Shade Trees Ornamental Trees and Conifers

Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann’s Fir) – A great alternative large evergreen, this plant grows to 60’ with lustrous dark green foliage.  Grows best in full sun in well-drained soils.  

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’ (Red Cutleaf Japanese Maple) – Lacy red foliage appears on the cascading branches in early spring, changing to bronze burgundy in the summer and orange-red in the fall.  Slowly grows to 15’ tall and best grown in light shade, but will tolerate full sun if the soil is amended with organic matter and does not dry out frequently.

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Viridis’ (Cutleaf Japanese Maple) – Bright green lacy foliage in spring with small but showy red samaras (seeds) in summer, followed by beautiful orange and yellow fall color.  Weeping and mounded habit provides year-round interest.

Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye) – Native to Alabama, but perfectly hardy in NJ, this small tree to large shrub grows to 20’ in height, with dark red flowers in May.  Very happy growing in shaded areas; it will also tolerate full sun.  Well drained to moist soils.

Amelanchir laevis (Serviceberry) – Native!  A native small tree growing to 40’ tall, it produces copious amounts of small white flowers in May, followed by 3/8” small purple fruit that is edible and very sweet.  The fall color is an outstanding red.  Featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Asimina triloba (Pawpaw) – Native!  A great native plant that has large, slightly drooping and very tropical appearing foliage.  Produces small red flowers in late April and large edible fruits in late August into October that is highly nutritious and taste like a Mango with custard-like texture.  Full sun, light shade, moist soils.  The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly's larvae feed exclusively on young, PawPaw foliage, but never in great numbers. Pawpaw fruit ripens during a four-week period between mid August and into October, depending on various factors. When ripe, it is soft and yields easily to a gentle squeeze, and has a pronounced perfumed fragrance.  This year we are offering a number of improved selections.  In order to get improved fruiting, it is important to have at least two different selections.  Some of the selections include:

• North Carolina 1
• Rebecca’s Gold
• Sunflower
• Taylor
• Wilson
• Featured along the Freedom Trail and in the Community Vegetable Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Betula nigra ‘Shiloh Splash’ (Variegated River Birch) – Rare! Foliage has wide ivory-white margins that surround the deep green centers.  Bark is a lovely fawn colored and true to type is exfoliating.  Grows to 20’.

Betula nigra ‘Summer Cascade’ (Weeping River Birch) – Rare!  Only growing to 20’ tall, this is an exciting new weeping form of River Birch.   It has the wonderful exfoliating bark, adaptability of soils and disease resistance typical of River Birch

Cercis canadensis (Red Bud) – Native!  Edible lavender flowers appear along the stems in early to mid May.  Native to the East Coast, Cercis is a small tree, growing to 20’ high and wide.  Prefers full sun and well-drained soils.

Cercis canadensis ‘Cascading Hearts’ (Redbud) – Large heart shaped leaves adorn this very cool new weeping introduction.  Growing to 8’ tall, this plant produces long hanging branches that look great hanging over a wall, or even trained as an espalier. 

Cercis canadensis ‘Hearts of Gold’ (Redbud) – The lavender flowers are not the real show; it is the new foliage, which flushes an attractive chartreuse color.  As the foliage ages, it turns to green.  A great plant for illuminating a shady spot in the garden! Featured in the Cercis collection at the Log Cabin and as a cut-back in the Chroma beds at Rutgers Gardens.

Cercis canadensis ‘Floating Cloud’ (Redbud) – Rare!  Another great Redbud for shade!  The foliage is very attractively mottled with green and white.  Still producing pink flowers in spring, it is another great plant for the shade.

Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (Red Bud) – A unique form of Redbud, with deep red foliage in late spring and summer and pink flowers in spring.  Forest Pansy is appropriate as a backdrop for the mixed border or wherever a deep purple accent is needed.

Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ (Chinese Redbud) – Very similar flowers to our native, but the plant is a multistemmed shrub, not a tree.  Growing to 10’ Avondale is heavily covered with rose-purple flowers in May.

Cladrastis kentuckea (American Yellowwood) – Native!  A mid sized tree growing to 30-50’ tall and wide, it produces long (8-14”) fragrant white panicles of flowers in late May into June.  It resembles are Wisteria tree!  Fall color is butter yellow.  Full sun to part shade, in soils rich in organic matter and well drained.  Featured in the shade tree collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Cornus alternifolia Golden Shadows™ (Pagoda Dogwood) – Rare! Large green leaves with wide, vivid yellow and chartreuse margins!    It can be grown as a small tree or large shrub and with unusual horizontal branching patterns and white flowers in spring it is an ideal candidate for highlighting a shady part of the garden.

Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’ (Flowering Dogwood) – Native!  Resistant to Dogwood Anthracnose, this is a fine selection of our Native American dogwood.  Growing to 30’, it produces great white flowers in spring and stunning red fall color.

Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave’ (Flowering Dogwood) – Producing true Ruby Red flowers and reddish new growth make this form a standout.  Good resistance to mildew.

Cornus florida ‘Sunset Aurea’ – A very hard to find selection with bright yellow leaves in summer and striking orange-red fall color and pink flowers!  Grows to 15’ tall and performs best in light shade.

Cornus kousa ‘Big Apple’ (Chinese Dogwood) – A vigorous and large growing form, with flowers up to 5 ½ inches across, and fruit to 1 ½ inches in diameter!  A Poly Hill introduction.

Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’ (Chinese Dogwood) – A very vigorous growing form, it features dark blue-green foliage, turning to various shades of red in the fall.  The flower and fruit production is typical of the species.

Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’ (Chinese Dogwood) – Having the traditional vase shape form and white flowers of the Chinese Dogwood, this form has a large yellow splash in the middle of the leaves. 

Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’ (Chinese Dogwood) – Dark pink flowers, with reddish new growth and excellent red fall color make this interesting form a distinctive addition to your garden.

Cornus kousa ‘Sunsplash’ (Variegated Chinese Dogwood) – Leaves are green in the center and surrounded by bright yellow margins.  In autumn, the foliage turns to a combination of yellows, oranges and reds.  A stunning plant for foliage, it also has white flowers in June and reaches a mature height of 10’

Cornus kousa var. angustata (Evergreen Chinese Dogwood) – Rare!  A recent introduction from China by T. R. Dudley of the National Arboretum – an Evergreen Dogwood!  Leaves often assume a purple red coloration in winter.  Best in light shade and protected from the late afternoon winter sun.  Zone 6. 

Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ (Variegated Chinese Dogwood) – White variegated foliage on a more shrub-like form of the Chinese dogwood; only grows to 10-12’ in height.  Ideal for the shade, but it will also perform well in sunny locations.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Memorial Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Cornus x Celestial Shadow – Very rare!  A mutation of Cornus Celestial™ that exhibits beautiful yellow and green variegation on the foliage.  The fall color is a spectacular combination of Orange and red.  Flowers are large and white.

Cornus x Saturn (Saturn Hybrid Dogwood) – A cross completed by Elwin Orton of Rutgers University, between the Chinese Dogwood (Cornus kousa) and our native Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida).  Very vigorous and disease resistant, the large overlapping petals produce a beautiful effect in mid-May.  The habit is an attractive vase shape.

