Shrubs
Shrubs
Cistus ‘Jester’
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Barry’s Silver’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Cupressaceae
Wow. A beautiful Conifer with scales tipped in white fading to sea green and blue as they age. Slow growing and compact to 5' tall in as many years and 4' wide. Full sun with protection from blasting afternoon sun. WELL DRAINED soil that is not too rich. Light summer water. Excellent year round interest for a border or landscape. Soft mein lends it to good combinations with Japanese Maples and other light textured plants.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Blue Surprise’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Cupressaceae
A stunning, dwarf selection of our native False Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). Columnar to 6' tall in as many years and 3 feet wide. Great in full sun to light shade for contrast with other plants. Black Mondo grass beneath? Requires well drained soil. Water until you see new growth and then stop; requires spare watering after that. Drought tolerant. Good container subject. Slow growing. Do not overwater in summer.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Somerset’ Zn5a (-10º to -5ºF) Cupressaceae
A slow growing selection of our native false cypress with new growth that is tipped in creamy light green and gold that fades to a blue green over time. To only 4' tall and 3' wide in 5 years. Well drained soil that dries out completely between watering is best. Do NOT overwater. Climate adapted, no supplemental watering once established. Avoid soil amendments. Very pretty container plant. Winter foliage is bronze.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’ Zn5a (-20º to -15º) Cupressaceae
One of the best of the "Cactus Armed" Chamaecyparis, this slow growing form has gorgeous steel blue congested foliage and a very unique habit. Columnar, and a bit twisty, several "arms" will develop over time and give it a familiar saguaro cactus look. To only 3' tall and 2' wide in 5 years in well drained soil, full sun with little summer water once established. Great for small gardens and containers.
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Glauca Pendula’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Cupressaceae
Graceful, unusual and easy to grow conifer, this form of Eastern White Cedar hoists itself up slowly with handsome blue gray foliage and a delicate weeping form. To only 8' tall in as many years it forms a loose textured conifer perfect as a specimen or container plant. Full sun to very light shade in average soil. Amenable to regular water or tolerant of very dry conditions when established.
Unique and beautiful evergreen.
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Heather Bun’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Cupressaceae
Beautiful conifer for year round effects. Fine textured foliage turns glowing orange in the interior and taupe-maroon in the cooler months then back to gray/sage green in summer. Full sun to light shade with regular summer water. Well drained soil. To 3' tall and as wide in 5 years- larger over time. Soft feathery texture, very easy and long lived. Glows in winter containers. Smokin' planted with Carex testacea. Billowy, soft landscape shrub.
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Iceberg’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Cupressaceae
A relatively new and adorable dwarf selection of North America's native Eastern White Cedar. 'Iceberg' is a beautiful mounding conifer wtih arching white tipped new growth that slowly changes to sage green. To 2' tall and 3' wide in 5 years. Full sun to light shade in well drained soil with occasional summer water. BEAUTIFUL combined with ornamental grasses. Year round good looks in a garden. One of our favorite conifers.
Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Rutaceae
Bold golden-leaved version of the common Mexican Orange. 'Sundance' is best when given protection from hot afternoon sun- an open north exposure is excellent. To 4' tall and 3' wide in 2 years. Fragrant white flowers in early spring. May be pruned back hard in FEB.to remove damaged leaves, control size, and shape. Part shade, regular water and soil. Underplant with blue Corydalis and Japanese painted ferns. Protected location.
Choisya x ‘Aztec Pearl’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rutaceae
A graceful and sophisticated hybrid Mexican Orange. 'Aztec Pearl' may be used as a specimen or an informal hedge. To 4' tall and as wide in 5 years. Fragrant clusters of pure white flowers open from pink buds in spring. Prune after flowering has ended. Excellent fine textured evergreen foliage plant. tolerant of heat and drought. Full sun, regular water, drought tolerant when established. Hardier to cold and likes more heat than C. ternata.
