Buddleia alternifolia ‘Argentea’

BETULA Fox Valley™ (Betula nigra 'Little King')    The river Birch ranks high among the genus as a superior landscape tree with light textured foliage that beautifully captures the sunlight and flutters on even the slightest breeze, closely imitating the Quacking Aspen, (foliage is highly resistant to birch bore), plus  beautiful exfoliating bark that peels away in contrasting cinnamon and cream colored strips, and, an upright, oval structure with a light, airy quality. 'Little King' has all the above attributes, combined in a small, sturdy package, attaining only 12ft. in height in 20 yrs. This smaller size allows for group planting as well as specimen use wherever a beautiful small tree or large shrub is desired. Moist, acid soil is preferred; leaf chlorosis may develop in high pH situations. Zone 4.

jacquemontii Whitebarked Himalayan Birch    The brilliant white bark of this selection is considered the whitest of all birches. See Michael Dirr’s ‘Manual of Woody Landscape Plants’ for a complete discussion of this beautiful yet obscure birch. Reaches 30-40ft. in height with a pyramidal/oval shape. Foliage is medium green, fine textured. Zone 5.  

Betula platyphylla ‘Royal Frost’     This special birch makes a big impression on nursery visitors with with its deep burgundy leaves that contrast so beautifully with the clean white bark. Its form is a very pleasing upright, narrow oval, 30-40’ at maturity. Foliage retains good purple color well into summer, eventually becoming dark, green-purple, ( late summer color is see in picture ). What’s more, plants have demonstrated resistance to the bronze leaf bore and, in three years, our tree has shown no signs of this pest. Foliage has the potential for displaying showy fall color in shades yellow, orange and red. Grow in rich, well-drained, evenly moist soil in full sun. In every way an especially handsome and verticle landscape tree. Zone 2.

BUDDLEIA ‘Adonis Blue’     Large, 10-12", fragrant, deep blue flower spikes,(and we are talking "blue" here), all summer long on compact plants that are part of the "English Butterfly Series" which was undertaken in England with the goal of developing well behaved, extra dense plants that are roughly ⅓ the size of typical davidii cultivars. 4-5' high. It's highly recommended that they be cut back hard in early spring, every spring, to achieve best flowering. Grow in average, even poor, well-drained soil in full sun. Deer resistant. Zone 5.

BUDDLEIA alternifolia 'Argentea'    Large shrub or small tree to 10-12'. Silvery leaves on graceful arching branches, bright lilac-purple flowers in dense clusters in June. Handsome and truly hardy and therefore should not be cut back hard each spring as is recommended for the dividii types. Blooms on old wood, so any pruning should be done right after flowering. Deer resistant.  Zone 5.

‘Black Knight’     Prized for its showy dark violet to dark purple flower panicles. Gray-green foliage on tall, upright stems. Full sun, good drainage. Deer resistant.  Zone 5.

‘Lo & Behold Blue Chip’     The first of a series of new, miniature Butterfly Bushes, only 3 ft. high and slightly less wide and packed with blue flowers from summer through fall. Flowers are sterile, do not set seed and fade discreetly away eliminating the need to remove unsightly spent blooms. It’s finally here, the Buddleia we’ve all been waiting for and we’re excited to be one of the first in the area to make plants available to you, our discerning customers! Small and tidy, suitable for container growing, for massing as a sunny ground cover and for just about any other use to which one would put a cute, beautiful blue, long blooming and trouble-free shrub! Deer resistant. Zone 5.

‘Miss Ruby’ New      A charmer of a plant acclaimed for its compact habit and remarkably vivid, rich pink blooms,(has been called the Buddleia that’s closest to red). Its neat, compact habit makes it suitable for many landscape situations where standard varieties would quickly out grow the allotted space with their over-large, rangy growth. This is a new plant and you can see it first here at Bay State.  Deer resistant. Zone 5.

‘Pink Delight’       Pure pink flowers in large, thick recemes. Excellent growth habit and attractive silver foliage.

