Teucridium parviflorum Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Verbenaceae
A great textural plant that performs well as a seasonal plant in containers or as a sub-shrub in the ground. Thin, wiry stems with small spoon-shaped leaves and in late spring through summer small white flowers. Semi-evergreen to deciduous. To 30" tall and as wide in a single season if frozen to the ground. Regrows in spring, otherwise a small shrub. Full sun to light shade, rich soil and occasional irrigation. New Zealand.
Teucrium fruticans Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Lamiaceae
AKA "Tree Germander" this spreading gray-leaved shrub is excellent for sunny hot dry areas with well drained soil. To about 3' tall and as wide it may be sheared as a hedge or left to grow as an informal element. Blue flowers appear throughout the summer months. Drought tolerant, mediterranean native. Prune in early spring- can be pruned nearly to the ground then. Hardier to cold in poor soils. Ghostly gray in winter.
Vaccinium ovatum Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Ericaceae
Evergreen Huckleberry is hands down one of our most beautiful and useful native plants. New growth emerges tinted salmon pink. White/pink urn shaped flowers appear on the previous seasons growth and produce small, sweet black berries that ripen in late summer. Part shade to shade, OK in full sun with regular water. Natural rainfall when established. To 8' tall and 6' wide. Tip prune in winter. Great formal hedge or informal hedge.
Viburnum henryi Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Caprifoliaceae
A regal and rare evergreen Viburnum this large growing chinese species has a graceful habit and makes a lovely small garden tree. Long leathery leaves are very thin and allow you to see the horizontal branching structure. In early summer "cones" of foamy white flowers followed by showy red then black berries. To 9' tall and 8' wide, forming an umbrella shape over time. Part shade, humusy soil with regular summer water. Beautiful.
Viburnum japonicum Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Caprifoliaceae
Though you hardly ever see it this evergreen Viburnum is one of the prettiest of the genus. A rounded shrub with large and exceptionally glossy green leaves it produces beautiful lace-like corymbs of white flowers (up to 4" across) in spring. Flowers are followed by profuse red berries. Part shade to shade in moist, humusy woodland soil.To 6' tall and as wide in 10 years in the PNW. Glossy leaves are exceptional during long gray months.
Viburnum opulus ‘Aureum’ Zn3a (-40º to -35ºF) Caprifoliaceae
A lovely large shrub/small tree for a garden with a high overstory of trees. To 12' tall with a multi-trunked vase shaped habit and foliage of a lovely bronze, golden green. In May disc shaped flowers surrounded by sterile florets that are followed by attractive red berries. Part shade or high overhead shade in regular soil, very tolerant of clay. Blooms on the previous year's wood. Occasional summer water. BRILLIANT red and orange fall color.
Viburnum propinquum Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Caprifoliaceae
Unusual but very handsome evergreen Viburnum of medium stature. Closely related to Viburnum davidii, it has much more elegance and grace. Venated glossy deep green leaves to 3” long and 1” wide and are held from twigs that are deep merlot red. ODD
flowers for a Viburnum, tiny green flowers are held on 3” long filaments. Full sun to light shade. Very adaptable. Regular water in well drained soil. I was introduced to this
shrub just after the big freeze of 1990 in Eugene. My gardening friend Frank had me
over to survey the cold damage and he was surprised that it was undamaged by cold-
temperatures below 5ºF. To 4’ tall and as wide over time.
Vitex agnus-castus ‘Sensational’ Zn7b (0º to 5ºF) Verbenaceae
An improved selection of Chaste Tree with a profusion of lavender-blue flowers on strong stems. Flower spikes appear late July to October. The blooms on this variety are heavy and especially showy. Large palmate leaves on a deciduous shrub to 10' tall. Full hot sun and occasional summer water. Drought tolerant when established. Leaves appear late in spring. Blooms on new wood, may be hard pruned in winter to maintain a smaller shrub.
Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Blue Sky’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Ericaceae
Excllent form of an excellent shrub with powdery blue foliage and copious lightly fragrant white bells in late spring. To 4’ tall and as wide over time. Requires well drained acidic soil that retains both moisture and air. Foliage is slow to shed in autumn but not before an extended show of brilliant vermillion and light yellow. Fall color can extend into December.
A native of mountains and poor acid soils in the south eastern United States. Mulch with
bark and feed very lightly with cottonseed meal in May.
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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