New Shrubs for the Home Landscape

Ellen C. Wells

With so many folks hunkering down this year, upgrading their landscapes may be just the home-improvement project they’re willing to tackle. Here are some of the newest shrub varieties that’ll beautify your customers’ homes in no time.

BAILEY NURSERIES

Bigleaf Hydrangea Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout
Produces abundant blooms on both old and new wood all summer long. Lacy, deep-pink centers are surrounded by blossoms of pink or periwinkle blue, depending on soil type. Sturdy red stems and glossy deep-green leaves turn red-burgundy in fall for year-round interest. Use alone, in a combination or in containers. Zones 4-9.

Rose Easy Elegance Kashmir (shown left)
Resembling a hybrid tea rose, the velvety red blossoms are appropriate for the vase. With a rounded habit and a height of just 2 ft., Kashmir fits perfectly into today’s urban landscapes. Try this bold accent plant in the border, foundation or as a low hedge for paths. Own root. Zones 4-9.

Spirea First Editions Sundrop
A natural hybrid of Goldmound and Daphne, this spirea produces sprays of pink flowers in early summer that stand out against petite, golden foliage. A natural dwarf with a rounded habit that requires little or no pruning. Hardier than most golden spirea, its foliage holds its golden-yellow color even in the summer heat. Zones 4-8.

BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Hydrangea Expression
The next generation of reblooming hydrangea, Expression has a compact habit of 3 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide, and uniform blooming. With dark, glossy-green foliage, its mophead flowers are pinkish rose or blue. Proven to rebloom in cooler regions. Best in partial shade and well-drained, moisture retentive soils. Zones 5-9b.

Hypericum Ignite
This rust resistant and compact (2 to 3 ft. tall and wide) shrub series has golden-yellow flowers in summer followed by fall fruiting. Great in foundations, borders, mixed containers and as an accent. Choice of Scarlet, Red and Scarlet Red. Full sun. Zones 5-8.

Photinia Fireball Red
This new Red Tip has been bred and selected for its bright red new growth. Fireball Red grows into an upright shrub 3 to 4 ft. high and 4 to 5 ft. wide. Perfect for colorful, low-growing foundation plantings, municipal plantings and general garden use. Zone 7.

BLOOMS OF BRESSINGHAM

Buddleja ‘Butterfly Heaven’
Large, fragrant flowers attract butterflies with long, tapering panicles of tiny, sweetly scented lavender florets with orange eyes. Selected by Adrian Bloom, this vigorous 6 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide shrub’s foliage has silver-grey new growth, turning to green. Elegant as a specimen or hedge. Full sun. Zones 6-9.

CONARD-PYLE COMPANY

Buxus Gordo
The globular, slow-growing bigleaf boxwood grows to 4 ft. by 4 ft. in five years if left unpruned, and takes to pruning well to maintain size. Foliage is more rounded and larger than the original ‘Green Velvet.’ Use for foundations, hedges, formal gardens and edging. Zones 5-9.

Ilex crenata Drops of Gold
An upright, broad-spreading plant, Drops of Gold is a mutation of Hetzii with splashes of brilliant white gold when exposed to full sun. Should be grown in partial shade and finished in full sun for full effect. Doesn’t burn even in hot dry conditions. Use for foundations, hedges, mass plantings and as specimens. Zones 6-8.

Pyracantha Silver Lining
This firethorn has striking variegated foliage, with green leaves lined with white. In late October, leaves turn red, returning to their normal coloration in March. In warmer climates, it remains evergreen and shows no sign of burning in heat and full sun. Low young plants mature to an upright and bushy habit. Use as an informal hedge, barrier or as espaliers. Zones 6b-9.

Boxwood Arctic Emerald
Arctic Emerald is a fast-growing, upright and columnar boxwood that grows to 6 ft. in height and 2 ft. in width. It’s an extremely hardy upright boxwood that holds its deep-green color all winter long. Use as a hedge plant, for screening, edging and in formal gardens. Zones 4-9.

