SHRUBS
All shrubs are sold in gallons at $12.00
ALABAMA SNOW WREATH.
Neviusia alabamense. Suckering shrub with an open, airy habit. Covered with wispy white blooms in early spring or, in mild years, the middle of winter. A good bloomer for deep or partial shade. Alabama native (who would’ve guessed?) 4’ by 6’. Zones 8-9.AZALEA, NATIVE.
Rhododendron sp. We carry to kinds: the canescens (pink), austrinum (gold). We usually have named cultivars in various shades from light to dark to mixed. E-Mail us to discuss availablilty and colors. These are the traditional wild “honeysuckle azaleas” with clusters of fragrant tubular blooms in spring. Pt sun/shade. To 16’. Zones 8-10. Because of their slow growth and difficulty to obtain, native azaleas are priced at $10 / gallon.
BANANA SHRUB, 'SKINNER'S'
Michelia figo skinnerii. Formerly Magnolia fuscata. Skinner's is a larger-flowered form of a shrub often found on old plantation sites. Thick, glossy leaves on a strong-growing shrub to 15’ or so. The flowers appear in late winter to early spring; they’re small, yellow tulip-shaped blooms that smell like bananas with an underscent of rum. Too heady for words. Pt. shade to shade. Will tolerate full sun, but foliage bleaches out. Zones 8-10.BUCKEYE, RED.
Aesculus pavia. Deciduous. palmate leaves that drop in mid summer; spikes of red flowers in early spring. Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including dry shade. Excellent hummingbird plant. SE US native. Medicinal. Large smooth seeds are said to be good luck charms. 4’ by 10’. Zones 6-9.BUCKEYE, BOTTLEBRUSH.
Asculus parviclora. Tall spikes of white flowers in late spring. Foliage poops out early down here, but the bloom is worth it. 4’ by 6’. Zones 7-9.BUTTERFLY BUSH, YELLOW.
Buddleia weyeriana. Large, woody shrub bearing showy racemes of soft, creamy yellows flowers from late spring till frost. An older form than the popular 'Honeycomb', but a better bloomer in our experience. Excellent butterfly nectar plant. Responds well to hard pruning to contain its size. Mostly evergreen here. 6 ’ by 8’. Sun. Zones 5-9 or 10.BUTTONBUSH.
Cephalanthus occidentalis. Deciduous shrub or small tree; fragrant ball-shaped white flowers in summer, with longering pods. Native to much of US, Asia and Africa. Prefers moist to wet soil. Used medicinally by Native Americans for a variety of problems ranging from toothache to pleurisy. Butterfly plant. Sun/pt. shade. 3’by 10’. Zones 4-10.CAROLINE ALLSPICE.
Calycanthus floridus. Sweet Shrub. Deciduous dark green leaves, aromatic when bruised, and burgundy flowers that smell like dead-ripe strawberries. A SE US native. Cherokees used the root or bark tea as a diuretic and treatment for kidney ailments. Sun/pt. shade. 3’ by 9’. Zones 7-10.CHERRY LAUREL
Prunus caroliniana. Glossy, thick dark leaves that smell like Dr. Pepper; racemes of small, creamy flowers in spring, followed by black berries. Understory shrub to small tree. SE US native. Source of narcotic Laurel Water -- very toxic. Part Shade. 8’ by 15’. Zones 7-10.
CHOKEBERRY. ‘Brilliantissima’
Aronia arbutifolia ‘ Brilliantissima’. SE native shrub, excellent wildlife plant. This variety features good autumn color, although leaves don’t linger very long. Clusters of apple-blossom blooms in spring, followed by red berries. To 12’. Sun/pt. sun. Zones 7-9.CORAL BEAN.
Erythrina herbacea. Mamou. Dense shrub to small tree. Trifoliate leaves, thorns on stems. Produce spikes of bright red, tubular flowers in summer. Long pods persist, splitting to show red beans. Beans are a muscle relaxant (paralytic?) and extremely toxic. SE US Native. 3’ by 15’. Pt. Shade. Zones 8-10.CRYBABY TREE.
Erythrina crista-galli. Another South American native erythrina; this one dies to the ground in Zone 8, but returns from the root. In more tropical climates it becomes a tree; is a larger shrub in general than the above species. Clusters of orangy-scarlet flowers in summer, so full of nectar they weep, hence the common name. Sun. Zones 8-10. Available late Summer.ELDERBERRY.
Sambucus canadensis. Fast-growing large shrub or small tree. Compound leaves; flat-topped clusters of fragrant white flowers in summer and early fall. Purple berries used in wine and jelly; flowers are fried in fritters, and brewed as a tea for colds. Sun. US native. 6’ by 12’. Zones 4-10.
FRENCH MULBERRY.
Callicarpa americana. Beautyberry. Open, mounding shrub with yellow-green leaves; insignificant pink flowers form clusters of magenta berries in the leaf axils. SE US native. French explorers in Louisiana are said to have eaten the berries...certainly the wildlife do. Native Americans used the root, leaf and berry for a variety of ailments, from colic to rheumatism. Sun/pt. shade. 6’ by 6’. Zones 7-10.
FRENCH MULBERRY, WHITE - BERRIED FORM.
This form is similar to above-- except berry color. Sometimes we have it; please check with us for availability.
GARDENIA.
Gardenia Jasminoides “August Beauty”. Cape Jasmine. Glossy evergreen leaves; intensely fragrant, velvety white flowers in early summer and often again in fall. From the Orient. A mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine; fruits are used for jaundice, fever, numerous other complaints. Sun/pt shade. To 8’. Zones 8-10.GARDENIA, DWARF.
