.	Abies firma. "Momi Fir" - An amazingly heat-tolerant fir from China. Has been in southern gardens at least since the 1920s. Patience with its slow growth will reward the gardener with a long-lived heirloom fir. 15'-25' Christmas tree shape.
.	"Not in the darkest and most dreary of winter days is the garden devoid of beauty" - E. H. WILSON
.	Acer Palmatum Cultivars. - We have come to enjoy not only the beauty, but the dependability of the following Japanese maples, after years of study in our "not supposed to grow here" climate.
	Beni Kawa. - Fresh yellow-green spring growth is tinged with rose on the margins. Summer color is green. Fall foliage is golden which is a nice contrast with the constantly red stems. A much better performer in the south than 'Sango Kaku', it will mature to 15'-20'.
	Bloodgood. - Most popular upright, deep red-leafed form. Holds color well into summer and withstands sun quite well, though some afternoon shade is preferred. Very strong growth to 20' or more.
	Inaba Shidare. - Listed in Japan since the mid-1800s. Very deep-colored dissectum which holds its color well into the summer. Fall changes leaves from a bronze to a crimson. Vigorous, sturdy, cascading but more erect and sun-tolerant than 'Crimson Queen'.
.	Orangeola. - Very vigorous, pendulous, spreading dissectum. Orange tones in spring give way to green tones in summer. New summer growth is orange. Fall color is magnificent shades of orange and red. An excellent choice for above a small pool.
.	Seigai. (Bonfire) - The most under-used of the Japanese maples in the south. The small leaves in spring are a brilliant crimson, changing to bronze in a month, then green in summer. Fall color is a flame red. A constantly changing picture within the garden. Sturdy upright tree to 12'.
	Seiryu. - An upright growing greenleaf dissectum. Fall colors are spectacular and range from strong gold to light yellows, with a suffusion of crimson in most leaves. Strong growth to 10'-15'.
	Trompenburg. - Outstanding! Strong, rapid-growing upright shrubby tree. Deeply divided leaves almost finger-like are a distinctive feature. Leaf color is dark purple with fall tones of scarlet.
.	Waterfall. - Leaves seem to cascade down the long weeping stems of this cultivar. Finely cut leaves of green turn brilliant gold with crimson blends in fall. From the 1920s.
.	Albizia jullibrison. - 'Fan Silk' - Pre 1800. Grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello it has democratized throughout the south. Though relatively a short-lived tree, this cultivar is worthy. Consider it a mammothly long-lived perennial. 'Fan Silk' has deep rich magenta flowers and tends to repeat bloom. Preferred climbing tree of four out of five children queried.
	Ardisia crenata. "Christmas Berry" - Pre 1860. Martha Turnbull greatly admired the Ardisia at her Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, before the Civil War and berried descendents (of Ardisia, not Martha) grace the grounds today. Sometimes described as invasive, I have never seen them crowd any other understory plants. They merely form benign colonies by seeding. The prolific fruit set changes from green to red in late summer and persists throughout the winter and well into spring. Will tolerate dense shade.
	Ardisia crenata Alba. "White Christmas Berry" - Seedling-grown plants are over 90% true from seed. We have mixed this relatively rare form with the red - to great effect in the garden. Wonderful container plants for the shady porch.
