Height: 3 m (10-12 feet) Bloom: pink in May Fall Colour: none Tatarian Honeysuckle is a large shrub with an erect, vase shaped habit. Lonicera tatarica has heart-shaped, bright green leaves and remains healthy throughout the season although it offers no fall colour. Flowers are abundant, pink (occasionally white) and appear in mid-May in my… Read more »
Itea virginica (Sweetspire) ‘Little Henry’
Height: 1 m (3 feet – see below re hardiness) Spread: 1.25 m (4 feet) Bloom: Arching fragrant white flowers in early summer Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: green, great scarlet fall colour Pluses: fall colour For me the jury is still out on this one. Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’ (Sweetspire) is a… Read more »
Hydrangea paniculata (Pee Gee Hydrangea)
Height: 2 m (6 feet) Spread: 2.5 m (8 feet) Bloom: Large cone-shaped white to pinkish flowers in late summer Exposure: Full sun to part shade Foliage: large dark green leaves Pluses: large fall blooms, winter interest Hydrangea paniculata (Pee Gee Hydrangea) flowers late summer to early fall bearing large cone-shaped flowers that start out… Read more »
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’ (Endless Summer)
Height: 1.2 m (4 feet) Spread: 1.0 m (3 feet) Bloom: Large pink or blue mopheads Exposure: Full sun to part shade, prefers part shade Foliage: Large medium green Pluses: long bloom period, large flowers Endless Summer Hydrangea is a repeat blooming hydrangea that blooms on both old and new growth. It’s large mop-head type… Read more »
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
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 »