Green Leaf's Hypericum Hypearls Series Wows

Green Leaf Plants has introduced four hypericum varieties that offer foliage and flowers in late summer, and colorful berries until frost. The Hypericum Hypearls series are unique perennial shrubs that work both in the landscape and in containers.

They're heat lovers, with well-branched, robust foliage. Bright one-inch yellow/gold flowers in July give way to showy cream, red, salmon or pink berries in August, boosting late-season sales and giving more traditional, lower margin fall bloomers a run for their money.

'Hypearls Jacqueline' features pointed berries that start out yellow-orange and mature to deep red. It will grow to 28 inches tall in the garden.

'Hypearls Jessica' comes in at 25 inches, and displays round, soft, cream-colored berries.

'Hypearls Olivia,' at 36 inches, begins with yellow berries that change to a striking salmon color over time.

'Hypearls Renu' features round berries that start out cream and eventually turn to bright pink. Its foliage also has a red tint to new growth, which will reach 30 inches tall. All four plants remain more compact in containers, with heights from 14 inches to 18 inches.

Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6, this outstanding and unusual series of shrubs don't require vernalization for flowering or berry set - flowers and berries both appear on new wood. Gardeners simply remove the old wood in spring to allow new growth to push through. Best of all, each welcomes birds and bees to the garden.

For more information and a technical guide, log on to www.glplants.com, or call customer service at 800-321-9573.