(Pride of Madeira)

With tall flower spikes of cool blue and lavender, pride of Madeira is a magnificent, easy to grow subshrub that shines in spring and summer. This tender, bushy evergreen is native to Madeira but has escaped from gardens and populated many subtropical countries where it is often considered invasive.

Its upright stems have whorls of slender, gray-green leaves covered with soft white hairs and distinguished by light midribs. In spring and summer each stem produces a tall flower spike with hundreds...

(Select Blue Pride of Madeira)

With tall flower spikes of cool blue and lavender, pride of Madeira is a magnificent, easy to grow subshrub that shines in spring and summer. This tender, bushy evergreen is native to Madeira but has escaped from gardens and populated many subtropical countries where it is often considered invasive.

Its upright stems have whorls of slender, gray-green leaves covered with soft white hairs and distinguished by light midribs. In spring and summer each stem produces a tall flower spike with hundreds...

(Giant Viper's Bugloss, Pine Echium, Tree Echium)

Small, unassuming rosettes of linear, dusty green foliage develop floral columns lined with small violet-blue flowers that burst upward to heights of 8- to 10-feet (2.5- to 3.25-meters). A native of the dry inland laurel forests of the Canary Islands, tree echium survives as a half-hardy biennial. It is a spectacular plant in bloom and has become endangered in its native habitat, though it is very popular in cultivation.

Dense rosettes of linear, silvery or dusty green foliage overwinter and...

(Elaeagnus)

A pleasant upright-shaped shrub with gently arching branches, the Quicksilver silverberry glistens with silvery gray-green foliage and red fruits. A hybrid originating in England as a chance seedling, 'Quicksilver' is a fast-growing deciduous shrub.

The thin branches have thorns. At first, the branches are held upright, but as they lengthen and carry more weight they begin to arch. In early spring, the oval leaves emerge with a whitish silver hue. They mature to silvery gray-green. In late spring...

(Russian Olive)

Russian olive is a large deciduous shrub or small tree that's remarkably hardy and beautiful but known to be invasive. It is native to southern Europe, Russia, central Asia and parts of China where it inhabits coastal regions, lake shores, dry river beds and mountainous areas. It has also become naturalized throughout much of North America. In addition to its graceful habit and silvery leaves it is valued for its edible fruit, quality timber and fast-growing nature.

The narrow, lance-shaped leaves...

(Red King Russion Olive, Russion Olive)

Russian olive is a large, deciduous shrub or small tree. It is native to southern Europe, central Asia and parts of China. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are green above and silvery, gray-green below. Its brown, scaly, often thorny branches are covered with exfoliating bark that adds winter interest. The cultivar ‘Red King’ has silvery white, strongly fragrant flowers with yellow centers occur in late spring or early summer and are followed by edible, red-rust, olive-like fruit.

Russian olive...

(Silverberry)

The uncommonly hardy American silverberry exists in the far northern reaches of America and Canada and can even be found in areas with permafrost. In colder regions it survives as a very short shrub and in the warmer parts of its range it can be sizable. All plants tend to sucker. Wild populations are most commonly found along oceansides, in upland prairies and areas with dry sandy or gravelly soils. They are shallow-rooted and commonly planted as fast-growing windbreaks in natural areas.

This...

(Goumi)

A native of the open woods and thickets of China, goumi is a variable species valued for its edible fruit as well as ornamental qualities. This large, flat-topped, densely-foliaged shrub or small tree has spreading branches with a pleasing look. It is fully deciduous and fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.

The tough, fast-growing silverberries, or silverthorns, are irresistible to gardeners looking to fill large spaces fast. Most of these shrubby woody plants are grown for their interesting...

(Silverthorn, Thorny Olive)

Thorny olive is a large evergreen shrub to small tree native to China and Japan where it exists along open slopes and thickets near the oceanside or waterways. It has also become naturalized in the southeastern United States where it is considered a problematic invasive shrub. It is fast-growing, tough and grows well in difficult areas but has a coarse, informal look that is visually unappealing.

The oblong to elliptical leaves of thorny olive are dark green on the top and silver-gray on the...

(Fruitland Silverberry, Silverberry, Thorny Olive)

The unique thorny olive,'Fruitlandii', is distinguished by its larger, more rounded and wavy-edged foliage. It is also said to have a more uniform habit than ungainly wild forms.

Thorny olive is a large evergreen shrub to small tree native to China and Japan where it exists along open slopes and thickets near the Oceanside or waterways. It has also become naturalized in the southeastern United States where it is considered a problematic invasive shrub. It is fast-growing, tough and grows well...