This page repeats the information and links found in the alphabetical section, but just gathers all the shrubs and trees together, although some of the really small subshrubs might not have made it to here.
last update January 2009
If you have arrived here from a Search Engine like Google,
click here to display the SITE INDEX.
Other Navigation Links at bottom of page.Prices include all taxes and handling fees. See Order Form for shipping costs. Canada only!
... Common names: Ornamental Striped Bark Maple, Red Striped Bark Maple, Kyushu Maple, Japanese Striped Bark Maple. These saplings are now old enough to be showing some of the characteristic bark. A small tree, hardy to zone 5 or maybe 4. Of Tree habit. Moderately quick-growing and of moderate lifespan. Height: to 5-25ft. Native to Japan. An interesting and fairly rare striped bark maple tree with a rounded low canopy. Smaller than the native moose maple, A. pennsylvanicum, with white stripes on brown. Not particularily long-lived for a tree. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: loamy, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Tolerates acidic to mildly basic soils. Yellow to red fall foliage. Greenish white flowers on 2.5 to 4" pendulous raceme; attractive samara (winged seed) in fall. Some uses: Accent, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak.
... Common names: Common Chestnut; Common Horse Chestnut; Horse Chestnut. A tree, hardy to zone 5 or colder. Of tree habit, colonizing mainly by self-seeding. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 75 ft. Native to SE Europe, and an occasional escapee into the wild in E NAm. A large and stately ornamental tree with a wide crown, lovely in full flower. Getting a young tree into flower is a game in patience; my pair were planted in about 1980 and didn't flower until 2002, and even then it was only because they heard me threaten a chainsaw ultimatum the previous summer; then again, they aren't in the best positions either. Recommended site: sun. Soil: reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Foliage coarse. Golden/ yellow in fall. Small fragrant white flowers are borne as a long Panicle for a few weeks in early spring. Blooms early June here. Very noticeable flower candles, and very intricate when seen up close, with pink and yellow markings; pleasant fragrance. If my young trees produced a decent number of candles I'd be tempted to see how they do as a cut flower. Fruits have thick horny husks, and a large shiny brown nut (conker; great toys) within (not particularily edible for humans, but pigs apparently love them). Some uses: Specimen. Good shade tree.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
synonyms Cydonia japonica; Pyrus japonica... Common names: Japanese Quince; Japonica. A shrub, hardy to zone 5 with winter protection. Of Spreading habit, colonizing mainly by self-seeding. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Native to Japan (Honshu, Kyushu). Spreading very dwarf form. Dense, tangled. This cultivar is rated to Zone 4 by some refs, but nobody has very much to say about it. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: anything decent. Naturally occuring in the mountains at low elevations. Sometimes affected by scale insects. Deciduous. Good-sized flowers are borne in a small cluster in spring; often reblooms later in the year. Flower colour: red. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Rock Gardens.
photos: ...none taken yet...
... Common names: Threadleaf False Cypress; Sawara False Cypress; Threadleaf Sawara Cypress. A tree, hardy to USDA Zone 4. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 40ft, and to 30ft wide. Species native to Japan. This form was introduced to NAm in about 1861. Recommended site: sun. Soil: fertile, mildly acidic, loamy, well-drained and dry-ish. Dense, compact foliage, very fine. Evergreen. Very fine dangling cedar-like leafs. Flowers in the form of cones. Some uses: Specimens, Foliage, Naturalizing.
photos: ...flower ...plant ... and another ...
