This little flowering maple has long been a favorite of ours here at the JCRA. The dark stems clothed in small leaves spray up and out to mingle well with other plants in the ground or in a mixed container. Dusty red calyces surround the nodding yellow flowers over an exceptionally long period from spring until frost. We find it to be a hardy and easy plant to grow in the landscape and as an indoor houseplant.

• die-back shrub to 3'
• plant in sun to light shade
• root hardy
• red and yellow flowers in spring to frost

One of the very hottest variegated agaves around, these exceptional plants are propagated only by offsets. The dramatic foliage starts pale green in the center surrounded by deep green with a broad creamy white margin and burgundy darkening to grey-black sharp teeth along the margins. Likes well-drained soil and regular summer waterings.

• evergreen succulent to 18"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 8
• deer resistant

The only Asian species of an otherwise North American herbaceous perennial, this plant forms a tight clump of upright stems to about 18" to 24" tall. The stems clothed in lanceolate leaves are topped in spring by clusters of pale blue starry flowers. Fall color is a nice gold. A tough plant for full sun to light shade and most soils.

• herbaceous perennial to 2'
• plant in full sun to light shade
• hardy
• pale blue flowers in spring

Aucubas are must-have shrubs for the shade garden. This unusual Japanese form is somewhat compact, growing to about 6' tall. It bears conspicuously narrow foliage heavily speckled with gold. The variegation is much brighter than most other forms of aucuba. Mostly inconspicuous purple flowers give rise to large red fruits on this female form. Great for brightening up a shady spot where it will tolerate significant drought once established.

• evergreen shrub to 6'
• plant in shade
• hardy zone 7–9
• burgundy flowers in spring
• red fruit in fall
• the best gold spotted aucuba

This hybrid barberry is rarely found in the United States but is highly prized in the United Kingdom where it has won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit. A dense, low mound of prickly stems bears lustrous deep green semi-evergreen foliage which often turns brilliant red in the fall and throughout the winter. Abundant yellow flowers in spring are very showy and are followed by reddish-purple fruits. 2' to 3' tall by 3' wide, adaptable to most soils, sun to shade, hardy to Zone 5.

• to 3'
• plant in sun to moderate shade
• hardy

A showy relative of nettles than can brighten up the shade garden. New growth emerges creamy yellow before becoming speckled with green. In excellent growing conditions it can approach 6' tall but is more typically about 4' in most gardens. Flowers are inconspicuous but the bright foliage makes a bold statement in the shade.

• to 6'
• plant in light shade to full shade

We love this unusual form of the snow camellia, a variety of Japanese camellia. The palest of pink flowers are small, perfectly double formal forms with just a touch of yellow toward the base. The Camellia Register describes the habit as loose and spreading but the specimen these plants were propagated from is dense and distinctly upright making it perfect for small spaces and focal points. Shade to part sun.

• to 8'
• plant in sun to shade

• deciduous tree to 15'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy to zone 6
• pink-lavender flowers in early spring
• butterfly/pollinator friendly
• JC Raulston Arboretum introduction

A fall blooming, evergreen counterpart to the common wintersweet. The lovely narrow foliage is glossy, dark green and perfectly backs the translucent white flowers which are borne along the stems at each leaf axil. Despite being in the same genus as wintersweet, the flowers are not sweetly fragrant. Full sun to shade in most soils, 8' to 10' tall and wide with a graceful fountain shape.

• to 10'
• plant in sun or shade
• hardy

• to 10'
• plant in sun or shade
• hardy

A graceful small tree or large upright shrub growing to 20'. New growth emerges bronze before turning green. Cinnamon scented racemes of small white flowers in late spring adorn the tips of each branch. Mature specimens boast lovely peeling bark. Full sun to part shade.

• evergreen shrub to 20'
• plant in sun to part shade
• tender
• white flowers in summer

An upright small tree or large shrub with shockingly bright, wide, white margins around each blue-green centered leaf. The foliage color brightens up the summer landscape after the brilliant gold late winter flowers. Red fruits stand out brightly against the foliage and can be made into jams or preserves. Despite having been grown in Europe since before 1600 and in the United States since at least 1870, this wonderful shrub is still rare in gardens. 15' to 18' tall, sun to part shade.

• deciduous shrub to 18'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 4
• yellow flowers in late winter
• red fruit

Offered by the JCRA once previously a decade ago, this unusual dwarf form of the tough and easy to grow Japanese cedar makes a small mound with fan-shaped fasciations for added interest. These branch mutations give the plant a graceful, cloud-like habit. Sun to light shade, 3' to 4', slow growing.

• to 4'
• plant in full sun to light shade
• hardy

We've heard that plantsman extrordinaire, John Elsley of Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery and formerly of Wayside Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says this is the BEST Daphne odora. Glossy evergreen foliage in a low mound is covered in late winter by masses of slightly pink tinged, white flowers. This is by far the heaviest flowering daphne we've ever seen and we've seen a bunch. The fragrance is as lemony sweet as other daphne but the extra flowers provide even more punch to this intensely fragrant shrub. Daphne odora is best in a very well-drained soil and once established will grow under large shade trees with no problem.

