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This unique tree grows to 15-20’ tall with spiny, gnarled, and somewhat pendulous branches. The glossy, bright-green leaves are followed by clusters of tiny, yellow flowers. The fruit ripens in late autumn and looks like a date, but is not a date. The fruit may be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. Native: Southeast Europe and much of Asia.

The Fuzzy Deutzia grows 6-10’ tall in an oval, round-topped shape. It has arching branches with brown peeling bark. In early June, the abundant 1/2-3/4” flowers are pure white or tinged pink and grow upright on 3-6” long panicles. The 1-4” long opposite leaves are dull green and have sandpaper texture to the upper surface. Native: Japan and China.

This shrub grows from 6-15’ and is densely twigged with dull, dark-green leaves in summer changing to blood red in autumn. It produces profuse, white, malodorous flowers in late May. Stems are usually more green than blood red; however, those stems getting more sun are redder. This dogwood is multi-stemmed and suckers freely. Native: Europe.

Beautiful, bright-red or yellow, upright stems grow 7-9’ high and 10’wide. This shrub spreads by underground stems. White flowers appear in May and June and are followed by whitish fruit in the summer. The leaves may turn reddish purple in autumn. Native: Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Virginia and Nebraska.

This upright, deciduous shrub grows 8-10’. The leaves are 2-4 1/2” long with an irregular, creamy-white border and a subdued grayish-green center. Stems are red in winter. This is a great specimen for brightening a shady area. Small bunches of white flowers occur in May and June. The species will grow in sun or shade, in wet or dry conditions, and in acid or alkaline soils. Native: Eastern Russia to northeast China and North Korea.

The Douglasfir is not a true fir; therefore, we spell the name as one word. The height, under landscape conditions, averages 40-80’. The bluish-green to gray-green needles show faint white lines beneath. When crushed, the needles give off the odor of camphor. Light-brown cones have three projecting bracts at each scale. The bark is rough, corky, and ridged with dark red brown or gray coloring when mature. It is widely grown as a Christmas tree. The wood has exceptional strength and is often used for heavy structural timber. Native: Rocky Mountains.