Every week we’re publishing a NEW Plant Picks of the Week story, showcasing our Plant Specialists’’ top plant picks. Get ready to be inspired!
We recently asked Leslie Hammond to share her top plant picks. Here’s what she had to say:
Hearts of Gold Redbud
Cercis canadensis ‘Hearts of Gold’
A spectacular and hardy spring bloomer, with very showy fuchsia flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring; coarse gold leaves glow in spring maturing to soft green; a great small ornamental tree for specimen use in the northern landscape
Yama Kagi Fullmoon Maple
Acer japonicum ‘Yama Kagi’
A stunning and shapely tree that is the ideal size for the home landscape, interesting in all seasons; large, deeply lobed leaves emerge lime green, turn a rich forest green in summer, then a stunning crimson-orange in fall
Norway Spruce
Picea abies
A very popular and durable spire-shaped evergreen, excellent for articulation; interesting droopy branches when mature, rich deep green needles; tough and hardy, good for windbreaks, will grow quite large under the right conditions
Kodiak® Black Diervilla
Diervilla rivularis ‘SMNDRSF’
This shrub is a standout with its dark burgundy-black foliage which is more intense in the spring and fall; bright yellow flowers in early summer add contrast; this tough adaptable plant is great for challenging landscape areas
Lime Glow Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Lime Glow’
An exceptionally colorful evergreen groundcover shrub unlike any other of this species, with lime green foliage that brightens to yellow over the summer, finally turning a bronzy copper in fall; very low growing and very showy