease and borer resistant, wet site tolerant, fast growth habit, we could go on and on...

'Black Knight' Butterfly Bush boasts fragrant purplish violet flowers starting in late June. This Buddleia has a vigorous and large habit, and blooms all summer into fall.

'Miss Molly' Butterfly Bush starts blooming in July and continues all summer without deadheading.  The fragrant flowers are pinkish rub red and plentiful.  Buddleia davidii 'Miss Molly' is a midsized Butterfly Bush, so it works well in the back of perennial beds as well as a low hedge.  Butterflies and hummingbirds consume the nectar all summer.  Another beauty from Dr Dennis Werner of NC State, who crossed 'Miss Ruby' with 'Attraction' to produce 'Miss Molly'.

Flutterby Petite® 'Blue Heaven' ('Podaras #8') Butterfly Bush is a new introduction to the groundcover Buddleia world, with blue fragrant flowers all summer over low growing silvery foliage. It is largely sterile, and is a great nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and other insects. A Ball Ornamentals introduction from hybridizing work by Peter Podaras.

PRN Preferred: Although quite compact in habit, Petite® ‘Blue Heaven’ is a very heavy bloomer all summer and shows better cold tolerance than many other ‘dwarf’ Buddleias. 

Lo & Behold Ruby Chip® (‘SMNBDD’) Butterfly Bush has the same shocking pink blooms as Buddleia ‘Miss Molly’, but on a dense compact habit. The flowers start in June and are produced all summer, especially if occasionally deadheaded. The green deer resistant foliage is dense and tight, so Buddleia Ruby Chip® makes a great addition to sunny perennial borders. Megan Mathey of Spring Meadows Nursery is the breeder of this dwarf beauty.

'Purple Haze' Butterfly Bush is an exciting new groundcover Buddleia with a low mounding habit and an all summer display of bluish purple fragrant flowers. The foliage is green, the flowering branches are arching, and the flowers are sterile. Another breakthrough from Dr. Dennis Werner of NCSU.

Pugster Blue® ('SMNBDBT') Butterfly Bush blooms throughout the summer and into the fall, producing large blue flowers on sturdy short stems. The growth habit of Buddleia x Pugster Blue® is very compact, making this a good candidate for containers and perennial borders. The blooms are fragrant, and attract butterflies and other pollinators all summer. The Pugster® series from Spring Meadow shows better winter cold tolerance than other dwarf Buddleias.

Pugster Pinker® (‘SMNBDB’) Butterfly Bush has large deep pink fragrant flower spikes on a compact, sturdy plant all summer. The Pugster® series shows good cold tolerance and does not require pruning because of the neat compact habit. Megan Mathey is the breeder and Spring Meadow Nurseries is the introducer through the Proven Winners® program.

Pugster White® (‘SMNBDW’) Butterfly Bush is a compact but sturdy Buddleia, with large fragrant white flowers. The short stature means that the Buddleia x Pugster White® does not need the pruning that earlier large cultivars have required. Also, the Pugster® series is somewhat more cold tolerant than several earlier Buddleia cultivars. This would make a good potted plant for sunny patios in summer.

Pugster® Amethyst ('SMNBDL') Butterfly Bush is a more cold tolerant compact Buddleia, with large lavender purple blooms on short sturdy stems.  Pugster® Amethyst starts blooming in June and keeps on flowering until early fall.  A Spring Meadows introduction, this Buddleia is recommended for use in rock gardens, perennial beds and tighter sites than most Buddleia can handle.

As many of you are already aware, the threat of Boxwood Blight is increasing in our area. At PRN, we are taking additional steps to provide healthy Boxwoods. First, we only source from growers who can provide Boxwood Compliance Certificates. Additionally, we are limiting access to our Boxwoods at the nursery. This is being done to reduce the risk of spreading the disease to healthy plants. Boxwood Blight is often transmitted through spores carried on shoes and clothing, and resistant but healthy Boxwoods have been shown to carry the disease as well. Customers will be able to view and order Boxwoods from PRN but they will be a “PRN Pull Only”. These extra precautions will keep PRN clean from Boxwood Blight so you can feel reassured that you are purchasing healthy, disease free Boxwoods which will thrive at your job site.

NewGen™ Freedom® (‘SB300’) Boxwood comes from years of testing by Saunders Brothers Nursery of Virginia, in their Boxwood Blight resistance trials. Freedom® and Independence® are both highly resistant to both Blight and Boxwood Leafminer. Buxus NewGen™ Freedom® is the taller of the two, with a rounded but vigorous habit. It makes a beautiful green hedge or foundation planning, and benefits from a light yearly pruning to maintain the tight shape.

New Gen™ Independence (‘SB108’) Boxwood was found as a chance seedling near Williamsburg, VA. The Boxwood Kings of Saunders Brothers selected it after years of observing Independence® because of its proven excellent resistance to both Boxwood Blight and Boxwood Leafminer. Buxus New Gen™ Independence® is the best replacement for English Boxwood in size and shape. The evergreen foliage maintains its deep green color well in the winter.

'Little Missy' Little Leaf Boxwood is an excellent substitute for Buxus 'Justin Brouwers' is areas where Boxwood Blight is increasingly a problem.  The Buxus microphylla cultivars are much more resistant to the effects of the blight, and 'Little Missy', with it's compact mounding habit and diminutive size works well where really small Boxwoods are needed.  The leaves are lustrous dark green and tolerate sun well.  Buxus 'Little Missy' does well with trimming, so it can be used to make knot gardens and short formal hedges.

Baby Gem™ ('Gregem') Little Leaf Boxwood is a sport of Buxus 'Winter Gem' with a tighter habit and neater foliage.  Although Buxus Baby Gem™ eventually reaches the size of its parent, it is slower growing and needs little pruning.  The summer color is a good dark green, and Baby Gem™ does not bronze in winter.  An introduction from Greenleaf Nursery of Oklahoma.

'Jim Stauffer' Little Leaf Boxwood is a vigorous and formal microphylla cross, with good cold tolerance.  Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Jim Stauffer' maintains a neat rounded habit with little pruning, and makes an attractive foundation plant or tight hedge.  This Boxwood has shown good resistance to both Boxwood Blight and Leaf miner.  

'Winter Gem' Little Leaf Boxwood has large glossy evergreen leaves with bronze backs and an upright rounded habit. Winter color is a bronzy green.

'Dee Runk' Common Boxwood has glossy dark green foliage that makes its conical shape a standout. It is evergreen, disease resistant and slow growing and is an exciting newcomer to the Boxwood scene.

Fastigiate Common Boxwood has dark green foliage which often has a bluish cast to the evergreen leaves.  The habit is a neat upright cone, somewhat wider at the base than B. 'Dee Runk'.  Buxus s. 'Fastigiata' shows minimal bronzing in the winter, and makes an impressive formal specimen.

'Vardar Valley' Common Boxwood is an unusually tough Buxus sempervirens, with excellent insect and disease resistance coupled with attractive green foliage that has a distinctive bluish cast.  It was found by Edgar Anderson of the Arnold Arboretum and Missouri Botanical Garden in 1945, along a river in Macedonia.  After years of observation it was named and released by the Arnold Arboretum because of its proven excellence.  Slow growing and compact, it forms an excellent low maintenance shrub for shady locations.

A cross between B. sinica var. insularis and B. sempervirens, 'Green Gem' Boxwood is a slow growing round evergreen that combines excellent hardiness with good winter color. An introduction by Sheridan Nurseries of Ontario, Canada.

'Green Velvet' Boxwood is a very hardy selection from Sheridan Nurseries in Canada. Glossy evergreen foliage on a round maintenance free shrub.

American Beautyberry has pinkish lavender flowers in June and July that produce magenta violet fruit along the stems for a spectacular fall show.  It is best to remove old canes for rejuvenation of the shrub because the flowers and fruits appear on new shoots.   Best fruiting is in full sun but plants will tolerate light shade.  Callicarpa americana berries are a good food source for songbirds and small mammals.

'Early Amethyst' Beautyberry abounds with large quantities of small lilac fruits in the fall. Originally from Brookside Gardens in Maryland.  This is the same plant as C. 'Issai', per Barry Yinger.  Purple beautyberry is easy to grow and low maintenance and once established are quite drought tolerant.  Planting in mass improves cross-pollination and fruit production.  Small mammals and birds eat the fruit.

Calycanthus floridus has dark maroon flowers in May and June that are often fragrant.  Plants will vary from no scent to highly fragrant; the flower fragrance has been described as a combination of melon, pineapple, strawberry, and banana.  Sweetshrub is wet site and dry shade tolerant and the fall color is yellow.  Sweetshrub is also referred to as Carolina Allspice and is native from Virginia to Florida.  Sweetshrub's leaves are aromatic when bruised and the shrub will sucker and often forms colonies in the wild.  Calycanthus is distantly related to Magnolias.

'Athens' ('Katherine') Sweetshrub has yellow flowers in May and June that are consistently fragrant. A great introduction from Dr. Michael Dirr in Athens, Georgia; originally provided to him by Mrs. Symmes.  It was named after his daughter Katherine. It is wet site tolerant.  Cut branches can be brought inside to provide strong fragrance.

'Michael Lindsey' Sweetshrub has reddish brown flowers that are consistently, gorgeously fragrant, blooming for a prolonged period in April and May over dark, lustrous green foliage. Fall color of is clear yellow to gold. Selected by Allen Bush of Holbrook Farm & Nursery in North Carolina and named after the young son of one of his staff members. Per Dr. Michael Dirr, “Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey' is the standard by which other introduction will be measured." It is also wet site tolerant. Extremely verticillium resistant per Rick Darke.

PRN Preferred:  Heavy bloomer, fragrant flowers, lustrous foliage with good fall color.  Reblooms sporadically throughout the summer.

'Burgundy Spice' Sweetshrub represents a radical color change in Calycanthus foliage, with lustrous deep burgundy leaves throughout the summer.  We selected for darker foliage over a number of years, coming up with 2 beautiful purple colored sports.  We chose the best one to name Calycanthus floridus var purpureus 'Burgundy Spice'.  The maroon flowers appear in May and June, and have the classic mango and pineapple fragrance of good Sweetshrub selections.  The fall foliage adds another season of enjoyment, turning attractive shades of yellow and amber.

'Hartlage Wine' Sweetshrub has amazing reddish maroon flowers with yellow centers starting in May and continuing to fall. A very exciting Sweetshrub named after an extraordinary plantsman, Dr. J.C. Raulston, developed by Richard Hartlage and the JC Raulston Arboretum. It used to sport my favorite plant name, xSinocalycalycanthus x raulstonii.

