Rare Unusual Shrubs and Trees: Ca-Ch at Lazy S'S Farm

Most people have never seen a shrub in a quart pot. Many garden centers don't even offer Perennials in quarts any more. In garden centers, shrubs are generally only available in much larger containers: 1-3 gallons. Please take a look at this photo of Quart Shrubs to get a sense of what shrubs in a quart pot look like and read about Plant Size and Age on this page so that you have realistic expectations. We want you to be happy! If you're not familiar with a quart size shrub you should take the time to look at these links!

Some trees on this page may incur a $4.00 Oversize Plant Surcharge

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa americana American Beautyberry Zone: 6-10

An outstanding deciduous native shrub with a loose, open form and outward pointing branches. A somewhat less refined look than the Japanese Beautyberries because of the larger 6-8" long leaves, but the large berries steal the show in the genus! Tiny pink spring flowers turn into magnificent, 1/4" berries, packed tightly together in clusters encircling the stem in striking metallic shades of violet and magenta in Autumn.

Soil: Well-drained H: 6-8' W: B/M: Pink/Spring

Callicarpa means 'Beautiful Seeded' -- and just when you thought Botanical nomenclature was developed just to confuse you, here's a name that exactly describes these plants! Callicarpas are, indeed, across the board, shrubs with beautiful seeds! And in this case, the Common Name, Beautyberry, even makes sense and echoes the Botanical Name!

Key to symbols

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa bodinieri Bodinier Beautyberry Zone: (5B)6-8A

This is a stunning rarely seen Beautyberry from China. Featured as the 11-18-01 Plant Portrait at England's Garden Plant Conservation. The foliage emerges a beautiful bronze color in spring then turns bright green. Small lavender flowers appear on new growth in mid-summer which lead the way to shimmering clusters of drupes (berry-like fruit) which are intensely purple in early fall. The berries persist after leaf drop. Full sun promotes maximum berry production. Prune in early spring if necessary. Monthly or time-release fertilizer makes a big difference in fruit production.

Soil: Fertile, well-drained H: 6-8' W: 4-6' B/M: Pink/Summer

$10.99 Qt.

Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' Bodinier Beautyberry Zone: (5B)6-8A

Bronze to purple tinged new growth. While Beautyberrys are known for the berries not blooms, this has such a 'Profusion' of blooms, that they are also somewhat showy, especially compared to other forms. As a result there's extra heavy fruit set as well with 30-40 fruit per cluster. This heavy fruit set occurs on younger plants than other cultivars. The most widely sold cultivar of all due to the above features.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H:3-4' W: 3-4' B/M: Magenta Pink/Summer

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa dichotoma Purple Beautyberry Z: 5-8

The most graceful and refined of the species w/ its leaves in one plane rather than in whorls. The long slender branches arch to touch the ground at their tips. Avoid excess fertilizer; use low nitrogen to avoid legginess. Will die back in zone 5 but return in spring.

Soil: Moist but well-drained Ht: 4-6' W: 4-6' B/M: Purple Pink/Summer

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' Chinese Beautyberry Zone: 5-8

Bright purple berries appear earlier than other varieties providing more enjoyment in the shrub border, early September. Introduced by the Arnold Arboretum. Callicarpa is Greek for Beautiful Fruit and it certainly has that! Berries dry beautifully for arrangements. Best fruit when cross-pollinated between several plants. Will die back in zone 5 more like a Perennial but returns in the Spring.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H:3-4' W: 3-4' B/M: Magenta Pink/Summer

$9.99 Qt.

New 4/19

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Duet' VARIEGATED Chinese Beautyberry Zone: 5-8

Callicarpas have been sort of a two season plant - delicate blooms in spring, berries in Fall. Variegated 'Duet' has turned it into a 3 season plant with beautiful Variegated foliage to fill in the gap between the blooms and the Knockout berries.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H: 3-4' W: 4-5' B/M: Pinkish-lavender / 6-8

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' Chinese Beautyberry Zone: 5-8

The most graceful and refined of the species with its leaves in one plane rather than in whorls. The long slender branches arch to touch the ground at their tips. Use low nitrogen to avoid legginess. Issai is fruitful and showy, even at an early age (our quart plants have berries!) and has a mounded form a bit shorter than the species and more compact. Overall, a superior form. (Will die back in zone 5 but return in spring)

Soil: Moist but well-drained H: 3-4' W: 4-5' B/M: Pinkish-lavender / 6-8

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa japonica Japanese Beautyberry Zone: 5-8

A medium-sized shrub noted for its metallic violet-colored fruits, displayed in autumn and early winter. A rounded shrub with arching branches it has yellow to purple fall color. The white to pink flowers are not terribly showy but no matter -- it's the Violet berries that make this so popular. (Once again, this plant ends in 'japonica' but is originally from China -- it was just first discovered in Japan which was more open to plant exploration.)