.	Aspidistra elatior. "Cast Iron Plant" - Needs no description. Listed here because we have lots of it from time to time. 'Milky Way' is an excellent cultivar with consistent white spots on glossy leaves. Lower growing, it can be used with great effect in heavy shade.
	Azalea. 'Catherine Stewart' - A wonderful, yet practically unknown, Southern Indian hybrid dating to 1950. Compact dense grower attaining 3' x 5' in 7-10 years. Brilliant violet-purple flowers appear very early in Spring, heralding the azalea season.
	Azalea (Glenn Dale 'Vittata Fortunei x 'Ho Oden'). 'Festive' - White flowers heavily dashed and flecked and striped purple-red. Very early. Erect,spreading. A delightful plant. Our cuttings are taken from selected, more "festive" branches.
	Azalea (Rhododendron mucronatum). 'Sekidera' var. 'Indica Rosea' - Grown as far north as Long Island, NY, before the Civil War. 30-50 year old plants are not uncommon in old southern gardens. The large flowers are lavender with a large rose blotch. In mild climates blooms in winter, followed by a prolific early spring bloom. Petal Blight resistant. Semi-evergreen.
	Azalea (Rhododendron Simsii). Vitatta Fortunei' - Collected by Robert Fortune in Shanghai, China, in 1850. Once common throughout the south. Tall, upright, semi-evergreen. White flaked, streaked reddish-purple. Blooms appear in fall, sporadically in winter and more heavily in early spring. Semi-deciduous which tends to show off the winter blooms. Venerable old plants still seen from World War II era - a testimonial to their endurance. Not fully hardy above zone 8.
	Azalea. 'William Bull' - Very old Southern Indian (1862) once highly regarded before the advent of gas-powered shears. Pictureseque tall and open habit lends itself to specimen or container use. Easy and durable cultivar, considered among the most cold-hardy of the Southern Indians. Very double flowers are an unusual deep salmon orange appearing mid to late season.
	Bletilla orchracea. "Yellow-Flowered Chinese Ground Orchid" - Similar in most respects to Bletilla striata. This is a very scarce and hardy species. Buttery-yellow flowers with purplish beards appear later than B. striata and overa a much longer season. We have a limited number of this rarely offered species.
	Bletilla striata. "Chinese Ground Orchid" - Pre 1930 (needs more research). A perfectly hardy (native to 10,000' elevation in Yunnan) easy-to-grow, colonizing perennial bulb that produces abundant brilliant rosy purple blossoms in early spring. The handsome pleated foliage reminds one of dwarf Aspidistra. Prefers a light summer shade, extending its tubers in a shallow leaf litter. Why do we not see more of these in gardens? A favorite of Southern bulb expert Scott Ogden. Martha Turnbull repotted a Bletia (earlier name for Bletilla) in 1865. Was it this species?
	Bletilla striata alba. "Chinese Ground Orchid" - Pre 1930
	Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' "Japanese Beautyberry" - With its growth more like a cascading "Bridal Wreath" than American beautyberry, and tremendous quantities of small lilac-violet fruit in fall, this Callicarpa is the species of choice for the garden.
	Calycanthus floridus 'Athens' "Yellow Sweetshrub" - Southeastern native deciduous shrub. The yellow flowers on this cultivar are extremely fragrant. A bushy grower, rather upright, with darker green leaves than the species. Can be grown over a wide geographic range and should be in every garden.

