Shrubs
Shrubs
Leptospermum s. ‘Washington Park’
Laurus nobilis ‘Aureus’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Lauraceae
The gold leaved form of Sweet Bay is difficult to find but has been grown in PNW gardens for many years. Conical shaped evergreen with gold leaves are powerfully aromatic. Classic culinary herb. To 12' tall and spreading over time to 8' wide. Tip prune for a dense form. Takes full sun to part shade. Leaves may be damaged in a colder than normal winter (10∞F), recovers quickly in spring. Protected location, well drained soil.
Laurus nobilis ‘Crispa’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Lauraceae
Wavy Bay, or Pie Crust Bay, 'Crispa' is the official name of this form of Bay Laurel with finely undulated leaf margins and red stems. Large evergreen shrub to 12' tall and 6' wide over time. Easy to grow. Leaves may burn in colder than normal winters (below 10∞F) but recovery is extremely fast. Full sun, well drained soil. Classic topiary plant. Harvest sweetly scented leaves for cooking, Christmas wreaths. Drought adapted.
Leptospermum grandiflorum Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
A very pretty Tea Tree that has been hardy in PNW gardens down to 10∞F with no damage in the last 10 years. Tall and columnar to 9', but only 3' wide, silvery evergreen leaves and in summer 1" wide white flowers on the wood of the previous season. Full sun, occasional summer water in well drained soil. Aromatic foliage (myrtle family), good to try where deer are a problem. Handsome with grasses and in the back of large borders.
Leptospermum humifusum (rupestre) Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
A tough spreading evergreen shrub with light olive leaves and great mahogany stems. Small white flowers open from pink buds in late spring into summer. Interesting woody seed capsules remain for years. To 1' tall and 4' wide. Full sun. Stems follow contours as they grow, good surrounding rocks and down walls. Regular soil, very tolerant of drought. Mtns. Tasmania. AKA Leptospermum rupestre. Deerproof. Aromatic myrtle relative.
XERA PLANTS INTRODUCTION
Leptospermum humifusum ‘Squiggly’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Myrtaceae
A cold hardy evergreen shrub with a very modern feel. Mahogany brown, wiry stems are clad with small olive green-gray leaves. In early summer profuse small white flowers open from pink buds. Twisting habit to 3' tall and 5' wide over time. Good looking year round in full sun and well drained soil. LOVE it with ornamental grasses and big bolders. Perfectly hardy to cold- undamaged in containers after 3 nights in the single digits. Wow. Myrtle family, from Tasmania. aka. L. rupestre. Occasional summer water.
Leptospermum lanigerum Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
COLD HARDY FORM of the "Wooly Tea Tree" from Australia. Fast growing evergreen shrub to 10' tall and 6' wide it is excellent as a sheared hedge or specimen. Silver leaves are aromatic when bruised. Showy 1" white flowers in June followed by interesting woody seed capsules. Full sun and occasional summer water. Deerproof. Plant 2' apart for a thick hedge.Sweet smelling leaves make pruning a pleasure. Tip prune to encourage density.
Leptospermum lanigerum ‘Silver Form’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
COLD HARDY FORM of the silver leaved 'Wooly Tea Tree' native to the mountains of Tasmania. Fast growing to 6' and 3' wide; one of the best silver leaved evergreens for our climate. Sparkling 1" white flowers in earlysummer and sporadically through the year. Full
sun, well drained soil. Aromatic foliage when crushed. May be pruned quite hard to shape. Occasional summer water. Informal shape works in borders. LOVELY garden plant.
Leptospermum namadgiensis Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
A mouthful to say this large and very soft fine textured shrub is native to high elevations of Australia and has proven to be one of the hardiest tea trees to cold enduring temperatures down to 5ºF for multiple nights planted in the ground at our nursery and suffering NO damage. It is showy in bloom and as it matures it develops fantastic glossy exfoliating bark that develops tints of tan, green, and orange. This is a great shrub that has a wonderful future in our climate. Full sun and well drained soil with regular irrigation though it tolerates dry conditions when established. To 8’ tall by 8’ wide in 5 years it grows very quickly with a soft, lax habit. Leaves are covered with fine hairs and flower buds are too before they open to reveal copious 1” white flowers in early summer. A great plant. Click to see large photo.
