Astilbe 'Red Fanal'
Astilbe x arendsii Fanal

An elegant new Astilbe with incised bronze leaves and the brightest red flowers of the genus. It grows to 2 feet, topped by dazzling 1-foot spikes entirely clothed with massed flowers. Blooms over a long period.  Excellent for the shaded border, producing feathery flowerheads all summer that, if left uncut, provide winter landscape interest. Also splendid for dried arrangements. The foliage is deeply incised and graceful  Plant 8 to 12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Fanal requires plenty of water and mulch in hot, dry weather. Zones 4-8.

Bottlebrush Buckeye
Aesculus parviflora

Long white cylindrical panicles, from 12 to 30 inches are held above the deep green foliage, effective for 2 to 3 weeks from early June to early July. No garden, if space permits, should be without this magnificent flowering shrub. In fact, this is one of the most reliable plants for flower production in shade. Although it spreads and suckers it may be keep in check by spading and pruning to a height of 8 to 12 feet.  In Sept/Oct, as fruits mature, the leathery outer covering starts to split, revealing seeds that are rich in fats, oils, and lipids and are favorites of the pesky squirrels. Bottlebrush buckeye prefers moist, well-drained soil and once established tolerates considerable drought. Michael Dirr ranks Bottlebrush buckeye as one of the top ten shrubs as it grows more beautiful with maturity.

Rose Mallow 'Fireball'
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Fireball'

This dazzling new introduction from the late Fleming Brothers makes a compact 4' tall plant with fine-textured green foliage - often with a purple blush.  Gigantic flowers up to 12" wide sit atop compact, shrub-like plants from mid to late summer.  The blossoms are flaming red and have overlapping petals.  Each successive spring will bring larger flowers especially if they are well watered.  The finely textured, dissected foliage glows with a purplish blush and the sturdy stems display red veining.  Mulch heavily the first winter and cut back to 6" in the Spring.  This tropical looking beauty is hardy to zone 4.

Rose Mallow 'Kopper King'
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Kopper King'

'Kopper King' is a compact, vigorous, sturdy, rounded, somewhat shrubby, woody-based hibiscus cultivar which typically grows to 3-4' tall. Features copper-red foliage and dinner plate-sized, 5-petaled, hollyhock-like flowers (10-12" diameter) which are among the largest flowers produced by any perennial which is hardy to the Chicago area. Flowers are light pink with red veining and a bright red central eye. Each flower has a prominent and showy pale yellow tubular central staminal column. Individual flowers last only one day, but one or more flowers usually open each day, in succession, over a long mid-summer to early fall bloom period. Lobed, maple-like leaves are coppery red. Commonly called rose mallow. This hybrid is a recent introduction from the Fleming Brothers of Lincoln, Nebraska who have produced several rose mallow hybrids.  Plant lower in the ground than usual and trim back to 4-6" in the late Fall.  Hardy to Zone 4.

Rose Mallow 'Lord Baltimore'
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Lord Baltimore'

From mid-summer until frost, Lord Baltimore has brilliant, ruffled, dinner plate sized, red blooms up to 10" across.  The 4 to 5 foot, shrub-like plants have deeply lobed leaves and stay compact especially in full sun.  Be patient for spring growth as hibiscus break dormancy very late.  Plant in full sun to partial shade 4" deep.  This plant is the ONE exception to the above-grade rule when planting.  Give the plant plenty of organic material and don't let it dry out between watering - especially the first year.  Plants become more draught-tolerant with age.  Trim back to 6" in late Fall or early Spring.  Hardy to Zone 4

Buckthorn 'Fine Line'
Rhamnus frangula 'Ron Williams'

Fine Line is one of the coolest new introductions in years. This splendid Buckthorn combines airy, ferny foliage with upright, slender growth, so that it looks freshly-trimmed yet needs no attention at all to keep its perfect "figure".  Happy in containers or the garden, it's easy to grow, almost self-maintaining, and brings a tropical flair to any setting.

