Scientific name: Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium

Common name:  pond cypress

Family name: Cupressaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: 10-15m tall, 15-25m wide

Form: pyramidal, upright

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: more organic and acidic soil

Leaf arrangement: compound. Alternate.

Fall colour: yellow, bronze

Flower/cone/fruit description: male cone. No flowers.

Limitations: loves acidic soil and sun

Suitable uses: can tolerate wet and compacted soils; therefore very good.

Quick ID: dec. conifer tree (leaves fall off as branchlets). Pinnately compound. Alternate (spirally around whole the shoot). Linear leaflets on branchlets.

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/1309?image=h

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/1309?image=h

Scientific name: Taxodium distichum var. distichum

Common name:  swamp cypress

Family name: Cupressaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: 22-30m tall, 5-7m wide

Form: feathery, broader crown, pyramidal

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained, soil high in silt (less acidic)

Leaf arrangement: needle-like, compound. Alternate.

Fall colour: bronze

Flower/cone/fruit description: cone (very small). No flowers.

Limitations: Roots come up to the surface (called knees; are for stability); tripping hazard. Grows very slowly.

Suitable uses: Good for in winter as lets light in.

Quick ID: Dec. Coniferous tree. needle-like leaflets on branchlets, pinnately compound. Alternate. Arranged decussately.

Scientific name: Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

Common name:  Christmas box

Family name: Buxaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 6

Mature height and spread: 0.4-0.7m tall and 0.601m wide.

Form: Spreading, mounding

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained

Leaf arrangement: simple. Opposite.

Fall colour: none

Flower/cone/fruit description: clustered flowers (not showy). Black drupe.

Limitations: rhizomes, spreading. Flowers smell very sweet.

Suitable uses: pest and disease resistance. Grown for flowers. Shade ground cover.

Quick ID: Evergreen. Shrub. Simple. Opposite. Leathery. Black berries. Pink stems and small flower buds (many).

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/302?image=h

Scientific name: Rubus rolfei ‘Formonsan Carpet’

Common name:  Formonsan Carpet rubus

Family name: Rosaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 7

Mature height and spread: 0.2-0.4m tall and 5-7m wide

Form: Creeping, mat, spreading

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: Acidic, well-drained

Leaf arrangement: simple. Alternate.

Fall colour: none

Flower/cone/fruit description: solitary flowers (perfect, white, not showy). Orange drupe

Limitations: Little tender. Winter leaf colour turns purple when cold enough; not very nice.

Suitable uses: Ground cover. Mass plantings. Edible fruit.

Quick ID: Evergreen. Shrubs. Simple. Alternate (3-5lobes). Very wrinkled leaves. Orange drupe. Little thorns (spines) on stem.

Scientific name: Rosmarinus officinalis

Common name:  rosemary

Family name: Lamiaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 7

Mature height and spread: 0.7-1.3m tall and 1-1.5m wide.

Form: oval. Irregular. Upright.

Water use: low

Soil requirements: well-drained. Rocky.

Leaf arrangement: simple. Opposite.

Fall colour: none.

Flower/cone/fruit description: brown nut. Showy white/violet/blue flowers. Fragrant.

Limitations: Very strong scent. Will die if temperature drops.

Suitable uses: low maintenance. Good to prevent people from entering the garden.

Quick ID: Evergreen. Shrub. Small leaves (2-5mm). Simple. Opposite. Linear. Rosemary smell.

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/649?image=h

Scientific name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Common name:  dawn redwood

Family name: Cupressaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: Over 30m tall and 405m wide

Form: pyramidal and spreading

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained, acidic

Leaf arrangement: compound. Opposite.

Fall colour: orange, red, brown

Flower/cone/fruit description: cone. No significant inflorescence.

Limitations: very large

Suitable uses: screening. Very adaptable and good in multiples.

Quick ID: Dec. conifer tree. Leaves needles (flat and soft); flop downwards. Opposite (taxodium is alternate). Pinnately compound. Little buds (male cones) at each leaflet.

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/102?image=h

Scientific name: Magnolia virginiana

Common name:  sweetbay magnolia

Family name: Magnoliaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: 6m tall, 3-4m wide.

Form: rounded, pyramidal, multi-stemmed

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: moist and rich

Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Simple.

Fall colour: yellow, brown

Flower/cone/fruit description: insignificant flowers (9-12petals, white). Aggregate fruit.

Limitations: needs wet soil. Like all magniolas is brittle.

Suitable uses: specimen plant. Flowers smell very good (melon, honey). Not as damaged by snow.

Quick ID: Semi-evergreen. Tree. Underside of leaves white (very unique). Alternate. Simple. Leaves in between leather texture of evergreen and deciduous.

Scientific name: Lavandula angustifolia

Common name:  English lavender

Family name: Laminaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: 0.4-0.7m height, 0.6-1m wide

Form: oval, dense

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained

Leaf arrangement: simple. opposite

Fall colour: silver, grey

Flower/cone/fruit description: spiky flowers, blue. Brown nut.

Limitations: woody stems. Needs good drainage and full sun.

Suitable uses: hardiest of lavender species. Great flowers and grows fast.

Quick ID: Evergreen. Shrub. Simple. Opposite. Leathery. Lavender smell. Back of leaves white; long leaves and short ones in between. Very fully of leaves on tip.

https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/plantImages/623?image=h

Scientific name: Hebe topiaria

Common name:  topiaria hebe

Family name: Plantaginaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 7

Mature height and spread: 1.2-1.5m wide and tall

Form: compact

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained

Leaf arrangement: opposite. Simple.

Fall colour: none

Flower/cone/fruit description:

Limitations: needs irrigation.

Suitable uses: hedge. Needs little maintenance. Regular shapped.

Quick ID: evergreen. Shrub. Opposite. Simple. Leaves 90 degrees to other pair. Silver green leaf colour. Small leaves.

Scientific name: Hebe rupicola

Common name:  rupicola hebe

Family name: Plantaginaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 8

Mature height and spread: 0.5-0.6m tall and wide

Form: Compact, round

Water use: Moderate

Soil requirements: well-drained

Leaf arrangement: Opposite. Simple.

Fall colour: none

Flower/cone/fruit description: White raceme flowers.

Limitations: tender. Needs irrigation to do well.

Suitable uses: rock gardens and shrub borders. Never needs pruning (grows in round shape)

Quick ID: Evergreen. Shrub. Opposite. Simple. 90degree leaf pairs.