Cornus x ‘Venus’ (Venus Hybrid Dogwood) – Would you like a dogwood that has flowers that are up to 8” in diameter?  Yet, this is another winner of a plant from Rutgers and Dr. Elwin Orton.  Venus is a very vigorous plant which, unlike many of his cultivars, blooms at a younger age.

Cotinus x ‘Grace’ – A cross or Cotinus obovatus and C. coggygria, this selection sports great dark purple foliage with pink flowers.  The fall color is a very attractive reddish purple.  A knockout!  Mature height of 20’+.

Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland Cypress) – If you are looking for a quick growing narrow evergreen for screening, this is the plant.  Growing rapidly to 60 feet (about 25 years), the plant does best in moist but well drained soils in full sun.

Cupressocyparis x ‘Silver Dust’ (Leyland Cypress Gold Rider) – Showy splashes of creamy variegation on the leaves with the best coloration in full sun.  Ideal for screening, it is a fast grower with a mature height 30’.

Franklinia alatamaha (Benjamin Franklin Tree) – Was native!  A tree of great heritage!  Named after one of the founding fathers, this tree was originally found growing in Georgia in the late 1700’s.  It has since become extinct in the wild, but due to the foresight of John Bertram, the gentleman that found and collected the plant, we now have the plant to sell!  Beautiful white flowers appear in July and August, which is followed by great red fall color.  Good in the full sun or part shade, it grows best in soil that is rich in organic matter, but is well drained.  One of the original plants in the Shrub Garden at Rutgers Gardens; this plant was installed in 1939!

Halesia diptera ‘Magniflora’ (Carolina Silverbell) – Native!  A native understory tree, growing to 30’ tall.  Pendulous white, bell-shaped flowers appear in mid spring.   This selection has larger flowers than the species, growing to over 1” in length.  Although native to shady sites, it grows very well in full sun.  Well-drained soils.  The closely related Halesia caroliniana is planted in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Ilex x ‘Christmas Jewel’ – This is a wonderful small pyramidal holly, growing to 10’ and bears abundant fruit at a very young age.  Does not need a pollinator to bear fruit and bears narrow dark green and glossy, evergreen foliage!

Ilex opaca ‘Dan Fenton’ (American Holly) – Native!  Although possessing a male name, this is an outstanding selection of our native American Holly.  The dark green foliage is the backdrop for a consistently heavy crop of dark red fruits.  Excellent pyramidal form. Featured in the Holly Collection behind Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Ilex opaca ‘Maryland Dwarf’ (American Holly) – Native!  Similar in foliage to the above, but the plant only grows to 8’ tall after 50 years!  The form is mounded and very attractive.  Featured adjacent to the Horticultural Breeding Labs at Rutgers Gardens.  These plants have never been pruned since being planted in 1960 and look great!

Ilex x ‘Red Beauty’ (Hybrid Holly) – The newest Holly introduction from Elwin Orton at Rutgers!  Growing to 12’ tall, but can be kept lower, the plant produces a thick mass of dark green foliage with attractive red fruit in the fall.  It has proven to be Deer Resistant at Rutgers Gardens

Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ (Crapemyrtle) – Growing to 20’, this winner from Dr. Don Egolf and the National Arboretum sports coral-pink flowers!

Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Little Volunteer’ (Tulip Tree) –The leaves and the distance between the leaves/branches are about ½ the size of a normal Tulip Tree.  Perfect for the smaller garden.  Featured along the Freedom Trail at Rutgers Gardens.

Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber Magnolia) – Native!  A native to the S.E. US, this tropical looking shade tree eventually grows to 60’ tall.  Yellow/green flowers are produced in ample quantities in April, and again in September.  Cucumber Magnolia is a truly underused and very attractive native tree, very deserving of greater use in NJ. Featured across from the Donald B. Lacey Annual Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Brackens Brown Beauty’ (Southern Magnolia) – Do you like flowers that have wonderfully sweet fragrance?  Appearing in June and July, the white flowers add much to the early summer garden, both for visual and olfactory satisfaction.  This plant selection is perfectly hardy in NJ, and grows to 25-30’ in height.  The leaves are dependably evergreen, but it should receive some protection from winter winds.  Is shade tolerant and is a P.H.S. Gold Medal plant.  Featured in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Magnolia grandiflora 'D.D. Blanchard" (Southern Magnolia) - Similar to the above, but the backs of glossy green leaves are more heavily covered with an orange pubescence.  A magnificent tree for flowers and foliage!

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ (Southern Magnolia) – Similar to the above, but the leaves are much smaller in size, making it a perfect plant for the scale of a smaller garden.  Little Gem is also renown for its ability to produce flowers throughout the summer and into autumn.  Makes an excellent espalier as well!

Magnolia virginiana Moonglow® (Sweetbay Magnolia) – Growing rapidly to 15’, and ultimately to 25’, this introduction of our native Magnolia boosts fragrant white flowers in late May through June and partially evergreen foliage!  Full sun to light shade, it will grow best in moist soils, but will tolerate drought.  Hardy to zone 4.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) – An interesting plant with a really cool history.  It was thought to be extinct and was known only as a fossil up until the early 1940’s when it was found growing in China.  It has glossy, fern-like foliage that turns shades of orange in the fall and is very striking.  The bark is also a dark orange and the base of the tree becomes large and buttressed.  The area beneath the branches develops deep sinuses, giving the plant a very mystical, almost fairy-like appearance.  A fast growing plant, it tolerates dry soils, but was found growing in China next to streams and rice fields – full sun is ideal.  Featured in the Rhododendron Garden and adjacent to the Community Youth Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Jack Frost’ (Dawn Redwood) – Rare!  Similar to the above, but the foliage is dotted with large white markings during spring, which slowly fade to chartreuse in the summer, providing a fresh green appearance throughout the late summer and fall.  Jack Frost is slower growing than the species, and is ideal for the smaller garden.  Will grow to 15 feet tall and 6’ wide after ten years.  Culture is similar to the above.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Ogon’ (Golden Dawn Redwood) – Rare!  Slower growing than the green form, this plant slowly grows into a 30-40’ tall plant with attractive fern-like foliage that is yellow.  Full sun, moist to well drained soils.  Featured along the Freedom Trail at Rutgers Gardens.

Magnolia sieboldiana (Siebold Magnolia) – A shrub-like Magnolia, growing to 15’ and ideal for locations in full sun or light shade alike.  The fragrant white flowers dangle down, often looking like large pearls hanging from the limbs when in bud.  As they open, they have the most exquisite center of magenta stamens, making the flower a knockout to observe.  Featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Mahonia bealei (Chinese Mahonia) – Fragrant yellow flowers appear on the tips of the stems in April into May, followed by attractive dark evergreen foliage.  Robbins Egg blue fruits follow in June.  Best in light shade in a site protected from the winter winds. Featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Nyssa sylvatica ‘Sherri’s Cloud’ (Variegated Black Tupelo/Sourgum) – Very rare!  A lovely variegated form of Tupelo, with cream and white coloring in summer that turns to pink and red come the Autumn.  Reaches 30’ in height and is shade tolerant.

