Abelia chinensis is one of the parents of the ubiquitous Abelia x grandiflora but in this case I think the parent far outshines the offspring. It has larger shiny leaves with clusters of small, white, fragrant flowers in summer into the fall. The flower-like sepals persist until winter (see November Image) so it appears to be in bloom over a very long season. The late J C Raulston rated this as his best butterfly plant.

100015 Abelia chinensis    Add to Cart  
Sun- Part Shade / 3-5' / Zone6-9 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $9.95 ea. 

Abelia mosanensis is a species that I was not familiar with but the Spring Meadow Nursery description sounded intriguing.  "A hardy, fragrant Abelia!!! We found this deciduous species in Latvia so we know it’s hardy. Wonderfully fragrant, rich pink flowers. The fragrance is better than a Lilac! The blooms adorn this plant from late May to early June. The glossy summer foliage turns an attractive orange-red in autumn. We have never seen any tip dieback on this plant even in years when the other Abelia cultivars are killed to the ground. Very exciting!"

100035 Abelia mosanensis  SOLD OUT
Sun-Part Shade / 5-6' / Zone5-9 / Spring Bloom / Quart Pots / $9.95 ea.

This beautiful specimen, Acanthopanax sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’, is one of our favorite variegated shrubs. Each leaf has a bold creamy white variegation along edge. It forms a dense mound with long pendant stems with green white umbels at the ends in late spring and early summer. Not the showiest of blooms but the bright foliage more than makes up for it. In our hot climate it tends to burn in full sun, so we believe it is best in part shade. Once established it will tolerate considerable dryness. Apparently most of the genus Acanthopanax has pretty much been transferred to the barely pronounceable genus Eleutherococcus. We’ll probably wait to use the new name until it comes into general usage.

100310 Acanthopanax ‘Variegatus’  SOLD OUT
Part Shade / 5-6’ / Zone4-9 / Spring-Summer Bloom / Quart Pots / $9.95 ea.

Clethra 'Creel's Calico' has white flowered bottlebrush flowers, with random splashes of white in foliage too. In nature, Summersweets are frequently found at wood's edge but will also thrive in full sun provided there is adequate moisture. Where happy they will slowly spread to form a thicket.

127455 Clethra 'Creel's Calico'   Add to Cart    
Sun-Part Shade / 4-6’ / Zone3-9 / Summer Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.

Some Smoketrees are grown for their puffy, cloud-like, flowering structures that have a smoky appearance from a distance. Cotinus 'Royal Purple' is grown for its spectacular foliage. If left untrimmed it is a large, upright shrub. The new foliage is a rich maroon red that matures to a dark purple red, near black - with fall color again a bright red. It can be pruned severely in the spring to maintain a smaller, compact appearance, sometimes more appropriate as the centerpiece of a perennial border.

31000 Cotinus 'Royal Purple'   Add to Cart   
Sun / 10-15’ / Zone5-8 / Summer Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.