As June blossoms around us, painting our gardens with a vibrant palette of colors, we're absolutely thrilled to unveil an exciting array of plants that are sure to captivate your senses and transform your outdoor haven.
From delicate flowers to towering 60-foot trees, our curated selection showcases the diversity and beauty of nature's bounty. These botanical gems, some of which may have slipped under the radar or were once elusive, are now ready to take center stage in your landscaping endeavors.
Picture your garden adorned with the graceful blooms of vibrant perennials, the lush foliage of ornamental shrubs, and the majestic presence of towering trees swaying in the breeze. Dive into the details below, where each plant is lovingly described, and prepare to be inspired to elevate your outdoor space to new heights of beauty and tranquility!
Low Scape Mound® Chokeberry
Image source: Monrovia Nurseries
Description:
As cute as a button yet tough as nails, this innovative dwarf aronia may be the closest thing yet to a perfect landscape plant. Adaptable to most any soils, this little beauty offers dark glossy foliage, loads of white flowers in spring, black summer fruit, and intense red foliage in autumn. Ideal for low-maintenance, appealing mass planting.
Species Specs
Height: 1-2’
Spread: 2-3’
Shape: Mounded
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Foliage: Dark Green
Zone: 3-9
Plant Care:
Water deeply, regularly during first growing season to establish an extensive root system; tolerates dry spells, once established. Blooms on old wood; prune only as needed to shape. Remove suckers to control unwanted spread.
Ivory Silk® Japanese Tree Lilac
Image source: Conservation Garden Park
Description:
This Sheridan Nursery selection has a sturdy, more compact, oval growth habit than Japanese tree lilac. A most attractive small flowering tree with cherry-like bark, it bears large creamy white flower clusters in early July. It will perform best in full sun. (®)
Species Specs
Height: 25’
Spread: 15’
Shape: Compact, oval
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Dark Green
Zone: 3-8
Plant Care:
Mulching can help to suppress weeds and hold in the moisture of the ground. In the first season, you want to water it to help establish in your landscape. After that growing season, the lilac will become tolerant of drier conditions but during periods of extreme heat, this lilac requires additional waterings.
Majestic Skies™ Northern Pin Oak
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
Majestic Skies™ is a distinct improvement over the species with straighter branching and a more symmetrical shape. Foliage emerges red in spring and is more substantial and darker green than the species. Excellent red fall color. Northern pin oaks prefer to grow in full sun with deep, well-drained soil.
Species Specs
Height: 60’
Spread: 45’
Shape: Conical in youth, maturing to broad oval
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Thick Glossy Green
Zone: 3-6
Plant Care:
Young trees require consistent moisture, especially in the first two years. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for trees, following the manufacturer's instructions. Pruning should be limited in the first few years to remove dead or damaged branches. Once established, prune to maintain the desired shape and to remove any crossing or crowded branches.
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
Fiber Optics® is a distinct improvement over the coarser species that grows twice the size of this compact selection. Native from Florida to Mexico and north to Nova Scotia and Ontario, buttonbush is quite happy in moist conditions, tolerating flooding and wet spring soil. As such it is often used in wetland restoration work, along streams and pond banks. It’s an ideal choice for low areas in the landscape that stay moist. Conversely, it grows well without excessive moisture. Fiber Optics® has exceptional wildlife benefits including nectar filled flowers and the seed is eaten by waterfowl.
Species Specs
Height: 5-6’
Spread: 5-6’
Shape: Compact, rounded
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Bright Green
Zone: 4-9
Plant Care:
During the first growing season, water the Fiber Optics® Buttonbush regularly to help establish a strong root system. Fertilize the Fiber Optics® Buttonbush in early spring, using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or an organic alternative, such as compost or well-rotted manure. Minimal pruning is required to maintain the shape of the Fiber Optics® Buttonbush.