Truly an eye catcher in the garden. This perennial adds a tropical feel to any garden with its massive, lush elephant ear shaped leaves. 'Variegata' is a beautiful selection with leaves decorated with creamy white splotches. Leaves of Alocasia macrorrhiza are borne on stalks that are 2'–4' long and can reach 3'–6', but 'Variegata' is a shorter plant. You can find giant taro growing naturally in the tropical forests of Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia as an understory in openings and along streams. Grows well in sun to light shade, but leaves will be larger with some shade. Grows best in a moist, well drained soil rich in organic matter. Best if planted outside next spring. Zones 7b–11. (1 quart – available for pickup only)

If you love wax begonias but hate planting them every year, this is the begonia for you! Originally from the University of Georgia, 'Kaylen' produces rose-red flowers throughout the summer and into the fall on plants with burgundy foliage. Unlike Begonia ×semperflorens-cultorum, 'Kaylen' has tubers which help it survive harsh winters down to 0°F. Begonia 'Kaylen' is a more open plant than typical wax begonias and can be grown in full sun to partial sun. Zones 7–11. Since these plants are greenhouse grown, do not plant them outdoors until spring. (4" – available for pickup only)

You will enjoy this choice semi-evergreen with its masses of superb apricot-orange flowers each spring. Fall color is fabulous, with a nice mix of both vibrant red and deep burgundy leaves. Its foliage is dark green. Deep purple fruits appear as autumn approaches. Its growth is somewhat wayward, with long, slim spiny branches. The shrub needs a dark background and space so you can enjoy its eccentricities. Ultimately reaching 10' by 10'. Looks best in full sun, but will tolerate part shade. 'Apricot Queen' was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone rating for this plant is unknown, but we fully expect it to be hardy in Raleigh. (1 gallon)

This is one butterfly-bush that is hard to resist. Unusual red-purple flowers cover this deciduous shrub from summer into fall. Graceful gray-green foliage arches with the fragrant flowers. The common name aptly describes this garden beauty. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. Best in sun to part shade. 4'–6' tall. Zones 5–10. (4")

• hardy

Rarely offered in the trade, Harland's boxwood is a superior dwarf (4'–6' tall and wide) boxwood for the Deep South. It has charming bright green leaves, plus a distinct and attractive dense, rounded form. It is slow growing and can form a multi-stemmed mound with foliage to the ground. Drought tolerance and pest resistance is better than most boxwoods. It also makes an excellent choice for bonsai. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 7b–9. (1 gallon)

• evergreen shrub to 4'–6'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 7

'Sunburst' is a variegated form of Korean boxwood. Medium green leaves are surrounded by bright golden variegation on slow growing, broad and mounded, broadleaf, evergreen shrubs. Plants reach 2.5' tall in many years and may eventually reach 5' tall in 25 years. Flowers are fragrant, but sparse and insignificant. Korean boxwoods grow best in sun to part shade. This is an extremely hardy species. Zones 5–9.

• evergreen shrub to 4'–6'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy
• yellow-green flowers in winter (not showy)

Shikoku beautyberry is one of Japan's many beautiful beautyberries. Pink flowers appear on new growth in the summer and are followed by lilac berries in the fall. Growth is very upright reaching 8' to 10' tall. Best grown in full sun to partial shade. Callicarpa means beautiful fruit/seeded (kallos = beauty and karpos = fruit) and we certainly agree. Zones 7–9. (4")

• hardy

Here we have another great selection of a fine evergreen native plant, Osmanthus americanus. 'Woodlanders Amanda' is a beautiful variegated cultivar that originated from our friends at Woodlanders Nursery (Aiken, South Carolina). Contributing to the overall beauty of this plant is the fact that the amount of variegation is different throughout the plant. This evergreen shrub/small tree has smooth, attractive, elliptical leathery leaves. Creamy white, very fragrant flowers form in leaf axils in early spring followed by dark blue fruit in the fall. Its form is often shrubby with an open, loose habit. It is becoming a popular landscape shrub. The species is native from southeast Virginia to central Florida west to southeast Louisiana. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and grows best in full sun to partial shade. Reaches 15'–25' tall. Zone 5–9. (1 gallon)

