Sometimes I come across a plant that is really unusual or beautiful. I don’t spend as much time as I used to at nurseries or perennial farms, but when I do go there, I always look to see if I can find anything special. Over the years I have found a number of plants that are really unique. I’d like to share some of them with you.
I like to use some plants or trees in my landscapes that have four seasons of interest. For example, maybe flowers in the spring, a fruit in the summer, beautiful fall color, and an interesting bark in the winter. Something to see all year round. Or I also like plants and flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. I’ve installed all types of landscapes and gardens, and many times a goal of mine is to have something blooming or of interest happening in the landscape all year round.
One project that I did years ago, was a landscape around a pool that was more or less a Japanese maple garden. I used a lot of different varieties of maples that all were different from each other in color, leaf shape and growing habits. The garden was really beautiful in the fall with all their vibrant colors.
Another area of interest of mine is to create a natural environment around ponds. When I build a pond, I’m always amazed at the wildlife that it often attracts, and to build upon that pond’s natural ecosystem with plants and flowers that help to support and sustain that wildlife is really cool. Birds, squirrels, butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, frogs, and many others will come to visit.
This is a very rare, but amazing tree. It’s called a dove tree or handkerchief tree. Davidia involucrata. The flowers in late spring look like handkerchiefs or doves wings hanging all over the tree. This was my tree at my old house. We since moved, and I wish that I could have taken this tree with me. I have never seen another one.
Above we have Kniphofia “Red Hot Poker”, A variety of Lupine called “Manhattan Lights”, Crocosmia, a hummingbird favorite and a Passion Flower Vine.
Nandina domestica….Heavenly bamboo. great plant for all year interest. Evergreen that has white flowers in the spring, red berries in the fall and a purple-red fall / winter color. Stays very compact about four feet tall. On the right is Witchhazel, with yellow or orange-red flowers in the late winter. Southern Magnolia… an evergreen with large white fragrant flowers in summer. Cryptomeria or japanese cedar, my favorite evergreen. They grow fast, stay very pyramidal, and get a nice orangey tint in the winter. Plus the deer do not touch them! A hummingbird favorite is this Rockin’ deep purple salvia. Winterberry is a type of holly without the spiny leaves. A large shrub that is often used for the Christmas holidays as decoration. An Oak-Leaf Hydrangea has large oak leaf shaped leaves and large white showy flowers in summer. Sensation lilac…variegated purple and white flowers that are surprisingly not fragrant, unlike many other lilacs. A ‘Carol Mackie’ daphne. Compact variegated leaves and extremely fragrant flowers. Like perfume! And finally Pineapple Sage. The bright red flowers cover this plant in the fall, and the leaves smell really sweet!
Other Plants And Trees Worthy Of Mentioning
Blueberries
Crape Myrtles
Franklinia Trees
Montgomery Blue Spruce
‘Hoopsi’ or ‘Backeri’ Blue Spruce
Gold Mound Spirea
Golden Japanese Forest Grass
Stewartia Tree
Japanese Maples….’Bloodgood’, ‘Shishigashira’ or Lions Mane Maple, ‘Butterfly Maple’, ‘Full Moon Maple’, and red and green lace leaf varieties.
Oregon Grape Holly
Big leaf Magnolia
Corneliancherry Dogwood
Miss Kim Lilac
Astilbe, Echinacea, Heuchera ‘Coral Bells’
Hostas, Lobilia ‘Cardinal Flower’, Salvia,