Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea, also sold as Cornus stolonifera) is a native deciduous shrub that earns its place in the landscape across every season, but it’s the winter display that makes it genuinely unforgettable. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 9, it’s one of the most cold-tolerant ornamental shrubs available, thriving in climates that…

Rose Glow barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’) is a deciduous ornamental shrub prized for some of the most striking foliage color available in a temperate garden plant. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, it’s a tough, adaptable shrub that performs reliably across a wide range of climates and growing conditions. It thrives in full…

Ruby Heart hens and chicks (Sempervivum ‘Ruby Heart’) is a compact, mat-forming succulent perennial that brings jewel-like color and intricate geometric beauty to the garden with almost no effort on the gardener’s part. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, it’s one of the toughest little plants you can grow, shrugging off cold winters, baking…

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta and related species) is a cheerful, sun-loving native perennial or biennial that’s become one of the most beloved wildflowers in North American gardens. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 depending on the species and cultivar, it’s a tough, adaptable plant that thrives across an enormous range of climates and conditions.…

Rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) is a tough, fragrant, and remarkably beautiful shrub rose that stands apart from the high-maintenance reputation of many garden roses. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 9, it’s one of the most cold-tolerant roses in cultivation, thriving in climates that would devastate hybrid teas and other more refined types. It grows…

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is a native evergreen shrub that’s as tough and adaptable as any plant in the Pacific Northwest landscape, and one of the most ecologically valuable ground covers and understory shrubs in western North American gardens. Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, it’s native to the coastal forests and woodland edges from…

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) is a native deciduous shrub that brings early color, abundant wildlife value, and edible fruit to woodland and riparian gardens along the Pacific Coast. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, it’s native to moist forests, streambanks, and wetland edges from Alaska down through northern California, and it’s one of the most…

Scarff’s Red quince (Cydonia oblonga ‘Scarff’s Red’) is a deciduous fruiting tree that brings old-world charm, beautiful spring bloom, and a generous crop of distinctive, fragrant fruit to the home orchard and ornamental garden alike. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, it’s a cold-tolerant and adaptable tree that performs reliably across a wide range…

Sensation lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’) is a deciduous flowering shrub that stands in a class of its own among one of the most beloved plant families in the temperate garden. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7, it’s a cold-climate performer at heart, thriving in the northern gardens where harsh winters provide the chilling period…

Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a classic, cheerful perennial that’s earned its place as one of the most reliably beloved flowers in the summer garden. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, it performs across a wide range of climates and is adaptable enough for both northern gardens with cold winters and warmer southern…