Reaching about 6 feet high but no more than 2½ feet wide, Fine Line looks like an architect's drawing of the perfect accent plant.  Unlike most buckthorns this one is non-invasive, and will not re-seed itself all over the yard since it bears very few fruits, which are sterile.  Always looking trim and neat, the upright habit keeps it as fresh in August as it was in April.   Happy in full sun to partial shade, in any good garden soil, Fine Line is quite cold- and heat-tolerant within its hardiness range. Small enough for a patio garden but majestic enough for the focal point of even a large setting, this little shrub is an excellent alternative to larger bamboo or ornamental grasses, and contriutes a unique foliage texture to the tropical landscape.  Space plants about 18 inches apart for a nice hedge.  Hardy in zones 3-7.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle'
Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

Discovered in an Anna, Illinois, garden, 'Annabelle' is perhaps the most popular old-fashioned shrub grown in American gardens today. From early summer till fall, it produces enormous 12-inch snowballs of pure white on a 4' plant. Interestingly, the flower size increases as the season continues, so that the final flush is an extraordinary show!   'Annabelle' is shade-tolerant but also enjoys heat and humidity. Very easy to grow once established, it is a lovely source of fresh and dried arrangements as well as a useful border, hedge, foundation, or accent planting. Zone 4.

Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'
Hydrangea macrophylla Bailmer

Finally, a big-leaf mophead Hydrangea macrophylla developed by Bailey Nurseries of St. Paul, Minnesota, that not only blooms on new wood, but is hardy in Zone 4.  Welcome news to gardeners in northern areas, flower color is pink in alkaline soils and blue in acidic.  The flower mops can range from four to six inches in diameter, and the foliage is a lush medium-to-deep green.  'Endless Summer' grows three to five feet in width and height.

Oakleaf Hydrangea Snow Queen
Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen

The Finest Oakleaf Hydrangea!  Spring sees the emergence of large, dark green, leathery leaves that withstand hot sun, strong winds, and heavy rain. In summer, when many shrubs look exhausted, Snow Queen is just beginning its show, sporting imposing, elongated 12- to 15-inch panicles of large, pure white blooms that gracefully mature to pink.  This shrub is remarkable for the number of the bloom panicles it produces and its ability to hold them upright for a magnificent presentation. Snow Queen reaches 5 to 7 feet with a similar spread in 6 years, maturing to 10 to 12 feet. It thrives in both deep shade and full sun in zones 5-8.

Peony 'Double Red'
Paeonia Double Red

The Peony is a true "queen" of the garden.  A beautiful, large perennial with lovely large, showy flowers that are familiar to most. 'Double Red' has double lilac-rose flowers that bloom in mid-June.  Peonies are easy to grow, preferring full sun, rich, well-drained soil. They are excellent in the border, as a hedge or an accent anywhere you would like. Do not plant too deep or fertilize too heavily, as this may cause non-blooming. Plant the eyes no deeper than 2" below soil level. 

Rose Double Knock Out
Rosa Double Knock Out

Several years ago, Knock Out wowed gardeners everywhere with its superb performance as a landscape Rose. Not only was it a tireless bloomer all summer and into fall, but it was terrific at keeping its dense, healthy green foliage no matter what the climate. The same breeder has developed its sister seedling, with all the same disease resistance, floriferousness, plus DOUBLE-flowered blooms and even greater shade tolerance.  These blooms of shiny fire-engine red are about 2 1/2 inches wide and utterly unstoppable from early summer right up till frost. Most are fully double, with others semi-double, with an everage petal count of 18 to 25. These blooms are all high-centered in the classic Rose form. No need to deadhead this lively shrub.  The flowers just keep coming no matter what.  Crown-hardy to -20 degrees F, this 3- by 3-foot shrub withstands drought, heat, humidity thru zone 4.
 

Rose Scarlet Meidiland
Rosa Scarlet Meidiland

Scarlet Meidiland is one of a series of hardy groundcover roses bred to bloom continuously and be disease resistant. It spreads 3 feet and grows about 3 feet tall. Wonderful in mass plantings on a bank or in a bed. Small semi-double flowers of 3" are born in many clusters and are accompanied by wonderful glossy deep green foliage. Clusters of red hips give a great show to the fall & winter garden.
 

Rose of Sharon 'Minerva'
Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva'

Rose of Sharon is a medium-sized ornamental shrub which can also be limbed up into small tree form.  Native to China and India, it offers continuous blooms from July through September -- usually very late in the afternoon.  In full sun to partial shade the the 4" wide, single or double-flowering, large-petaled, very showy flowers adorn the plant throughout the Summer.  The upright vased growth habit matures at about 8' tall by 4' wide, often becoming arching with age if never pruned.

Viburnum Mohawk
Viburnum x burkwoodii Mohawk

Mohawk is the most fragrant of all the Viburnums and is also the reddest in bud. Striking currant buds hold for several weeks before opening to unleash their sweet clover scent. Spring brings pink or white buds that transform into attractive white flowers that are delightfully fragrant. Summer brings lush, rich-textured foliage. Not to be outdone, fall brings color to the leaves as well as abundant berries that attract birds. Hardy as Oaks, Viburnums prefer sunny locations. Maturing to 7 feet by 7 feet, this woody shrub has dark, glossy, disease resistant leaves that turn a brilliant orange-red in fall. A U.S. National Arboretum introduction Mohawk is superb as a specimen or hedge. Zones 4 (with protection) - 8

Winterberry Winter Red
Ilex verticillata Winter Red (Female and Male)

Ilex verticillata Winter Red Female (Firebush-PPAF) is a fine selection of our native Winter Berry, with darker and richer green foliage than the species. Even young plants bear abundant bright red fruits which persist well into winter, producing ample food for birds. The 8- to 10- foot, densely branched, deciduous plants assume glimmering bronzy fall foliage. One of the berried plants that will thrive and fruit in shade, it performs equally well in cold or temperate regions. Perfect for a hedge or accent. Only one male is needed to pollinate up to half a dozen females. Zones 4-8.

Chinese Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei

This native of China is also commonly referred to as the Windmill Palm, since its stiff, perfectly symmetrical leaves often vibrate in the breeze, looking a bit like they're spinning. This is one of the most commonly planted palms in all over California, on up to Washington, and some are growing in Vancouver, Detroit, and Chicago.  This palm prefers cooler growing conditions with afternoon shelter from the sun and winter winds.  Although winter protection is critical when young Trachycarpus will become more winter hardy each year.  It forms a wonderfully 'hairy' fibrous trunk, but once over about 20', the fibre starts to fall off exposing a trunk of only 4-6" in diameter. It is one of the faster growing palms at 12 to 24" per year, though most would still consider it a slow growing plant.  It benefits from ample water and fertilizer.  Officially hardy to Zone 6b, but people are having luck with them in the Midwest.

Hayes' Stiff Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus 'Hayes Stiffie'

Trachycarpus (Hayes Stiffie) is a very hardy palm tree being grown in Alabama. Most believe this may be a hybrid cross between T. Wagnerianus x T. Fortunei. The leaves are stiffer and hold themselves much different than the other forms. Their are many other small details and interesting characteristics that make this plant unique which leads palm experts to believe that it is a true hybrid or very odd form of Trachycarpus. When grown near other Trachycarpus Fortunei, the differences are quite apparent. In Louisville, seedlings have been taken down to 0F to -5F when very young and the pots they were in were frozen solid. When spring arrived the seedlings were all still green and alive. Not a single one was lost to the extreme cold.  With other Fortunei you can usually tell when the plant is being stressed by the cold from the leaf damage, but this hybrid maybe far more cold hardy than any other variety or form.  This form is also reported to be a faster grower than other Trachcarpus.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea glauca conica

