Western Red Cedar 'Whipcord'
Thuja plicata 'Whipcord'

Add random elegance and texture to the garden with a 'Whipcord', an unusual selection of the Western Red Cedar.  The dancing foliage of this mult-branched shrub is glossy green in summer with a bronze cast in winter.  Cover a bank with this topical-looking wild mop that looks like beach grass.  Whipcord will do best in full sun (where it is full and lush) to partial shade conditions (where the habit is more open and stringy).  It stays neat at a growth rate of only 3 - 6" per year.  A 10 year plant will be about 3 feet tall and wide.  Evergreen hardy to zone 5.

Clumping (Fountain) Bamboo

Fargesia nitida

Now you can have the beauty, grace and landscape effect of Bamboo without the invasive habit. A choice ornamental with outward arching slender branches that is exceptionally cold resistant to -20.  Dark purplish canes are covered with a bluish-white powder when young, giving the plant its other popular name "Blue Fountain". Leaves are delicate and attractive. The overall plant is vase shaped, gently arching over at the top.  This extremely rare Bamboo, regarded as one of the most lovely, displays weeping 8- to 12-foot stems of rich, dark green,  It is best to find plants grown from a new generation of seed since once nitida flowers it will die.  Flowering occurs about every 100 years and many specimens are flowering in 2005/06 in bamboo nurseries. Very hardy, it will flourish in most soils in partial shade; it also makes an ideal potted plant. Grow in zones 4-9.

Clumping (Fountain) Bamboo

Fargesia rufa

Fargesia rufa is a recently introduced species from the mountains of Western Sichuan, China. Fargesia rufa is a pachymorph, which means that it couldn't run even if it was being chased down the mountain by a pack of starving pandas. In form, this short clumper makes an elegant 8' tall upright fountain. In addition to the wonderful form, the culm sheaths are reddish-brown. In initial tests, Fargesia rufa looks to be quite tolerant to both heat and cold.  This very hardy clumping bamboo should remain evergreen even in Zone 5.. The overall impression in the Spring is green with a little red. It is also unusually tolerant of sun for a Fargesia.

Arborvitae 'Rheingold

Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'

Rich, very soft textured, classy gold foliage on top and lime green below make for quite a contrast.  Rheingold turns a beautiful copper collor in winter.  Slower growing with an ovoid to conical form.  In 10 years it may be 30" tall and wide.  Responds very well to regular shearing.  Plant in full sun.  Extremely hardy to zone 3.  A great plant to brighten up any spot in the landscape.

Arborvitae - Berckman's Golden

Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana'

An upright columnar Thuja from the Oriental group, with vertical lines and juniper-like foliage that smells like pine when crushed. Cultivar 'Berkman's Golden' has a gold tinge to its leaves and at 4' is somewhat shorter than most. Used a lot in cemeteries in the South, it is drought tolerant and will take full sun and abuse. A member of the Cupressaceae family it is hardy to -40.

Arborvitae - Emerald Green (Beauty)

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'

This plant has become one of the most commercially popular standard forms. It displays bright emerald green foliage that holds its color well even during the winter months. The habit is narrow and compact with vertically held sprays of foliage. It grows to 15' tall and 5' wide and is well suited to hedging, formal accents and barriers. This cultivar shows excellent cold and heat tolerance.

Arborvitae 'Mr. Bowling Ball'

Thuja occidentalis 'Mr. Bowling Ball' (Bobazam)

Add structure and form to your garden with this perfect ball shaped dwarf white cedar.  The lacy fine foliage and soft silver green color combine well with other plantings with foliage that occurs as flattened sprays at the ends of short, ascending branches.  May be used as a specimen or combined to form a hedge.  Mr. Bowling Ball grows about 3 - 6" per year into a 3 foot globe in 10 years, but ultimately can top out at 6 feet.  This thuja retains its globe shape without pruning and is tinged in gold during the winter months.  It also has small, inconspicuous flowers and ½" cones.  Hardy to zone 4.

Blue Star Juniper

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'

A slow growing selection that reaches 3 - 4 feet wide and 2 - 3 feet tall.  Whorls of bright, silvery, steel-blue sharp textured foliage provide a striking contrast among other conifers.  Although the species is native to the Himalayas, Blue Star originated in Holland in 1964 as a witches' broom of Meyeri.  Hardy to zone 4 Blue Star grows well in sun to part shade and is very tolerant of poor dry soils.

Boxwood Winter Gem

Buxus microphylla 'Winter Gem'

An excellent densely branched evergreen shrub for small hedges. Among the hardiest of boxwoods (to Zone 5), Winter Gem retains its dark green velvety foliage color in winter. Grows best in full to partial sun. Moderate grower to 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, but can be pruned to any size and shape.  Winter Gem also makes a nice stand-alone specimen.