Gardenia jasminoides radicans. Similar to above, but with smaller leaves and flowers, reaching a maximum height of about 3’.GARDENIA, HIP.
Gardenia thunbergia. Much like the popular “Cape Jasmine”, but having a single flower that leaves a large red hip, similar to a rosehip. Medicinal uses uncertain. Propagated from stock originating at Rosedown Plantation. To 5’. Zones 8-10.
HIBISCUS, CONFEDERATE ROSE.
Hibiscus mutabilis. An old Southern garden favorite, difficult to find in the nursery trade, even down here. This is a semi-double form; some can be very double. The flower begins white to pale pink and darkens through deeper pinks to become almost red. A tall, multi-trunked shrub to about 15’. Dies down to the ground in winter, then returns bigger and better. Zones 8-10. Sun to pt. sun.HIBISCUS, TEXAS RED.
Hibiscus coccinea. A native hibiscus that appears to be immune to the white fly problems encountered by some other species. Tall multi-trunked shrub to 8’ or more. Large true red hibiscus blooms in summer. Root hardy. Very tough ornamental. Zones 7-10. Sun/pt sun.
HYDRANGEA, OAKLEAF.
Hydrangea quercifolia. Deciduous shrub with slightly fuzzy oak-shaped leaves; elongated panicles of creamy-white flower clusters in spring. Looks much too cultured to be the wildling that it is. SE Native. Exfoliating bark, burgundy fall color. Used medicinally by the Cherokees, who chewed the inner bark to quell coughs. Shade/filtered sun; flowers best with some morning sun. 4’ by 6’. Zones 5-10.HYDRANGEA, OAKLEAF, ‘ALICE’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’. Strong-growing selection with 12” bloom panicles, dark green foliage, and burgundy fall color.HYDRANGEA, VARIEGATED.
Hydrangea macrophylla variegata. Lacecap type blooms, white to pale pink, rather small by hydrangea standards. The appeal here is the foliage, which is light green marbled with white. 3’ by 5’. Pt sun/ shade. Zones 7-10.
KERRIA, VARIEGATED.
Kerria japonica pleniflora. Yellow Rose of Texas. Covered with frilly gold flowers in early spring; often reblooms later in summer or early fall. Light green serrated leaves with white margins; green stems in winter. Arching stems 3' to 4' -- not as large as the green counterpart. Deciduous. Pt. shade. Zones 4-9.PINEAPPLE GUAVA.
Feijoa sellowiana. Not a true guava, a much hardier shrub. Leathery grayish evergreen leaves and an outstanding flower composed of red petals surrounding a white center. The thin-skinned green fruit is about the size of a plum and delicious, tasting of pineapples and strawberries. To 15’. Sun. Zones 8-10.ROSE.
Rosa sp. All roses have a variety of herbal uses: the petals are edible and are used in potpourri; the essential oil is used in aromatherapy; the hips are rich in vitamin C. The roses we offer are among the older, hardier varieties, many of which have escaped cultivation to become “wild flowers”. Roses require about 5 hours of sun to bloom well; in climates such as ours (hellacious) we find they appreciate a little shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.
We have a great many roses that go in and out; if you're looking for a particular variety, let us know. We may have it or be able to obtain it for you.
CHEROKEE ROSE.
Rosa laevigata. A high climber, evergreen, having single white blooms with yellow centers. A native of China, naturalized widely throughout the American Southeast. Big orange hips are good bird food, which is how it spread throughout the South East in the first place. To 25 ’+. Blooms in spring. Zones 6-10.
SWAMP ROSE
Rosa palustrus. SE Native species shrub rose. Deep pink single flowers, lightly fragrant. Spring-blooming, but may put out a few more in summer. Tolerates wet conditions well, but adapts to normal garden drainage. Clean foliage. May be kept at a hoopskirt at 5', but left to its own devices will grow closer to 10'. Sun. Zones 6 - 10.SOUTHERN BAYBERRY.
Myrica cerifera. Southern Wax Myrtle. Evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple trunks. Narrow, aromatic evergreen leaves; insignificant flowers followed by waxy purple berries in summer. SE US native. Berries yield wax for candles; leaves are used as an astringent. Our plants are seedlings, so we can’t assure a fruiting female. 8’ by 10’. Zones 6-9.SPICEBUSH.
Lindera benzoin. Fragrant, oval leaves, used medicinally for colds and dysentery. Greenish-yellow flowers in very early spring, before its leaves — or anybody else’s - emerge. Red berries, also fragrant, are great wildlife forage. Bright yellow fall foliage. SE US native. To 12’. Light shade is best, but deep shade is tolerated. Responds well to a moist site and less acidic soil than most woodland natives. Zones 5-9.
SPIKED WINTERHAZEL.Corylus spicata. Suckering shrub, but not invasive. Yellow hop-like blooms on bare stems in very early Spring. Typical hazel family foliage with very pink new growth. An easy plant, that brightens up the landscape before anything else come out. Part shade here, perhaps sun in colder climates. To 8'. Zones 5-9.
SUMMERSWEET.
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'. Aka Sweet Pepperbush. Native to the SE United States. A good shrub for a partly shady, moist (but not poorly drained) site. Deciduous; leaves turn a good buttery yellow before they drop. Upright, twiggy structure. Dark pink buds open to lighter pink extremely fragrant flowers in spiky clusters. Blooms begin midsummer. 8'. Part shade. Zones 7-9.
coyotecreek@wildblue.net