• hardy

This handsome dwarf Sawara falsecypress is named for Ted Manger (Hendersonville, North Carolina), who discovered this plant in his wonderful conifer garden. At 25 years old, the parent plant is only 3' tall by 5' wide, with bright golden foliage. Like most other dwarf conifers, it requires very little maintenance. A great plant that is unfortunately still very difficult to find in the nursery industry. Plant in a location with good drainage and full sun for best coloration. Zones 5–8. (4")

You just can't beat chitalpa for an exotic bloom. White orchid-like flowers form on this deciduous, small to medium size tree in summer. This intergeneric cross between the eastern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) and desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) takes the best features of both parents. It is drought-resistant, a trait inherited from the desert willow, and it appears to be fairly hardy, growing at the JCRA since 2001. Fast growing, multi trunked trees ultimately reach 15'–25'. Its leaves are longer and broader than desert willow, but much smaller than catalpa. Full sun. Zones 6–9. (4")

• woody perennial to 25'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• white flowers in summer

An ornamental member of the grape family, this tender (Zone 10) vine weaves color into summer plantings and indoor conservatories. Deep green, silver, and reddish purple combine in the foliage and stems. This plant really caught the eyes of visitors when it was used in our containers in 2005 and especially when it was grown on the trellis outside Bob Lyons' office in 2003. These are tropical plants, greenhouse grown, and are not hardy here. Plant outside in the spring for a full season of color. (4" – recently rooted cuttings – available for pickup only)

• tender

This is a supreme, brand new evergreen vine whose beautiful foliage is reason enough to grow it. Large thick textured, dark green leaves (to 5") are attractive and heart shaped. Flowers are small and white with four petals. This evergreen clematis is native to southeastern China, Taiwan, and southern Japan and reaches 10' to 13' high. Our original plant was recently acquired from plantsman extraordinaire Dan Hinkley of Heronswood Nursery (Kingston, Washington). Full sun to partial sun. Zones 7–10. (1 gallon)

Bamboo fern is a very unique evergreen fern that will make a fabulous addition to your woodland garden. Its foliage is glossy green and ribbon-like, reaching 18" tall. Narrow leaf bamboo fern has made a nice 3' wide clump in five years. Best in part sun to shade. Zones 7b–9.

• evergreen fern to 18'
• plant in sun to part shade
• root hardy

This diminutive, densely branched dogwood has many outstanding characteristics. Dwarf redtip dogwood's new leaves and stems emerge crimson red with the red color persisting throughout the summer and providing a nice contrast to the mature green leaves on this deciduous shrub. Clusters of whitish flowers appear in late spring, giving way in summer to black fruits that birds enjoy. Typically, Cornus pumila is a shrubby mound 2' to 3' tall and 3' to 4' wide, great for massing as a ground cover (when young) or a low hedge. It is slow growing, but it can reach 5' tall and a little bit more in width in time. Although in cultivation since the late nineteenth century, it is not found commonly here at the southern end of its range. Full sun to partial sun. Zones 4–7. (1 gallon)

• to 3'–5'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy

Imagine your garden carpeted with a miniature forest of "palm trees" (6"–10"). This dwarf cyperus grows best in wet spots, but will also spread slowly in dry ground. It even makes a great water garden plant. Unlike some of its more aggressive relatives, this deciduous ground cover has covered only 3' in ten years in Tony Avent's garden (Raleigh, North Carolina). Full sun to partial shade. Zones 7b–10. (3 gallon – available for pickup only)

• herbaceous perennial to 12"
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• green flowers in summer

This taxa resulted from a spontaneous hybrid that originated in the garden of plantsman extraordinaire Ozzie Johnson (Marietta, Georgia). It is so new that we invite you to discover this plant's characteristics along with us here at the JCRA. Both parents have fragrant, creamy yellow flowers during the winter on plants that reach 6' tall. We expect the same from this new hybrid. Edgeworthia stems are tough, yet flexible enough to tie knots with and its bark is used to make a high quality paper. Paperbushes are best grown in moist, yet well-drained soils. Partial shade to shade. Zones 7b–10. (4")

