Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegata’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rhamnaceae
One of the most striking and beautiful evergreen shrubs for foliage. Fast growing plant to 8' tall and 6' wide with a very airy, but neat look about it. Cream edged leaves contrast well with red/brown stems for an unusually graceful combination. Full sun and well drained soil. Tiny flowers give way to red fruit in winter. Excellent as cut foliage. Drought tolerant when established. Hardier to cold in full, hot sun. Good fast hedge.
Rhaphiolepis umbellata Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rosaceae
Yeddo Hawthorne, has been grown in the PNW for many years but has been very scarce lately. Clean dome shaped evergreen that is a MUST for a Japanese garden. To 5' tall and as wide (slowly) in average soil with occasional summer water. White flowers in late spring followed by handsome blue berries that persist. Extremely tolerant of drought. Hardier to cold, less susceptible to blackspot than
R. indica. Nice structural element. Native to Japan.
Ribes x gordonianum Zn4b (-25º to -20ºF) Grossulariaceae
Spectacular hybrid of two North American native currants, R. odoratum with yellow flowers and our locally native R. sanguineum. The result is a tough shrub with amazing spring flowers. Drooping racemes of deep coral red on the outside open to reveal yellow on the inside. From a distance the effect is orange. To 4 ' tall and as wide in shade or full sun. Occasional water in summer. Gold/orange fall color. Deciduous. VERY adaptable.
Ribes laurifolium Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Grossulariaceae
In late winter when other plants are just beginning to wake up this small, evergreen Currant is already at its peak with racemes of bright chartreuse flowers that are great with the cinnamon red stems and dark green leaves. To only 3' tall and arching-spreading. Light shade or an open north exposure. Nice with Hellebores and Snowdrops. Regular water. Prune in late spring, blooms on old wood, remove horizontal branches to increase height.
Ribes sanguineum ‘Brocklebankii’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Grossulariaceae
The golden leaved version of our native Flowering Currant makes a very dramatic
splash in the spring woodland garden with bright pink flowers held against emerging golden leaves. The rest of the season it serves as a bright foliage plant for part shade to high overhead shade in rich humusy soil. Occasional summer water. Blooms on wood from the previous year- prune in summer if needed. To 6’ tall and as wide in 5 years.
Rosa ‘Bengal Fire’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Rosaceae
Single red roses that are slightly fragrant compliment the bronze/bluish foliage. Full sun to light shade, regular water, though tolerant of neglect. To 5' tall, 4' wide. Prune out old wood in March. Blooms continuously on new wood till frost. No blackspot, mildew. AKA.'Bengal Red',' Atrosanguinea'. A fantastic garden plant. Tolerant of a considerable amount of neglect when established.
Rosa ‘Darlow’s Enigma’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Rosaceae
A large growing rose with a constant supply of INTENSELY fragrant single white flowers from late spring to frost. Gray green foliage, to 10’ tall and as wide over time. IDEAL trained up a pillar or pergola for full sun and rich soil with regular water. May be pruned hard in early spring. Wonderful wild looking rose with no problems of disease. Possible hybrid with Rosa moschata- discovered in a garden in a garden in Eugene. LOVE IT!
Rosa glauca Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Rosaceae
A beautiful, tough, durable shrub with amazing smoky purple leaves and single pink flowers that are followed in fall by orange-red hips. To 12' and arching, accomodate for its size, it will reach it quickly. An amazing foliage foil plant for exhilarating garden combinations. Full sun to light shade, occasional water. Eventual scaffolding for clematis in any color. Tolerates much drought when established. Syn. Rosa rubrifolia.
Rosa ‘Lyda Rose’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Rosaceae
Unsurpassed in disease resistance and shade tolerance ‘Lyda’ is one of the true great roses for PNW gardens. Cymes of very fragrant single, light pink flowers appear continuously from May until frost. To 6' tall and as wide, may be pruned hard in early spring. Full sun to part shade to high overhead shade. Regular water and rich soil. Excellent in mixed borders or practically anywhere. Informal, wild appearance.
Rosa x odorata ‘Mutabilis’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Rosaceae
An incredibly tough species rose that derives its name from its single slightly fragrant flowers that open a buff cream on the first day and then slowly change to dark pink before they shatter, an amazing bicolor effect with the dark foliage. Blooms continuously from spring until fall. Nearly impervious to disease. Full sun. To 5' tall and 3' wide. Prune in March. Easy. Striking with white flowered Lavender. Occasional water.
Rosa ‘Radway Sunrise’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Rosaceae
Fantastic shrub rose that is worth seeking out. Single fragrant flowers (4" across) open light yellow with a hint of orange and change to deep carmine over several days. To 4' tall and as wide in full sun, rich soil with regular summer water. Remove spent flowers for fast rebloom. Prune in late February- remove old wood smaller than a pencil. Spectacular simple flowers. VERY good disease resistance. Good container rose. Great garden rose.
