JC Raulston Arboretum Plant Sale
Spring Plant Sale 2021
The JC Raulston Arboretum's first plant sale was in 2010. This plant availability list for 2021 remains on this site as an archive of what we offered that year.
Abelia 'Raspberry Profusion'
abelia
A compact form of the evergreen shrub Abelia with fragrant raspberry red flowers. Abelia is a good foundation and/or massing plant. Abelia is tolerant of a wide range of soils which is why they are so popular here in the south as a foundation shrub, a parking lot shrub and a hedge. Tough, beautiful, and the pollinators will thank you as well. Sun to light shade; 48" tall and wide.Abies firma 'Nana Horizontalis'
dwarf Momi fir
A dwarf spreading conifer that grows slowly to less than 3' tall in 10 years but perhaps twice as wide. This taxon is a good choice for a conifer garden, a rock garden, or a container. Needs well-drained soil. Sun; 36" tall by 72" wide.Abies koreana 'Kohouts Icebreaker'
Ice Breaker dwarf Korean fir
A dwarf conifer with green needles that curve upward revealing the white waxy underside creating a two-toned color effect. Very slow growing up to around 4' tall and wide in 10 years. A good choice for a rock garden, along a path or in a container. Needs well drained soil. Sun.Achillea 'Pink Grapefruit'
yarrow
The flowers of 'Pink Grapefruit' yarrow open up a rose red and fade to pale pink and last all summer long. Pink Grapefruit is in the Tutti Fruitti series which are all bred to be shorter (thus less likely to flop over) and more disease resistant. Achillea prefers well-drained, lean soil as rich soil tends to cause it to grow too tall and flop. Achillea is drought tolerant once established. The ferny foliage is attractive and is also fragrant which helps make it deer resistant. Deadheading increases the flower production. The flowers attract butterflies and also make a nice dried cut flower. If it gets too tall, don't hesitate to cut it back hard as it will recover nicely. Sun; 2' tall by 3' wide.Adiantum pedatum
American maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern is a native southeast U.S. fern with lovely narrow fronds arranged around a horseshoe-shaped black stipe (fern stem). An excellent shade garden plant. Ferns prefer rich soil that stays consistently moist. Like all ferns, this is quite deer resistant while looking delicate and elegant. Shade; 24" tall and wide.Agastache 'Purple Haze'
hummingbird mint
Hummingbird mint is a tallish 30" perennial that produces lovely purple flower spikes in summer that attract bees and butterflies. The foliage is deliciously fragrant when bruised and smells like licorice which also enhances its deer resistance. Agastache performs best in lean, well drained soil. Sun; 30" tall and wide.Agave victoriae-reginae 'Sasanoyuki Shiro Fukurin'
Queen Victoria century plant
This Agave cultivar offsets quickly, making wide, dense colonies of plants. The leaves have wide, creamy-yellow margins and make excellent container plants. This form is marginally hardy in central North Carolina (zone 8a) but should be fine at the coast or in a pot brought indoors during cold snaps. Sun; well-drained soil; 15" tall by 30" wide.Agave xylonacantha 'Frostbite'
century plant
A very dramatic plant, with the bold yellow margin to its saw toothed edged leaves. An excellent container plant where it is not winter-hardy (zone 8a) but it should be fine at the coast. Sun; well-drained soil; 18" tall by 24" wide.Allium 'Lavender Bubbles'
ornamental onion
At the end of summer, this perennial produces rounded flower clusters atop its grass-like, onion-scented foliage. Compared to the popular 'Millenium', 'Lavender Bubbles' blooms later and is a darker shade of purple. Like all flowering onions, this is carefree, easy to grow, and deer and rabbit resistant. Butterflies and honeybees like the nectar but deer and rabbits steer clear of the scented leaves. Sun; 12" tall and wide.Aloe gastrolea 'Midnight'
aloe
A rosette forming succulent to 12" tall with intriguingly rough textured leaves. New foliage emerges dark green and develops a dark red to dark purple color in full sun. The 18" flower spikes emerge in summer with pale orange flowers. Cold hardy to around 25°F so in Raleigh this should be a container plant. Also sold under the names Aloe 'Black Beauty' or ×Gasteraloe 'Midnight'. Sun; well drained soil; To 12" tall by 12" wide.Aloysia gratissima
whitebrush
When the South Carolina Botanic Garden director, now Heronswood Botanic Garden's director, Patrick McMillan showed us this plant in full flower, we were almost as excited as the pollinators. A southwest native shrub with a long season of bloom consisting of white, vanilla-scented flowers appearing on spikes in spring and lasting for 6 months or more. Pollinator friendly but deer resistant. This is a thicket-forming shrub that will be bushier and produce more flowers with regular cut-backs. Expect it to grow to 10' if never cut back, 6' if cut to the ground early spring, sun, zone 7b.Alstroemeria ×hybrida 'PAS2052'
Jazze Rose Frost Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily is common in the cut flower industry because the long flower stalks with a cluster of 2" flowers at the tip last for weeks in a vase. Several cultivars have made the crossover to landscape plants as is the case with Jazze Rose Frost with its white / rose striped flowers. In Raleigh, Alstroemeria performs well in late spring producing lots of colorful flowers. As the summer temps rise, it will take a break and become quiescent until fall when the cooler temps will trigger it to flower again. Full sun and well drained soil are best. A cooler garden location (e.g., afternoon shade) would be appreciated as is winter mulch. Sun to light shade; 15" tall.Alstroemeria 'Red Valley'
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily is common in the cut flower industry because the long flower stalks with a cluster of 2" flowers at the tip last for weeks in a vase. Several cultivars have made the crossover to landscape plants as is the case with Red Valley with its red and scarlet flowers. In Raleigh, Alstroemeria performs well in late spring producing lots of colorful flowers. As the summer temps rise, it will take a break and become quiescent until fall when the cooler temps will trigger it to flower again. Full sun and well drained soil are best. A cooler garden location (e.g., afternoon shade) would be appreciated as is winter mulch. Sun to light shade; 15" tall.Alyssum 'Golden Spring'
sweet alyssum