PRN Preferred: The showy red and yellow flowers are produced throughout the summer.

'Korean Fire' Camellia has bright red single flowers on an upright plant. A very cold-hardy Camellia, considered one of the best of the C. japonica cultivars.  Introduction found by Barry Yinger in Korea. Blooms in April and May and is evergreen.

Camellia ‘Victory White’ is a spring blooming japonica selection which produces large white anemone-form flowers in April and May. ‘Victory White’ Camellia was introduced from Japan by K Sawada in the 1930s. The habit is vigorous and upright, with lustrous evergreen foliage. The semi-double white flowers have bright yellow stamens crowning the centers.

‘Kanjiro’ Camellia blooms in late fall and early winter, producing masses of semi-double cerise pink flowers. The evergreen foliage is lustrous and dark green. Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro’ is a zone 7 Camellia, so it needs to be planted in a protected location, avoiding exposure to afternoon sunlight and winter winds. The reward for siting it correctly will be lots and lots of flowers.

‘Yuletide’ Camellia blooms in late fall and early winter (hence the cultivar name). The single red flowers have showy yellow stamens in the centers of the flowers. Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ has an upright but compact habit, with lustrous dark green evergreen leaves. Since ‘Yuletide’ is a zone 7 Camellia, it should be planted in a sheltered spot and protected from winter winds and afternoon sun.

Camellia x 'April Blush' has semi-double blush pink flowers with yellow anthers in April and May. An introduction from Dr. Clifford Parks, 'April Blush' is an evergreen spring blooming Camellia.

Camellia x 'April Kiss' has rosy red formal double flowers and an upright habit and heavy bud set. 'April Kiss' is a Dr. Clifford Parks selection that blooms in April and May and is evergreen.

'April Remembered' Camellia is an early spring blooming evergreen, at its peak in April.  The large semi-double flowers are a creamy soft pink, with yellow stamens accenting the centers.  This is another zone 6 beauty from Dr. Clifford Parks and Camellia Forest Nursery, and it is equally useful as a specimen or as a hedge.  Just make sure it has wind and sun protection in the winter.

Camellia x 'April Rose' has double rosy pink formal flowers and blooms in April and May. 'April Rose' Camellia is an introduction from Dr. Clifford Parks and is evergreen.

Camellia x 'April Snow' has white rose-form flowers and blooms in April and May. 'April Snow' Camellia is an introduction from Dr. Clifford Parks and is evergreen.

Camellia x 'April Tryst' has showy red anemone-form flowers, and is an introduction from Dr. Clifford Parks. It is spring blooming and evergreen.

'Arctic Rose' Camellia has rosy red formal double flowers displayed on an upright plant. It is evergreen and blooms in April and May.  From Dr. Ackerman's breeding work.

‘Ashton’s Pride’ Camellia is one of the hardier fall blooming Camellias, producing semi-double soft pink flowers in November and December. Pollinators take advantage of the pollen producing yellow stamens. Camellia x ‘Ashton’s Pride’ is a cross between Camellia japonica and Camellia oleifera, hybridized by Dr. William Ackerman at his farm in Ashton, Maryland. Protect from winter sun and wind for best results.

‘Londontowne Blush’ Camellia is a hardy C. oleifera cross with C. japonica, and produces single soft pink blooms in November and December. The shiny evergreen foliage is displayed on a rounded compact habit. Camellia x ‘Londontowne Blush’ is another cold tolerant hybrid from Dr. Ackerman and the National Arboretum.

Camellia x 'Long Island Pink' has single pink flowers that bloom in the fall and a nice compact habit. 'Long Island Pink' Camellia was found on Long Island, NY and is evergreen.

PRN Preferred:  A compact neat form, very cold tolerant.

'Northern Exposure' Camellia blooms for an extended period in late fall and early winter.  The pale pink flower buds open to large white blooms set off by bright yellow stamens.  'Northern Exposure' always sets multiple buds, and since they open progressively over several months, the flower display is a very showy addition to the late fall garden.  Like all Camellias, 'Northern Exposure' has lustrous green evergreen leaves and prefers shade and protection from winter winds.

'Snow Flurry' Camellia produces a large quantity of double and semi-double white flowers in late fall and early winter.  Resulting from a complex series of crosses by Dr. William Ackerman and the National Arboretum, 'Snow Flurry' has shown excellent cold tolerance.  The habit is somewhat floppy when young, and periodic pruning before the emergence of new growth would help with that.  Evergreen and shade loving, Camellia x 'Snow Flurry' is a great addition to the winter garden.

Camellia x 'Spring's Promise' has single reddish salmon flowers in spring, with some blooms opening consistently in the fall. It has glossy evergreen foliage.

PRN Preferred:  Blooms in both spring and fall.

'Survivor' Camellia blooms in early fall, with large single white fragrant flowers that start out tipped by soft pink on the ends of the petals. It is evergreen and upright in habit. Its name indicates its excellent cold hardiness, and it results from a C. sasanqua and C. oleifera cross made by Dr. Clifford Parks.

Camellia x 'Winter's Joy' has a semi-double fuchsia pink flower on a narrow upright form. Makes a good hedge in shady locations. From Dr. William Ackerman, Camellia x 'Winter's Joy' is fall blooming and evergreen.

The flowers of 'Winter's Snowman' Camellia are a white, semi-double anemone-form. From Dr. William Ackerman, Camellia x 'Winter's Snowman' is fall blooming and evergreen with a narrow upright habit.

'Winter's Star' Camella has light pinkish lavender single flowers starting in October on an open habit. From Dr. William Ackerman, Camellia x 'Winter's Star' is fall blooming and evergreen. Makes an excellent hedge for shady locations.

‘Winter's Star White’ Camellia comes from the prolific work of Dr. William Ackerman of Maryland fame. Camellia x ‘Winter’s Star White’ is a cross between Camellia oleifera and Camellia hiemalis, which gives it excellent cold tolerance. The flowers appear in late fall and early winter, crowning the lustrous evergreen foliage. They are single white blooms, and they bloom earlier than Camellia japonicas, so they tend not to be affected by winter freezes.

European Hornbeam has been used often and very effectively as a tightly pruned hedge or screen in formal settings in Europe, and this application is being used increasingly here in the US. Carpinus betulus is a tough, fine twigged tree which takes pruning very well and tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions. We are growing it as a low branched shrub for hedging and screening. Examples of this use can be found at Brooklyn Botanical Garden and also on Eastern Long Island.

Emerald Avenue® (‘JFS-KWICB’) European Hornbeam is another great tree from Keith Warren’s tireless work at J Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery. Carpinus betulus Emerald Avenue® has a tight habit of ascending branches around a strong central leader. The dark green leaves are small and disease-free in summer, making this a good choice for street plantings. The fall color is an attractive yellow. Emerald Avenue® tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.

Fastigate European Hornbeam is an excellent tree for urban or formal sites because of its tight, extremely regular form and excellent disease resistance. When young, Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' is narrow and very upright, but it broadens into a dense tight pyramidal oval as it matures. The leaves are neat and relatively small, and since the form never needs pruning, Carpinus is a maintenance-free tree. Even without foliage, the dense branching makes this an excellent screening tree in winter.

'Frans Fontaine' European Hornbeam is more columnar than Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata', but is equally resilient in urban and suburban conditions.  The narrower habit makes Carpinus 'Frans Fontaine' a good candidate for narrower spaces or street tree applications.  The fall color of the tidy foliage is a clear yellow, and winter interest is provided by the upright, densely branched form.  Since all Carpinus varieties are a fall digging hazard, container production makes the planting season much longer.

American Hornbeam is a tough, beautiful native tree which performs well in a wide variety of site conditions. Its green veined leaves and habit look somewhat like American Beech trees, and its interesting 2" hanging winged seed bracts add to its appeal in summer. It performs very well when transplanted from containers, and can be used in full sun or shade locations as well as sites which are periodically flooded.  Native to the US, Carpinus caroliniana can handle full shade and is often found as an understory plant in forests and along rivers.  The fall color is attractive, varying from yellow through orange to reddish purple hues. It can be pruned to make a good tight hedge, like its European cousin, C. betulus. 2020 PHS Gold Medal Plant!

Rising Fire® (‘Uxbridge’) American Hornbeam originated in Ontario and was introduced by J Frank Schmidt and Sons. Carpinus Rising Fire® has all the great attributes of Carpinus caroliniana, but the habit is columnar and tight. Its neat green summer leaves take on shades of orange and red in fall, and its 2” hanging seed bracts provide food for wildlife in the fall and winter. American Hornbeam is a very adaptable tree which will thrive in both woodland and urban sites.

Beyond Midnight® Bluebeard ('CT-9-12') produces abundant deep cobalt blue flowers in late summer to early fall.  The foliage is lustrous and disease resistant, growing on a compact habit.  Caryopteris Proven Winners® Color Choice® Beyond Midnight® need excellent drainage to thrive, and should not be cut back until spring.  The foliage has an attractive minty fragrance, which may be why deer and rabbits leave it alone.  A good plant for full sun containers.

'Dark Knight' Bluebeard has deep blue-purple flowers in mid summer and grayish green aromatic foliage. It has consistently shown good disease resistance.   Clandonensis hybrids were discovered as an accidental cross between C. incana and C. mongholica. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.

'Longwood Blue' Bluebeard has bluish violet flowers and grayish green aromatic foliage. 'Longwood Blue' blooms later than other Caryopteris, in mid to late summer. Dry site tolerant, crowns may rot in wet, poorly-drained soils. A selection from Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.

New Jersey Tea is a tough, adaptable native shrub with pretty white fluffy lilac-shaped flowers in June and July. The flowers have a lovely delicate fragrance.  The fruits of Ceanothus americanus are subtle but interesting 3-sided capsules and the seeds are consumed by turkeys and quail.  It does very well in seashore settings and dry sites.  The name New Jersey Tea was coined during the American Revolution because its leaves were used as a substitute for imported tea.

Prairie Sentinel® (‘JFS-KSU1’) Common Hackberry is a member of the Elm family which has excellent tolerance of all kinds of soil conditions and temperature challenges. Prairie Sentinel® was found in Kansas by Kansas State University and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt Nursery of Oregon. It was selected for its tightly columnar habit, which makes it an excellent street tree option. The green coarse foliage is disease free, and the operative word to use about Celtis Prairie Sentinel® is “tough”, according to Dr. Michael Dirr.

