Connoisseur Plants
Connoisseur Plants are rare, new plants, or hard-to-find old favorites. These wonderful plants are being offered to our upper level members, Collector (formerly Sponsor) level and higher.
Please note that several plants are available in very limited quantities. For some plants, we don't know the full range of hardiness, only how it has behaved at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Sometimes, we cannot find any information in our references on a particular taxon. This does not mean that the plant doesn't exist, perhaps just that we are staying one step ahead of published information. One of the purposes of the Arboretum is to test new plants for suitability to the southeastern United States. By growing some of these "new-to-us" plants in your own garden, you can be a part of this evaluation process. Feedback from you is invaluable!
Happy choosing, and thank you for your continued and invaluable support of the JC Raulston Arboretum.
To submit your selections, please use the form link in the e-mail you received on February 21, 2024 from Kathryn Wall. If you need assistance, please e-mail Kathryn at kbwall@ncsu.edu or call (919) 513-7004 Selections should be placed no later than end of day March 3, 2024.
Note: The distribution year listed below is the year the plants were awarded. Members request them early the following year. And they're picked up or delivered shortly thereafter.
1998 Plant Selection
This attractive, fast-growing, medium sized (20'-50') tree was acquired by the JCRA in 1996 from seed collected in China by our friends at the University of Nebraska. Despite its huge native range (Nepal all the way east to central China), little is known about this maple in the United States. Although European books indicate that this species is evergreen and tender (Zone 9), it has been decidedly deciduous for us, even bearing blazing red fall color in 1998 (but never since) and has never suffered any cold damage in typical Zone 7 winters. Smoothleaf maple bears attractive sage-green to lustrous, dark green leaves throughout the summer, these being glaucous white underneath. The bark is smooth and striated, making for a most attractive tree. Our two specimens have averaged 4' of growth per year. The plants offered here are raised from seed collected off of our specimens growing at the JCRA.
- deciduous tree to 20'–50'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7
This large shrub has 1'' long, glossy, evergreen, elipitic leaves, with summertime, spherical flowerheads like the native buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), grows to 10' in sun. Zone 7. Adina rubella 'Purple Flower' is similar but has purple flowerheads. You will receive one of each. (3" plants)
An onion native to the Great Plains of the Midwest, this species has surprisingly been absent from cultivation. Our seed, obtained in 1998, originated from Missouri, and we have been impressed with the garden performance of the plants ever since. In summer, dense heads of lavender-pink flowers on 12"–18" very sturdy scapes appear, standing atop the sea-green leaves. Bulbs multiply quickly, with clumps of 20+ bulbs/bulblets being produced only after two seasons in the ground. Hardy through Zone 5. (6" plants)
- to 12"–18"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
This excellent cultivar of the somewhat familiar "strawberry tree", a European evergreen member of the Ericaceae (heath family) native from southwest Ireland south to Portugal, and all the way eastward across the Medterranean to Asia Minor. With a broad geographic range such as this, one would expect this plant to be quite adapted to a range of growing conditions, and to no great surprise, it has prospered here in Raleigh for decades. 'Compacta' represents a slower-growing cultivar of this species, with plants reaching 5' tall or less. Expect it to bear lovely, glossy, evergreen foliage; off-white urn-shaped flowers in late fall through winter, and bright red, strawberry-like fruits in late winter to spring. Hardy through Zone 7. Shade to sun.
- hardy
Ardisia shuilensis
An evergreen shrub new to the United States from Cliff Parks, Camellia Forest Nursery, Chinese collections. Very attractive foliage, hardiness not yet known, we are guessing Zones 7–8. (3" plants)
Arisaema ringens, Arisaema consanguineum, and Arisaema triphyllum. These are species of the "Jack in the Pulpit". A. ringens and Arisaema consanguineum are the Asian species and A. triphyllum is our native species. You will receive two bulbs. Please circle your preference and we will try to give you your choices.
