Author Archives: ru jia

Rhododendron yakushimanum

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Rhododendron yakushimanum

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Common name: yak

Family name: Ericaeae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Ken Janeck’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  5

Mature height and spread:  1-1.5m; 1-1.5m

Form: evergreen shrub, dense, mounded

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: moist but well-drained

Leaf arrangement: linear-oblanceolate to lanceolate, leathery, comfortable fur on the back

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bell-shaped, light pink, cover the whole shrub

Limitations: tolerant heat and drought

Suitable uses:  north, east side of the building

Quick ID description:  comfortable fur; bell-shaped pink flower

Photographs:

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Source: http://asperupgaard.dk/garden/plantegrupper/rhododendron/rhododendron_yakushimanum/

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Rhododendron augustinii

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Rhododendron augustinii

10

Common name: augustinii rhododendron

Family name: Ericaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  4

Mature height and spread:  2m; 2m

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: acid soil, well-drained

Leaf arrangement: leaf has very comfortable fur, hairy on both side

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): purple blue flower

Limitations: tolerant a bit of sun

Suitable uses:  ornamental shrub

Quick ID description:  fur on the leave; purple flower

Photographs:

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Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhododendron_augustinii.JPG

Pieris japonica

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Pieris japonica

9

Common name: Japanese pieris

Family name: Ericaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Mountain Fire’ ‘Red Mill’ ‘Nocturne’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  5-8

Mature height and spread:  9-12ft; 6-8ft

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: medium moisture, well-drained soil ; full sun to part shade.

Leaf arrangement: serrulate, obovate, glossy dark green leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): white flower in cluster

Limitations: spent flowers should be removed immediately after bloom

Suitable uses:  mass, group or specimen; foundation, borders

Quick ID description:  serrulate, obovate, white, cluster

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e680

Nandina domestica

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Nandina domestica

8

Common name: heavenly bamboo

Family name: Berberidaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Harbour Dwarf’ ‘Pygmaea’ ‘Fire Power’ ‘Moon Bay’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6-9

Mature height and spread:  3-8ft; 2-4ft

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: medium moisture, well-drained soils; full sun to part shade

Leaf arrangement: tri-pinnatly compound leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): white flowers; red cluster of fruit

Limitations: drought, heavy shade tolerant

Fall colour:  red to purple

Suitable uses: ornamental shrub, borders, woodland gardens, foundations

Quick ID description:  tri-pinnatly compound leaves; red fruit, cluster

Photographs:

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Lonicera acuminata

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Lonicera acuminata

7

Common name: vine honeysuckle

Family name: Caprifloliaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  Lonicera affinis var. angustifolia

USDA Hardiness Zone:  4-8

Mature height and spread:  can climb 30m

Form: twisting climbing, evergreen vine

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: well-drained, acid, neutral soil

Leaf arrangement: tiny fur on the margin, fuzzy stem, opposite, lanceolate

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): funnel-shaped flowers

Suitable uses:  good woodland plant

Quick ID description:  vine; funnel-shaped flowers; fuzzy stem, tiny fur

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.oczarjk.pl/?act=90

Gaultheria shallon(N)

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Gaultheria shallon(N)

6

Common name: salal

Family name: Ericaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  8-11

Mature height and spread:  1.2 m (4ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in)

Form: evergreen rhizome shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: light sandy and medium loamy soils; can grow in very acid soils.

Leaf arrangement: alternate, egg-shaped leaves; shiny and dark green; lighter green on the lower.

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): hairy pink flower and hairy black fruit, a little hairy on the stem

Limitations: tolerant of both sun and shade; drought tolerant

Suitable uses:  woodland garden; ground cover

Quick ID description: hairy fruit; egg-shaped leaves

Photographs:

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaultheria_shallon

 

Euonymus fortunei var. radicans

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Euonymus fortunei var. radicans

5

Common name: winter creeper

Family name: Celastraceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5

Mature height and spread:

Form: evergreen vine (nothing can climb on then it is just groundcover)

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: well-drained, neutral to acidic

Leaf arrangement: simple, opposite, ovate leaves

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): small flowers, green maroon; red to orange seeds

Limitations: quite tough, but cold wind may hurt the leaves

Suitable uses:  hedge, groundcover

Quick ID description:  simple, opposite, ovate, red to orange seed

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.jeffpippen.com/plants/euonymus.htm

Camellia japonica

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Camellia japonica

4

Common name: camellia

Family name: Theaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘April Down’

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6-9

Mature height and spread:  5-8ft; 3-4ft

Form: evergreen shrub

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: acid, moist, well-drained soil

Leaf arrangement: light green on the back, shiny leaves reflect light and make the shrub jump out

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): big flower (7-8cm), showy, fragrant

Limitations: good drought/shade tolerant, urban condition tolerant; hate heat, heat may attract bugs

Suitable uses:  lawns, borders, backgrounds, hedges

Quick ID description:  shiny, big flower

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c873

Berberis nervosa (N)

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Berberis nervosa (N)

3

Common name: dull Oregon-grape

Family name: Berberidaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6-9

Mature height and spread:  0.6m; 1.2m

Form: evergreen shrub; rhizomatous

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: moist to well-drained soil

Leaf arrangement: leave overlap(aquifolium has space), leathery

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bright yellow flowers; black berries

Suitable uses:  borders, woodland garden

Quick ID description:  black berries; bright yellow flowers, overlap leave

Photographs:

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Source: http://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/view/980

 

Berberis julianae

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Berberis julianae

2

Common name: Chinese barberry

Family name: Berberidaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:  5

Mature height and spread:  2.5-4m; 2.5-4m

Form: evergreen shrub, upright

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: Moist but well-drained

Leaf arrangement: spiny tips, 3 stab a group, 3-4 leaves together

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): yellow small showy flowers, musky smell

Limitations: spiny leaves, away from children

Suitable uses:  classic barrier plant

Quick ID description:  spiny tips, stab, musky

Photographs:

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