Abelia grandiflora has arching stems six to eight feet tall and produces large numbers of small white or pink bell-shaped flowers in summer. The variety ‘Sherwoodii’ is three to four feet tall and has lavender flowers and darker green leaves. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is only two to three feet tall with yellow variegated foliage and white flowers in summer. The leaf color tends to redden in colder temperatures.
Syringa (lilac) is loved for its wonderful fragrance and glorious, showy blooms. Lilacs are a good match for our north county climate as the low winter temperatures encourage blooming. In the south county, grow the Descanso hybrids such as ‘Lavender Lady’ and ‘Angel White’ which have been bred for warmer climates. An unusual and charming lilac, a Korean type, is ‘Miss Kim’. This…
Commonly called butterfly bush, buddleja can reach fifteen feet and flowers in shades of purple, lavender, pink, white or yellow. It is also available in an increasing number of dwarf varieties, most of which grow to three to five feet. The flowers are a favorite of butterflies, hence the common name. All the Buddlejas perform best if they are pruned severely…
Coleonema pulchellum (or Breath of Heaven) is a charming, wispy plant with very small pink flowers. The flowers themselves are not showy, but the sheer numbers of them in spring make the plant a real sight. It grows to about five feet tall and wide, but ‘Compacta’ gets only about three feet. ‘Sunset Gold’ has…
The most commonly available species is Caryopteris x clandonensis. There are several named varieties, all of which grow to about two feet. They are known for their lovely purple flowers, much loved by bees. Caryopteris loses its leaves in winter, prefers full sun and moderate water.
Pyracantha is an evergreen shrub known for its colorful berries in the fall and winter. Most varieties grow to about twelve feet, although there are some outstanding dwarf varieties such as ‘Red Elf’ and ‘Lowboy’. The biggest drawback is the sharp thorns that cover the branches, but the plants are long-lived and the berries brighten up the garden in winter as well as…
Usually grown as a shrub or small tree, Vitex (chaste tree) reaches about twelve feet tall and wide. The very attractive leaves are divided into five to seven leaflets and are a grey green. The flower spikes appear in summer and are usually purple, although white is also available. The plant is deciduous and can…