(Narrow-leaved Laurel, Sheep Laurel)

In early summer, sheep laurel bears clusters of small, dainty, chalice-shaped flowers among its linear evergreen leaves. This species originates from eastern North America where it naturally inhabits prairies, meadows and forest margins where soils are moist, organic-rich and moderately acid.

The elongated foliage of this compact, somewhat spreading shrub is fully evergreen and often blue-green. In early to midsummer it produces clusters of flowers that are chalice-shaped with crimped edges....

(Eastern Larch, Tamarack)

Illuminating the fall landscape with golden yellow needles, tamarack reaches skyward with its tall, open-branched, pyramid-like form. A tree native to much of Canada and the far northern United States, it is a relatively slow-growing deciduous conifer that thrives where soils are moist and summers cool. It is often found growing in bogs alongside wild blueberries and cranberries.

The needles are green to blue-green, short, three-sided and arranged in spiraled clusters atop short stubby spurs....

(Blue Sparkler Eastern Larch, Eastern Larch)

Brightening the landscape with a dense foliar display of light blue-green needles, Blue Sparkler dwarf tamarack also heralds fall with golden yellow needles. Native to much of Canada and the extreme northern United States, this variety was selected by Sid Waxman of the University of Connecticut. It is a vigorous, dwarfed, deciduous shrub that will become broader than tall.

The needles are bright blue-green, short, three-sided and arranged densely in spiral clusters atop short stubby spurs. The...

(Deborah Waxman Eastern Larch, Eastern Larch)

A compact, conical dwarf shrub, the blue-green needles of Deborah Waxman dwarf tamarack turn coppery gold in autumn. Native to much of Canada and the extreme northern United States, this variety was selected by Sid Waxman of the University of Connecticut. It is a very slow growing, dwarf, deciduous cone-bearing shrub with dense branches and needled foliage.

The needles are bright blue-green, short, three-sided and arranged densely in spiral clusters atop short stubby spurs. The branchlets are...

(Eastern Larch, Lanark Eastern Larch)

Brightening the landscape with a dense foliar display of light green needles on yellow branchlets, Lanark dwarf tamarack also heralds fall with golden yellow needles. Native to much of Canada and the extreme northern United States, it is a slow growing, dwarfed, deciduous shrub that will become round and chest-high with time.

The needles are bright green, short, three-sided and arranged densely in spiral clusters atop short stubby spurs. The thin, yellowy, young branchlets are held up and out...

(Eastern Larch, Newport Beauty Eastern Larch)

A tiny, dense foliar balled shrub teeming with blue-green needles, Newport Beauty dwarf tamarack also greets fall with golden yellow foliage. Native to much of Canada and the extreme northern United States, it's a dense, dwarf, deciduous conifer that very slowly becomes a rounded mass.

The needles are mildly blue-green, short, three-sided and arranged densely in spiral clusters atop short stubby spurs. The short, young branchlets are held out from the dense congestion of foliage. With considereable...

(Marsh Labrador Tea, Muskeg Tea, Wild Rosemary)

Circumboreal in origin, wild rosemary is a plant of the Northern latitudes, bringing white blossoms to rocky terrain normally cloaked in lichen and moss. More prostrate in habit with some upright but spreading stems, this small mounding shrub is native to lands around the North Pole, including northern Europe and Siberia, and Greenland, Canada and Alaska in North America. Plants are usually buried under snow in winter and grow and bloom in the short summer when snow has fully melted away.

The...

(Duckmeat, Frog's Buttons, Ivyleaf Duckweed, Star Duckweed)

From late spring to fall frost, the still waters on ponds, lakes and the edges of slow-moving streams may reveal a floating mat of star duckweed. Native to the cool-summer areas of the Northern Hemisphere, star duckweed sinks to the bottom of the body of water in winter to escape death by freezing.

When ice disappears and water warms up in spring, the dormant leaf bodies of star duckweed rise up to the water's surface. Floating atop the water, the light to medium green leaves of star duckweed...

(Broom Tea Tree, New Zealand Tea Tree, Tea Tree)

Few drought resistant shrubs can rival the color of a tea tree in full bloom. This large evergreen shrub or small tree has small, prickly, needle-like leaves and many thumbnail-sized blossoms. It is a native of New Zealand where it grows in a wide range of areas from peaty bogs to coastal and montane regions. So, it is surprisingly adaptable, especially to arid sites and soils.

Wild specimens are tree-like, highly variable and not suitable for coiffed formal gardens, but they develop a natural...

(Dwarf Tea Tree)

Tea trees in the Nanum Group are super compact and have neat rounded habits. The pretty ‘Tui’ has cool light pink blooms that warm up against fine needle-like leaves of bronze. It originates from New Zealand where it grows in a wide range of areas from peaty bogs to coastal and montane regions. So, it is surprisingly adaptable, especially to arid sites and soils.

This diminutive shrub has a neat rounded form, unlike most taller tea trees. Bloom time is variable. South of the equator it blooms...