Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Oxydendrum is an underused plant, to say the least. This is a small to medium tree which is suitable for large planters or small gardens. The drooping fragrant flower panicles in the summer veil the tree in white and the flowers persist after the foliage turns in the fall; the scarlet fall color is unsurpassed. The tree is listed as zone 5 but there is one flowering in Maine.

Size: 1 gallon Price: $30.00

Romneya coulteri (Romneya coulteri)

Romneya coulteri (Romneya coulteri)

Romneya coulteri (Romneya coulteri)

The Romneya in my yard is a large shrub that freezes to the ground every winter and comes back stronger spreading somewhat. The paper like large white flowers are spectacular. A California native, this plant needs very little water in the summer so I suspect that it is a West Coast plant.

Size: 1 gal Price: $25.00
Size: 2 gal Price: $50.00

Pink Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum)

Pink Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum)

Pink Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum)

There is something to be said for a hardy fragrant early spring flowering shrub. Hmmm, What would that be? Nice? Better than nice? The trouble with Abeliophyllum is that the flowers come and go so quickly, but it is spring after all and we should be happy to see anything that’s not grey and cold. zone 4.

Size: 1 gallon Price: $30.00

Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana)

Monkey puzzle trees are so named, I guess, because it would be a puzzle for a monkey or anything else for that matter to climb one. Those little leaflets you see in the picture are hard and sharp as knives. The mature trees are graceful and pendulous, but they are slow growing. And they are not hardy. ALSO this is one of two plants (the other is Embothrium) that I do not guarantee as they are so easy to kill. But here is one way to keep it alive: dig a hole 2′ x 1′; cut an X across the bottom of the rootcontrol bag but hold it closed until you lower the plant into the hole, then take scissors and cut down the sides of the bag multiple times and fill up the hole. Mulch and pray. zone 6

Size: Pot Price: $14.00
Size: 1 gallon Price: $25.00
Size: Field grown Price: $105.00

Hartlage Wine (Calycanthus ‘Hartlage Wine’)

Hartlage Wine (Calycanthus 'Hartlage Wine')

Hartlage Wine (Calycanthus 'Hartlage Wine')

Really Hartlage Wine is a hybrid with sinocalycanthus which makes this a very different Calycanthus. Everybody wants a fragrant spicebush with dark red flowers and so often Calycanthus has brown flowers with almost no fragrance. This is the plant that people are looking for when they hear about Spice Bush. Hardy to Zone 5 and very vigorous.

Size: 1 gal Price: $30.00

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron tricotomum)

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron tricotomum)

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron tricotomum)

Harlequin Glory Bower is an attention grabber. Covered with very fragrant white flowers in the summer, its fall display is even better: electric blue berries are held in a plastic (looking) pink calyces. The tree rarely gets more than 15′ and is often as wide as it is tall. zone 6

Size: 1 gallon Price: $30.00