Nyssa sylvatica’ Zydeco Twist’ (Contorted Black Tupelo/ Sourgum) – Rare!  A stunning contorted-branched Sourqum which almost gives the appearance that it is dancing!  This form is amazing, especially after the vivid red fall foliage droops and the branches present their zigzag appearance for the winter.  It slowly grows to 20’ and is perfect for the small garden.

Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood) – Native!  Oxydendrum is a small tree that sports very attractive white urn-shaped flowers on 4-10” long drooping racemes in late June/early July.  The flowers are much beloved by Honeybees and other native pollinators.  In fall, the foliage turns a rich lustrous red.  Best grown in full sun and well-drained soils.  Featured in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Physocarpus opulifolius Coppertina™ (Copper-leaf Ninebark) – A selection of our native Ninebark.  Tolerant of shade, Coppertina is best grown in full sun to develop its rich and very attractive copper-colored foliage.   Can be treated as a cut back or allowed to grow to an arching shrub of 6’.  Good red fall color.  If not cut back annually, it has pink flowers in May.  Well-drained soils.

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’ (Eastern Ninebark) – Native to the East coast of the US, this selection is more compact, growing to 3’ and has dark purple/bronze foliage with contrasting pink flowers in May.  Can be treated as a cutback, and makes a great addition to the mixed or shrub border.  Best color in full sun in average soil and moisture.

Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon’ (Hardy Orange) – The green stems are twisted and curled, with the prominent spines also curled.  A very unusual and architectural plant!  Fragrant white flowers appear in May, followed by orange fruits in autumn.  Featured in the Chroma Gardens at Rutgers Gardens.

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Marble White’ – Evergreen foliage, heavily marbled with cream.  Fragrant white flowers appear in June, on a plant that can reach 6’ in height, although it can be easily maintained at a lower height.

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood) – An underutilized small tree with a number of great assets.  To list the assets:

• Really cool apetalous flowers (the anthers are the show) in March/early April
• Phenomenal red, yellow and purple fall color
• Exfoliating bark as it ages, revealing a cream colored underbark
• Terrific habit – the branches rise upward in a zig-zag pattern, giving the appearance that it is dancing!
• Incredibly site tolerant.  Grows best in full sun, but will tolerate average soils, moist soils, or extremely well drained and droughty soils.
• Was selected for the Collector’s Choice award by Oklahoma Proven, a plant evaluation committee that selects plants that will tolerate Oklahoma’s heat, drought and cold.  If it is tolerant of those extremes, it is a sure winner for NJ!
• Also – if this counts - Crawford really likes this tree!
• Featured in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Prunus mume ‘Dawn’ (Flowering Apricot) – Growing into a small tree, it has large ruffled double pink flowers appear in March.  Definitely one of the harbingers of spring!

Prunus mume ‘Okitsu-Akabana’ (Flowering Apricot) – Blooming slightly later, it produces larger than normal double pink flowers in late March.

Sciadopitys verticillata (Umbrella Pine) – Rare!  A very unusual evergreen tree.  The needles are arranged in whorls at the end of the branches, such that they look like the spokes of an umbrella when viewed from the tip!  The needles are glossy and almost look like plastic.  Best grown in full sun or light shade, reaches 30’ in ht and 15’ in width.  Featured in the Evergreen Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Stewartia koreana (Korean Stewartia) – This tree has proven to be a great year round plant with white Camellia-like flowers in July and August, with great red fall color in October.  In winter, the bark exfoliates revealing great pink and cream inner bark.  Full sun to light shade, in moist to well drained soils.  Does not like soils that are boggy, but will withstand periodic flooding.  Grows slowly to 30’.  Featured in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Stewartia pseudocamellia (Japanese Stewartia) – A nice small tree and similar to the above, but only maturing to 20’.  The bark on Japanese Stewartia has more pink overtones than its Korean cousin.  Culture as above.  A beautiful tree for year-round interest.  Featured in the Small Tree Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Stewartia rostrata (Stewartia) Rare!  I first grew this plant over 10 year ago, and have always been impressed by the large white flowers with the subtending large red bracts.   Starting to bloom in May, it is the earliest Stewartia to bloom.  Develops into a large shrub, to 10’ tall.  Prefers a shady, woodland setting. 

Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’ (Japanese Styrax) – Discovered by the late J.C. Raulston, this is a superb flowering small tree.  The glossy leaves and white bell shaped flowers are larger and showier than the species with a more vigorous growth rate as well.  This is a great substitute for Flowering Dogwoods if you are looking for something a little different and out of the ordinary.

Styrax obassia (Snowbell) – Rare!  Related to the above, this Korean relative has larger, more tropical appearing foliage, and instead of the flowers appearing individually, they are in long pendant clusters and are fragrant.  An ideal plant for light shade, although it is tolerant of full sun, and well-drained soils.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Taxodium ascendens DebonairTM (Pondcypress) – Native!  A wonderful native deciduous conifer!   Has delicate ferny foliage throughout the summer months, beautiful bronze fall color and a very distinctive columnar habit, providing interest throughout the seasons.  Best grown in full sun in well drained to very moist soils.

Thuja plicata ‘Spring Grove’ (Giant Arborvitae) – Native to the West Coast, this plant is hardy throughout NJ.  Growing to 60’ over 60 years, Spring Grove has dark green foliage through the winter and a very attractive pyramidal outline.  Full sun, well-drained soils.  A beautiful evergreen.

Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’ (Giant Arborvitae) – A very robust growing form, which can produce up to 2’ of growth per year!  Ultimately growing to 30-40’ tall and 15’ wide, it makes a great item to use as an evergreen screen.  Has proven to be hardy to 20 below F.

Thujopsis dolobrata (False Arborvitae) – A “dense pyramid of evergreen foliage of great beauty”, to quote Michael Dirr!  Growing slowly to 30’ tall and 10’ wide, this plant likes moist or well-drained soils in sun or shade.  The foliage resembles that of an Arborvitae, and is densest in the full sun.

Ulmus alata ‘Lace Parasol’ (Winged Elm) – A handsome weeping form of the Winged Elm, with handsome corky branches.  Grows to 10’x15’.

Ulmus parviflora ‘Golden Rey’ (Chinese Elm) – Rare!  Bright yellow new foliage holds its color well into summer, turning to a beautiful golden yellow in the fall.  Bark exfoliates in mottled patches and adds significant winter interest.  Grows to 40’ tall and wide.

Large Shrubs (6 foot and Greater)

Aesculus parviflora var. serotina (Bottlebrush Buckeye) – Got deer?  This deer resistant plant is successful in sun or shade, producing large (8-12”) white bottlebrush flowers in July.  A true winner of a plant that has not yet gained the respect of the community!   Good yellow fall color.

Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’ (Upright Box) – If you are looking for a slow growing and deer resistant exclamation point in the garden, this is the plant!  This plant produces a tight column of evergreen foliage to 9’ tall and 1’ wide in 20 years, if left unpruned.  A fun form to work into a sunny or shady garden that has well drained soils.Featured in the Art Rudolph Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Calycanthus floridus (Sweetshrub) – Native! An enchanting native shrub that slowly develops into large thickets.  The red flowers in June produce a fragrance similar to strawberries or apples! The glossy foliage in deer resistant, and turns and attractive yellow in the fall.

