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 Sarah Tjepkema to share her top plant picks. Here’s what she had to say:
Amber Jubilee™ Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’
Quite the colorful shrub, this garden beauty boasts yellow-orange-red new foliage in spring and summer, maturing to lime green then purple in the fall; a compact variety that will grow nearly anywhere
Peve Minaret Baldcypress
Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’
A compact narrowly pyramidal dwarf deciduous conifer, native to the Great Lakes and quite hardy; narrow, ferny green leaves turn a golden brown in fall, a wonderful color accent tree for a smaller landscape
Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’
Possibly the most popular of all feature trees for the home landscape, with rich burgundy-purple palm-shaped foliage all season long and a very artistic spreading growth habit; put it in the front yard and give it lots of room to grow
Kobold Blazing Star
Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’
Kobold Blazing Star has masses of beautiful spikes of violet flowers rising above the foliage from mid summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its grassy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.
Compact Hinoki Falsecypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Compacta’
A compact version of the species which starts small but eventually can grow quite tall; dense evergreen foliage forms a broad pyramid; a better choice than the species for the typical home landscape