ROCKROSES Great for the summer dry PNW
Cistus- commonly known as rockrose are very floriferous evergreen shrubs
native to the mediterranean region. They are ideally adapted to our dry summers and provided with adequate drainage are able to cope with wet winters as well.
Thanks to the excellent study done by Neil Bell of OSU at the North Willamette Experimental Station in Aurora a vast number of cultivars have been tested and become available to Pacific Northwest Gardeners. We have chosen what we have observed to be the the best performers in our gardens as well as at the station which is located near our nursery. One of our main criteria is that each variety have a habit that remains tight and compact. An open rangy habit does not age well in a landscape and makes them especially prone to damage from just an inch or two of heavy wet snow. Recent cold winters have offered even more information and have given us a greater picture of their
hardiness as well. It turns out that many are much hardier to cold than was commonly
thought.
Cistus x bornetianus ‘Jester’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
A cheery selection of rockrose with silver willowy foliage and exquisite soft pink flowers. Rounded, but upright shrub for full sun and well drained soil. Profuse flowers appear daily for 6 weeks beginning in early May. One of the best pink Rockroses. Occasional summer water, tip prune in late winter to maintain a compact habit and create more blooming wood. 3’ x 3’. Excellent choice where deer are a problem. Cold hardy.
Cistus canescens ‘Albus’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
A combination of three things make this a WONDERFUL rockrose; silver leaves, an upright barrel-like habit. and many, many, sparkling white flowers. To 3' tall and as wide in as many years. In May to mid-July pure white flowers appear daily and cover the plant- contrast w/ the silver foliage is exceptional. Full sun and well drained soil. Cold Hardy. Occasional summer water, but tolerant of drought. Tip prune in late summer to shape.
Cistus x ‘Doris Hibberson’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
A chance hybrid seedling that was found and named in Victoria, B.C. and has not only excellent hardiness to cold but a fantastic and bold display of pink flowers for an extended period- up to two months from May to July. Large clear pink flowers appear above the medium green foliage daily on long wiry stems on this upright and rounded growing shrub.
To 3’ tall and as wide in several years. Benefits from pruning after flowering has ended to assume a more compact habit. Excellent cold hardiness, undamaged by 5ºF.
Cistus x ‘Goldstar Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
A striking rockrose with an unusual texture and habit and
unique flowers. To 3’ tall and forming an arching mound as wide. Wavy
grass green leaves are held symmetrically on wiry stems. For weeks in May white flowers, with a basal yellow stain on the petals that forms a yellow star in the center and are produced daily. Full sun and occasional summer water, though tolerant of drought when established. The tight mounded habit of this rockrose prevents splitting and ranginess
and it assumes a uniform growth habit.
Cistus creticus ‘Lasithi’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cistaceae
Some of the darkest flowers of any rockrose and a very low spreading habit make this shrub perfect for hot sun on steep banks. 2" wide intense purple/pink= Pinkle (?) flowers with a golden yellow eye cover the plant from early May to Mid-July. To only 10" tall and about 20" wide over time, with small crinkly green leaves. Occasional summer water and full hot sun in well drained soil. One of the most striking Cistus in bloom. Excellent.
Cistus x dansereaui ‘Jenkyn Place’ (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
Cold hardy and spectacular in bloom 'Jenkyn Place' has the distinctive resiny leaves and fragrance that make rockroses so popular. Profuse white flowers each with a deep red blotch at the base of each petal begin in early May with a large display and to a lesser extent until frost (especially with occasional irrigation). UPRIGHT to 4' tall and as wide. Very shiny thin deep green leaves are handsome year round. Long, long bloom time.
Superior cold hardiness- undamaged by 5ºF.
Cistus libanotum ‘Major’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
Stylish Rockrose with thin gray leaves and an amazing display of shocking white flowers. On the tips of 6"- yes, 6" stalks, profuse silky, cupped white flowers appear from mid-May to early July. Full sun and well drained soil- with little or no amendments. To 3' tall and as wide. A very airy and light looking shrub PERFECT with ornamental grasses and perennials. Very different looking Cistus Tolerates clay w/ no summer water.