(2 gal pots, too large to ship) synonyms Rhus cotinus... Common names: Smoke Bush; Smoke Tree; Venetian Sumach. A shrub, hardy to zone 5 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Shrub habit, colonizing mainly with help. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 10', and to 10' wide. Native to Eurasia: Europe to C China. Small tree, really; loose spreading multi-stemmed upright habit. Excellent leaf colour. Plants from 2000, they'll be approaching 1 foot tall in 2003 and this will be their last year in the 1 gallon size (price will increase when repotted). Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: infertile to normal, sandy loam, well-drained, moist to dry-ish. Best in poor soil. Foliage colour intensifies if the bush is pruned hard in spring, but this loses the smokey bits. Foliage deep red or purple-ish; of fine texture. Good autumn colour also, best in poor soil. The foliage colour is held all summer but in shade the leaves are a dark purpley-green. Tiny flowers are borne as a large Panicle in late spring. Flower colour: pink-ish purpley violet. Abundant tiny flowers in plumes appear as a smokey haze. Some uses: Accent, Borders and Beds, Focus, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Mass Planting, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak. Looks rather nice surrounded by the fresh green of Sweet Hay Fern.
photos: ... plant ...leaf ... berry/seed ...
(2 gal pots, too large to ship)... Common names: Burning Bush (Euonymus); Winged Euonymus; Winged Spindle Tree. A shrub, hardy to zone 3. Of Shrubby habit, colonizing mainly with help. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 6'+, and 8' wide. Native to Japan, Korea, NE China, E Siberia. Horizontal fan-shaped branching. Flat-topped, usually wider than high; can reach to 10'h x 15'. Invaluable autumn foliage tree. Plants from 2000, they'll be approaching 1 foot tall in 2003 and this will be their last year in the 1 gallon size (price will increase when repotted). Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: most any, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurring in scrub and woods in lowlands and mountains. Easily grown. Fall colour better in sun. Foliage deep green. Narrow ovalish leaves to 3". Brilliant and unique uniform red foliage in fall (except in the coastal BC: too warm!). Deciduous. Twigs and branches have corky wings up to 1/2" wide (usually 4 but 2 in some variants). Tiny flowers are borne as individuals for a few weeks in late spring. Flower colour: creamy shades of green. Insignificant. Seed bright orange, displayed when capsules open in late fall, Although small and carried individually, make a nice spangly show after leaf-drop and through much of the winter. Sets a lot of seed but it germinates rarely, here. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Foundation plantings, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak, Berries or Fruit.
... Common names: Shrub Althaea; Syrian Hibiscus; Rose of Sharon. A really tall shrub, hardy to zone 6 or colder. Upright habit. Slow-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 8ft or more, and 4ft or more wide. Native to Asia: China and Japan (and India to Syria?) but so long in cultivation that native range is obscured. Naturalized into NAm: Connecticut/ New York/ Ohio/ Missouri/ Texas/ Florida. Fairly erect, but older plants a bit spreading in form. Recommended site: sun. Soil: any, largely organic, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Slow to start in spring. Foliage may be stripped off by Japanese beetles when they are present. Deciduous. Good-sized flowers are borne as individuals all autumn, in shades of red to pink, single or double, like hollyhocks. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Focus, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak.
photos: ...flower ...plant ...leaf ...and another ...
synonyms Leucothoe catesbaei... Common names: Drooping Leucothoe. A shrub, hardy to zone 4. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by moderately creeping rootstocks. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 5½', and 4' wide. Native to NAm: Virginia/ Georgia/ Tennessee. A suckering shrub with outstanding foliage. Recommended site: sun or shade. Soil: fertile, acidic, peaty, largely organic loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurs in damp woods in the mountains. Same conditions as Rhododendrons is ideal, can also be grown in full sun. Seems very adaptable: I have it in dark shade, in full sun, dry or moist soil. Foliage of fine texture. Usually evergreen. Outstanding shiny leaves heavily marked (splashed) with red and white. New leaves bright red with white. More green with age. Small fragrant white flowers are borne on a moderate-size Raceme for a month in late spring. Like large heather bells dangling from horizontal-ish branch tips. Some uses: Accent, Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Mass Planting, Wildflower, Naturalizing, Naturalizing Woodlands. Anywhere bright unusual foliage is in order. Good contrast among Rhododendrons.
photos: ... winter foliage on young plants ...
