Miss Kim lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula ‘Miss Kim’) is one of the finest compact lilacs available to home gardeners, a plant that delivers everything the classic lilac is loved for in a size and form that suits a far wider range of garden situations than the towering old-fashioned varieties. Selected from seed collected in…

Minuet weigela (Weigela florida ‘Minuet’) is a tidy, compact dwarf cultivar that delivers all the charm of the full-sized weigelas in a package that suits nearly any garden situation, from small urban lots to the front of a mixed shrub border. Introduced from the Agriculture Canada breeding program, which produced a series of outstanding cold-hardy…

Minerva Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’) is one of the most striking selections of this beloved late-summer shrub, producing large, showy flowers in a rich lavender-purple with a contrasting deep red-purple eye at the center that draws the eye from across the garden. It’s a standout among the many Rose of Sharon cultivars for…

The Meeker raspberry (Rubus idaeus ‘Meeker’) is the gold standard of red raspberries in the Pacific Northwest and one of the most widely planted commercial raspberry varieties in the world. Developed by Washington State University and released in 1967, it was named for Meeker, Washington, a town in the heart of the state’s premier raspberry-growing…

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), also commonly called silk tree or Persian silk tree, is one of the most visually flamboyant flowering trees in the summer landscape, producing an extravagant display of silky, powder-puff flowers in shades of pink and cream that bloom prolifically from early to midsummer and continue for weeks. Native to a broad range…

The marionberry (Rubus × loganobaccus ‘Marion’) is the undisputed king of the blackberry world in the Pacific Northwest, a trailing bramble with a devoted following among home gardeners and commercial growers alike for its extraordinary fruit quality. Developed by the USDA and Oregon State University and released in 1956, it was named for Marion County,…

Mariesii Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’) is one of the most architecturally stunning flowering shrubs in the temperate garden, a plant that earns admiration in every season and stops visitors in their tracks when it blooms in spring. Named for the British plant collector Charles Maries, who introduced it from Japan in the…

Mandarin Lights deciduous azalea (Rhododendron ‘Mandarin Lights’) is one of the showiest members of the celebrated Lights Series, a group of cold-hardy deciduous azaleas developed by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum through decades of careful breeding. Where many azaleas falter in northern winters, Mandarin Lights shrugs off temperatures down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit, making…

Mahogany ajuga (Ajuga reptans ‘Mahogany’) is a striking groundcover perennial that earns its place in the garden with year-round foliage color and a reliably spreading habit that crowds out weeds with minimal fuss. A cultivar of the widely grown carpet bugle, this variety is selected for its deep, rich leaves that emerge burgundy-bronze in spring…

The magnolia fig (Ficus carica ‘Magnolia’) is one of the most beloved heirloom figs in American gardens, prized for its exceptionally large, sweet fruit and its easygoing nature in the landscape. Also sold under the names ‘Brunswick’ and ‘Madonna’ in various regions, this deciduous fruiting tree or large shrub has been grown in home gardens…