Alyssum is an 8" tall ground cover perennial that is a perfect edging plant for a garden bed or in a small container. The sweetly fragrant blooms occur in early spring and attract bees and butterflies. 'Golden Spring' is a sterile hybrid that features bright yellow flowers that are a bit larger than usual. Alyssum prefers rich, well-drained soil and regular watering and looks best if cut back after blooming has finished. Sun; 8" tall by 24" wide.Amelanchier ×grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'
serviceberry
Serviceberry is a small tree that blooms in April before leaves emerge with tons of small white flowers. The edible fruit develops quickly and is ready to eat by June. The fruit looks like rose hips but tastes like blueberries. You'll have to choose weather to leave the fruit for the birds (who love them) or eat them yourself. Then in autumn, the leaves turn brilliant orange-red before dropping. In addition to the excellent fall color, this cultivar is quite disease resistant. Serviceberry will tolerate a wide range of soil but it appreciates regular watering. Sun to part shade; 25' tall.Ampelaster carolinianus
climbing aster
This native climbing aster can be grown as a mounding shrub or encouraged to grow up a post or trellis. Fragrant, pink flowers appear in October brightening the garden at the end of the season. Tolerant of dry or damp soils once established. Looks great covering an old stump. Sun to light shade; 12' tall with support.Amsonia hubrichtii
Ozark bluestar
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.Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud'
bluestar
A Tony Avent selection collected in Alabama which he says is the very best form he's ever grown (we're sure he isn't biased), but we have to admit it is great. Black stems emerge in spring and are topped by showy clusters of—dare we say it—Carolina blue flowers. This is truly a spectacular and easy to grow native plant. Sun to part shade; 2' tall and wide'.Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus
Mount Atlas daisy
A nice little 4" tall rock garden plant from north Africa with daisy like flowers and ferny leaves that superficially resemble chamomile. The 1.25" white flowers start in spring and last two months or so. This mat forming ground cover requires well drained soil. Once established, the plants are drought tolerant. Extracts from this plant are said to boost testosterone and libido. Sun; well-drained soil; To 4" tall by 18" wide.Anemone 'Curtain Call Deep Rose'
Japanese anemone
In late summer when many flowers have petered out, Japanese anemones start their bloom cycle with large, daisy like, pink flowers. Japanese anemones are spreading perennials that will fill a garden bed over time. Here in the south, part sun is recommended. They perform best in a loose soil that is rich and well drained. Part sun to part shade; 18" tall by 36" wide.Anemone ×lipsiensis
wood anemone
A cross between A. nemorosa and A. ranunculoides with pale yellow flowers above bronze tinted foliage. Spreading, easy to grow "filler" for the woodland garden or in front of a shady border. Prefers moist, humusy soil but tolerates drier soil in summer when it goes dormant. Shade; 5" tall by 20" wide.Anemone nemorosa 'Alba Plena'
double white wood anemone
White, outer circle of large petals surrounding a center of overlapping, tiny petals. Spreading, easy to grow "filler" for the woodland garden or in front of a shady border. Prefers moist, humusy soil but tolerates drier soil in summer as they are then dormant. Shade; 5" tall by 18" wide.Anemone nemorosa 'Royal Blue'
wood anemone
The lavender-blue flowers with purple backs are certainly one of the bluest we can grow. It is a spreading, easy to grow "filler" for the woodland garden or in front of a shady border. Prefers moist, humusy soil but tolerates drier soil in summer when it will be dormant. Shade; 5" tall by 18" wide.Anemone nemorosa 'Stars in the Night'
wood anemone
An Edelweiss Nursery selection with strongly purple tinted leaves in early spring, creating a good contrast to the star shaped, milky-white flowers. Leaves turn dark green in late spring. Prefers moist, humusy soil but tolerates drier soil in summer as they are then dormant. Shade; 5" tall by 16" wide.Aquilegia eximia
Van Houtte's columbine
A large columbine with orange and yellow flowers native to the moist coastal forests of California. Prefers soil that is consistently moist and a part-shade location. This species is longer lived than other columbines. As with our eastern columbine, hummingbirds love the flowers of Aquilegia exima. Sun to part shade; 48" tall.Aquilegia 'Pink Lanterns'
columbine
Columbine flowers are show-stoppers with bright colors and long bizarre spurs on the back side of the flower. This short-lived, tardily deciduous perennial erupts in late spring with pastel pink flowers. Short-lived but if you do not remove the seed heads, columbine will seed around from place to place in the garden and persist indefinitely. 'Pink Lanterns' is a dwarf pastel pink form. Sun to part shade; 12" tall.Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
golden Japanese spikenard
Few plants have made our mouths water quite like this showy herbaceous perennial which bursts from the ground in spring with bright gold pinnate leaves. Clusters of white flowers are followed by showy black fruits. Best with just a few hours of sun, in full shade the leaves will be chartreuse rather than gold but still beautiful. This one will be a definite show-stopper in the garden. Part sun to shade; 5' tall and wide'.Araucaria araucana
monkey puzzle
Monkey puzzle tree is an endangered evergreen coniferous tree from Chile (and their national tree) with a bizarre prehistoric appearance and we are consistently asked to sell it. Well, here you go. Monkey puzzle is notoriously difficult to grow in areas with high summer heat and moisture. It prefers a cool, cloudforest environment but there are notable successes with the plant in the southeast if given excellent drainage, adequate moisture, and protection from the coldest temperatures. A well-amended mound near the top of a slope would be ideal perhaps. Probably best to grow it as a container plant for a while where the thick, scale-needled branches and curious architecture can be appreciated before trying it outside permanently. Don't say we didn't warn you. Sun to light shade; 130' tall (in Chile anyway).Arisaema candidissimum (White form)
white cobra lily
A rare white-flowered version of cobra lily. The flowers are white with green stripes at the base, the three-lobed leaves can reach over 2' diameter. Emerges very late, late May into June, but once it emerges, things go fast and the plant goes into leaf and flower at the same time. It grows into sizable clumps over time and can be divided for sharing. It needs well drained soil and doesn't want extra water until it sprouts. Part sun to shade; 30" tall.Artemisia molinieri
Molinier's wormwood