Variegated Monkey Grass (Lilyturf)
Lirope muscari 'Variegata'

It’s easy to sing the praises of variegated lilyturf for making the perfect edger.  Its impeccable green-striped-with-cream foliage is vibrant and grass-like, but the leaves are wider and more blunt at their tip than grasses. Ideal as an edging plant, a clump runs from 1 to 1½ feet tall and half again as wide. The crisp, virtually indestructible leaves look attractive all season and often well into the winter. Nor are the spikes of small blue-violet flowers anything to sneeze at. They appear in late September—when few flowers are in bloom—and continue through the middle of October. Another virtue of variegated lilyturf is its tolerance of shade. Indeed, it bleaches out a bit in full sun, preferring morning sun and afternoon shade, and it will put up with moderate to dense shade as well.  Fully evergreen up to Zone 6, northern gardeners will want to cut it back to the ground  in early spring before the new growth appears.

Candytuft 'Snowflake'

Iberis sempervirens Snowflake

Very showy profusion of pure white blooms top neat, low mounds in spring. Its spreading form is excellent for edging, use in borders or as rock garden accents. Plant with other perennials and annuals. Candytuft flowers best in full to partial sun. It slowly grows to less than 1 foot tall, and spreads 2 feet wide.

Cotoneaster 'Coral Beauty' (Christmas Carpet)

Cotoneaster dammeri Coral Beauty

More compact than the species, this Chinese Bearberry grows to a foot or so tall, with the possibility of its semi-prostrate branches stretching six feed wide. This evergreen is one of the best berrying groundcover shrubs with masses of cream-white flowers in early summer, followed in Autumn by masses of orange-red berries and purple winter foliage. Sun or shade, damp or dry, once established, Coral Beauty is a true ground covering weed suppressant that roots itself wherever low-growing branches touch the ground. Zone 5

Cotoneaster 'Cranberry'

Cotoneaster apiculata Cranberry Cotoneaster

Cranberry Cotoneasters (cuh-TONE-ee-ass-terz) are fine-textured, low-growing shrubs which are especially handsome trailing over retaining walls or planted in large groupings on banks.  They carpet the ground with glossy green leaves in summer and red to purple tones in fall. Cranberry cotoneasters grow 3 feet tall and
produces bright red berries in the fall which last well into the winter-- much to the delight of the birds.

Cotoneaster 'Scarlet Leader'

Cotoneaster salicifolius Scarlet Leader

Scarlet Leader is a vigorous, healthy plant that can spread 6 feet wide but is only 6 to 12 inches high. The perfect choice for large areas and steep slopes in either sun or shade, it spreads to 18 inches the first year.   From fall into winter, a profusion of red berries glows against the densely branched, glossy dark green leaves. From late May to early June, white flowers bloom. Quite hardy, it is the choice of many of today's leading landscape architects.

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.

Creeping Wintergreen

Gualtheria Procumbens

You won't want to take your eyes off of this constantly changing Wintergreen. This small creeping evergreen offers year-round appeal. The fragrant, shiny dark green leaves turn a rich burgundy in fall, and petite, bell-shaped blossoms of white blushed with pale pink are borne in spring.  But the most amazing feature of Gaultheria procumbens is the bright scarlet fruits. These 1 1/2-inch fruits arise in midsummer and continue into the following spring, creating the most unusual sight of both flowers and fruit together! And the foliage is wonderfully aromatic when crushed -- still used in wintergreen tea, it was once also made into an oil.

Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce

Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa'

A dense, flat-topped, well branched evergreen shrub with sparkling bright blue needles throughout the year.  Idel accent or specimen.  Dpendable, low maintenance, cold hard variety.  Provides outstanding color contrast to darker leaved evergreens.  Very adaptable to drought conditions and soil types.  Growth rate is very slow on this dwarf.  Cold hardy to -40, this spruce performs best, with the bluest color in full sun.

Siberian Cypress

Microbiota decussata

Siberian Cypress makes a good substitute for junipers in a shade garden.  They don't thrive in really deep, dry shade, but perform acceptably in low light (and full sun). The green, juniper-like foliage gives a lacy appearance to this spreading, prostrate shrub. Typically this plant reaches about 18 inches in height, but will spread from 6 to 9 feet making it great cascading over a rock garden or a bank. It's also very hardy as it originates from high in the mountains of Russia and is sometimes called Russian arborvitae.