1 only...synonyms Myrica caroliniensis... Common names: Bayberry; Northern Bayberry. A shrub, hardy to zone 2. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Branching habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 3-6', and to 6' wide. Native to E NAm: S Nfld/ N Ohio/ N Carolina; in NS, more common in the SW. Usually shrubby but may grow to 35' in other climates. Slowly suckers into thickets. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: infertile poor, sandy, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurs in coastal barrens, in poor soils on headlands and beaches. Very salt tolerant. Occasionally found in bogs and on heavier soils; said to do well in heavy clay near Ottawa. Dense, compact foliage, of fine texture. Aromatic. Unscented flowers are borne in late spring. Catkins, about 1 cm long, borne on previous year's wood. Plants are usually dioecious. Small waxy grey round berries form and persist through winter. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Mass Planting, Foundation plantings, Decorative Seed Pods, Kitchen Herb, Songbirds, Erosion Control, Wildflower, Naturalizing, Sea-side. Berries are used in scenting wax candles. Leaves can also apparently be used as in cooking for the same effect as Bay Laurel (the usual bay leaf) but are not as strongly flavoured so more leaves are required for the same effect.
seedlings are being grown in large pots (> 2 gallons) rather than in the ground (we don't have a good place to grow them on), and are (perhaps) unlikely to flower in that size. Those listed have been through 2 winters in their unsheltered pots (except only 1 year for P rockii & its hybrids) and can either be bought at the nursery potted or mail-ordered for bare-root shipping in early fall:
photos: ...flower ...plant ... leaf ...
2-4 gallon pots, can ship bareroot in fall only... Common names: Peony (Shrub Type). A shrub, hardy to USDA Zone 5 with winter protection. Low Maintenance in a proper site. Of Shrubby habit. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 5.5ft, and 3ft wide. Native to China (N to central Yunnan in the Lijiang mountains; parts of Szechuan and Tibet). May be reluctant to bloom colder than zone 7, but after a few years of saying this to anyone who cared to listen, a number of the plants in my pot farm put out a flower or two in the past couple of years. Seldom grown as the species, but much used in hybridizing because of the deep red flowers. Fairly bare branches on an upright shrub. Plants from seed (which these are) are often somewhat different from the wild/ true species; some of this seed lot are now showing a larger brighter red flower more like that of P handel-mazettii. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: good, loamy, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurs in scrub, thickets or open forest, and rocky to grassy open places on limestone at about 2300to 3700m altitude. Probably needs some winter protection around NS. Open, sparse foliage, of marvelous finely cut texture; can't empahsize enough how great this foliage is. Deciduous. Leaflets in clusters of 3, with those at the tips of stems standing clear from the rest. Deeply divided. Greyish-white beneath. Large flowers (but small relative to other peonies) are borne in a very small cluster for a few weeks in late spring. Single or up to 5 flowers per stem, hidden amongst the foliage, smaller than in the suffruticosa group of tp's. Generally blackish red to maroon, the darkest flowers of Paeonia; 9- 12 petals. Some uses: in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Foundation plantings, Naturalizing.
photos: ... leaf ...
formerly Paeonia lutea var. ludlowii. 2-4 gallon pots, can ship bareroot in fall only... Common names: Peony (Shrub Type); Tibetan Peony. A shrub, hardy to USDA Zone 6. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 8ft. Native to higher elevations in a small area of SE Tibet (Xizang prov. of China) near the Tsango gorges, at elevations of 3000 to 3500m. Quite late to start growth and quite variable. Suckering growth habit making a nice, large, symmetrical bush with super foliage. Marginal in NS and may seldom bloom; also unlikely to reach full size here. Normally fairly floriferous. Threatened in its native habitat due to limited distribution and medicinal use of root bark. This is a less hardy species than some and may tend to die back to the ground some winters but should re-grow from the roots and crown buds. Open, sparse foliage, of fine texture. Deciduous. New shoots bronzey; leaves huge, exotic-looking, worth growing for foliage alone. Large fragrant lemon yellow flowers are borne as individuals. Nodding cup-shape flowers almost hidden among the foliage. Some uses: in Shrubbery, Foliage, Foundation plantings, Naturalizing.
photos: ... flower ... leaf ...
