A kiwi vine grown for its attractive white, marginal variegation as well as its sweet fruit. The foliage just gets showier each year. This plant will flower in late spring, and if you have both a male and a female plant in proximity to each other, then the female will produce edible fruit that are smaller but slightly sweeter than the grocery store kiwi. Full sun to part shade, Zone 4.

• decidous vine to 25'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• white flowers in spring
• edible fruit, variegated foliage

The genus Chirita is a gesneriad from China with fuzzy African-violet-like leaves and tube shaped flowers. This plant might just be a Chirita. Or it could be a relative such as Primulina or Henckelia. We have not figured that out just yet but now that it is in flower we should be able to key it out. In any case, it is pretty … a tight rosette of fuzzy gesneriad leaves and pale pink tubular flowers atop 6" stems. This could be a garden plant or a houseplant for you. We collected this seed in China in 2017 where we found it growing on rock faces at high elevations (MWZ17-094). Drainage is key to survival. Likely best in part sun to light shade on a slope or in a trough. Part sun, zone 7 we think.

• herbaceous perennial to 6"
• plant in part sun
• hardy
• pale pink flowers

This dwarf Aucuba came to us from the U.S. National Arboretum as an unnamed selection in 2004 and we think it's a great garden plant. the original plant is not quite 2' tall and 3' wide. Glossy evergreen leaves (6" long × 2" wide) are heavily spotted with gold. This male form of Aucuba bears terminal clusters of four-petaled burgundy flowers which are showy in very early spring. It can serve as a pollinator for female Aucuba specimens in your garden. Makes an ideal plant to brighten a shady spot. Grows best in light shade to shade.

• evergreen shrub to 4'x6'
• plant in light shade to shade
• hardy

Beautiful palmate olive-green leaves with silver spots are followed in the late summer by pale pink flowers. Prefers plenty of mulch and a moist location. A Shayne Chandler collection from China.

• herbaceous perennial to 15"
• plant in shade
• root hardy
• pink flowers in summer to fall

Collected by plant explorer Dan Hinkley (DJHM 13008) on the slopes of Mt. Phonganrazi at 9,000' elevation during a 2013 trip to Myanmar. Beautifully marbled leaves. Winter mulch suggested.

• herbaceous perennial to 16"
• plant in shade
• semi-hardy

Everyone needs an evergreen butterfly-bush! This South African shrub bears tough, corrugated leaves all year through. The deep sage green leaves are highlighted by silvery hairs covering the stems and undersides of the leaves and the small flowers are very pleasantly fragrant.

• evergreen shrub to 4'–5'
• plant in sun
• hardy
• creamy-white flowers in summer

This boxwood came to us from Angel's Gift Farm nearly a decade ago. We think it is among the best variegated boxwoods available with a wide, creamy white margin around each leaf. It has been an unnamed selection and as we distribute it for the first time ever we've named it for the originator. Our original plant is growing in full sun.

• evergreen shrub to 3'–5'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy
• greenish yellow flowers in spring
• deer resistant

We've been watching this super dwarf boxwood for nearly 20 years and thinking, "Do we need another dwarf boxwood?" The answer is yes when it appears to be superior to much of what is available. These plants have shown great resistance to leaf miners and other insect and disease issues, grow squatly upright like a gumdrop. Our original plants are about 24" tall and nearly as wide.

• evergreeen shrub to 24"
• plant in sun
• hardy
• deer resistant
• glossy dark green foliage

This dark green, evergreen shrub is an attractive candidate for southern gardens with its nice foliage and tolerance of shady growing conditions. Add the unusually large-sized leaves and you have a highly textural shrub that can be used to add to a subtropical-like planting in your garden.

• evergreen perennial to 8'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy
• deer resistant

A super hardy camellia with pure white single flowers. This is easily hardy into zone 6b and likely colder. From a wild population in a very cold part of Korea.

• evergreen shrub to 8'
• plant in part sun
• hardy
• white flowers in winter to early spring
• butterfly/pollinator friendly

A gold leaf form of this popular landscape shrub that the JC Raulston Arboretum first acquired back in 2007 from Hawksridge nursery.

• evergreen shrub to 8'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• pale pink single flowers in fall
• butterfly/pollinator friendly

A small-leafed form of tea camellia with foliage heavily speckled with white. The variegation makes this a slow growing plant, ideal for gardens without much space. Small white flowers typical of the species. 4' to 5' tall by 3' to 4' wide in 10 years.

• evergreen shrub to 6'
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7b
• white flowers in fall
• butterfly/pollinator friendly

This beautiful, compact, deciduous shrub has received the Royal Horticulture Society award of Garden Merit. A profusion of small, blue flowers appear on upright panicles beginning in spring, and can last throughout the summer. Ceanothus are drought tolerant and require a well-drained soil. Although few of the blue ceanothus or California lilacs perform well in the hot, humid Southeast, this hybrid grows well for us due to it's white-flowered East Coast parent C. americanus crossed with the blue C. coeruleus.