Sawara Cypress 'Boulevard'

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard'

One of the most popular and beautiful dwarf conifers with soft, plumy silver-blue bi-color foliage and a very full pyramidal rounded form.  Originated as a sport of 'Squarrosa'.  An intermediate grower at around 6" per year will slowly reach 12' if not trimmed.  An open habit should be avoided since brown foliage can become visible on the inner stems.  Prefers moist, well-drained soil in part shade, and should be sheltered from winter winds.  Zone 4

Daphne Carole Mackie

Daphne x burkwoodii Carol Mackie

A genetic mutation, or chimera of Daphne x Burkwoodii Somerset, this Daphne was discovered and originally propagated by avid gardener Carol Mackie in her New Jersey garden. Carol Mackie has always had an interest in unusual plants, having a very keen eye for the unique. While easy to grow, this Daphne is difficult to propagate.  This dense, rounded, evergreen shrub is most unusual and highly prized for the spectacular gold band on the edge of each of its small, rich green leaves. In May and June it provides the added pleasure of star-shaped, richly fragrant, pale pink flowers, often subtly flushed with deeper hues. Hardy to -30°F, this splendid plant ultimately reaches 3 to 4 feet high and wide. Zones 4-8.

Holly 'Blue Girl'

Ilex x meserveae Blue Girl

Blue Girl is the hardiest of the hollies!  As a handsome hedge or a specimen, it displays a profusion of bright red berries from fall through winter. A male holly is required as a pollenizer for berry set. Blue Girl displays very dense blue-green foliage. Grows best in full to partial sun. Grows 6 to 8 feet high, and 3 to 6 feet wide, but can be trimmed to any desired size.

Holly 'Blue Prince'

Blue Prince (along with female Blue Princess) are truly remarkable varieties of Blue Holly, embodying the luxuriant and attractive qualities of English Holly with none of its shortcomings. They adapt well to almost all climates and soil conditions and are very hardy.

   Blue Prince is one of the few truly ornamental male Hollies, producing large amounts of the pollen necessary to fertilize female Hollies within a wide area. Blue Princess produces multitudes of rich red berries in big, bold clusters that contrast spectacularly with the blue stems

Holly 'Blue Princess'

Ilex x meserveae Blue Princess

Blue Princess (along with male Blue Prince) are truly remarkable varieties of Blue Holly, embodying the luxuriant and attractive qualities of English Holly with none of its shortcomings. They adapt well to almost all climates and soil conditions and are very hardy.

   Blue Prince is one of the few truly ornamental male Hollies, producing large amounts of the pollen necessary to fertilize female Hollies within a wide area. Blue Princess produces multitudes of rich red berries in big, bold clusters that contrast spectacularly with the blue stems

Holly 'Sky Pencil'

Ilex crenata Sky Pencil

This telephone-pole-shaped Japanese Holly was introduced in 1985 by the National Arboretum. Its fastigate shape adds texture to the garden, and its forest-green leaves remain lustrous year-round- perfect for an entryway or container. With an upright, neat, maintenance-free habit, only 8 feet tall, 1 1/2 feet wide, and fascinating geometric contours, it deserves a place of honor in any garden where bold architectural form is sought. Zones 5-8

Juniper 'Blue Chip'

Juniperis horizontalis 'Blue Chip'

A prostrate, coniferous evergreen ground cover featuring silvery blue new growth that matures to blue green on interior branches.  Blue coloring becomes more intense in the winter.   Excellent cascading over walls. Full sun to light shade. Slow-growing to 8 to 10 inches high, and spreads 6 to 8 feet. Zone 2

Gold Cone Juniper

Juniperis communis 'Gold Cone'

Relatively new to the trade, this columnar form of common juniper was selected for its bright golden yellow foliage in spring and summer. More vigorous than ‘Compressa’, this narrow plant offers wonderfully contrasting form and color for many types of gardens. 3-6" per year. This common juniper cultivar is an upright, narrow, columnar, evergreen shrub which features golden new growth foliage. Awl-shaped new growth foliage emerges bright gold in spring with good color retention throughout the summer and early fall. Golden foliage gradually fades to bluish-green in winter. A slow-growing shrub (3-6" per year) which typically reaches a size of 3-5' after 10 years. ‘Gold Cone’ was introduced into commerce by Kordes Nursery of Bilsen, Germany in 1980.
 

Juniper 'Blue Rug'

Juniperis horizontalis Wiltonii

A trailing juniper having a uniform, full centered growth habit with intense silver-blue foliage. Excellent evergreen for large scale ground covers or cascading over walls. Full sun. Fast-growing to 6 inches high, spreads 6 to 8 feet.

Juniper 'Limeglow'

Juniperis horizontalis 'Limeglow'

Limeglow is a spreading juniper displaying upright fans of soft textured lime green foliage with yellow tips.  In winter the foliage changes to plum and magenta.  It is adaptable to heat and sun, holding its bright color even in hot summer climates.  Works great used for an unusual hedge or foundation planting.  Planted in the full sun, this dwarf evergreen grows 3" to 6" per year and may be around 3 feet tall and wide in 10 years.  Hardy to Zone 3.

