Plant List U - Z

ULMUS

parvifolia 'Dynasty': "Dynasty Chinese Elm". A fast growing, deciduous tree, 'Dynasty' forms a graceful, vase-shaped, spreading canopy of long, arching, & somewhat weeping branches. Shiny, dark green leathery foliage turns into various shades of red in Fall. The exfoliating bark in mottled patterns of dark gray, green, & occasionally orange & brown, add great textural & visual interest, but not as showy as some of the other Elms. Height to 40-50' tall with a spread of 35-50'. Full sun. Zone 5.

parvifolia 'Elmer II' PP#7552: "Allée® Chinese Elm / Emerald Vase Elm". A beautiful large shade tree considered one of the finest replacements for the diseased American elm. Upright, spreading form produces excellent shade for parks, boulevards, rural ranches, & larger homesites. Attractive exfoliating bark, muted gold fall color. Resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Deciduous. Full sun. Medium to fast growth to 55-65' tall & wide. Zone 5.

parvifolia sempervirens 'Drake': "Drake's Chinese Elm". Attractive round headed canopy forms a broad, spreading crown with pendant branches. Interesting shedding bark on older trees adds to its attraction. Excellent shade tree. Semi-evergreen. Full sun. Fast grower to 30-35' tall, 40-45' wide. Zones
6-9.

parvifolia sempervirens 'True Green': "True Green Chinese Elm". Semi-evergreen. Full sun. Fast grower to 40-60' tall, 50-70' wide. Interesting shedding bark on older trees adds to its attraction. Excellent shade tree. Round headed form with small, deep green leaves. Zones 3-24.

VERBENA

'Aztec' Series: "Aztec Verbena". Mounded, trailing habit is great for multiple uses. Blooms Spring thru Fall. Attracts bees, butterflies, & hummingbirds. Deer resistant. Heat & drought tolerant. Low maintenance. Excellent powdery mildew tolerance. Height 8-10". Full sun.

          'Dark Red': Bright red flower clusters.

          'Raspberry': Raspberry red flowers with a white center.  

          'Violet': Violet purple flowers with a white eye.

          'White Improved': Bright white flower clusters.

hybrid 'Babylon' Series: "Babylon Verbena". These are trailing, yet upright. The centers always fill back in with new foliage / flowers, not developing the open centers with no flowers as on other trailing verbenas. This gives a nicer, mounded habit with exceptional flower count, as flowers are always being produced on the new laterals, not just the terminals. Foliage & flowers are similar to 'Temari's'.

          'Deep Pink': Dark pink flowers.

          'Neon Rose': Hot pink flowers.

          'Purple': Large, purple flower clusters.

          'Red': True red with a slight hint of orange.

          'White': Snow white flowers.

hybrid 'Patio Temari' Series: "Temari Verbena". These varieties grow more upright, making them perfect for patio planters, landscape applications, & even small pots. Full sun. Height 10-12".
           'Patio Blue': Rich blue flowers.
           'Patio Hot Pink': Intense hot pink flowers
           'Patio Red': Bright red flowers.
           'Patio Rose': Bright rose pink flowers.

hybrid 'Tapien'™ Series: "Tapien Verbena, Carpet of Blossoms". Colorful, fast growing, versatile with a neat, flat multi-branching growth habit. Strong enough to use as a groundcover. It can also be used in pots, beds, window boxes, baskets, & mixed plantings. Heat resistant. Grows best in full sun.

          'Blue Violet': Dark blue violet flower clusters.

          'Pink': Silvery pink flower clusters.

VERONICA

penduncularis 'Georgia Blue': "Georgia Blue Speedwell". This hails not from Dixie, but from the former Soviet Georgia, where it gets really cold. Round, blue flowers in early spring on low spreading foliage. Very hardy. Height to 4". Sun - partial shade. Zone 4.

VIBURNUM

davidii: "David Viburnum". Showy evergreen mounded shrub valued for its glossy, dark green, deeply veined leaves. Metallic turquoise-blue fruits follow spring's white blooms. Use as a foundation shrub with ferns, azaleas, & other acid loving plants. Full sun - shade. Moderate grower to 2-3' tall, 3-4' wide. Zones 7-9.

tinus 'Compactum': "Spring Bouquet Viburnum". Beautiful evergreen shrub with lightly fragrant, pinkish white flowers in spring followed by dark blue-black fruit. Dense, compact growth habit makes this a favorite choice for small hedges, screens, or foundation plantings. Smaller, darker green leaves than V. tinus. Full sun. Moderate, upright grower to 4-6' tall & wide. Zones 7-11.

