There are a lot of great trees, shrubs and perennials out there that we don’t often see in residential gardens. The reasons for this are varied but include new introductions which are not widely available yet, lesser-known plants that wholesale nurseries don’t sell enough of to warrant a regular crop and those that have simply fallen out of favour over time. Another cause of these sudden disappearances is that the specialty nurseries which used to earn a living offering these rarities have simply dwindled to very few over the years due to retirement or high land prices which makes the business of niche plant propagation nearly untenable. Still, I manage to find a handful of treasures once and awhile on my buying sprees and here are a few of my favourites this year.
Daboecia cantabrica / Irish Heath
I first encountered Irish Heath as a young gardener working in West Vancouver, it was mass-planted on an embankment just below the Salmon House on the Hill restaurant and for all the neglect it received, it still looked great. What you can expect from this underplanted species is a long bloom season (late June to October) with larger bell shaped flowers in intense purples, red, magenta and of course, an ‘Alba’ form. The foliage is also more leaf-like than the needled texture of winter heathers. Grows 18-24” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
Decaisnea fargesii / Dead Man’s Fingers
Yes, this large deciduous shrub does have other common names like Blue Bean Tree and Blue Sausage Fruit, but the little boy in me definitely prefers the more macabre Dead Man’s Fingers. It is actually an apt description, as the clusters of indigo blue pods do resemble human hands but with an edible component that only those with intestinal fortitude would partake in. The clear jelly that surround the black seeds is the delicacy with a distinct lychee fruit flavour; however, the sticky consistency very much resembles the mucus which comes from our noses, also known as ‘boogers’ in juvenile lingo, so it can be hard to stomach for some people. The yellow bell-shaped flowers are equally attractive and tinted blue at the base. Grows 10-12’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
Acer palmatum ‘Bihou’ / Golden Coral Bark Maple
There are so many new varieties of Japanese Maples introduced every year, that it’s rare for one to really stand out. With a cultivar name that means Beautiful Mountain Range in Japanese, ‘Bihou’ delivers with stunning golden-yellow branches with coral highlights that absolutely glow on those dull winter days. Then there’s the beautiful foliage which emerges with a distinct pink blush, shifting to gold and emerald- green as it matures. The bright yellow to orange autumn leaves are also a nice feature. Grows 12-15’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Astrantia major / Masterwort
The reason you aren’t buying this beautiful partial shade perennial is that the young specimens we sell at garden centres are rarely impressive looking. What it needs is a few years planted in the garden to reach its full potential with tall-stemmed flower bracts of deep red (‘Ruby Wedding’), pink (‘Sparkling Stars Pink’), white (‘Shaggy’) or pale green (‘Star of Billion’) produced from late May through to September, all of which make great long-lasting cut flowers. Grows 18-30” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Musa sikkimensis ‘Ever Red’ / Variegated Darjeeling Banana
For many years the standard in outdoor Bananas was the green Musa basjoo which is hardy to USDA zone 5 with protection for the rhizome and trunks (pseudostems). However, if you wanted a little colour like the striped ‘Zebrina’ or the red Cavendish banana, you were out of luck as far as overwintering in the garden because both were only hardy to USDA zone 9. With ‘Ever Red’ you get the striking maroon mottling and the cold hardiness you need to be able to leave it in the landscape permanently. Grows 10-12’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Hibiscus x moscheutos / Perennial Hibiscus
Most customers looking to buy a Hibiscus are usually after either the shrubby Rose-of-Sharon (H. syriacus) or the tropical Hibiscus rosa-sinensis which they have seen on vacation but is not hardy here in the Fraser Valley. A good compromise would be the herbaceous perennial hibiscus which have been hybridized from several North American species. They are very cold hardy but need to be planted where the early summer sun will hit the ground to break dormancy, which is quite late. You will be rewarded with massive dinner plate-sized silky blooms ranging in size from 6-12” wide in a vast array of brilliant hues. Grows 3-6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4.
📸 MK Lascelle
Campanula punctata ‘Pink Octopus’ / Pink Octopus Bellflower
Here’s a one-off weirdo that is very easy to grow (actually, it is a bit spready) which bears unique pale pink (with maroon spots) spidery petals that much resemble its namesake. This variety flowers from June to July and tolerates part to full sun exposures with semi-evergreen basal foliage. Grows 18” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Cercis canadensis / Eastern Redbud
Here’s a native tree of southern Ontario with just about everything going for it; edible flowers (tasting like English peas and honey) that cover the stems before the leaves emerge, a multitude of varieties as far as foliage colour is concerned and excellent cold hardiness. Choosing just one variety might be a bit difficult but a few of my favourites include ‘Flame Thrower’ (burgundy, red, yellow foliage), ‘Carolina Sweetheart’ (green leaves with pink and white mottling) and ‘Ruby Falls’, a weeping form with glossy maroon foliage. Grows 8-20’ tall depending on the cultivar. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Spigelia marilandica / Carolina Pink
A rare perennial which is getting more common due to the Proven Winners introductions, ‘Orange Slices’ and ‘Little Redhead’. These have upright red tubular flowers with a contrasting yellow inside, borne on stems well above the foliage. It tolerates partial shade to full sun exposures and makes a striking cut flower for the vase. Grows 18-24” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Lewisia cotyledon / Bitterroot
Here’s a tough Pacific Northwest native that enjoys the company of low sedums and sempervivum. It is a great choice for rock or alpine gardens and usually the only way to kill it is to overwater. These will flower heavily in late spring and will freely repeat bloom all summer when deadheaded. There are a variety of flower colours available and very infrequently we will receive a shipment of single hue cultivars, like the ‘Sunset Glow’ pictured which sold out in two days. Grows 4-8” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
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