Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Vaccinium Vitis-idea, commonly called lingonberry, is a short, mat-forming, evergreen shrub native to boreal pine forests, rocky barrens, bog edges, heaths, arctic tundra, and mountain slopes in the northern reaches of Europe, Asia, and North America. Mature plants will reach up to 1' tall and spread by underground rhizomes to form colonies 3' wide or more. The glossy, dark green, oval leaves are held on thin, wiry stems and can reach around 0.5" long and 0.25" wide. Loose, terminal clusters of 3-10 small, nodding, white to pink blushed, urn-shaped flowers bloom in spring and are followed by small, bright red, round, tart berries. The berries are eaten by birds including grouse, ravens, and migrating songbirds as well as mammals including voles, chipmunks, foxes, and black bears. The foliage is an important winter food source for moose, caribou, and hares.

Pinus mugo 'Mops'

Pinus mugo 'Mops' is a dwarf evergreen conifer forming a dense, rounded cushion, adorned with slender, silvery-blue needles most of the year, except in winter when the foliage acquires a golden cast. Slow-growing, 3-5 in. per year (7-12 cm), this Dwarf Mountain Pine is a terrific for foundation plantings, rock gardens and small gardens.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Grows up to 4 ft. tall and wide (120 cm) at maturity.
• Performs best in full sun in well-drained soils. Mugo pine is not fussy about soils and grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, or clay soils as long as they are well drained. It is also drought-tolerant.
• Perfect for coastal gardens and rock gardens.
• Watch for aphids, adelgids, sawflies, and pine shoot moths. Easy to grow, easy to care for, and rarely browsed by deer.
• No pruning required.
• Native to C Europe, Balkan Peninsula.

Amelanchier alnifolia (Serviceberry)

Serviceberry, Alder-Leaved Serviceberry, Saskatoon Serviceberry, Western Serviceberry, Juneberry

Domesticated for fruit production, Amelanchier alnifolia (Serviceberry) is a deciduous, upright, suckering shrub with four seasons of interest. In mid spring, compact clusters of fragrant, white flowers emerge just before the leaves. Attractive to pollinators, they are followed by small, sweet, blue berries in early summer. They make great jellies or jams and are appreciated by both birds and humans. The foliage of small, light-green, sharply and coarsely toothed, oval leaves, turns to brilliant shades of orange and red in the fall. The plant remains attractive even after the leaves drop, thanks to its elegant growth habit and its light gray bark adorned with charcoal-gray striations. Serviceberry is attractive as an ornamental shrub or may be trimmed as a pretty hedge.

• Grows slowly up to 10-15 ft. tall and wide (300-450 cm)
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Best berry production and fall color occur in full sun. Tolerant of harsh, dry, or alkaline conditions once established. Drought tolerant.
• Low maintenance, this plant is also generally pest and disease free but watch for occasional rust, leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew and canker.
• Mass in mixed shrub borders. Perfect as a specimen plant, hedges and screens, or for foundation plantings. Makes an excellent windbreak when planted fairly close together so the branches can intertwine to form a living fence. Can be used for erosion control.
• Can be started from seed or vegetative cuttings.
• Native to western Canada and mountainous parts of western U.S.

Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii'

Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii' is a splendid, low-growing, evergreen shrub forming a dense mat of tiny, gray-green leaves. The leaves, crowded on the stems, give the plant a different texture from most other evergreen shrubs. In summer, short spikes of white flowers adorned with blue anthers appear above the foliage. The compact and tidy nature of this shrub makes it a valuable edging plant or ground cover.

• Typically grows up to 2 ft. tall (60 cm) and 3 ft. wide (90 cm).
• Thrives in full sun or part shade in moist, well-drained soils. Prefers moderately alkaline to neutral soils.
• Very versatile, this plant is perfect for banks and slopes, as a groundcover, or in containers. Well suited to coastal gardens.
• Rarely affected by pests or diseases, it requires little maintenance. Keep an eye out for aphids and downy mildew.
• Needs little pruning. Prune lightly removing unsightly shoots as required in mid to late spring. This shrub blooms in summer and late fall on the previous or current year's growth.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings.