Illicium mexicanum Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Illiciaceae
Mexican Anise Shrub is a beautiful and exotic hardy evergreen. To 5' tall and as wide it produces deep red, starfish flowers ( 2" across) in early spring and occasionally again in summer.Star shaped seed pods follow. Beautiful shrub for a woodland-surprisingly well adapted to the PNW despite its origins. Regular summer water. Flowers have an "odd " scent, that does not carry. Appreciates the same conditions as Rhododendrons.
Indigofera amblyantha Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Papillionaceae
Supremely graceful but tough deciduous shrub from China Fountain-like stems rise from multiple trunks and are clad with fine textured leaves. In the axils of each leaf is a vertical spike of delicate blush pink pea flowers- a beautiful effect. Full sun to light shade. Blooms on new wood- may be cut back hard in early spring. Average to rich soil, regular summer water. Flowers begin in mid-June continue with new growth to frost. To 6' tall and 4' wide.
Indigofera heterantha Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Papillionaceae
Tough as nails but elegant and extremely free flowering. This pea shrub produces rose-pink flowers in continuing flushes through the growing season. To 5' tall and as wide it blooms on new growth and can be kept quite a bit smaller. Full sun to part shade in average to good soil with occasional summer water. Extremely tolerant of dry conditions when established. Deciduous in winter. Prune in early spring.
Itea ilicifolia Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Iteaceae
An incredibly elegant evergreen shrub To 8' tall and 6' wide, in summer it is bedecked in 12" long fragrant chains of green flowers. The effect is of a chandelier or waterfall. Part shade to shade in a PROTECTED LOCATION such as a woodland. Excellent courtyard espalier subject. Water in summer. Blooms on the previous season's wood. Prune after flowering. Dislikes subfreezing wind- but is hardy to cold. Graceful and refined shrub.
Jasminum fruticans Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Oleaceae
Italian Jasmine is a deciduous shrub native to the mountainsides bordering the Mediterranean. To 4' tall and as wide it produces copious amounts of small, fragrant yellow flowers, with an initial large flush in late spring and then continuously until fall. Full sun and well drained soil. Tolerant of drought and heat. Prune in summer. Spreads by runners that stabilize the soil. Cold Hardy. Blooms along time. Great plant, works well with Ceanothus.
Jasminum humile Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Oleaceae
Himalayan jasmine is a fine textured, graceful, deciduous shrub with lightly fragrant yellow flowers that appear all summer. Adaptable to both full sun or dark shade it is somewhat drought tolerant. You really can't go wrong with this delightful plant. The stems are bright green to shiny black in winter. To 5' tall and as wide. Adapted to life with bamboo. Delicate nodding flowers for a long season. Pretty in a woodland. Shiny black berries.
Jasminum nudiflorum ‘Aureum’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Oleaceae
Hmmm. A gold leaved Winter Jasmine. What do I do with this? I'll tell you what to do- you plant it in a woodland and let it become a little fountain 3' tall and 4' wide and you LOVE the cheerful winter flowers. Then, you plant golden Japanese Forest Grass and Hosta 'Thunderbolt' nearby and spend all summer rocking yourself with delight. May be trained as a scandant vine. Drought tolerant when established. Sun or shade. Deciduous.
Jasminum nudiflorum ‘Mystique’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Oleaceae
A stunning form of the legendarily tough Winter Jasmine with white edged leaves and stems. Smaller growing, it forms an arching clump 2' tall and only 3' wide. Cheery bright yellow flowers in mid-winter to spring. Light shade to full sun. Light watering and tolerant of dry conditions when established. Easily woven though a fence or lattice as it grows. Blooms on old wood. Prune thoughtfully in mid-spring. Handsome summer foliage plant.
Jasminum parkeri Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Oleaceae
A delightful, deciduous and very long blooming shrubby Jasmine. Profuse butter yellow flowers are lightly fragrant and appear from May until frost. Tolerates very hot and dry locations but is ammenable to regular water as well. To 1' tall and spreading to 2' wide over time. Stems root where they touch the ground. Tiny leaves appear in early May. Shear lightly to improve form and blooming wood. Native to the Himalayan foothills. Likes heat.
Kerria japonica ‘Albiflora’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Rosaceae
A lovely white flowered form of this incredibly tough deciduous shrub. Vase shaped to 8' tall with green stems and in April a profusion of single white flowers. Excellent for DRY SHADE to part shade. Tolerant of drought when established. Prune after flowering. Bare green stems are great for arrangements and can be brought indoors during winter to force into bloom. Sporadic bloom in summer. Heaviest bloom on the previous year's wood.
Kerria japonica ‘Kin Kan’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Rosaceae
A very old cultivar of Kerria with stems streaked and lined with cream and light green that is very dramatic in winter. In spring 1" orange/yellow single flowers spangle the stems and will often repeat sporadically through summer. Great for winter flower arrangements which will force the stems to leaf and bloom. Tough deciduous shrub for dry shade, to 6' tall and spreading to form a thicket over time. Blooms on old wood.
Kerria japonica ‘Picta’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Rosaceae
Excellent fine textured deciduous shrub for shade with arrow-shaped leaves delicately emargined in white. In early spring copious single gold flowers appear and then sporadically through summer. Lax, graceful habit to 5' tall and as wide. Adaptable to full sun, but not hot reflected heat. Does well in clay soil and some drought when established. Blooms heaviest on wood from the previous year, prune after blooming.
Indigofera amblyantha is a fantastic shrub with a great texture and delicate but showy blooms for months on end. It thrives in tough conditions. It may be cut back hard in early spring.
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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