New Trees and Shrubs for 1999

Flower & Garden Magazine, April, 1999

The following tree and shrub selections complete Flower and Garden's spring effort to provide up-to-date information on the new plant introductions for 1999. The entries include a name, description and source for each plant. Extended source information is provided on page 67.

Variegated glossy abelia, or Abelia x grandiflora `Sunrise,' has deep red stems on new growth and narrow leaves edged in bright yellow. From summer into fall, fragrant, pink-flushed white flowers appear. In winter, the evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves turn a bronzy red. It needs full sun and moist, well-drained soil. This abelia may reach 3 to 5 feet with equal spread. Hardy to Zone 6. Fair-weather Gardens, Monrovia

Groundsel bush, or Baccharis halimifolia `Orient Point,' is grown principally for the silky white seed heads that cover the plant in fall, but on this selection the base of the seed head is red. Baccharis has gray-green foliage and grows well in full sun and moist soils. It's especially well-adapted to seashore plantings, where it tolerates salt spray and wind. It grows irregularly mounded to 5 to 12 feet. Zones 4-9. Fairweather Gardens

Yellow-flowered Weigela, or Weigela subsessilis `Canary,' has soft yellow flowers in clusters that bloom in mid- to late-April in the Mid-Atlantic region. This shrub grows to 10 feet with equal spread in full sun and well-drained soil. Zones 5-9. Fairweather Gardens

Pink flowered Silver Bell, or Halesia monticola `Rosea,' is a deciduous tree up to 75 feet tall with 1-inch, rosy pink, bell-shaped flowers in early spring. It grows best in filtered light or ideally where it gets shade from the afternoon sun. Zones 5-9. Louisiana Nursery

Camellia sinensis `Teabreeze' is a tea camellia with white, single, fragrant flowers produced in late autumn. This shrub has evergreen foliage with a deep purplish blush and needs partial shade or full sun. Zones 7-10. Heronswood Nursery

Hydrangea sikkokiana is a rare species of hydrangea from Japan with enormous scalloped foliage, similar to an oakleaf hydrangea. Its stems rise to 8 feet and it has large, white flowers in midsummer. It takes partial to full shade and any soils with supplemental summer water. Zones 6-9. Heronswood Nursery

Mahonia gracilipes is a shrub with evergreen leaves undercoated in a brilliant white `bloom.' Its spidery orange-red flowers are produced in late summer and autumn, followed by striking blue fruit. It takes partial shade in any well-drained, humus-rich soil. Zones 7-10. Heronswood Nursery

Mirror Plant `Pink Splendor' (Coprosma repens `Pink Splendor') takes full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. This evergreen shrub is 6 feet high and wide. The glossy leaves mature from light green to dark green with a rosy pink cast.

The leaves have yellow variegated margins. Zones 9-10. Monrovia

Ninebark `Diabolo' (Physocarpus opulifolius `Monlo' PPAF) has dark red foliage and clusters of creamy white flowers in the summer. It's a deciduous shrub that grows well in sun or shade, although the foliage coloring is best in sun. It reaches 9 to 12 feet high and wide. Zones 3-7. Monrovia

Variegated mandarin orange `Calamondin' (Citrus reticulata `Calamondin Variegata') is a prolific, year-round bearer of 1/2- to 1-inch fruits. It's a hybrid of kumquat and sour mandarin. The fruits are sour, but when sweetened, they are good for drinks or marmalade. Both the fruit and leaves are variegated. This evergreen reaches 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Zones 9-11. Monrovia

Thornless blackberry `Triple Crown' has large, glossy berries with a blend of sweetness and tartness. It's good for fresh eating, in jams, jellies and other treats. The fruits ripen in early July in Zone 5 and up to two weeks earlier than the industry standard, `Chester.' Zones 5-8. Stark Brothers, Nourse Farms Inc.

Dwarf bamboo `Whitestripe' (Pleioblastus variegatus) grows quickly in filtered shade. It can also be grown inside, since it tolerates low light. It reaches about 3 feet in height, and its dark green foliage has cream stripes. Its rhizomes grow rapidly, so measures may need to be taken to keep it from becoming invasive. Zones 7-11. Monrovia

Cherry `Balaton' has sweet fruits that ripen over an extended period, creating a longer season. It's great for juices and preserves. It's self-pollinating, but it bears larger crops with pollination from any other cherry. The fruits ripen in late June in Zone 5. Zones 5-8. Stark Brothers

Red raspberry `Lauren' yields large, sweet berries. They are good to eat fresh or cooked in jams, jellies and desserts. It's winter hardy and resistant to root rot. The fruits ripen in late June in Zone 5. Zones 5-7. Stark Brothers

`Prelude' is a summer raspberry that can be grown as an everbearer, although the majority of its crop comes in early spring. This makes it early amongst summer reds. Nourse Farms Inc.

`Redstart' currant is a very productive plant that flowers late, avoiding spring frost damage. These upright bushes are hardy and grow to 3 to 4 feet. They are resistant to common fungal diseases. The fruits ripen around August. Zones 4-6. Stark Brothers