- hardy semi-hardy
Aristolochia tomentosa
Native deciduous vine with leaves to 8", it is the larval food of pipe vine swallowtail , it's odd shaped flowers give it it's common name, Zone 6 at least. (4"–6" plants)
Aronia ×prunifolia
purple chokeberry
Native deciduous shrub with showy purple black fruit and good fall color, sun to light shade, to 8'. Zone 5. (3" plants)
- hardy
This semi-evergreen barberry shrub grows to 3'. It has blue green foliage and an arching habit, yellow flowers in the summer, sun. Zone 7 at least. (10–12" plants)
- semi-evergreen shrub to 3'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7 at least
- yellow flowers in summer
- blue-green foliage
Betula 'Crimson Frost'
purple-leaf birch
Hybrid birch with purple foliage. (10" plants)
Betula humilis
This is a smaller growing birch species that's similar to the beautiful white barked paper birch, unlikely to do well here in the Piedmont but perhaps will do well in the mountains. Zone 3. Sun. Native to Saskatchewan to Alaska. (12" plants)
These medium to large shrubs attracts the butterflies. We have several varieties to choose from. We have limited quantities of some varieties so we are asking you to circle the two you would most like to have. Here are the different varieties to choose from: 'Cornwall Blue', 'Moon Shadow', 'Nanho Blue', 'Nanho Purple', 'Summer Rose', and 'Miss Ellen'.
- hardy
Buddleja ×weyeriana
Weyer's golden butterfly bush
This is a hybrid between the common butterfly-bush, B. davidii and the yellow-flowered B. globosa. Offspring look like yellow B.davidii and are large vigorous 8' shrubs. We have two varieties to choose from 'Honeycomb' and 'Moonlight'. You will receive one of these so please circle your preference.
- hardy
Callistemon macropunctatus
scarlet bottlebrush
Flowers are 4" long, bottlebrush-like, with 1" red stamens, 12' evergreen shrub. New growth is hairy and silky. Hortus says Zone 9, but other Callistemons have been hardy at the Arboretum. Sun. Native to Australia . (12" plants)
This Camellia is often referred to as 'Broadrose' but is often seen as 'Jacks'. The flower is deep rose, formal double. Anne Clapp says it is an excellent garden plant. For the shade. Zone 7. ( 4"–8" plants)
- evergreen shrub to 6'
- plant in light shade
- hardy to zone 7
- rose flowers in spring
- lovely flower form
Medium-sized, broadleaf, 30', evergreen tree, related to evergreen oaks. Rich, dark green foliage, iridescent bronze on the undersides. Formerly known as Lithocarpus chinensis. Zone 7. Native to China. Sun to light shade. (Cutting-grown plants)
- semi-hardy
Centaurium scilloides
Tiny herbaceous perennial, 1' by 3'' pink flowers all summer. Sun. Zone 6? at least. Native to western Europe. It has tolerated this summer in the Arboretum nursery. ( 2" plants)
Gracefully spreading, dwarf, handsome, compact, shrubby Duke Garden's selection. Plum yews are well adapted to this area's climate and soil. Zone 7. Sun or shade. Native to Japan. (12" plants)"
- evergreen shrub to 5'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
Evergreen shrub with terminal racemes of white flowers, grows well in bark and sand, not clay. Zone 2. Sun. This variety was named by Mt. Cuba. Circumboreal (means it occurs in the north around the world, northern Asia, northern Europe, and northern North America.) (3"–10" plants)
Fall blooming white and malodorous (to some noses) counterpart to the deciduous and nicely fragrant winter blooming wintersweet, its starry, white flowers do have a certain charm, makes for a great evergreen screening plant, to 10' tall. Sun or shade. Zone 7. Native to China. (10" plants)
- to 10'
- plant in sun or shade
- hardy
This semi-evergreen shrub looks a lot like C. nitens but does not grow as large. The flowers are somewhat malodorous. Zone 7. Native to eastern China. (12" plants)
- evergreen shrub to 15'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7
- whitish yellow flowers in fall
- deer resistant
Clethra acuminata
mountain pepperbush
Deciduous shrub to 15' tall with fragrant, white flowers and polished-looking, red brown bark. Zone 6. Light shade. Native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. (6" plants)
- to 8'–15'
- plant in sun to shade
Native, 8' tall, suckering, deciduous shrub. Clethra alnifolia 'Fern Valley Pink' is a pink cultivar selected by Fern Valley Nursery and 'Ruby Spice' is a dark pink cultivar. Sun to light shade shade. Zone 5. Native to Maine to Florida. Choose one of these by circling your choice. (3"–4" plants)
- hardy
Corydalis pallida
Herbaceous perennial, 18", golden yellow flowers, light shade. Native to Asia.