BUXUS sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’ New    I've gotten to like this plant a lot for its high-impact, low maintenance qualities. Small, densely packed, glossy green leaves, generously edged with cream colored margins crowd the branches year-round. Compact and slow growing with a broad, upright habit, eventually reaching 7-8' tall and wide. Boxwoods of any stripe are usually maintained at lower heights through regular pruning, and this is true of 'Elegantissima'. Very effective for hedging, as an accent or specimen plant, in foundation plantings when plants are kept to an appropriate size, and in mixed shrub and perennials plantings which is how we’ve used it here at Bay State. Best in sites that are partially shaded and provide some wind protection in winter. Zone 6.

BUXUS sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’    Striking, very narrow upright habit. Tremendous focal point and excellent for hedging where space is limited. Very slow growing, in 10 yrs. reaching 9ft. high by 1 1/2ft. wide. Not fussy about soil but does best when pH is 6 or higher. We’ve had our plant in the ground for many years and have experienced negligible winter burn. No special winter protection is applied. Zone 4.

BUXUS sempervirens North Star™    A hardy, dense globe that requires little if any pruning to form a low, dense, thick hedge. Shiny dark leaves maintain good winter color. This is a tidy new Boxwood that will fill lots of nitches in the landscape starting with that of creating suberb low hedges which might be used to enclose rose plantings or even define the boundaries of a mixed perennial border. Their small size allows for mixing with perennials to create structure and seasonal interest, and they're small enough to be grown in containers and placed around the garden, on a deck or by a pool. 2-3ft. tall by 3-4ft. wide, preferring a pH near neutral to alkyline. And, they are not appetizing to deer! Zone 5.

BUXUS x ‘Green Mountain’    A cross between the Littleleaf and Common Box displaying the best qualities of both parents, - hardiness, compact size, and good leaf color year round. ‘Green Mountain’ has a neat, upright, pyramidal habit, 5 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide at the base. Great for hedging. Leaves retain good green color all winter. Easy in average, alkaline soil with a pH of 6 or higher. Zone 5.

CALLUNA vulgaris (Scotch Heather)    Popular dwarf flowering evergreen shrubs for rock gardens, perennial gardens and groundcovers, beautiful in both flower and foliage. Some Callunas have especially colorful foliage, which tend to peak in the cooler temperatures, and assume more demure shades of green in summer, when flowering. Callunas prefer acidic, sandy, organic, moist, well drained soil. Avoid windy spots, and do not over-fertilize. All are hardy to zone 5, and even colder zones with protection. Look for Heaths under Erica.

‘County Wicklow’    One of the first double flowered cultivars to be introduced. 8” flower stalks of double, shell pink flowers over low spreading foliage, overall size is 10-12” high by 18” wide. Blooms July-September.

‘Cuprea’    Spikes of lavender flowers over foliage that starts out yellowish and, in summer, takes on copper tints and, finally in winter becomes reddish bronze. Blooms August-October. Overall size is 10-12” high by 14-16” tall. Popular for over one hundred years.

‘Darlyensis’

‘Silver Knight’      Spikes of lilac flowers over outstanding, silvery-gray, upright foliage. Blooms August-September. Overall size is 20” high by 24” wide.

‘Tibs’     Spikes of double, deep pink flowers over low, spreading, dark green foliage. Blooms July-August. Overall size is 12” high by 15” wide.

‘Westphalia’     Lavender spikes over upright, dark green foliage. Blooms September-October. 12-18” high by 18-24” wide.

CALYCANTHUS Sweetshrub   Dense, rounded shrubs with clean, glossy, dark green foliage and 2in. wide, white flowers from mid April into mid May. Flowers may be strongly scented with sweet, fruity scent, or, they may not be. The only way to be sure is to wait until they bloom and then give them the smell test. Buying a named cultivar is another way to guarantee fragrance. 6-9ft. tall and at least as wide. Grow in rich, moist soil in sun or shade. Prune after flowering. Zone 4.

x ‘Hartlage Wine’    A new Sweetshrub that's creating quite a buzz! It's a hybrid between Sinocalycanthus chinensis and Calycanthus florida that retains the best qualities of both parents with large, maroon-red, magnolia-like flowers that begin opening wide in May and continue for many weeks, only slightly fragrant. The polished medium green foliage is disease resistant and acts as a great foil for the stunning flowers. When given the conditions it prefers of moist, well drained soil in sun to part shade, 'Hartlage Wine' will grow moderately quickly to 6-8ft. tall in 10yrs. Receives high praise from the Director of the Smith College Botanic Gardens who reported finding no winter damage over the '07'-'08' winter.

x ‘Venus’ New      Large, fragrant, Magnolia-like flowers, white with red centers from spring and well into summer. Grows anywhere from 5-10' tall though probably staying towards the lower range in the north, with a loose, open habit usually wider than tall. Very adaptable to soils and light, doing best in rich, moist, well-drained conditions in sun. The large, showy flowers are effectively highlighted against the large, glossy, deep green leaves. 

