Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound'

Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' (Japanese Spirea) is a compact, spreading deciduous shrub with golden yellow ovate leaves in spring, fading to greenish-yellow as the summer progresses. The foliage turns lovely shades of orange, red and yellow in the fall. In late spring, flat sprays of small pink flowers are on display. Perfect for contrasting and brightening the landscape, this spirea cultivar is a wonderful ball of fire for borders and containers. Great as a low hedge too!

• Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 3-4 ft. wide (90-120 cm).
• A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade as well as a wide range of soil conditions.
• Perfect choice for borders, foundation plantings, cottage gardens, city gardens, rock gardens, or containers.
• Attracts butterflies but is ignored by deer.
• Virtually pest and disease free.
• Flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter to early spring if needed. If overgrown can be renovated by cutting back hard immediately after flowering.
• Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer or by division in autumn or spring.
• Spiraea japonica species is native to Japan. It can be an aggressive self-seeder and spread in the garden by suckering.

Erica carnea 'Springwood White' (Winter Heath)

Winter Heath 'Springwood White', Heather 'Springwood White', Snow Heath 'Springwood White', Spring Heath 'Springwood White', Alpine Heath 'Springwood White'

Highly popular among gardeners for its vigorous trailing habit, award-winning Erica carnea 'Springwood White' features abundant small, urn-shaped, silvery-white flowers from early winter to late spring (Dec-May). They beautifully smother the needle-like, bright green foliage. Great at providing winter color, this low-growing, evergreen shrub creates an excellent groundcover for sunny locations while requiring little care. It may also be used to trail over retaining walls.

• Grows in an attractive mound, up to 8 in. tall (20 cm) and 16 in. across (40 cm). Spreading along the ground by procumbent stems, this perennial will form a dense groundcover over time.
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
• Performs best in full sun in sandy, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Part shade is welcomed in hot summer areas. Newly planted Heath can dry out quickly once planted so it is important to water regularly and thoroughly when the plant is young.
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to rock gardens, groundcover, slopes, coastal gardens, cottage gardens or containers. Plant in groups for best visual impact.
• Produces nectar that attracts bees on mild winter days, but is ignored by deer!
• Virtually disease and pest free, but watch for powdery mildew, root rot, rust and wilt.
• Plants may be sheared lightly after flowers fade, but not any later as flower buds are formed during the summer. Annual light shearing promotes a bushier plant.

One of the hardiest of Heathers, Erica carnea is native to the Alps of Central Europe. It is loved for its early bloom and evergreen presence and forms bristling mats of pink, white, purple or red blooms which are at their best with the early spring bulbs such as crocus, scillas and dwarf irises.

Philadelphus lewisii

Philadelphus lewisii is the state flower of Idaho. It makes a great background shrub or specimen plant. Plant it close to paths, windows, or entryways to enjoy the fragrant blossoms!

• Grows up to 5-12 ft. tall (150-360 cm) and 6-12 ft. wide (180-360 cm).
• A full sun to partial shade lover, this plant is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions, from moist to dry soils. Drought tolerant, though sometimes a little additional water can help it to thrive and flower more vigorously
• Great for shrub borders, foundation plantings, and informal flowering hedges.
• Generally pest and disease free. Keep an eye out for leaf spots, canker, powdery mildew, and rust.
• Blooms on previous year’s wood, so prune immediately after flowering. Old plants can be rejuvenated after flowering by cutting old wood back to the ground.
• Native to western North America, from northwestern California in the Sierra Nevada, north to southern British Columbia, and east to Idaho and Montana.

Liriope muscari 'Silvery Sunproof

Lilyturf is a broadleaf evergreen, clump-forming, perennial in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family. The name liriope is derived from new Latin and is a nymph in Roman mythology.  Though it may resemble ornamental grass it is not a true grass.

'Silvery Sunproof' is a cultivar of lilyturf with brightly variegated silvery striped leaves and lavender flowers.   It has narrow, grass-like leaves that can grow up to 15 to 18 inches tall and wide and are long-lasting. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest and the light variegation adds brightness to dark corners of the landscape. It does better in full sun than other members of the Liriope genus.  

Lilyturf requires acidic to neutral well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate almost full shade but growth is slow and leaves are elongated. 

This low-maintenance plant blooms in late summer with spikes of purple flowers that are followed by nearly black berries. In their first year, they will need regular watering to keep soils moist but once they are established they require very little supplemental irrigation.  They are light feeders and benefit from a slow-release or organic fertilizer applied in the early spring.  To maintain an attractive appearance, cut back tops each February before new growth begins.

Prunus Laurocerasus

Mt. Vernon’ is very compact, reaching only 3 feet in height and spread yet retains the large species-type leaves. Slow growing, it can be a good addition to a rock garden. Prunus laurocerasus is a large, spreading evergreen shrub with large, glossy, dark green leaves and a hardy constitution. The leaves are evergreen, simple, alternate, and 2 to 6 inches long. The green-to-brown stems emit the typical cherry odor when bruised. The species can grow to 18 feet in height under ideal conditions and can spread to 25 feet. Generally, it is kept more modest under cultivation; various cultivars have been developed. The leaves keep their color throughout the summer, but they can lose some of their luster in cold climates. The flowers are tiny, white, and intensely fragrant, appearing in mid-spring. The fruits are inconspicuous, hidden amongst the foliage, borne in the summer. Often used as a hedging plant.

• Perfect as a specimen plant or for hedges or screens.
• Prune as needed after flowering. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to fall or hardwood cuttings from late fall to late winter; propagate by seed in fall.
• Low maintenance, the leaves of this lovely shrub may be damaged by vine weevil, leaf-mining moths, or powdery mildews.
• This plant has high-severity poison characteristics. Leaves and fruit may be harmful if ingested.

Ceanothus 'Victoria' (California Lilac)

California Lilac 'Victoria', Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Victoria'

Regarded as one of the hardiest of the California Lilacs, Ceanothus 'Victoria' is a vigorous, bushy, evergreen shrub noted for its abundant clusters of brilliant indigo blue flowers in late spring and early summer. The flowers are so profuse that they literally cover the bush, creating a breathtaking floral display. The blooms are borne on gracefully arching branches clad with shiny, dark green leaves. Usually ignored by deer, this pretty shrub is prized by birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. A fast grower, this spectacular shrub is extremely drought tolerant once established. A great California Lilac selection for coastal gardens.

• Grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 9-12 ft. wide (270-360 cm).
• Thrives in average, well-drained soils in full sun. Provide a sheltered position. Requires little or no water in summer. Drought tolerant.
• Excellent plant for sunny areas, ideal as a specimen plant, wall-side borders, banks and slopes, hedges and screens or planted in shrub borders. Perfectly suited to coastal gardens as this plant doesn’t mind salt-laden sea air.
• Easy to grow, this plant is difficult to transplant once established.
• Prune after flowering.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
• Watch for scale insects, honey fungus and Phytophthora root disease.