Camellias

We offer the Wintergarden collection of camellias. The largest wholesale selection in the country. There is a camellia suitable for every garden. Antique and heirloom cultivars, and the best of the newest hybrids including groundcovers, fragrant flowers, and even a remarkably creamy yellow in 'Dahlohnega'.

	Camellia sinensis. "Tea Plant" - We offer a superior clone, a lone survivor from a Lipton Tea experimental plot near our nursery. Very vigorous and a bit more upright than most. C. sinensis. Tea plants are an easy fit in the landscape working within a formal herb garden, within a naturalistic setting, or as a clipped hedge. Beautiful little white flowers with golden centers appear in fall-winter.
	Carpinus japonica. "Japanese Hornbeam" - It is the foliage that impresses one most on this lovely small tree. Dark green leaves are heavily toothed and deeply veined. Easily grown and of same easy culture as its American counterpart.
.	Chaenomeles speciosa. "Flowering Quince"
.	'Crimson and Gold' - A newer cultivar, combining glowing crimson petals with a burst of golden stamens. The best red we have seen in Quince. Compact habit and extended bloom season.
	'Toyo-Nishiki' - An upright grower, excellent for late winter cut flowers. Branches contain white, pink, and red flowers in various combinations for a delightful effect.
.	Chimonanthus praecox. "Fragrant Wintersweet" - A delight for the winter garden. Wonderfully fragrant yellow flowers appear periodically throughout mild winters. Growth is rangy, somewhat weeping, and benefits from pruning old wood each spring.
	Clematis lasiandra. - Heat tolerant Clematis we received from Heronswood Nursery from their collections in Taiwan. Has proven very heat tolerant in our garden. Delicate tri-foliate leaves on vigorous slender growth to 8-10'. Flowers appear in fall as dark purple bells with flaring tips. A very usefull addition, particularly in zones 8-9. Hardy to zone 6.
.	Corylopsis spicata. "Spike Winterhazel" - Widely spreading shrub to 8' and perhaps as tall. Showy flower display in late winter. Yellow fragrant flowers followed by rich purple new growth, changing to blue-green. Much to admire in this scarce shrub.
	Crataegus marshalli. "Parsley Hawthorne" - An extraordinary native tree whose year-round beauty rivals the Japanese maples. Small tree of picturesque habit. White flowers in early spring followed by distinctive parsley-shaped leaves. Yellow fall color. Bright red fruit in winter. Exfoliating bark to equal crepe myrtle. Tolerant of many soils and full sun, though usually found in light shade. Superb performer.
	Cryptomeria japonica. 'Black Dragon' - A compact, very upright Cryptomeria, with nice dark green foliage. Dense but won't brown out. Excellent for container plantings.
.	Cryptomeria japonica. 'Yoshino' - Whats new that's old? 'Yoshino' is a 1999 Georgia Gold Medal winner and with good reason. K Sawada at Overlook Nursery recognized the exceptional traits of this southern heirloom as early as in his 1930 Catalog. "Parent plants were imported years ago from Japan by us, and we are in belief that no other nurseries in this country ever propagating, so far known to us, this particular variety. It has much finer leaves and more compact growing character than common Cryptomeria Japonica. It grows in symmetrical pyramidal shape. Your attention is called to the point that the leaves change no color in winter nor get burnt in summer like the other. …Try once, it will never disappoint you." Rosedown Plantation's venerable common Cryptomeria trees date from 1852 when purchased from Robert Buist Nursery in Philadelphia. Imagine a long-lived, storm and disease-resistant Leyland Cypress developing a personality of graceful character...that's Cryptomeria.
	Eleagnus X ebbingei. 'Gilt Edge' - A wonderful plant that deserves more widespread use. Lights up the winter garden with its consistent golden yellow leaf margins brushed over a light green background. Have not seen it revert to green. Very controllable and non-invasive. Wonderful container plant.
.	Gardenia thunbergii. 'Rosedown' "Hip Gardenia" - Very old shrub grown at Rosedown Plantation in St.Francisville, LA prior to "War Of Northern Aggression". Flowers are okay, white single, fragrant. Fruit is spectacular show of orange and yellow "hips" in fall. Our favorite gardenia, and easily grown.
.	Gelsemium sempervirens. 'Pride Of Augusta' "Double Flowered Carolina Jessamine" - Found in the wild in Georgia and introduced by the famed Berckman's Nursery in the 1870s. Strongly fragrant flowers have a longer season than most Carolina jessamine.
	Ginko biloba. 'Autumn Gold' - Very easily grown, these ancient wonders continue to amaze. Deserving of more use in urban settings, they are highly adaptable with consistent fall color. We offer several named cultivars of this wonderful tree.
	Gordonia axillaris. -
.	Hamamelis virginiana. "Witchhazel" - If you did not know that the flowers were pollinated by a winter-loving moth, or that the resulting fruit could spew its seeds up to forty feet, could you still admire the Witch Hazel for its unusual autumn bloom and yellow leaf color? Grows to fifteen feet at edges of woods. Interesting, underused, no-fuss native.
	Hedychium coronarium. "Butterfly Ginger" - One of the hardiest gingers with growth to six feet. Rapidly spreading in moist soil and light shade. Expect many large heads of white flowers casting fragrance over the entire garden in summer.
	Hemerocallis sp. 'Hyperion' - Introduced in 1925. Large widely-open clear yellow fragrant flowers stay fresh well into the evening. Blooms heavily over an extended period. Highly regarded even today after tens-of-thousands of hybrid daylilies have come and gone. Vigorous grower well used in masses and for embankments.

Hydrangeas

HYRRANGEAS ARE BACK IN STYLE AND THE VARIETY IS AMAZING. FROM REDISCOVERED HEIRLOOMS TO NEW RELEASES THEY CAN LIFT THE SPIRITS IN OUR LONG HOT SUMMERS. If nothing else they are great, if not-so-gentle, reminders to water the garden during dry spells.