• ‘Athens’ – Flowers are yellow.
• ‘Hartlage Wine’ – Large burgundy flowers with more narrow glossy foliage.  The flowers are typically produced through August.
• ‘Michael Lindsey’ – Beautiful and lustrous deep green foliage serves as the backdrop for an extended display of large reddish flowers.  The flowers are gorgeously scented!!
• X ‘Venus’ - Beautiful 5” white flowers!

Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Sputnik’ (Buttonbush) – Rare!  Native!  This selection of our native plant was chosen for its large flower size and the long period over which it blooms.  Flowers develop into pinkish-white balls that, with a little imagination, do indeed resemble a Sputnik!  It is very tolerant of wet sites, although it will also enjoy normal garden soil.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ (Columnar Plum Yew) – An upright growing plant that resembles the common yew or Taxus in respect to the leaves but it is deer resistant!  The foliage is arranged radially around the stems, is about 2” in length, and is a dark waxy green.  The plant grows to 8’ in height, 4’ width in full sun or light shade in soils that are well drained.  Featured by the entrance to the Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe Tree) Native!  The fringe tree sports fragrant white flowers in May with blue fruits in the fall in the female plants (the Fringe Tree is dioecious).  The fall color is a magnificent yellow, and the plants will thrive in either sun or shade.  Typically found as a large shrub in the wild, but can be easily trained into a small tree.

Chionanthus virginicus ‘Emerald Knight’ (Fringe Tree) – A lovely small tree or large shrub (depending upon how it is pruned) with deep green foliage that is covered with fragrant fluffy white panicles of flowers come June.  No fruit since it is a male, but the preponderance of anthers make the flowers extra showy!

Cornus mas ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Cornelian Cherry Dogwood) – Rare!  An interesting small tree or large shrub with leaves that are neatly edged with a clean white border.  Yellow flowers in very early spring and performs best in light shade.

Corylopsis spicata ‘Gold Spring’ – Rare!  The foliage is a very handsome golden yellow in the spring, changing to chartreuse in the summer.  Develops early racemes in the early spring.

Corylopsis pauciflora (Winterhazel) – The plant of the month for March, 2007!  Attractive flowers appear on pendulous flowers stalks in late March or April.  The plant has an attractive vase shaped habit, growing to 8-10’ in height.  Prefers some shade, but will tolerate sun with ease if soil in amended with organic matter.  Good yellow fall color.

Corylopsis spicata (Winterhazel) – As the above, but the plant produces larger yellow flowers and grows to 14’.  A great plant for early spring pizzazz!  Featured in the Shrub Garden at Rutgers Gardens. 

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick) – Harry Lauder was a vaudevillian that always carried a crooked cane, hence the name!  The serpentine branching makes this plant especially valuable for winter interest, and the long brown catkins add interest for spring.  Grows best in full sun to light shade. 

Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic’ (Contorted Filbert, Harry Lauders Walking Stick) – Rare!  As above, it is named after the famed vaudevillian; the Contorted Filbert has a fantastic twisted branching habit, which is seen at its best in the winter.  Red Majestic is unique since the foliage is a deep red providing interest for the summer months.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Atropurpureum’ (Purple Smokebush) – Great dark purple foliage from May to October for the back of the perennial or shrub border.  Will grow to 12’ and produce puffy smoke-like flowers in July!  Can also be treated as a cutback or stooled shrub that is pruned to 12” each spring, whereby it responds by growing to 8’, but will not bloom (produces flowers on second year wood).  Best color in full sun, well-drained soils.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ – Velvet purple foliage make this a startling backdrop plant for the mixed border, or a specimen for the shrub border.  Great in masses with the best foliage color in the full sun.  Height of 12’, or if treated as a cutback, 8’.   Featured as a cutback plant in the Otken’s Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ (Smoke Bush) – Growing to 12’ tall, this form produces purple new growth that rapidly turns to chartreuse-yellow for the summer, with red and orange fall color.  The smoky flowers are purple-gray in mid summer.

Cytissus scoparius (Scotch Broom) – An arching shrub for the dry, sandy and infertile soil in full sun.  Yellow flowers appear in May into June.  To a height of 5-6’.

Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Briggs Moonlight’ – Rare!  A great new selection of Daphne for foliage and flower!  The evergreen foliage is bright golden yellow with a dark green margin – very showy.  The flowers are pink in bud and white in flower and true to form, are deliciously fragrant.  A must have for the sunny and dry border.  Featured in the Otken’s Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Daphniphyllum macropodum (Daphniphyllum) Rare!   For those looking for a unique and rare evergreen, Daphniphyllum fits the description!  Growing to 15’ tall, the large leaves are streaked with a red mid vein and provide great texture.   Rarely seen in gardens in NJ, it has proven to be hardy throughout central and southern NJ.  Plant in shade with some protection from winter winds and average soil moisture.  Featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Deutzia gracilis ‘Nikko (Dwarf Slender Deutzia) – A winner of a groundcover!  Growing to 18-24”, it produces copious white flowers in May, great green foliage in the summer, and great burgundy fall color.  As a groundcover, it suppresses many weeds.  Featured along the side of Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Disanthus cercidifolius – Rare!  Bluish green heart-shaped leaves turn to a spectacular fall menagerie of orange, red and purple with bright red strap-like flowers in November.  A unique and unusual plant for light shade or full sun in humus enriched soils.

Diervilla lonicera ‘Butterfly’ (Southern Bush Honeysuckle) – A wonderful groundcover that most gardeners have yet to discover!  Native to Eastern US, the plants produce myriad small yellow flowers, to 2” in mid summer over clean and disease free foliage.  Tolerant of dry shady or full sun conditions, and the fall color is a very attractive purple.  Easy to grow and tough!

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Princeton Red Bells’ (Redvein Enkianthus) – A selection of Enkianthus with pronounced and very showy red flowers in May.  It is a beautiful addition for the woodland garden.  A red flowering form, planted in the 1940’s is featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’ (Redvein Enkianthus) – Slowly growing to 8-10’ tall, this Rhododendron relative produces attractive red bell-shaped flowers in May, followed be great deep red and burgundy fall color.  Will tolerate full sun if soil is excessively droughty, otherwise light shade and evenly moist soils.

Hamamelis x intermedia  ‘Arnold Promise’ (Chinese Witchhazel) – Yellow fragrant flowers adorn this shrub in February into March.  The green foliage of summer turns orange and red during the fall.  Plants develop a vase shaped habit, and grow to 30’ tall or greater.  Full sun locations will provide the most flowers and best fall color, but the plants are very adaptable to shade.  Plants prefer moist but well drained soils and are very tolerant of summer drought once established.Featured in the Rutgers Gardens behind the Evergreen Garden.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Barnstedt Gold’ (Chinese Witchhazel) – Similar to the above, but the flowers are a large golden yellow, fragrant and have attractive yellow fall color.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ (Chinese Witchhazel) – The flowers transition from orange at the tips to red at the base.  One of the consistently showy forms for a February flower display, growing to 12’ tall and wide.  The flowers also have great fragrance.

