Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus florida)

Sweetshrub will get to be a sizable bush (8′ x 8′) with spicy scented flowers in the summer. zone 5

Swedish Columnar Aspen (Populus tremula 'Erecta')

Thirty years ago, new to the Northwest, I spent a weekend in the mountains of central Oregon and wondered why I was always hearing a stream trickle by when there was no water at all. It was the breeze in the leaves of Quaking Aspen when there was no wind to speak of. It was a distinctive and restful sound, and I decided I wanted to grow that tree in my nursery. I did for a while, but there was a big problem. In the fall, the deer (blasted young bucks) barked them all so I gave up. But a few years ago I saw the columnar form and was so taken with it, I decided to try again. Also to offer the tree in a small size. Totally hardy (zone 3) and stunning fall color. I’m excited. Photo thanks to the incomparable Jackie Becker.

Stachyurus (Stachurus praecox)

This upright spreading shrub has leaves ringed in white and pink; it will grow to 6′ and has yellow flowers hanging in long racimes in late spring. zone 7

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Oxydendrum is an underused plant, to say the least. This is a small to medium tree which is suitable for large planters or small gardens. The drooping fragrant flower panicles in the summer veil the tree in white and the flowers persist after the foliage turns in the fall; the scarlet fall color is unsurpassed. The tree is listed as zone 5 but there is one flowering in Maine.

Silver Frost (Pyrus salicifolia)

Silver Weeping Pear will never get more than 15′, is reasonably hardy, and has a distinctive look.

Rosa pteracantha (Rosa pteracantha)

Normally thorns are the downside of roses. In this case the thorns are the attraction. When the plant is thriving, the thorns are huge and red and translucent and stunning.

Romneya coulteri (Romneya coulteri)

The Romneya in my yard is a large shrub that freezes to the ground every winter and comes back stronger spreading somewhat. The paper like large white flowers are spectacular. A California native, this plant needs very little water in the summer so I suspect that it is a West Coast plant.

Pink Yellowwood (Cladrastus lutea 'Rosea')

This small tree (20′) takes forever to bloom, but it is worth the wait. The fragrance is lovely and the umbrella shape of the branches make it a perfect tree for the small garden. zone 4

Pink Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum)

There is something to be said for a hardy fragrant early spring flowering shrub. Hmmm, What would that be? Nice? Better than nice? The trouble with Abeliophyllum is that the flowers come and go so quickly, but it is spring after all and we should be happy to see anything that’s not grey and cold. zone 4.