Some of the striking new plants for 2017 from Spring Meadow Nursery:
Wabi-Sabi™ Viburnum
(Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum 'SMVPTFD')
Wow! A dwarf, low-growing doublefile viburnum. Deer and rabbit resistant, it's great for the front of the border, just 24-36 inches high and spreading -- like it's bigger cousins -- four to five feet.
Plant it at the top of walls, in planter boxes, or along walkways. The pure white blooms appear in spring, and it requires very little maintenance, if any at all. Zones 5-8.
Winecraft Black™ Smokebush
(Cotinus coggygria 'NCCO1')
This is a rather small smokebush, at only four to six feet high and wide, but it's a standout because of its deep rich purple leaves that turn nearly black in summer and orange-y red in autumn. The panicles of blooms appear in early summer, resembling a smoky purple-pink mist.
It's also deer and rabbit resistant and can be used as a specimen or focal point, or for great effect, plants several en masse.
Easy to care for, and hardy in Zones 4-8.
Mini Mauvette™ Hydrangea
(Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA7')
Finally, an Annabelle hydrangea that's hardy up north and down south -- zones 3-9. The flowers are deep pink to mauve on sturdy stems that won't flop over. It blooms from early summer to frost, and its dwarf size, 30-36 inches high and wide, make it perfect for almost anywhere in the garden.
It takes part sun, but six hours of sun will produce the best color and abundant flowers. Use in mass plantings, along the edges of the garden, or as a stand-alone specimen. Great for containers, too, and the flowers can be cut for arrangements or dried. Prune in early spring, and cut the plant back by about one-third of its height for vigorous new growth and many blooms.
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