Plants
Berberis sheridaniana
Berberis sheridaniana is a Chinese-origin plant that reaches 3.5 feet tall with spiny green foliage. It produces bright yellow flowers from mid-October to mid-November, followed by bright blue fruit in February and March. This plant is deer-resistant and adds a splash of color to fall and winter gardens.
Salvia jamensis 'Rose Bicolor'
Salvia jamensis 'Rose Bicolor' is a hybrid salvia with rosy and light yellow flowers. It forms a woody clump and blooms from late April, with a pause in summer, resuming in mid-September.
Celtis occidentalis
Celtis occidentalis, commonly known as the hackberry, is a fast-growing shade tree native to the Eastern and Midwest United States. It is tolerant of clay soils, pollution, and salt, making it suitable for urban environments. The tree produces small, edible berries and has a distinctive corky trunk. It is deciduous, with leaves that turn yellow in the fall, and provides shelter and food for birds.
Aspidistra vietnamensis 'Garden Gallery'
Aspidistra vietnamensis 'Garden Gallery' is a striking houseplant known for its speckled yellow foliage and burgundy flowers that bloom in mid-November. This plant forms a clump about 18 inches tall and thrives in shaded areas, making it ideal for indoor environments or shaded gardens in the Deep South. It is a hardy perennial that can survive temperatures down to the low teens Fahrenheit, although it dies back to the ground each winter. The leaves, which can last up to three years, are adorned with bright yellow dots, adding a unique visual interest. This plant is low maintenance, tolerating both moist and dry soils with good drainage, and is more vigorous and larger than its relative, Aspidistra 'Ginga'.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Flabelliformis'
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Flabelliformis' is a teeny tiny dwarf cushion plant with tiered, flattened tufts of slightly glaucous blue foliage. Ideal for rock gardens or troughs, it adds a unique texture and color to small garden spaces.
Hosta 'Ice Cream'
Hosta 'Ice Cream' is a small hosta with round dark green leaves bordered by a wide golden edge. It forms 1-foot wide clumps and produces 16-inch scapes of light lavender flowers in early summer. This plant is ideal for borders or as a single specimen.
Thymus argaeus 'Wild Turkey'
Thymus argaeus 'Wild Turkey' is a low-growing evergreen mat native to Turkey, reaching just 1 inch in height but spreading up to 8 feet wide. It features tiny lavender flowers in early June and is valued for its use in wild tea and as a culinary spice, with oils that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Pinus armandii
Pinus armandii, also known as the Chinese white pine, is a majestic tree with long blue-green needles and large cones that contain edible pine nuts. It can grow between 50 to 100 feet tall and is well-suited for USDA zones 6-9. This tree is wildlife-friendly, providing habitat and food for birds, and it thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Known for its tolerance to harsh conditions, it is a resilient choice for large landscapes.
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee'
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' is a dwarf selection with mid-spring bronzy-lavender ear-shaped foliage. It grows 10 inches tall and produces spidery violet flowers, thriving in dry shade. This plant is an excellent small-scale groundcover with ornamental foliage.
Verbascum 'Honey Dijon'
Verbascum 'Honey Dijon' is a reblooming perennial with peach and gold blooms accented by plum eyes. It is pollinator-friendly, deer and drought tolerant, and prefers full sun and well-drained soil, growing to a height of 15 inches.
Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosomultilobum'
Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosomultilobum' is a fern with very finely divided fronds, giving it a lacy appearance. It forms a 14-inch tall by 18-inch wide clump and produces small viviparous plantlets on the leaves in October and November. This fern thrives in hot, humid climates and is appreciated for its delicate foliage.
Hosta 'Quarter Back'
Hosta 'Quarter Back' is a miniature hosta with quarter-sized dark green leaves. It forms a clump that never exceeds 1 inch tall and 6 inches wide, making it ideal for trough gardens. This plant is known for its good vigor and is a charming addition to small garden spaces.