VINCA

minor 'Bowles': "Bowles Dwarf Periwinkle". Large blue flowers complement glossy green leaves. A stunning ground cover for difficult situations such as dry shade under trees & for erosion control on banks or slopes. Best performance when shaded from hot afternoon sun. Blooms in mid-late spring. Height to 6" tall. Zone 4-9.

minor 'Moonlit': "Moonlit Dwarf Periwinkle". Grown primarily for it's yellow & green variegated foliage. Unique, double lavender-colored blooms appear in Spring. Height 4-6". Trailing, spreading habit to 12-24". It is drought, heat, & frost tolerant. Poisonous. Low maintenance. Sun or shade. Use as a border or groundcover. Hardy to -10°F. Zones 6a-9b.

VITEX

agnus-castus: "Chaste Tree". Deciduous shrub or small tree. Zones 4-24. Growth is slow in cold climates, fast in warmer areas. Size varies from 6' in Northwest to 25' in low desert. Habit broad & spreading, usually multi trunked. Leaves are divided fanwise into 5-7 narrow, 2-6" long leaflets that are green above & gray beneath. Conspicuous, 7" spikes of lavender blue flowers in clusters appear in summer & fall. Tolerates many types of soils, but requires plenty of summer heat for richly colored, profuse bloom. In rich, moist soils, it grows luxuriantly, but has paler flowers. Good for summer flower color in shrub border. If trained high, makes a good small shade tree. Resistant to oak root fungus.

WEIGELIA

florida 'Fine Wine'™: Fine Wine™ Weigelia". A treat with its rosy pink blooms. Smaller than 'Wine & Roses' but larger than 'Midnight Wine', this beauty has the same dramatic dark burgundy foliage in a compact, mounded habit. A great plant for borders or perennial beds. Medium growing to 2-3'. Full sun. Zones 5-8.

florida 'Wine & Roses'®: "Wine & Roses® Weigelia". These japanese natives are among the showiest shrubs in the garden, & they're the harbingers of Spring. Deeply hued foliage contrasts wonderfully rich, rose pink flowers. Medium growing to 4-5' tall. Full sun. Zones 4-8.

WESTRINGIA

fruticosa 'Morning Light': "Coast Rosemary". A small, compact shrub with tight, linear foliage with a cream colored variegation along the margins. Small, white flowers usually in springtime, but can be year-round in coastal areas. Full sun. Height & width are 3-4'. Drought tolerant. Hardy to 25-30ºF.

WISTERIA

floribunda 'Rosea': "Pink Japanese Wisteria". Spectacular show of 18", fragrant, rose-pink flower clusters hanging from a vigorous, climbing woody vine. Train on arbor, trellis, or fence for best effect. An excellent patio cover. Deciduous. Full sun - partial shade. Fast grower, stems to 20-25' long. Zones 5-9.

sinensis 'Caroline Purple': "Caroline Chinese Wisteria". One of the most common Wisteria in the west. Leaves are 10-12" long, divided into 7-13 leaflets. Blooms before leaf out. Clusters of purple, slightly fragrant flowers are shorter (to 1') than those of W. floribunda - but they make quite a show, since flowers open all at once nearly all along the cluster. Deciduous vine. Grafted form.

sinensis 'Cooke's Special Purple': "Cooke's Purple Wisteria". This cultivar has been listed under both W. sinensis & simply the cultivar name; its actual ancestry is uncertain. The plants are stocky & vigorous, with the broad leaflets of W. sinensis. It flowers early, along with W. s. 'Caroline Purple', & has extraordinary masses of 10" clusters. The flowers are strongly bicolored, having dark purple wings (the lower petals) & a lighter banner. The fragrance is also outstanding. Selected at L. E. Cooke Nurseries. Deciduous vine. Full sun.

sinensis 'Texas White': "Texas White Wisteria". Leaves are 10-12" long, divided into 7-13 leaflets. Blooms before leaf out. Clusters of white, slightly fragrant flowers - but they make quite a show, since flowers open all at once nearly all along the cluster. Deciduous vine.

ZANTEDESCHIA

aethiopica: "Common Calla". Forms large clumps of leaves 1½' long, 10" wide. Pure white or creamy white, 8" long spathes on 3' stems appear mostly in spring & early summer. Nearly evergreen in mild areas, deciduous where winters are cold. Sun near coast & partial shade inland. Thrive on heavy watering.

ZEPHYRANTHES

candida: "Argentine Rain Lily, Zephyr Flower, Fairy Lily". Grows from bulbs & forms clumps of shiny, grassy leaves. White, 2" flowers, sometimes stained pink in throat. Evergreen in warmer part of range. Good edging plant or groundcover. Usually sold as a potted plant but can be planted out at any time. Attracts beneficial insects. Full sun-partial shade. Sunset zones 4-9, 12-24.

Plant List U - Z