	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Blaumeise' - The color in this flower can best be described as a rich wedgewood blue. One of the best performers in our garden trials. A sturdy bushy grower.
.	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Domotoi' - An ancient Japanese cultivar that was once widely planted in the south. A robust yet compact grower. Typical blue hortensia inflorescence but most flowers are quite double.
.	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Madame Emile Mouilliere' - Very old French cultivar (1909). Quite vigorous with large but graceful inflorescence. Perhaps the best white hortensia. Flowers age to a lime green and are excellent for cutting.
	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Nikko' - A dependable older sort, capable of living and blooming decade after decade. Adaptable to many soil types. Huge sky-blue mophead flowers on a large spreading shrub.
	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Taube' - Very large lacecap flowers are a rich clear pink. Slower grower, but the blooms are worth the wait.
	Hydrangea macrophylla. 'Tokyo Delight' - Described as colorful, attractive, strong, vigorous, large, yet with a lovely light character. Believe it or not, it's all true. White lacecap florets surround pink central flowers. White changes to blush, then pink with age.
.	Hydrangea serrata. 'Beni Gaku' - An ancient Japanese selection. Has been a wonderful performer for us. White lacecap flowers in summer, the sepals blush to red and persist into autumn. Presents a graceful appearance in the garden.
	Hydrangea serrata. 'Blue Billow' - A hardy serrata from the mountains of Korea has proven heat-tolerant. Large blue flowers are held aloft on thin stems above the foliage, creating a billowing effect. Slow and compact habit.
	Hydrangea serrata. 'Blue Bird' - An old Japanese cultivar with strong growth habit. Flowers continuously in summer. A lacecap of blue flowers surrounded by blue florets in acid soil. The sepals literally flip over and are pink on reverse. Coupled with healthy leaves tipped in red for a wonderful overall interest.
.	Lindera benzoin. "Spicebush" - Honey-yellow flowers in late winter are followed by spicy fragrant leaves which change to yellow in fall. Shiny oblong red berries add winter interest. Seldom grows more than 8'. Tolerant of moist shade. Native throughout the southeast.
	Lonicera fragrantissima. "Winter Honeysuckle" - Once commonly grown throughout the south since the Civil War, it probably met the same fate as many spiraea and forsythia - the gasoline hedge shears. Its inconspicuous appearance in summer doomed it, for in the winter only the sweet olive rivals it for fragrance. A great companion plant to camellias. Informal spreading, cascading growth lends itself to embankments.
	Magnolia denudata. "Yulan Magnolia" - One of the most beautiful of all the oriental magnolias. Very like M. soulangiana, but earlier flowering (sometimes nipped by frost) and pure white. The fragrant flowers are nearly 6" across and quite a joy in the winter garden. Many old specimens are found throughout the south.
	Magnolia 'Galaxy'.
	Mahonia x 'Arthur Menzies'. -
	Michelia X foggii. - A surprisingly hardy Michelia. Witnessed a vigorous, healthy tree in Athens, Georgia. Large leaves for the genus and rapid upright growth. Larger flowers than most Michelia are of individual interest.
	Michelia skinneriana. - I would describe this as a "new and improved" Michelia figo. Similar in most respects, but more vigorous, more evergreen, more cold-hardy, and a with a longer bloom season.
	Nandina domestica. 'Alba' - A white, or more accurately creamy-yellow, fruited form, which we grow true from seed. Used to best effect mixed with red-berried forms or as background for newer compact forms of nandina. Not quite as tall as the species, but with a distinctive lighter green foliage.
	Osmanthus fragrans. "Sweet Olive" - Long associated with the old south, the sweet olive is the perfume of winter. Best grown as a tree. Beautiful ancient specimens still seen at old plantations in the deep south. The tiny creamy flowers appear almost constantly from October through March between freezes. Well used in concert with camellias to achieve the last degree of perfection - fragrance.
.	Philadelphus. 'Natchez' "Mockorange" - Possibly the best of the Philadelphus. Dates to the early 1900s. Has established itself as an heirloom plant throughout the south. Large display of lightly scented flowers in early summer on a very vigorous grower to 8-10 feet
	Pieris ryukyuensis. "Temple Bells" -
	Prunus campanulata. "Taiwan Cherry" - Brought from Japan to the Arnold Arboretum by E. H. Wilson in 1915. It has proven to be the most successful flowering cherry for the deep south. Mobile's Kiyono and Overlook Nursery both offered it. It is the most tolerant of our Gulf Coast conditions, much more graceful an appearance than 'Okame'. Breathtaking in its late winter bloom, we have found the magenta buds and flowers unspoiled by freezes.
	Prunus jacquemontii Taiwanensis."Bushcherry" - An enigmatic shrubby flowering cherry peculiarly adapted to the deep south. Thirty to forty year old plants are still performing well in Mobile area. The five to six foot shrubs come alive in winter with a great display of tiny pink flowers. Very adaptable to soil and light requirements. A great undiscovered plant!
.	Punica granatum. - This is the old heirloom truly edible pomegranate grown in favorable areas of the south long before 'Wonderful' which is anything but.
	Pyracantha coccinea aurea. 'Ole Yella Berry' - I know, I know - pyracanthas are out of favor but this one needs to be seen. Typical graceful large weeping form, covered in yellow (not orange) fruit. Ours hold color from September into February when the Cedar Waxwings find them. Nicely combined with fall blooming blue and yellow perennials. As white as any spiraea in its spring bloom.
	Rhododendron canescens. 'Varnadoe's Phlox Pink' - We were fortunate to obtain our first plants of this native azalea from Mr. Varnadoe's fascinating nursery years ago. It remains a favorite with its early, pre-leaves bloom (the flowers appear to be suspended in mid air). Very vigorous for canescens, and has the best dark pink color we have seen in the species.

