PRUNUS ‘Hally Jolivette’

KALMIA (Laurel)

angustifolia 'Hammonasset' (Sheep Laurel)    A smaller laurel species, only 3ft. high, compact growing, spreading by stolens to form colonies. Blooms June-July with ½ in., dark pink flowers gathered into 2in. wide clusters. Flowers of ‘Hammonasset’ are darker pink than those of the species. Widely distributed throughout Eastern North America from Canada to Georgia. Happy in both wet and dry places. Especially suited to naturalistic or wild gardens, yet attractive enough for more formal settings. Zone 2.

latifolia hybrids     Native broadleaved evergreen shrubs abundant throughout central New England  Traditionally, Kalmia culture has been equated with that of Rhododendrons which calls for moist, well-drained, acidic, peat-amended soil. However this may be somewhat of an oversimplification since what Kalmia seem to need above all is excellent drainage. Peaty acidic soil is important, but good drainage is essential and plants are often observed doing very well in quite poor, surprisingly dry, well drained soil. Zone 4.

‘Bridesmaid’ New     A beautiful new selection with deep pink buds that open with a dark pink outer corolla offset by a near white throat. Shiny green, disease resistant foliage on plants with a dense, spreading form, 8-10ft. tall and wide. Zone 5.

‘Elf’ New     Low and slow growing, but with standard size flowers that are light pink in bud, opening to almost pure white. 5' tall and wide. Grow in acidic, organic soil that is well drained. Winner of the 2003 Cary Award. Zone 5.

‘Little Linda’New    A dwarf Kalmia with foliage half the size of standard plants, considered the best of the small leaved Mt. Laurals. Very compact and slow growing with dark red buds that open into near white flowers in late May and then age to a perfect pink, 5-6ft. tall with an equal spread.

‘Pink Charm’ New    Pink buds open to reveal strong pink colored flowers in late May early June. 8-10' tall and wide. All Kalmias require acidic, organic soil that is, above all, will drained. Zone 5.

‘Sarah’     Showy, deep red flower buds open to deep, pinkish-red flowers that are some of the showiest to be found among the Mt. Laurels. Lustrous, deep green foliage and a dense, rounded habit, 8ft. tall by 6ft. wide. Zone 5.

‘Tinkerbell’    Upright growing branches spread as they age to produce a dense, rounded form of delicate, fine textured foliage. Deep pink flower buds open pure white in June. Low growing, reaching 4-5ft. tall and wide. Zone 5.

Kolkwitzia amabilis Dream Catcher™     Masses of light pink flowers cover this plant in spring, followed by spectacular golden/yellow foliage that turns a splendid golden/orange in fall. Grows 6-9ft. tall and, unlike K. ‘Pink Cloud’, does best in high, light shade. Zone 4.

Larix decidua ‘Pendula’ - prostrate form     Shows no inclination to grow upright, instead grows flat on the ground with an irregular, always appealing, “designer” outline. The needle-like foliage emerges light, vibrant green in spring, darkens in summer and, in fall, turns brilliant gold before falling to the ground. Zone 3a. 

Larix kaempferi ‘Diana’ New     A beautiful small tree with twisted, contorted branches imparting year round interest. Even the needles are twisting! Growth rate is moderate at a rate of 12ins. per year, eventually forming a broad upright silhouette 20ft. tall by 15ft. wide. This is a deciduous conifer whose needles turn a beautiful golden/orange in the autumn before falling. Prefers moist, acid conditions in full sun. Zone 4.

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. 

LESPEDEZA bicolor ‘Yakushima’     A dwarf mounding habit with violet purple flowers that cover the plant from mid to late August into Sept. The fine textured, airy foliage is attractive even when plants are not in bloom. Grow in ordinary, well-drained soil, in full sun, tolerant of poor dry soil. 12-18 ins. tall.

thunbergii ‘Edo Shibori’    Like all Lespedeza, 'Edo Shibori' is a die-back shrub. In spring it quickly regrows into a lovely cascading fountain that in mid to late August and into September becomes laden with an uncountable number of two-toned, purple and white flowers. A valuable late season bloomer that thrives in hot full sun, in well drained, even poor, soil.

thunbergii ‘Gibraltar’     A glowing deep lavender selection to 5', stunning color, zone 5. Usually killed back to the ground in winter in zone 5, but regrows with great vigor into a graceful, fountain-shaped shrub. Blooms profusely in late summer at a time when color in the border is much appreciated. Grow in full sun, in ordinary, well drained soil.

LEUCOTHOE fontanesiana ‘Nana’      Glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves carried on reaching, gracefully arching stems. As they mature, leaves develop a bronze, sometimes almost bright red, color which greatly contributes to the appeal of this plant. Habit is restrained at 2’ high by 5-6’ wide, with a full, graceful silhouette. Always performs best in moist, well-drained, rich, acidic situations and will languish in dry sun. Handsome enough for specimen use and an excellent choice of ground cover for shady areas where a more substantial cover is desired. Zone 4.

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ New     A small tree or large shrub reaching 20-30’ in height with an equal or slightly greater width. Foliage emerges bronze-green, changes to dark green and finally to yellow-bronze in fall. In late April, 6” wide, multi-petaled, fragrant flowers begin opening. The large strap-like petals are white on the inside and fuchsia-pink on the back. A consistent performer all along the East Coast from Maine to Georgia. Though many new hybrids have appeared on the scene, ‘Leonard Messel’ remains one of the best selections for its beautiful flowers and foliage, its freedom from diseases and pests and its overall proven high performance.

METASEQUOIA glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood)    Thought to be extinct until 1941 when a few trees were found in central China. Subsequently seed was distributed by the Arnold Arboretum with the result that trees are now widely grown in North America and Europe. These are vigorous, fast growing trees adding 3-4ft. in height per year, reaching 50ft. in 20 years with potential for an eventual height of 70-100ft. The plant profile is a neat, uniform, broad cone and the foliage is deciduous, needle-like, bright green in summer turning lovely golden/amber in autumn before falling. Plant in moist, acid soil and allow lots of elbow room. Zone 4.

Metyasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’   ‘Gold Rush’ starts out the season with brilliant yellow needles that slowly turn a golden yellow that holds without burning even in the hottest summer weather, and, foliage color intensifies in autumn. Grows best in rich, well-drained, organic soil that does not undergo droughty periods. This is a large, fast growing tree that can eventually reach 75-100’ in height. Zone 6. 

Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’(Black Tupelo)   Though not yet a household word, the Black Tupelo is one of our most beautiful native trees with an impressive structure and exceptionally beautiful fall color. Mature size is 30-50’ by 20-30’ wide, heavily branched with many spreading, horizontal branches as well as some that are pendulous. Bark is colored an attractive dark gray to almost black, crosshatched into short segments, hide-like. Overall silhouette is an irregularly rounded oval. Leaves are smooth-edged, broad-oval, 6” long by 2-3” wide, lustrous green in summer turning to exceptionally beautiful shades of yellow, orange, scarlet and purple in fall. Prefers deep, moist but well-drained, acidic soil. A native tree whose numerous outstanding features place it in the top tier of landscape trees. Zone 4.

Oxydendron arboreum (Sourwood) New    A small tree that pretty much has it all, beautiful foliage and flowers, a neat pyramidal habit plus an adaptable, accommodating set of cultural requirements. Grows 25-30' tall with a pyramidal, rounded outline and branches that droop gracefully. Leaves are long and narrow, shinny dark green in summer, turning brilliant yellow, red and purple in fall. Flowers are small, white and fragrant, clustered in large, drooping panicles 6-10"long and wide that nearly obliterate the foliage for 3-4 weeks starting in June. Ideal locations would be those with rich, organic, acidic and moist but well-drained soil, in sun. Will do ok in less than ideal conditions such as part shade with less moisture. Zone 5 and probably 4.

Parrotia persica      A large shrub or small tree, 20-40ft. high, either single or multi-stemmed, still new to many gardeners but well worth getting to know. Usually develops an oval silhouette of upright ascending branches clothed in Fothergilla-like leaves, 5ins. long by 2½ins. wide, purplish when young, changing to lustrous green in summer and finally to brilliant yellow, orange and scarlet in the fall. Another interesting feature is the attractive exfoliating bark which on older growth reveals patches of colors in a montage of white, gray and several shades of brown. Still better, it appears to tolerate the stresses of drought, heat and cold, and, just to guild the lily, it has the added feature of being pest and disease free! Prefers rich, well-drained, slightly acid soil and full sun to light shade. Zone 5, possibly colder.

Paxistima canbyi (Rat Stripper)   A woody, slowly-spreading shrubby groundcover, 8-10ins. tall. Small, glossy, finely toothed evergreen leaves. Flowers are greenish white and insignificant. Does best in evenly moist, well drained soil and tolerates dry, part shade, low fertility and high pH. We have a large specimen in our border that looks sensational year after year with absolutely no attention. Zone 3.

