70861 Laburnocytisus -adamii —(-10°F, USDA Zones 6-8) This intriguing small tree is a hybrid of Laburnum anagyroides and Chamaecytisus purpureus. The plant shows interesting characteristics of its parentage, bearing pea like flowers of light purple as well as the pink of Cytisus and the yellow of Laburnum, all on the same plant! It is similar to laburnum in appearance but with smaller leaves. A living lesson in botany. One thing to keep in mind: this plant and the seeds contain a toxic alkaloid, so caution should be used in determining its site. 4-5' $38.95

Laburnum x watereri - Goldenchain Tree — (-10°F, USDA Zones 5-7) A very old hybrid of L. alpinum x L. anagyroides. The best of everything comes from this cross, longer racemes and denser habit. This is an excellent tree for today’s smaller gardens. It’s easy to grow and performs well in most situations with good drainage.

72284 Lagerstroemia fauriei — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) — A variable species that is mildew resistant, has striking red-brown bark and produces plants ranging from small shrubs to trees, in a wide variety of colors. 1-2' $13.95

Lagerstroemia indica — (0°F, USDA Zones 7-9) These are beautiful, large shrubs from China & Korea that do well in hot sun. They flower in late summer. Prune while dormant to increase flowering wood.

72363 Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ — Dark coral pink. Intense and long lasting blooms. What a delight to see these fresh blooms in late summer when the rest of the garden is quieting down. 1-2' $16.95

70377 Laurus nobilis - Bay Laurel — (10°F, USDA Zones 8-10) This is the famous laurel of ancient history, cultivated for centuries by the Greeks and Romans. It is grown for its aromatic foliage and its usefulness as a dense shrub or tree. An excellent choice if you need a dense hedge, and it’s the plant that produces the aromatic bay leaf used in cooking. 3-4' $29.95

LAVANDULA - LAVENDER — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-9) An evergreen subshrub that will get up to 3' tall depending on the cultivar. They all have a well-developed woody base. Flowers are produced from June to August and are very fragrant, especially when crushed. Grow in well drained soil kept on the dry side, but neutral to alkaline in nature. Give full sun for best growth. Makes a fine container plant planted with trailing annuals and tall, erect, yellow perennials. Or, create the lavender fields of France and plant en masse. Clipping back every few years encourages well-behaved plants. We have used Virginia McNaughton’s excellent new book Lavender, the Grower’s Guide.

Lavandula angustifolia - English Lavender — A smaller form of lavender forming clumps of gray-blue to gray-green foliage mounding 20 to 24''. In early summer spikes of highly fragrant flowers rise 4 to 12'' above the foliage. Though classified as English lavender, most selections come from southern Europe. Plant high in most areas to provide the necessary drainage for long-lived plants.

Lavandula x intermedia — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-8) A hybrid of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. A rounded shrub with branching stems. The foliage is almost spoon-shaped in nature and very aromatic. Grows to 3' or more and is less likely to suffer root rot in wet winter areas. Flowers generally in midsummer.

Lavandula stoechas - French Lavender — (10°F, USDA Zones 8-9) Most French lavenders can reach 3' and benefit from yearly pruning but it’s not required. The foliage is intensely fragrant! They flower in spring and some varieties will offer a second bloom in late summer if given a hard pruning after the first bloom.

73909 Leucothoe keidkei — A small shrub with arching habit and glossy green slender pointed leaves. The comparatively large white cylindrical flowers apear in July. Ernest Wilson introduced this plant from Japan in 1915. A fine plant. 6-12" $21.95

70357 Lindera benzoin — (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-9) Light green in summer, changing to an excellent golden yellow in the fall, this deciduous shrub will grow to around 12'. Good for borders. In the shade it is light and airy. Equally beautiful in full sun, but more dense. The flowers are pretty, and the fruits are brilliant scarlet, very eye-catching in the autumn sun. 2-3' $29.95, 4-5' $49.95

72149 Lindera megaphylla — (20°F, USDA Zones 8-10) A native to southern China, it will grow to about 25’ and, if seed is wanted, one must have both a male and a female plant. Our plants are seedlings. 1-2' $16.95

These trees need deep, moist but well drained, slightly acidic soils. The root systems need to have time to establish themselves, so make sure you pamper it for at least the first year or two. Give it a site with full sun for best growth but it will tolerate some shade. One of the best deciduous trees for fall color, and it doesn’t seem to matter the weather, it always has gorgeous fall color!

71900 Liquidambar styraciflua — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-9) The beautiful maple-like leaves are deep lustrous green in summer, and create one of the most spectacular of all fall displays in shades of bright orange, yellow, purple and red. A medium to fast grower once established. It will reach a height of 60-75' with a rounded crown. 7-8' $59.95

71863 Liquidambar acalacyna ‘Burgundy Flush’ — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) This selection from China is not often available. The leaves have only three prominent main lobes and the new growth is dark purple with burnt orange. A really beautiful leaf selection. 7-8' $59.95

Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip tree or Whitewood — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-9) This is an excellent pyramidal shade tree with fast growth to 60' or more. Valued in warm winter areas where the lyre-shaped green leaves of summer take on golden hues in autumn. The tulip shaped flowers, pretty but not showy, appear after 10 years.

LITHODORA — Lithodora is easy to care for; just provide it with well drained, sandy to gravelly soil and sun and shear them lightly in February.

71974 Lithodora diffusa ‘Grace Ward’ — There are few plants that can match the blue of this evergreen ground cover. It flowers extremely heavily if given a sunny location, covering itself with the most brilliant, intense blue possible. Deep green foliage is small and covered with hair. This woody subshrub does well in a rock garden or hanging pot. 3-6" $4.95

LONICERA — See the Vine Section for additional listings. A large genus of deciduous and evergreen vines and shrubs for sun and shade. Most have fragrant, showy flowers. Leaves on both types are opposite. The flowers on the shrubby types are usually borne in pairs and the berries that follow are joined. These attractive shrubs are generally easy to grow, tolerating a variety of soils and conditions.