Rosa ‘Yellow Butterfly’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Rosaceae
GREAT ROSE! Trusses of profuse single flowers open yellow and then slowly fade to white. The two toned effect is wonderful. To 3' tall and as wide-compact. Prune in March. Full sun to light shade in rich soil with regular water. Excellent mixed border shrub, pretty w/ lavender. Great in summer containers. Little to no disease. Light sweet fragrance. Rapid rebloom- continuous flowers. Resembles R. 'mutabilis' in yellow and white.
Rubus cockburnianum ‘Golden Vale’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Rosaceae
A gold-leaved ghost of a bramble with canes that are light powdered blue and are almost as showy with their swirly habit in winter as the bright chartreuse green leaves are in summer. To 8' tall and forming a vase shaped clump. Part shade and rich garden soil with regular water in summer. Great underplanted with black mondo grass or Helleborus x 'Sternii'. Plant away from a path to avoid prickles.
Rubus spectabilis ‘Golden Ruby’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Rosaceae
Brilliant gold leaved form of our native Salmon Berry that is perfect for brightening
up shady woodlands. Deciduous thicket forming plant to 5' tall or taller and forming a patch as wide. Great in rough conditions in the woods. Brilliant dark pink flowers are followed by sweet orange fruits in summer. Spreads at the root. Give it space to grow. Part shade to shade. Occasional summer water in well drained soil. Great native.
Salix eleagnos Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Salicaceae
One of the best garden willows, forming a small tree with thin, long, silvery leaves and in winter stems of bright glowing red. To 10' tall by 8' tall, but easily pruned smaller. Average soil with occasional summer water. LOVES clay soil, but needs sun to perform. Yellow fall color. Excellent fine texture is reminiscent of an olive tree and works well in borders or as a specimen. Stems hold up well in ice and snow.
Salix exigua Zn2a (-50º to -45ºF) Salicaceae
Native to a large area of interior North America, including Oregon, Coyote Willow has long silvery leaves and is a lovely backdrop in a border or meadow.To 10' tall and forming a thicket. Tolerant of drought when established. Extremely easy to grow. Deciduous. Fantasic foliage plant that is more appreciated in England than here. Very pretty when wind brushes the foliage. Established plants may be pruned hard in early spring.
Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Buxaceae
The best form of Christmas Box with deep merlot-red stems and large flowers.Evergreen shrub w/ small white flowers from late January through April that cast a wonderful fragrance for yards around. To 2' tall and forming a patch as wide in part shade to shade. Occasional water during the dry summer months improves blooming, appearance. Average to enriched soil that is not boggy. Small black berries in summer. Not bothered by deer. Excellent shrub.
Sarcococca orientalis Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Buxaceae
Sporting the largest, and possibly the most fragrant winter flowers this small evergreen shrub is the best of the genus. To 3' tall and as wide arching stems are spangled with fragrant white flowers from December to March. Part shade to shade with occasional water in summer and good drainage. Appreciates cool roots. Very formal looking plant that that is handsome year round, the white flowers are actually showy! Rare. Not bothered by deer.
Sarcococca saligna Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Buxaceae
This variety of sweetbox is one of the best FALL blooming shrubs. Small green flowers with the intense fragrance of Jasmine October through January- decidedly different fragrance than other Sarcococca.. To 3' tall and arching as wide its a handsome evergreen for protected places in part shade to shade. Well drained soil with occasional summer water. Established plants sucker to expand the clump. Not often bothered by deer.
Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida Zn3a (-40º to -35ºF) Rosaceae
A fabulous Spiraea native to MT, WY, ID that is extremely drought tolerant but virtually unknown in gardens. To 3' tall and as wide producing flat corymbs of white-tinted pink flowers in May and June. Its best attribute is long lasting BRILLIANT RED and BURGUNDY FALL COLOR in Oct.-Nov. Full sun to part shade. Adaptable to clay soil and much or no water when established. Deciduous. ONE OF THE BEST Spiraeas for PNW..
Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’ Zn4b (-25º to -20ºF) Rosaceae
Lime green fine textured leaves add punch to this graceful deciduous shrub. Forming a mound to 4' tall and as wide it opens up early spring with sprays of pure white flowers immediately followed by the willow-like leaves. In fall, good tones of red and yellow develop before leaves drop. Full sun to light shade in good soil with regular summer water. Blooms on "old" wood. Prune after flowering. Takes full sun w/out burning.
Stachyurus salicifollius Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Stachyuraceae
A lovely graceful, arching evergreen shrub from China with long willowy leaves and in early spring chains of cream colored bell-shaped flowers. To 8' tall and forming a vase shaped shrub for part shade with regular water in summer. Average to lightly amended woodland soil that is never boggy. Prune after it blooms, flowers are formed on the wood of the previous season. Protect from subfreezing wind.
Ribes sanguineum ‘Brocklebankii’
Rosa ‘Radway Sunrise’
Rosa ‘Yellow Butterfly’
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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