Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of North America’s most beloved native wildflowers, and once you see it in full bloom, it’s easy to understand why. Blazing clusters of vivid orange flowers light up the garden from early summer through fall, creating a spectacle that’s as good for pollinators as it is for the eyes.…

Arp rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus ‘Arp,’ formerly Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’) is one of the most cold-hardy rosemary cultivars available, making it a standout choice for gardeners in USDA zones 6 through 11 who’ve struggled to overwinter this beloved herb. Named after the town of Arp, Texas, where it was discovered in the 1970s growing near a…

Viking aronia (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’) is a hardy, native shrub that deserves a spot in nearly every landscape. It’s suited to USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9, making it one of the most cold-tolerant fruiting shrubs you can grow. This deciduous shrub typically reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, forming a full, upright-rounded…

If you’re looking for a shrub that delivers non-stop color when most of the garden is winding down, Aphrodite Rose of Sharon is hard to beat. This stunning deciduous shrub (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Aphrodite’) was developed by the U.S. National Arboretum and has become a favorite for gardeners who want big, tropical-looking blooms without a lot…

Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’) is one of the most beloved flowering shrubs in the American garden, and once you’ve seen it in full bloom, it’s easy to understand why. Native to the eastern United States, this deciduous shrub is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, making it one of the most cold-tolerant hydrangeas…

Ann magnolia (Magnolia x ‘Ann’) is one of the beloved “Little Girl” hybrid magnolias developed by the U.S. National Arboretum in the 1950s and ’60s, bred specifically to bloom later in spring than traditional magnolias and avoid the heartbreak of frost-damaged flowers. She’s hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, making her a reliable choice…

Ann Chowning Louisiana iris (Iris ‘Ann Chowning’) is a showstopper that brings bold, saturated color to the late spring garden. A cultivar within the Louisiana iris group, it’s a hybrid derived from a complex of iris species native to the Gulf Coast region of the United States, primarily Louisiana and surrounding states. Hardy in USDA…

American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is one of nature’s most delightful surprises: a native shrub that saves its blooms for late fall, lighting up the garden just as everything else is going to sleep. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, it’s a tough, adaptable plant that earns its place in the landscape many times…

All Summer Beauty hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘All Summer Beauty’) is one of the most reliable and rewarding shrubs you can add to your landscape. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, it’s more cold-tolerant than many bigleaf hydrangeas, making it a great choice for gardeners in cooler climates who’ve struggled to get other hydrangeas to…

The Olympian fig (Ficus carica ‘Olympian’) is a cold-hardy, deciduous fruit tree that’s earned a devoted following among Pacific Northwest gardeners and beyond. Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 10, it tolerates winter temperatures that would knock out less resilient fig varieties, making it a standout choice for growers in cooler climates. It thrives in…