Physocarpus opulifolius Summer Wine®    An exciting new and improved Ninebark with neat compact branching and fine deeply cut, dark crimson-red leaves. Flowers are pinkish-white, button-like in summer. Unlike many of the larger selections that can quickly outgrow their allotted space, 'Summer Wine' has a smaller, more landscape friendly size of 5-6ft. high. Practically indestructable, tolerant of poor, dry soil, full sun. So easy to grow with lots of bang for the buck! Zone 3.

Potentilla fruiticosa ‘Coronation Triumph’ New      This cultivar stands out in the crowded field of Potentellas available to gardeners. Grows 3-4' tall with a dense mounding habit and fine textured, lighter green foliage. One of the first Potentillas to flower and one of the heaviest bloomers producing an uninterrupted show of quarter sized, bright yellow flowers from June till frost.  Though tolerant of poor, dry soil, plants perform their best in rich, moist but well-drained conditions in full sun. If they eventually become leggy, a hard cutting-back in early spring will result in dense new growth. Zone 3.

Potentilla fruiticosa Mango Tango ™ New      Orange and red bi-colored flowers are continually produced on these dense, compact plants starting in June and continuing non-stop till frost. Flower color is best during the cool periods of spring and autumn and will fade to yellow in the heat of summer. 2' tall. At its best in rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, also tolerant of poor, dryer sites. Zone 3.

PRUNUS 'Hally Jolivette'    A beautiful ornamental cherry created through a complicated cross made at the Arnold Arboretum. Can grow to 15', assuming a rounded silhouette, densely branched with fine textured stems. Flowering begins in late April and continues for many weeks, as all the flowers do not open at once. The 1¼", double flowers are pink in bud, opening to pinkish-white, and are dispersed throughout the branches in a way that suggests they were sprinkled down, confetti-like, from above. Easy to grow in full sun, in reasonably good soil with adequate moisture. Zone 5.

RHAMNUS frangula ‘Fine Line’    A combination of delicately cut foliage and superb columnar form creates a plant that works well everywhere in the garden. Its deep green, fern-like foliage makes a nice backdrop for any perennial bed and its unique form makes it ideal as a small space hedge, accent, or container plant in sun to part shade. Extremely hardy and non-invasive. Zone 2.

Rhododendron ‘April Mist’ New     A small leaved Rhodi with a dense, compact habit that it retains after it reaches maturity, never becoming enormous, making it perfect for smaller landscape spots. Starting in late April, plants put on a spectacular show of double, soft, apricot-pink blooms edged with a pronounced deeper pink and grouped to form colorful full trusses. Grows 3-4' tall and wide and is best planted in shade and part shade and even in sun with adequate moisture. Very hardy. Zone 4.

‘Bixby’(Azalea) New      A small, landscape friendly Azalea with a low, spreading habit 2' tall by 4' wide and a profuse, plant-covering show of deep red flowers in mid May. The semi-evergreen foliage is small, rounded, dark green in summer, turning burgundy/red in fall before being shed with the onset of cold winter temperatures. A very showy selection, attractive even when not in bloom for it low, spreading habit and dense deep green foliage, but especially showy when covered with deep red flowers in spring. Perfect for adding excitement to the smaller landscape, in shrub and mixed perennial borders and in foundation plantings. Prefers a site with all-day filtered light or morning sun and afternoon shade. 'Bixby' has been selected as a "Poven Performer" by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Zone 5.

‘April White’     A special Rhododendron that creates an amazing display of large, 2in. wide, fully double, white flowers in early spring usually around the last week of April, slightly fragrant. This is a complicated hybd. with Rh. PJM in its parentage,- so you know it’s resilient! Foliage is attractively small and glossy; semi-evergreen with about half the leaves retained over winter. Habit is dense, upright with 10 year old plants reaching 3ft. in height and mature plants adding a couple more feet. Zone 5.

‘Blue Baron’     Striking blue flowers adorn this selection in early May nearly obscuring its small, elongated, shiny evergreen leaves. Its compact, mounded landscape form is easy to work with and looks good year round, even in winter as its foliage takes on a decidedly reddish-bronze hue.  Grows 2ft. high in 10yrs, adding one to two ft. at maturity for an overall size of 3-4ft. tall by 3-4ft. wide. Protect from winter wind. Zone 6.

