(Shellbark Hickory)

A medium to to large deciduous tree that bears many similarities to shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), shellbark hickory occurs on rich moist bottomlands in eastern North America. It typically has a straight high-branched trunk and a narrow crown formed by relatively short spreading branches. The gray bark divides into large plates, which detach and curl back from the trunk, giving it a shaggy appearance. The pinnate leaves are divided into seven to nine glossy lance-shaped leaflets (compared...

(Shagbark Hickory)

Known for its conspicuously shedding bark, shagbark hickory is a large deciduous tree from eastern North America. Spreading and round-topped in cultivation, in the wild it often has a single high-branched trunk and a narrow crown. The gray bark divides into large plates, which detach and curl back from the trunk at their tips, giving it a shaggy appearance.

The compound leaves of shagbark hickory are divided into 5 glossy lance-shaped yellow-green leaflets, with one leaflet at the tip and the...

(Mockernut Hickory)

Distinguished by its downy young shoots and its fragrant foliage, mockernut hickory is a medium to tall deciduous tree from eastern North America. Long-trunked with an oval crown, it has dark gray bark that is smooth at first but deeply furrowed at maturity. The compound leaves are divided into 5 to 9 lance-shaped leaflets, with one leaflet at the tip and the others paired. Silvery and downy upon emergence, they mature to shiny yellow-green, and turn butter yellow in fall. Inconspicuous flowers appear...

(Bluebeard)

Blue spiraea is a large perennial that produces small purple-blue flowers that if only enlarged, would make an extravagant ladies hat to debut at the races. The green leaves of this Himalayan native plant are found opposite each other and have large toothed margins. In late summer, the flower arise from the leaf joints at the tips of stems. The flowers could arguably make an orchid jealous: the four petals are a rich purplish blue, and the bottom central petal looks like a tongue mottled with white....

(Bluebeard, Snow Fairy Bluebeard)

This selection of bluebeard, ‘Snowy Fairy, is a showy perennial that produces small purple-blue flowers atop stems covered in variegated white and green foliage. The parent is a Himalayan native plant with toothy leaves opposite each other. In late summer, the flowers arise from the leaf joints at the tips of stems. The flowers are nothing short of elaborate: four petals are a rich purplish blue, and the bottom central petal looks like a tongue mottled with white. The long filaments shoot upward...

(Bluebeard, Moustache Plant)

Bluebeard is an open-formed deciduous shrub that brings a magnificent display of bold violet-blue flowers among gray leaves in late summer and fall. Native of China and Japan, it blooms from the current season's growth. Gray-green leaves, each oval but with jagged lobes, appear in pairs along the stems and are fragrant if crushed. In late summer and into early autumn, clusters of violet-blue to deep true blue flowers emerge from the paired leaf joints. Butterflies and bees will visit the plant when...

(Autumn Pink Bluebeard, Bluebeard)

Autumn Pink bluebeard is a compact deciduous shrub that brings an unexpected display of light rosy-pink flowers among bright green leaves in late summer and fall. Native of China and Japan, it blooms from the current season's growth. Bright green leaves, each oval but with jagged lobes, appear in pairs along the stems and are fragrant if crushed. In late summer and into early autumn, clusters of very pale pink flowers emerge from the paired leaf joints. Butterflies and bees will visit the plant when...

(Bluebeard, Sunshine Blue Bluebeard)

The popular golden-leaved bluebeard 'Sunshine Blue' offers lovely rich violet-blue flowers in late summer to fall. This vigorous small flowering shrub is as tough and drought tolerant as it is pretty. It is similar to the popular 'Worchester Gold' but is more vigorous and compact.

The deciduous shrub has a uniform mounding, rounded habit and becomes covered with many small golden to chartreuse toothed leaves that have a minty scent if crushed. In the fall, the leafy stems become lined with...

(Blue Mist Shrub, Blue Spirea, Bluebeard)

The beautiful bluebeard offers amazing violet-blue flowers for fall. This vigorous small flowering shrub is as tough and drought tolerant as it is pretty. The hybrid originates from a cross between the two Asian species Caryopteris incana and C. mongholica.

The deciduous shrub has a mounding, rounded habit and becomes covered with many small green to gray-green toothed leaves that have a minty scent if crushed. In the fall, the leafy stems become lined with many colorful...

(Arthur Simmonds Bluebeard, Blue Mist Shrub, Blue Spirea, Bluebeard)

The first and one of the hardiest cultivars of Caryopteris × clandonensis, this small deciduous shrub covers itself with misty blue flowers in late summer, when most other plants are flagging. A hybrid of C. incana and C. mongholica, 'Arthur Simmonds' originated in the garden of its namesake sometime before 1933.

This rounded, knee- to waist-high shrub is densely cloaked with small, narrowly oval, gray-green leaves with silvery, felted...