Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’ Dwarf Japanese Barberry
Reddish-purple foliage on this classic dwarf Barberry consists of small leaves on arching spiny stems at 2-3’. Insignificant yellow flowers appear in mid-spring and are followed by tiny red fruit. Here’s a shrub that handles most any kind of soil as long as it’s not waterlogged. Its dense habit, striking foliage, and ability to blend well with a host of perennials and other shrubs make this plant a natural choice for design. Plant 3’ apart.
Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’ Japanese Barberry
This is a semi-dwarf barberry that can grow 3-5’ in height. It has amazing diversity of foliage colors ranging from creamy pink to deep burgundy. The new foliage comes out in the spring as a mottled pattern of creamy white and pastel pink. Later, the leaves deepen into a rose and burgundy color and a fall color of brilliant red. It will be at its best color in full sun. Plant 3’ apart.
Zone 4 – 8 Full Sun
Buddleia davidii ‘Black Knight’ Butterfly Bush
An extra heavy producer, this deciduous shrub has silvery foliage and rich deep purple-black flowers attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees on dense spikes that bloom from July to fall. We recommend cutting back to 6–10" each spring before it starts new growth. While it breaks dormancy late each spring, once started by warm weather, it will grow very fast from 5–6'. Plant 36” apart.
Buddleia davidii ‘Nanho Purple’ Butterfly Bush
Graceful, nodding spikes of purple flowers appear on 4–5' stems in July and then through the summer. Outstanding for its spreading (up to 6'), dwarf habit, it has pleasing, silver-green foliage. Blooms are slightly fragrant. Popular and easy to grow, it is not unusual to see Tiger Swallowtails swarming around it on a warm afternoon. ‘Nanho Purple’ can take heavy pruning in the spring before new growth appears. Plant 36” apart.
Buddleia davidii ‘Pink Delite’ Butterfly Bush
An unending source of cut flowers and garden beauty, the ‘Pink Delite’ Butterfly Bush, like our other varieties, blooms abundantly the same year as planted and is easy to grow with little or no care. The pink flower spikes grow up to 15" long on stems from 5–6' tall. It has a pronounced fragrance and the usual swarm of butterflies. Plant 36” apart.
Buddleia davidii ‘Royal Red’ Butterfly Bush
A deep wine-red in color, the blooms of ‘Royal Red’ appear from July to September on this fountain-shaped 4–6' tall Butterfly Bush. All our varieties thrive in average to moist, well-drained soils and, of course, attract many varieties of butterflies. Striking combined with the blue of Caryopteris. Plant 36” apart.
Buddleia davidii ‘White Ball’ Dwarf Butterfly Bush
As a not-so-big white Butterfly Bush, try 3-4' ‘White Ball’ for a long season of sweet blooms. It is adaptable to the border where this little woody perennial will not overwhelm surrounding herbaceous perennials with its more modest size while blooming from mid-July-September. Plant 36” apart.
Caryopteris clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’ Blue Beard
A low-growing, late-blooming shrub that reaches a height of only 2–3', with clusters of deepest dark blue flowers from August through September. The foliage is lance-shaped and silvery-green. Makes an eye-popping show when combined the rich purple-black plumes of Buddleia ‘Black Knight’ and the peachy-pink fall Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield’. Plant 24” apart.
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘First Choice’ Blue Beard
This new compact form of Caryopteris has deep inky-blue buds that open to large cobalt-blue flowers, which are profuse on erect stems from late August to early October. Best of all, the rounded compact habit means ‘First Choice’ requires little pruning and won't have the floppy habit some cultivars exhibit. Pest and disease-free, it reaches about 36" at maturity. PP#11958. Plant 24” apart.
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Inoveris’ Grand Bleu TM Blue Beard
It blooms in mid to late summer with deep violet blue flowers, which are said to resemble blue mist. It has glossy green leaves on a neatly compact plant and the foliage is aromatic when brushed. Grows 24-30” in height. PP#11958. Plant 24” apart.
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Pink Chablis’ TM
This is a whole new color for Caryopteris. It has pale pink flower clusters and bluish-green, slightly rounded leaves. Blooms in late summer and grows to about 24”. Try it in your butterfly garden along with Echinacea, Coreopsis, Nepeta, Veronica, and Scabiosa. Plant 24” apart
Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’
Fothergilla is a group of deciduous, spring-flowering shrubs known for fall color and fragrant flowers. We have chosen to grow ‘Mt. Airy’ because of its vigorous growth habit (to 5'), lovely autumn color, dependable cold hardiness, and the bonus of those white flowers that open as leaves emerge in spring. Fall color is most brilliant where this shrub is grown in full sun. Give it the moist, peaty, acid soil it prefers for best performance. Plant 3’ apart.