Sugar Shack® ('SMCOSS') Buttonbush is a more compact version of our interesting native Cephalanthus.  The white puffball flowers appear in mid to late summer, attracting butterflies and other pollinators.  The blooms are followed by red mace shaped fruit and burgundy foliage in the fall, providing food for wildlife as well as visual interest.  Buttonbush is a host plant for titan sphinx moths and hydrangea sphinx moth caterpillars.  Cephalanthus is very wet site tolerant (we first saw it while canoeing as little children), so it is an excellent bog, bioswale or rain garden shrub.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Duke Gardens' has dark evergreen foliage and a tight, compact form. 'Duke Gardens' Plum Yew is excellent in shade but will tolerate sun as well. Originally found at The Sarah P. Duke Gardens  in North Carolina by Richard Fillmore in the late 1950s, as a branch sport of C. 'Fastigiata'.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' has evergreen foliage and a wide columnar habit. It makes a good pillar-like conifer for foundation and formal plantings. Easily pruned and maintained as columnar specimens.  Fastigiate Plum Yew is a slow growing alternative to upright Taxus in deer country.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata' has dark evergreen foliage and looks like Taxus baccata 'Repandens' on steroids. Its long shoots can  gracefully cascade over stone walls.  Prostrate Plum Yew loves shady, dry locations. Best substitute for low growing Taxus in deer situations.

Cercis canadensis is a classic harbinger of spring, with pinkish lavender pea-shaped flowers covering its branches in April ("cauliflory"). The green heart-shaped leaves of this Eastern Redbud turn yellow in the fall, and the zigzag branching habit in the winter adds to the appeal of this large shrub or small tree.  Per Dr. Michael Dirr "A native tree with a touch of class."  The flowers are actually edible, so they make an attractive addition to spring salads.

'Ace of Hearts' Eastern Redbud is a long-awaited dwarf form of Cercis canadensis with magenta pink flowers in April and May.  More shrub-like, typically half the size of the straight species.  The form is similar to the ace in a deck of cards.  It was found and introduced by Paul Woody of Morganton, North Carolina. 

'Alley Cat' Eastern Redbud has foliage liberally splashed with white, and its striking variegation is stable and scorch resistant.  The dark pink pea-shaped flowers emerge in April just before the leaves begin to show in shades of copper pink and soft green.  As the foliage matures, the white emerges and makes a lovely contrast to the green.  Alan Bush found Cercis 'Alley Cat' in an alley near his home in Kentucky, and gave it to Harald Neubauer of Hidden Hollow Nursery to introduce.

'Appalachia' Red Eastern Redbud has deep reddish purple buds that open to bright neon pink flowers in April and May. Cercis canadensis 'Appalachia' is more vibrant than the straight species and very eye-catching.  It was found growing along a roadside in Maryland by Dr. Max Byrkit.  2021 PHS Gold Medal Plant.

Burgundy Hearts® ('Greswan') Eastern Redbud is a refinement of the 'Forest Pansy' theme, with pinkish lavender April flowers followed by reddish purple lustrous foliage. The heart-shaped leaves hold their dark color longer in the summer, taking on reddish wine tones towards the fall. Introduced by Greenleaf Nurseries from a selection of over 3,000 seedlings.

Carolina Sweetheart® ('NCCC1') Eastern Redbud is an unusual new Cercis, from NCSU in partnership with the North Carolina nurserymen.  The heart-shaped leaves emerge in April, in shades of bronzy purple with vivid pink and white margins.  The tri-color effect is striking, and since it follows the classic lavender purple flower display, Cercis Carolina Sweetheart® is a dramatic standout in the landscape for a long period.  By mid summer the foliage is primarily bronze green, but the new growth continues to be colorful.

Flame Thrower® (‘NC2016-2’) Eastern Redbud came from JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC. They’re onto something new and different, as the leaves emerge reddish burgundy and rapidly mature to yellow and green, giving a multicolor effect. The pink pea-shaped blooms appear on the bare stems before the foliage emerges. A really striking small specimen tree, especially in late spring and early summer.

PRN Preferred: This is the most striking of the tri-colored Redbuds, with foliage that progresses from reddish burgundy to yellow and green, changing from early spring to mid summer. 

'Forest Pansy' Eastern Redbud has rose purple flowers and reddish purple foliage in April and May changing to bronze by fall. The foliage is strikingly beautiful in spring and early summer.  Originally found in a seedling block at Forest Nursery in McMinnville, TN in 1947.

Golden Falls® (‘NC2015-12’) Eastern Redbud is an introduction from the JC Raulston Arboretum. The large heart-shaped leaves appear in spring in shades of chartreuse and yellow. They follow the display of pink pea-shaped flowers which cover the weeping branches. Cercis canadensis Golden Falls® tolerates summer sun without scorching as much as other yellow Cercis do, so the foliage is showy all summer. The strong weeping habit makes Golden Falls® a good candidate for tight locations.

Lavender Twist™ ('Covey') Eastern Redbud has purplish rose flowers in April and May on an umbrella-shaped crown. Lavender Twist™ is a great introduction from Tim Brotsman, found by him in New York State in the garden of Mrs. Covey.

'Royal White' Eastern Redbud is a classic white flowering Cercis which was selected by the late great Dr. JC McDaniel of the University of Illinois. He chose it for the large, plentiful pea-shaped flowers produced abundantly in April. Since the parent tree was found in Bluffs, Illinois, the cold tolerance is excellent. 'Royal White' is vigorous and faster growing than other white forms, and we're glad to be able to keep this tried-and-true selection in circulation.

'Ruby Falls' Redbud is a weeping form of 'Forest Pansy', long awaited by avid plantsmen and brought to us by Dr. Dennis Werner of NCSU. The velvety purple foliage is displayed on graceful weeping branches, making a spectacular show in spring and early summer before it ages to greenish bronze. Its rosy purple flowers emerge before the leaves unfold. The name was chosen by 5 year old Porter Neubauer of Tennessee, undoubtedly a great future nurseryman.

PRN Preferred: A great combination of habit (weeping) with color (deep velvety purple).

Summer's Tower™ ('JN7') Eastern Redbud was found by Ray Jackson of Belvidere, Tennessee as a chance seedling on his nursery.  The habit is upright rather than broad, so its vase-shaped form works well in confined spaces.  The lavender pink pea-shaped flowers cover 'Summer's Tower' in April and May, when the green heart-shaped leaves are first emerging.  The upright shape in maturity is almost reminiscent of Zelkova 'Mushashino', but Cercis 'Summer's Tower' is of course much smaller at maturity.

The Rising Sun™ ('JN2') Redbud is one of the most stunning plants we have ever seen, with foliage that starts as peachy apricot, maturing through chartreuse-yellow to a final deep green. Since all three color phases are present at the same time in late spring and summer, the effect is spectacular. The blooms are the classic Redbud lavender in April and May.  It was found and introduced by Ray Jackson of Belvidere, Tennessee.

The stems of White Chinese Redbud are covered in white flowers in April, followed by attractive heart-shaped leaves. Cercis chinensis 'Alba' ('Shirobana') is a hard-to-find Chinese Redbud.

Cercis chinensis 'Don Egolf' has branches that are absolutely covered with pinkish lavender flowers in April, followed by heart-shaped neat glossy foliage.  'Don Egolf' does not bear seed pods like the other cultivars, which makes it a very sought after cultivar.  Due to is compact size and slower growth rate it is very suitable for containers. 'Don Egolf' Chinese Redbud is a wonderful plant named after one of the world's greatest plantsmen, Dr. Don Egolf, who is much missed in the plant world.

'Kay's Early Hope' Chinese Redbud was named after NC State's wonderful Women's Basketball Coach Kay Yow, because its pinkish lavender flowers appear at the same time as NC State's basketball tournaments.  Upright and vase-shaped in habit, 'Kay's Early Hope' is covered with blooms for a longer period than most Cercis chinensis cultivars.  It was introduced by the JC Raulston Arboretum from a plant grown in their extensive collection for many years.

'Oklahoma' Redbud has rosy magenta flowers in April and May, followed by leathery green heart-shaped leaves.  Coming originally from Oklahoma and Texas, it shows better heat and wind tolerance than other Cercis.  Warren and Son Nursery first found this tough plant in the mountains of Oklahoma, which may explain its greater hardiness than other texensis varieties of Redbud.

'Pink Pom Poms' Redbud is another beautiful introduction from the work of Dr Dennis Werner of NCSU and Alex Neubauer of Hidden Hollow Nursery.  The double flowered Cercis c. 'Flame' was crossed with Cercis r. Oklahoma, resulting in much bigger, showier double dark pink to purple flowers.  When in  bloom in April and May, 'Pink Pom Poms' is absolutely breath taking, and the huge flower display is not followed by seedpods because the blooms are completely sterile.  The green heart-shaped leaves appear after the blooms, and are glossy and attractive.

The Double Take® Orange Floweringquince series comes from the work of Dr. Tom Ranney of NCSU's Mountain Research Station in Ashville, N.C. It has very large bright orange double flowers on compact thornless plants. The blooms appear in April for an extended period, with some sporadic reblooming in summer.

Double Take® Pink Floweringquince is another beauty from Dr. Tom Ranney, with very large double deep pink flowers in April. The blooms resemble Camellias in their size and color intensity. The compact plants are thornless, and their branches make lovely cut flowers to bring inside in early spring.

Double Take® Scarlet Floweringquince is the third release from Dr. Tom Ranney's team in Ashville, NC, with very large dark red double flowers. The thornless plants bloom for an extended time in April, sporadically reblooming in summer.

White Fringetree has intensely fragrant, fluffy white panicle flowers in May, followed by bird attracting bluish purple fruit if plant is female (dioecious). Although fruit only appears on the female plants, the flowers on the male plants are showier due to their longer petals.  The foliage hosts many butterfly and moth caterpillars, including several sphinxes.  Fall color ranges from a yellowish green to to a bright golden yellow.  Chionanthus virginicus is also wet site tolerant.

'Spring Fleecing' White Fringetree has fragrant white flowers in large fluffy panicles on an upright plant with dark green narrow leaves. Male, so it blooms consistently and heavily every year.  Chionanthus virginicus 'Spring Fleecing' is a selection by Sam Allen of Tarheel Native Trees. It is also wet site tolerant.