also known as (P. delavayi x lutea) 2-4 gallon pots, can ship bareroot in fall only... Common names: Species Tree Peony. A shrub of very long lifespan. Height: to 3ft, and 3ft wide. Plants from seed wild-collected by Halda near Habashan, Yunnan, China at 3200m in mixed Abies-Rhododendron forest. Small bushes. This would seem to be a natural hybrid between the species delavayi (red flowers) and lutea (yellow flowers). Hardiness may be a questionmark at this point. Recommended site: open shade. Foliage coarse. Large solitary bronze-yellow flowers are borne for about a week in late spring. Some uses: Accent, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Rock Gardens, Naturalizing.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
Thanks to a fortuitous bag of someone else's lawn rakings, I how have an unexpected batch of these red oak seedlings. Synonyms Quercus borealis maxima; Quercus rubra maxima; Quercus borealis... Common names: Northern Red Oak. A tree, hardy to zone 3. Of Tree habit, colonizing mainly by self-seeding. Vigorous, fast-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 75', and 60' wide. Native to E NAm: NS/ Ont/ central and eastern US. Found throughout NS incl Cape Breton, but rarely in sandy soils (Annapolis valley) or southern NS. Narrow form when young, becoming broad, round-topped and symmetrical. The fastest-growing of all oaks. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: acidic, well-drained. Naturally occurs in light and well-drained soils in granitic areas. This is the easiest oak to transplant. Most oaks yellow in limey soils, but this one less than others. Pollution tolerant. Excellent reddish foliage in fall. Flowers are borne in late spring, insignificant catkins, although the male flowers are long and dangley. Acorns up to 1.3" long, flat bottom, scaly shallow saucer cup. Some uses: Specimens, Wildflower, Naturalizing, Good shade tree.
Although in the past I have seldom had much variety of Rhodos for sale, these past few years I have had a few plants each of several varieties and more of a few varieties. These are plants of Shrubby habit, colonizing mainly with help. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Recommended site: open shade for most. Soil: infertile acidic peaty, largely organic loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Shallow-rooted; mulch with bark, pine needles or oak leaves. Some uses: in Shrubbery, Specimens, Naturalizing. Size quoted below are at about 10 years of age in good conditions. All were potted at least two years ago as of the time of spring sales and have been outdoors unprotected since, like all my stock). Some uses: Accent, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Foundation plantings, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak, Cut Flowers, Naturalizing. Small-leaf types may be suitable for some Rock Gardens.
List updated Oct08.
All overwintered stock was potted up into 2 and 3 gallon pots in fall of 2004.
photos: ...none taken yet...
(3 only) A tree of shrubby habit when young. Height: to 5ft at 10 years. Species native to E China, at elevations of around 1000m. Its growth habit is open, upright and tree-like; foliage is attractive and the flowers fragrant. I'm really keen on the fortunei-based plants I currently have growing; they're my favourite rhodo's. This cultivar has good potential to become a tree, good foliage unpalateable to bugs, and probably fragrant flowers. Hardy to -25C. Flowers showy; melon pink with distinctive golden grown flares. NOTE these are slow getting established and really don't have much size to them yet!!
photos: ...none taken yet...
(1 only) Hardy to USDA Zone 6. Height: to 5ft, and 5ft wide. One of the large-leaf rhodos. Size is at 10 yrs. Distinctive strong bright pure pink flowers with light centres borne in large trusses. Some uses: Accent, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Foundation plantings, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak, Cut Flowers, Naturalizing.
photos: ...none taken yet...
(Few only) Height: to 6ft at 10 years. One of the older hybrids, a consistent performer. Tight, rounded to spreading habit. Hardy to -25C. Elepidote. Flowers very light pink, yellow-pink blotch, in lax trusses of about 10 flowers.
photos: ...flower ...plant ... another ...
(Few only; small but established with a few winters in the pots) This is a brilliant little bush, latest of my azaleas to bloom each year, usually in full bloom here about mid July, but occasionally starting to open in late June. Startlingly bright orange-red smallish blossoms with yellow highlights, in large showy trusses. Needs full sun in NS or it becomes leggy and may not flower. My oldest bush is barely 3ft tall at about 18 years old, so it is a nice compact shrub. Nice shiny foliage
photos: none taken yet ...