Lenten Rose Royal Heritage

Helleborus Royal Heritage

Hellebores are destined to supplant even Hostas as the premiere carefree perennial for shade (and partial sun).  Uniquely superior for its wide range of sumptuous colors (purple, red, near-black, white, green, pink and even yellow) captured by 2-inch flowers with overlapping petals. Produces flowers for nearly 5 months, from winter through spring.  A gardener's "dream plant", each will develop into sturdy, long-lived clumps 18 to 24 inches high and 2 to 3 feet across. Totally tolerant of heat and humidity, and even periods of drought, if given well-drained, moisture-retentive soil.

Pachysandra 'Green Sheen'

Pachysandra terminalis Green Sheen

An exciting new variation of one of the most valuable and carefree evergreen groundcovers, with foliage so unbelievably glossy that each leaf shines like a little green mirror -- while a dense stand glints and sparkles to light up any shady corner.  Each plant grows only 10 to 12 inches high, and over a 2 to 3-year period will spread to evenly carpet a 3-foot space.  Plant in light to full shade; tolerant of wide range of soils from moist to dry.  Superb in combination with ferns and hostas.

Dwarf Norway Nest Spruce 'Elegans'

Picea albies 'Elegans'

Elegans will tell you of the arrival of spring when its buds explode with light green new growth.  One of the earliest spruce to break bud.  Elegans grows into a low, rounded or dome-shaped plant.  It is best used as an accent to larger, more upright specimens or along foundations and paths.  This dwarf evergreen performs best in full sun to part shade where it will grow 3 - 6 inches per year and will reach around 3 to 6 feet in 10 years.  Size may be controlled by pinching candles in half around May 25th.  Very hardy to Zone 3.

Pieris Japonica 'Mountain Fire'

Japanese Pieris is an upright evergreen shrub with a neat habit of stiff, spreading branches.  Small white bell-shaped flowers appear in late March and early April.  Flowers take second place, however, to the new growth in the spring which is fiery-red, and lasts over a long period before turning deep glossy green.  Plant in sun or partial shade.  It is very important to protect Pieris from winter winds.

Potentilla Cinquefoil

Potentilla neumanniana nana

A beautiful, low growing evergreen perennial with small, rich, dark green leaves resembling those of strawberries. Growing no more than 3 inches high and 10 to 12 inches wide, it forms handsome mounds covered with bright golden flowers in late spring and early summer. A fine ground cover that grows in either sun or partial shade, it is stunning both in bloom and out. Looks wonderful tumbling over rocks or a wall. Zones 4-9.

Sarcococca (Sweet Box)

Sarcococca hookeriana 'humilis'

This compact, stoloniferous Sweetbox is a Chinese native slowly growing 12 to 15 inches high and 2 feet wide. Its tufted growth, glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers, and blue-black fruit offer long-season interest as a ground cover or shrub for underplanting. Ideal for winter arrangements too!    Sarcococca are low-growing, evergreen shrubs with dark, lustrous foliage that are seldom seen in American gardens. Allied to the Boxwoods, their sweetly fragrant flowers appear in late winter and early spring. Extremely tolerant of dry shaded areas that are often so difficult to fill, Sarcococca makes an outstanding ground cover. Also tolerates a wide range of growing conditions! Zones 5 (with protection) - 9.

Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'

Sedum spurium Dragon's Blood

Sedum spurium, or two-row stonecrop is a low growing ground cover at  2 - 6".  This succulent, evergreen sedum has mat forming, wiry stems with rows of rounded leaves at the ends and pink flowers in summer. 'Dragon's Blood' has red-tinted foliage in the spring and rose-red flowers in the summer. The more sun it gets the redder the flowers and foliage.   Zones 3 - 7.

Sedum 'Fulda Glow'

Sedum spurium Fulda Glow

'Fulda Glow' has bronze-red foliage all year with rose-red flowers in summer.  It is particularly attractive in rock gardens where its blazing foliage contrasts the bland color of rocks.  Also used along borders, and as an accents plants.  It is a succulant evergreen with dark maroon foliage.  Zones 3 - 7.

Thorndale Ivy

Hedera helix Thorndale

Thorndale is a super hardy English Ivy. It creates a shiny 6 to 8 inch evergreen carpet in difficult places.  Large, veined, sub-zero hardy leaves spread fast but don't become a nuisance (1st year it sleeps, 2nd year it creeps, 3rd year it leaps).   It is also splendid as a climber that needs no support.

Eastern White Pine 'Vercurve'

Pinus strobus 'Vercurve'

A sister seedling to 'Mini Twists', this compact evergreen conifer with a globulose shape when young, eventually will grow into a broad pyramid. This whte pine has short, soft blue-green needles that exhibit considerable twisting giving it a unique look  Rarely seen, Vercurve prefers full sun in well-drained soil. Growing 3" to 6" per year, the plant will only be about 2.5' tall x 3' wide in 10 years. Hardy to -40 degrees. USDA zone 3.