Tag Archives: foliar shrub

Pieris japonica III / Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub

Posted on April 4, 2012 by

Pieris japonica ‘Purity’ – An Award of Garden Merit winner with large clusters of pure white fragrant urn-shaped flowers on erect panicles, usually emerging from April to May. This is one of the last Pieris japonica cultivars to bloom and … Continue reading →

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Holly II / Ilex

Posted on March 25, 2012 by

Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden van Tol’ – This sport of ‘J.C. van Tol’ features slightly puckered green foliage (on purplish stems) with bright gold margins and very few spines. It is considered self-fertile but produces a larger crop of red berries … Continue reading →

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Holly / Ilex

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

Ilex aquifolium ‘Amber’ – An unusual female form of English holly with unique amber to deep apricot berries, a nice change from the traditional red. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner also features glossy bright green leaves that are … Continue reading →

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Unusual Conifers

Posted on November 24, 2011 by

Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ – What makes this sport of ‘Meyeri’ so special is that it grows in tight crests instead of those long, often awkward branches – so you rarely have to prune it. Which means that ‘Blue Star’ … Continue reading →

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Variegated Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

Rhododendron ‘Goldflimmer’ – The bright gold inset variegation of this rhododendron is so attractive, that the flowers almost seem incidental. That said, the pale lavender-purple trusses that appear mid-spring nicely compliment the foliage. ‘Goldflimmer’ grows 3-4′ tall by 4-5′ wide … Continue reading →

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Shrubs with Fall Colour

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ – A much underused deciduous shrub native to eastern North America – Black Chokeberry has something for every season. The glossy dark green foliage (grows to 5′ tall) is smothered by white blooms in late spring, … Continue reading →

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Shrubs with Gold Foliage

Posted on September 21, 2011 by

Leycesteria formosa ‘Golden Lanterns’ (syn. ‘Notbruce’) – This relatively new golden-leaved form of Pheasant Berry averages 5′ tall at maturity, but usually dies back down to the base each winter (consider mulching). The red-bracted white blooms are followed by purple … Continue reading →

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Weeping Japanese Maples / Acer palmatum var. dissectum

Posted on August 23, 2011 by

Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Red Dragon’ – I consider this one of the best weeping Japanese maples for retaining its rich burgundy-red colouring into summer or in partial shade exposures. The leaves of ‘Red Dragon’ emerge scarlet in spring, darkening … Continue reading →

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Abutilon / Flowering Maple

Posted on August 22, 2011 by

Abutilon x hybridum ‘Bella Mix’ – These seed-grown bedding plants have large (3″ wide) outward facing (instead of nodding) flowers that come in shades of white, yellow, orange, red and rose – with colours getting darker in cooler temperatures. The … Continue reading →

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Nandina domestica / Heavenly Bamboo

Posted on August 13, 2011 by

Nandina domestica – Despite its common name, Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina is a clumping evergreen shrub related to Barberry. The species reaches 6 to 7′ tall with an elegant, slightly arching habit. White summer flowers are borne on terminal panicles and … Continue reading →

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