(2 only) Hardy to zone 5. Height: to 2½', and 3½' wide. Dwarf; spreading form. A seedling of (R. impeditum x R. dauricum). Size is usually given at 10 years, but this looks like a more mature size. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Possibly more moisture-sensitive and fussier of culture than most Rhodos? Small-leaf Rhododendrons can generally handle or even demand more open and sunny sites. Dense, compact foliage, very fine. Very small, almost needle-like foliage, very pretty. Small purpley violet flowers, small clusters. Free flowering.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(1 only) Hardy to USDA Zone 6. Height: to 4ft, and 3ft wide at 10 years. A relatively new robust introduction. Foliage relatively large (for a lepidote), leathery; bronze-mahogany in winter. Flowers in large trusses; dark pink, almost red.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(1 only) Height: to 5ft, and 5ft wide at 10 years. Vigorous. Hardy to -20C. Mature plants become twice as wide as they are tall. Flowers pink, with a raspberry blotch.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(1 only) Height: to 3ft, and 4ft wide at 10 years. Hardy to -21C, so might be a bit dodgey in inland NS, but surprises have been known to happen. Rounded form. Leaves medium to large; narrowly elliptic, to about 6in long. Retained 2 years. Elepidote. Good-sized bright red flowers. Truss ball-shaped, 10 flowers. Wavy lobes, no markings.
photos: ...flower ...plant ...
2-5 gallon pots, too large to ship... Common names: Staghorn / Stag's Horn Sumac. A shrub, hardy to USDA Zone 3. NOT Low Maintenance. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by moderately creeping rootstocks. Vigorous, fast-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 12ft+? This is a thicket-forming shrub with a unique parasol-like structure, the leafs all being carried at about the same level. The roots are very shallow and spread widely with new shoots emerging several feet apart. Recommended site: sun. Soil: infertile, poor, well-drained and dry-ish. Not fussy about soil type, but drier sites are preferred in the maritimes for enhanced fall foliage colour. Open, sparse foliage, deep green; of fine texture. Attractive compound leaves which take on an excellent darker red in fall unless the plants are in a moist site (which mine are, darn it). New woody growth is fuzzy (like a new deer antler). The seed clusters are ornate, maintaining the fuzzy red cone held prominently through fall and winter and into spring. As to the flowers, can't say I've seen them unless they look the same as the seedheads! Some uses: in Shrubbery, Foliage, Groundcover, Decorative Seed Pods, Steep Banks, Wildflower.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
also known as Ribes odoratum?.... Common names: Flowering Currant; Golden Currant. A shrub, hardy to USDA Zone 2. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Shrub habit. Moderately quick-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 6ft, and 8ft wide. Native to western NAm. Untidy form. Some botanists disagree on whether R aureum and R odoratum ((Clove Currant, Buffalo Currant) are the same species, as they find the fragrance very different: clovelike in R odoratum, sweet in R aureum. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: any, loamy preferred. Along with other currants, an alternate host for white pine blister rust. May have leaf problems (unspecified) in humid weather. Reddish in fall. Good-sized strongly scented pale yellow flowers are borne as a small Corymb. Showy. Golden yellow fruit not to everyones taste but useful in baking or dried. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Mass Planting, Berries or Fruit.
photos: ...flower ...plant ... berry/seed ...
