Shrubs, or woody ornamentals, are the foundation of many landscapes, and provide a beautiful pallette from which to paint a work of art in nature. With so many innovative new shrub varieties coming on the market, consumers can choose from various sizes and shapes to create their own version of the modern garden. And with the housing market showing few signs of slowing down and homeowners who are eager to replace plants lost over the past few bitter winters, the market for woodies is improving.
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Abelia ‘Radiance’ (PlantHaven at GroLink, Oxnard, CA)
Fragrant, white, tubular flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall atop variegated, medium-green foliage with creamy-yellow margins. Foliage ages to a silvery-green with cream-white margins, and blooms atop vivid crimson stems. This variety has a tight, compact habit that reaches 3 to 5 feet at maturity and is best grown in well-drained soil in full sun. Heat and drought tolerant once established, ‘Radiance’ is hardy to Zone 6 and does well as a low accent plant, mass landscape planting, or in a container.
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Camellia ‘October Magic Ruby’ (Southern Living and Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
Festive Christmas red, fully double blooms decorate the deep green, super glossy foliage on this compact plant. Ruby can be used as an accent plant or as a hedge, blooming in fall. It thrives in full sun to part shade, reaching 4 to 5 feet in height and width, and is hardy to Zones 7 to 9.
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Crape Myrtle ‘Delta Fusion’ (Southern Living and Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
‘Delta Fusion’ bears dark-pink blooms that contrast vividly with unique, dark burgundy, leaves. This versatile, small tree is a stunning garden accent that blooms in summer. Ideal for full sun to part shade, it reaches 8 to 12 feet high by 4 to 6 feet wide, and is hardy to Zones 7 to 9.
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Crape Myrtle ‘First Editions Ruffled Red Magic’ (Bailey Nurseries at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
Distinctly different, carnation-like, glowing red flowers show beautifully against the lustrous dark-green foliage on Ruffled Red Magic, which turns orange-red in fall. It reblooms in late summer if the first flowers are deadheaded, and is also resistant to Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew. Bred by Plant Introductions, Inc.
Twilight Magic combines deep plum-colored foliage and pink flowers. Used as a large shrub or small tree, Twilight Magic blooms profusely and is an excellent alternative to purple-leaf plums in areas where plums are defoliated by August. Bred by Plant Introductions, Inc.
Cinnamon Girl is a new refined, small-leaf selection that is a viable alternative to boxwood and other species beleaguered by insects and diseases in warm climates. Cinnamon Girl has plum-purple new growth that matures to blue-green. In 2013-2014, this selection survived 4°F to 6°F in an above-ground container with no injury.
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Gardenia ‘ScentAmazing’ (Southern Living and Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
Create a stir in the garden with this variety’s re-blooming, fragrant, single-white blossoms from spring to fall. Intoxicating early blooms contrast against dark evergreen foliage and can be used as an accent plant, in containers, for mass planting, or as a hedge. 'ScentAmazing' produces white blooms beginning in late spring, reblooming summer through fall. It is ideal for sun to part shade, this variety reaches 3 ½ feet high by 4 feet wide, and is hardy to Zones 7 to 10.
‘Tuff Stuff Red’ is the newest edition to the Tuff Stuff series of mountain hydrangeas. These unique hydrangeas fare well in cold weather, making them the perfect choice for landscapes and gardens. Large, lacecap flowers are a deep pink-red color, which is set off by deep-green foliage.
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Hydrangea ‘White Light’ (Southern Living Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
A prolific bloomer, ‘White Light’ produces large, tight clusters of blooms that can be used as cut flowers. It’s very versatile in the landscape, and can be grown in a container, as an accent, hedge, or mass planting. ‘White Light’ tolerates most native soils, and grows in full sun to part shade, reaching 4 to 6 feet high by 3 to 5 feet wide, and is hardy to Zones 3 to 8.
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Ilex crenata ‘Low Rider’ (Southern Living Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
This holly has improved dark green foliage with nice leaf texture, and it has a tight growth habit and responds well to shearing. ‘Low Rider’ can be used in borders, containers for topiaries, and as a hedge. Growing in full sun to part shade, it reaches 3 to 4 feet in height and spread, and is hardy to Zones 6 to 9.
