New Plants to Covet

Get moving to your local nursery before this new Elderberry sells out ... you'll want to reserve a place for it in your shrub border now.  Sambucus 'Black Lace' has finely-cut dark purple lacy foliage that might be mistaken for a Japanese Maple at a distance.  The pink flowers in spring are stunning against the leaves, and very dark red berries in fall are attractive to birds and other wildlife -- or -- you can make jam or wine from them.

Hardy to -25 degrees F., grows to eight feet high, four to five feet wide, takes sun or part shade.

The new shrub dogwood Cornus 'Arctic Sun' would make a great contrast to the Elderberry ... golden leaves in fall and yellow stems tipped with red.  This one is a dwarf variety only reaching three to four feet high and wide ... perfect for small gardens or residential plantings anywhere.  Takes full to part sun, hardy to -35F.

You'll have to wait until next year, however, for the real winner among these new plants ... a weigela that can be used as a groundcover ... and it is ever a beautiful plant!  It's a sport of Weigela florida 'Tango,' but it only gets 12 to 18 inches high.  This new Weigela 'My Monet' would be fabulous at the front of a border, as an edger, or in containers.   Green leaves edged in white, tons of pink flowers, and hardy to -30F.

For more info, see the Proven Winners website.

 (click on images for larger view)

Photos: Proven Winners

Comments

[lester altman]

at what time can i transplant the black lace elderberry bush? i have a three year old bush and i need to move it. thanks