Rhododendron 'Ramapo'

Ramapo' Rhododendron, Early Midseason Rhododendron, Evergreen Rhododendron

Exceptionally cold hardy and almost impossibly beautiful, Rhododendron 'Ramapo' is a very compact evergreen shrub that is highly rated for cold climates. In early to mid spring, it bears a profusion of small clusters of light violet-purple flowers which contrast beautifully with aromatic foliage. Small and round, the aromatic leaves open pale blue, deepen to blue-green before getting bronze-tinged in fall and winter. A very reliable performer, this showy and dense-growing Rhododendron is tough and can withstand temperatures as low as -25ºF (-32ºC). Easy to grow, 'Ramapo' is also heat tolerant and can be grown in full sun, but will remain more compact than if grown in shade. 

• Grows with a dense, bushy habit, up to 2 ft. tall (60 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm). 
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Rhododendron of the Year Award of the American Rhododendron Society for the North West region.
• A sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moist, acidic, humusy, well-drained soils. Tolerates full sun. Plant shallowly in a location protected from strong winter winds. Protect from frost to prevent damage to flowers. Mulch annually with leaf mould to retain moisture, control weeds, and cool the soil.
• Perfect for shrub borders or mixed borders, rock gardens, small gardens, containers and shade gardens. 
• Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and birds. 
• Removing spent flowers promotes new growth.
• All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Mentha requienii

Mentha requienii, commonly called Corsican mint or creeping mint, is a miniature mat-forming plant that typically grows to only 1/2" to 1" tall but spreads by thread-like stems which creep along the ground rooting as they go 12" wide or more to form a dense flat diminutive ground cover. It is particularly effective as an aromatic filler growing around stepping stones where light foot traffic will release a pleasing mint/sage aroma. Leaves are evergreen in mild winter climates but not in St. Louis. This mint is native to the Islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Montecristo. Tiny round green leaves (to 1/8" across) have a strong aroma when bruised. Leaves are the source of the flavoring in creme-de-menthe. Tiny minute lilac flowers bloom from the leaf axils in summer (late June -August). Flowers are so small they are often not seen.

Mahonia aquifolium

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly) is a striking evergreen shrub with multi-season interest. In spring, racemes of cheerful, bright golden-yellow flowers appear just above the leaves. Lightly fragrant, they attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of dark blue-purple, edible berries in late summer. Resembling small grapes, they attract birds and wildlife. They may be eaten fresh off the plant and make excellent jellies. The lustrous evergreen foliage of holly-like, leathery leaves, emerges bronze-red in spring, matures to glossy dark green by summer before turning deep burgundy in fall. This small ornamental shrub is the State Flower of Oregon.

• This broadleaf evergreen shrub has an upright to spreading habit and grows slowly, up to 3-6 ft. tall (90-180 cm) and 2-5 ft. wide (60-150 cm). Oregon Grape spreads by suckers to form colonies. Remove these suckers as they appear if you do not want this plant to naturalize.
• A part shade to full shade lover, this plant is easily grown in organically rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Prefers part shade and doesn't tolerate full sun. Protect your Oregon Grape from drying winds. Better fruit production if grown in groups
• Deer resistant
• No serious pest or disease issues. May be occasionally affected by rust and leaf spots, aphids, scale and whiteflies.
• Perfect when massed in shady borders, woodland gardens, foundation plantings, shade gardens. 
• Propagate by seeds, stem cuttings, or division of multi-stemmed parent plants.
• Native to Pacific Northwest from British Columbia to northern California

Rosa rugosa 'Hansa' (Rugosa Rose)

Rosa rugosa 'Hansa' is a vigorous, upright, suckering shrub boasting a profusion of remarkably fragrant, double, large, 4 in. across (10 cm), rich pinkish-purple flowers (17-25 petals) from early summer up to the first frost. They are followed by edible fruits that are as pretty as the flowers themselves. Resembling cherry tomatoes, the strike and ng scarlet rose hips, provide a beautiful contrast against the foliage of dark green leaves. The rose hips may be used to make jams and jellies. If left on the shrub, they might persist into winter to the delight of hungry birds who will feast on them during the winter months. Reliable, drought, and learned this easy-care shrub rose is wonderful when used as a specimen, flowering hedge or in the mixed border.