‘Bubblegum’ New    This is a small leaf, evergreen Rhododendron, an offspring of the sensational ‘Weston’s Aglo’ which is a ‘PJM’ type. ‘Bubblegum’ features small, shiny, deeper green leaves that are nicely set off by the deep red stems. In late April, clouds of deeper pink flowers blanket the plants. Even better, its tight, dense form, which after 10yrs. will be 3ft tall by 3ft. wide, makes 'Bubblegum' exceptional both for foundation plantings and specimen use. Grow in sun to part shade in rich, moist, well drained soil. Zone 5. ‘Bubblegum is a Pink Ribbon Plant™. A portion of its sale is donated to breast cancer research.

canadensis (Rhodora)    This small, deciduous, native rhododendron which almost never exceeds 2', prefers acid boggy places and blooms in April with white flowers, before the leaves. Not commonly seen in gardens but fortunately widely distributed throughout New England. Will not survive in hot dry locations. Zone 2.

canadensis var. album (Rhodora)      This small, deciduous, native rhododendron which almost never exceeds 2', prefers acid boggy places and blooms in April with white flowers, before the leaves. Not commonly seen in gardens but fortunately widely distributed throughout New England. Will not survive in hot dry locations. Zone 2.

‘Girard’s Hot Shot’ (Azalea) New      Dense and compact growing, 4-5' tall after 10 yrs and up to 8' at maturity without pruning. Large vibrant orange flowers open in early June in clusters at the ends of the branches over small to medium sized green leaves that are evergreen or more usually semi-evergreen. Foliage turns an attractive orange/red in fall. Site in full sun with even moisture or in part shade. Neat and compact, 'Girard's Hot Shot' is well suited to smaller spaces and to the front of shrub borders, in mixed perennial borders and in foundation plantings. Zone 5.

‘Joseph Hill’ (Azalea) New      Very low growing and wide spreading, achieving a height of only 1', never more than 2', with a spread of 4'. A later blooming selection with bright red flower clusters opening from late spring into mid-summer. Foliage is mostly deciduous in zone 5, but evergreen further south. 'Joseph Hill' is an excellent choice for the partially shaded rock garden and its low growing, wide spreading habit make it highly effective as a groundcover in partially shaded, acidic locations. This is one of many 'North Tisbury' hybds. developed by Polly Hill on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

‘Karen’ (Azalea) New       A dense, compact, lower growing cultivar 4x4' after 10 yrs., larger at maturity. Flowers heavily in May with bright, lavender/purple, hose-in-hose flowers. 'Karen' is an especially reliable selection and a good choice for colder areas, most often listed as hardy through zone 5, but some sources list it as reliable into zone 4. Foliage will be either deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen depending on the zone in which it is planted. Partial shade is best with organic, acidic soil.

‘Lemon Dream’ New       In early May soft lemon-yellow flowers cover this compact, tidy selection.  Flowers are broadly funnel-shaped, 2½ins. across, sometimes double, wavy edged in domed trusses of up to a dozen flowers. The attractive small, evergreen leaves are 2½ins. long. dark green, new growth is powdery on top with an orange indumentum on the bottom that looks great and may even repel certain chewing insects. This is a low, spreading, landscape friendly Rhody, slow growing, 2-3ft. tall by 3-4ft. wide whose attractive, evergreen, fine textured foliage offers landscape appeal even out of bloom.  Grow in morning sun, afternoon shade in moist but well drained soil. Zone 5.

‘Lollipop’ (Azalea) New        A Rh. viscosum hybrid with a profusion of clear pink, vanilla scented flowers in rounded clusters in July.  As a hybrid of a native azalea, 'Lollipop' is adaptable to a wide range of conditions especially wooded areas where its early summer bloom is so effective. An added treat is the deep green foliage that turns orange in fall. Habit is broad, 5-7' tall with an equal spread. Zone 4.

‘Martha Hitchcock’ (Azalea) New      An early introduction, this vintage evergreen Azalea has proven its worth over the years and doesn't take a back seat to any of the newer cultivars. To begin with, it offers huge, gorgeous blush lavender flowers with white centers, actually twice the size of most evergreen azaleas. The other nice feature of this cultivar is that it's a late bloomer, waiting to open until late May thereby extending the Azalea blooming season beyond the more usual early spring period. Grows 4-5' tall and wide and prefers part shade in a location out of winter winds. Zone 5.

‘Midnight Ruby’ New          Possibly the best of the PJM type Rhododendrons, from Weston Nurseries. Small size, attractive foliage and heavy bloom, as well as solid hardiness all consort to make this cultivar an exceptionally useful landscape plant. In early May, reddish-purple flowers with wavy edges and yellow eyes cover the plants for several weeks. Foliage is small, coppery-green in season, in winter darkening to an intensity of burgundy that appears almost black. Package this profuse bloom and stunning foliage on a compact, dense-growing shrub 3' high and wide, and you've got an outstanding shrub suitable for any site where long-term, low-maintenance qualities are desired; foundation plantings, massing for a taller ground-covers, accent/specimenn use, and even incorporating in the mixed perennial and shrub borders. All-day filtered light or morning sun and afternoon shade.  Zone 4. 