This rising star in the world of broadleaf evergreen shrubs has been selected as a JC Raulston Arboretum Premier Plant. It is valued for its excellent screening qualities and large, attractive, coarse-textured foliage. Striking bright red petioles are especially outstanding during the fall and winter months. Young leaves are bluish-green above and chalky white below, aging to glossy green by midsummer. You will enjoy it year-round! Grows in full sun or moderate shade. (3"–12" seedlings)
- evergreen tree to 25'
- plant in sun to shade
- hardy to zone 6
- blue fruit in winter
Deutzia gracilis 'Marmorata' has variegated foliage adding interest after the spring, white flowers, deciduous shrub, 2'–6'. Zone 4. Native to Japan. Deutzia scabra 'Godsall Pink' has double, clear pink flowers in 4"–6" long panicles in May or June. Zone 5. Native to Japan to China. You will receive one of each of these varieties. (1' plants)
Deciduous, large tree with showy flowers (long panicles with white bracts). One of the holy grails of the plant kingdom; rarely cultivated, summer flowering tree., Zone 7. Chinese relative of Pinkneya, leaves have a beautiful red petiole. Sun to light shade. (6"–10" plants)
- deciduous tree to 30'–40'
- plant in sun to partial shade
- hardy to zone 7
- white flowers in summer
- exceptionally fragrant
This compact form of Forsythia has been trade marketed Gold Tide. It grows only to 1 1/2' tall, spreading 5' with pale yellow flowers covering the shrub in spring. Sun. Zone 7. (8" plants)
- flowering shrub to 1'–2' tall × 4' wide
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- gold flowers in spring
Large deciduous tree with excellent yellow fall color. Native to China. These are seedlings collected from the Japanese Garden at the JCRA. Take your chances, as you may get a male or a female, but don't worry about getting a female, as seedling ginkgo don't fruit until they are about 20 years old. Sun. Zones 4–8.
- hardy
Helenium flexuosum
sneezeweed
Showy, summer blooming, native, herbaceous perennial to 2' tall with golden yellow flowers. Sun. Zones 5–8.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra' – a mop-headed cultivar distinguished by its black stems. Zones 6–9. Sun to light shade. Deciduous shrub to 3'–6'. Hydrangea macrophylla 'Beaute Vendomoise' – a lace capped cultivar with immense sepals. H. quercifolia 'Angola Prison' – a cultivar selected from Angola Prison. H. paniculata 'Praecox' – an early blooming cultivar, white flowers, 10' by 10' shrub. H. quercifolia 'Allison' – one of Miike Dirr's selections of oakleaf hydrangea", 10"–12" inflorescence. You may choose one of these. Please circle your preference. (6" plants)
- deciduous shrub to 4'–8'
- plant in sun to shade
- hardy semi-hardy tender
- white to blue flowers in summer
Hypericum densiflorum, gold yellow flowers in summer, evergreen shrub to 3'–6'. Hypericum galiodes 'Brodie', larger flowered selection of the native, small shrub to 3. H. henryi, H. perforatum, H. pseudohenryi, H. x inodorum. You can choose two of these. Please circle the ones you would prefer. (4"–12" plants)
Named and introduced in 1938 by the late W. Edingloh of the New Bern Nursery (now defunct), this holly derives its name from a contrations of Carolina. (CAroLINA - "ro" = 'Calina') For us at the Arboretum, 'Calina' has been a proven winner, a beautiful evergreen holly now about 20' tall, with a consistent, stunning display of large, red berries. Though the plant is not as dense in foliage as 'Nellie R. Stevens', its berry display is so heavy that this outweighs any distracting attributes. Also, the berries are among the largest of any observed in the holly collection at the Arboretum. Zone 7a, possibly colder. Sun to part-sun.
- hardy
Although surprisingly poorly known, this cultivar arose as a sport of the indestructible Burford holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii') with yellow berries instead of red. Our plant measured 12' tall in 1996, after which it was cut back to half its height, but now has already reached 15' in height. Grow it as a large evergreen shrub or a small-sized tree. Excellent for cut branches indoors in the winter for its large, showy yellow fruits.