An endangered sub-shrub with deer-proof, fine textured, blue-green foliage from a tiny area in the south of France. Fine spires of small white flowers top the plants in spring and again in late summer. Trim after flowering to keep plants compact. Sun to part shade; 3' tall and wide.Asarum canadense
Canada wild-ginger
A small native perennial common to forests with moist soils. The heart-shaped to kidney-shaped leaves are evergreen and make a nice ground cover as the plant spreads to form a mat. It is called wild ginger because the roots have a mild ginger scent and were used in the past by native Americans like we use true ginger today. Shade; 6" tall by 30" wide.Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling'
panda face wild-ginger
This easy to grow, evergreen ginger forms impressive clumps of large, heart-shaped, dark green leaves with light green patterning. In late spring look for its unusual black flowers with their white panda-like faces (1.5"–2") hidden among the foliage. Shade; 8" tall.Asimina parviflora
smallflower pawpaw
No to be confused with its better known relative the pawpaw tree, this is the pawpaw shrub. It is a southeastern U.S. native. Like its cousin, it is a suckering plant that will eventually form a pawpaw patch. The pawpaw shrub blooms in spring before the plant leafs out and is followed in summer by small edible fruit. Zebra swallowtail larvae eat the leaves and birds eat the fruit so this is a great plant for supporting wildlife in your garden. Part sun to shade; 6'–8' tall.Aspidistra oblanceifolia 'Nagoya Stars'
speckled cast iron plant
The very upright, 30" leaves of this selection are brightly speckled with gold. This selection flowers relatively heavily although the strange red flowers are carried at ground level in February. Like most cast-iron plants, this will grow well in that toughest of spots—dry shade or as a container plant. Shade; 30" tall.Asplenium scolopendrium
hart's tongue fern
An easy fern, much beloved by the Victorians, which forms tight rosettes of mid-green leaves. It is very easy in a moist, well-drained, partly shaded spot and is 100% deer proof! Shade; 18" tall and wide.Athyrium otophorum
eared lady fern
An East Asian fern with 18" triangular fronds that appear all season long. Like most ferns, this one prefers shade and consistently moist, rich soil. It is rabbit and deer resistant, quite frilly in texture, and easy to grow. Shade; 18" tall.Aucuba himalaica
Himalayan aucuba
A slow growing Himalayan Aucuba with narrow leaves. Looser habit than other species or perhaps it just seems that way because you can see through the narrow leaves to the interior of the plant. A. himalaica can have solid green leaves of be very lightly speckled. Females produce bright red fruit if there is a male nearby but these are unsexed plants. All told, it gives a very different texture than Japanese aucuba. Shade; 10' over time, more commonly 4'–5' in the garden.Aucuba japonica 'Limbata'
gold margin Japanese aucuba
This is one of the showiest Aucuba selections with broad yellow margins around each leaf. The yellow margin becoming nearly white overtime. It is a compact grower, and slow. 'Limbata' is the correct name for 'Sulphurea Marginata' It is a female clone, so it can produce showy red fruit if a male is nearby. A great evergreen shrub for shade. Shade; 5' tall by 5' wide.Aucuba japonica 'Mr. Wonderful'
dwarf Japanese aucuba
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; 3' tall by 4' wide.Begonia formosana
hardy begonia
This is a collection made by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington (MWT08-10) on his 2008 Taiwan plant hunting expedition near Yangmingshan National Park. It has been growing happily at the JC Raulston Arboretum in our Asian Valley garden since 2015. Begonia formosana is a 2' tall deciduous perennial that produces pink flowers in summer. Where happy, it will develop rhizomes and spread into a patch. Shade; 24" tall.Begonia 'Little Brother Montgomery'
hardy begonia
A real wow of a hardyish begonia with star-like leaves of silver with a burgundy center and veins. It doesn't even matter that it is relatively shy to flower. Mulch well and perhaps take some cuttings as insurance but this plant should survive unless the rhizomes freeze. Named for a legendary Jazz singer. Shade; 3' tall and wide.Begonia 'Pewterware'
hardy begonia
A lovely silver-leafed hardy begonia with pink summer flowers collected by D. Miller in Malaysia. We haven't grown it outside for long so would recommend mulching it well. This selection is also known in collectors circles as Begonia U-358. Over at Juniper Level Botanic Garden they have grown it for several years and found it to be hardy in their garden to the upper teens. An excellent houseplant for all others. Shade; mulch well; 18" tall and wide.Berberis delavayi
Delavay's barberry
A lovely and rarely seen barberry from Sichuan, China which makes a mid-sized evergreen shrub. Stem spines to an inch long help deter deer browsing on the narrow, deep green leaves. Fairly large gold to orange flowers appear in early spring and are frequented by a variety of pollinators. Sun to part shade; 5' to 8' tall and wide.Berberis triacanthophora 'Cally Rose'
three-spined barberry
'Cally Rose' is a rarely seen, dense, medium evergreen shrub with an informal habit. The narrow, glossy foliage has small spines along its margins. The pendulous flowers are pink and white bicolored and hang in clusters along the stem and demonstrate barberry's close relationship with Epimedium. 'Cally Rose' is named for Cally Gardens located in southwestern Scotland, and was collected by the late Michael Wickenden. Sun to light shade; 5' tall and wide.Beschorneria yuccoides 'Besys'
Flamingo Glow variegated Mexican lily
A yellow variegated selection of this Mexican native plant. Yucca-like in shape but instead of white flowers, Beschorneria has pink to red flowers and soft foliage. While we have grown Beschorneria yuccoides outside in a protected spot for years, it is somewhat marginal in zone 7b and this heavily variegated form is likely to be quite tender and may be best grown as a container plant until a sucker can be divided off as a backup plant. Sun; well-drained; 4' tall and wide.Buddleja davidii 'SMNBDPT'
Pugster Pink dwarf butterfly bush
Pugster butterfly bushes are quite dwarf, topping out at just 2' tall. This makes them well suited for small gardens, border edges, container plants and other tight quarters. They bloom all summer long (more prolifically if deadheaded) with large, dense panicles and their pleasantly fragrant flowers attract butterflies. Sun; 2' tall by 3' wide.Buddleja loricata
mountain sagewood
