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.

Hartlage Wine (Calycanthus 'Hartlage Wine')

Really Hartlage Wine is a hybrid with sinocalycanthus which makes this a very different Calycanthus. Everybody wants a fragrant spicebush with dark red flowers and so often Calycanthus has brown flowers with almost no fragrance. This is the plant that people are looking for when they hear about Spice Bush. Hardy to Zone 5 and very vigorous.

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron tricotomum)

Harlequin Glory Bower is an attention grabber. Covered with very fragrant white flowers in the summer, its fall display is even better: electric blue berries are held in a plastic (looking) pink calyces. The tree rarely gets more than 15′ and is often as wide as it is tall. zone 6