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Browse Plants

Narrowed By:Type: Perennials, Shrubs+ Characteristics: Interesting Bark+ Seasonal Interest: Spring
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 listings   Sort By: Sort
Calycanthus floridus Calycanthus floridus
(Carolina allspice, Strawberry shrub, Common sweetshrub)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This deciduous shrub has a dense, rounded habit, growing 6 to 9 feet tall and as wide. Its unusual, waterlily-like, fragrant flowers combine the scent of strawberries, banana, and pineapple. Flowers appear in May and continuing blooming on and off into June and July. The dark green leaves and bark release a clove or camphor-like scent when crushed.

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
(Redtwig dogwood, Cream-edge tatarian dogwood)
(2 user reviews)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This vigorous deciduous shrub provides a long season of interest in the garden with its variegated leaves, attractive berries, pretty fall color, and red winter stems.

no image available Cornus alba
(Redtwig dogwood)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

These showy shrubs have two distinct phases of garden interest. In winter, they display boldly colorful bark—red, yellow, or orange—on twiggy stems to make a striking scene. In spring, the stems lose their vivid color and produce bright green, gold, or variegated foliage that accents the garden through the fall. Twig and leaf color vary according to the cultivar.

Cornus racemosa 'Emerald' Cornus racemosa 'Emerald'
(Snow Lace® gray dogwood)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This native shrub dogwood is more compact than the species with semiglossy, emerald green foliage and showy, white fruit. Purple fall leaf color and rosy pink pedicels make this gray dogwood a fine choice for the woodland edge. Its silvery gray bark in winter adds interest into another season. White flowers in the spring add to the list of what it offers. Plant this dogwood in the landscape where it will be seen in the fall and winter. It rarely suckers.

Cornus stolonifera Cornus stolonifera
(Red osier dogwood)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Red osier dogwood is a deciduous shrub with a rounded, spreading form. Opposite leaves with rounded bases are ovate to lance-shaped and dark green, turning a dull red, purple-red, or orange in autumn. Clusters of white flowers appear in late May to early June, followed by white to pale blue fruit. Green stems turn reddish or purple-red from late summer into early fall, becoming brighter in winter.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’
(Oakleaf hydrangea)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This cultivar produces 8-inch-long, conical flower heads from early summer on. It is as notable for its distinct, deeply lobed leaves as for its reliably showy, creamy blooms. The foliage produces outstanding fall color and the flowers take on purplish-pink hues when dried.

Hypericum frondosum ‘Sunburst’ Hypericum frondosum ‘Sunburst’
(St. John's wort)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This is a small, upright, mounded, deciduous shrub with attractive, flaking reddish-brown bark on mature stems and striking, linear to oblong blue green leaves. Midsummer to early autumn, this plant bears golden yellow flowers with striking, bushy center stamens. Reddish-brown fruit capsules ripen in September and persist well into the winter. St. John's wort excels in the Midwest.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Center Glow' Physocarpus opulifolius 'Center Glow'
(Ninebark)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This ninebark's new leaves unfurl a golden yellow and then mature to a rosy red-burgundy. Clusters of white blooms accompany the dramatic foliage in early summer, followed by bright red seedheads that fade to tan. 'Center Glow' is a fast grower and an ideal candidate for mixed borders or foundation plantings. It grows to 8 to 10 feet tall and almost as wide. In winter, the older stems have attractive peeling bark.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo' Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo'
(Diabolo® ninebark)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

With its upright, arching branches and dark chocolate to purple foliage, Diabolo® ninebark offers a color contrast with silver-leaved plants and makes a fine backdrop hedge. Clusters of button-like, pinkish white flowers appear in summer. Even when they fade to a tawny tone, they stand out nicely against the dark leaves. -Chris McKernan, Regional Picks: Lower Plains, Fine Gardening issue #120

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward'
(Summer Wine ninebark)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Many gardeners know ninebark as an undistinguished shrub with ordinary green leaves, white flowers, and fall fruit. But 'Seward,' sold under the trademark name Summer WineTM, has outstanding burgundy leaves and pink flowers that bloom in early summer. This plant is super tough and makes a stunning focal point in a summer border.

Pieris japonica Pieris japonica
(Lily-of-the-valley bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese andromeda)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This neat, rounded shrub has given rise to many noteworthy cultivars. It grows to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide, producing drooping clusters of delicate white blossoms in winter and spring. Use this shrub in a woodland, rock garden, container, or as a foundation plant.

no image available Pieris japonica 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
(Dorothy Wyckoff andromeda, Lily-of-the-valley bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese andromeda)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This compact, rounded shrub produces reddish-purple buds that first open as soft-pink then mature to white. It grows to about 5 feet high and wide, making it a superb specimen for a container or small garden.

Vaccinium corymbosum Vaccinium corymbosum
(Highbush blueberry)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Highbush blueberry provides four seasons of fanfare, starting with twisted, peeling stems in winter; profuse white or pink blossoms in spring; savory blue fruit in summer; and long-lasting foliage the color of a rich red wine in fall. The maroon to scarlet fall shades are effective for a solid month or more, as the leaves (especially in full sun) are reluctant to fall. The best fruit set occurs when you plant at least two cultivars that will bloom concurrently to ensure cross-pollination.


Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 listings   Sort By: Sort