Helichrysum thianshanicum

Useful and tough shrub that is the whitest gray that you can imagine. Evergreen plant that forms a rounded shrub to 2′ x 3′. In summer tall spikes carry umbels of striking soft yellow flowers. Very pretty and attractive to a host of pollinators.  Adapted to the absolutely poorest soils and thrives without any appreciable irrigation. It may be cut back hard after flowering for a more compact plant. First rate foliage plant for contrast that does not rat out or go funky as older Lavender plants can. Extremely cold hardy and drought adapted.In fact this exotic competes very well with invasive weeds and no water landscapes. Native to Mongolia. Excellent plant for winter containers.

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Helianthemum ‘The Bride’

The combination of silver evergreen foliage and the clear white pristine flowers of this perennial is exceptional. To 6″ and spreading May to June the foliage is obscurred by a daily supply of flowers. Very showy. Full sun and light but consistent summer water. Cut back hard when blooming has ended. This yields a more compact tidier plant. Good deer resistance. Banks, hillsides, parking medians. To 3′ wide.

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Helianthemum ‘Cheviot’

Sunroses are great flowery perennials for hillsides and the front of borders. Low growing gray evergreen foliage is a great foil to the 1″ pale pastel apricot flowers that obscure the whole plant for weeks in mid-late spring. To 8″ tall  x 2′ wide. But back hard after flowering to encourage a denser more compact plant. Light, regular summer water is important- avoid total dust dry conditions. Mix with Pacific Coast iris and Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ for a swoon worthy effect. Some deer resistance  but not impervious. Each single flower lasts one day but masses of flowers appear opening in full sun, for weeks.

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Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’

Indispensible alpine cold hardy Hebe with an astonishingly uniform dense habit. Rounded to 30″ tall and up to 4′ wide in time. Blue gray foliage is handsome at all times. In summer sporadic white flower spikes dot the plant. Full sun to light shade in average to rich well drained soil Light, but consistent summer irrigation. Especially important for it to be well hydrated before extreme heat (above 100ºF). Excellent hedge, massed as a tall ground cover. Very cold hardy- not bothered by our coldest winters and of alpine derivation in its home in New Zealand. Formerly known as Hebe sutherlandii. Excellent as low informal hedge or even massed as a symmetrical ground cover.This form has been consistently hardy down to 0ºF. Excellent performance in cold rural gardens. Tolerates some subfreezing wind.    Xera favorite shrub.

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Hebe ‘Wingletye’

One the best Hebes that we have grown that offers cold hardiness, showy flowers, and a useful low spreading habit. This ground cover Hebe with gray foliage and held on black stems spreads nearly prostrate to form a low dense shrub. In early summer the whole plant is smothered in deep violet purple flowers- among the showiest flowers of  any cold hardy Hebe. Stems arch up and then immediately down cruising along at a moderate clip.  To 6″ tall and 3′ wide in full sun and well drained soil. Light summer water when established. Excellent plant for slopes (the stems root where they touch the ground) as well as rock gardens. Placed near a wall or container edge and it will gracefully spill over the edge following closely the contour of any object. Plant density inhibits weeds effectively and it can make a useful ground cover placed on 2′ centers. Very tough little evergreen shrub and always good looking.

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Halimiocistus x wintonensis

Clever llttle rockrose that deserves a place in a protected, hot, sunny aspect. Sage green dense foliage is a great backdrop to the spectacular 3″ wide cupped flowers. They are white with a zone of maroon at the base around a yellow center. Fun! Blooms daily for 4 weeks in May-June. To 2′ x 2′ quickly in RICH well drained soil in full sun. Light summer water. Great performance in the reflected heat of hellstrips. Beautiful in bloom. Combine with native hardy annuals for a wonderful wildflower spring display. No water necessary. Forms a rounded shape. Best with occasional summer soaks but tolerates drought..  Moderate deer resistance. Very good performance at the Oregon coast.

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Halimium ocymoides

Golden rockrose (Halmium)  is the other genus apart from Cistus. This dense rounded shrub to 2′ x 3′ is clad in evergray foliage and appreciates average, well drained soil in full, all day sun. Water to establish then only light occasional summer water. Blooms which are bright yellow and silky have a central zone of burgundy. One of the common monikers is ‘Black Eyed Susan Shrub’. Produces a great wildflower display for weeks in May to July. Lifespan is about 5-7 years but flowering is so profuse and long the risk is worth it. Cold hardy to 5ºF. Mediterranean native. Plant with Cistus, Grevilleas, Arctostaphylos, Pacific Coast Iris. Prune lightly after blooming has ended to shape, encourage a denser habit.

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Halimium lasianthum ‘Sandling’

Gray spreading upright evergreen shrub that celebrates late spring into summer with profuse 2″ wide bright yellow silky flowers with a conspicuous tomato red blotch at the base of each petal. Each flower lasts but a day but there is such a profusion of blooms  waiting in the wings that they occur daily for 4-6 weeks from May to July. To 3′ tall and 4′ wide quickly in poor to average well drained soil. Water to establish then water lightly and infrequently during summer. Excellent performance in Hellstrips. Blooms simultaneously with Ceanothus ‘Victoria’ the blue and yellow blossoms a classic combination and both shrubs appreciate the same culture. Cold hardy to 5ºF.

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Hakea epiglottis

Beaked Hakea. Out of this world wiry shrub from Tasmania that forms nearly a tree with modified stems that serve as leaves. Fast growing see through plant that casts no shade for full sun and average to poor well drained soil. Proteaceous- avoid fertilizers and compost. Completely drought adapted needing no supplemental water once established.  Water regularly until new growth commences . Forms a large piece of architecture. In early spring tiny sulphur yellow flowers crowd the leaf axils and emit a sweet clove fragrance. Very easy to grow. Cold hardy to 5ºF but avoid blasting subfreezing winds from the gorge. Completely deer resistant. Very inviting  to small birds who will swarm the shrub to find protection in its wiry center- Bush tits adore this shrub To 8′ x 6′ in 5 years. Specimen, unusual hedgerow. Excellent cut material for groovy bouquets. Very fun to grow. Pronounced HAY-kee-uh.

 

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Grevillea juniperina ‘Pink Lady’

A pretty shrub for a protected location.  Compact growing evergreen shrub with medium green needle-like foliage. To 2′ x 4′ in 5 years. Nearly year round-but peaking in spring, copious light pink curly flowers are loved by hummers. Protected location in virgin, un-improved soil. Drought adapted when established.  Excellent on a hot south facing slope- avoid crowding by other plants or an exposed cold site. Its possible that this is a hybrid and not pure G. juniperina. However, there is so much variability in this species that we are unsure. Extremely drought tolerant but it seems to grow faster and bloom more profusely with light water in summer. This plant is great at the Oregon coast where it is in nearly full bloom year round. It has survived undamaged in my garden for 9 years and has endured temperatures to 10ºF undamaged. It could be much hardier (when established). Limited qualities.

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