Soil: Any, even moist H: 4-6' W: 4-6' B/M: White to pink/6-7 Berries in Fall

$10.99 Qt.

Callicarpa japonica 'Leucocarpa' White Berried Japanese Beautyberry Zone: 5-8

Extremely effective planted in groups. This white form is a good looking plant, not readily available in commerce. Color is really better than the species, according to some. Lighter green leaves.

Soil: Any, even moist H: 4-6' W: 4-6' B/M: White/6-7

$9.99 Qt.

Callicarpa mollis Soft Japanese Beautyberry Zone: 7-10

Unlike the other two Japanese Beautyberries, Callicarpa mollis (which means 'soft') has furry leaves and and around the berries. The berries look like they're sitting in a little furry down nest. Additionally, the flowers of C. mollis face down. Opposite leaves on brown branches. Virtually impossible to find in the trade. Not quite as hardy as the others, 7-10.

Soil: Well-drained H: 4-6' W:6-8 B/M: Purple/6-7

$11.99 Qt.

Callicarpa shikokiana Shikoku Beautyberry Zone: (5*)6B-9

Another Beautyberry from southern Japan that's good for the Southern US. (Japan obviously cornered the market on Beautyberries!) Very rare, seen only at places like Dawes Arboretum and Raulston Arboretum. Pink flowers develop into lilac berries with medium-green leaves and arching branches. Unlike other Beautyberries that have clumps of berries at each leaf stem joint, Shikoku has berries that don't appear to be in round clumps but more at the stem ends. Reports on Dave's Garden that it's been grown in Zone 5A

Soil: Well-drained H: 4-6' W: 4-6' B/M: Pink/ Summer

Callistemon (Bottlebrush Shrubs) have 2 bloom seasons in a years time and bloom on new growth. If you prune them back some after the first bloom, new growth will emerge and generally give a second bloom in the same year.

New 01-04

$9.99 Qt.

Callistemon citrinus Australian or Lemon Bottlebrush Zone: 8B-10

A fabulous small tree or large shrub with narrow, lance shaped, leathery leaves with a distinctly citrus aroma. In early spring occasionally thereafter, it produces enough large, bright red bottlebrush blooms composed mostly of stamens to literally smother the tree with blooms. And then come the hummers in droves! Not very hardy, but for the lucky gardeners who can grow this stunning pest free plant, it's amazing! If you're colder than zone 8B, see below.

Soil: Well-drained H: 6-9' W: 6-9 B/M: Red/ early spring

$10.99 Qt.

Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy' (Woodlander's Red) Australian Bottlebrush Zone: 7-10

This stunning plant is long considered hardy only in Zone 9 and 10 but now EUREKA, Woodlander's Nursery introduces a beauty hardy to zone 7. Oh wow! Lovely red Bottle Brush flowers and narrow leaves. While they're 3-5' tall, the long arching stems can reach 6-10'. The leaves are evergreen and despite appearance, actually soft to touch. Tawny olive winter color.

Soil: Well-drained H: 3-5' W: 3-5' B/M: Red/ Early spring

What you're saying about us and Callistemon W. Red and Calycanthus floridus...

"My order just arrived and I have to tell you I'm more than pleased--they are the best quality mail-order plants I have EVER received! Your packing is exceptionally careful and the plants themselves are perfect. There isn't a damaged leaf in the entire order and there is no indication of any stress. I'm so happy to have discovered your nursery in an internet search. I plan on placing a much larger order in the fall. Thanks for caring so much for these beautiful plants."

Gracie gardens in Brooklyn, NY 05/08

New 3/13

$9.99 Qt.

Calycanthus occidentalis Spice Bush, California Allspice, Western Sweet Shrub Zone: 6-9

Where Most Spice Bush blooms are sort of Burgundy, C. occidentalis actually has red blooms 1-2" across with numerous long, thin sepals and petals and a sweet fragrance! Not as hard as some but the blooms are fabulous if you're in an area that's not terribly cold

Soil: Most any H: 8-10' W: B/M: Red to Ruby red/5-6

$9.99 Qt.

Calycanthus floridus Sweet Shrub or Carolina Allspice Zone: 4-9

A worthwhile plant for every garden. Nice in the shrub border. Great, fruity scent. Trouble-free shrub that has variable fall color, always nice, and in some years, spectacular! Many folks remember this scent from their grandmother's garden. The species is highly variable as far as scent goes. Our cloan is very sweet scented and is produced vegetatively, so all the babies are sweet smelling like the mama.