American Yellowwood is a beautiful native tree that should be used in more landscapes. The flowers are very fragrant, with lovely white pea-shaped flowers appearing in May and June on long pendulous panicles. They provide excellent food for bees and other insects, and they resemble a more refined Wisteria flower. The foliage emerges in spring as a chartreuse green during the summer, finishing up as a bright yellow in fall. The bark is an attractive grayish brown, very smooth textured and closely resembling Beech bark. Cladrastis kentukea tolerates both acidic and alkaline soils, and prefers adequate moisture.

'Tom's Compact' Summersweet is the most compact we have seen 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 Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta' and to top it off, it is wet site and salt tolerant.  The tight branching structure provided excellent shelter for birds throughout the year.

PRN Preferred:  Compact dense habit, never needs pruning.  Loved by pollinators.

'Hummingbird' Summersweet has very fragrant white flowers that cover the plant in June and July. This selection is a compact form that is both wet site and salt tolerant. It spreads vigorously by rhizomes to form colonies.  The leaves are narrower than the species and the fall color is lovely shades of golden yellow.  Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' is an introduction from Calloway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA where it was planted along Humminbird Lake, hence the name.

'Ruby Spice' Summersweet has very fragrant dark pink flowers in June and July. It is both wet site and salt tolerant. Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' was found by Andy Brand formerly of Broken Arrow Nursery in Connecticut.

'Sherry Sue' Summersweet has very fragrant white flower spikes which are displayed on pinkish red new growth stems.  Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue' blooms in July and August, providing nectar for a number of pollinators.  It is found naturally in boggy areas throughout the Northeast, and is particularly useful because of its deer resistance and suckering habit.  Introduced by the JC Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina.

'Sixteen Candles' Summersweet has very fragrant white flowers in June and July.  It is both wet site and salt tolerant. Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' was introduced by Dr. Michael Dirr and has an improved upright growth habit and is compact in size.  Per Michael Dirr "white flowers are held upright like candles on a birthday cake".

Summer Sparkler, formerly Einstein® ('Novacleein') Summersweet blooms in July and August, producing 12" white flower spikes.  The blooms are fragrant and somewhat curly because of their unusual length.  Clethra alnifolia Summer Sparkler is a compact form of Summersweet, making a good deer resistant shrub groundcover.  Introduced by Star Roses in 2015.

Sweetfern is a small but widely suckering shrub that energetically colonizes dry, acidic, sterile areas. Hair catkins crown the ends of the stems in late April and early May.  Foliage is green and fragrant (it's in the Bayberry family), with a fern-like texture. It prefers more acid soil and is a nitrogen-fixing species.  The semi-evergreen leaves of Comptonia peregrina turn bronzy green in late fall.  It is an important host for butterfly and moth larvae, including several Sphinx moth species and the Gray Hairstreak butterfly.

Ivory Halo™ ('Bailhalo') Tatarian Dogwood has brightly variegated leaves that emerge in spring with green centers surrounded by large ivory white margins. The flat topped creamy flowers in May and June are followed by white summer fruit. The fall color is pink and reddish purple, and the winter stem color is dark red and showy. Prune out older canes in the spring to maintain the winter stem show.  An introduction from Bailey Nurseries.

Pagoda Dogwood is a lovely, subtle woodland native tree with attractively layered horizontal branching. The flat fluffy ivory flowers appear in late May to early June and are powerfully fragrant. They are followed by bluish black fruit in August which are attractive to birds. The fall color of Cornus alternifolia is often a mild reddish purple, followed by a winter interest element provided by the purplish horizontal twigs and branches.

'Appalachian Spring' Flowering Dogwood has white flowers in April and May and good red fall foliage. 'Appalachian Spring' is resistant to Dogwood Anthracnose! Introduced by the University of Tennessee. Blooms heavily at a young age, but is a slow starter as a young tree.  The parent plant was found in the wild in Maryland, where all the surrounding C. floridas were dead of Anthracnose.

PRN Preferred:  A more disease resistant native Dogwood cultivar.

Cherokee Brave™ ('Comco No. 1') Flowering Dogwood blooms in mid to late spring, producing dark pink bracts with white centers.  The leaves emerge in shades of burgundy in early spring and mature to green in summer.  The fall color is attractive shades of maroon and red, accented by the bright red fall fruit, much prized by wildlife.  Cornus florida Cherokee Brave™ shows good resistance to mildew, which is one of the reasons why Commercial Nurseries of Tennessee selected it.  Cornus florida fruit is an important food source for migrating birds.

'Cherokee Princess' Flowering Dogwood is a vigorous disease resistant selection which has large white flowers followed by bright red bird-attracting fruit. The fall color is a good red, and plantsman Don Shadow says that it is his favorite classic white Dogwood because of its beauty and ease of growth. Introduced by J C Higden of Kentucky.

‘Cloud 9’ Flowering Dogwood is a showy example of one of our most beautiful native trees. The flat flowers, consisting of 4 white overlapping 2” bracts, appear in quantity in April. The white flowers complement both Cercis and Prunus which bloom at the same time. The habit is somewhat ‘Japanese’ because the branching appears in tiers, like ‘cloud pruned’ trees. The green summer leaves are followed by reddish purple fall color and shiny red fruit (an important food source for wildlife). Cornus florida ‘Cloud 9’ was patented in 1961 by Chase Nursery of Alabama.

‘Dixie Colonade’ Flowering Dogwood was found by Don Shadow in Alabama. The flower parts are surrounded by the classic white bracts, but Cornus florida ‘Dixie Colonade’ is unusual in that its habit is distinctly columnar. The red fruit in fall is complimented by reddish foliage. This is a Cornus florida for small gardens and tight spaces.

‘Erica’s Appalachian Sunrise’ Flowering Dogwood is another good selection from the Tennessee Agricultural Experimental Station’s breeding work. Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Sunrise’ produces deep pink bracts which have white centers surrounding the actual flowers. The foliage emerges in spring in shades of burgundy, maturing to green in summer and red in fall. The wildlife-friendly red fruit in fall is also showy. Cornus ‘Erica’s Appalachian Sunrise’ is mildew resistant, so it is a good grower in the Northeast.

There have been a number of Flowering Dogwoods in the trade that have bloomed with multiple bracts, but this particular selection is one of the best.  The white flowers are sterile, and are composed of 17 to 24 large bracts which make the extremely showy.  The habit is slow growing and compact (probably because Cornus florida 'Plena' puts so much energy into blooming), so this classic Dogwood fits into small gardens as well as along the edges of woods.  The fall color is an attractive reddish purple.

'Pumpkin Patch' Flowering Dogwood was found by nurseryman Don Shadow as a chance seedling.  The dark pink flowering Dogwood sports a combination of light green (almost yellow) foliage crowned by burgundy new growth.  What caught his eye in particular was the fall color, which is brilliant orange (hence "Pumpkin Patch"), followed by orange twigs in winter.  'Pumpkin Patch' has shown some susceptibility to mildew in hot humid weather, but it is still a very rare, cool collector's plant.

'Greensleeves' Kousa Dogwood has dark green leaves with prominent veins, and is a heavy flowering rapid grower, with excellent red fall color. 'Greensleeves' is a selection by Polly Wakefield of Milton, Mass. A very heavy fruiting Dogwood, and wildlife love the fruit, as do our Labrador Retrievers.

‘Little Poncho’ Kousa Dogwood is a compact Korean Dogwood which blooms heavily in spite of its small size. The showy white bracts surround the actual flower parts in May and June. These are followed by large red fruits in fall which look like little hanging Christmas ornaments. The clean disease-resistant green foliage turns attractive shades of red and purple in the fall. This is a good Dogwood for smaller gardens and spaces.

Scarlet Fire® ('Rutpink') Kousa Dogwood is a lovely new introduction from Dr Tom Molnar's work at Rutgers University. The bracts, appearing in June, are a dark strong pink which hold up well in our hot summer weather and often are showy for up to 8 weeks. Cornus kousa Scarlet Fire® is a juvenile bloomer and vigorous grower, with clean disease resistant foliage. The classic red hanging fruit follows the flowers and the fall foliage color is also shades of red. This is the most pink, heaviest flowering Kousa Dogwood we know.

PRN Preferred:  Plentiful dark pink flowers, heavy bloomer at an early age.  The best pink we have seen.

'Snow Tower' Korean Dogwood is an upright form of Cornus kousa, which makes it ideal for a tight space.  The large white flowers (bracts) emerge in late May and June, a little later than most Korean Dogwoods.  The very showy flower display is followed by round red fruit in late summer which are very attractive to birds and mammals.  'Snow Tower' Dogwood has reddish purple fall color, and would make an excellent small street tree with several seasons of interest.  Found by Gary Handy of Handy Nursery in Oregon.

'Wolf Eyes' Kousa Dogwood has white flowers in June and variegated white and green foliage with striking red and pink fall color. It is a Manor View Farms selection. Although its leaves are less susceptible to burning than most other variegated cultivars, Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes' still prefers a shady location.  This is Richard Hesselein's favorite variegated Dogwood.

Venus® ('KN30-8') Hybrid Dogwood has huge white sterile flowers in May and June, and is resistant to Dogwood Anthracnose and powdery mildew. Another winner from Dr. Elwin Orton (the Jersey Star® series). Its claim to fame is that Venus® has the largest, pure white flowers ever observed in the breeding program, reaching 6-8" across.  Venus® is also one of the latest blooming Dogwoods per Bruce Crawford.

Cornus mas 'Golden Glory' has bright yellow flowers in March, followed by cherry red showy drupes in summer. Birds love the fruit and the exfoliating bark adds to the winter interest. Introduced by Synnesvedt Nursery of Illinois.  'Golden Glory' Corneliancherry is more upright than other forms, so it makes an attractive early spring tree.

'Kintoki' Japanese Cornel Dogwood has small brilliant yellow flowers in March, interesting multi-colored bark, and vivid red fruit in fall. It blooms 2 weeks earlier than Cornus mas and was selected in Japan as an excellent cut flower plant. 'Kintoki' was introduced into the US by Barry Yinger through Brookside Gardens.

PRN Preferred:  Very showy early yellow blooms, exfoliating bark and brilliant fall color and bright red fruit, a true multi-season plant.

Cornus sanguinea Proven Winners® Color Choice® Arctic Sun® ('Cato') is a variety of Bloodtwig Dogwood that has great winter interest because twigs are bright yellow at base flushing to blood red. Leaves are a good bright yellow in fall. From Andre van Nijnatten, who also brought us 'Winter Flame'.