• flowering shrub to 3'
• plant in sun, well-drained soil
• hardy
• blue flowers in all summer long
• butterfly/pollinator friendly

(aka Leucosceptrum japonicum) A shrubby Japanese mint relative grown for its attractive foliage which is not unlike shade coleus. Slowly spreads to form a 5' wide colony in 5 years. If the foliage gets damaged, just cut the stems to the ground and it will re-flush with fresh foliage. The cultivar name 'Gin Santo Naka Fu' is japanese for 'silver with middle spot' which describes this cultivar well. Spikes of late season yellow–white bottlebrushes add to the show but the foliage is always the star. Part sun to shade, zone 5.

• deciduous shrub to 3'
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7
• yellow flowers in fall
• deer resistant
• colorful foliage

Typical cryptomeria form that is distinguished by pale yellow new foliage. A pyramidal tree up to 20' in 10 years. Introduced by Cedar Lodge Nursery in New Zealand in 2009.

• pyramidal evergreen conifer to 20' × 7'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• deer resistant

The collecting day in Shaanxi province started with a massive display of mesmerizing whirligigs presumably left up after the golden week national holiday. It got even better when we found this showy holly fern (MWZ18-050) with 20" long blue–green fronds. We'll look to identify it as it matures. Shade, zone 7 at least.

• evergreen fern to 15"
• plant in shade
• hardy to zone 7

Disporum is a rare deciduous groundcover perennial for shade that is popular among the horticultural cognoscenti. Related to Polygonatum it has a similar albeit smaller habit of upright stems lined with flowers in spring that are followed by black fruits in summer. This specimen was collected by JCRA director Mark Weathington on his 2014 trip to China (MWC14-1103). We are not quite sure if this is D. bodinieri or D. megalanthum.

• spreading herbaceous perennial to 1.5'
• plant in part sun
• hardy
• white flowers in spring
• blue-black fruit in summer

Pale green leaves with dark green longitudinal stripes. New to cultivation from northern South Africa. Taxonomists have not determined the species yet. Plants grown in part shade grow taller than in sun. Flowers are not showy.

• herbaceous perennial to 6"–12"
• plant in sun to part shade
• tender
• white flowers in late spring
• striped leaves

This is a deciduous, large tree with showy flowers (long panicles with white bracts) appearing in midsummer over an extended period. The thick textured flowers are intensely fragrant and a tree in full flower will stop even the most jaded plantsman in his or her tracks. The JCRA gets regular requests for seed of this lovely tree from across the globe. It typically takes more than a few years to see the flowers but these cutting grown plants from our tree should come into flower sooner than a seedling would.

• deciduous tree to 30'–40'
• plant in sun to partial shade
• hardy to zone 7
• white flowers in summer
• exceptionally fragrant

Tony Avent of Plant Delights describes this plant as: Sean Hogan's extremely vigorous, silver leaf selection of Afghan fig, We think this probably represents a hybrid with the edible fig, Ficus carica. The upright woody stems quickly reach 20' tall and 10' wide … our plants reached 8' tall and 8' wide in 18 months. Each upright trunk is clothed with 4" long, snowflake-shaped, silvery green, sandpapery leaves … quite different from other green-leaf clones we have grown. The tiny figs are edible. We have never had any winter hardiness issues.

• deciduous tree to 20'
• plant in sun
• 7b to 10b

A gardenia flower is one of the most heavenly scented flowers in the plant kingdom. On a warm day in early summer just a few plants will perfume an entire garden. This unnamed cultivar has double flowers and leaves that are variegated with a green center and cream edge.

• evergreen shrub to 6'
• plant in sun to part shade
• semi-hardy
• white flowers in early summer
• incredible scent

This evergreen (yes, evergreen) hydrangea doesn't even look like a hydrangea with its elongated fleshy leaves. It forms an upright shrub, our plant growing happily in the shade of our Lath House, and flowers in winter with lace-cap flowers bearing exceptionally large, white outer florets. Although it appears that this plant is not fully hardy in zone 7b (our plant has burnt to the ground in the past), this should be an exceptional plant in warmer zones.

• upright evergreen shrub to 3' × 4'
• plant in part sun
• semi-hardy hardy
• white flowers
• fruit in winter to early spring

A cultivar of the N.C. native holly tree that features clear lemon-yellow berries. Adaptable to almost any climate and soil type in the eastern United States from the mountains to the coast. Fruit are enjoyed by the birds and flowers by pollinators. In time, a substantial handsome specimen plant. Sun to part shade, zone 5.

