Variegated Yucca

The False Indigo Bush, Amorpha fruticosa, is a somewhat leggy shrub, whose height can range from 6 to 20 feet tall,and 5 to 15 feet wide. Fragrant foliage has the compound pinnate leaves typical of the Pea family, often most bushy on the upper third of the shrub. Flowers are 1/3-inch wide, purple-blue with orange anthers, on 3- to 6-inch upright spikes. Useful as a large shrub or small tree in areas where there is plenty of water available. Native from Connecticut to Minnesota, south to Louisiana and Florida. This bush attracts butterflies.

The Black Chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa 'black', is an open, upright, spreading, somewhat rounded but leggy, deciduous shrub which typically grows 3-6’ tall. It displays clusters of 5-petaled, white flowers in spring which are followed in early autumn by blackish purple, blueberry-sized fruits which usually do not persist into winter. Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of wide range of soils. Best fruit production occurs in full sun. Spreads by root suckers to form colonies.

The Compact American Cranberrybush, Viburnum. trilobum 'Alfredo', is native, hardy plant and has edible red fruits in fall, which are great for making jellies (and of course, for birds, too). It has superb red orange fall color.This compact American Cranberrybush grows rounded and upright, to about 5 to 6 feet high.

The Variegated Yucca, Yucca glauca variegated, have stiff evergreen rosettes and are part of the scene in hot dry Central and North American scrublands. Yuccas are hardier than they appear, and only fail in cold exposed inland positions, where they are better grown as container plants. Otherwise they are handsome architectural foliage plants for dry, sunny borders. The remarkable flower-spikes, 6' or more high, appear when plants are five or more years old.