• hardy

A charming variegated wonder! Each leaf looks as though it has been splashed with loads of yellow paint over a bluish-green base. If you are looking for brilliant winter color in your garden this broad leafed evergreen is for you. This variegated form is vigorous but slower-growing than the species and was a real champ during this past summer's drought. This highly adaptable plant tolerates salt spray and is easy to care for. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 6b–9. (1 gallon)

• evergreen shrub to 6'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• white flowers in fall

Plant connoisseurs will delight in this offering of a rare variegated form of Eurya japonica. This winter-flowering, slow-growing evergreen shrub is related to the camellia. Especially attractive is its strong herringbone branching pattern and dark green leaves that turn deep red in winter. Branches of Eurya japonica are used in Shinto ceremonies in Japan. Reaches 8'–15' tall. Performs best in shade to part sun in a moist soil. Zones 7b–11. (1 gallon)

• evergreen shrub to 8'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy
• inconspicuous flowers in late winter/spring

Large evergreen shrub with fragrant single white flowers from mid-spring to early summer. Flowers are so fragrant that they can pleasantly perfume an entire room. Named for great Texas plantsman Lynn Lowery. Species is native to Pakistan to Japan, south to India, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Gardenias grow best in moist, but well drained, acidic soils. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 7–10. (1 gallon)

• shrub to 3'x3'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 7
• white flowers in mid spring - early summer

A large leafed ivy with light green to yellow splashes in the leaf centers, this evergreen vine provides a bright ground cover in shady to partly shady locations. Like its relative, English ivy, Colchis ivy will climb if it finds support, and it will also wander throughout the garden unless it is contained by pruning. Zones 5–9. (1 gallon)

• hardy

This white flowering form of the scarlet mallow has the same preference for poorly drainage areas that the species has and grows to the same towering height of 6'–8' each year. Its showy, white petals cool off the back of a border in mid- to late summer. This form was originally given to us by the U.S. Botanical Garden (Washington, D.C.). They found it in Collier County, Florida. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 6–10.

• hardy

If you love Hydrangea macrophylla Endless Summer™, then you will simply love 'David Ramsey'. From early summer till fall, large 8"–10" mophead flowers with pink (alkaline soil) or blue (acidic soil) blooms cover this plant. These 4' shrubs not only produce large quantities of flower balls, but they repeat over many months. Originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia, it was named after its backyard owner, David Ramsey, and given to the University of Georgia in 1997. Full sun (keep moist) to partial sun. Zones 4–9. (1 gallon)

• hardy

'Ô amacha' has delicate lacecap flowers that look like jewels and are guaranteed to brighten any shady corner of the garden. Rounded florets are blushed with pink rounded pale blush-pink florets with darker flowers within. Hydrangea serrata plants and flowers have a more refined appearance and are overall hardier than H. macrophylla. Native to the mountain woodlands of Japan and Korea. This deciduous shrub reaches 3'–5' tall by 3'–4' wide. Full sun (keep moist) to partial shade. Zones 6–9. (2 gallon – available for pickup only)

• deciduous shrub to 3'
• plant in shade
• hardy to zone 6
• pink to blue flowers in summer
• use leaves to make sweet tea

This charming lacecap hydrangea produces delicate lavender-blue to blue flowers. The specimen at the Arboretum was covered with flowers in late May and continued throughout the summer. It blooms on both old and new wood and is native to the mountain woodlands of Japan and Korea. Hydrangea serrata is similar to H. macrophylla; however, plants are more compact (3' tall by 5' wide), hardier, and have smaller foliage and flowers. Full sun (keep moist) to partial shade. Zones 6–9. (1 gallon)

• hardy

One plant that has stood out beautifully at the JCRA in the District X Garden Club of North Carolina Wall Garden is Hypericum galioides x H. brachyphyllum. Throughout the hot summer months, it is covered with loads of tiny, sunny golden-yellow, red-tinged flowers. This is a natural hybrid between two southeastern United States species, H. brachyphyllum (Coastal Plain St. Johnswort) and H. galioides (bedstraw St. Johnswort). It forms an evergreen shrub to subshrub, reaching 3' feet high and slightly wider, with a somewhat mounding form. Its short leaves are thin, wiry, and an attractive glossy green. This plant, acquired from the University of Georgia, is sure to become more prevalent in the future. Zones 7b–9. (4")

• hardy