Arctic Fire® Red (‘Farrow’) Redosier Dogwood is a beautiful native shrub which lights up the winter landscape with bright red twigs (great for winter containers). Cornus Arctic Fire® 'Red' has green ovate leaves in spring which are topped with flat ivory flower clusters (cymes) in May and June. Ornamental white berries (good food for birds) and deep red leaves follow in the fall. Redosier Dogwoods should be pruned back hard every 1 to 2 years, because the new growth provides the winter color.

Cornus sericea 'Baileyi' has white flowers followed by bluish fruit. Excellent red fall foliage defoliates to expose reddish purple twigs for winter interest. 'Bailey' Redosier Dogwood is a Bailey Nurseries introduction. It is a rapid grower and relatively salt tolerant. Excellent massed or as a specimen.  Cut the old wood back frequently to maintain the best winter color.

The light green disease-resistant summer foliage of 'Cardinal' Redosier Dogwood is followed by vivid, cherry red stems in winter.  Tiny white flat topped flower cluster appear in late spring changing to whitish drupes by summer which are eaten by birsds.  Most effective if the old wood is cut back yearly. It is relatively salt tolerant.  Developed by Dr. Pellet and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, so you know it's tough. 

PRN Preferred: The color of the twigs starts as a light orange in fall and matures to a bright red in winter on a very rigorous, healthy plant. 

Kelsey’s Dwarf Redosier Dogwood is a dwarf Cornus sericea, with an attractive rounded habit and the characteristic red twigs in the winter. The small white flowers (cymes) appear in late spring and are followed in late summer by white berries (drupes) which are attractive to birds. Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’ has attractive yellow fall foliage, and with its short rounded habit makes a good foundation plant as well as a short winter interest hedge.

Buttercup Winterhazel has delicate mildly fragrant yellow panicles in March and April.  Native to western Japan and Taiwan, the habit of Corylopsis pauciflora is broad but delicate, with small, neat leaves.  Winterhazel provides late winter to early spring blooms in the landscape before the common Forsythia.

PRN Preferred:  A smaller neater habit.

Spike Winterhazel has long yellow, very fragrant panicles in March and April. It blooms on racemes before the leaves unfold; plants have many racemes and each raceme has from 6 to 12 flowers.  Corylopsis spicata makes a wonderful cut flower branch to bring inside in the late winter.

Veitch Winterhazel is a showy, fragrant addition to the winter garden with primrose yellow, 3" pendant flowers set off by reddish anthers. Corylopsis veitchiana blooms in March on bare branches and then produces foliage that starts out bronzy and turns to green, with glabrous undersides.  Corylopsis are closely related to Witchhazels and should be sited in a place protected from late spring frosts.

Golden Spirit™ ('Ancot') Smokebush has smoky purple-gray flowers in June and July. Bronze new growth turns to chartreuse yellow leaves in summer. Golden Spirit™ has pinkish red and orange fall foliage. From Boskoop, Holland.

'Royal Purple' Smokebush has pink smoke-like flowers in June and July which are highlighted by brilliant purple leaves, which turn a reddish purple in fall.  Prune in late winter, cutting back hard will result in new shoots with deeper color and larger leaves but no flowers.  Cotinus coggygria is native from southern Europe to central China and 'Royal Purple' was introduced to the US in 1953 and originated from Lombarts Nursery in Boskoop, Holland.

The Velvet Fog® (‘SMNCCPP3’) Smokebush combines beautiful blue green foliage with a large production of reddish pink smoke-like flowers in mid summer. Cotinus The Velvet Fog® is an introduction from Tim Wood’s work at Spring Meadow™, chosen for its prolific, long-blooming qualities as well as its showy clean foliage. With its dense growth habit, the Velvet Fog® makes a good deer resistant hedge as well as an attractive specimen.

Winecraft Black® Smokebush ('NCCO1') produces deep purple velvety leaves in spring which are topped by dark pink smoke-like inflorescences in June.  The contrast between the flowers and foliage is striking.  After blooming, Cotinus Winecraft Black® does not fade as many other purple leaf plants do, retaining its dark purple color until fall, when the leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red.  All Cotinus benefit from a periodic pruning to promote new growth.

PRN Preferred: A showy combination of long lasting purple foliage and a compact habit.

Winecraft Gold® (‘MINCOJAU3’) Smokebush was bred in France by Corinne Liquiere. The neat round leaves emerge in orange to chartreuse shades, maturing to lime green by mid summer. Cotinus coggygria Winecraft Gold® is crowned with greenish pink smoke-like inflorescences in early summer on old growth, so do not prune in spring. The habit is compact and the fall foliage is a clean yellow. Winecraft Gold® is more scorch resistant than earlier yellow cultivars.

American Smoketree bluish to dark green leaves and unique greenish smoke-like flowers in July.  The fall color is spectacular, with shades of yellow, red and purple hues.  The bark is also a beautiful gray and mature trunks become scaly for additional winter interest.   Native to rocky mountain soils and limestone glades from Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Alabama westward to Oklahoma.  American Smokebush was almost lost during the Civil War because it was harvested and used to make yellow dye.  Cotinus obovatus makes a very large shrub or an attractive small tree.

PRN Preferred:  As noted by Dr. Dirr "may be the best of the all American shrub/trees for intensity of (fall) color." and we agree.

'Grace' Smoketree has pink flowers in June and July with bronze new foliage which turns to purple. Cotinus x 'Grace' has luminous reddish purple to orange fall foliage and is a cross from C. coggygria 'Velvet Cloak and C. obovatus. Cotinus is in the same family as and closely related to Rhus (Sumac).  From Peter Dummer, formerly at Hillier Nurseries in England and named after his wife.

'Winter King' Green Hawthorn has white flowers in late spring, brilliant red fruit well into the winter, and silver bark. Fruit are larger than the straight species and eaten by many birds including cedar waxwings. Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' has a lovely rounded habit, is more disease resistant and is largely spinless (with only occasional small thorns to 1.5" long).  One of our favorite multi-season small trees.  Introduced by Simpson Nursery, Vincennes, IN in 1955.

The blackish green evergreen foliage of 'Black Dragon' Japanese Cedar has an interesting irregular texture on an upright plant. Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' is much slower and smaller than C. 'Yoshino', so excellent for smaller spaces.  'Black Dragon' gets its name from its dark green needles that, in shade, almost look black.  This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the mid-1980s by Iseli Nursery, Boring, Oregon.  It is also salt tolerant.

Dwarf Globe Japanese Cedar is a dense rounded evergreen which adds a lot of color to the year-round landscape. The tight needles are a vivid bright green in the summer. In the fall and winter, they turn bluish purple with shades of rust. Since it is both pest resistant and compact, 'Globosa Nana' works well as a foundation evergreen, especially where deer are a problem. Pruning will probably never be needed to keep its neat habit.

'Radicans' Japanese Cedar is very similar to Cryptomeria 'Yoshino' in texture, habit and hardiness, but its habit is tighter with foliage for emerald green.  It is also more resistance to winter leader problems.  Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, NY has a large planting of Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans' flanking the stairs of the Vista Garden leading down to the Hudson River.  Head gardener, Timothy Tilghman finds 'Radicans' to be very wind resistant with less browning in the interior branches than 'Yoshino'.   A very useful and rewarding conifer. It is also salt tolerant.

'Yoshino' Japanese Cedar has dark green foliage and an upright habit. It is surprisingly shade and salt tolerant. It makes a large hedge very rapidly.

Leyland Cypress is a very fast growing, uniform evergreen conifer which makes a clean green hedge in a hurry. xCupressocyparis leylandii is best from containers because the root system seems to be slower growing than the top, and thus difficult to dig and transplant.

'Nikko' Slender Deutzia has delicate white flowers in April and May. The low growing neat green leaves turn purple in fall. Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' makes an excellent flowering groundcover or foundation plant for sun and shade. A wonderful National Arboretum introduction.  The cultivar name 'Nikko' appears to have been coined by British nurseryman C.G. Hollett of Greenbank Nursery, Cumbria, England. 

PRN Preferred:  A three season groundcover shrub, a real garden workhorse.  Continues to perform year after year.

Yuki Cherry Blossom® (‘NCDX2’) Slender Deutzia is a color breakthrough by Dr. Tom Ranney of NCSU. Normally a white flowered groundcover shrub, Yuki Cherry Blossom® is covered with delicate soft pink flowers in April and May. The small green leaves are borne on graceful arching branches which root where they touch the ground, making Deutzia x Yuki Cherry Blossom® an excellent low maintenance groundcover. The fall color is bronzy purple, which adds another season of beauty.

Yuki Snowflake® ('NCDX1') Deutzia blooms heavily in April and May, covering this low mounding shrub with a multitude of bell-like white flowers.  The delicate green leaves are held on arching branches which root when touching the soil making Deutzia x Yuki Snowflake® an attractive shade tolerant groundcover.  The foliage turns shades of burgundy in fall and is most colorful when grown in full sud.  A lovely hybrid from the work of Dr Tom Ranney of NC State.

'Nikko Blush' Slender Deutzia is a cross made by the US National Arboretum between Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' and Deutzia x rosea 'Carminea'. The result is a plant long sought by plant lovers, with bright pink buds opening in April and May to abundant soft pink flowers on arching low growing branches. Like 'Nikko', 'Nikko Blush' makes an excellent groundcover, and would be particularly attractive growing down a wall. The fall color is shades of burgundy.

'Copper' Bush Honeysuckle has sulfur yellow flowers in July, over copper colored new foliage. The fall color is shades of bronze, orange and red.  It is a  It is a suckering, densely-branched, shrub that when in bloom is loved by butterflies.  Diervilla lonicera 'Copper' is a very tough, maintenance-free plant, and tolerates dry shade well. Insects love the flowers.

PRN Preferred:  A true multi-seasonal plant plus it is native and deer resistant.  That's impressive.

'Butterfly' Southern Bush-honeysuckle has delicate bright yellow flowers June to July over green, disease-free foliage. The fall color of Diervilla sessifolia 'Butterfly' is shades of purple. It does well in dry, shady sites. A selection from Pieter Zwijnenburg of Holland.

PRN Preferred: Bright sulfer yellow summer flowers are followed by reddish purple fall foliage.

Kodiak® Orange ('G2X88544') Bush-honeysuckle puts out vivid orange new growth in he spring and summer.  Mature leaves are green, and are topped with bright sulfer yellow flowers throughout the summer, attracting butterflies, pollinators and hummingbirds.  Diervilla is a wonderful native for its compact neat habit and its showy orange red fall color.  Kodiak® Orange is also very versitile, as it does well in sun and shade, average and dry soils, and areas with deer pressure.

PRN Preferred: Attractive orange colored new growth in summer is followed by beautiful orange red fall color.

Kodiak® Red ('G2X885411') Bush-honeysuckle is a multi-purpose small shrub.  The new growth emerges in shades or red and bronze in spring and summer.  The spreading branches are tipped with sulfur yellow trumpet shaped flowers for an extended period, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.  Then in the fall, Diervilla Kodiak® Red puts on an extraordinary show as its leaves turn bright red.  Use as a specimen or a low hedge.

Paper Bush has amazingly fragrant clumps of little yellow tubular flowers (it's in the Daphne family!) on the tips of branches from January to March. Long tropical-looking deciduous green leaves, must be in a very protected site (and keep mulch away from the base of the plant) but the winter fragrance of Edgeworthia chrysantha flowers on a warm day makes it worth it.

Erica x darleyensis 'Mediterranean Pink' is a Heath that has pink flowers in March and April. It has a low mounded habit and is salt tolerant and evergreen.  It prefers a well-drained site.

Erica x darleyensis 'Mediterranean White' is a Heath that has white flowers in March and April. It has a low mounded habit and is salt tolerant and evergreen.  Does not tolerate "wet feet".

Euscaphis japonica is called the Korean Sweetheart Tree because of its rose red fruit pods which look like little hearts as they open.  The broad ivory yellow flower panicles appear in June, and are followed by the showy fruit displayed August through September.  When the red pods open, they are made even more showy by revealing large shiny blue-black seeds.  The bark is also attractive, with white striations on the purplish brown coloration.  This was one of Dr JC Raulston's favorite exotic tree introductions.

American Beech is one of our most stately native trees, and also one of the most problematic ones to transplant B&B. As a result, we are growing it in containers so everyone can have a chance to marvel at its beauty in their own landscape. The bark is beautiful all year, maintaining its silver-gray color throughout its lifespan. The summer leaves are a large and glossy dark green, often turning an attractive golden bronze in the fall. The juvenile beeches usually retain their foliage throughout the winter, turning to a soft whitish-tan after the fall. When Fagus grandifolia is mature enough to bear fertile nuts, it is a very important food source for birds and mammals.

Narrow green leaves emerge from tan culms in late spring, adding to previous season's foliage.  Vase-shaped, clumping, deer resistant and semi-evergreen.

'Chicago Hardy' Fig has proven to be reliable as far north as Chicago with some protection, so it is an excellent choice for the Mid-Atlantic area.  It is thought to be originally named 'Bensonhurst Purple', and the fruit is sweet and green with a light brownish-purple blush.  Without any protection it will periodically die to the ground but will come back reliably.  With winter protection, you get fruit production much earlier in the summer.  The foliage is large, dramatic and subtly fragrant.

Dwarf Fothergilla has white fragrant bottlebrush flowers in April and May and they are especially showy since they appear before the foliage.  Fall foliage of Fothergilla gardenii is yellow, orange and red. It is wet site tolerant, but also does well in dryer woodland sites.  Plants may spread by root suckers.   Bees, and other pollinators are attracted to this native shrub.  The shrub is named for John Fothergill, British physician and botanist.

Fothergilla gardenii 'Suzanne' is a compact form of Dwarf Fothergilla from Dr. Michael Dirr, with beautiful white fragrant flowers in April and May, followed by lovely orange-red fall color. Named after his youngest daughter.

'Blue Shadow' Fothergilla has honey-scented white bottlebrush flowers in April and May, followed by dusty blue foliage. Fall color is a beautiful combination of yellow, orange and red. A selection by Gary Handy of Handy Nursery in Oregon.

'Mount Airy' Fothergilla has fragrant white bottlebush flowers in April and May and boasts yellow, orange and red fall foliage. Selected by Dr. Michael Dirr at the Mount Airy Arboretum for good dark blue-green foliage and consistent fall color.

The Franklin Tree has white Camellia-like fragrant flowers in late summer with striking red fall foliage. Franklinia alatamaha needs good organic matter and constant moisture in its planting location. Ours are from seed rather than cuttings and our experience is that Franklinias have more vigor and disease resistance when grown from seed.  John Bartram and his son William discovered Franklinia growing along the banks of the Altamaha River in southeastern Georgia and the genus name honors Benjamin Franklin.  Batram collected seed from this spot in the late 1700s, and few years later the tree became extinct in the wild so all Franklinia alatamaha are decedents from the original seeds.

'Kleim's Hardy' Cape Jasmine has large single white extremely fragrant flowers in July and August. Gardenias are native to southern Japan and China and grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade.  Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy' is one of the most cold hardy cultivars, has rounded glossy green foliage and is semi-evergreen.  This plant needs a sheltered spot.

Creeping Wintergreen is an evergreen groundcover that thrives in wooded, well drained locations. Gaultheria procumbens prefers acidic soils.  The delicate pink and white bells appear on the stems in early to mid summer and are followed by small red fruit in the fall (much loved by small woodland critters). Wintergreen is a rhizomatous, creeping, woody, evergreen groundcover of the heath family that is native to woodlands in Eastern North America.  The leaves when crushed have the lovely scent of wintergreen.

‘Autumn Gold’ Maidenhair Tree is a symmetrical male Ginkgo with an attractive spreading habit. Ginkgos are dioicous, and the fleshy seeds from the females smell awful, so its important to select male cultivars. Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ was an introduction by Saratoga Horticultural Foundation in 1955, chosen for its shape, pest resistance and great tolerance of difficult urban conditions. The fan-shaped green leaves turn a lovely yellow in fall, and make a beautiful gold carpet when they fall. Ginkgos are among the oldest living trees, with fossils of their leaves from 150 million years ago.

Introduced by Princeton Nurseries in 1967, Ginkgo biloba Princeton Sentry® is a columnar, male cultivar of Gingko that is tolerant to many adverse conditions. Capable of handling urban sites, polluted and compacted soils, as well as saline conditions, this Ginkgo cultivar is a popular choice as a street tree. Chartreuse, two-lobed foliage turns a uniform golden yellow in autumn and persists on the tree for several weeks, eventually dropping and creating a golden, halo-like carpet around the base.

Espresso™ (‘JFS’) Kentucky Coffeetree produces large doubly compound green leaves quite late in the spring (May), on coarse branches. Gymnocladus dioicus Espresso™ is a male form, which is good because the females produce very large brown seedpods (used by early settlers as a substitute for coffee).  An excellent street tree due to its high tolerance in tough spots and the dabbled shade it provides is well received by people, plants or sod growing beneath.  The habit is somewhat lanky when young, but mature Kentucky Coffeetrees are very handsome and trouble free. An introduction by J Frank Schmidt and Son of Oregon.

'Jersey Belle' Carolina Silverbell has very large white bell-shaped flowers that hang thickly under the branches in May. Foliage turns an attractive yellow in fall and the bark adds winter interest with its contrasting striations. Four-winged, brownish, nut-like fruits appear in the fall and often persist well into the winter. Halesia carolina (formerly tetraptera) 'Jersey Belle' was named and introduced by Princeton Nurseries.

Two-wing Silverbell is a lovely native tree that is covered with white bell-like flowers in early spring.  When the flowers drop, they carpet the ground under Halesia diptera var. magniflora with a white blanket.  The blooms are followed by pendulous green two-winged fruit which turn tan in fall.  The fruit persist into winter, and add an interesting element as they are moved by breezes.

'Amethyst' Vernal Witchhazel has fragrant lavender-purple flowers appearing in late winter and early spring, followed by coppery new growth. Good orange and yellow fall color. Hamamelis vernalis 'Amethyst' is also salt and wet site tolerant. Great as a cut branch in the house for a spring "pick-me-up". Found by Tim Brotzman of Ohio and named by Don Shadow.

PRN Preferred:  The purple flowers are a very unusual color for Witchhazels.

Autumn Embers™ (‘KLMNINETEEN’) Vernal Witchhazel is a lovely selection of our native shrub that was selected by Roy Klehm for its excellent fall color.  The foliage varies from red purple to yellow orange, depending on the fall temperatures, with the more vivid colors appearing in northern locations.  He named it Autumn Embers™ because he said the fall foliage colors looked like a glowing campfire on a crisp autumn evening.  The additional gift from Autumn Embers™ Witchhazel is its small fragrant orange flowers in February and March.  All Hamamelis vernalis have proven to be both salt and wet site tolerant. 

‘Beholden’ Vernal Witchhazel is a great cross between Hamamelis ‘Amethyst’ (purple) and Hamamelis ‘Holden’ (yellow to orange). Like Chris Lane’s introduction ‘Holden’, Hamamelis vernalis ‘Beholden’ is a very early Witchhazel, starting to bloom in late fall. The strap-like flower petals are a vivid orange and fragrant, on a sturdy non-suckering shrub (propagated from cuttings, not grafted). The great Hamamelis expert Tim Brotsman hybridized this lovely native.

‘Blue Moon’ Vernal Witchhazel blooms in February and March, producing purple to bluish violet strap-like flowers. The fall color is shades of yellow and the habit is vase-shaped. A classic eastern woodland shrub. We grow Hamamelis ‘Blue Moon’ on its own roots so suckering is not a problem.

Grape Fizz™ (‘KLMNN’) Vernal Witchhazel is an introduction by Roy Klehm. The ribbon-like winter flowers are reddish purple and fragrant. They are borne on bare branches and provide important food to winter pollinators on warm days. The foliage is green, turning to shades of orange and yellow in fall. Hamamelis vernalis Grape Fizz™ is compact in habit, and grown on its own roots instead of being grafted.

‘Kohankie Red’ Ozark Witchhazel came from Kohankie Nursery in Perry, Ohio in the late 1950s. Its fragrant threadlike flowers appear in late winter in shades of reddish purple, lightening to orange at the tips of the petals. The sturdy green foliage turns shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. The great thing about our Hamamelis vernalis cultivars is that they are propagated by cuttings, so there will be no problem with understock suckers.

Orange Sunrise™ (‘KLMT’) Vernal Witchhazel comes from Roy Klehm’s extensive breeding work with Hamamelis. The flowers appear on the bare branches in late winter, in shades of light orange. The strap-like petals are showy at a time of year when there is so little in bloom, and Orange Sunrise™ supplies nourishment to winter pollinators on warm days. The summer foliage is green, turning yellow in fall. Propagated by cuttings, so no suckering.