Hamamelis x intermedi ‘Treasure Trove’ (Chinese Witchhazel) – A treasure chest of golden yellow flowers are found annually on this plant!

Hamamelis x ‘Wisley Supreme’ (Witchhazel) – Large, bright yellow flowers with beautiful blue-green foliage.  From England!

Hamamelis virginiana (Witchhazel) – Native!  Native to the woodlands of the east coast of the US, this plant is fun to have for its great yellow fall color and the yellow flowers that appear in November after leaf drop.  Grows well in the shade, but is more floriferous in the sun.  A very under appreciated native plant.  Mature height of 12’.  Located adjacent to the Gift Shop and in the shrub garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Hamamelis virginiana ‘Harvest Moon’ (Witchhazel) – Rare!  Native!  A wonderful addition for the late fall garden, since we often feel connected to the autumn garden by the Autumnal moon!  Lemon yellow flowers provide a beautiful display.

Hamamelis virginiana ‘Mohonk Red’ – Native!  Very unusual in that it is producing brick red flowers in the fall when the native form of the plant produces primarily yellow flowers. Discovered at the famous Mohonk Mountain Lodge.

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) – Native!  Spicebush is native to the East Coast that should receive much greater and widespread use in NJ gardens.  In spring, it is decorated with a myriad of small yellow flowers, which - on the female plants – develop into red fruits come September.  It is also the plant of preference for the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly!  Plants thrive in full sun to fairly dense shade and soils that do not become excessively dry throughout the year.  Featured in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Lindera glauca var. salicifolia (Spicebush) – Rare! Truly a spectacular foliage plant!  The leathery narrow green leaves turn a spectacular saturnalia of colors come fall, including orange, red and purple come the fall.   Leaves subsequently turn tan and remain affixed to the plant until the spring, when they drop just prior to the small yellow flowers of April. Will grow to 16’ tall, but can easily be maintained as a hedge at 4-6’.  Featured next to the Donald B. Lacey Annual Garden and at Holly House in Rutgers Gardens.

Musa basjoo (Hardy Banana) – A great plant for foliage.  The leaves are up to 3’ long and 10” wide.  Talk about creating that tropical appearance!  Plants will grow to 12’ tall.  It is hardy in central NJ if it is heavily mulched for the winter. Featured in the Monocot Garden next to the Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ (Holly Tea Olive) – A great evergreen plant, with green and white mottled holly-like foliage – a very striking variegation!  Growing to 8-10’, but can easily by kept smaller (2-3’), this deer resistant evergreen is great for a subtle feature plant in the garden, or as a hedge.  Full sun to light shade, in soils that are well drained.   Featured in the Otken’s Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Gulftide’ (Holly Tea Olive) – A hardy and upright growing form of Osmanthus; this is a great evergreen for a narrow hedge in light shade.  Once the plant is mature (6-8 years) the plant becomes cloaked with small white flowers in November that are heavenly sweet!  Full sun to light shade in soils that are well drained.

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Fastigiata' (Holly Tea Olive) – Similar to above, but the plants only spread 3’ wide, and grow to 8’ tall.

Rhamnus ‘Fine Line’ (Buckthorn) – Fine Line is noted for its very attractive and delicate dark green fern-like foliage.  A really fun plant to use in the garden for its fine textural effect.  Fall color is a bright yellow.  Requires full sun and well-drained, even droughty soils for best appearance.

Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ (Staghorn Sumac) – The cut-leaf foliage is remarkable for its chartreuse and yellow in color, which when set against the red stems provides an awesome color combination.  In autumn, the foliage turns brilliant red.  Good in the mixed border or the shrub border, this plant prefers full sun to light shade, with well-drained soils.

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Hardy Needle Palm) – Growing to 4’ tall and hardy to zone 6 with protection during the first winter, this plant provides interesting texture and a tropical motif!

Salix matsudana ‘Scarlet Curls’ (Scarlet Corkscrew Willow) – Unique for the twisted reddish orange branches the twist and turn their way up to the sky.  Very effective and fun in flower arrangements!  Can be cut to the ground each year and treated as a large shrub, or allowed to grow into a small tree of 15-20’ in height.

Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ (Willow) – A great shrub or cutback for the border.  The plant produces salmon-pink new leaves and shoots, with the leaves developing white variegation as they mature.  Great in average or wet soils.  Will grow to 10’ if not cutback to 6-12” stubs.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Memorial Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ (Falsespirea) – Rare!  A suckering shrub that forms colonies of 6-8’ stems.  ‘Sem’ is unique in that the deer resistant foliage is orange red when emerging, turning to yellow and finally green by mid summer.  White flowers, resembling those of Astilbe are produced in June into July when the foliage has turned green.  A great plant for those looking for a tall early summer blooming addition to the shrub border.  Full sun or part shade and very adaptable as to soils, as long as they are not water logged.

Stachyurus praecox – Very rare!  A plant for the collector!  Rarely seen in NJ Gardens, this plant produces 6” long and very showy racemes of pale yellow flowers in late winter.  Best in a lightly shaded location with some protection from sporadic late season frosts.  Hardy to zone 6.

Syrinqameyeri ‘Palibin’ (Lilac) – Tired of the long stems and powdery mildew of the classic Lilac?  Palibin is a shrub lilac, growing to 8’ in height and width.  The light purple flowers are very fragrant and amply produced.  In fall, it has yellow fall color.  Full sun to light shade is best.

Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ (Lilac) – Similar to the above, but the flowers are a light blue and the fall color has more purples.

Syringa x oblata ‘Betsy Ross’ (Lilac) – More similar in habit to the French Lilacs, it has mildew resistant foliage and large white flowers in May.

Syringa vulgaris ‘Wonder Blue’ (Lilac) – Clusters of light blue, fragrant flowers appear on this more compact plant.  A very welcome addition to the smaller garden!  Foliage is also mildew resistant.

Syringa x ‘Tinkerbelle’ (Lilac) – An easy to grow shrub lilac, growing to 8’ tall and wide with pink buds and fragrant blue flowers in May.  Very easy to grow in sun or light shade, in soils that are not water logged.

Vaccinium corymbosum cultivars (Blueberry) – Native!  A great native plant that we often forget to use in the garden!  Delicious fruits are the obvious reason for growing blueberry, but they also have spectacular red fall color and white urn shaped flowers in May as well.   It is best to grow several different cultivars such that you get proper cross pollination and fruit set.  Full sun, moist to well-drained soils. Featured in the Community Youth Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ (Doublefile Viburnum) – A narrow upright form of Doublefile, growing 8’ tall and 4’ wide.  White Lacecap flowers are produced from May through early July, extending the bloom time considerably!  Full sun or light shade in moisture retentive soils.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Memorial Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Viburnum plicatum ‘Mary Milton’ (Pink Snowball Viburnum) – A large upright and rounded shrub, loaded with spectacular soft pink snow - ball shaped flowers in spring. Dark green foliage with a burgundy tint when young and reddish - purple in fall color.