Everyone needs an evergreen butterfly-bush! This South African shrub bears tough, but beautiful, 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 in spring. We've grown this easy plant for over a decade in a well-drained spot. Sun; 5' tall and wide.Buddleja 'SMNBDBT'
Pugster Blue dwarf butterfly bush
Pugster butterfly bushes are quite dwarf, topping out at just 2' tall. This makes them well suited for small gardens, border edges, container plants and other tight quarters. They bloom all summer long (more prolifically if deadheaded) with large, dense panicles and their pleasantly fragrant flowers attract butterflies. Sun; 2' tall by 3' wide.Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Unraveled'
weeping Japanese boxwood
This incredibly cool boxwood cultivar is unlike any other you have seen before. Its habit is outreaching and arching, a bit loose compared to other boxwoods. 'Unraveled' is a JC Raulston Arboretum Choice Plants selection. These larger specimens have been trained up as small weeping trees for added landscape punch. Use them as patio trees, evergreen living art, or to cascade over a wall. Sun to shade; 6' tall (if trained up).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.Buxus 'Prostrate3'
Flat-tery dwarf boxwood
An unusual boxwood that stays nearly flat to the ground (24") and grows twice as wide as it is tall. A nice accent plant for the front of the foundation. Boxwood are undervalued for their tremendous adaptability to dry shade situations. Sun to shade; 24" tall by 48" wide.Calamagrostis ×acutiflora 'Lightning Strike'
feather reed grass
An ornamental grass with narrow green and white variegated foliage with feathery summer plumes that turn gold in fall. Useful as an accent or in a mass planting. Vigorous and easy to maintain. Sun; 36" tall.Callicarpa 'NCCX2'
Pearl Glam pearl glam beautyberry
Pearl Glam beautyberry is an upright growing hybrid with new purple foliage that fades to green. White summer flowers are followed in autumn by hundreds of small violet-purple clusters of berries. This hybrid from plant genius Tom Ranney obviously has some Callicarpa kwangtungensis in its past and shares its space-saving upright habit and amazing foliage. Sun to part shade; 6' tall by 3' wide.Campanula poscharskyana 'Camgood'
Blue Waterfall Serbian bellflower
Bell-shaped, blue flowers have a small, white center and occur along the stems in June and July. Spreading habit that can easily reach 2' in diameter during the growing season. This perennial performs well in sun or shade where the broad mat is covered in flowers. Use as a small scale summer ground cover, cascading over the edge of pots, or weaving around other perennials. The wide mats of foliage retreat to a central crown for winter before spreading out again. Sun to shade; 4" tall by 30" wide.Caryopteris ×clandonensis 'Gold Crest'
bluebeard
These show-stopping plants have chartreuse leaves in spring and blue flowers in late summer and early fall. It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates drier soil once established. It is deer and rabbit resistant. Cut to within 6" of ground in mid-spring to promote fresh growth and blooms on the new wood. Sun; 36" tall.Ceanothus ×delilianus 'Henri Desfossé'
hybrid ceanothus
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. Sun; well-drained soil; 4' tall and wide'.Cercis canadensis 'NC2015-12'
Golden Falls eastern redbud
The newest release from Denny Werner and the JCRA is this strict weeping, gold foliaged redbud. Be the first on your block with this show-stopper. Sun to part shade; height is as staked.Cercis canadensis 'NC2016-2'
Flame Thrower eastern redbud
The other newest release from Denny Werner and the JCRA is this breakthrough plant with burgundy new growth becoming apricot-coral, then chartreuse. New growth all summer makes this plant a kaleidoscope of color. Sun to light shade; 20' tall.Cercis canadensis 'Pink Pom Poms'
double flowered eastern redbud
This redbud from Denny Werner's incredible breeding program here at NC State University has fully double flowers which will knock your socks off. It has the Texas redbud genes giving it great heat tolerance and a super glossy leaf as well. It's been hardy through the winters in Missouri so you know its tough. We can't say enough good things about this new redbud. It doesn't produce fruit or seeds. Sun to shade; 25' tall.Chaenorhinum origanifolium 'Blue Dreams'
dwarf snapdragon
A rock garden or scree plant that spreads into a ground cover. Tiny green leaves are purple on the back and tiny purple flowers appear in spring and summer. Requires well drained soil. Sun; 8" tall by 12" wide.Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Clouded Sky'
blue Sawara falsecypress
A medium size blue grey form of Sawara falsecypress with both adult and juvenile foliage creating an interesting textural contrast on the same plant. An upright grower to about 8' in 10 years, this selection's color will add some cool to the hot summer landscape. We've been very taken with this selection here at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Plant in sun to light shade in average to well-drained soil.Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Lemon Yellow'
goldthread cypress
A dwarf yellow-foliaged goldthread cypress. This evergreen shrub stays just 3' tall and wide and features thread-like weeping branches.Chionanthus retusus 'Tokyo Tower'
upright Chinese fringe tree
Few flowering trees can match the dazzling display and uber-tough constitution of Chinese fringe tree. This 18' tall upright form makes a broad column of deep green, rounded leaves which can turn buttery yellow in fall. Masses of white, frothy flowers stand out against the foliar backdrop. This is the ideal plant where space is at a premium. Sun to part shade; 18' tall.Cistus 'Mickie'
variegated rockrose
Grow this one for its evergreen leaves which are widely bordered with brilliant yellow. Really a show stopper year round. The 2.5" white, spring flowers are almost and afterthought compared to the showy foliage. It has performed superbly in sunny, well drained sites at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Although we struggle to keep most rockrose alive here, this one has been long-lived and easy for us. Sun; well-drained soil; 30" tall by 48" wide.Citrus 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.Cladrastis kentukea 'Perkins Pink'
pink flowered American yellowwood
'Perkins Pink' is an uncommon pink-flowered cultivar of American yellowwood. Intensely fragrant wisteria-like pink flowers on drooping panicles flower in late spring. It was originally discovered in the 1930s at the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. Yellowwood is a desperately under-appreciated native species that deserves much wider usage. Sun to light shade; 50' tall.Clematis 'Arabella'
clematis