Dwarf Alberta spruce trees will eventually reach 6' in height, but only over a long period of time (growing just 2"-4" per year). They have a classic "Christmas tree" shape. The green needles have a tight, densely-packed growth habit that gives dwarf Alberta spruce trees a "fuzzy" look.  The trees require very little care, although they are, unfortunately, sometimes the victims of spider-mite attacks. Their slow growth rate means they hardly ever have to be pruned.  These spruce prefer full sun and a well-drained, acidic soil.  Dwarf Alberta spruce trees are one of the most recognizable specimens in North American landscaping. You'll often see them used in pairs to flank the entryway to a house for a formal look that strives for balance. Because dwarf Alberta spruce trees will remain relatively small for a number of years, people sometimes treat them (at least initially) as container plants.  Alberta spruce are hardy to zone 3.

Japanese Fiber Banana
Musa 'Basjoo'

Musa Basjoo is the hardiest of all bananas, cold hardy to -20 degrees when mulched properly.   In warm weather months it can grow up to 2 feet in a week. It's mature height is 18'. It can flower and bear fruits at 10' or whenever it has 35 leaves. The bananas are not edible. This handsome broad leaved variety can be grown in almost every state if the ground is mulched properly in the very cold months. At 40 degrees it will stop actively growing and at 28 degrees the leaves will die back and the tree can be cut back to a 2'or 3' height. It will grow back rapidly as the warmer season approaches.  The leaves can be used to wrap foods like fish and corn to be placed on the grill.

Bradford Pear
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

All the Bradford pears are a variety of a pear native to Korea and China.  The seedling which later became Pyrus calleryana "Bradford" was brought from Nanking in 1919, but it wasn't until 1963 that the USDA introduced the variety commercially. The tree was supposed to be the perfect street tree, with profuse early bloom, a restricted pyramidal shape, and good fall color. So many landscapers, urban planners, and homeowners agreed with your assessment of this tree's beauty that today it can be found almost everywhere.  The angle of the Bradford's branches is generally too narrow, and as the tightly-crowded branches grow in girth, the tree begins to push itself apart. At the first strong wind or heavy ice storm, the tree self-destructs.   Still, the tree is unforgettable in white bloom early spring.  Growing 30 feet tall by 20 feet wide and hardy to -20° the Bradford Pear has small rounded fruits that attract birds, and makes an excellent shade or lawn tree.  The glossy green foliage turns yellow, orange and red in the fall.

Hydrangea 'Pee Gee'
Hydrangea paniculata Pee Gee

All the cultivars of Panicle Hydrangea are robust, fast growing shrubs/trees that are extremely hardy, adaptable and very easy to grow in full sun to partial shade. The pyramidal flowers arrive from late summer into the fall and are a fresh, bright welcome sight in a shady corner or the shrub border.  Pee Gee flowers on new wood so prune in the fall or early spring.  Unlike the macrophyllas, flower color is not dependent upon the pH of the soil.  Bloomimn in July and August, very showy, large conical double white flowers change to pinkish-bronze towards autumn.  Zone: 4-8. 

Japanese Coral Bark Maple

Acer palmatum Sango Kaku

Also known as a Sen kaki, the famous Coral Bark Maple displays a sensational coral tone on its twigs in winter, making a fabulous display in an otherwise subdued landscape. The coral red contrasts beautifully against snow, sky, or grass. Delicate foliage is light green during the growing season, brightly yellow in autumn. Growing to 10 feet and very tolerant of heat and humidity, Sango Kaku will add year-round interest to the garden. Its beauty will increase with age making it a lifetime investment in the landscape. Spur pruning of established plants will ensure a good growth of young, highly colored twigs for winter display. Zones 5-9.

Japanese Maple Crimson Queen

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Queen'

Probably the most popular maple of the dissectum group, Crimson Queen maintains good dark purplish-red color in sun or shade, and does not scald easily. Beautiful leaves are deeply cut and dissected, and the tree has a strong weeping, cascading habit. Use as a small tree or a large specimen shrub. Grows 3-4’ in ten years to Zone 5.
 