• Grows up from 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and 3-4 ft. wide (90-120 cm).
• Best grown in full sun to part shade, in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerant of poor soils, sandy soils, clay soils, salt and drought, t. Note that best flowering and disease resistance generally occur in full sun. For best flowering, apply a balanced fertilizer and mulch in late winter or early spring and a balanced fertilizer again in early summer.
• Featuring a bushy, upright habit, this ravishing shrub is a superb addition to borders and creates lovely fragrant flowering hedges. Perfect as a specimen plant. Give it some space so that its canes can soar or flop as they like, and enjoy their undisciplined habit. Because of its tolerance for salt and sand, this rose can be planted along ocean shores to help stabilize beaches and control beach erosion.
• Very disease resistant, but watch for black spot, rose rust and powdery mildews. May be affected by aphids, leafhoppers, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars and rose leaf-rolling sawfly
• Attractive to pollinating insects, butterflies and birds
• Do not remove spent flowers if you want to enjoy a beautiful crop of orange-red hips in fall and winter.
• Unlike most garden roses, rugosas object to heavy pruning. When you use them in landscaping, anticipate the fully-grown bush size and let them grow.
• Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn or by budding in the summer
• Bred by Schaum & Van Tol (Netherlands, 1905).
• Rosa rugosa species is native to Eastern Russia, Korea, Japan, Northern China.

Juncus effusus (Common Rush)

Common Rush, Soft Rush, Corkscrew Rush, Pin Rush, Sugar Grass, Bog Rush, Mat Rush

A good vertical accent plant, Juncus effusus (Common Rush) is a clump-forming, evergreen, rhizomatous perennial boasting smooth, upright, rounded, bright green stems that form arching fans. From late spring to summer, rounded heads of very small, greenish brown, scaly flowers emerge on the sides of the stems just below the stem tips. The foliage retains its color all year long in warm winter climates. In cold areas, it turns yellow in the fall before browning up for the winter. The strongly upright foliage of this species looks great in the water garden and provides a lovely background for other pond plants. Juncus effusus is considered to be a somewhat invasive weed in a number of locations.

• Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall and across (60-120 cm). This plant will spread in the landscape by rhizomes and by self-seeding.
• Performs best in full sun in moist to wet soils. While it thrives in consistently moist garden soil, it can also be planted in standing water to 4 in. deep (10 cm).
• This architectural grass is highly versatile. It may be grown at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas, in shallow water and may help control soil erosion on moist banks. Great for containers too.
• Requires very little care, is virtually disease-free, pest-free and provides year-round interest
• Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring.
• Propagate by division from mid-spring to early summer.
• Native to Eurasia, North America, Australia, New Zealand.

Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail)

Horsetail, Rough Horsetail, Dutch Rush, Dutch Rushes, Pewterwort, Scouring Rush, Shave Grass, Snake Grass, Scouringrush Horsetail

A good vertical accent plant, Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail) is a spreading, evergreen perennial boasting tall, slender, hollow, bamboo-like stems. Cylindrical, jointed, usually unbranched, the dark green stems display rough longitudinal ridges. Rising up from the plant rhizomes, they are adorned with a ring of black and ash gray sheath at each joint (node). They are particularly noticeable in winter and provide significant interest to the garden. This non-flowering, seedless plant reproduces by spores (like the ferns), which are contained in pine cone-like fruiting heads, 1 in. long (2.5 cm), at the tips of the vegetative stems. The strongly upright stems of this species look great in the water garden and provide a lovely background for other pond plants. Good plant for covering a wet low spot where nothing else will grow. A survivor of Carboniferous Age in Europe and North America, Equisetum is probably the most ancient living genus of vascular plants.

• Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall (60-120 cm) and 1-6 ft. wide (30-180 cm). This plant will spread aggressively by branched, creeping rhizomes to form large colonies if not restrained.
• Performs best in full sun or part shade in fertile, moist to wet soils. While it thrives in consistently moist garden soil, it can also be planted in standing water to 4 in. deep (10 cm).
• This architectural plant is highly versatile. It may be grown at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas, in shallow water. Great for containers too.
• Requires very little care, is virtually disease-free, pest-free and provides year-round interest
• Remove any dead or damaged stems to improve appearance.
• Once established, Equisetum hyemale can be difficult to remove by digging because its rhizomes spread wide and deep, and any small section of rhizome left behind can sprout a new plant. In water gardens, plant in pots at water bottom to contain growth.
• Propagate by division in spring.

Native to Eurasia, Canada and the U.S