Height: 1.2 m (4 feet) Spread: 1.2 m (4 feet) Bloom: Large, globe shaped heads June to Frost Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: large medium green leaves Pluses: long bloom, winter interest Annabelle is a stunning performer with huge white round flowers all summer long. It is easy to grow in most soil… Read more »
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Westerstede’ (Witch Hazel)
Height: 3 m (10 feet) Spread: 2 m (6 feet) Bloom: primrose-yellow with copper red centre, very early spring before foliage Exposure: Full sun Foliage:green Pluses: blooms even in the snow, an early start to the season Hamamelis x intermedia hybrids are a cross between H. japonica (Japanese witch hazel) and H. mollis (Chinese witch… Read more »
Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla)
Height: 80 cm (32 inches) Spread: 65 cm (24 inches) Bloom: white in spring Foliage: blue-green, textured Exposure: part shade Pluses: unusual flower, nice texture, fall colour It’s surprising that Fothergilla gardenii is not used more often in gardens. A small shrub, it bears white bottlebrush-like flowers in spring before leafing out. The small one-inch… Read more »
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Spectabilis’
Height: 3 m (8-10 feet) Spread: 3 m (8-10 feet) Bloom: golden-yellow, early spring before foliage Exposure: Full sun Foliage:green Pluses: an early start to the season One of the first signs of spring are the bright golden yellow flowers of forsythia. ‘Spectabilis’ (Showy Border Forsythia) is hardy enough for zone 5 so most years… Read more »
Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ (Dwarf Burning Bush)
Height: 1.2 m (4 feet) Spread: 1.2 m (4 feet) Bloom: small yellow-green in early spring Foliage: medium green with brilliant scarlet fall colour Berries: small red berries persist through winter Exposure: full sun to part shade, best fall colour in full sun Pluses: shape, ease of care, brilliant red fall colour A must have… Read more »
Crataegus spp. (Hawthorn) — Native
Height: 9 m (30 feet) Bloom: white Fall Colour: none Fruit: yes, red Hawthorns are easy to distinquish as a native tree by their long thorns, flat-topped clusters of white flowers and small red or yellow fruit. It is more difficult however to identify the specific species for a hawthorn. Hawthorns in a natural setting… Read more »
Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ (Dogwood)
Height: 1.5 m (5 feet) Spread: 1.5 m (5 feet) Bloom: small cream, unnoticable Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: variegated, green with white edge Pluses: foliage, winter interest, small size Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ is a four season dogwood. It has distinct red stems for winter interest but also has the advantage of… Read more »
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
Common Names: Buttonbush, button willow, honey plant Zone: 5 to 9 Plant Type: Deciduous shrub Height: 3 m (10-12 feet) Bloom: creamy white in August Habitat: full sun to part shade in moist to wet soils Fall Colour: none I first saw a buttonbush in bloom while on vacation in Nova Scotia. Hundreds of fuzzy… Read more »
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’
Height: 1 m (3 feet) Spread: 1.25 m (4 feet) Bloom: Small fragrant pink blooms in spring Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: in my zone 5 semi-evergreen, variegated Pluses: fragrance, variegated semi-evergreen foliage Carol Mackie Daphne is one of the most fragrant plants in bloom I have come across. Small pink flowers cover… Read more »
Berberis thunbergii ‘Sunsation’ (Sunsation Barberry)
Height: 125 cm (4 feet) Spread: 125 cm (4 feet) Bloom: yellow flowers in spring, very small Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: new growth golden yellow with a more orange cast in fall Pluses: foliage colour, long season Barberries are a wonderful foliage plant that can provide great contrast in the garden. They… Read more »