A beautiful flowering small perennial vine with blue-mauve 3" flowers which fade to blue in summer to fall. This non-climbing plant is excellent for containers, growing through open shrubs, or trailing through a perennial border. Prune to the ground in late winter. Sun to part shade; to 6' with support.Clematis 'Evipo052'
Boulevard Ninon clematis
A vigorous but short vine that grows to just 5' tall and is covered in large white flowers for several months from late spring into summer. Needs the support of a small trellis or you follow the example of JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington by letting it grow up through a shrub in your yard. Prune in late winter. Sun to light shade; 5' with support.Clethra
summersweet
A Far Reaches Farm wild collection (CGG14102). Here is what they say about it: "Our collection from near the summit of Leigongshan in Guizhou of this species we are going to have to grow to flowering to key out. There are two easily distinguishable species on the mountain, one with rough bark and one with smooth and this is from the rough-barked species which we found to grow at higher elevations than the other. These had numerous 4" racemes which most likely are going to be sweetly scented white flowers. A nice deciduous not too wide shrub which give you some fall color." A head-scratcher of a plant, make sure to send us photos of your in flower. Sun to shade; 4' tall(?).Clethra fargesii
Farges clethra
Rare in the trade and a gem in the garden! This Chinese plant is packed with spikes of pure white fragrant flowers in mid- to late summer. Flowers occur on on 5"–7" upright panicles. Leaves are a lustrous dark green over cinnamon barked stems. Grows 6'–10' tall and prefers partial shade.Comanthosphace japonica 'Gin Santo Naka Fu'
silver Japanese shrub mint
Also known as Leucosceptrum japonicum, this shrubby Japanese mint relative is grown for its attractive foliage which is not unlike shade coleus. Slowly spreads to form a 3' tall by 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; 3' tall by 5' wide.Convallaria majalis 'Cream da Mint'
lily-of-the-valley
A typical lily of the valley except for the elegance that the creamy leaf margin gives to each leaf. Small white fragrant flowers in spring. Spreads via rhizomes to form a colony. Rick Sawyer of Fernwood Nursery in Maine introduced this plant and spelled the cultivar name this way—don't blame us. Part sun to shade; 8" tall.Convallaria majalis var. rosea
pink lily-of-the-valley
Here is a twist on the typical lily-of-the-valley with soft pink flowers instead of the usual white. Fragrance, durability, and ease of growth are all the same as the better known white forms. Sun to part shade; 10" tall.Coreopsis major
greater tickseed
Two inch yellow aster-like flowers top this 3' tall southeast U.S. native perennial in midsummer. Once established, tickseed is drought tolerant and prefers soil a bit on the dry, rocky, and lean side. Butterflies like the showy yellow blooms and songbirds eat the seeds. Cut back hard in summer if foliage sprawls or becomes unkempt (caused by rich soil). Divide every three years or so to rejuvenate the clump. This species is not grown in gardens nearly as much as it warrants. Sun; 3' tall.Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea'
variegated pagoda dogwood
A small (to 15') variegated form of our woefully underutilized native tree (the other dogwood tree native to North Carolina) with white-edged leaves that is best grown in part sun to keep from burning. Small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers bloom in late spring followed by blue fruits which the birds will devour almost before you get to appreciate them. Part sun to shade; 15'.Cornus sanguinea 'Cato'
Arctic Sun bloodtwig dogwood
Stems of this deciduous 4' tall shrub are yellow, orange, and coral in the winter. Beautiful in the winter garden and also as cut stems for winter arrangements. Tolerant of a very wide range of soil conditions and one of the best ornamental shrubs for shade. To maximize the winter stem color remove 20%–25% of the oldest stems in early spring each year to stimulate new growth. Some gardeners instead prune all stems close to the ground (coppice to 8") in early spring every two to three years to renew. Fruit is quite attractive to birds and is generally considered to have as much if not more ornamental interest than the flowers. Sun to part shade; average to moist soils; 4' tall.Corylopsis sinensis [Willmottiae Group] 'Spring Purple'
winter hazel
Few shrubs are as elegant and as welcome in spring as the winter hazels with their small chains of fat, primrose yellow flowers in March. This selection has the added bonus of ethereally purple-tinged new growth in spring after flowering. Part sun to shade; 8' tall and wide.Cotinus coggygria 'MINCOJAU3'
Winecraft Gold smokebush
Smokebush is a shrub grown its fascinating summer flowers that are so small and so numerous as to appear like smoke above the plant. Interestingly, despite the delicious looking foliage, deer tend to steer clear of them. Winecraft Gold also features chartreuse foliage and at 6' is a smaller size than wild smokebushes and earlier gold-leafed introductions. Sun to part shade; 6' tall by 4' wide.Cotinus coggygria 'NCC01'
Winecraft Black dwarf smokebush
Smokebush is a shrub grown its fascinating summer flowers that are so small and so numerous as to appear like smoke above the plant. Interestingly, despite the delicious looking foliage, deer tend to steer clear of them. Winecraft Black, a selection from North Carolina State University breeder Tom Ranney, also features dark purple foliage and at 6' is a smaller size than wild smokebushes and earlier dark leafed introductions. Fall color is a beautiful mix of reds and oranges. Sun to part shade; 6' tall by 4' wide.Crinum ×digweedii 'Red Flare'
crinum lily
Plant Delights says of this plant: "Crinum ×digweedii 'Red Flare' is a Marcelle Sheppard introduction of a Steve Lowe cross between the wild collected Crinum 'Marisco' (aka; 'Vera Cruz') and a Mexican collection of Crinum americanum. For us, the upright 4' tall fountain of glossy green foliage remains attractive all summer, and serves as a nice background for the 40" tall flowers stalks that begin appearing in mid-August (North Carolina). Each stalk is topped with 9 to 11, large, flat, outfacing, red and white striped fragrant flowers. Crinum 'Red Flare' has the largest flowers of any of the Crinum ×digweedii hybrids we've grown". What more can we say other than it's nearly impossible to kill a Crinum and deer won't touch them. Sun to light shade; 4' tall.Crinum 'Li'l Stinker'
crinum lily