CARYOPTERIS x clandonensis (Blue Mist Shrub)    Clusters of brilliant blue to violet-blue flowers on spikes of new wood. Blooms in late summer just in time to combine with Heleniums, Rudbeckias, and Sedum for a last burst of color! Requires hot, full sun and good drainage. In our borders, all Caryopteris are cut back to within 6-12ins. of the ground in early spring. They quickly regrow, and bloom unfailingly.

‘Dark Knight’    Deep, startlingly blue flower clusters overspread mounds of silvery-grey foliage in late summer. Grows 1 1/2ft. tall by 2ft. wide. late June-early July availability.

incana ‘Blue Myth’     ‘Blue Myth' delivers a compact, shorter plant with increased hardiness. Blooms late summer and continues into early fall with showy clusters of vibrant blue-purple on well-branched stems clothed in attractive grey-green foliage, 2’ high. These well-formed plants are small enough and pretty enough to be massed for impressive impact in hot, sunny, well-drained locations. Zone 5.  

Caryopteris ‘Summer Sorbet’      Sharply variegated gold-edged leaves hold their bright edge all season long. The variegation of ‘Summer Sorbet’ is far more stable than that of earlier released selections and can be counted on to look crisp and colorful all summer without reverting to “all green”. The abundant blue flowers in late summer are set off beautifully against the the attractive leaves. 3ft. high and wide. Requires full sun and well drained soil. Generally dies back in winter and should be cut back in spring in the same way one would cut back a Buddeia. Zone 4.  Summer availability.

Ceanothus x pallidus Marie Blue™ New      (New Jersey Tea) A new blue flowered Ceanothus hybrid with the hardiness of ‘Marie Simon’ and loads of misty blue flower heads for many weeks in late spring. Flowers are followed by showy red seed heads that add another season of garden interest. We’ve had ‘Marie Simon’ in our border for as long as we’ve had borders, so we know it’s hardy. In our zone it’s a die-back shrub that never fails to regrow quickly each spring and garner much praise from nursery visitors. ‘Marie Blue’ is new this year and we’re really eager to see how it performs. 2-3’ tall, dying back in the winter, so should be cut to the ground in early spring. Spreads by underground stems to form colonies which, in time, may need to be reduced in size. Does well in average, dry soil in sun. A die-back in zone 5.

Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Sputnik’ New     As well as being an attractive ornamental shrub, Buttonbush is a great source of food for wildlife. This upright growing selection has glossy green foliage and curiously attractive teeny white flowers bunched tightly together in 1" diameter orbs which are prominently displayed at the end of 2-3" petioles. Spent blooms become hard balls that remain attractive all winter providing valuable food for birds. Summer blooms are eagerly sought after by bees and butterflies. Height ranges anywhere from 5-10',(usually toward the lower end), with a spread of 4-7'. Requires moisture and will actually grow in water. Full sun to part shade. Zone 5.

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) New     This is a small tree that I've always coveted in other peoples gardens, that is until last year when I finally planted a large specimen of my own. Everything about this large shrub or small tree is appealing, flowers, foliage and bark. In early April, ½" long, rosy pink flowers are held close to the stems on short petioles. At first glance the flowers appear to have burst right through the bark and nestled directly on the branches. Flowers bloom before the leaves unfurl and are effective for several weeks. Medium to large, heart-shaped, green leaves follow the flowers and often display excellent, yellow fall color. Bark is gray or gray-brown and on younger branches has a smooth, flesh-like texture. The gray color of the bark sets off the pink flowers nicely. Grow in sun to part shade and, though plants are adaptable to a range of soil types and pHs, strive to provide the best soil you can in terms of fertility and moisture. Water during periods of drought. 20-30' tall with a slightly wider spread. Zone 4. 