MCCORKLE

Gardenia Heaven Scent
Heaven Scent, part of the Gardener’s Confidence Collection, has a tight, upright form, compact growth habit and fragrant blooms from late spring through summer. Colorful seed pods add fall interest to the garden. A nice addition to the small landscapes of today’s gardens. Zones 6b-9.

Loropetalum Carolina Moonlight
Moonlight, part of the Gardener’s Confidence Collection, has beautiful, olive-green evergreen foliage and creamy-white tassel blooms in late winter to early spring. With a compact, mounded habit maturing to 5 to 6 ft. tall and wide, it’s a versatile plant for use as a screen, in borders and as an accent plant. Zones 7-9.

MONROVIA

Weigela Magical Fantasy
Chosen for its outstanding variegated leaves and prolific flowering of solid pink blooms. Dark-green leaves with a broad creamy-white margin become greener with age. Requiring full sun to look its best, it grows 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide. Use in borders, foundation plantings or as a complement to dark evergreen plants. Zones 4-8.

Lilac Declaration
Large clusters of deep, reddish-purple fragrant flowers fade to a powder blue. This deciduous shrub grows to 8 to 9 ft. tall by 6 to 7 ft. in an open, upright habit. Use as a flowering informal screen, background planting or as a single flowering specimen. Provides beautiful fresh cut flowers. Zones 5-7.

Japanese Holly Santa’s Delight
Variegated, shiny foliage has a deep blue-green center and wide, creamy-white margin, changing to a pink tone in fall. Bright red berries persist well into the winter season. A proven winter survivor, this variety will develop a pyramidal shape and grow 10 to 12 ft. tall by 6 to 8 ft. wide. Zones 6-9.

Lantana Mary Ann
Mary Ann was selected for improved cold hardiness and compact growth habit. It has bicolor orange, yellow and pink flower clusters blooming from spring to late fall. This evergreen shrub will grow 30 in. tall and wide and is suitable for perennial or shrub borders. Zones 7-11.

Rose Flower Carpet Amber
Amber is the first fragrant Flower Carpet variety with the same compact growth habits and floriferous nature as the previous Flower Carpet Roses, but with improved disease resistance. Amber’s red-tinged, semi-double, fragrant blooms are peachy orange with a yellow center, fading to a seashell pink. Grows 2 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide. Zones 4–10.

NORTH CREEK NURSERIES

Lonicera sempervirens Major Wheeler
This variety thrives in full sun to part shade, blooming heavily from spring through fall. Foliage is clean, medium green and evergreen to semi-evergreen. Leaves are opposite and rounded. The medium textured foliage and regal red trumpet flowers establish well along fencerows and structures. A hummingbird and butterfly magnet. Zones 4-8.

NOVALIS

Myrica Augusta Green
At 10 ft. tall, this wax myrtle is often used as for screening. Its dense form and lush, dark-green foliage need little pruning. The ends of every stem make multiple breaks when cut, creating a filigreed effect. Birds feed on the waxy fruits and find refuge in its branches. Zones 7-9.

Diervilla Cool Splash
The first variegated northern bush honeysuckle, Cool Splash is well suited for mass plantings and woodlands. This densely branched deciduous 2- to 3-ft. shrub forms underground suckers developing colonies over time, and is tolerant of inhospitable soil types.  In May and June panicles of yellow trumpets top the lance-shaped variegated foliage. Zones 4-9.

Hydrangea White Diamonds
This new hydrangea glistens with white panicles in summer and fall. Smaller in stature (4 ft.) and more manageable than most paniculatas, White Diamonds has dark-green, leathery foliage and has increased heat and drought tolerance. Best in full sun to afternoon shade. Use in a mixed perennial border, hedge or in large groupings. Zones 3-9.