Viburnum x burkwoodii (Burkwood Viburnum) – Fragrant pink and white flowers from May into June as well as great disease resistance and a compact rounded habit make Burkwood Viburnum a very adaptable garden plant.  The glossy foliage is semi-evergreen when sited our of strong NW winter winds.  Hardy to zone 4, provide a location in full sun to light shade in soils which do not have standing water.

Viburnum x ‘Mohawk’ (Mohawk Viburnum) – A P.H.S. Gold Medal winner, the red buds in late April give rise to fragrant white flowers in May.  The fall color is orange and red.  Culture is the same as the Burkwood Viburnum.

Small Shrubs (6 Foot and Less)

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope (Fragrant Abelia) – Yellow, Chartreuse, pink and green foliage with pink flower buds and white flowers.  In fall, the foliage turns to red, orange, gold and green!  Plus, the plants flower from June to frost.  What more could you ask for from a plant?  Provide full sun to partial shade for optimum results. 

Abelia x ‘Mardi Gras’ (Fragrant Abelia) – Green and white variegated leaves with a pink cast make Mardi Gras a standout in the shrub or mixed border.  Fragrant white flowers appear in late spring through the summer.  Provide full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soils.  Plants grow to 2-3’ tall and 4-5’ wide.

Acanthopanax sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’ (Green Cutleaf Japanese Maple) – Great plant for the difficult spot.  White variegated leaves on a plant that grows to 6’.  Shade is preferred and will tolerate drought when established.

Aucuba japonica ‘Limbata’  (Japanese Aucuba) – An unusual shrub for shade, it reaches 5’ in height with 4-5” long evergreen foliage that is edged in chartreuse. Red flowers in June.  Ideal for a dry shady location. 

Aucuba japonica ‘Gold Dust’ (Japanese Aucuba) – Large shiny green evergreen leaves, up to 5” long, that is splashed and doted with gold.  Very effective in the shade garden.

Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ (Japanese Aucuba) – Similar to the above, but the center of the leaves has a large yellow splash, giving the plant a lush and tropical appearance.  Protect from winter winds. Featured in the Art Rudolph Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Buddleia davidii ‘Lochinch’ (Butterfly Bush) – Buddleia is a staple for every garden.  Not only are the flowers wonderfully fragrant, but they also serve as a magnet for Butterflies!  Lochinch has lavender-blue flowers atop silver foliage, growing to 8’.  Best grown in full sun and well-drained soils.

Buddleia davidii ‘Pink Delight’ (Butterfly Bush) – As above, but the flowers are pink in color.

Buddleia davidii ‘Purple Emperor’ (Butterfly Bush) – The flowers are Mauve-purple and more compact in height, growing to 5’.  This form is from Elizabeth Keep of East Malling, England. 

Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’ (Boxwood) – Are you looking for a low growing, pyramidal plant with dark green and deer resistant evergreen for the garden?  You have found the answer.  Green Mountain is great for sun or shade, in well-drained soils.

Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’ (Boxwood) – Similar to the above, but the plants grow in a more rounded form.

Buxus x ‘True Spreader’ (Boxwood) – Are you looking for a low growing plant with dark green and deer resistant evergreen for the garden?  You have found the answer.  True Spreader is great for sun or shade, in well-drained soils.

Buxus sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’ (Variegated Boxwood) – A rounded form of Boxwood with foliage that has light cream margins.  Very effective in mass, as a hedge, or as a single plant in a well-drained and lightly shaded location.

Ceanothus x pallidus ‘Marie Simon’ (Mountain Sweet, Redroot, NJ Tea) – A low mounded shrub with delicate pink flowers in late May into June.  Tolerant of dry and infertile soils, Redroot will grow in sun or light shade.  An interesting plant which is a combination cross of two of our native Ceanothus (C. ovatus and C. americanus) with that of C. coeruleus from Mexico!

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Duke Gardens’ (Plum Yew) – An attractive low growing form, that is more tolerant of sun than other Plum Yews.  Shade and sun tolerant, it is ideal for the small garden, since it only grows 3’ tall and 4’ wide!  This is a very attractive new addition to the Plum Yew collection.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Drupacea’ (Spreading Plum Yew) – An attractive deer resistant plant that strongly resembles a spreading Yew.  The needle-like foliage is up to 2” long and glossy green, appearing in horizontal rows along the stems.  Full sun or shade, in soils that are well drained.  Grows to a height of 4’ by 6’ wide.

Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern) – Native!  The foliage is green and fragrant, with a very interesting fern-like texture.  The evergreen leaves turn bronze-green in the winter.  Grows to 3’ tall, but will slowly spread to 6-8’ wide; this native suckers and colonizes dry, sterile areas in the wild.  Perfect for the dry, south facing slope!

Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’ (Summersweet Clethra) – An attractive groundcover solution for sun or shade!  The plant grows 18-24” in height, with fragrant white flower spikes produced in July and yellow fall color in October.

Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ (Summersweet Clethra) – Native!  A deciduous 6’ shrub growing best in moist soils in full sun, but it is tolerant of some shade and drier soils.  The fragrant pink flower spikes appear in mid-July, adding great sensory appeal to the garden!

Cornus alba ‘Cream Cracker’ (Tatarian Dogwood)– A plant with deep red stems for winter interest, Cream Cracker is special since it features bright ivory-white margins of the leaves for summer interest.  Does best in light shade.

Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ (Tatarian Dogwood) – Very similar to the above except the leaf margin is a soft white.

Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’ (Red Stemmed Dogwood) – This selection has wonderful winter stems that are red at the base fading to yellow at the tip.  They look like they are literally on fire!  Full sun to light shade in soils that are moist to well drained.  A very adaptable and useful plant for extending seasonal interest through the winter.Featured adjacent to the entrance kiosk at Rutgers Gardens.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Nana’ (Dwarf Cryptomeria) – For those searching for an unusual dwarf conifer, growing to 3-4’ tall and up to 6’ wide.  It has an unusual flat-topped appearance, with foliage that turns purple in winter.  It has been a feature of the Art Rudolph Memorial Sun and Shade Garden for years.  This plant has also proven to be deer resistant.  Full sun, well-drained soils are best.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Enkianthus cernus ‘Ruben’ (Redvein Enkianthus) – A slower growing form of Enkianthus with beautiful red bell shaped flowers and burgundy red fall color.  As above, it is best for the shade garden.

Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia) – Grown primarily for its attractive foliage, the large glossy dark - green leaves grow up to 16" wide that typically have 7 - 9 deep lobes. Best grown in a shady and protected location, the small creamy flowers in umbels bloom in fall followed by black berries. Mature height 8' tall.

Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla) – Native!  Native to the coastline of the SE US, this selection grows to 4-5’ in height.  In May the plant produces 1 ½” fragrant white bottlebrush flowers, which is followed by deep, blue green foliage in the summer and orange, red and yellow fall color.  Similar to the form below, but more appropriate for the smaller location.  Full sun to light shade with soils that are moist or humus enriched.