Leptospermum scoparium ‘Kiwi’ Zn8a (15-20ºF) Myrtaceae
A great dwarf Tea Tree that has been cold hardy around warm gardens in the Puget Sound and other protected locations. To 3' tall and as wide. Deep pink single flowers appear in mid spring and sporadically throughout the year. Great container plant. Full sun and average, but well drained soil. Blooms on the previous year's wood. Very good against a warm south facing wall. Deep red foliage and stems are good looking year round.
Leptospermum scoparium ‘Washington Park’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Myrtaceae
Cold-hardy form of a notably tender shrub that was found on the South Island of New Zealand at 4000'. It has thrived at Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle many years. Full sun and well drained soil. To 8' tall and 4' wide with small leaves and large (1") soft white/pink flowers in May/June. Best in southern or western exposure. Occasional summer water. Blooms on wood from the previous year, prune lightly after flowering. Very cold hardy and beautiful- foliage develops
a wine red cast in winter.
Leucopogon parviflora ‘UBC Form’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Epacridaceae
An extremely graceful EVERGREEN shrub from New Zealand with fine willowy leaves and tiny flowers that give way to pink currant-sized fruits. Coldy hardy form from the UBC arboretum in Victoria. To 5' tall and 3'-4' wide over time in well drained soil and full sun to light shade. Occasional summer water, though drought tolerant when established. Very pretty shrub that looks great year round. Berries appear in fall and last until spring.
Leycesteria formosa Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Caprifoliaceae
The Himalayan Honeysuckle is a large arching shrub to 8' tall and as wide. Green canes support beautiful frilled foliage and in late summer panicles of white flowers are produced from red calyxes that appear in layered tiers. The flowers are followed by berries that are brown and taste faintly of carmel. Full sun to part shade and average soil. Prune in early spring- blooms on new wood. Deciduous-but green canes.
Lomatia myricoides Zn7a (5º to 10ºF) Proteaceae
Long grown in the PNW this evergreen shrub from Australia has attractive, thin blue-green leaves with fascinatingly toothed edges. In mid summer exotic white flowers appear with the sweet scent of cloves. To 10' tall and forming a vase
shape. Graceful and very unusual. Excellent as cut foliage for arrangements. Full sun and well drained soil. Proteaceae- dislikes all fertilizer- but is easy to grow in unammended native soil. Graceful. Cold hardy.
Lomatia tinctoria Zn7a (5º to 10ºF) Proteaceae
An elegant cold hardy evergreen shrub from Tasmania with unusual, finely dissected foliage and exotic flowers. To only 5' tall and not quite as wide "Guitar Plant" is best grown in full sun, well drained soil with no ammendments or fertilizer. One foot tall creamy white flowers appear from the tips of the branches in early summer. Rare, but has weathered 0ºF winters in the PNW with no harm. Proteaceous. Lovely fine textured shrub.
Lonicera nitida ‘Lemon Beauty’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Caprifoliaceae
Zippy, zappy variegated Box Honeysuckle that adds pizzaz to perennial or shrub borders. Small evergreen leaves outlined in lemon yellow with an interior of dark green. To 4' tall and as wide very quickly. Part shade to full sun in AVERAGE well drained soil. Can be pruned to any shape desired. Light tip pruning produces a denser plant that still has a graceful outline. Regular water in summer. Inconspicuous flowers.
Lonicera nitida ‘Twiggy’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Caprifoliaceae
Fantastic, slower growing, compact form of gold leaved Box Honeysuckle. Much, much slower than 'Baggesens Gold'. New stems emerge with tiny leaves that slowly grow larger. Full sun (but not reflected heat) to light shade in good soil with regular water during the summer. Excellent low clipped hedge. Space plants 2' apart. Very good evergreen for containers as well. Grows about 3" a year. YAY.