‘Purple Ribbons’ Ozark Witchhazel blooms in late winter and early spring, producing fragrant lavender purple threadlike flowers along the bare branches. The green leaves follow after the bloom period and add fall season interest when they take on shades of yellow and orange. Another lovely introduction from Roy Klehm of Beaver Creek and Song Sparrow Nurseries. Grown on its own roots, so understock suckering is never a problem.

‘Spring Bounty’ (‘KLMPP’) Vernal Witchhazel was introduced by Roy Klehm. The flowers appear in late winter and early spring, in attractive shades of reddish purple. The green summer foliage is followed by yellow leaves in the fall. Hamamelis vernalis ‘Spring Bounty’ is a tough native shrub that performs well in sun and shade. Since it is propagated by cuttings rather than grafting, it does not suffer from suckering understock.

‘Upchurch’ Ozark was selected by Brian Upchurch, a great nurseryman from North Carolina. The ribbon-shaped flowers open in late winter in shades of orange and yellow. The habit is more upright than most Witchhazels, making this native shrub a good choice for tighter spaces. Hamamelis vernalis ‘Upchurch’ is a good source of food for pollinators active in winter. We grow it on its own roots to avoid suckering problems.

Woodland Joy™ (‘KLMLL’) Vernal Witchhazel is another attractive selection by the great plantsman Roy Klehm. The ribbon-like flowers are shades of deep orange, displayed on bare branches in winter. Hamamelis vernalis Woodland Joy™ has nice green foliage throughout the summer, followed by yellow leaves in the fall. With the winter fragrance, Witchhazels are a welcome cut branch inside the house. Suckering will not be a problem because Hamamelis vernalis Woodland Joy™ is propagated by cuttings.

‘Sunglow’ Common Witchhazel comes from a plant at the National Arboretum, shared with Hidden Hollow Nursery of Tennessee. Hamamelis virginiana ‘Sunglow’ has showier flowers than most typical species examples, producing lemon yellow fragrant blooms in late fall. This large native shrub is a lovely versatile presence in Eastern forests, with yellow fall foliage and flowers when little else is showy.

PRN Preferred: Large yellow blooms with strong fragrance light up the late fall landscape.

‘Vincent’s Red’ Common Witchhazel came to us from Ohio Hamamelis King Tim Brotzman. The original plant came from Connecticut, and was selected because the spidery flower petals are red at the centers, shifting to orange and yellow on the tips. Hamamelis virginiana ‘Vincent’s Red’ starts blooming in late fall and continues into early winter. Witchhazels thrive in both sun and shade and are common in the Northeast woodland understory.

‘Winter Champagne’ Common Witchhazel is an introduction by Tim Brotzman of Madison Ohio from seedlings he got from Harald Neubauer of Tennessee. It produces fragrant flowers of a light champagne orange starting in December, continuing through January. Because of the later bloom period Tim thinks this may be a spontaneous virginiana/vernalis cross. Hamamelis ‘Winter Champagne’ is a vigorous native that brightens up the winter landscape, and provides food for winter pollinators.

'Jelena' Witchhazel has copper-orange fragrant flowers in late winter and yellow-orange fall foliage.  It was named for Jelena de Belder, and has won numerous awards in Europe.  This is our freind Andrew Bunting's favorite Hamamelis.

'Sunburst' Witchhazel has large lemon yellow fragrant flowers in late winter and early spring and yellow fall foliage. An interesting note from Scott Canning of Wave Hill is that winter leaf retention in Witchhazels is a juvenile characteristic, and all Hamamelis outgrow it after 8 or 10 years.

Seven-Son Flower buds appear in early summer but the fragrant white flowers don't open until August.  The single flowers appear in a seven flowered whorl and are loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators.  After the flowers fade their calyx darken to a vivid red color and are possibly showier than when in flower.   After the leaves fall, the exfoliating bark of Heptacodium miconioides adds winter interest. A good substitute for a Crapemyrtle in a more northern climate.  We have found Heptacodiums thriving in both Vermont and Maine.

'Annabelle' Smooth Hydrangea has white snowball flowers in June and July, a classic plant from Joe McDaniel, a University of Illinis professor.  The name Annabelle is a reference to the town of Anna, Illinois, where the plant was was shared amougst gardeners.   Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' is considered by many to be somewhat deer resistant! Bruce Cole recommends a late spring gentle trimming to delay the flower period and reduce the flopping.  Smooth Hydrangeas are salt tolerant.

PRN Preferred: This may have been around for a long time, but it’s wonderful for its prolific, natural-looking flowers and its toughness.

'Haas Halo' Smooth Hydrangea was selected by Rick Ray of Pennsylvania for its extraordinarily large white lacecap flowers.  They are produced for a long period in mid summer, and are displayed on sturdy stems which do not flop, unlike many mopheads.  'Haas Halo' is tolerant of full sun as long as good moisture is consistently present, and its 14" flowers make lovely cut or dried flowers.  Excellent for a natural look along woodland edges.  2020 PHS Gold Medal Plant!

PRN Preferred: The best lacecap Smooth Hydrangea we have seen, with large showy inflorescences.  Pollinators love it.

The very large white mophead flowers of Incrediball® ('Abetwo') Smooth Hydrangea appear in June and July. The sterile flowers emerge lime green before maturing to pure white.  Considered to be an improved version of H. ‘Annabelle’.  Incrediball® has larger flowers and thicker upright stems that do not flop.  Can be cut and used in dried flower arrangements.

Incrediball® Blush ('NCHA4') Smooth Hydrangea is a color breakthrough, with large soft pink mophead flowers supported by strong stems.  As the blooms mature, they change to shades of light green.  Incrediball® Blush is attractive as a cut flower as well as in dried arrangements.  All Smooth Hydrangeas benefit from a good pruning in late winter, since they bloom on new growth.

Invincibelle Garnetta® (‘NCHA6’) Smooth Hydrangea comes from the work of Dr. Tom Ranney of NC State University. The blooms appear in early summer, emerging in garnet shades which mature to a good deep pink. Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle Garnetta® starts blooming somewhat later than other Smooth Hydrangeas, and will rebloom sporadically through the summer, especially if spent blooms are removed. The color is a standout, and the habit is neat and compact.

Invincibelle Wee White® (‘NCHA5’) Smooth Hydrangea is the first dwarf Annabelle Hydrangea, from the Proven Winners® breeding program. The flowers emerge from soft pink buds which rapidly mature to white mopheads on strong short stems. Hydrangea Invincibelle Wee White® starts blooming in June and reblooms sporadically all summer, especially if deadheaded. The dried flower heads are attractive, and this compact mounding beauty would be a great patio container plant for partial shade locations.

Invincibelle® Ruby (‘NCHA3’) Smooth Hydrangea produces ruby red to soft pink mophead flowers starting in early summer. Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle® Ruby has strong stems supporting the flowers, and it blooms intermittently throughout the summer, especially if deadheaded. Since it flowers on new wood, you can prune it hard in the spring without compromising the flower display. Another improvement by Dr. Tom Ranney of NC State University.

BloomStruck® Endless Summer® Bigleaf Hydrangea ('PIIH-II') has large blue or rose-pink mophead flowers, depending on the soil pH.  Since it is a rebloomer, the flower display continues all summer.  The blooms are held on red-purple stems, and the glossy green foliage is set-off by dark red petioles and veins.  An excellent new introduction from Dr. Michael Dirr showing good mildew resistance as well as great flower power.

PRN Preferred:  The thicker leaf handles the heat/sun better than other macrophyllas, stronger stems and more intense flower color.  We prefer BloomStruck over Endless Summer®.

Cherry Explosion™ (‘McKay’) Bigleaf Hydrangea has large, cherry red lacecap flowers all summer. The flowers have strong, deeply saturated sterile petals which surround the pink fertile florets. Hydrangea macrophylla Cherry Explosion™ comes from Thomas Buechel and McKay Nursery of Wisconsin, so you know it’s cold tolerant. The foliage is dark green and lustrous in the summer, taking on purple tones in the fall. Introduced by Star® Roses.

Endless Summer® ('Bailmer') The Original Hydrangea has large pink or blue mophead flowers and blooms all summer on new growth. The pH level in the soil largely determines the flower color.  From Dr. Dirr and Bailey Nurseries. It is also salt tolerant. 

'Glowing Embers' Bigleaf Hydrangea has larger crimson purple mophead flowers over lustrous, thick textured leaves. Thought by many (including Dr. Michael Dirr) to be the same as H. 'Alpenglow' the depth of its flower color changes to more purple than red in the presence of higher soil acidity. Salt tolerant and sun tolerant.

Blue Jangles® ('SMHMTAU’) Bigleaf Hydrangea is part of the Let’s Dance® series from Proven Winners®. The reblooming mophead flowers are a dark blue in acid soil, or a strong pink in alkaline soil. The habit of Hydrangea Blue Jangles® is compact, and since it blooms on both old and new wood, this reblooming Hydrangea does not need pruning.

Summer Crush® ('Bailmacfive') Endless Summer® Bigleaf Hydrangea blooms throughout the summer, producing lots of raspberry red to vivid purple mophead flowers.  The habit is compact, with glossy dark green leaves that tolerate sun well.  Hydrangea Summer Crush® is a new exciting rebloomer form Bailey Nurseries, resulting from the work of  Dr Michael Dirr with reblooming Hydrangea.

PRN Preferred: The dark pink mophead flowers are produced all summer, and the foliage stays thick, lustrous and clean.

'Tokyo Delight' Bigleaf Hydrangea is a beautiful lacecap with large white sterile florets on the edge and blue fertile flowers in the center of the flowers. Blooms age to a lovely, long lasting rose color. Hydrangea macrophylla 'Tokyo Delight' is tough as nails and a reliable bloomer every year.

A new exciting offering from Dr. Michael Dirr and Bailey Nurseries, Hydrangea macrophylla Twist 'n' Shout® ('PIIHM-I') Endless Summer® is a cross between Endless Summer® and Lady in Red™ and is a reblooming deep pink lacecap with red stems. Fall color is also colorful, turning a striking burgundy red. Bruce Cole of Jackson, New Jersey finds that it is a very floriferous rebloomer. It is also salt tolerant.

Double Delights™ 'Wedding Gown' ('Dancing Snow') Bigleaf Hydrangea is a white lacecap with extra flower power. The large sterile florets start as lime maturing to white, and are very double. The bloom period is prolonged, starting in May and continuing through the summer. The combination of big flowers on a compact plant makes this a winner for big and small landscapes.