- hardy
'De Werth' has tiny leaves, much smaller than the type, perhaps making it a good candidate for hedges and topiary. 'Grey's Littleleaf' has a smaller habit. You will receive one each of these cultivars. Sun. Zone 7. Native to the Southeast. (3"–5" plants)
- large shrub or small tree to 25'
- plant in sun to part shade
- white flowers in April–May
- red fruit
Juniperus horizontalis 'Argentea'
creeping juniper
Of the large number of cultivars of this ground cover juniper, this is one of the best. Sun. Zones 4–9. Species native to Nova Scotia to Alaska, south to New Jersey, Minnesota and Montana. (3"–4" plants)
Kadsura japonica 'Shiromi'
Japanese kadsura vine
Evergreen vine of modest growth rate with yellowish white flowers followed by white to pink-tinged fruit. Sun to shade. Zone 7. Native to Japan to Korea. (12" plants)
'Albescens' – deciduous shrub, 6'–8' tall, with single flowers opening pale yellow and becoming cream colored. Zone 5. Shade. 'Kin Kan' – has yellow stems in winter, single orange yellow flowers in spring. Zone 5. Shade. You will receive one each of this these cultivars. (6"–12" plants)
- hardy
Lathyrus japonicus
Herbaceous perennial, 3', trailing stems, flowers purplish becoming blue. Zone 3. Native to coasts of the Northern Hemisphere. Sun.
The offspring of this bigeneric hybrid resembles in looks and fragrance of its leaves its first parent, Laurus nobilis, the culinary bay, though it has been hardier, fully hardy here in Zone 7. Sun to light shade. (10" plants)
- to 12'
- plant in sun to light shade
- tender
Ligustrum sinense 'Green Cascade'
weeping Chinese privet
Graceful, pendulous branches, evergreen to semi–evergreen shrub, 4'–5'. Sun to light shade. Zone 7. (10" plants)
- hardy
Luzula forsteri
wood-rush
Evergreen, clump forming, grass-like, herbaceous perennial for the shade, odd little flowers. Hardiness unknown, guessing Zone 6.
Not a dwarf, but rather a slower growing form with small leaves; can be used in innovative ways (e.g., as a sheared hedge); medium to large size; evergreen tree with large flowers in summer. Sun to light shade. Zone 7. Species native to the Southeast. (10" plants)
- woody evergreen to 30'–40'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- white flowers in summer
Similar to Mahonia aquifolium but with longer, more tapering leaves and laxer growth habit. Foliage is softer, not as spiny, and glossy medium green. An evergreen shrub to 6' with fragrant yellow flowers in December. This is certainly one of the best mahonias for integrating into most landscapes with its looser habit and glossy foliage. For shade and well-drained spots. Zones 7-9. Native to Mexico.
- evergreen shrub to 6'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- yellow flowers in winter
Muhlenbergia macroura
Grass for the sun, hardiness unknown.
A Parrotia relative, (opsis means "resembling"), white bracts below the flowers in spring, Deciduous shrub or tree to 12'. Zones 5–7. Sun to light shade. Native to the Himalayas. (4" plants)
- deciduous shrub to 12'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 5
- white flowers in spring
Penstemon pallidus
Native, herbaceous perennial, 2 1/2' tall spikes of 1" long, white flowers striped with violet-purple. Sun. Zones 5–7 maybe 8. Native from Maine to Georgia.
Phillyrea angustifolia
Evergreen shrub to 15', leaves 2" long and 1/4" wide; fragrant, greenish flowers in spring; Jonathan Nyberg loves this plant. Zone 7. Sun to light shade. Native to the Mediterranean region. (10"–12" plants)
Evergreen shrub with deep maroon flower buds in winter which open to long lasting, deep rose pink flowers in spring, Pieris japonica is well adapted to the Piedmont and Mountains of North Carolina, 4' in 10 years. Shade. Zones 4b–7. Native to Japan. (3"–4" plants)
Native to Southeast, where it grows as a vine in swamps with bald cypress and Sabal palmetto. Like many swamp plants, it does well on dry land where, without support, it makes an attractive, small, evergreen shrub; white flowers in spring. Zones 7–9. native to South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Shade. (3"–4" plants)
- hardy
This low growing conifer from the mountains of Tasmania and New Zealand has impressed us for years. Growing to about 3-4' tall and somewhat wider it makes a nice foundation plant for sun or shade. This form's newest growth tends to be pale giving the entire plant a two-tone effect in the spring. This plant should be hardier than the large needled P. macrophylla. Propagate from hardwood cuttings.