Magnolia laevifolia Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Magnoliaceae
A wonderful evergreen shrub with rounded leaves that are deep green and backed with a brown indumentum which coats the stems as well. Conical growing to 10’ tall and half as wide in 8’ years. The flower buds are coated in brown fur as well and are formed in the previous year and are showy through the winter. They open to 6 petalled white very fragrant flowers in April and are profuse born along the lithe stems. Unlike other Magnolias they are not brittle and are not damaged in snow and ice bending easily. This undemanding and handsome shrub is at home in full sun as well as shade in well drained soil with regular irrigation though it is tolerant of dry conditions when established. Excellent.
Mitraria coccinea Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Gesneriaceae
One of the cold hardiest of all Gesneriads this spreading evergreen shrub produces vivid
Goldfish orange flowers that are the same shape as well. To 2’ tall and arching then spreading to 3’ tall it is most at home in woodland conditions with protection from strong sun. There are
two varieties in commerce in the PNW, this clone appears to be the variety that is hardy,
enduring 15º with little damage. Regular water in moisture retentive soil.
Myrceugenia nannophylla Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Myrtaceae
Mostly appealing to the collector this cold hardy Myrtle is not only rare but makes a beautiful
columnar shrub with glossy green leaves. In late spring spikes of white flowers with a central
boss of longer stamens decorate the shrub from the branch tips. To 8’ tall and only 2’ tall
in 5 years. Regular water in rich, moisture retentive soil. Part shade is best. Rather than
the familiar camphor smell of the family this species had a fruity sent when the leaves
are crushed. Very pleasant. A good shrub for a tight space with a formal appearance. Native to
Chile.
Myrica californica Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Myricaceae
One of the most handsome and utilitarian of native evergreen shrubs Pacific Wax Myrtle isoften used as a screen but it can make a handsome small specimen tree as well. To 12’ tall in 10 years and as wide unless pruned. Glossy green leaves are handsome year round, especially in winter when they are most welcome. Inconspicuous flowers.Well drained soil with regular water for
good growth it will also accept completely dry conditions when established and retain its
good looks.
Myrsine africans Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Myrsinaceae
A superb evergreen foliage plant that has been grown sparinglyin PNW gardens for more than 40 years. Deep red stems with nearly round shiny, deep green leaves. Most often found as cut foliage for arrangements. Full sun to light shade in a protected location. Good with Rhododendrons. Foliage may temporarily be damaged by 15ºF or lower. Regular water in well drained soil. Handsome year round. To 4' tall and as wide in time.
Myrteola nummularifolia Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Myrtaceae
A delicate cold hardy creeping evergreen myrtle from the far tip of South America. Fine wiry stems and aromatic small leaves. Sparkling white flowers in Summer followed by beautiful pearl-like pink/white EDIBLE berries that persist through spring. Berries are quite a bit larger than the leaves ADORABLE! Light shade in rich humusy soil with regular summer water. To 6" tall and 3' wide. A self fertile myrtle. Self layers. Rare little gem. Good container subject.
Myrtus communis ‘Boetica’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Myrtaceae
One of the cold-hardiest varieties of true Myrtle with exceptional deep green leaves packed closely together on the stem. Upright to 4' tall and 3' wide in 5 years. Full sun and well drained soil in a shelterd location. Foliage is powerfully aromatic. Works well in containers (protected from temps. below 20∞F). Winter damage is usually limited to tips. Easy to grow, tolerates drought ang blasting reflected heat. Slow grower.
Myrtus communis ‘Tarentina’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Myrtaceae
'Tarentina' is a form of Myrtle that is very hardy to cold- surviving 10ºF with only slight damage and recovering from much lower temperatures. Shiny small leaves are tightly arranged on a compact evergreen shrub to 3' tall and as wide. Full sun and well drained soil. Small but showy white flowers in summer followed by white berries. Deliciously aromatic foliage. Warm location with good air circulation. Little water in summer.
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.
Lomatia tinctoria
Myrtus communis var. tarentina
Plants for problem areas
Shrubs L-N
Leptospermum humifusum ‘Squiggly’
Leptospermum namadgiensis
Magnolia laevifolia