Plant Delights says of this plant: "Despite the less than stellar name, Crinum 'Li'l Stinker' is at or near the top of the list of the 200 plus Crinum we grow. This amazing Dave Lehmiller hybrid is a cross of the yellow flowered, virtually ungrowable Australian Crinum luteolum and our own native Crinum americanum. Crinum 'Li'l Stinker' combines the best traits of both parents. The fast-offsetting clump is composed of very glossy 3.5' long leaves, and topped from August through October (NC) with 3' tall scapes, that terminate in clusters of 12 to 16 rounded, flat-faced, nocturnally opening flowers. The flowers open buttery yellow, and deliciously fragrant around 6pm (NC), but by morning have aged to white with a yellow throat. Crinum 'Li'l Stinker' is a truly stunning and very unique". If it impresses the Plant Delights folks, you know it's good. It's nearly impossible to kill a Crinum and deer won't touch them. Sun; 3' tall.Crinum 'Rodger Croker Memorial'
crinum lily
Plant Delights says of this plant: "Crinum 'Rodger Croker Memorial' is a Marcelle Shepard named introduction of a crinum found by the late plantsman, Rodger Croker. Crinum 'Rodger Croker Memorial' forms a clump with narrow, upright foliage that's topped, starting in mid-July with 30" stalks, topped with clusters of eight to ten flowers, faintly-fragrant white flowers with prominent pink stripes down the center of each petal, and lovely recurved petal tips." What more can we say other than it's nearly impossible to kill a Crinum and deer won't touch them. Sun; 30" tall.Cynara cardunculus
cardoon
Relative of the artichoke this perennial makes quite a statement. It has large sharply lobed silvery-gray foliage. Can reach 6' tall. Electric blue-purple thistle flowers glow in the landscape in summer. After the 6' flower stalk dies back, cut the entire plant to the ground and new silver leaves will emerge and look good through the winter. Sun to light shade; 6' tall in flower.Cyrtomium fortunei
Fortune's holly fern
A fine addition to the list of hardy ferns that are suitable for southern gardens. This 30" tall fern is related to but much hardier than the "common holly fern" of coastal North Carolina and Deep South gardens. Glossy, fronds make an elegant contrast with other shade perennials and the deer won't touch them. Shade; 30" tall.Daphne odora 'Rogbret'
Marianni variegated winter daphne
Powerfully fragrant blooms in late winter are the best feature of the evergreen shrub, winter daphne. Marianni is a variegated selection with pale yellow edges making it a true 4-season plant. Plant your Daphne in a well-drained spot to ensure the best performance and put a sign on it because all of your neighbors will want to know what it is. Sun to shade; good drainage; 3' tall and wide.Dianthus knappii 'Yellow Harmony'
Knapp's carnation
An unusual Dianthus native to Bosnia and Montenegro with soft yellow, single 1" blooms that are paler in heat and darker in cooler weather. Flowers appear above the 16" tall blue-green foliage in May and continue well into the summer. A great rock garden plant as it requires well drained conditions. This is a dainty plant that looks best when inter-planted with other polite neighbors. Sun; well-drained soil; 16" tall.Dianthus 'Wp15 Pie45'
Georgia Peach Pie garden pink
Fragrant, clove-scented pale pink flowers with coral centers overtop narrow bluish-green leaves. Prefers full sun, and relatively well-drained soil. Deadhead to prolong the flowering. It's 12" tall compact size resists flopping over. Sun; 12' tall.Dichroa febrifuga (heavy fruiting form)
blue-bead
This taxon is an especially heavy fruiting cultivar procured from the South Carolina Botanic Garden. In late spring through early summer, this 4' tall evergreen shrub produces beautiful clusters of star shaped, blue flowers. The flowers emerge quite slowly from very attractive round buds of pale blue. Bright indigo-blue berries in the autumn can persist on the shrub for many months. Best fruiting will likely occur when different clones of Dichroa are grown in proximity. Shade; 4' tall and wide'.Dichroa febrifuga 'Yamaguchi Narrow-leaf'
blue-bead
A new cultivar of this hydrangea relative from Mr. Yamaguchi in Japan. This one is distinguished by its narrow leaves and flowers that are lavender-white and fruit that are purplish-pink instead of blue. Fruit set requires growing more than one clone (cultivar). Culture is much like Hydrangea macrophylla, preferring part sun or bright shade over hot midday sun, and evenly moist well drained soil. Will remain evergreen in mild areas or through mild winters. Part sun, 4' tall.Dichroa febrifuga 'Yamaguchi White'
white flowered blue-bead
This is a small 3' tall white flowered Dichroa whose leaves are lighter green than typical. Fruit set requires growing more than one clone (cultivar). Culture is much like Hydrangea macrophylla, preferring part sun or bright shade over hot midday sun, and evenly moist well drained soil. Will remain evergreen in mild areas or through mild winters. Part sun; 3' tall.Dicksonia fibrosa
golden tree fern
One of the hardiest of all tree ferns, although not likely hardy enough for North Carolina except in the most protected spot. Grow it in a container or find a protected spot if you'd like a challenge. Protecting the crown from extended freezing is key. Shade.Dierama (ex. dark violet form)
angel's fishing rod
These plants are seedlings from a dark violet flower form of Dierama and most of them will be dark violet too. The ones that are not will be lighter purple or purple picotee color. Dierama is called angel's fishing rod because of the 4' long, stiff, arching flower stalks are tipped with dangling flowers that dance in the wind. Dierama is a South African plant with a basal tuft of grass-like foliage that prefers a well-drained soil. JCRA director Mark says he fell in love with Dierama when he first saw them in Edinburgh and now grows quite a few of them successfully in the open garden. Sun; 4' tall.Digitalis purpurea 'Sugar Plum'
foxglove
This foxglove is a biennial or short lived perennial with tall spikes of bright pink, bell-shaped flowers with heavily speckled, dark purple throats. It blooms profusely in early summer. The poisonous leaves deter rabbits and deer. Prefers acidic, moist soil with good winter drainage. Cut the flowering spike to the base as it finishes and several smaller spikes will appear, extending the bloom time. Let it self-sow to perpetuate the plant. Sun to part shade; flower spikes to 4' tall.Disporopsis pernyi
evergreen Solomon's seal
Perny's evergreen Solomon's seal is a slowly spreading, evergreen ground cover that is perfect for the woodland garden. Small, white flowers are born along the 1' tall stems in spring. Excellent in a woodland garden where it tends to be quite deer resistant. This is the most common and easiest species in commerce. Shade; 12 " tall.Disporum smilacinum 'Pink Star'
