1. Aucuba japonica
Common name: spotted laurel
Family name: Garryaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Mr. Goldstrike’
USDA Hardiness Zone:
Mature height and spread: 3m/3m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: drought tolerant
Soil requirements: adapatable if plantd in shade
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): tiny purple flowers in spring
Limitations: must be planted in shade.
Suitable uses: ground cover, shrub border
Quick ID description: 1. pointy buds 2. large teeth on the top half of the leaves. 3. leaves 4*15 cm
Photographs:
2.Berberis julianae
Common name: Chinese barberry
Family name: Berberidaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Compactum’ ,’Spring Glory’
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 6-8 feet/4-6 feet
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: long shoot shrot shoot/alternate
Fall colour: green, red
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): yellow small showy flowers in May. Fruits: black blue berry.
Limitations: toough
Suitable uses: barrier
Quick ID description: 1. 1 bud, 3spines,3-4 leaves at a node. 2. leaves 1-2 cm *4-5 cm, fine teeth
Photographs:
3. Berberis nervosa (N)
Common name: Oregon-grape
Family name: Berberidaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘pursh’
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 1m/1m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: low to medum
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternete
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): yellow flowers, blue fruits with wax coating
Limitations: slow growing
Suitable uses: hedge, ground cover
Quick ID description: 1. long compound leaves 30-50cm
Photographs:
4. Camellia japonica
Common name: Camellia
Family name: Theaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8
Mature height and spread: 2m/2m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: drought tolerant
Soil requirements: good in drought, compactive, soil and shade
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): big, showy flowers in summer. white, pink
Limitations: Summer cannot be too hot or too cool.
Suitable uses: flowering shrub
Quick ID description: 1. convex leaves 2. dark green leaves 3*6cm
Photographs:
5. Euonymus fortunei var. radicans
Common name: winter creeper, wulong creeper
Family name:Celastraceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Variegatus’
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Mature height and spread: ground cover and climber
Form: ev. cl.
Water use: low
Soil requirements: tough, adaptable
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): fruit 1.5 cm
Limitations: Poisonous, can kill trees
Suitable uses: groundcover
Quick ID description: two kinds of leaves
Photographs:
6. Gaultheria shallon (N)
Common name: salal, shallon
Family name: Ericaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8
Mature height and spread: 1.2 m (4ft) / 1 m (3ft 3in)
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): hairy white flowers, hairy black fruits
Limitations: horizontal roots
Suitable uses: ground cover
Quick ID description: 1. zigzag branches 2. leathery leaves
Photographs:
7. Lonicera acuminata
Common name: evergreen honeysuckle
Family name: Caprifoliaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: Lonicera affinis var. angustifolia
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Mature height and spread: height: 3m
Form: ev. cl.
Water use: low to medium
Soil requirements: easy to grow
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): dark-red funnel-shaped flowers
Limitations: 1.can smother trees
Suitable uses: climber
Quick ID description: 1. twining climber 2. acuminate leaves 3*6 cm 3. red branches 4. hairon the leaves, branches, petioles
Photographs:
8. Nandina domestica
Common name: heavenly bamboo
Family name: Berberidaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 0.8m/0.8m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: red
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): red fruits 0 .8 cm
Limitations:
Suitable uses: winter colour
Quick ID description: tripinnately compound leaves
Photographs:
9. Pieris japonica
Common name: lily of valley shrub
Family name: Ericaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Purity’
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Mature height and spread: 9-12ft/6-8ft
Form: ev.sh
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: woodland soil
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): opper coloured, sometimes red
Limitations:
Suitable uses:
Quick ID description: small serration on the upper half of the leaf
Photographs:
10. Rhododendron augustinii
Common name:
Family name: Ericaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone:
Mature height and spread: 2m, 2m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: acid
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour:green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): purple blue flowers
Limitations: need cool soil
Suitable uses: rhododendron garden, floweing shrub
Quick ID description: 1. soft green leaves and bark 2. thin leaves 3*8 cm 3. yellow brown branches
Photographs:
11. Rhododendron yakushimanum
Common name:
Family name: Ericaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 1.5m
Form: ev.sh.