• evergreen shrub to 5'
• plant in light shade to shade
• hardy to zone 7
• Pinkish-white flowers in winter

A short-lived perennial or biennial that will politely self sow in the perennial garden. This distinctive plant bears tall flower stalks to 5' topped with thimble-shaped clusters of silvery-white flowers surrounded by a spiny ruff of silver for a great architectural form. Perfect in borders, as a cut flower, and for attracting bees. Allow at least some seed heads to mature and sprinkle seed where you would like it to appear. Well-drained soils, full sun, to 5' when in flower.

• to 5'
• plant in sun, well-drained soil

Assistant director Mark's very favorite of the hybrid pineapple lilies. Clean green rosettes of strappy foliage are topped in late summer by flower spikes of deep burgundy buds which open to pinkish-purple flowers. The characteristic tuft of foliage atop the flower stalk is often delicately edged with burgundy. The two-tone flower/foliage effect is quite striking. Bred in New Zealand for the cut flower trade, these plants perform great in sunny spots in the garden.

• perennial to 18"
• plant in full sun to light shade
• hardy to zone 7
• pinkish-purple flowers in late summer

What a bad common name for a great tree. This quick-growing, small tree bears leathery deep green foliage on an upright, round-headed tree. Flowers are small, five-petaled, and greenish-white but not terribly showy. The fruits which follow are larger than many other euonymus and split open to reveal pink to orange-red seeds. The real reason this plant makes such a wonderful landscape plant is the deep burgundy fall color which can last from October through January. In Zone 8 gardens, the fall color often lasts almost until the new foliage emerges. Sun to partial shade, any soils, drought tolerant once established, to 20' tall.

• small tree to 20'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• white flowers in summer

A miniature evergreen shrub for bonsai, rock gardens, and other small spaces. Upright stems to about 1' tall bear closely packed, tiny leaves edged with white. Despite its small size, the distinctive habit and color make a relatively large impact in the garden. It also makes a natural bonsai or trough plant. Sun to shade.

• evergreen shrub to 1'
• plant in sun to part shade

A rare species of pearl bush with typical pure white flowers opening in spring on an upright, rounded shrub. Nice summer foliage often gives way to showy yellow fall color. These plants were raised from seed acquired by the JCRA from Hungary. Some taxonomists consider this to be synonymous with E. racemosa.

• to 10'
• plant in full sun

Large velvety leaves emerge deep burgundy on this showy flowering shrub. In cooler climates, the foliage retains this color while turning greenish in central North Carolina. Large lacecap hydrangea flower heads open from large buds in mid-summer. Showy and different than your grandmother's hydrangeas.

• deciduous shrub to 6'–8'
• plant in light shade to full shade
• semi-hardy hardy
• white/pink tinge flowers in mid-summer

A must have for all plant lovers blessed with an abundance of shade. This evergreen hydrangea relative bears masses of frothy pink flower panicles like foam on a wave. Leathery evergreen foliage often takes on plum tones with cool weather. A vine with self-clinging rootlets perfect for clambering up a tree, fence, or shed. Quick growing to 18'-25' in shade and most soils.

• evergreen vine to 9'–15'
• plant in part shade
• creamy-white flowers in late summer-fall

A wonderfully variable juniper that is native around the Mediterranean area from Portugal through France to Iran, Israel, and back east to Morocco. In the wild it grows from a shrubby mound to an upright tree. These seedlings from Portugal are likely shrubby forms to 10'. The overall color is silvery blue on tough plants. Best in well-drained soils.

• evergreen conifer to 28'
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 7
• Best in well drained soils.

This moderate growing vine to 10' or 15' blooms over an extended period from late spring into fall on new growth. Pink flowers with creamy yellow interiors turning darker golden-orange with age attract butterflies and hummers. Perfect for a smaller pergola or fence or it can be pruned into a small shrub. Full sun for the best flowering.

• vine to 15'
• plant in full sun to light shade
• hardy to zone 5
• pink flowers in late spring-fall

This unpardonably rare tree is a true multi-season specimen. Loads of small, frothy white spring flowers give way to masses of brilliant red fruits by late summer. Yellow fall color is attractive, but the patchwork bark on mature specimens is as showy as just about any other hardy tree available. We've grown the tree for years. These seedlings are from seed collected at the Shanghai Botanical Garden. Full sun, to 25' tall.

• to 25'
• plant in full sun
• hardy

A large shrub to medium sized tree, 12' to 60’ tall with a uniform crown, evergreen leaves, and smooth grey bark. Plants are dioecious and female plants bear edible dark red fruits to 1” in diameter. Male plants as well as female plants make attractive specimens even without fruit.

• to 12'–60'
• plant in sun to part shade