Coronilla valentina ssp Glauca ‘Variegata’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Papillionaceae
Long name for a wonderful little winter blooming scandent shrub. Small evergreen leaves tipped in white with abundant and very fragrant yellow flowers nearly year round. Excellent greenhouse plant-beautiful container plant if pruned. Blooms on new wood. Full sun with occasional water in summer. To 4' tall and spreading as wide. Nice trained along a fence or in a sheltered corner to protect the flowers from hard freezes.
Coprosma acerosa form brunnei Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rubiaceae
A cold hardy evergreen of fine texture. Stems trail over and around rocks or other obstructions simulating the flow of water. Small brown leaves take on tinges of black in cold weather. To 1' tall and at least 6' wide, can be trimmed to keep in bounds. Full sun to light shade with occasional summer water. Roots where stems hit the ground. Insignifcant flowers. Lovely winter effect- and a great texture on a slope. New Zealand.
Coprosma ‘Beatson’s Gold’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Rubiaceae
'Beatson's Gold' is a cold hardy Coprosma that makes an excellent low garden shrub or container plant. To 3' tall and as wide quickly, it takes pruning well as well as less than perfect conditions. Full sun to part shade and average to rich soil with occasional summer water. Tolerant of neglect in containers. Evergreen- loses some leaves in hard winters (below 15∞). Mass plantings make a cool pattern on hillsides.
Coprosma x ‘Black Cloud’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Rubiaceae
A fantastic black leaved evergreen shrub from New Zealand. Small, glossy green leaves stained with black on handsomely patterned branches. Great in containers with Libertia peregrinans and Sedum makinoi 'Ogon'. Full sun, in a protected location. Spreading habit to 4' tall and 5' wide. Insignificant small white flowers. Regular water in summer. Hardier to cold than listed in text books and cool, very cool. Excellent evergreen foliage.
Coprosma x ‘Evening Glow’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Rubiaceae
A spectacular variegated plant that is tender to cold, BUT, is much more tolerant of adverse weather conditions that, say, Coleus and will often overwinter. A seaside evergreen shrub from New Zealand with shiny leaves decorated in orange and gold, green and red. Full sun to light shade. To 2' tall in a year and as wide. Regular water. Tip prune to control the size. Undamaged in a container to 18ºF. Superpretty!
Coprosma x kirkii ‘Variegata’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Rubiaceae
Cold hardy and a very groovy garden plant. This little spreading evergreen shrub makes a great addition to the front of a border or a container. 2' tall and 4' wide. Great with ornamental grasses in the fall and winte nice looking year round. Full sun to light shade with occasional summer water. Tough. This plant was totally hardy at 10∞F. Good in rock gardens. Accepts trimming well. Related to Gardenias...no WAY!
Coprosma ‘Rainbow Surprise’ Zn9a (20º to 25ºF) Rubiaceae
A spreading tender evergreen shrub that we like to refer to as 'Willy Wonka Boxwood'. To 20" tall and as wide in a season, the variegated glossy leaves make it a great container element or even as part of a seasonal bed. Full sun to light shade with average soil and water. A GREAT winter container plant, if it is protected from temperatures below 20∞F. Looks shiny and fresh for a long time. Takes autumn rain and wind well.
Coprosma ‘Roy’s Red’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Rubiaceae
Brilliantly glossy- almost lacquered leaves make this tender shrub an eye catching container plant. It will take wind and heavy rain and quite a bit of neglect, remaining handsome until a very hard freeze- usually until December. Full sun to part shade and well drained soil. To 20" tall and as wide in a season. Takes blasting reflected heat well in containers and less than perfect conditions. Protect from temps below 20∞F. Thanks Roy!
Correas ‘Dusky Bells’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Rutaceae
Without a doubt one of the best winter flowering shrubs for containers. Correa 'Dusky Bells' displays pendant red bells from fall through early spring. Excellent in part shade to full sun with occasional water. To 20" tall and as wide. Protect container from temperatures below 20∞F- usually moving it up on the porch is sufficient. After a freeze move out again. Stunning. Hardy in the ground in protected locations- esp. close to Puget Sound.
Corokia cotoneaster Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Cornaceae
Why, its not a Cotoneaster at all, infact Corokia is a member of the dogwood family and evolved its twisted zigzagging stems and small leaves to fend off grazing by giant birds in New Zealand. The birds are now extinct and we are left with this shrub as a natural bonsai. To 4' tall and 3' wide. Full sun to part shade. Regular water. Great winter container plant. Yellow flowers in summer followed by red berries.
Corokia cotoneaster ‘Little Prince’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cornaceae
A really good form of 'Netbush' with very silvery downy stems. To only 4' tall and as wide in full sun and well drained soil. Occasional summer irrigation, though quite tolerant of drought when established. Excellent for a fine, smoky texture in a mixed border. Small yellow flowers in summer. Adaptable to part shade, but no flowers. Loses some leaves in cold winters. Great container plant, protect container from temps below 20∞F.
Corokia x virgata ‘Bronze King’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cornaceae
A selected form of Corokia that has olive green foliage that attains tones of deep bronze during the cooler months. Moderate growing shrub for a protected location in full sun to light shade. Small yellow flowers in summer. Great textural container subject. To 4' tall and 3' wide in 5 years. Well drained soil with regular summer water. May lose some leaves in a colder than normal winter (below 15∞F) recovers quickly.
Corokia x virgata ‘Frosted Chocolate’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cornaceae
If the shrub didn't immediately get your attention surely the name will. CHOCOLATE. Zig zaggy stems on this evergreen hybrid Corokia make it a work of art and in winter foliage changes to an even deeper shade of brown....CHOCOLATE. To 3' tall and as wide in 5 years, this shrub appreciates a protected location or is delicious as an architectural component in a container. Regular water, full sun. CHOCOLATE.
Corokia x virgata ‘Sunsplash’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Cornaceae
Dramatic shrub for a protected location. This selection of the hybrid Corokia has leaves splashed with yellow and cream, as well as sage green. Part shade to sun, but not hot afternoon sun with regular summer water. To 5' tall and 3' wide. Excellent container plant. Evergreen and looks especially good in winter. Average to rich soil that drains well. Combine with Physocarpus o. 'Diablo' for great effects, astonished looks.
Cryptomeria japonica ‘Araucariodes’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Cupressaceae
Fantastic, exotic looking conifer with rope-like branches that are sparse and twisty when young but become denser with age. To 10' tall and forming a conical shape over time. Grows slowly in youth, picks up steam after several years. Full sun to light shade in WELL DRAINED soil, with regular summer water. Excellent specimen tree, well behaved. Always looks cool. Coldy hardy. Old selection of Japanese Cedar. Monkey Puzzle in miniature.
Cytisus battandieri Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Papillionaceae
Pineapple Broom from the high Atlas mountains of N. Africa is a tough and perfectly hardy small tree for our climate. In early summer intense yellow upright flowers have a tangy Pineapple fragrance. Fast growing semi-deciduous tree for well drained POOR soil. Little water when established. Multiple trunked to 12' and 8' wide at least. Not bothered by deer. Does not reseed. Blooms on old wood. syn. Argyrocytisus b. Espalier candidate.
‘Evening Glow’ is a tender evergreen shrub perfect for long season containers. It may be planted out when temps stay above 20ºF, and its impervious to wind, rain and heat.
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.
Shrubs
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