Hydrangea aborescens ‘Annabelle’ Smooth Hydrangea
The classic brilliantly white “mop-head” blooms of ‘Annabelle’ are evident from May-July, and can be 12" in diameter. The shrub’s shape is definitely a rounded mound, broader than high at maturity. Figure the height at 3-5'. Try it with Spiraeas for a real summer show. Deciduous ‘Annabelle’ can be cut to within 6" of the ground in late winter. Plant 5’ apart.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Wave’ Lacecap Hydrangea
This hardy Hydrangea has the distinct flower heads to which the term “Lacecap” refers: a small cluster of deep blue flowers in the center with a ring of large, flat flowers around the outside. ‘Blue Wave’ has wide, flat blue blooms in July and August. The bright green leaves are shiny, wide, and rounded. Hardy and tough, the blue flowers turn a parchment pink hue as cool autumn weather arrives. This long bloomer reaches 6' in height and can be 12' across and is not fussy about soil as long as it has even moisture. Plant 5’ apart.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Big Daddy’ Bigleaf Hydrangea
Big Daddy blooms on both old and new wood for repeat blooms all season long. The mop-head flowers are 12-14” in size and depending on your soil ph, they will bloom pink in alkaline soils and blue in acidic soils. Has very dark green, glossy leaves and grows 4-5’ tall. PP#14527. Plant 5’ apart.
Zone 6 – 9 Full to Part Sun
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’ Bigleaf Hydrangea
This mophead bears 8-10” flower heads of pink in neutral to alkaline soil or blue in acidic soil. The best part is, it blooms on old and new wood and repeatedly blooms through the summer. It is the happiest in partial or dappled shade with consistent moisture (not soggy), growing to mature height of 5’. PP#15298. Plant 3-4’ apart.
Zone 4 – 9 Full to Part Sun
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Glowing Embers’ Lacecap Hydrangea
The blooms of ‘Glowing Embers’ are aptly named. The fat round flower heads are first tinged with an orange-red, and then seem to be engulfed with fiery crimson that lasts from July into the fall. The glossy bright green leaves form a tidy 3-4' shrub with flowers close to the leaves. Plant 5’ apart.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Masja’ Mophead Hydrangea
This is a compact, tidy plant growing 36- 48” tall, which makes it great for smaller garden spaces. Early to midsummer with large magenta mophead blooms that age to rose-red in alkaline soils or turn to a deep plum with blue tones in acid soils. Plant 4’ apart. Zone 5 – 9 Full Sun to Part Sun
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ Lacecap Hydrangea
We are growing this old-fashioned 6' Hydrangea for its deep blue showy flower heads and the usefulness of its flowers when cut fresh all summer long for indoors, or dried for later on. ‘Nikko Blue’ is tolerant of some shade and handles coastal conditions with ease, as most Hydrangeas do. As soil acidity increases, the blue color is more intense; in neutral soil the flower globes can be both pink and blue. Plant 5’ apart.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Penny Mac’ Mophead Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Penny Mac' was discovered by Penny MacHenry who was the founder of the American Hydrangea Society. Penny passed away but she left us this wonderful hydrangea. It is very similar to 'Endless Summer' in that it has the superior ability to bloom on both old and new wood throughout the summer. It is known for quantity of blooms, fast growth rate (4-6’), and disease resistance. Depending on soil, produces pink (alkaline soil) or blue (acid soil), mophead flowers. Plant 4’ apart.
Zone 5 – 9 Part Shade
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Pia’ Dwarf Garden Hydrangea
Flower heads are a rich, rose pink and can be 4-5" across on ‘Pia’. This Hydrangea is unique for its very dwarf, compact form. It grows from 18-24" tall and about 24" wide with lovely rich green leaves, so you can see it has many possibilities within the perennial garden, or can even be grown in a container. It will maintain its color in all soil types, staying pink even in acidic soils. Blooms appear in June and July, and continue well into the summer. Prefers partial sun with rich, moist well-drained soil. Plant 3’ apart.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire
Native Itea is gaining popularity for its usefulness in all sorts of landscaping situations whether massed by a pond or stream, or in a border as a companion to a host of perennials. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has fragrant 6" long white racemes in June and July in good quantity. The rich green leaves make a nice rounded shape 4-5' high and 6' wide. Its foliage in the fall is dependably brilliant reddish-purple in color before fulfilling its deciduous life cycle. This shrub is easy to grow handling shade or sun, and wet or dry soils. Plant 5’ apart.
Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’ Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire
The arching shoots of native ‘Little Henry’ bear the same fragrant white bottlebrush blooms as ‘Henry’s Garnet’, but this handy little deciduous shrub reaches 2 1/2' tall at best. Tidy in shape, the shiny dark green leaves turn brilliantly red-purple in fall. As a foil for competing perennial colors in the border, for foliage contrast, or massed on its own, ‘Little Henry’ is an alternative worth considering. PP#10988. Plant 3’ apart.
Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Elf’ Dwarf Bridal Wreath
A very small, low-growing deciduous shrub, being 8" in height with a spread of about 24" that features small golden oval leaves. This particular Spirea has pink flowers that bloom in May and last through July. Spirea looks nice in a rock garden or in the front of a border. Remove spent flowers for new growth. It can be pruned back in late winter. Plant 2’ apart.
Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ Dwarf Bridal Wreath
Many clusters of pale pink, flat-topped flowers are carried above small dark green leaves in June and July, and intermittently into early fall. This handy dwarf deciduous shrub has a compact 2' height that could be the anchor in your small perennial border. Plant 2’ apart.
Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’ Bridal Wreath
While the 24" height is a plus, the chartreuse to light yellow leaf color of ‘Magic Carpet’ will add an unusual color accent to the perennial border, or massed on its own. Vivid orange-red new stems with deep rose pink flowers in June-July complete the vibrant combination of colors that will drift through the landscape and combine nicely with a host of perennials. PP9363. Plant 3’ apart.
Spiraea japonica ‘Neon Flash’ Bridal Wreath
In any decent garden soil ‘Neon Flash’ will be a dependable long bloomer in June and July, and then off and on until fall. Its blooms are a rich dark rosy pink color, which contrasts nicely with the dark green tidy foliage. While preferring fertile, well-drained soil, don’t let the soil dry out through the drought we so often experience in the mid-Atlantic region during the growing season. Expect this upright deciduous shrub to reach about 3-4' in height. ‘Neon Flash’ is trouble-free, easy to grow, and long-lived. Plant 3’ apart.
Weigela florida ‘French Lace’ TM
This 3-4' deciduous shrub has arresting rose red nodding tubular flowers in May-June. But like so many shrubs of special interest to perennial gardeners, it’s the variegated foliage that offers a striking presence in the landscape all season long. Leaves are green with bright yellow margins. What a background for those red flowers! PPAF. Plant 3’ apart.
Weigela florida ‘Wine & Roses’ TM (‘Alexandra’)
Weigelas are primarily grown for their trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in May and June, and then sporadically through the summer. ‘Wine & Roses’ has deep rose-pink 1-2" long funnel flowers. When combined with the 4-5' dark burgundy wine-colored foliage of this particular Weigela, gardeners have a deciduous shrub that provides interest all season. Provided fertile, well-drained soil, lots of sun, and routine pruning of dead branches after flowering, ‘Wine & Roses’ will work in a mass, or as a spectacular color contrast in the border. PP#10772. Plant 3’ apart.
Yucca filamentosa Adam’s Needle
As a bold accent in groups or in the border, evergreen Yucca is unsurpassed. The sword-like blue-green leaves of this native, with thin curling threads on the leaf margins, are 3–4' high and are of interest all year long. In July and August, very showy and fragrant, creamy-white, bell-shaped flower spikes rise on stiff stems to 5–6'. Sun and drought-tolerant, its foliage is a great contrast to a host of finer-textured plants from Coreopsis to Sedums. Plant 2’ apart.
Yucca flaccida ‘Golden Sword’ Variegated Adam’s Needle
As useful for bold architectural emphasis in the landscape as Yucca filamentosa, ‘Golden Sword’ offers creamy yellow and green variegated leaves with a slightly more relaxed habit. Plan on all the attributes common to our other Yuccas plus a lovely coral winter foliage color at about 30-36". Creamy white fragrant flowers on tall spikes in July-August are a given. Plant 2’ apart.
Yucca x ‘Bright Edge’ Variegated Adam’s Needle
Thriving in infertile, dry, sandy soil, as well as being reliably hardy, Yuccas continue to gain popularity throughout our area. Couple these attributes with the striking beauty of variegated ‘Bright Edge’ and we understand this evergreen perennial’s success as a landscape fixture. The sword-like leaves are rich green with a decidedly bright yellow leaf edge. The height is 36", and the same lovely white flower bells rise on strong stalks in July and August. Plant 2’ apart.
Yucca x ‘Color Guard’ Variegated Adam’s Needle
Truly stunning! ‘Color Guard’ has stiff green sword-like leaves with a wide bright yellow center, and we mean bright! Our trial crops were gorgeous close up or at a distance, where visitors would gravitate to that brightest sunny yellow blast of color. Add a compact and dwarf habit at 2-3', superb drought-tolerance, deer resistance, an evergreen quality, and a preference for plain sandy soil, and ‘Color Guard’ becomes irresistible. The white flowers in July-August on strong stems are a delightful after-thought. Plant 2’ apart.
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