• evergreen tree to 15' to 30'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 6
• white flowers in spring
• clear, lemon-yellow fruit
• attracts birds

Tony Avent of Plant Delights describes this Lycoris as: (aka: Lycoris ×elsiae) a hybrid of Lycoris aurea and Lycoris radiata from Lycoris breeder, Phil Adams. The 21" cinnamon stalks emerge in mid-September, soon topped with six or seven frilly light butter-yellow flowers, highlighted by a central peach stripe down each petal. Light shade helps protect the foliage during periods when the winter temperatures drop below 12°F.

• to 21"
• plant in sun to part shade
• 7b to 9b
• in late summer to early fall

Tony Avent of Plant Delights describes this Lycoris as: 'Fire Engine' begins flowering for us in late August with magnificent heads of heavily ruffled, fire engine red flowers. The most unique feature of this form is the purple-black 20" stalk that supports the flower.

• to 20"
• plant in sun
• hardy
• red flowers in late summer

Tony Avent of Plant Delights describes this Lycoris as: flowers for us with terminal heads of seven or eight brilliant, orange-red, lacy flowers atop 2' scapes, starting in early September, and is the last of the Lycoris radiata cultivars to flower.

• to 24"
• hardy
• orange-red flowers in late summer

Tony Avent of Plant Delights describes this lycoris as: 'Strawberry Lemonade' is a plant we originally obtained from plantsman Jim Waddick in 2000 … that's proved exceptional and vigorous in our trials, with an unrivaled flower density. The 22" tall stalks are topped with peach-flushed buds, starting in mid-August (North Carolina), which open to creamy white flowers with a salmon flush to the petal backs. Over a few days, the flowers transition to a lovely salmon-peach.

• to 22"
• hardy
• creamy white transitioning to salmon-peach flowers in late summer

New growth is heavily mottled with white and pink on this small scale evergreen ground cover. The youngest leaves have pink highlights.

• creeping evergreen shrublet to 4"–6" tall by 30" wide
• plant in part sun
• hardy
• white flowers in spring
• variegated foliage

A charming little perennial that emerges in fall with large (for an oxalis) three-lobed leaves that are quickly topped with large (again for an oxalis) hot pink flowers. The leaves will hang around until spring and then disappear for the summer. A pretty rock-garden plant.

• ephemeral herbaceous perennial to 8" tall
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy semi-hardy

The new growth on this evergreen shrub emerges in the spring almost completely white, slowly turning green. The cultivar was named by Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana because from a distance the white leaves look like a flower bouquet. White flowers are fragrant as well. Sun to light shade, zone 7.

• evergreen shrub to 6'–8'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 7
• fragrant white to yellow flowers in spring

This JCRA introduction bears irregularly curled and variegated foliage which highlights the rich orange flowers. Edible fruits follow the crepe paper flowers. It is an easy and drought tolerant shrub with long season appeal. Sun to light shade, zone 7.

• flowering deciduous shrub to 10'
• plant in sun
• hardy
• orange flowers in summer
• edible fruit in fall

The foliage of this semi-evergreen azalea emerge gold and provide a bright contrast to the magenta flowers. Over time, the foliage color fades to green. Shade, 4' tall.

• semi-evergreen shrub to 3'–5'
• plant in shade
• hardy
• magenta flowers in spring

'Arkansas Bells' sports pinkish-red tubular flowers on stalks that are taller than other sinningias. Its flowers have a pleasant, fruity scent and are a delight to hummingbirds. This amazing African violet relative thrives with cactus and agaves. Only winter hardy to 5°F, but is also makes a wonderful container plant.

• herbaceous perennial to 24"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 8
• pink flowers in early summer to fall

The foliage emerges brilliant red before becoming pumpkin orange and then bright gold. Red flowers start in early summer and are great for pollinators Deer will leave this candy corn alone as well.

• deciduous shrub to 2'–2.5'
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 4
• red flowers in all summer
• butterfly/pollinator friendly and deer resistant

An intergeneric hybrid between Sycopsis sinensis and Parrotia persica that should be grown for its blazing foliage. Before it leafs out in the spring, ×Sycoparrotia produces delicate red flowers on bare stems. In spring, the reddish-purple leaves begin their season-long show turning turn every color you can imagine from scarlet-red, bright-orange, golden-yellow to purple in the autumn. This purple haze will get "all in your brain." Sun to part shade, zone 6b.

• tardily deciduous tree to 12'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• red flowers in spring
• purple foliage in spring

This hybrid Viburnum was found and named at Hillier's Nursery in England. It makes a dense, round, evergreen shrub which can eventually grow quite large but can be kept pruned to a smaller size. Wavy, deep green leaves are topped in spring by white flowers followed by blue berries which often persist until the following spring. Good in sun or shade, zone 6.

• evergreen flowering shrub to 10' tall × 10' wide
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy
• white flowers in spring