Tag Archives: year-round interest

Durable Desert Moss Takes Foot Traffic and Drought

February 2, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Wallowa Mountain’ desert moss (Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’) because it is an evergreen, exceptionally short and compact groundcover native to Oregon that resembles moss yet is very drought tolerant. Superb for xeric and fairy gardens, permanent containers, between …

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Red Pine Is a Hardier Alternative to White Pine

January 26, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love red pine (Pinus resinosa) for its extreme cold hardiness and its tolerance of poor garden sites, an advantage over white pine. This native evergreen develops reddish bark with age. Red pine is the state tree of Minnesota …

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‘Woodward’ Is a Juniper that Grows Tall and Skinny

January 6, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Woodward’ juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Woodward’) for its tall, narrow shape, which makes it an ideal accent for small spaces or for use as a hedge or windbreak. This snow- and wind-tolerant evergreen is a Plant Select honoree …

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Partridgeberry: A Native Groundcover for All Seasons

December 8, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native groundcover can be found in the woodlands of much of eastern North America, making it a good choice for shade gardens.

Grow Korean Fir for Its Purple Cones and Evergreen Needles

November 25, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love Korean fir (Abies koreana) for its distinctive purple cones that add interest alongside its silvery green needles. This relatively small conifer fits better in most garden than many other evergreen tree options.

Plant Winter Sunshine Hellebores for Strong Early Bloom

September 29, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: Winter Sunshine hellebores are a great garden plant because they offer flowers in late winter. Unlike many hellebores they flower in their first year of growth. Their flowers face outward rather than drooping down, so you can easily see …

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Sugar Shack Buttonbush: Flowers, Foliage and Form

September 16, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love Sugar Shcak buttonbush for its curious round summer flowers, ornamental red fruit and bright fall foliage. Its bare stems and branches are attractive in winter. This adaptable US-native shrub is the perfect size for today’s small yards …

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Percy Wiseman Rhododendron Has Color-changing Flowers

June 10, 2014 | Kelsea Daulton | 0

Virtues: Rhododendron ‘Percy Wiseman’ is easy on the eyes with the creamy pinks and peaches of its changeable flowers. In late spring, ‘Percy Wiseman’s’ many flowers fade to ivory. This plant serves well as an accent shrub standing at most 4 …

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Tasman Ruffles Pittosporum Has Eye-catching Evergreen Foliage

February 18, 2014 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tasman Ruffles’ for its crimped-edge, silvery lime-green foliage that fills its contrasting reddish-black stems. These distinctive shrubs make perfect additions to gardens as evergreen screens and hedges or as accent container plants providing a burst …

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New Golden Duchess Eastern Hemlock Shines in the Garden

February 10, 2014 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love the Tsuga canadensis Golden Duchess for its striking golden yellow foliage that fills the dwarf shrub’s arching branches in opulent color. This cultivar of Eastern hemlock was introduced to the market by Monrovia in 2014. These stunning …

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For a Tree With Gorgeous Winter Bark, Turn to River Birch

February 4, 2014 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love Betula nigra for its lustrous deep green foliage and exfoliating bark that peels away from the single or multi-stemmed tree to reveal layers of browns, grays and creams. When developing, the bark is often smooth in a …

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