Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Shadow'   Honey-scented, bottlebrush flowers precede the outstanding summer-long display of dusty blue leaves which, in autumn, take on brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. North American native. We have our F. gardenii in fairly heavy shade where it performs beautifully year after year. Zone 4.

Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Satin'  Large, single, royal blue flowers with deep colored throats abound on these vigorous, sturdy plants. Blooms through August and into September with its unique, blue flowers. Grow in full sun in average, well drained soil. Zone 5.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue Billow'  A gorgeous, true, deep blue, Lace-Cap hydrangea which has proven to be absolutely bud hardy here at the nursery. If you've visited Bay State in mid to late summer you know this plant, since it's impossible to be here and not be drawn to its beauty. Our plant is perfectly happy in 50% shade with no special treatment except perhaps extra water during dry spells. 3 to 4' tall and wide. Zone 5. Though no longer blooming, we still have a selection of vigorous, healthy plants ready to be planted right now for bloom next year.

Leptodermis oblonga   Cute and tidy are the first words that spring to mind when I look at this little shrub. First of all it's small, only 18-24ins. tall and possibly 3ft. wide so it mixes nicely with perennials lending bulk to the front and mid border. Small, dark green leaves are densely borne and contrast nicely with the dark burgundy stems and provide the perfect background for the 1in. long, tubular, lavender, fragrant flowers that nearly obscure the foliage in May. Flowering continues throughout the summer on new growth, albeit less exuberantly. Zone 5. 

Symphoricarpos 'Amethyst' (Coral Berry)    A new S. doorenbosii hybrid from Germany with vivid, deep purple-pink, late summer fruit, instead of the more familiar white fruit. Very tolerant of soil types and does well in sun to light shade. Height ranges from 3-5ft. with an ever increasing width due to a tendency to sucker and form colonies.  Fruit display is striking in fall, especially when plants are grouped for greater impact. Because of their rugged constitutions, highly ornamental fruit and suckering tendencies, plants might be considered for use as a large scale ground-cover for problem areas such as eroding embankments or sites with poor, droughty soil. Zone 4. 

Clematis paniculata Sweet Autumn Clematis  Clouds of small, strongly scented white flowers in large panicles, Aug.-Oct., attractive seed heads, vigorous, 15-18'. (Can be pruned using any of the three methods, in other words, it's easy!) Zone 5.

      The vine in the photo was mistaken for a climbing Akebia and unintentionally cut back the ground in late winter. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise as, true to its nature, this vigorous, carefree clematis grew back to a resplendent form in just one season.

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (Japanese Painted Fern)     Tri-colored fronds of burgundy, silver and dark green grow in a beautiful mound, 18-24". Zone 4.

Kirengeshoma palmata   Grows 4ft. high from a thick, slowly expanding crown, forming a loose, upright silhouette, wider at the top, with branches eventually arching gracefully. In late summer and into September showy, 1 1/2in., waxy, yellow, bell-shaped flowers dangle from the leaf axils at the ends of the stems. Very attractive, especially so for blooming so late in the season. Gets lots of attention form visitors to the nursery, many of whom are surprised to learn that in fact it is a perennial and not a shrub as its thick stems and large, maple -like leaves might lead one to believe. Requires at least part shade and does well even under quite heavy shade with moist, humusy soil. We have both K. koreana and K. palmata in our lamentably dry shade border and its worth noting that both perform beautiful. It seems to be a case of shade trumping moisture. Zone 5.