Plant Profile: Bush Clover (Lespedeza bicolor)
Karen Bush clover is a loose deciduous medium sized shrub native to eastern Asia but introduced into the United States in the mid 1800’s as an ornamental. Later used for erosion…
Plant Profile: English Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)
This European native is a deciduous shrub or small tree with inch long prominent thorns that are sharp and tough enough to pierce a car tire. In fact, it has…
Plant Profile: Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
This large bushy deciduous shrub, native to rocky outcrops of mountains in central China, produces an abundance of showy flowers in late spring on long, arching branches. The bell-shaped flowers…
Plant Profile: Redvein Enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus)
This deciduous upright shrub is a native of Japan where it grows in open woodlands offering three seasons of beauty. In spring, it produces pendulous clusters of delicate bell-shaped yellowish…
Plant Profile: Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens)
“Underwhelming” is probably the best adjective to describe this extremely hardy plant. Neither the small yellow-pea like flowers nor the pods or leaves will probably excite you, but if you…
Plant Profile: Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica)
This deciduous shrub offers masses of yellow flowers on upright and arching green stems for two or three weeks in April or May and may rebloom in the summer. The…
Plant Profile: Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
For a shrub with fragrant flowers you can’t beat Koreanspice viburnum. The delightful spicy scent of this deciduous shrub can turn an ordinary area into a dreamy retreat so plant…
Plant Profile: Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum)
I grow one of these wonderful plants for the chartreuse flowers that are produced in early spring. There presence in a flower arrangement is awe-inspiring and I combine them with…
Plant Profile: Mock Orange Miniature Snowflake (Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Miniature Snowflake’)
The clear white flowers of mock orange ‘Miniature Snowflake’ standout against the crisp dark green foliage and the citrus fragrance perfumes the air all around it as spring turns into…
Plant Profile: Smokebush ‘Flame’ (Cotinus) ‘Flame’
Smokebush ‘Flame’ is hybrid resulting from a cross between Cotinus coggygria, a native to Asia, and C. obovatus, native to southern US. It is a membe of the cashew family,…