Japanese Lion Head Maple
Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'

Unlike any other Japanese maple, this slow small grower has curled, kinky leaves emerging in thick patches the length of the stems. Leaf color is green, and it holds this color longer into the fall than the other maples. Then, when other maple colors have faded, it bursts into glorious colors of orange-red. Shishigashira makes a compact upright tree from 10 to 15 foot tall in time. Slow growth makes this excellent for bonsai and containers. Name translates as ‘lion’s head’ or ‘lion’s mane’.   Shishigashira is also the name of the lion headed Oranda goldfish.  Will tolerate full sun in the Midwest, but does better with some afternoon shade.  Zone 5

Japanese Maple Waterfall

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Waterfall'

'Waterfall' is an excellent green laceleaf maple with deeply dissected leaves, and a pendulous weeping habit.  Fantastic fall colors in gold and yellow primarily, but sometimes tinged with red.  These are strong growers, making a 3-4’ shrub-like tree in 10 years or can be staked while young to gain extra height. Grows 3-4’ in ten years. Mature trees may reach 10' high and wide. A Gold Medal award winner from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Magnolia 'Butterflies'
Magnolia x 'Butterflies'

Yellow is a much sought-after color in hardy Magnolias. Breeders have been working in this direction for years, but most of the trees introduced to date have little more pigment than sweet butter. The only yellow Magnolia worthy of the name is ‘Butterflies’. Its 5" flowers, which open before the leaves in early spring, are a mouthwatering soft yellow. They perch atop the naked stems like a convention of corsages, or maybe a flock of exotic butterflies carried north on warm spring breeze.  ‘Butterflies’ is compact and it has a distinctly pyramidal habit. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and deep, moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil.  Size is is 15 - 20 feet tall by 11 feet wide in 14 years. Hardy to Zone 5

Red Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

Cornus florida is a deciduous large shrub or small tree with horizontal branches.  Masses of rose colored flowers cover branches in the spring.  The medium green foliage turns scarlet in fall.  This is an excellent tree for a patio and is effective in group plantings.  Grow 'Rubra' just as you would any other Dogwood. It appreciates full sun to partial shade (especially in the southernmost portion of its range), and tolerates any good garden soil. You'll find it very resistant to heat, humidity, and cold, and once it gets established in your garden, it will tolerate poor, infertile soil. This tree will eventually reach 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Will increase in hardiness with age.  Zones 5-9.

Southern Magnolia 'Edith Bogue'
Magnolia grandiflora Edith Bogue

'Edith Bogue' is by far the cold-hardiest Southern Magnolia surviving as far north as Chicago.  Of pyramidal form (30' tall by 15' wide),  the large, lush evergreen leaves are glossy green above and rusty tomentose below. The creamy white, 8- to 12-inch flowers, emitting that legendary fragrance, appear profusely in late spring and early summer, then sporadically until frost. Showy red fruits add appeal in the fall.  Plant in a location protected from wind and free of competing roots.  Magnolias need good soil in protected areas. Zones 5-9.

Sweetbay Magnolia 'Henry Hicks'
Magnolia virginiana 'Henry Hicks'

Henry Hicks is a graceful evergreen (in Zone 5!) with a wide columnar habit, and ideal for use as a patio tree, or specimen.  The tree provides excellent vertical definition in a shrub border or as a free standing specimen and flourishes in moist, acid soil such as the swamps in the eastern U.S. and along stream banks. At a time when other trees are flowerless, the creamy-white, lemon-scented flowers appear from June through September, and are followed by small red seeds which are used by a variety of wildlife.