Water use: tolerate summer drought
Soil requirements: some shade
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): pink flowers
Limitations:
Suitable uses: rhododendron garden
Quick ID description: 1. recurved leaves 2.back of the leaves like sponge
Photographs:
12. Salvia officinalis
Common name: common sage
Family name: Lamiaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Mature height and spread: 0.2m
Form: ev.sh.
Water use: low
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): purple
Limitations: need good drainage
Suitable uses: flower border
Quick ID description: 1. tiny bumps over the leaves.
Photographs:
13. Sarcococca confusa
Common name: sweet box
Family name: Buxaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 1m/2m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: well-drained, woodland
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): red and black fruits
Limitations: need shade
Suitable uses: shrub border
Quick ID description: S. rucifolia rucifolia always red fruit. confusa black. rucifolia dies below zone 8.(6 degree)
Photographs:
14. Sasa veitchii
Common name: Veitch’s bamboo
Family name: Poaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Sachaliensis‘
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7
Mature height and spread: <1m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: need moisture
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): no
Limitations: need to be planted in containers
Suitable uses: 1. ground cover 2. container
Quick ID description: 1. edge of the leaves die out in the second year.
Photographs:
15. Skimmia japonica
Common name: Japanese Skimmia
Family name: Rutaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Rubella’
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7
Mature height and spread: 2-5 ft/ 3-5 ft
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: Needs regular watering
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): large clusters of fragrant, white flowers.
Limitations: must be planted in shade and cool areas
Suitable uses: border, hedge, flowering shrub
Quick ID description: 1. leaves 3*10 cm 2. red fruits 1 cm
Photographs:
16. Trachycarpus fortunei
Common name: Chinese windmill palm ,Chusan palm,hemp palm ,Nepalese fan,palm ,windmill palm
Family name: Arecaceae
Useful cultivars and selections: ‘Wagnerianus‘
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8
Mature height and spread: 12m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: regular watering
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): fruits in clusters, yellow to black
Limitations: need high temperature
Suitable uses: Specimen Plant/Focal Point
Quick ID description: fan-like leaves
Photographs:
17. Trochodendron aralioides
Common name: wheel tree
Family name: Trochodendraceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6
Mature height and spread: 10-20ft/10-15ft
Form: ev. sh
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: moist but well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: alternate
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): fruits like wheel. 0,8 cm in diameter
Limitations: need to be planted in shade, can not tolerate dry winds
Suitable uses: tropical looking shrub
Quick ID description: leaves 4*8cm to 6*18cm, serrated on top half of the leaves
Photographs:
18. Viburnum cinnamomifolium
Common name: cinnamon viburnum
Family name: Adoxaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Mature height and spread: large shrub 2-3m tall
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: medium
Soil requirements: well-drained
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): clusters of white flowers
Limitations: large scale
Suitable uses: industrial landscapes
Quick ID description: 1. longer internode length. 2. red petioles
Photographs:
19. Viburnum davidii
Common name: David viburnum
Family name: Adoxaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7
Mature height and spread: 1-1.5m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: meidum
Soil requirements: well-drained, shade and grought tolerant
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): clusters of small white flowers and blue berries
Limitations: resistant to disease
Suitable uses: border
Quick ID description: 1. shorter internode length
Photographs:
20. Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Common name:leatherleaf viburnum
Family name: Adoxaceae
Useful cultivars and selections:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Mature height and spread: 5m/5m
Form: ev. sh.
Water use: low to medium
Soil requirements: can grow in hot, dry, shafy area
Leaf arrangement/Foliage: opposite
Fall colour: green
Flower/cone/fruit description(s): showy white flowers
Limitations: detachable fur on the back of the leaves
Suitable uses: large scale shrub in industrial landscapes
Quick ID description: 1. leathery leaves 2. fur on the back
Photographs: