Azalea japonica 'Gumpo White'

Gumpo White Azalea is a slow-growing, upright perennial. Attractive to deer but not bunnies, this compact shrub is relatively disease-resistant and once established, drought-tolerant. A low-maintenance Satsuki hybrid originating from Japan, this salt-tolerant plant is perfect for anyone new to gardening who doesn’t have a lot of free time to spare.  

Gumpo White Azalea is especially beautiful when planted en masse. If grown as part of a hedge, space these compact plants about 2 feet apart. If planting only a few, however, you can space them a little farther with intervals of 3-5 feet.

Just like its pink cousin, 'Gumpo White' is a superb performer in the landscape. Smothered with pure white, ruffled flowers starting in late May, this small space beauty is so full and compact you won't be able to distinguish the plant beneath the blizzard-like bloom of exquisite white color. 'Gumpo White is one of the best Azaleas for growing and grouping in small spaces because of its slow-growing nature and dense form. Plant it in partial sun protected from winter's drying winds and be prepared for a bonus...like 'Gumpo Pink', this selection will continue to throw out occasional blooms throughout the summer adding to its great landscape value.

Liriope spicata

Lilyturf is a perennial, evergreen tufted or rhizomatous ornamental groundcover in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family.  The name liriope is derived from new Latin and is a nymph in Roman mythology.  Though it may resemble an ornamental grass it is not a true grass.  While it is very tolerant of adverse conditions it can be invasive. 

This plant prefers light shade and fertile soil. The leaves are straplike up to 18-inches long, dark green turning to bronze-green in winter.  This plant grows between 6" and 10" tall. Flowers are spike-like clusters of pale violet to white, 6-parted, on elongated stems appearing in mid to late summer. The fruit is a blue-black berry. It tolerates salt spray, heat, drought, and heavy shade.   

It forms a dense, uniform cover, unlike Liriope muscari, which forms clumps until well established several years after planting. This plant spreads quickly by rhizomes and can invade adjacent turf areas or other ground cover beds. Therefore, this Liriope may be best suited for planting in a bed surrounded by a hardscape or confined with an edging (root barrier) that is 18 inches deep. It will grow well as erosion control on banks or as edging underneath trees or around shrubs where nothing else will grow. However, like other Liriope, it will not tolerate regular foot traffic.  Liriope beds can be mowed each spring before the new growth begins to eliminate last year's unsightly foliage.  

Rhododendron 'Unique'

Best grown in acidic, humusy, organically rich, medium moisture, moisture-retentive but well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers a sun-dappled shade. Plant in a location protected from strong winter winds. Good soil drainage is essential (doesn’t like “wet feet”). Poor drainage inevitably leads to root rot, therefore raised beds/plantings should be considered in heavy clay soils. Shallow, fibrous root systems (do not cultivate around plants) will benefit greatly from a mulch (e.g., wood chips, bark, or pine needles) to help retain moisture and stabilize soil temperatures. Roots must never be allowed to dry out. Acidify soils as needed. Clip off spent flower clusters immediately after bloom as practicable.

Leymus mollis

American lyme grass is a common dune grass from Atlantic and Pacific coast beaches. Its bluish-green foliage and stout spikelets that contain more than one floret distinguish it from the common beach grass, Ammophila breviligulata, with which it often co-occurs. Dune grasses possess special adaptations that allow them to tolerate and grow faster in response to repeated burial by sand. As such, they are critical for stabilizing dunes against erosion.

Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry)

Beach Strawberry, Sand Strawberry, Chilean Strawberry, Coastal Strawberry

Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry) is a low-growing, spreading, evergreen perennial forming rosettes of shiny, slightly lobed, dark green leaves which take on a reddish tinge in the winter. In mid spring to early summer, it bears a profusion of small, 5-petaled white flowers, 1 in. across (2 cm), adorned with 5 shorter, pointed green sepals and yellow centers. They are followed in mid to late summer by a crop of small, edible red fruits. This plant is easy to cultivate, and it will spread to form a dense ground cover. Useful as a lawn substitute (tolerates moderate foot traffic) or for stabilizing slopes and sand dunes. Beach Strawberry is one of the parent species of the cultivated strawberries.

• Grows up to 4-6 in. tall (10-15 cm) and 24-30 in. wide (60-75 cm). This plant spreads by runners to form large colonies over time.
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in well-drained soils. Some drought tolerance.
• Great as a ground cover. Excellent on slopes (erosion control).
• Strawberries are susceptible to some issues including anthracnose, leaf spots, rots, wilts, powdery mildew and blights. Insect visitors include spider mites and aphids. Leaf scorch may occur in hot summer climates.
• Mow or trim plants hard in early spring.
• Propagation: remove and transplant runners.
• Native to the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California and the beaches and inland areas of coastal Chilea.

Leymus arenarius (Blue Lyme Grass)

Leymus arenarius (Blue Lyme Grass) is a vigorous, semi-evergreen grass that grows in densely tufted, spreading clumps of gracefully arching, broad and flat, steel-blue leaves. In summer, it produces sturdy, upright, narrow, blue-gray flower spikes that turn light beige. Spreading aggressively by rhizomes, this grass needs to be used in very specific situations as it is an aggressive grass. Perfect for erosion control or as a ground cover in a wide sunny area, Blue Lyme Grass makes a good container plant where its invasiveness can be contained.

• Grows up to 2-3 ft tall (60-90 cm).
• This grass tolerates a wide range of soils from wet to dry and full sun to partial shade. Tends to be less invasive in dry, clay soils.
• Salt, drought tolerant and deer or rabbit resistant, this cool season grass provides all-year-around interest thanks to its evergreen foliage in mild winter areas.
• Cut back foliage in fall. Divide from mid-spring to early fall
• Native to Northern Europe