Japanese fairy bells
A diminutive 6" tall Japanese species of shade ground cover with pink flowers in spring. Very unusual and rare in its white form and even more so in this pink selection. Best to plant in a woodland rockery, trough, or special spot so it doesn't get lost while it slowly clumps up. Part sun to shade; 6" tall.Dodecatheon pulchellum 'Red Wings'
shooting star
Intense magenta flowers with a white ring at the base look like a badminton shuttlecock. Lush green leaves and red-infused stems add contrast. Likes moist in spring and dryer in summer when it is dormant much like cyclamen. Sun to part shade; 12" tall.Echinacea 'Atomic Orange'
Eye Catcher coneflower
The Eye Catcher series coneflowers are compact at just 18" tall and branch well for lots of flower power. 'Atomic Orange' features large 4.5" wide bright orange flowers and a dark orange cone. Full sun and average to dry soil that is fertile and not compacted. Great as a cut flower or leave the blooms on until fall and watch the gold finches eat the seeds. Sun; 18" tall.Echinops sphaerocephalus 'Arctic Glow'
globe thistle
'Arctic Glow' globe thistle is more compact than the typical species at 3' tall. Silvery-green, slightly-spiny, deeply-dissected leaves are downy-white underneath. Globular, thistle-like, 2" wide white inflorescences appear at the tops of the stems in summer. A curious COVID-shaped flower for those of you with a dark sense of humor. Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as they are well drained. Sun; 3' tall.Enkianthus sikokianus
redvein enkianthus
An easy to grow 10' tall shrub from Japan whose small dark red Pieris-like flowers adorn the plant in late spring. Nice fall foliage color of reds and oranges. Grow like you would an azalea in a moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Sun to part shade; 6'–10' tall.Epimedium 'Enchantress'
fairy wings
Silvery lilac flowers with purple inner segments dangle above elongated heart-shaped green leaves on this dwarf (6" tall) Epimedium. Deer resistant and easy in the woodland garden. Shade; 6" tall.Epimedium ×perralchicum 'Frohnleiten'
fairy wings
Epimedium 'Frohnleiten' produces yellow flowers. It is a 12" tall spreading plant (6"–8" per year) whose foliage remains evergreen from zone 6 southward, although we shear it back just prior to flowering to get rid of the old ratty leaves and to show off the blooms. A woodland classic that is simply hard to beat. Shade; 12" tall.Epimedium sempervirens 'Okuda's White'
fairy wings
A slow spreading, semi-evergreen Epimedium with relatively large, pure white flowers. To 10" tall. Rarely seen and much coveted for the woodland. Shade; 10" tall.Epimedium wushanense 'Sandy Claws'
fairy wings
Epimedium produces small winged flowers atop wiry stems in spring and are a charming sight that all gardens should have. 'Sandy Claws' has large, leathery lance-shaped maroon leaves with spiny margins topped by creamy yellow flowers. Leaf color mellows to dark green by summer. Fairy wings are one of the few plants capable of surviving in dry shade. Slow to establish but worth the wait. Epimedium is sometimes known as horny goat weed and the leaves are used medicinally in Asia for their mild viagra-like effect. Shade; 16" tall.Eriobotrya japonica 'Wuling Hardy'
loquat
The loquat is a small 25' evergreen tree that we love to grow for its tropical look. It flowers in fall and fruits in early spring, so do not expect fruit in Raleigh if winter temperatures drop too low. Foliage can be cut and brought inside for winter decorations and the flowers are white and fragrant. Select a somewhat protected location in your garden, since plants are sensitive to severe cold. These are from a 2008 Taiwan collection from Wuling Farm (MWT-117). Sun to light shade; 25' tall.Erythrina herbacea
coral bean
In the warmer regions of its native range (North Carolina to Texas and northern Mexico), coral bean is a 25' tree but it is a dieback shrub here in Raleigh. The prickly stems give rise to 12" long spikes covered in bright red tubular flowers in May and June before they leaf out. As it is in the pea family, it makes a pod filled with red beans but do not eat them, they are poisonous. Red and tubular flowers mean that hummingbirds are attracted to them. Full sun; 6' in Raleigh.Ficus johannis subsp. afghanistanica 'Silver Lyre'
Afghan fig
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." Our plants haven't grown quite as vigorously as Tony's so size results may vary. Full sun; 8' -20'.Forestiera godfreyi
Godfrey's swamprivet
This southeast US native shrub is rare in the wild and is under pressure in the wild. The small, yellow, fuzzy-textured flowers appear in late winter on last year's wood. This plant is dioecious and if you get a female and a male, then the female plant will produce dark blue berries in May. Do not prune Forestiera until just after the blooms finish to preserve next year's flowers. To 15' tall. Full sun.Fothergilla ×intermedia 'Blue Shadow'
witch-alder
This is a breathtaking blue-leafed sport from Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy'. Fragrant, white, pollinator-friendly bottlebrush flowers open in spring before the dusty blue leaves emerge. Fall colors are bright red, orange, and yellow. The best blue Fothergilla for the south by far. Expect a tight shrub to about 5' in sun or part shade.Fothergilla ×intermedia 'NCFI1'
Legend of the Small dwarf witch-alder
Fothergilla Legend of the Small at 2.5' tall is a dwarf form of this popular landscape shrub developed by North Carolina State University breeder Tom Ranney. In spring, Fothergilla produces fragrant, white spiky, sputnik-like flowers and during the growing season the shrub is covered in blue-green foliage. In autumn the colors are spectacular as the leaves turn brilliant, orange, yellow, and red. Full sun; To 30" tall.Fragaria vesca (variegated)
variegated alpine strawberry
This alpine strawberry produces small edible fruit in early summer from its white spring flowers. And when not in fruit, the 10" tall plant remains attractive with its white-edged variegated leaves. A pretty, spreading ground cover. Full sun; 10" tall.Geranium 'Azure Rush'
cranesbill
A hybrid of the popular Geranium 'Rozanne' and G. wallichianum that is more compact (at 18" tall), less aggressive and neater in form than 'Rozanne' with a lighter blue 2.5" flower. Fragrant foliage too. 'Azure Rush' is a long blooming perennial effective in a border or spilling over a rock wall. Sun to part shade; 18" tall.Geranium ×cantabrigiense 'ABPP'
Crystal Rose cranesbill