Cistus x ‘Peggy Sammons’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
A charming rockrose with silvery foliage and copious amounts of large clear pink flowers that fade to white near the bright yellow center. Tall growing to 4’ tall and as wide in three years. Full sun and well drained soil. This, as do all Cistus does best in rather poor unamended soils. In those conditions they also achieve their most compact habit avoiding rangy rank growth. This rank growth can also lead to much less cold hardy plants. ‘Peggy’ is very tolerant of summer drought. Not palatable to deer.
Cistus x pagei Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Cistaceae
A fantastic rockrose with profuse flowers of the most delicate and pale pink, handsome, resinous foliage, and a compact habit as well as excellent cold hardiness. Upright and rounded to 4’ tall and as wide. In May a procession of the palest pink flowers continue for up to two months. The sage green foliage has the sweet fragrance of balsam on warm days. A hybrid derivative of the hardiest rockrose Cistus laurifolius it is impervious to the coldest temperatures. Best in unamended soils that drain quickly. Very tolerant of dry conditions in full sun. Tolerates summer water as well.
Cistus platysepalus Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
One of the very best pure white flowered Rockroses with a great tiered bushy habit and bright green leaves. In late April through June PROFUSE silky white 2" flowers with a central boss of yellow cover the plant so that very little foliage is seen. Full sun and well drained soil. Little extra water when established. Aromatic evergreen foliage. Tip prune after flowering has ended to shape. Very long bloom period for a Rockrose. Exceptionally cold hardy.
Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cistaceae
A slightly tender "Rock Rose" that is excellent for a protected warm corner. Silver
cast felted leaves are an excellent foil for the hot magenta flowers that cover the plant in late spring and sporadically until frost. Full hot sun and well drained soil for a plant that will be 2' tall and as wide in two years. Very easy to grow, prune after flowering. Little to no water in summer.
Cistus x obtusifolius Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
Long blooming, compact, dapper evergreen shrub to 30" tall and 3' wide. Deep green leaves are hidden from masses of sparkling white flowers that appear daily- early May to mid-July & often longer. Seedheads that follow are just as showy and take on firey red tints that remain attractive through Autumn. Full sun, soil that is not too rich & drains well. Little H2O when established. Fantastic, cold hardy & easy to grow garden shrub. One of the very best Rock Roses.
Cistus x rodiaei ‘Jessica’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cistaceae
Huge flowers of deep pink- 'Jessica' has some of the very best of all rockroses. A small gray-green evergreen shrub to only 2' tall and as wide in 5 years. Blooms appear daily- late April to early June. Full sun and well drained soil, light watering in summer- avoid over amended soil. Somewhat uneven habit is best pruned after flowering has ended. Great rockrose for small spaces-the brilliant flowers are so big for such a small plant.
Cistus x ‘Snow Fire’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cistaceae
Spectacular "new" Rockrose bred for a longer season of bloom and spectacular silky white flowers. The base of each petal is a clear blotch of burgundy surrounding a yellow center. Vivid evergreen foliage. Not rangy like other Cistus. Full sun and well drained, somewhat lean soil. To 2' tall by 4' wide. Blooms late April-June in a large flush and occasionally through summer. Little or no water when established. Exceeds old varieties.
Superior cold hardiness, undamaged by 7ºF.
Shrubs play a vital role as the backbone of Pacific Northwest gardens. Our winters are mild enough to enjoy a multitude of choices. Evergreen to deciduous they offer so much from profuse bloom to handsome structure.
Cistus c. ‘Lasithi’
Cistus x canescens ‘Albus’
Cistus x ‘Jenkyn Place’
Cistus libanoticum ‘Major’
Plants for problem areas
Cistus x ‘Jessica’
Cistus x ‘Snowfire’
Cistus x ‘Jester’
Cistus x ‘Peggy Sammons’
Cistus x rallettii
Cistus x pagei