Astelia chathamica - SILVER SPEAR NEW Spring 2010!

$20 (1 gallon)

This plant from the remote Chatham Islands somewhat resembles Phormium (New Zealand Flax) but with striking silver coloration! A moderate grower, it may reach 3' tall and a little wider over time in sun or part shade. Excellent combined either with fine textured green leafy things, or with succulents and bromeliads in a dry bed, or with anything of contrasting color. In the Pacific Northwest, it's certainly much better off in a sheltered spot - if it's really happy, well established, and on very well draining, gritty soil, it can endure 10°F; however, I recommend protecting it below 20°F if not all of those factors are met.

Cassinia fulvida NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Common in subalpline regions of New Zealand, this upright shrub is a tidy looking garden plant, having glossy green leaves with yellow indomentum underneath, and heads of small white flowers in spring. It is usually recommended for full sun but in my garden it does very well in partial shade. It makes an excellent combintation for plants with bold-textured leaves such as Phormium and Cordyline. Very adaptable and easy to grow, it may reach 5' tall and is hardy to about 5°F. It has also been sold as Cassinia leptophylla var. fulvida.

Corokia x virgata 'Sunsplash'

$9

Here's a fun little evergreen shrub from New Zealand with wiry stems, yellow and grey variegated leaves and a contorted growth habit. If you're really lucky you might get little yellow flowers. It's easy to please on well drained soil in sun, and can handle moderately dry conditions as well as irrigated situations. It is also superb in a container combined with purple and blue foliaged plants of different textures. Hardy to around 10 - 15°F once established.

Griselinia littoralis - NEW ZEALAND PRIVET

$10 (smaller size) $18 (1 gallon)

It's not really a privet: don't be such a littoralis! New Zealand has much to add to the palette of attractive broadleaf evergreens for Northwest gardens, and this species is one of the best. This plant, with very thick, durable, glossy leaves on yellowish-green stems grows into an attractive shrub to about 10' high. On older plants, small flowers followed by green berries may be seen. It is easily cultivated in sun or part shade, preferring a little summer water on dry sites. Hardy to about 10°F.

Heliohebe hulkeana NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Sun Hebe! This close relative of the Hebes (which are now all classified as Veronica) has glossy, rounded olive green leaves (with magenta highlights) that are serrated on the edge like little suns! But the best part is the lavender flowers, which are produced in long, soft spikes extending well beyond the leaves. For best results cut it back moderately hard at least once a year - although technically a shrub it behaves somewhat like a perennial. Hardy and easy to grow in sun or part shade, to about 10°F.

Olearia avicennifolia NEW Spring 2010!

$10

This evergreen shrub from New Zealand may reach 8' tall and wide. Smooth-margined green leaves are white underneath. It tends to assume an irregular but pleasing habit, and flowers in August in the Pacific Northwest. It is a little more shade tolerant than other Olearias, and very easy to grow. Hardy to at least 5 - 10°F.

Olearia x haastii

$9

This natural Olearia hybrid comes to us from the area of Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast Pass in New Zealand's Southern Alps. Forming an irregular, rounded shrub to about 4' high and slightly wider, it haas rather small green leaves under 1" long, with white undersides. Its profuse show of small white flowers in mid to late summer makes the plant look like a white cloud against a black backdrop. It's moderately drought tolerant, thriving in full sun or just a little shade. It haasta be one of the nicest Olearias in cultivation. Hardy to at least 5°F.

Olearia lineata 'Dartonii'

$9

The genus Olearia has remarkable variety: this species from New Zealand features exceptionally narrow leaves, green on the top and white on the bottom. If you are one of those gardeners who has caught the 'big leaves bug,' you will appreciate the contrast this fine textured plant provides. Branches arch gracefully, providing an exotic look. Very vigorous and easy to grow, it will thrive in partial shade or sun and may eventually reach 8' or more with equal spread. Hardy to about 10°F, and prefers a cool climate.

Olearia macrodonta

$10 (smaller size) $16 (1 gallon)

Named for a large-toothed Irishman of the O'Leary clan, this very vigorous and showy Olearia indeed has large teeth along its leaf margins, looking vaguely like a grey-leafed holly but, when you touch it, you find it is soft, not prickly. The leaves, however, are mostly obscured in June when this plant bursts into full bloom with huge heads of little white daisies. A popular hedge plant in coastal areas of Britain, this plant will appreciate a climate lacking in extremes, and well drained soil. Hardy to about 10 - 15°F.