Fothergilla major ‘Blue Shadow’ (Large Fothergilla) – A new introduction, this form has honey-scented flowers that are followed by dusty blue foliage.  The fall color is a beautiful combination of yellow, orange and red.  A great plant for combining with perennials such as Perovskia (Russian Sage) and Nepeta (Catmint).Featured in the Chroma beds at Rutgers Gardens.

Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’ (Large Fothergilla) – Native!  Another underused native shrub with multiple seasons of interest.  Growing to 6’ tall, it produces 2” long white bottlebrush flowers in May that are sweetly scented.  The summer foliage is a great deep blue-green, and the fall color is a flash of orange, yellow and reds.  Full sun if the soil remains moist, otherwise light shade.

Hedera colchica ‘Green Spice’ (Hardy Bush Persian Ivy) – Rare! Are you looking for a really unusual evergreen for sun or DARK and DRY shade?  Green Spice is the adult form of Persian Ivy, which means that it is not a runner but a bush!  Growing to 4’ tall and wide in 6 years, this Caucus native is a great addition for the tuff garden area. 

Hedera helix ‘Deep Freeze’ (Arborescent Ivy) – Rare!  This extremely cold hardy evergreen shrub has dark green foliage and a compact growing habit of 3 - 4' tall and 4 - 5' wide. It is the earliest and most prolific blooming adult ivy; its chartreuse flowers begin in June followed by blue - black fruits in Fall. Great for attracting both birds and butterflies this plant makes a nice specimen foundation plant hedge or container plant. Deep Freeze has proven to be very drought tolerant

Hedera rhombea ‘Crème de Menthe’ (Arborescent Ivy) – Rare!  Another fantastic evergreen shrub ivy for the dry or dark location.  The dark green leaves are surrounded by a creamy white margin.  Great for brightening up that shady spot!  Is smaller than the above, only growing to 36” tall and 24” wide. 

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (Smooth Hydrangea) – Native!  Growing to 5’ in moist and fertile soils, Annabelle produces large white flowers in June and July.  Prefers shade, but can easily grown in sun in soil that is amended with humus.  The plants bloom on new wood, so it can be cut to the ground during the winter months.  It is featured in the Otken Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.  Featured in the Otken’s Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Rain Gainey’ (Smooth Hydrangea) – Native!  A genus that is native to NJ, this cultivar produces very attractive large white flower with cream-colored center.  Full sun to shade, height of 3’  It is smaller in stature that the typical event!.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’ (Bigleaf Hydrangea) – Produces flowers on new growth, and often flowers throughout the summer.  Rich blue mophead flowers in acid soils.  Best in light shade, 3-4’ tall.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’ (Bigleaf Hydrangea) – Blooming on new wood, this selection from our native Hydrangea offers 12” spherical white flowers in June and July, which slowly fade to green and then tan by September.  Can be cut to the ground in winter.  Best in light shade, it will tolerate full sun with adequate moisture or high soil organic content.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless summer’ – Blooms all summer on old and new wood with blue or pink Hortensia (mophead) flowers.  A great new introduction!Featured in the Chroma Beds in the DBL garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Fasan’ – Hardy to zone 5, it will produce red lace-cap flowers with the sterile florets uniquely arranged in double rows.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lady in Red’ – Large pink lace-cap flowers that mature to red, with distinctive red stems and leaf venation.  Beautiful reddish purple autumn leaf coloration. Mature height 3’– 5’.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lilacin– Big Leaf' - An extremely long blooming blue Lacecap, with flowers produced from late spring through mid-summer.  Mature height of 3-5’.  Best in light shade.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Royal Purple’ (Bigleaf Hydrangea) – An attractive compact growth habit of 3-5’ with purple mop-head flowers from late spring to summer.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’ (Hydrangea) – Colossal white flowers that quickly turn to pink make this new introduction a must have for the mixed and shrub border.  Flowers in mid-summer and perform best in full sun with well-drained soils.Featured in the Chroma bed in the DBL garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Dayspring’ (Oakleaf Hydrangea) – Large white flowers, growing to 12”+ in length and intense red/purple fall color.  Best flower production and fall color in sun and soils that are high in organic matter.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Flake’ (Oakleaf Hydrangea) – Huge white (12”+) double flowers that look like enormous snow cones!  Great for sun or shade, the plants also produce great burgundy and orange fall color and have exfoliating bark for the winter.  Growing to 10’ (but can be kept shorter), native to the SE United States.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ (Oakleaf Hydrangea) – Similar to the above, but the plant matures to 8’ tall without pruning.  Showy white panicles that stand upright followed by burgundy fall color and the cinnamon exfoliating bark for winter.  Featured in the Art Rudolph Sun and Shade Garden and at Rutgers Gardens.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Blue Billow’ (Sawtooth Hydrangea) – A Lacecap Hydrangea, with good flower bud hardiness for the central NJ.  Flowers are typically blue, and the shrub grows to 3-4 feet in height.

Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ (Japanese Holly) – A very slender growing form of Japanese Holly, growing to 6’ tall and 1’ wide.  An ideal candidate to plant as a narrow hedge.  Evergreen foliage, full sun to light shade, average garden soil.

Illicium floridanum ‘Halley’s Comet’ (Florida Anise) – Hard to believe that Florida Anise would be hardy in NJ, but it is a great evergreen for central NJ and for Rutgers Gardens.  It has been growing in the Gardens for 5 years, in a deep shady spot, without a hint of leaf burn!  The deep red flowers are star shaped and appear in May.  It always commands a ‘what is that plant’ response from visitors.Located behind the gift shop at Rutgers Gardens.

Indigofera amblyantha (Indigo) – The true indigo originally used in indigo purple dyes.  Grows successfully in sun or shade.  The plants grow to 4’ in height, and are covered with pink flowers in early summer.  Featured in the Otken Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Indigofera gerardiana (Indigo) – A cousin to the afore mentioned plant.  Although this indigo only grows to 3’, the pink flower spikes are produced from June to frost.  Great in the mixed border or as a container plant!  The foliage is also an attractive gray green.  Hardy to zone 5.

Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' (Virginia Sweetspire) Native!  If you have not discovered or used this plant in the garden as of yet, this is a very rewarding shrub!  The arching stems grow to 6’ tall (usually 4’) with the tips yielding long pendulous racemes of sweetly fragrant white flowers in July.  In autumn, the foliage turns a great burgundy red, which lasts until mid December.  In winter, the young stems are also burgundy red in color.  A multiseason plant!  Full sun to light shade, best in moister soils, but will tolerate drought for short periods.  The species is native from southern New Jersey to Florida.Featured in the Shrub Collection at Rutgers Gardens.

Itea virginica ‘Scarlet Beauty’ (Virginia Sweetspire) – Native!  Similar to the above, but gets a fiery scarlet red fall color.  It was selected by the Chicago Botanic Garden for its attractive flowering in June, great fall color, and its ability to withstand the zone 5 winters of Chicago.  

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine) – A deciduous shrub that makes a great tall groundcover.  The green stems are covered with 1” wide yellow flowers during warm spells in January and February and readily during the month of March.  It also makes a great espalier! Featured in the Shrub Collection at Rutgers Gardens. 

Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’ (Japanese Kerria) – Similar to the above, but the flowers are double and it will rebloom during the summer months.Featured in the Art Memorial Sun and Shade Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Lagerstroemia ‘Hopi’ (Crapemyrtle) – A dwarf form growing to 8’, so it is perfect for the shrub or mixed border.  In July and August, masses of pink flowers festoon the plant, followed by excellent orange-red fall color.  Best flower and fall color is produced in full sun, but it will tolerate light shade.  Well-drained soils

Lagerstroemia ‘Chicksaw’ (Crapemyrtle) – This miniature has a compact mounding habit, maturing to 2’ tall by 3’ wide. It sports lavender-pink flowers and glossy dark green foliage that turns bronze - red in the fall.

Leptodermis oblonga (Himalayan Leptodermis or Lilac) – Very rare!  A dwarf, ground-hugging shrub, which produces clusters of small, purple-pink, flowers all summer.  Very useful when used as a colorful groundcover or interspersed in the mixed border.  The flowers have the benefit of being are very fragrant!  Full sun and well-drained soils – is drought tolerant once established. 

Microbiota decussata (Russian Arborvitae) – A great low growing evergreen groundcover.  SUPER HARDY (zone 3) and can be planted in containers, or in areas of light shade.  Has proven to be deer resistant and obtains a plum color to the foliage during the winter months.

Nandina domestica ‘Compacta’ (Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo) – A great plant for the sun or shade.  The very dense foliage is a green with tints of red during the summer, turning a glowing red during the winter!  Full sun or light shade.  Growing to 3-4’, it makes a great low growing hedge!Featured in the Otken’s Memorial Garden at Rutgers Gardens.

Nandina domestica ‘Aurea’ (Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo) – Similar to the species except the foliage is a more intense green and the fruit is yellow.  Best grown in light shade. 

Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’ (Heavenly Bamboo) –A very compact form, only growing to 3’ tall and wide.  The foliage is evergreen (well, actually the foliage turns from green to red in the winter!) with bright red berries on the fall and winter.  The red winter foliage is more brilliant in a sunny location.  Does not like wet feet.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’ (Holly Tea Olive) – It has very attractive evergreen leaves with a thin light yellow margin. Typically in late October or November, the plant produces inconspicuous but very fragrant white flowers.  Ideally situated in an area protected from harsh winter winds.Featured behind Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Rhododendron prunifolium (Plumleaf Azalea) – Red to orange flowers in July and August make this a great addition for brightening up the summer garden.  Native to the Piedmont region of the US, these shade loving plants are hardy to zone 4 and eventually will reach upwards of 10’ in height. - Featured adjacent to the parking the log cabin parking lot at Rutgers Gardens.

Rhododendron schlippenbachii (Royal Azalea) – One of the monarchs of the deciduous Rhododendrons.  Growing to 6-8’ tall, the fragrant rose pink flowers appear in mid to late April.  Best in light shade, in humus rich soils that are well drained.  A very delicate and attractive plant for the garden.Located in the Rhododendron Garden at Rutgers Gardens.  The plants are nearing 70 years old and are beautiful sight to behold in the early spring (April).

Rhododendron viscosum (Swamp Azalea) – Native!  A great native azalea, often found growing in moist soil locations, but it will grow very well in average garden soil that is amended with organic matter.  Fragrant clove scented white flowers appear in May into June over attractive dark green foliage.

Rhododendron viscosum ‘Lemon Drop’ (Swamp Azalea) – Similar to the above, but the flowers are a light yellow!

Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ (Compact Fragrant Sumac) – Growing to 3-4’ tall, this plant gets great red and orange fall colors.  Very drought tolerant, full sun is best.

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Hardy Needle Palm) – Growing to 4’ tall and hardy to zone 6 with protection during the first winter, this plant provides interesting texture and a tropical motif!

Rosa 'Knock Out' (Shrub Rose) – Interested in a tough, disease and pest resistant rose with fragrant red flowers?  Here the answer to your rose dilemma!  Full sun, well-drained soils are best - Featured in front of the Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Rosa ‘Double Pink Knock Out’ (Shrub Rose) – Just as above, but the flowers are pink with extra petals, creating a fuller double flower.

Rosa Rainbow SorbetTM (Rainbow Sorbet Rose) – Semi-double flowers combine shades of red, orange and yellow over dark green, disease resistant foliage.  An everblooming floribunda rose.

Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’ (Rugose Rose) – Vibrant violet-red flowers from June to August (September) with good fragrance, which is followed by colorful hips and autumn fall color.  Full sun, well-drained soils.

Rosa rugosa ‘Snow Pavement’ (Rugose Rose) – Although the name initially sounds odd, it refers to the low growing, mounded form of this shrub that will grow to 3’ tall and 4’ wide.  Semi-double fragrant white flowers all summer with bright red hips for the fall make this plant highly desirable for the mixed and shrub border.  Full sun, well-drained soils.

Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ (European Elder) – The finely cut foliage is dark purple in colorations, making it an ideal backdrop in a mixed or shrub border.  The plants will produce pink flowers in summer, but look best if stooled back each spring, removing the flower buds but ensuring long stems (to 6’) of deep purple foliage.  Full sun, well drained soils.

Spirea japonica ‘Neon Flash’ (Spirea) – Vivid red flowers appear for 2 months in spring over the rich purple colored new growth.  Compact in size, only growing to 3’ tall and wide.  Ideally located in full sun or light shade, in average yet well-drained soils.

Spirea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’ (Spirea) – Only growing to 2’ tall and wide, this exciting new selection has red new foliage which gradually changes to bronze during the summer.  Easily grown in sun or light shade in most soils, this is a great accent plant for the shrub and mixed border - Featured in front of Holly House at Rutgers Gardens.

Spirea japonica ‘Ogon’ (Spirea) – Growing to 3’ tall and wide, this plant sports narrow willow-like yellow foliage throughout the summer months, making it a great addition for the shrub or mixed border.  White flowers appear in May, while the fall color is bronze.

Ternstroemia gymnanthera ‘Variegata’ (Japanese Ternstroemia) – An evergreen shrub that has lightly variegated foliage.  Ideal for the shady and wind protected garden, the foliage develops red tints in the winter. 

Weigela florida ‘Wine and Roses’ (Weigela) – Rose-red flowers appear in late May well into June with dark burgundy foliage for summer interest.  Maturing to a height of 4’ the best foliage color and flowers are produced in light shade and full sun.  Average soil and moisture.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima (Yellowroot) – Native!  A great native plant that is a stupendous, weed suppressing groundcover!  The stems of the plant reach 2-3’ in height in moist shade, lower in sun and dry shade.  The foliage resembles that of celery.  The flowers appear before the leaves appear, and are curious shades of purple.  Summer foliage is a deep green, with fall color a great yellow.  Will cover large areas if left alone!

Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Kristoph’s Blue’ (Dusty Zenobia) – Rare! Native!  A unique native plant noted for the white, bell-shaped flowers in May and very graceful arching habit with blue-green foliage.  Fall color is often yellow and red.  Full sun to light shade in soils that are moisture retentive.

Last Modified: 10/28/2009, rugardens@njaes.rutgers.edu.
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