‘Ginger Wine’ ninebark expands the color palette for these easy care, native flowering shrubs. Spring foliage emerges a sunny orange color and matures to sparkling burgundy. Clusters of white flowers cover the plant in late spring, and these age to attractive red seed heads.
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Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ (PlantHaven at GroLink, Oxnard, CA)
Clusters of charming pink, blushed blooms flower over coral-red foliage on a tightly branched, rounded habit that grows to reach 6 feet tall by 4 feet in spread. Best grown in full sun to part shade, this attractive variety is drought tolerant once established, and it’s both deer resistant and attracts pollinators like hummingbirds.
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Pittosporum tenifolium ‘Beach Ball’ (Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
Introduced by Kiwiflora, this playful evergreen shrub has a compact, naturally ball-shaped habit. ‘Beach Ball’ makes a great container plant or small hedge border. Its medium–sized, bright-green leaves add attractive uniform texture. Growing in full sun to part shade, it reaches 3 to 4 feet in height and spread and is hardy to Zone 8B.
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Rhododendron ‘Bloom-A-Thon Hot Pink’ (Proven Winners Spring Meadow, Kirigin Cellars Winery, Gilroy, CA)
The newest member of the Bloom-A-Thon series of reblooming azaleas, ‘Bloom-A-Thon Hot Pink’ azalea jazzes up your landscape in spring, summer, and fall. Enjoy months of vivid pink flowers.
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Spiraea ‘Double Play Candy Corn’ (Proven Winners Spring Meadow, Kirigin Cellars Winery, Gilroy, CA)
Meet the newest and most colorful Proven Winners spiraea, ‘Double Play Candy Corn.’ The show starts in early spring, when the new growth emerges bright candy-apple red. As it matures, it turns pineapple yellow, and the new growth continues to emerge bright orange all season. Top it off with dark purple flowers in late spring to early summer.
This latest addition to the Bloomerang series has the same multi-season flower show, only this time in pink. The fragrant blooms will delight gardeners in spring, then again from midsummer to fall. Available in better garden centers spring 2016, ‘Bloomerang Pink Perfume’ offers fragrant pink flowers in spring, then again mid-summer to fall.
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Abelia ‘Radiance’ (PlantHaven at GroLink, Oxnard, CA)
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Camellia ‘October Magic Ruby’ (Southern Living and Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
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Crape Myrtle ‘Delta Fusion’ (Southern Living and Sunset Western Garden Collection at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
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Crape Myrtle ‘First Editions Ruffled Red Magic’ (Bailey Nurseries at Pacific Plug & Liner, Watsonville, CA)
Breeders displaying at the 2016 California Spring Trials are happy to present their new shrub varieties, which you can see in the slideshow below. There’s enough color, texture, and interest in these new introductions to capture the imagination of gardeners and plant lovers of any experience level.
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If you missed our other slideshows, don’t worry — you can check them out here. Because so many annuals are revealed at CAST, we had to build two slideshows — one for the Northern Region and one for the Central Region. Also, check out new perennials , blooming potted plants and edibles that will debut at the 2016 CAST. Also, look for our March issue to see these varieties, up close and personal, in Greenhouse Grower magazine.
New Research Identifies High Plant Diversity Levels in Urban Areas
Planning a last-minute trip to California Spring Trials? There’s still time! Find out how to make your appointments to visit breeder locations.
And don’t forget to join us for daily coverage of the 2016 California Spring Trials. Whether you make the trip or not, you can virtually hit the California Spring Trials trail with the editors of Greenhouse Grower. Editor Laura Drotleff and Managing Editor Janeen Wright, together with Dr. Allan Armitage, will visit every stop to bring you the latest varieties and breaking news. Subscribe to Greenhouse Grower‘s Benchrunner eNewsletter to make sure you get our daily updates while in California, April 8-15. In addition to our popular slideshows, full of photos and descriptions of the most exciting new varieties, we’ll also provide the latest news and industry insider perspectives on new introductions.
015CAST 2016: New Shrubs For 2017 Build The Foundation For Modern Landscapes [Photo Gallery]