‘Millennium’ (Azalea) New          An early-summer flowering deciduous Rhododendron (Azalea) with a superior performance record. Fragrant, deep rose/red flower trusses open from early to mid summer over attractive floiage that is dark bluish-green on top with silver undersides.  Plant in full sun with even moisture or in part shade where less moisture is required. Flowers hold up well in high temperatures. Habit is upright reaching 4-6' in 10 yrs. with an ultimate height of 10'.

mucronulatum ‘Bright Pink’ (Azalea) New       A most welcome sight in the early spring garden with its abundance of large, bright pink flower trusses that appear well before the leaves, usually in mid April. Flowers are a brighter pink than those of 'Cornell Pink' and plants have a more relaxed, less stiff habit. Because flowers open so early, they can sometimes be damaged by late frosts so it's important to aim for a site out of direct sun such as the north or east side of a building or under the protective bowers of larger trees and shrub. I've put ours on the east side of a picket fence and this seems to provide just enough protection. The risk of some occasional frost-nipping shouldn't keep anyone from planting this enchanting herald of spring. We start watching our plant in March, eager for the first sign of swelling buds after the long winter. Habit is broad, upright, 4-8' tall with a tidy appearance. Zone 4.

‘Peach Blend’New

poukanensis ‘Pink Discovery’ (Azalea) New        One of the hardiest pink flowering evergreen Azaleas, developed at Weston Nurseries in Massachusetts. Besides its outstanding hardiness, 'Pink Discovery' blooms so heavily that the foliage is completely obscured by the vivid pink blooms. Bloom time is early May. Plant on the east side of a house for best performance with partial to full shade and wind protection, although this is such a tough plant that it will tolerate other locations quite well, also. Zone 5.

prinophyllum 'Marie Hoffman' (Azalea)    A terrific selection of our native Roseshell Azalea with clear, true pink flowers that are two to three times larger than those of the species, and highly clove-scented. Bright green foliage in summer may turn bronze in fall. Can grow to 8' by 8' and rest assured that every additional inch of growth is a bonus, since, as regards this shrub, the bigger the better. A first rate shrub—a great favorite here at the nursery. Zone 4.

‘Towhead’ New    A dense, low growing beauty highlighted in late April by a profuse display of soft yellow flowers. Its small-leafed, evergreen foliage and low, dwarf habit suit it perfectly for foundation plantings and mixed perennial and shrub borders Grows 1-3ft. high by 3-4ft. wide.

‘Viscosepalum’ (Azalea) New        This deciduous Azalea has exceptionally fragrant and long lasting cream colored flowers, with a yellow blotch. Blooms in May. Plants grows to 5' high in 10 yrs and eventually to 8-10' without pruning. One of the earlier hybd. introductions but still one of the best. Zone 4.

yakusimanum ‘Anna Hall’    A Rh. yakusimanum hybd.that’s not just hardy,(in fact it’s the hardiest of the yak rhododendrons), but beautiful as well. Dense, broad mounds of deep green, lightly indumented, evergreen foliage creates the perfect background for the large expanding buds that show light pink before bursting into huge white flower trusses that obliterate the foliage. Slow growing with a dense, neat habit, reaching a height of 3ft. after 10yrs. with a mature height of 5-8ft. after many years,( a plant in our border is 1½ft. tall after 8yrs.). Tolerates more sun and drier conditions than many other rhododendrons.  It’s small size and adaptability to a range of growing conditions makes this selection an excellent choice for foundation plantings, and specimen use. Looks especially nice in the lightly shaded perennial or woodland garden.  Zone 5(4).

Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)    Every season we get lots of requests for plants that are good at stabilizing banks. There are many, but one of the very best is the Fragrant Sumac,- which bears no resemblance to and would never be mistaken for the Staghorn Sumac. It's low growing and spreading with a huge fibrous root system that sets anchor wherever a low slung branch touches the soil. The medium size leaves are compound with only three leaflets as opposed to the large, compound, wand-like leaves of the Staghorn Sumac. They are attractively glossy green in summer turning a beautiful orange-red in fall before dropping. Height is a mere 2ft. while spread extends to 6-8ft. Pest and disease free, tolerant of poor soil and hardy to zone 3.

RUBUS pentalobus 'Emerald Carpet'     A spreading, prostrate shrub with lustrous, dark green, wrinkled leaves that turn burgundy in fall. A relatively new plant on the scene with definite groundcover potential. Full sun. Hardiness uncertain.