Hosta 'Sea Gulf Stream'
Hosta 'Sea Gulf Stream' is a perennial plant known for its long, wide, thick golden leaves with heavily rippled borders. It forms a clump about 28 inches wide and is topped with 2-foot tall spikes of light lavender flowers in late spring. This hosta is a popular choice for shade gardens, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds while providing a lush groundcover. Its striking foliage and adaptability to various garden conditions make it a versatile addition to any landscape.
Acanthus 'Morning Candle'
Acanthus 'Morning Candle' is a hybrid plant with deeply-scalloped green leaves and purple and white hooded flowers. It forms a 3-foot wide clump and is compact and deer-resistant. This plant performs well in high temperatures and is drought tolerant.
Coniogramme japonica 'Johnson Form'
Coniogramme japonica 'Johnson Form' is a fern collected in Japan, known for its 3-foot tall fronds and narrower pinnae. It forms a 3-foot wide clump over five years and requires moist, organic soils to thrive. This plant is suitable for part sun to light shade environments.
Malus domestica 'Wolf River'
Malus domestica 'Wolf River' is an antique apple variety known for its large fruits, which can weigh up to 1 pound. Discovered in Wisconsin in the 1870s, these apples have a sweet-tart flavor and are excellent for cooking. The tree produces fragrant white blossoms that attract pollinators and is hardy in USDA zones 3-9. It is resistant to common diseases like Apple Scab, Fire Blight, and Powdery Mildew. 'Wolf River' requires a pollinator for optimal fruiting and typically has a late-season harvest in September.
Asarum ichangense 'Silver Lining'
Asarum ichangense 'Silver Lining' is a unique plant collected from the shaded riverbanks of China, known for its dark green, heart-shaped leaves adorned with large silver swatches. This slowly spreading, stoloniferous plant forms a 4-inch tall by 2-foot wide patch over 15 years. It is tardily deciduous and produces small, violet-colored flowers in late winter. Ideal for shaded areas, it adds a touch of elegance with its striking foliage.
Pardancanda norrisii 'Sangria'
Pardancanda norrisii 'Sangria' is a bigeneric hybrid known for its striking flowers that bloom in early to mid-July. The plant forms a multi-fan clump of sword-like green foliage, with flat, six-petaled flowers in shades of violet purple and peachy pink. It thrives in full sun and is attractive to butterflies.
Agave 'Mustard Shark'
Agave 'Mustard Shark' is a hybrid developed from Agave 'Sharkskin Shoes', featuring a wider golden edge than Agave 'Shark Bite'. It is a slower grower due to reduced chlorophyll, reaching 18 inches tall and 30 inches wide. This agave is known for its striking foliage and is a popular choice for xeriscaping.
Cercis chinensis 'Don Egolf'
Cercis chinensis 'Don Egolf' is a compact, easy-care plant with erect, fastigiate branches and a pronounced floral display in early spring. Its rosy purple flowers cover bare branches, and it features glossy, heart-shaped dark-green leaves. This plant is sterile, producing no seed pods, and has excellent disease resistance.
Aquilegia chrysantha 'Denver Gold'
Aquilegia chrysantha 'Denver Gold' is a native plant from Colorado to Mexico, featuring 2-3 foot tall stalks and an evergreen rosette of deeply lobed, glaucous green foliage. It produces long-spurred yellow flowers in late spring and can reflower if dead-headed promptly. This plant is drought-tolerant and suitable for sun to light shade conditions.
Haworthiopsis attenuata var. attenuata
Haworthiopsis attenuata var. attenuata is a small succulent native to South Africa, characterized by its dense rosettes of dark green leaves adorned with white tubercles. It grows up to 6 inches tall and prefers low light and well-draining soil.
Sabal 'Birmingham'
Sabal 'Birmingham' is a hardy palm with coarse fronds similar to Sabal palmetto. Over time, it develops a trunk, and it is believed to be a hybrid between Sabal mexicana and Sabal palmetto. This palm is suitable for various garden settings, including sun and shade, and is drought-tolerant once established. It is recommended to protect newly planted palms during their first winters to ensure successful growth.