Amsonia hubrichtii

Ozark blue-star

The gold to coppery orange fall color on this perennial makes it a must for the border. Clusters of blue star-like flowers in the spring add to the charm. It makes an easy, no hassle, long-lived perennial in the garden. Sun to light shade; 3' tall and wide.

Aristolochia fimbriata

hardy Dutchman's pipe

White veined leaves and fascinating flowers on this short trailing plant. Host plant for pipevine swallowtail butterflies, so don't kill any caterpillars feeding on the foliage.

Buxus microphylla 'Peergold'

Golden Dream variegated boxwood

'Peergold' is a compact, low-mounded, evergreen cultivar of boxwood that features bright green leaves, variegated with irregular golden yellow margins. Growth habit is nice and tight, and foliage is very dense. Great for small garden spaces. Deer and Rabbit tolerant.

Capsicum frutescens 'Hot Returns'

perennial edible hot pepper

This cultivar has survived at Juniper Level Botanic gardens for 2 mild winters in a raised bed of pertmatill, compost, and garden soil. Starting in summer, this 4' shrub produces small, spicy fruits that emerge green and turn a festive yellow, orange, and red as they mature. Fruits persist long after the top has been killed by fall frost. Requires excellent winter drainage for survival. Its ultimate cold hardiness remains to be discovered. But the fruits produce plenty of seeds.

Colocasia gigantea (Thailand giant form)

super-sized elephant ear

Cypella coelestis

goblet flower

This curious iris relative fools most people into thinking it is a palm seedling due to its pleated blue-green leaves. However, despite this demure beginning, stand back because in summer, each 24" tall plant is crowned with a festival of blue flowers. This goblet flower will change the way you think about bulbs, and irises in particular.

Drimiopsis sp. (striped)

striped false hosta

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.

Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'

coneflower

Intensely colored, double red-orange flowers make this reliable performer really pop in the garden. Bright pom pom flowers emerge deep orange but age to almost pure red. Hummingbirds love it. For best results, remove flowers the first year it is in the garden.

×Fatshedera lizei 'Pia'

variegated tree ivy

Fatshedera lizei 'Pia' combines the shrubby
shape of Fatsia with the 5-lobed leaves of Hedera. Yellowish-white 4-6 mm flowers appear in late autumn or early winter in dense umbels. It does appreciates frequent pruning and will tolerate low light.

Hibiscus coccineus

scarlet mallow

Dramatic 6" red blooms in late summer and early fall are set off by large palmate leaves. Sometimes known as swamp hibiscus because it can handle moist locations.

Ilex 'Solar Flare'

variegated hybrid holly

'Solar Flare' holly was found by area plantswoman Joanne Currier of The Unique Plant, and it is proving to be one of the showiest hollies around. This bright gold-margined sport of the popular oakleaf holly is a tough performer for sun or shade. It makes a screaming bright landscape accent and is not for the faint of heart! To 12' tall. Sun to part shade.

Ilex 'Whoa Nellie'

golden Nellie Stevens holly

Named by Tony Avent after seeing it in Mike Dirr's research plot, this screaming yellow-foliaged form of the popular 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly will definitely give a little kick to your garden. In shade, the foliage quickly loses the gold coloration, so plant it where it will receive maximum exposure, if you dare. To 15' tall.

Origanum 'Lizzie'

Lizzie's Flowering Hybrid Oregano

Vigorous culinary herb begins flowering in mid-June with terminal sprays of purple to pink blooms.

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Kaori Hime'

fragrant princess holly tea-olive

This little tea olive is perfect choice for a rock garden, hypertufa trough, bonsai, or border front. Its small white flower is highly fragrant giving it the Japanese name "fragrant princess." A JC Raulston Arboretum Choice Plants selection. Growing quickly to the height of 1'-2' feet, it then slows to its mature height of 6' or so. Sun to part shade.

Osmanthus 'Jim Porter'

tea olive

Glossy evergreen leaves are spiny on young plants but lose their spines as the plant matures. This is a great 12' tall hedge shrub with foliar interest for the Raleigh area as it tolerates our clay soil well and is fast growing for an Osmanthus. Tough and easy to grow, it produces tiny white fragrant flowers in fall after several years when it reaches maturity. Sun to part shade.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima'

peony

A favorite since the 19th century with 7" double blooms that are white with sparse red flecks inside. Fragrant. An early to midseason bloomer. To 36" tall. Peonies tend to be deer and rabbit resistant and good for butterflies. They make long-lasting cut flowers. Best in full sun but tolerant of light shade.

Phemeranthus calycinus

cherry sunbright

Great for rock gardens, Phemeranthus calycinus blooms intermittently through summer on stems that rise above foliage. Bright pink flowers open mid-afternoon on sunny days. Plant can naturalize. Drought tolerant.

Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon'

contorted hardy orange

This 12' tall hardy citrus relative is a spectacular and very interesting shrub/small tree at any time of year. It has white fragrant flowers in spring, dark green trifoliate foliage in summer, and yellow citrus fruit in fall. Twisted and contorted branches and thorns are intriguing all winter as is the green and silver striped bark. Sun to part shade.

Punica granatum 'Silver Surfer'

twisted pomegranate

This JC Raulston Arboretum 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.

Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha

winged rose

A rose from China valued for its incredible prickles. The new prickles on this 8' tall shrub rose are broadly winged and bright red along the entire length of the stem and glow liked stained glass with the sun shining through them. Single white 2" flowers. Makes red hips. Prickles are brighter, bigger, and more thorny if the plant is pruned but that disrupts its natural vase shape. Site it where you can view it backlit by the sun. Full sun.

Salvia miniata

vermilion sage

Fuzzy red tubular flowers are a hummingbird magnet through the summer. Vigorous grower with glossy green foliage. Great for containers.

Serissa japonica 'White Swan'

Japanese snow rose

Sinningia sellovii

hardy red gloxinia

Stevia rebaudiana

stevia (sugar substitute plant)

Stevia is a 24" tall, semi-hardy perennial grown for its incredibly sweet leaves that are used as a sugar substitute. A fun little herb for the herb garden. Full sun. Amaze your kids and friends with its super sweet leaves.

Taxodium distichum 'Jim's Little Guy'

bald cypress

A dwarf selection of bald cypress to 5' tall in 10- years. Foliage color is quite good all summer. Sun to part shade.

Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Gold'

toad lily