Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Stewartia pseudocamellia Koreana Group

Family: (Theaceae)

Hardy tree to +30′. Japanese Stewartia. Perhaps the perfect tree for all seasons. Large, white, open flowers with orange anthers appear in July. Dark green, elliptic leaves turn a rich autumn colour of yellow, red, and dark purple. As the tree grows, the bark develops an exquisite, exfoliating texture, coloured shades of dove grey, orange and cinnamon, giving it excellent winter interest. For a sheltered position in open woods. Moist, leafy soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Rosa nutkana

Family: (Rosaceae)

Hardy shrub to 6′. Nootka Rose. Alaska to northern California. The single flowers are a clear lilac-pink with a prominent boss of yellow stamens. Dark, greyish green foliage and strong, relatively thornless, nut-brown stems. Foliage turns a fantastic yellow-orange-red colour in fall, followed by a heavy crop of globular, dark red hips. Sun. 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Kolkwitzia amabile

Family: (Caprifoliaceae)

Hardy shrub to 10′. Beauty Bush. China. A deciduous, densely branched shrub with drooping clusters of soft pink, flared, tubular flowers with yellow throats in June. Tough and lovely. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hypericum frondosum

Family: (Hypericaceae)

Hardy shrub to 5′.  Golden St. John’s Wort.  A North American native.  Distinctive, blue-grey foliage with 1½-inch, yellow, reflexed petals and a massive tuft of stamens complemented by a statuesque stigma.  This rounded shrub blooms in July.  Ornamental fall fruit changes colour from rosy pink to black.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hypericum ascyron

Family: (Hypericaceae)

Hardy shrub to 5′. Great St. John’s Wort. Asia and northeast United States. Two-inch, pale yellow, five-petalled flowers bloom in June against a backdrop of small, pale green leaves. Large seedpods follow. Attractive vase shape. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hydrangea quercifolia

Family: (Hydrangeaceae)

Shrub to 8′. Oakleaf Hydrangea. This native of Georgia and Tennessee southwards is one of our all-time favourite “must have” shrubs. Forming full, rounded mounds of lobed and scalloped, oak-like leaves, it is graced in June with showy almost conical foot-long inflorescences of creamy white, often fading to soft pink with age. In fall, the large coarsely textured leaves develop rich hues of purple, scarlet and orange, providing some of the most vivid of autumnal colour. It grows better for us in some shade and with winter protection, as one would except from this southern belle. Prefers a moist, acidic but well-drained woodsy soil. 5 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Halesia monticola var. vestita

Family: (Styracaceae)

Hardy tree to 60′. Mountain Silverbell. Southern Appalachia. Visitors to Stonecrop in early May always admire this beautiful tree in full bloom. A mass of pendulous, pink bells appear before the leaves fully emerge. Seed was collected from our specimen, which is var. vestita having larger, pink, bell flowers, whereas the species has white bells. Makes a choice understory tree. Rich, well-drained acidic soil. Well worth the wait. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clethra alnifolia

Family: (Clethraceae)

Shrub to 7′.  Summersweet.  Eastern North America.  Creamy white blooms borne on current season’s growth in two to six-inch long, and ¾-inch wide, upright racemes.  Lovely to look at, but even lovelier to smell with a delightful fragrance that perfumes the garden in July and August.  Vibrant yellow foliage in fall.  A carefree shrub with a dense, mounded habit.  Moist, but well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clerodendrum trichotomum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Hardy shrub to 10′. Harlequin Glorybower. Japan. Cymes of fragrant, white flowers with prominent stamens in late summer followed by pink seedpods, opening to expose metallic blue berries. A special beauty in both flower and fruit. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calycanthus floridus

Family: (Calycanthaceae)

Woody shrub to 6′. Carolina Allspice. Maroon, strawberry scented flowers. Fruits are hard, fig-shaped capsules. Good autumn colour. A tough and attractive shrub. Sun. PC- 8 weeks, 1 then 3 & T2 & Δ