CHAENOMELES (Flowering Quince) 'Cameo'    Lovely, double peach-colored 2" flowers bloom in late April-early May, on practically thornless branches. Will attain 4' high and wide after several years. Zone 5. 

‘Kingishi’ New  Medium growing with large, single, orange flowers. Very showy. 3-4’ tall. Zone 5.

speciosa ‘Iwai Nishiki’ New    A new, low-spreading Japanese Quince, 3-4’ high, with a spectacular spring display of camellia-like flowers of the deepest red color. A low-spreading form with exotic appeal.

CHAMAEDAPHNE (Leatherleaf)  calyculata ‘Tiny Tom’    A small, under 2' tall, broadleaved, evergreen shrub with an open habit of thin, wiry branches. Leaves are dusty green, 1-2ins. long and half as wide. The small individual white flowers which appear in June are grouped together in 3 to 5" long terminal racemes. Requires moisture and is an ideal subject for a wet, boggy, even partially shaded area. Hardy to zone 3.

CHIONANTHUS virginicus (Fringe Tree)    Beautiful and fragrant pendulous white flower clusters in spring. One of the finest native shrubs/small trees available, with medium to dark green foliage and a spreading, slightly open habit, 12-20' high and wide. Zone 4.

CLEMATIS - see Vines for descriptions of both climbing and non-climbing types.

CLETHRA alnifolia (Summersweet)    Highly fragrant July blooming spikes, bright yellow fall color. One of the few summer-flowering shrubs that bloom in shade, 3-8' high and 4-6' wide. It has been our experience that all Summersweets bloom best in full sun or light shade and are very forgiving of soil types and moisture levels. Hardy to Zone 4. The following cultivars have proven to be the best performers to date:

CLETHRA alnifolia ‘Compacta’ New    A superior, low growing, white flowered Summmersweet, dense and compact, with smaller, lustrous, dark green leaves tightly packed on the 3' stems. Stems are noticeably more upright and not given to "opening-up" as are other low growing types. Earned the highest rating in Longwood Garden Trials. Zone 4.

CLETHRA alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'    Flowers are red in bud, opening to a deep pink.

barbinervis (Japanese Clethra)    A beautiful large shrub or small tree. Dark green leaves cluster at the ends of the branches in a whorled pattern, as do the lightly fragrant, 6" long, white flower panicles. Bloom lasts from mid July into August. An outstanding ornamental feature is its beautiful cinnamon brown, exfoliating bark. Plants will reach 15 to 20' in height and are hardy in zone 5.

COMPTONIA peregrina (Sweetfern)    2-4' high and wide with colonizing, mostly upright branches that form a fairly rounded mass. The deciduous leaves are long and narrow and wonderfully fragrant. Grows in full sun to light shade in the most infertile, driest locations, and also in more favorable spots. Has the ability to fix nitrogen. This shrub is a delight to bushwhack through in the wild, as one becomes completely enveloped in its pungent aroma. Especially good for difficult, more naturalistic areas. Hardy to Zone 2.

CORNUS alba 'Cream Cracker'    A new, variegated, shrub dogwood with lots of color as well as excellent resistance to leaf spot. Older leaves have cream colored variegation while the younger leaves have a golden yellow margin. Decorative purple-red stems in winter. 6ft. high and wide. Like most of the shrub dogwoods, 'Cream Cracker' can be cut back hard in early spring to promote fresh new growth. Zone 3.

Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’    One of the more compact shrub dogwoods, ‘Ivory Halo’ has beautiful cream-edged variegated foliage and showy, bright red twigs that really stand out in the winter landscape. Great for massing and pretty enough for specimen use. We use it to brighten one of our shady borders where it retains its crisp, bright variagation all season. 5-6’ tall by 6-8’ wide. Responds well to renewal pruning. Zone 3.

alternifolia ‘Golden Shadows’     A beautiful new Pagoda Dogwood with large, heart-shaped, bright yellow leaves that are imprented with an irregular green thumbprint in the center, and new growth is often further enhanced with hues of reddish-orange.  This stunning foliage rests on graceful, horizontal branches that form a pleasingly tiered, open, habit.  Small white flowers in broad, flat panicles bloom in June and are followed by dark berries that are eaten by birds. Mature plants are 10-12ft. tall.  Particularly effective at the edge of woods or as the focal point of a partially shaded garden. Grow in moist but well drained, acid soil in part shade. Zone 3.