Olearia x mollis

$10 (smaller size) $16 (1 gallon)

Of all the Olearias, this natural hybrid is offers an excellent combination of hardiness, ease of growth (it will not put up a fuss if planted in heavier soils) and ornamental worth. Reaching a size of about 5' tall and 8' wide, its grey leaves with white undersides are attractive at any time, and masses of white midsummer flowers have a rather airy quality about them. Easily hardy to at least 10°F, perhaps 5°F.

Olearia moschata NEW Spring 2010!

$10

Of all the Olearias, this natural hybrid is offers an excellent combination of hardiness, ease of growth (it will not put up a fuss if planted in heavier soils) and ornamental worth. Reaching a size of about 5' tall and 8' wide, its grey leaves with white undersides are attractive at any time, and masses of white midsummer flowers have a rather airy quality about them. Easily hardy to at least 10°F, perhaps 5°F.

Olearia traversii

$12

The Asteraceae family, containing many of the world's daisy-like flowering plants, also contains a few woody shrubs (including the other Olearias, of course) and even some trees! For the 'avid collector' (a polite term for crazy plant nut), discovering and cultivating these trees is a continuous, intriguing prospect. While many such trees come from the cloudforests of Central America, this species originates on the Chatham Islands, a remote group of islands east of New Zealand where the climate is perpetually cool and humid. Growing as tall as 30', its glossy green leaves are bright white underneath, and white flowers and rough, stringy bark may be seen on older plants. Not surprisingly, this plant detests hot, dry conditions; but other than that it is quite adaptable, thriving in sun or partial shade on most soils, growing vigorously and easily in cultivation. Best in sheltered gardens, it is reliably hardy to 15°F once established.

Pittosporum x 'Garnettii' (tenuifolium x ralphii) NEW Spring 2010!

$12

It's unfortunate that this outstanding Pittosporum hybrid of two New Zealand species seems to be quite uncommon in general commerce. Grey-green leaves are edged in white, and the black stems make the variegation even more striking. Tending to have a rather narrow, upright habit, it is vigorous and may eventually reach 10' or more. It is easily confused with P. tenuifolium 'Marjorie Channon' but it is larger, with a more open growth habit and larger leaves. Like most Pittosporums, it's quite easy to grow, and full sun or partial shade with a little summer water makes it happy. Hardy to about 10 - 15°F.

Senecio x 'Sunshine' NEW Spring 2010!

$7

This versatile evergreen shrub grows to about 2' tall and 5' wide, sporting rounded leaves that are grey-green on top and bright white below. Showy bright yellow flowers appear in June. Drought tolerant and easy to grow, it looks excellent in a dry border combining well with about anything. This might be the least rare of all those New Zealand daisy shrubs in the Pacific Northwest, but it's still not common enough! Hardy to about 5°F.

Veronica (Hebe) albicans

$14 (1 gallon)

This compact shrub to 3' x 3' has closely set blue leaves and showy white flowers. It is at its best in full sun, and, while it's moderately drought tolerant, a little summer water during hot periods is appreciated in the Pacific Northwest. It is very hardy, tolerating at least 5°F.

Veronica (Hebe) cupressoides - WHIPCORD HEBE

$16 (1 gallon)

This small mounding shrub has leaves so small that the plant looks like a mass of little blue-green stems. It may eventually reach 2' tall and produce white flowers, although the flowers are rarely seen. It is one of the easiest of the whipcord Hebes to grow and hardy to at least 5°F.

Veronica (Hebe) 'Spender's Seedling'

$12

After a long period of being perplexed, I think I have finally sorted out the correct name of this plant. For a long time I was selling it as 'Stephen Spencer' so I apologize for the misnomer. This is a fabulous cultivar that appears to be very rare in the USA. Narrow, bright green leaves are about 2" long, and showy white flowers cover the plant in June. It grows vigorously making a broad shrub about 4 - 5' tall and wider. The plant in the Gerdemann garden that was my original source was a 14' tall tree, but I think this size is really exceptional as that plant is in the perfect setting, in the perfect climate. Nowhere else have I seen it exceed about 5' so I no longer advertise it as being treelike. I tend to compare it to H. salicifolia but smaller and hardier - it can handle temperatures down to about 12°F once established. I have the late Jim Gerdemann, a dearly missed friend, to thank for sharing this excellent garden plant with me. I'm still perplexed, just not about this plant.

Veronica (Hebe) sutherlandii NEW Spring 2010!

$8

This Hebe is not only attractive, but seems to be pretty much indestructible. It forms a dense mound to 2' that retains its appealing compact form no matter how much it gets snowed on. The small leaves have an appealing bluish cast, and older plants may produce white flowers. It will grow on any well drained site in sun or part shade, and is moderately drought tolerant. Hardy to 5°F and perhaps lower.

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