72150 Lonicera ‘Lemon Beauty’ — This is a 3' well-behaved shrub with broad upright branches clothed in small narrow green leaves, each with a nice golden border. In spring, the new growth has an attractive bronze tint. 6-12" $14.95

70725 Loropetalum chinense - Chinese Fringe Flower — (0°F, USDA Zones 7-9) A distinct irregularly rounded evergreen shrub quickly reaching 6-10'. Beautiful foliage plants, much denser and more relaxed in growth habit than their witch hazel relatives. Spider-like flowers of white or pink appear in late winter and early spring. Grow in sun or partial shade in fertile moist but well drained soil. An easy plant.

1700 Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum‘Sizzling Pink’ — New growth emerges bright maroon and become deep purple with hot pink flowers. The branching is horizontal, giving a layered effect. 6-12" $9.95, 3-4' $34.95

72427 Luma apiculata — (20°F, USDA Zones 8-10). We are very fortunate to have access to this wonderful evergreen species from Chile and Argentina, rarely found in cultivation. It’s a small evergreen tree grown for its coppery bark that peels to expose creamy wood underneath and its small, single white flowers that cover the branches in late summer. Hillier reports that in some gardens in southern Ireland reproduction from the sweet, edible, dark red fruit is prolific. Grows slowly to an 8' x 8' in sun or part shade. Doesn’t require a lot of summer water once established. 1-2' $26.95

MAGNOLIA — See Magnolia Section.

MAHONIA — Grows best with moist, well drained acidic soils in shaded locations.

70927 Mahonia nervosa - Cascades Mahonia — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-7) A low (about 1' tall) evergreen shrub with large, 3" long leaves. Flowers are yellow on 8" racemes, fruit is purple-blue. 6-12" $11.95

MALUS - CRABAPPLE — See additional listings in Bonsai Section. (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-9) unless otherwise noted. Give crabapples moderately fertile, heavy loam, moist but well drained soil in full sun. They will tolerate partial shade if necessary. The purple-leaved forms color best in full sun. Selections include varieties ideal as specimen trees in the large landscape as well as in small gardens. Not only are crabapples just covered with spring blossoms, but most have wonderful fall color as well, ranging from golden yellow to orange yellow and orange purple.

71289 Malus ‘David’ — Pink buds open to single, white flowers followed by scarlet fruit. Nice rounded habit; 12-15' tall and wide. 3-4' $34.95, 5-6' $45.95

Malus sargentii — This eye-catching variety has red buds, opening to fragrant white or pink flowers, measuring ¾-1'' across, followed by bright red fruit. Growth habit is low, mounding and densely branched. Great as a specimen in the landscape or as a subject for the bonsai aficionado. Grows 6-8' tall and twice as wide. Sargent crabapples are known for their excellent hardiness and disease resistance.

70841 Myrica californica - Pacific Wax Myrtle — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) Native to coastal areas of the West, this handsome shrub is adaptable to areas with higher zone rating if there is marine influence. It is a drought tolerant shrub or small tree, reaching 30' if in a sheltered location. It will grow well in areas with prevalent winds, but will be considerably reduced in height. Useful as an informal hedge, the handsome waxy green leaves densely cover this plant. Leaves are 2-4" long, narrow, and have toothed margins. The dark berries are attractive to birds! 2-3' $27.95

70580 Myrica pennsylvanica - Bayberry — (-40°F, USDA Zones 3-7) Here is an opportunity to have one of the hardiest native plants in the U.S. Not only can it withstand the cold, but it grows right along the ocean and can tolerate the salt mist and poor, sandy soil. The entire plant is aromatic and the waxy gray berries are used as fragrance in bayberry candles. If this is not native in your back yard, it makes a nice addition to your collection. Thrives in poor sandy soils, and extremely adaptable. 6-12" $9.95

Nandina domestica — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) Give nandina sheltered sites with moist, but well drained fertile soil . Does like full sun and will tolerate a wide range of soil types. Evergreen, upright grower will reach to heights of 6-8'. For the most part, foliage is a light green. Large berries appear after blooming and provide a display through the entire winter.

70983 Nyssa sinensis - Chinese Tupelo — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) A very rare tree that has not been grown in very many gardens in the U.S. New growth is bronze to plum-purple. The 3-6" long leaves are dark green above and paler green beneath--beautiful in the breeze. The foliage turns a rich yellow and red in autumn. Mature growth to 30-50'. 1-2' $14.95, 2-3' $19.95

Nyssa sylvatica - Black Tupelo — (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-9) This native to the eastern U.S. is known for its vibrant red and orange fall foliage. Can become a large, 30-50' tree with time, developing a very long tap root.

OSMANTHUS.

Osmanthus heterophyllus — (0°F, USDA Zones 7-9) An excellent evergreen shrub! Grows best with fertile, well drained but moist acidic soil. Urban tolerant. Full sun to partial shade but give shade in extreme locations. Very fragrant, small white flowers appear late summer into fall and are followed by blue-black fruit. (You will notice the fragrance before you notice the flowers.) Slow growing, attractive, holly-like shrub with smaller leaves and smaller stature. Grows 10 to 15' and almost as wide.

70042 Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood — (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-9) An excellent tree of small size, 20-25', grown mainly for its exquisite autumn colors of breathtaking yellow and crimson. Clusters of white flowers hang from the tips of shoots in July and August. These are followed by attractive seed clusters of pale green, turning silver and providing interest into the winter months. 6-12" $12.95 

04/30/08