Berry White® (‘Renba’) Hardy Hydrangea which has its flower color progression spelled out in its name- white blooms maturing to berry pink and red. Hydrangea paniculata Berry White® is a mid-sized First Editions® introduction with roundish white panicles starting in July. The blooms age through shades of pink, raspberry red and wine red, before staying tan throughout the winter. The cooler the nighttime temperatures, the deeper the red colors.

Bobo® ('ILVOBO') Hardy Hydrangea is dwarf in habit without sacrificing the number of flowers it produces.  The rounded blooms start as large lime green balls in late June and progress through clear white to shades of soft pink as they mature.  The flowers persist through most of the summer, and the dwarf habit of Hydrangea paniculata Proven Winners® Color Choice® Bobo® makes it an excellent addition to mixed perennial borders as well as foundation plantings.  Developed in Belgium by Dr. Johan Van Huylenbroek. 2021 PHS Gold Medal Plant.

PRN Preferred:  We're impressed by the number and beauty of the blooms, especially when combined with its compact habit.

Fire Light Tidbit® (‘SMNHPK’) Hardy Hydrangea is a very compact form of PeeGee Hydrangea, with the added benefit of fall color in the panicles. The flowers of Hydrangea paniculata Fire Light Tidbit® start out as white mopheads in mid summer. As the daylight wanes and the temperatures cool, they turn lovely shades of pink and red. Fire Light Tidbit® makes a beautiful dried flower if cut when it is turning color. This is a good choice for containers because of its small habit and heavy bloom production.

Fire Light® (‘SMHPFL’) Hardy Hydrangea is a compact form of Pee Gee Hydrangeas, with creamy white flowers starting in early July. The blooms age to striking shades of dark rose red, particularly if Hydrangeas Fire Light® is trimmed a little in May (it postpones the bloom production). The cooler the weather and the shorter the daylight, the deeper the pink to red color. All Pee Gee Hydrangeas are very cold hardy, but the compact size of Fire Light® makes this useful in tighter spaces that cannot take huge shrubs.

PRN Preferred: The white panicles become an intensely dark red in late summer and early fall.

Lime-green panicle flowers of Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' emerge in July and age in August to white and rose-pink. One of the best of the Pee Gee Hydrangeas, from Pieter Zwijnenburg, Jr.

Limelight Prime® (‘SMNHPH’) Hardy Hydrangea starts blooming in mid summer, producing cone-shaped lime green panicles which rapidly turn white. The habit of Hydrangea Limelight Prime® is more compact than the original Limelight®, and the stems are sturdier so the flowers do not flop after rains. As the summer temperatures cool, Limelight Prime® takes on shades of rose pink. The seedheads are tan and an interesting addition in winter. The cold tolerance and compact habit make this a good candidate for large containers.

Little Lime® ('Jane') Hardy Hydrangea has the lovely chartreuse-to-white flowers of H. 'Limelight', but on a more compact plant. Its diminutive size makes it a better choice for a small garden application without losing the striking effect of the large colorful panicles in July and August.

Little Quick Fire® ('SMHPLQF') Hardy Hydrangea is suited to smaller gardens because of its shorter statue.  The blooms start out white in June and age to dusty pink by late in the summer.  The color is more intense in cooler weather, so trimming Hydrangea paniculata Proven Winners® Color Choice® Little Quick Fire® back moderately in June will promote this by delaying the start of flowering.  Hardy Hydrangeas are valuable ornamentals because of their lengthy bloom period, and they also make excellent cut or dried flowers.

Quick Fire Fab® (‘SMNHPM’) Hardy Hydrangea differs from Hydrangea Quick Fire® because the flowers are very large mopheads rather than more open panicles. Hydrangea Quick Fire Fab® begins blooming earlier than most paniculatas, and produces a quantity of white blooms which age to rose and then red as the days shorten and the night grows cooler. They make great dried cut flowers, holding the red colors through the winter.

Quick Fire® ('Bulk') Hardy Hydrangea is a very early blooming Pee Gee Hydrangea. Flowers start out white in June and age to deep pink by mid summer. From Mark Bulk in Holland. Ronni Hock of Lawrenceville says it is her favorite because of the lovely red stems.  This is Dick Karkalits' favorite Pee Gee Hydrangea becasue it blooms very early and the aged panicles hold up well into October.

Strawberry Sundae® ('Rensun') First Editions® Hardy Hydrangea is a compact version of Bailey's beautiful Hydrangea Vanilla Strawberry™. The white cone-shaped panicles appear in July and rapidly take on lovely shades of deep strawberry pink as they age. Hydrangea paniculata blooms for an extended period, often up to the start of fall, so the bloom display often includes both white and vivid pink. Strawberry Sundae™ originated in France, from the breeding work of Jean Renault.

Vanilla Strawberry™ ('Renhy') First Editions® Hardy Hydrangea starts its bloom cycle with enormous creamy-white, cone-shaped panicles that age through soft pink to a bright reddish rose. Since the plant produces new blooms for an extended period, Vanilla Strawberry™ has a three-toned effect. From Bailey Nurseries, Inc. of Minnesota, who got it from the Renault Nursery in France.

'Amethyst' Oakleaf Hydrangea has upright white panicles that age to a gorgeous wine red, retaining this color even when used as a dried cut flower. The branching is denser and more upright than other Oakleafs, making this cultivar more suitable for smaller gardens.  The fall color is an added asset, turning a lovely burgundy-red. Another great selection by the Hydrangea king, Dr. Michael Dirr, which we first admired at the Scott Arboretum.

Gatsby Pink® ('JoAnn') Oakleaf Hydrangea starts blooming in June, producing large white upright panicles.  As the flowers age, they take on shades of pink which are attractive for a lengthy time throughout the summer.  The disease free green foliage takes on shades of red and burgundy in the fall, and as Hydrangea Gatsby Pink® matures, the exfoliating tan bark adds winter interest.

Gatsby Star® (‘Doughill’) Oakleaf Hydrangea produces long white panicles of hose-in-hose sterile florets. As the flowers mature, they take on a bicolored effect because the newly emerging star-shaped florets are green and the mature ones are white. In cooler weather the older florets take on shades of rose pink, making Hydrangea quercifolia Gatsby Star® a wonderful dried flower (hang upside down when drying for best results). The fall foliage color is shades of red, orange and burgundy.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' has white panicle flowers in June and July and is a compact form of the Oakleaf Hydrangea. It has burgundy-red fall foliage.  'Pee Wee' Oakleaf Hydrangea grows much smaller with smaller leaves and smaller flower panicles than the species.  Introduction by Aldrich Nursery in Alabama. One of our favorite Oakleaf Hydrangeas, because the foliage is so neat and clean.

PRN Preferred:  All the great attributes of an Oakleaf Hydrangea but in compact form.

'Queen of Hearts' Oakleaf Hydrangea comes from the exciting US National Arboretum breeding program in McMinnville, TN.  This lovely cross between H. 'Pee Wee' and H. Snow Queen™ starts blooming a week or more later than most other Oakleafs, with large upright white panicles which slowly age to a deep rose pink.  The fall color is mahogany red, and winter interest is provided by tan exfoliating bark on older plants.  This is a sister seedling of H. 'Ruby Slippers'.

Snow Queen™ ('Flemygea') Oakleaf Hydrangea has upright white panicle flowers and burgundy-red fall foliage. Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen™ was introduced by noted plantsman, William Flemer III. All the Oakleaf Hydrangeas show some deer resistance.

PRN Preferred:  Flowers have an upright habit so they stand out above the foliage.

‘Snowcicle’ Oakleaf Hydrangea comes from Richard Davis, and has 12” panicles of double white florets. The long vigorous blooms change to a combination of creamy white, soft green and dusty rose as they mature, giving the flowers an interesting tricolor effect. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowcicle’ has sturdy stems supporting the very large inflorescences. Similar to Hydrangea Snowflake, it also makes a good dried flower.

'Snowflake' ('Brido') Oakleaf Hydrangea has sterile younger florets which emerge from the older florets for an extended period, resulting in a strikingly long, multi-colored panicle. The new florets are white and the older ones are a dusty pink, working well as a unique landscape plant. Red-purple fall foliage. Makes an extraordinary dried flower.

'Blue Bird' Sawtooth Hydrangea has blue lacecap flowers starting in June. The leaves are larger and rounder than H. 'Blue Billow'.  A very hardy Hydrangea, with excellent cold tolerance.

Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® ('SMNHSDD') Sawtooth Hydrangea is a very showy reblooming lacecap in the Tuff Stuff™ series.  The short statue does not limit the number of large flowers, as Hydrangea Ah-Ha® is a heavy bloomer on both old and new wood.  Since it is a serrata, its cold tolerance is also an advantage.  The double sterile florets vary in color from pink to purple, depending on the soil pH and amount of aluminum sulfate.

Tuff Stuff™ ('MAK20') Sawtooth Hydrangea is an exciting addition to the reblooming world, with sturdy reddish pink lacecap flowers produced on new and old wood.  Hydrangea Tuff Stuff™ blooms from early summer through to the fall, and the flowers are followed by attractive fall foliage in shades of bronze red.  Pruning should be done in mid summer, ceasing by early August to allow new growth to harden off.  

The small yellow flowers of 'Gemo' St Johnswort are produced for an extended period through July and August, appearing in profusion on a neat compact shrub covered with narrow green leaves. The seed capsules sound like little rattles when brushed against or moved by the wind.  We love the delicate overall effect of this tough native.

PRN Preferred:  Flowers for an extremely long period of time, a workhorse in the garden.

Dr. Paul Cappiello of Yew Dell Gardens in Kentucky selected Blue Velvet™ ('CCFLPC-1') St Johnswort, a blue-leaved seedling of H. kalmiatum. The attractive small-leaved foliage of Hypericum x Blue Velvet™ is set off by lovely bright yellow flowers for an extended period in mid summer.  The name 'Blue Velvet' fits the appearance of this lovely introduction perfectly.

Large yellow flowers bloom for an extended period starting in June. 'Hidcote' St Johnswort benefits from hard pruning in spring. Flowers are unusually large, slightly fragrant and bloom throughout the summer.  Hypericum x 'Hidcote' is salt tolerant and does well at the seashore.

‘Chesapeake’ Japanese Holly has a compact, upright, pyramidal shape, with small lustrous evergreen foliage. The dense habit makes Ilex ‘Chesapeake’ an excellent candidate for a neat short hedge which requires little pruning to maintain its shape. Similar in shape to Ilex ‘Steeds’, ‘Chesapeake’ also works well as a formal foundation plant.

PRN Preferred: Similar in shape to ‘Steeds’, but a tighter form with attractive lustrous foliage.