Exciting Varieties of Redbuds- Cercis canadensis!

REDBUDS– Their bright purple flowers let you know for sure that spring is here! For those of you who have used Cercis Canadensis in your landscape (Eastern Redbud) there are some exciting varieties that you should know about:

‘Traveler”- Dwarf weeping form- same great purple flowers, but smaller weeping habit.

‘Forest Pansy’: Large burgundy heart shaped leaves.

‘Hearts of Gold’– Large yellow heart shaped leaves. Beautiful coloring! Developed here in NC.

‘Tennessee Pink’ – Has pink flowers in early spring.

These varieties are well suited to the Triad area and do well in part sun/and shadier conditions. They withstand a variety of soils and are a nice addition to any landscape!

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My top 10 UNDER-USED Plants for the Triad Area

This month I want to highlight my top 10 UNDERUSED plants for the Triad area. I know many of you will discuss with me at length your intense (and it IS intense) hatred for the everloving Nandina, Bradford Pear and Juniper- that is not what we will be discussing here.

Here are my top 10 plants that have to meet a strict criteria: They must to grow well in our area, with a minimum of care (OK- you still have to water them- but little else.) They must have several attractive characteristics (i.e Beautiful bark AND leaves, OR great flowers AND branching pattern,etc.) they must not be on every street corner- so we can create a unique look when they are used. Take a gander at these:

1. Chionanthus Virginicus– Fringetree. This small tree has beautiful blooms in the spring.
2. Edgeworthia chrusanthua– Paperbush. This blooms when very little else is in EARLY spring. Great fragrance to the blooms- the whole plant is very dramatic.
3. Cytstisus scoparius– Scotch Broom. Great blooms in the spring- deer resistant too!
4. Illisium floridatum– Anise. Love the red blooms and evergreen foliage.
5. Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’– Love the green and yellow evergreen foliage for something different in the landscape.
6. Corylus contorta– Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick. “Stick’ this in your yard (no pun intended) for a great conversation piece. I also see it quite often in a  container- but it would eventually have to be moved to allow the plant to fill out.
7. Cedrus atlantica– Blue Atlas Cedar. Love the steel blue foliage and striking branching pattern. Great for a unique look in the winter landscape.
8. Sarcococca ruscifolia– Sweetbox. Love the flowers, the foliage and the fact that it is deer resistant.
9. Hellebore– Coral Bells. Blooms in the winter about when the Paperbush is blooming. Love the evergreen foliage and the pink/white blooms.
10. Camellia sasanqua– Fall Blooming Camellia. Again love the fact that it blooms when flowers are off of most people’s minds- a very nice surprise for the late fall/winter!

Try some of these in your garden and see how you like them!

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