Antique Roses

A word about our Antique Roses. We have selected a few varieties for ease of culture and good blooming habits. We do not spray these roses. They may develop some black spot periodically but they shrug it off, which is why these roses are still around. If that bothers you, there are many patented new varieties that must be sprayed continuously to keep them alive. Who needs 'em.? A wonderful resource for information is William Welch's "Antique Roses For The South".

	Rosa sp. (China). 'Cramoisi Superieur' (krah mwah zee soo pay ry uhr) - 1832. Incredible performer in every respect. Vigorous,disease resistant, and nearly everblooming. Use as a specimen or tall "Climber". Train along a fence. The rich crimson flowers are fully double and cupped form. Fruity fragrance. A favorite of Gertrude Jekyll.
	Rosa (China). 'Duchesse De Brabant'. - 1857. The favorite rose of Teddy Roosevelt who wore it as a boutonniere. Rounded and cupped very double flowers. Wonderful fragrance to the clear pink blossoms. Nearly everblooming on a healthy easy-to-grow plant.
	Rosa sp. (China). 'Louise Phillippe'. - 1834. Double dark crimson cupped flowers. Similar to Cramoisi but more compact growth. Continuous flowering from Spring into early Winter.
	Rosa chinensis. 'Mutabilis'. (Butterfly Rose) -1896. Flowers open a sulfur yellow, changing to orange, then pink and crimson! Single flowers have a silky texture - - indeed appearing to be a bush covered in butterflies. Excellent grower to over six feet.
.	Spiraea cantoniensis. 'Lanceata' "Reeve's Double Spiraea" - Must be getting old to remember when gardeners knew to leave this plant alone when pruning. Picture of grace in form with gently weeping fountain-like form. Showy double flowers in early spring. Perfect foil for bright colored indica azaleas
.	Spiraea X Vanhouttei. - Larger growing than Reeves, but with similar habit. Both plants date to the mid 1800s in the south.
	Vitex agnus-castus. 'Colonial Blue' "Lilac Chaste Tree" - Chaste tree is again becoming popular in landscapes and for good reason. Very easy to grow as a small tree or cut back heavily each year for the perennial garden. A treasured heirloom grown in Colonial Williamsburg. We are fortunate to have inherited the Alabama State Champion tree that produces the best lilac-blue flowers we have seen in Vitex.
	Wisteria Tree Standards. - Grafted named plants that can lend distinction and maturity to the garden. We often use them in large containers. These are 6 feet or more and blooming size. Available in White, Blue, Purple and even Pink.
	Vaccinium ashei.