For a Hardy Landscape, Think Globally and Plant Locally

My annual "best plants" report would ordinarily run closer to the end of the growing season, but I am writing it now because we need symbols of promise for the future. Plants fill that need.

The Scriptures offer numerous plant metaphors for human strength, and so, as in myriad other situations when we don't have words to describe or ease pain and suffering, we turn to the Bible. In the first Psalm is a verse for all who have helped and are about to perform more heroic deeds. "And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water that bringeth forth its fruit in its season and his leaf shall not wither."

Here is a list of trees, shrubs and perennials from various parts of the world that can peacefully coexist with others, but will stand firmly rooted, bear fruit and hold up well in the face of adversity:

Red Oak (Quercus rubra): A tough, hardy, native tree, it thrives to the northern reaches of the continental United States and eastern Canada. Red oaks are strong wooded, broad-branched shade trees that grow 60 to 70 feet tall and develop a rounded habit. On moist well-drained sites, they can increase in size as much as two feet a year, reaching 20 feet in about a decade. One of the last trees to color in fall, its foliage can persist into winter. In spring, new leaves have a reddish-pink color as they unfold. These are good, fast-growing oaks for lawns, streets, parks and golf courses from southern Virginia north.

Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra): Whenever I want to specify a conifer for open, sunny conditions in our hardiness zone, where it will be exposed to harsh prevailing winds, I think of Swiss stone pine. Its blue-green needles have an interesting curled or twisted configuration. This central European and South Asian native is a slow, steady performer, and the compact pyramidal habit keeps it looking like a Christmas tree for many years. It grows about 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide, but takes about 40 to 50 years to get there. Plant it in a bed with a couple of types of full sun perennials and several low-growing shrubs to add flowering interest.

Alta Magnolia (M. grandiflora Alta): A columnar, broadleaf hybrid from a native plant, it shows a great deal of promise. I planted five this year that are eight to nine feet tall. If they perform as well as the ones grown in field trials, they will make perfect broadleaf evergreen screening trees. You might want to start with plants that are three to five feet tall. One reason is cost; the other is that mature trees are too heavy to move without a loader. Smaller plants will grow into the same dense framework of leaves and stems with minimal pruning. The parent tree is branched full to the ground and, after 11 years, was 21 feet tall and nine wide. It is difficult to find these trees. For more information go online: www.treeintroductions.com.

Chindo viburnum (V. awabuki "Chindo"): This handsome, shiny, broadleaf evergreen has been an exciting shrub to watch for the past three growing seasons. I wasn't sure how it would perform. A fast growing native shrub of Japan and Korea, it has proven to be a much hardier evergreen than I thought in protected sun and shade. Do not install this plant in the open without winter protection or it will experience winter browning. But you can simply prune the brown stems and the plant renews its exceptionally shiny tropical-looking foliage dependably. They grow 15 feet high and wide in warmer zones, but I'd keep them at about six feet by selective spring pruning. Anchor the corner of your house or soften the corners of a walled garden with several plants.

Little Henry Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica "Little Henry"): This plant prefers wet sites in sun or partial shade, but has some drought tolerance. It has long-flowering, sweet-smelling blooms in summer, when few shrubs are flowering, and maroon fall foliage, holding its ornamental value for many weeks. The diminutive size, two to four feet, and virtually no disease problems keeps it a low-maintenance shrub. Use as a background shrub around garden seating, on the fringe of the woods or in a natural shrub mass to blend with other native plantings.

Nikko deutzia (D. gracilis "Nikko"): Nikko is quickly becoming my favorite low-growing shrub. White flowers cover this plant in April; the mounded form is handsome in leaf, and it maintains its architectural value without foliage in winter. Growing about two feet tall and spreading about five, this shrub is also a perfect groundcover. It can be pruned, but this isn't necessary. Plant as early flowering mounds among a perennial border, in a mass covering a sunny slope and as groundcover for large beds in full sun.

David summer phlox (P. paniculata): This year its fragrance and continuous summer flowers were profuse. David showed no sign of mildew that other summer phloxes are susceptible to. Its white summer flower and sweet smell are a perfect complement to the summer garden. Perennials expert Allan M. Armitage calls it the finest white phlox today. It looks great among other two- to three-foot tall plantings, such as irises and asters, and along the fringe of woods in bright locations with some protection from long hours of summer sun. This plant was discovered, propagated and introduced by Richard Simon, owner of Bluemount Nursery in Monkton, Md.

Forget-me-not was on my list last year. The common name has such significance that I have chosen it again. The name forget-me-not is assigned to at least three genera of perennials, Brunnera, Myosotis and Cynoglossum. All three are shade tolerant. Brunnera has proved to have the longest ornamental value among them. Plant all three forget-me-nots with phlox for a great look. They can be planted to create lacy floral drifts or a shady wildflower mixture.

Brunnera macrophylla: The 18-inch-tall Brunnera, a coarse textured native of Europe and north Africa, has drifts of blue flowers that work well planted in a moist, well-drained shady site for interest all season. The large heart-shaped leathery leaves persist into winter. It likes moisture. Brunnera is the perfect wildflower for a stream bank and will spread rapidly in the presence of moisture.

Myosotis sylvatica: A lower-growing long-blooming European native forget-me-not, Myosotis will seed itself as a groundcover around other perennials and return year after year. It blooms profusely in spring and sporadically in summer.

Cynoglossum virginianum: The third forget-me-not, a native perennial also called wild comfrey, is a dependable perennial in woodland gardens. Cynoglossum's flowers are presented on two-foot-tall stems and are a showy light blue that would weave well with other perennials. They are not deterred by adverse conditions and will tolerate floods or drought.