Big Leaf Magnolia
Magnolia Macrophylla

M. Macrophylla has the largest simple leaf of any native North American tree, reaching up to 30" in length and a foot wide.  In April to May 10 to 15 inch flowers that are yellowish, ivory in color cover the tree.  The flowers are followed by 3 to 5 inch, ovoid, purplish, hairy fruits which contain the seeds.  Native to the Appalachian Mountains, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, Big Leaf Magnolia prefers a moist, well-drained, protected site where its big leaves will not be torn by the wind.  Although it will tolerate full sun it is happiest as an understory tree beneath the forest canopy where it can still reach 50 feet in height.  Hardy to Zone 5

Japanese Oyama Magnolia Colossus
Magnolia sieboldii Colossus

‘Colossus’ offers the classic flowers of M. sieboldii, but the petals have much heavier substance, and the diameter of the flower can be much as 5 inches, nearly double the normal size.In fact, leaves can measure 12 inches long and 6 inches wide!  Occasionally, double or semidouble flowers are produced with up to 18 petals. Colossus is more heat and sun tolerant than regular M.sieboldii. This hexaploid was created by doubling the chromosomes of seed from a cross of M.sieboldii ‘Genesis’ (tetraploid) by a diploid M.sieboldii,  The original tree is 8 to 10 feet high by 10 feet wide at 7 years of age.  Named and registered by August Kehr June 1997. Zone 4-9.

Hinoki Cypress 'Nana Gracillis'

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracillis'

‘Nana Gracillis is quite an unusual specimen.  It has an irregularly globose form, developing an upright habit with age.  Superb rich dark green complacted foliage.  Excellent choice for a limited space since it will only grow to 30" in height by about 20" in width in 15 years.  Grows about 2" or 3" per year.  Plant in full sun to partial shade.  Native to Japan and Formosa.

Paw-Paw Tree
Asimina triloba

Asimina triloba -Paw-Paw- is related to the tropical Cherimoya (Custard Apple), with huge leaves that look more at home in the jungle, this is actually an Eastern U.S. native, hardy to -25° F! A forest understory tree quite happy in shade, it also tolerates full sun. The fruits, weighing up to a pound each, are rich, sweet, and custard-like, with hints of banana and vanilla. 15 to 30 feet tall. Plant at least two for pollination. Very Cold-Hardy. Rediscover this neglected American classic! Zones 4-9.

Smoke Tree (Purple Smoke Bush)
Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple

This slow growing, open-crown, round, small tree eventually reaches 12 to 15 feet tall.  The large panicles of wispy dark pink flowers produced in spring and early summer give the effect of a cloud of smoke.  Leaves emerge purple and fade to dark green in the summer.  They make a wonderful accent in a shrub border and can be planted as a specimen or as a patio tree where the black, showy, multiple trunk can be displayed.  Planting Smoke Tree is a good way to extend the spring flowering-tree season into the summer.  Smoke Tree is often cut back to the ground and grown as a shrub, but this will keep it from "smoking" since it only blooms on 3-year-old wood.

Weeping Japanese Cherry
Prunus subhirtella pendula

A medium-sized ornamental tree maturing at up to 40' tall by 25' wide.  It has a pendulous oval growth habit in youth, becoming more mounded like a multi-tiered umbrella at maturity.  The weeping thin stems will grow all the way to the ground, and sway gently in the Summer breezes, but may be pruned to any height.  Weeping Cherries prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but are very adaptable to poor soils and heat.  Light pink pendulous clusters of flowers appear for one week on the weeping branches in late March or early April before the leaves emerge.  Root suckers should be removed as they well grow upright and on "weep".

Weeping Crab Apple
Malus Louisa

Crabapple trees are deciduous trees with white or pink 5-petaled blossoms in spring, blooming as the leaves unfold, and plump fleshy fruit. The difference between apples and crab apples is the size of their fruit. Apples are more than 2 inches wide while the crabapples are less than 2 inches wide. There are about 25 species in the genus. All are native to the northern temperate zone.  Weeping Crabs look their best when they have matured to a short, thick tree trunk with foliage trimmed into an umbrella-shape about 6 to 8' high.