Snap up these new favorites full of dazzle and function.
1 Primo arborvitae
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS ‘ISLPRIM’, ZONES 4 TO 8
Resembling a Hinoki cypress, this conifer tops out at a diminutive 3 feet tall and less than 2 feet wide in 10 years, making it a perfect choice for a container or to fill a small garden space. For most of the year, the tree is a rich, deep green color, turning muted bronze during winter. It does best in cold or moderate climates.
Why we love it:
It’s cute, tough and tiny and develops more and more character over time. You’d never guess this stunner is an arborvitae.
2 Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangea
HYDRANGEA SERRATA ‘SMNHSDD’, ZONES 5 TO 9
If big leaf types are not doing what you hoped for, try the Tuff Stuff line of hydrangeas, bred from durable mountain hydrangeas. Ah-Ha works well in smaller gardens or containers, reaching only 2 to 3 feet.
Why we love it:
With its cold tolerance, it has a better chance of reblooming than some other hydrangeas. Double florets resemble tiny waterlilies and are either pink or blue, depending on your soil acidity.
3 Big Blue salvia
SALVIA LONGISPICATA X FARINACEA ‘PAS1246577’, ZONES 7 TO 10
Crossing two kinds produced one of the biggest, sturdiest, showiest salvias ever. Grow Big Blue in full sun to achieve ever-blooming purple-blue spires that reach 2 to 3 feet tall. It grows in partial sun, too, but may be shorter with smaller bloom spikes.
Why we love it:
Hummingbirds, butterflies and pollinators flock to the low-maintenance blossoms that don’t require deadheading.
4 Cat’s Pajamas catmint
NEPETA HYBRID ‘CAT’S PAJAMAS’, ZONES 3 TO 8
Denne historien er fra April/May 2019-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra April/May 2019-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
