Winterberry Holly

Plant Name: Ilex verticillatawinterberry_Ilex verticillata
Common Name: Winterberry Holly
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 3-12 ft – depending on varieties  
Spread:  Same information as height
Bloom Time:  Early  summer
Flower Color:  White, or cream  – small
Exposure:  Full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: Rich organic acidic soil, but grows in average garden soil.
Water Needs:  Moist boggy areas
Native to: Eastern North America
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9

Attributes: Vibrant Red Winter Berries, Important food source for American Robins, Winter Interest.

Uses:  Wetland habitats, Native gardens, Bird habitat, Rain garden, Firewise garden, Wildlife gardens, Cutting garden, Containers dwarf varieties, Floral arrangements.

Note:  Plants are dioecious meaning male or female.  A male plant is needed for female plants to produce berries.  Plant a male shrub within 50 feet of female plants. One male plant can pollinate 6-10  female plants, but note blooming time must match when female’s bloom.  Slow growers.  Shrubs can sucker out into a dense thicket when planted in wet boggy areas.

A few varieties are listed below:

            Berry Heavy:  6-8 ft  (female)
            Berry Nice:   6-8 ft     (female)
            Sparkleberry:  5-8 ft  (female)
            Southern Gentleman: 12 ft  (male)
            Apollo: 6-10 ft (male)
            Raritan Chief:  7 ft T X 12 ft W (male)
            Jim Dandy:  6-10 ft  (male)

Dwarf varieties:

            Afterglow:  3-6 ft  (female)
            Little Goblin: 3-5 ft (female)
            Little Goblin Guy: 3-5 ft (male)
            Red Sprite:  3-5 ft  (female)
            Berry Poppins:  3-4 ft (female)
Mr. Poppins: 3-4 ft  (male)

by: Carlotta Lucas

Horticulture Report: Ginkgo biloba ‘Marieken’

Plant Name: Ginkgo biloba -‘Marieken’ginkgo-biloba-mariken.jpg
Common Name: Maidenhair Tree – Dwarf
Plant type: Deciduous Conifer
Height: 2-3 feet
Spread:   2-6 feet
Foliage: Green
Golden Yellow in the Fall)
Bloom: April
Flowers:  Insignificant
Exposure:  Full Sun -Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Prefers average well-drained soil but tolerates clay
Water Needs: Medium, even moisture needed
Attributes:   Scalloped Leaves, Fall Color, Dwarf Tree,
Low-Spreading, Male Tree(fruitless), Cascading
Note: Tolerates Deer, Clay Soil, Air Pollution, Saline Conditions & Heat
Uses: Container Plant, Patio Plant, Small garden areas, Bonsai, Rock Garden
Native to: Cultivar originated as witch’s broom found in 1995 by Piet Vergeldt in Kronenburger Park, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3a-10b

Available at Portland Nursery, Portland Oregon

Horticulture Report: Firepower Nandina

Plant Name: Nandina domesticanadina-firepower
Common Name:  Dwarf Heavenly bamboo
Cultivar: Firepower
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height:   24 inches
Spread:  24  inches
Bloom Time: NonePrized for lime green leaves &  brilliant red fall color.
Exposure:  Full sun
Soil Requirements: rich, humus, well drained, acid soil.
Water Needs: 1st growing season water weekly until established, more in extreme heat.  Once established water deeply, but less frequent.
Attributes: Vibrant Fall Color,  Firewise Plant, Waterwise Plant, disease resistant,  hardy.
Uses: Urban Garden, Woodland Garden, Asian/Zen Garden, Borders, Containers, Mass plantings, Groundcover.
Note:  Firepower Nandina does not produce berries.
USDA Zone: 6-11

Horticulture Report: Clerodendrum Trichotomum

Plant Name: Clerodendrum TrichotomumClerodendronTrichotomum
Common Name: Harlequin Glorybower
Plant type:  Deciduous Shrub or Small Tree
Height:   10 ft – 20 ft
Bloom Time:  July to September
Flower Color: White, Jasmine-like Tubular Flowers
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
(hardy but needs some protection)
Soil Requirements: Rich Well-Drained Soil
Water Needs:  Average, do not over water
Attributes:  Unique Leaf Aroma smells like Peanut Butter, Fragrant Tubular Flowers, Showy Iridescent Blue Fruit Surrounded by a Fleshy Red Calyxclerodendrum_trichotomum
Note: Seeds & parts of plant are poisonous if ingested, Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
Uses: Hedges, Showy Ornamental,  Late Summer Flowers, Summer Interest
USDA Zone: 7a-9b