PLANTHAVEN

Caryopteris Hint of Gold
Featuring golden foliage that holds up well in the heat in the Southeast, Hint of Gold has a compact habit (24 to 30 in.) with large, slightly sheened leaves. Mid- to deep-blue flowers form a complete whorl around the stem and appear to be sterile. Perform two prunings to maintain appearance. Zone 6. ‘

Caryopteris White Surprise
With a stable and unique white variegated leaf and a tidy 3-ft. habit, it’s similar to Heavenly Blue. White Surprise has strong flowering characteristics and is ideal for mixed borders, as a landscape plant or in a container. Tolerates some drought. Intolerant of wet, poorly drained soils. Zone 6/7.

Gardenia Crown Jewel
Crown Jewel has a dwarf, spreading habit; double fragrant blooms and a soft texture. It also has a heavy bloom set of double white, medium-sized flowers in mid-June, often later than most gardenias. Full sun to partial shade in acidic, well-drained, moist soils. Use in containers or as an accent. Zones 7-10.

Pieris Katsura
Katsura has bright glossy leaves with deep wine-red new growth, changing to green. In late spring, pink blooms cascade over green foliage, and new growth comes in glossy red again. This progression may repeat up to three times in the season, not including good red color in the fall! Attractive in containers and the landscape. Zone 6.

PROVEN WINNERS COLORCHOICE

Butterfly Bush Lo & Behold Blue Chip
Blue Chip is a non-invasive, miniature (24 to 36 in.), continuous-blooming blue buddleia. The fragrant blue flowers need no deadheading or pruning. Prefers full sun and well-drained, moist soils. Use in mass plantings, perennial borders or container gardens. Zone 5.

Hydrangea Let’s Dance Moonlight
Let’s Dance Moonlight is a dependable rebloomer with large, rich pink or blue mophead flowers. Suitable for full sun or partial shade, this plant has strong stems and beautiful foliage with good bronze-red fall color. Grows to 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide. Zone 5.

Hydrangea Let’s Dance Starlight
Let’s Dance Starlight is the first new wood-blooming lace-cap hydrangea. Vivid pink or blue massive blooms appear on strong stems. Growing to 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide, it’s hardy, dependable and colorful. Zone 5.

Weigela Ghost
Ghost produces dark-red flowers in spring. Vibrant light-green foliage gradually changes to an iridescent butter cream, providing season-long color. With a medium to fast growth rate, Ghost reaches a height of 4 to 5 ft. and width of 4 ft. Zone 4.

Rose Oso Easy Strawberry Crush
This low-mounding rose delivers clouds of strawberry-pink blooms that transform to cream. The large double flowers are self-cleaning and contrast well against the dark glossy-green foliage. With no spraying required, it’s an eco-friendly alternative for landscape roses. Zones 5-9.

SOUTHERN LIVING PLANT COLLECTION

Plum Yew Yewtopia
Drought resistant and heat tolerant, Yewtopia Plum
Yew is a vase-shaped evergreen conifer that does well in part shade or full sun. With a slow to moderate growth rate, Plum Yew grows to a rounded 3 to 4 ft. in height and width. Zones 6-10.

Loropetalum Emerald Snow
Emerald Snow’s leathery, shiny green foliage is a great contrast to the vivid purple loropetalums in the collection. It sports delicate white fringe flowers in spring and grows to a low-maintenance 4 to 5 ft. Zones 6-10.

ZELENKA NURSERY

Hydrangea Forever & Ever White Out
Beautiful single white mophead flowers are accented by deep-green foliage with a compact, rounded habit. The large 8-in. blooms flower from early to midsummer until frost. Blooms on old and new wood. A great choice for northern gardeners. Zones 5-9.

Spirea Solar Flare
Bright-yellow foliage tipped with orange and red new growth makes this variety very attractive when not in bloom. Large pink flowers add to the colorful display in early summer. Matures to a height of 2 to 3 ft. Zones 4-9.

Kerria Mountain Top
A variegated kerria with attractive green leaves with white margins. Golden yellow flowers bloom during spring and summer. Matures to a height of 3 to 5 ft. Zones 5-9.

Weigela Champagne & Strawberries
A unique weigela with wavy, bright-green leaves and red flowers. As the season progresses, the leaves bleach to an attractive near-white. Matures to a height of 3 to 5 ft. Zones 5-9.