- to 5'
- plant in sun to shade
W are struggling to determine the correct name for this plant. Is it R. latoucheae or R. x laetevirens? Anyhow, it is a dense, evergreen shrub with leaves like the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, and lavender pink flowers. Shade. Unknown hardiness, but has been hardy here at the Arboretum. (6" plants)
- hardy
Rohdeas are excellent evergreen alternatives to hostas in the shade garden. This cultivar is variegated with irregular, sometimes large zones of white. Rare and slow to increase, shade (a must). Zone 7. Native to China to Japan. (4"–12" plants)
- evergreen perennial to 24"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 6
- red fruit in winter
Rosa ×fortuniana
Fortune’s rose
A hybrid between the Lady Bank's rose and the Cherokee rose (R. banksiae x R. laevigata) thus very well adapted to much of the Southeast; 2"–4", double, white flowers in spring on large mostly thornless mounding shrub or vine. Zone 7. Garden origin. (12" plants)
Rosa 'Meicoublan'
A white rose, stays shrub-like and has some resistance to the insect and disease problems that plague many hybrid roses. Zone 7. Sun. (12" plants)
Sabal minor is a trunkless fan palm with big, bold, handsome foliage; native to swamps but it will grow in average garden conditions. S. palmetto, cabbage palm, grows to 90 tall. Zones 8–9. S. x texansis, sabal palm, grows to 20' tall. Zone 8, maybe Zone 7. You may have two of the selections, circle the ones you desire. (8"–10" plants)
- hardy semi-hardy
Salix alba 'Dart's Snake'
contorted white willow
Large, deciduous tree with branches even more contorted than the corkscrew willow; long leaves and yellow bark. Great for wet areas and good winter interest or flower arrangements. Fast growth rate. Sun. Native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. Zone 2.
- Narrowly upright deciduous small tree to 15'
- plant in sun
- hardy
This is perhaps the most handsome of all the Sarcococcas. As an evergreen shrub, Sarcococca saligna grows to 4' tall with an upright, but arching form (not stiffly upright like other Sarcococcas). The leaves are elongated, narrow, glossy, and bright green in color. Plants are more vigorous than other sweet boxes, and do not have the weakened constitution sometimes seen in Sarcococca confusa plants when they are improperly sited. At the JCRA, our plant has prospered with some protection from winter winds in the shaded Lath House. Native to the Himalayas, and hardy to Zone 7b. (8"-10" plants)
- evergreen shrub to 4'–5'
- plant in full to part shade
- hardy
- creamy white flowers in early winter
This attractive, deciduous suckering shrub has long remained one of the rarest of any of the plants now growing at the JCRA. Brought back from South Korea from the 1985 expedition as Echinosophora koreensis, attempts at finding further information on this plant would always lead us back to our own publications or Web-site – a frustrating, but somewhat telling, process. Besides its attractive, sea-green, pinnately compound foliage, this deciduous shrub also bears showy, canary-yellow, pea-like flowers in spring, just before/as the leaves begin to emerge. Perhaps the most effective planting, and one that affirmed this plant's landscape utility, was seen in 2002 on the University of Delaware campus, where it was undoubtedly planted by University of Delaware plantsman John Frett, Ph.D. Within this planting, densely filled in by its own rhizomatous nature, the stems gently swayed to and fro, making the shrub attractive even in its "plain" state of green-only foliage. An underestimated plant also sometimes classified in the genus Keyserlingia by some botanists. Best in part-sun to sun. Hardy throughout North Carolina.
- hardy
Large, vigorous, evergreen vine with big, bold, handsome, palmately compound leaves; edible fruit; fragrant flowers. Sun to shade. Zone 7. Native to Korea and Japan. (10"–12" plants)
- evergreen vine to 25'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- light pink flowers in spring
Deciduous shrub or tree with clusters of white bell-shaped flowers in spring. Native to central China. Zone 6?. Sun to light shade. (3" plants)
- hardy
This special, deciduous tree was found by JC Raulston on Korea's Sohuksan Island and brought back to the Arboretum in 1985. It has incredible, thick, glossy leaves and is a prolific bloomer. Zone 5. Sun to light shade. (4"–5" plants)
- deciduous tree to 20'–30' tall
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- white flowers in April–May
This rarely seen cousin of Cryptomeria japonica has prospered for us for many years here at the Arboretum. We have grown two types—Taiwania cryptomerioides (Taiwan coffin cypress) and this one, which represents plants native to mainland China and not to Taiwan. Plants are Cryptomeria-like, but with a much looser habit of gracefully downsweeping branches. Our specimen had its top broken out by the Dec. 5, 2002, ice storm, and because of that, we have these cutting-grown plants to offer you. Expect this to form a tall, pyramidal evergreen, up to 30'–40' tall over 15 years.