synonym Rosa glauca... Common names: Redleaf Rose. A shrub, hardy to zone 2. Of Shrubby habit, colonizing mainly by self-seeding. Vigorous, fast-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 7', and 5-6' wide. Native to central and S Europe. Open form. Vigorous, and decorative throughout the growing season. This is a favourite shrub of mine. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: fertile to good, loamy, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurring in the mountains. May be pruned after flowering or in winter to encourage compactness. Foliage blue-ish green; of fine texture. Deciduous. Stems are purple-red. Foliage has a purplish sheen which varies with sun exposure: in full sun, near purple with a grapelike bloom; in shade, bluish-greenish-grey with purple leaf stalks and mid-ribs. Good-sized flowers are borne in small clusters in early summer. Single, dog-rose. Clear pink to red; not large, usually white towards centre. Scarlet egg-shaped hips lasting into winter. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Foliage, Mass Planting, Berries or Fruit, Naturalizing. Fruit may be used for preserves or wine.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(5 gallon pots, too large to ship) synonyms Syringa japonica; Syringa reticulata... Common names: Japanese Tree Lilac; Japanese Dwarf Lilac Tree. A tree, hardy to zone 3 or colder. Of Tree habit, colonizing mainly with help. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 25', and 25' wide (50 year old specimens in a warmer climate.). Native to Japan. Tree or large shrub; open, upright pyramidal habit when young, becoming more broad and round-topped with age; var japonica is more tree-like, taller and later flowering than S. amurensis itself. Considered spectacular in bloom and of attractive foliage. Attractive form; branches upright to horizontal. Recommended site: sun or light shade. Soil: Quite tolerant of soil type. Easily grown. Said to be drought-tolerant. Also highly salt-tolerant. Foliage coarse. Deciduous. Fragrant flowers are borne as a large Panicle in summer. Yellowish- or creamy-white flowers in large, loose pyramidal clusters to 1' long, after most other lilacs are finished (early July?). Pungent fragrance. Some uses: in Shrubbery, Specimens, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak, Cut Flowers, Butterflies and/or caterpillars. A good street-tree where slower growth and smaller size are not an issue.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
... Common name: Hungarian lilac. A Shrub, hardy to Zone 5 or colder, height approx 10ft at 10 years. Exceptionally deep violet blooms in early summer compared to other lilacs, 8 inch flower clusters with nice fragrance.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(Few only) 5 gallon pots, too large to ship... Common names: Common French Lilac; Common Lilac. A shrub, hardy to USDA Zone 2. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Shrubby habit, colonizing mainly by human intervention. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 12ft, and to 8ft wide. Species native to Eurasia. Very showy when in bloom, kind of drab the rest of the year. A strong-growing rounded cultivar with primrose yellow buds and ivory or pale yellow flowers. These are grafted plants (not my idea, I try to stay away from that kind of thing) but the graft has been hardy through several winters now. Recommended site: sun. Soil: rich, good, loamy, well-drained. Species naturally occur in scrub on rocky hills. Generally requires a deep soil. Deciduous. Small fragrant flowers are borne as a very large densely-packed Panicle for a month in late spring. Single, creamy-yellow flowers, are slightly darker in a cooler climates. Some uses: Accent, Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foundation plantings, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak, Cut Flowers.
photos: ...flower ...
(Royalty paid)... Common names: Myrtle; Trailing Myrtle; Dwarf Periwinkle; Common Periwinkle; Lesser Periwinkle. A very low small shrub, hardy to zone 3. Of prostrate habit, colonizing mainly by moderately spreading stolons.Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 4-6 in, and 3ft or more wide. Species native to Europe and W Asia; naturalized in E NAm including throughout NS. Long trailing branches, rooting at nodes to form mats. 'Illumination' is a rather newly discovered cultivar with a wonderful foliage colour. Likely less vigorous than the normal green-leafed species but more vigorous than other variegated types I've tried. It is sometimes mistakenly listed as Vinca major 'Illumination'. Recommended site: shade. Soil: most any normal fertile soil, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. When grown in sun in this climate will probably need winter protection from sun and wind where snow is not reliable. Flowering is best in open shade. Dense, compact evergreen foliage; of fine texture: luminous yellow-green with a narrow dark edge. Shiny, smooth; oval, about 1-2in long. Leathery. Oppositely paired. Small flowers are borne as individuals freely. Flower colour: pale violet. Flowers held above foliage on short erect stems. Blooms profusely in late spring, sporadically thereafter. Some uses: Accent, Edgings, in Shrubbery, Foliage, Naturalizing Woodlands.
... Ferns ... Ornamental Grasses ...
... Index (frames) ... Index (no frames) ...
... Home ...