Brilliant magenta pink flowers top this compact perennial from spring to summer. The flowers are held well above the leaves, which are small, shiny and broadly lobed. The leaves are a good orange color during the fall in cold climates. Sun to light shade; Grows to 8" tall × 15" wide.Geranium 'Dragon Heart'
cranesbill
Dark 2" magenta flowers with a deeper eye top this 12" × 48" perennial from spring to summer. A large billowing plant with long trailing flowering stems perfect for weaving through and around other plants. Full sun to light shade; 12" tall.Geranium phaeum 'Margaret Wilson'
dusky cranesbill
Bluish purple flowers top this 12" × 15" perennial from spring into summer. A stunning variegated geranium, with reticulated yellow and green leaves. Needs protection from hot afternoon sun. Part sun to shade; 12".Geranium 'Pink Delight'
cranesbill
Pale pink flowers top this 9" × 14" perennial from spring into summer. Forms a small domed mound. Full sun; 10" tall.Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis'
mountain cransebill
A wide spreading, long blooming perennial with purple flowers all summer long until fall. Once the flowers are spent you can cut this plant back hard and it will bounce back and bloom again. To 16" tall. Full sun.Geranium renardii 'Whiteknights'
Caucasian cranesbill
Lilac blue, dark veined flowers top this 10" × 12" perennial from spring to summer. Felted rugose leaves. Very slow growing. Probably best in a rock garden or other well drained site. Full sun; 10" tall.Ginkgo biloba 'Folkert's Select'
maidenhair tree
A dwarf Ginkgo (15') with small leaves on upward angled branches. Excellent clear yellow fall foliage. Full sun.Globularia cordifolia
globe daisy
A little 6" tall alpine plant from the mountains of southern Europe. Low and slowly spreading domes with evergreen leaves and lavender-blue pom-pom flowers. Easy and tough. Takes dry or a good bit of water if given really good drainage. A great rock garden plant. Full sun.Gunnera magellanica
Magellan's miniature gunnera
A diminutive 4" tall relative to the more familiar massive Gunnera tinctora. This has a creeping habit making a low dense ground cover with rounded leaves. Herbaceous, the new leaves emerge in late March to April. Insignificant flowers. Loves a rich moist soil—mulch if bitter cold. Relief from afternoon sun and heat is important. This will probably not be an easy plant to grow in the Southeast—you've been warned. Part sun.Gunnera tinctoria
Chilean gunnera
You're gonna kill it! Brought to you by popular demand is this massive-leaved South American perennial that does great in the cool Pacific Northwest but usually fails in our heat and humidity. Best of luck. Siting is critical with this plant. Partial shade and a cool, protected location with plenty of moisture and a lot of space as it grows to 8' tall and wide. In its native Chile it is eaten like rhubarb. The 5' wide leaves rival the largest elephant ears in size. Part sun. Relief from afternoon sun and heat is important.Gymnocalycium deeszianum
barrel cactus
Gymnocalycium deszianum is a barrel cactus from the Cordoba region of central Argentina that is hardy to at least 7°F. The 3' tall × 4" wide barrel produces large white flowers in spring. A dry winter location is recommended.Hamamelis vernalis 'Lombart's Weeping'
Ozark witch hazel
A medium sized deciduous shrub with long pendulous stems growing just 5' tall but spreading twice as wide. In winter it produces orange red flowers that possess a nice fragrance. Golden yellow fall foliage. Flowers on old wood so the best time to prune it is just after the blooms fade. Full sun.Helwingia (aff. himalaica DJHS 3073)
Himalayan helwingia
A male of this dioecious Himalayan species collected by famed plant explorer Dan Hinckley in 2003. This is a truly bizarre species whose tiny greenish-white flowers are produced in the center of its glossy evergreen leaves in spring. This is rare and unusual and perfect for collectors of esoteric plants. Suitable for a wide range of soil types in a part sun location. Part sun; 12' tall.Hemerocallis 'Cosmic Struggle'
daylily
Ruffled wine purple flowers are lined neatly with a lemon-yellow picotee edge. Daylilies are super tough and super easy to grow. Every garden should have some. Why not select a superior cultivar like 'Cosmic Struggle'? Midseason bloomer, blooming in July. Reblooms. Fragrant, thick-textured, tetraploid flowers. To 26" tall. Full sun.Hemerocallis 'Rock Solid'
daylily
Light mauve flowers have a wide, dark purple eye and a matching dark purple picotee edge. 'Rock Solid' has a very high bud count and well branched scapes. Daylilies Are super tough and super easy to grow. Early midseason bloomer, flowers in early July. Rebloomer. Very Fragrant flowers. Tetraploid. To 27" tall. Full sun.Heptapleurum aff. brevipedicellatum
A smaller (5' tall) araliad from northern Vietnam with dark evergreen leaflets in whorls on purple stems. White flowers in round clusters appear in late summer. A forest shrub so best sited in a grouping or sheltered position from bright sun and strong winds. The late flowers provide food for insects and the berries for birds. Despite being from Vietnam it is quite cold hardy. Schefflera gracilis (syn. Heptapleurum gracile) can be a tricky plant to grow. JCRA director Mark Weathington has had success with it through several mild winters now and it has grown, flowered, and tried to fruit in a shady, protected spot in his garden. Part sun to shade.Heuchera 'Caramel'
coral bells
'Caramel' is a popular selection prized for its vigor and heat tolerance. Leaves range in color from apricot to amber with purple-red undersides. This is a Heuchera villosa hybrid that exhibits an increased tolerance of high heat and humidity of the southeast U.S. Cream flowers appear in midsummer but you grow this one for the foliage, not the flower. To 18" tall. Sun to part shade.Heuchera 'Frosted Violet'
coral bells
Heuchera 'Frosted Violet' is the industry standard of purple leaved Heuchera. It has Heuchera villosa in the parentage which makes it heat tolerant for our North Carolina summers. Purple foliage with darker veins. In late spring it is topped with light pink flowers. To 12" tall. Sun to part shade.Heuchera 'Kiecakrul'
Melting Fire coral bells
'Melting Fire' has curled leaves that begin bright red, and darken with age to maroon. Flower stems are also deep red and carry clusters of very small white flowers. To 18" tall. Sun to part shade.Huodendron tibeticum
evergreen false snowbell
A Styrax relative from Tibet forming a small 25' tall evergreen tree. In spring large pearl-earring buds swell before opening up and developing into white flowers with petals that curl backwards and long exposed stamens resembling the legs of a tiny white octopus. The deep red bark exfoliates to a smooth cream color underneath.New leaves emerge pinkish before turning green. Sun to part shade.