- hardy
These evergreen conifers will do well in our area if given good drainage. Taxus x media 'Brownii' has a densely rounded habit: T. x media 'Densiformis' is a dense shrub, twice as wide as tall: T. x media 'Tautonii' is a spreading form, 3'–4' tall, better adapted to heat of the South than other T x media: and T. floridana, a 20'–25' tall plant; grows at Biltmore Estate so, despite its provenance, might adapt to Zones 6–9. You will receive one each of these cultivars. (3"–5" plants)
Evergreen conifer whose new growth is bright yellow which is in spectacular contrast with the dark green, mature growth; can be grown here if given very good drainage and shade. Zones 4–7. Native to Japan, Korea, and Manchuria. (4"–6" plants)
- to 4'–6'
- plant in shade
- hardy
Evergreen shrub to 8'–10' tall, this cultivar has the tricolor leaves of grey green, cream and red. Ternstroemia was in the nursery trade under the name Cleyera japonica which is a different plant. Zone 7. Sun or shade. Native to Japan. (4"–6" plants)
- hardy
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Madison'
hardy Confederate jessamine
Evergreen vine with fragrant flowers, 'Madison' is a more cold hardy cultivar. Sun to shade. Zone 7. Native to Japan.
- evergreen vine to 10'–15'
- plant in sun to shade
- white-yellow flowers in summer
Uncinia phleoides
New to us, this sedge has grass like foliage, herbaceous perennial.
Verbascum phoeniceum 'Flush of White'
mullein
Hardy, herbaceous, short lived perennial with spikes of white flowers in summer. Zone 5?
- herbaceous perennial to 8"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 5
- white flowers in late spring
- deer resistant
- evergreen rosettes of foliage
We received this viburnum from Michael Dirr of University of Georgia, as his selection of the Georgia native, Viburnum bracteatum. Compared with the commonly touted Viburnum dentatum, 'Emerald Luster' has larger, glossier leaves. This deciduous shrub produces clusters of white flowers in late spring followed by bluish-black fruit in late summer to early fall. An uncommon native species of the southeastern United States. Zone 5. (12" plants)
- to 8’–10’ tall
- plant in sun to partial shade
- hardy
A mainstay of Zone 8 and 9 gardens, sandankwa viburnum is a well-known, evergreen species of viburnum in the Deep South. Although reputedly not reliably cold-hardy in Zone 7, our plant at the Arboretum has grown here for many years (>10), and is now over 6' tall—although it has occasionally frozen back in bitterly cold winters (minimum temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit). Perfectly adapted to shearing, Viburnum suspensum is chiefly grown for its thick, leathery, glossy, evergreen foliage. Some people find the odor of the bruised leaves offensive. Note the warty-stems and white flowers produced in late summer.
- semi-evergreen shrub to 6'–12'
- plant in sun
- semi-hardy hardy
- white flowers in spring
Deciduous shrubs blooming in early summer. 'Variegata' is a small to medium shrub that remains colorful after the brief appearance of its deep rose-pink flowers because the foliage is brightly variegated; 'Variegated Nana' is a 3' tall variegated weigela; 'Versicolor' has cream, pink rose and red flowers all on one plant. Circle the two you would prefer. You will receive two plants. (2"–21/2' plants)
- to 4'–8'
- plant in sun to light shade
- hardy
The Asian wisterias, with their excessive vigor have given all wisterias a bad name. Our American native species also offers gardenworthy performance, albeit different than that of the Asian plants. 'Amethyst Falls' is greatly restrained in its growth rate, blooms later so that the flowers are rarely lost to frost, and also produces sporadic blooms during the summer months. What's there to lose? Well, fragrance for one thing, as the flowers are not fragrant. An excellent garden plant first introduced by our friends at Head-Lee Nursery (Seneca, South Carolina).
- vine to 20'–30' tall
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy
- blue flowers in spring–summer