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.

Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'

Echinacea, commonly called Coneflower, has been cultivated as a hardy and showy perennial since the 1700s, both in North America and Europe. Truly an American plant, native to the central and eastern part of the country, it was used by the early Native Americans to cure wounds and infections. A great prairie flower, its bright and large blossoms made a successful transition to the backyard. Traditionally purple, with ray flowers that droop downward off the central cone, Coneflowers today enjoy a rich variety of colors and flower shapes with ray florets held horizontally, single, or even doubled, giving them the look of Chrysanthemum. Easily grown from seed, they thrive on neglect.

• Grows up to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and 12-24 in. wide (30-60 cm).
• Thrives in full sun on average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerant to drought, heat, and humidity.
• Perfect choice for beds and borders, prairies and meadows, wildflower gardens, or cottage gardens.
• Excellent as cut flowers. If flower heads are not removed in the fall, the blackened cones will be visited by birds that feed on the seeds.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, but deer resistant.
• Remove spent flowers and cut back the stems to encourage further blooms.
• Propagate by division in spring or fall or by root cuttings from late fall to early winter.

Imperata cylindrica (Cogon Grass)

Imperata cylindrical commonly known as cogongrass or kunai grass is a species of perennial rhizomatous grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Africa, and southern Europe. It has also been introduced to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern United States. It is a highly flammable pyrophyte and can spread rapidly by colonizing disturbed areas and encouraging more frequent wildfires.

It grows from 0.6 to 3 m (2 to 10 feet) tall. The leaves are about 2 cm wide near the base of the plant and narrow to a sharp point at the top; the margins are finely toothed and are embedded with sharp silica crystals. The main vein is a lighter colour than the rest of the leaf and tends to be nearer to one side of the leaf. The upper surface is hairy near the base of the plant while the underside is usually hairless.

Cogongrass has an extensive rhizome network, the biomass of which accounts for 60% of the total biomass of the plant. They can penetrate up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) deep, but 0.4 m (1.3 ft) is typical in sandy soil.

Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' (Hakone Grass)

Hakonechloa macra are brighter in color than 'Aureola', have a more upright habit, and are a more vigorous grower. It tends to be more chartreuse in the heavier shade, and brighter gold in more sun.

Though this grass does spread by rhizomes, it is a slow grower and will not rapidly overtake its neighbors.  Plant it where it can cascade down slopes, drape over rocks, crawl over the edges of walls, at the front of the garden, or even in containers.

• Typically grows in dense, spreading cascading mounds, up to 10-18 in. tall (25-45 cm) and 20 in. wide (50 cm).
• Easy to grow, and resilient to pests and diseases, this ornamental grass requires little maintenance and is a fabulous addition to shady areas where it can grow as a superb accent plant, or as an effective groundcover, along paths, around trees, or in containers.
• Performs best in part shade, in consistently moist, humus-rich, and well-drained soils. Full shade is tolerated.

Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Gentry' ROYAL BURGUNDY

‘Gentry’, commonly sold under the trade name of ROYAL BURGUNDY, is a dense, compact, low-mounding shrub that typically grows to 24-30" tall and 40" wide. It was discovered growing in a bed of Berberis 'Crimson Pygmy' plants at the Leo Gentry Wholesale Nursery in Gresham, Oregon in 1989. Leaves emerge rich burgundy in spring but mature to soft reddish-black. Tiny, bell-shaped, pale yellow flowers (to 1/2” long) bloom in March-April in short racemes along spiny, reddish-purple stems. Three-parted spines at the leaf bases are distinctive for this cultivar. Glossy, ellipsoid, bright red berries mature in fall and persist into winter. The berries are attractive to birds. U.S. Plant Patent PP9,461 was issued on March 5, 1996.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates part shade, but performs best with full sun. This is a very adaptable shrub that is tolerant of urban conditions. Plants also tolerate heat and drought but are generally intolerant of poorly-drained, wet soils. Plants spread slowly by creeping roots. Plants can also spread by self-seeding (birds will eat the fruits and distribute the seed). Plant branches may root where they touch the ground.

Rosa woodsii (Western Wild Rose)

Rosa woodsii (Western Wild Rose) is an upright, deciduous, rhizomatous shrub with attractive, deep green pinnately compound leaves divided into 5-9 finely toothed leaflets. In spring, its new canes emerge red and are lined with prickles on their lower portions. In late spring to mid-summer, a profusion of very fragrant, single, pink to lilac-pink, or lavender flowers, up to 4 in. across (10 cm), are borne in small clusters. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators. They are followed by abundant fleshy, red, round, or pear-shaped hips that generally persist on the bush throughout the winter. The hips are a source of vitamin C and are dried for use in flavoring teas, jellies, fruitcakes, and puddings. Many birds and mammals feast on them. Rosa woodsii produces flowers and fruits at about 2-5 years of age. Good crops are usually produced every 2 years. Long-lived, Western Wild Rose sometimes forms nearly impenetrable thickets thanks to its shallow, frequently branching fibrous roots. It is effective in erosion control, but can also be used as an ornamental near homes to attract birds and other wildlife.

• Grows up to 3-6 ft. tall and wide (90-180 cm). Will spread freely.
• Best grown in full sun or light shade, in moderately fertile, well-drained clay loam, sandy loam, or sandy soils. Tends to favor moist, well-drained soils but is drought tolerant once established.
• Perfect for cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, and foundation plantings.
• Keep an eye out for fungal issues.
• Propagated by stem cuttings or division of rootstock. Rose seeds should be taken from the hips as soon as ripe and planted in the open or stratified before planting.