A low, often half-prostrate form of the red buckeye, Aesculus pavia var. humilis keeps to a small, spreading shrub where the typical red buckeye grows into a small tree. The scarlet spring flowers come in smaller panicles, and in every other respect the plant follows the species: lustrous palmate leaves that break early, a love of moist, well-drained woodland soil, and the same magnetism for returning hummingbirds.
A rare dwarf form of the Ohio buckeye, Aesculus glabra var. nana was found in just a few places in the hills of northern Alabama and northern Georgia, far south of the species' usual range. Where the typical Ohio buckeye climbs to thirty feet or more, this dwarf settles into a rounded shrub of about six feet, carrying the same handsome palmate leaves divided into finger-like leaflets that flush early and color in fall.
Acer fabri, known as Faber's maple or emerald jade maple, is a small evergreen to semi-evergreen tree of rounded habit whose slender, prominently veined, pointed leaves are entirely unlobed; few would guess the plant for a maple until the winged seeds appear. The new growth flushes a fine copper red, and the samaras ripen red as well before fading to brownish yellow in late summer, so the tree carries color without depending on the usual autumn display.
Summersweet has long been a shrub gardeners plant by the nose. Native to the moist woods and pond margins of the eastern United States, Clethra alnifolia earned the old country names Sweet Pepperbush and Summersweet for the honey-and-clove perfume that pours off the white summer spikes, a scent that carries clear across a garden on a warm afternoon. Colonists found a further use for the plant: the flowers, crushed in water, raise a soft lather, and were once pressed into service as a field soap.
The summersweets are among the most fragrant of American shrubs, native to the moist woods, swamp edges, and pond margins of the eastern United States, where the white summer spikes scent whole acres of low ground. Country people knew the plant as Sweet Pepperbush, for the peppercorn-like seed heads, and as Summersweet, for the honey-and-clove perfume; the crushed flowers even raise a soft lather in water and once served as a woodland soap.
Clethra alnifolia and the southern Clethra tomentosa are stoloniferous deciduous shrubs commonly called Summersweet or Sweet Pepperbush. They form colonies in moist acid soil and make good garden subjects. They are valued for their terminal spikes of fragrant white flowers in summer. Plant in sun or semi-shade and provide adequate moisture. This selection has leaves that are speckled and banded with cream to white variegation. Found by Mike Creel in Lexington County, SC. Plant best in semi-shade.
Clethra fargesii is the Chinese cousin of our native summersweets, a graceful deciduous shrub from the mountain woodlands of central and western China, gathered and named for the French missionary-botanist Paul Farges. Kin to the better-known Clethra barbinervis, the Chinese clethra stays a little shorter and carries dark, glossy green leaves, broadest through the middle and sharply toothed, that color bronze-red to maroon before they fall.
Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia, is one of the great fragrant natives of the eastern United States, a shrub of moist woods and pond edges whose white summer spikes carry a honey-and-clove perfume across the whole garden. Colonists called the plant Sweet Pepperbush, for the peppercorn-like seed heads that follow, and Summersweet, for the scent; the flowers even lather softly in water and once served as a field soap.
This low shrub with tiny evergreen leaves grows in moist peaty sand in the southern pine flatwoods from South Carolina to Florida and Alabama. The pink summer flowers may be needed to convince some people that this is indeed a Kalmia. It is a charming little shrub for a moist but well-drained sandy acid soil in the sun or semi shade. Care must be taken to insure it is not overtopped or overwhelmed by competing vegetation.
This is a federally listed endangered species. NOT FOR SALE IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. It is a new species discovered by Bob McCartney in Putnam County, Florida in 1990 and introduced by Woodlanders. Medium mint family shrub larger than most other Conradina species. Has aromatic oval leaves unlike other Conradinas which have needle-like leaves. Large pale lavender flowers similar to Conradina grandiflora. Native to very limited area on deep sandy soil. If given sunny site with good drainage it grows well in the garden.
Endemic to a few localities in two central Florida counties, this aromatic mint shrub is a FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED SPECIES AND CANNOT BE SOLD IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. Similar to Conradina canescens it is a low wiry shrub with dense foliage consisting of grayish small needle-like leaves. The small tubular flowers are pale lavender to white. Native on deep sterile sandy soil in sunny sites, it should be planted in locations that are sunny and well-drained.
This small to medium shrub is in the mint family. It is a small shrub with gray-green narrow Rosemary-like aromatic leaves. The flowers are bluish and larger than other Conradinas. It is native on old dunes and deep sandy soil at scattered locations along the east coast of Florida. It needs a sunny site with well-drained sandy soil. Conradina grandiflora is a federally listed endangered species. NOT FOR SALE IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Collingwood Ingram' is a low-growing or spreading form of Rosmarinus officinalis (which see). It has bright blue flowers and narrow, dark green needle-like leaves. This evergreen shrub is very aromatic and requires full sun and well-drained, preferable slightly alkaline soil.
This spreading open-branched evergreen azalea has dull green to yellowish-green fuzzy leaves. The deep pink to rust colored flowers may appear sporadically through summer, but typically this species flowers in the fall, which is a unique feature. Rarely offered in the U.S. this azalea is one of the parents of the now popular "Encore" Hybrids. It is native to Taiwan. Culture is as for other evergreen azaleas.
This is a white-flowered form of Rhododendron austrinum (which see). This white form of the normally yellow-flowered Florida Azalea was selected by Florida plantsman Steve Riefler in northwest Florida.
The Florida Azalea is a large growing deciduous azalea. The fragrant flowers very early and typically yellow. The flowers of this clone are a unique coral color. This selection was found some years ago and introduced by Falling Waters Nursery in Chipley, Florida. Florida Azalea blooms here in South Carolina in late March-early April and is one of the best native azaleas for the Deep South. It grows well with irrigation under tall pines where soil is sandy, acidic, and well-drained. It is native to Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama.
Smooth aromatic shrub with soft green needle like leaves and pale white flowers. This endangered species native to deep sandy soil on bluffs and ravines near Apalachicola River in northwest Florida. Grow in sandy well-drained soil with minimal competition from other plants. Plant it in sun or very little shade. FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED. CANNOT BE SOLD IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. Woodlanders pioneered the horticultural use of many of the little-known shrubby mint family plants native to the southern U.S.
Lithocarpus are evergreen trees related to both oak and chestnut. The acorns are like oak and the clusters of white flower spikes are like chestnut. The flowers are showy but ill scented. This species is native to eastern Asia and makes a nice dense evergreen tree somewhat like Quercus glauca. It is a useful tree for the South and should have an open site with good soil that is well-drained.
A bold, dramatic subtropical, Brugmansia (Datura) suaveolens 'Pink' hangs huge, soft pink, trumpet-shaped flowers, sometimes eight inches or more, that pour out an intoxicating fragrance on warm evenings. Herbaceous and dieback in zone 8, treelike in zone 10, the angel's trumpet makes a fast, theatrical show through a hot summer.