controversa ‘Variegata’ New      This variegated form of the Giant Dogwood is a real stunner. For me, its most prominent feature is the beautiful symmetry of its wide-spreading, horizontal branches arrayed in elegant tiers one above the other. Foliage is long, narrow, green with an irregular creamy margin. Can grow to heights of 30-40'. Full sun and part shade with rich, evenly moist, well-drained, acid soil. An outstanding small tree, architecturally beautiful. Solidly hardy throughout zone 5 and into zone 4.

kousa ‘Everbloom’ New     This unique C. kousa displays the special ability to hold its bloom all summer long and into September. A chance seedling discovered at a Conn. nursery where it is enjoyed by the owner who says, "all summer long I drive in the driveway looking at Cornus kousa in full bloom". Fast growing, in a relatively short time reaching a height and width of 20' with a wide, rounded habit with branches becoming attractively horizontal with maturity. Fruit is a 1" round, red drupe, copiously produced and gracefully suspended at the ends of 2" long petioles; very showy and a food source for wildlife. Fruits from August into October. Older stems develop attractive exfoliating bark that sloughs away revealing beige, gray and cream patches. Resistent to many of the diseases that plague Cornus florida. Grow in full sun to light in average or better, acid soil. Zone 5.

mas ‘Golden Glory’ New      A sturdy mulit-stemmed large shrub or small tree with many attributes to its credit. Yellow, ¾" wide flowers are borne on last year's wood beginning in May, before the leaves, and continue for 3 weeks or more.  Flowers are followed in July by bright red, ½" or larger drupes which add a delightful element of whimsy as they poke through the glossy green leaves.  Attractive exfoliating bark adds interest, especially in winter, as it peels away revealing swaths of inner bark in shades of brown and gray. Easy and trouble free, preferring decent, well-drained soil in sun to part shade. Can be made into an attractive tree form if the lower branches are pruned away accentuating a length of trunk. Zone 4.

sericea (stolonifera) ‘Artic Fire’   A compact shrub dogwood with dark red winter twigs and a smaller, ( 3-4 ft. tall ), nonsuckering habit. A handsome shrub year-round, but especially effective in the winter landscape against a snowy background. Prefers moist soil but plants are very adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Its extensive fibrous root system and ease of culture make it a good choice where erosion control is needed. Zone 3.

‘Hedgerows Gold’     An outstanding selection with bright golden-yellow variegated foliage which has an irregular gold margin surrounding an emerald green center. In spring, the young foliage contrasts nicely with the deep red stems. May grow to 7-9ft. but should be cut back regularly to ensure a steady supply of new, bright red stems. Tolerates poor soil. Zone 3.

Cornus x ‘Aurora’ New     A product of the Rutgers University breeding program, 'Aurora' is a cross between Cornus florida and Cornus kousa that combines the best of both parents in a single plant. Plants show much improved resistance to borers and dogwood anthracnose while exhibiting a flowering period that falls between the bloom period of the two parents, starting in mid May. Bloom is nothing short of magnificent, with large, greenish-white bracts that open far larger than either parent and transition to a creamy white. Flower production is so heavy that the foliage is almost completely obscured and the canopy takes on a cloud-like appearance.  20' tall at maturity with an equal spread. Habit is dense, erect and tidy. 

CORYLUS avellana 'Contorta' (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick)    A fascinating tangle of twisted, coiled and swirled branches 8-10ft. tall. Always a curiosity, but especially effective in winter when twigs are clearly discernable. Plant in full sun to light shade in all but the worst soils. Important to remove suckers as they develop. Zone 4.

COTINUS coggygria ‘Royal Purple    Prized for its showy 6-8in. plumes that change from grayish to pink from June into August and for its maroon to purplish red foliage that retains its color through the season. I had under appreciated this plant until seeing a beautifully positioned, (and properly pruned), specimen in a Conway MA. garden and being reminded of what an impressive shrub it can be. Tolerates heavy pruning which should be administered as needed to keep plants from becoming too large and rangy and to promote fresh new growth which always shows the best, deepest color. Easy and adaptable, tolerant of poor, dry, rocky soil. Full sun. Zone 4.

coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’    This is the golden leafed form of the Purple Smoke Bush which carries beautiful golden leaves all season long. I prefer to forgo any blooms and, instead, grow it for its foliage alone. This is accomplished by delivering a hard pruning in spring, taking stems back to within a foot or two of the ground. After such treatment, our plant quickly regrows into a stunning specimen, 4-5’ tall. The golden is retained all season and combines beautifully with other shrubs as well as with larger perennials. Very undemanding, asking only for average, even poor soil that’s well drained and a position in full sun. Zone 5.

coggygria ‘Young Lady’    This Smokebush begins blooming at a very young age with profuse amounts of flowers from June-August. Flowers resemble big, billowy puffs of smoke. Displays excellent red fall color. Grows 10’ tall and does best in sun, in well-drained soil. Zone 4.

COTONEASTER horizontalis 'Perpusillus'     A spreading habit, 1ft. high by 5-7ft. wide. Plants flow outward through a series of tiered, horizontal branches clothed in tiny, lustrous, ½in. dark green leaves. Leaves are tightly packed, forming a solid mat. Flowers appear in late May into June, ¼in. wide, light pink. Though small, they are profuse and create a nice show. The same can be said of the fruit which are ¼in. bright red pomes, smallish but profuse enough to make a pleasing display. Excellent in rock gardens, for hanging over walls or trained to splay up and across a wall, or, as a specimen anywhere a broad swath of uninterrupted foliage is wanted. Best in full sun in good to average, fertile soil, and while they appreciate moisture, they need to be well drained. Zone 5.

CYTISUS (Scotchbroom)    5-6ft. tall, green stems, sparsely dotted with modest protrusions passing for leaves. As plants mature, stems open out and arch over. Flowering occurs in May with a fantastic eruption of color unrivalled by many other shrubs. Should be pruned after flowering, limiting cuts to newer, outer growth, avoiding any trespass into older, larger stems. Another pruning method embraced by seasoned, no-nonsense gardeners is to hack plants half way back and have done with it. Both methods work. Any expectations of having a show quality specimen through the entire season should be lowered. After flowering and pruning, most of us end up with a subject of mere passing interest which is best concealed with more attractive plants. Nevertheless, definitely worth growing for the terrific spring show, and for their tolerance of sandy, infertile, soil. Full sun. Zone 5.

 scoparius ‘Madame Butterfly’    Bi-colored, yellow flowers with orange centers.

Daphne x transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’     Leaves are larger than those of D. ‘Carol Mackie , blue-green, with a clear white margin. Begins flowering in mid to late spring with spicy-sweet flowers that are pink in bud then open white. Blooms heaviest in spring and continues to produce flushes of bloom throughout summer. Grows in sun to light shade in average to rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Zone 5.

DAPHNE x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'    One of the finest compact shrubs, with fragrant pink June blooms. Grows into a perfect, dense 3-4' mound of blue-green fine-textured foliage edged with a creamy white band. Zone 5.

DEUTZIA Chardonnay Pearls™ New     Valued especially for its bright yellow foliage that holds up without burning even in the sunniest part of the garden. Adding to the appeal are the fragrant, pure-white, pearl-like flowers that bloom for several weeks in May. Grows 3-4ft. tall with a slightly wider spread. Zone 5.

Diervilla lonicera ‘Copper’    A very tough and adaptable shrub that does not sacrifice landscape appeal for durability. Grows 2-3’ high with a wider spread displaying glossy, mid-green foliage with new shoots emerging an attractive copper color throughout the season. Flowers are modest yet ornamental, smallish yellow clusters at the ends of the branches from late spring into summer. Tolerates dry sandy soil and, while full sun is best, light shade is O.K. Its thick colonizing habit and tough constitution make it one of the best choices for covering those hard to plant areas such as bank, stream-sides, and other difficult areas that are just beyond the reach of the water hose. While it is certainly rugged and adaptable it’s also refined enough for use in gardens and in shrub borders where its nicely textured foliage provides low maintenance, season long appeal.  Deciduous. Zone 4.