Soil: Any but deep, moist loam best H: 6-9' W: 6-12' B/M: Dark reddish brown / 5-6

New 3/13

$16.99 Qt.

Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine' Raulston Allspice North South Zone:(5) 6-9

From the breeding program at Raulston Arboretum, where Richard Hartlage, then an undergrad, crossed. C. chinensis and C. floridus. Of the seedlings that resulted, one clearly was a hybrid, retaining the best qualities of both parents -large maroon wine red flowers that open widely and have a subtle fragrance. Very fast growing and rare in the trade. Great vigor and fast growing.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H: 8' W:8' B/M: Wine red/Spring +

$16.99 Qt.

Back in stock!

Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Venus' PP015925 Sweetshrub North South Zone: 4-9

"This new sweetshrub is a complex hybrid, developed at the MHC Research Station near Fletcher, NC. It has the Chinese Wax Shrub (C. chinensis) Carolina Sweetshrub (C. floridus) and California Sweetshrub (C. occidentalis) in its pedigree. The result is an exceptional plant with great vigor and numerous flower buds. This medium sized shrub has medium green colored leaves that are typically larger than our native sweetshrub foliage. What is striking about 'Venus' is its large, ivory-yellow buds that open into 3 to 4 inch white flowers that resemble water lilies. The flowers have an interesting fragrance with the fruity aroma of ripe melons. Flowering is primarily in Spring, though sporadic flowers are produced throughout the growing season."

Normally, we write all of our own descriptions but I can't improve on the description from NCSU - Re-inventing Sweetshrubs - more detailed information on this tremendous new introduction from the previous link.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H: 12' W:8' B/M: White/Spring +

Campsis or Trumpet Vines (of which there are many) are Listed on the Vines Page

New 6/25

$13.99 Qt.

Campylotropis macrocarpa (macrocapus) False Bush Clover Zone: 5

A little know leguminous shrub with dense, 3" long purple racemes which appear in mid to late summer. Native to Korea and China, it's a bit reminiscent of Lespedeza. Typical 'Legume' like foliage. Virtually unheard of in this country. On 6/08 we are the one of two suppliers and the only one of the East Coast.

Soil: Moist but well-drained H: 4-5' W 4-5' B/M: Purple/7-8

Caragana - Chinese Pea Shrubs

We are just enamored with this rare Genus from China. There are 100 species from around the world and 66 grow in China. And our favorite quality of these beautiful, useful (oxygen fixing) plants is that they are just superb for 'grazing camels'. I can't think of a single other plant, from our 3000+, that can be used for grazing camels, so thank goodness we have these. Whew, what a relief... You think this is a joke, right? Well, there's a person, 25 miles away from us, near Harrisonburg, VA that has camels! So, they might need a camel-grazing plant or two! Actually, Caraganas have many more great features, so read on...

$9.99 Qt.

Caragana arborescens Siberian Peashrub Zone: 2-7

Native to Siberia but introduced and growing happily in most of the upper part of the US. A suggested CSU Utah Waterwiseplant. A large shrub/small tree that's tough as nails. Bright yellow, pea-like bloom in late spring give way to 'pea-pods' that persist and give ornamental value Food for wildlife as well as nesting area. Extremely cold hardy, it can live in pots, which can be useful on patios that need some shade or summer screening. Doesn't like the heat of the South, however. Good windbreak, hedge or barrier. Stunning as a Bonsai. Can be trained to a standard. Western Mountain Hummingbirds such as Black-Chinned, Calliope, Fufous and Broad-Tailed love this. This plant does self seed and shouldn't be introduced near areas where seedling can't be removed.

Soil: Well-drained H: 10' (rarely 20') W: 5-10' B/M: Bright yellow/5-6 Growth Rate:

$9.99 Qt.

Caragana pygmaea Pygmy Peashrub Zone: 3B-7A

Deciduous shrub that is compact but wider spreading, multi-stemmed upright then arching with soft green leaves and small, yellow pea-like blooms followed by ornamental 1-2" brown seed pods. Very cold hardy, tolerates wind, very dry sites and alkaline soil. Commonly planted in the upper Midwest as a hedge. Native to China and Siberia. It's smaller size, yellow flowers and fine-textured foliage are its main ornamental attributes -- it is one of the MOST ORNAMENTAL. Grows about 12" a year. Easier to grow than some.

Soil: Well-drained H: 3' W: 3-5' B/M: Yellow/

$10.99 Qt.

Caragana rosea Rose Peashrub Zone: 4B-7B

Bell/Pea shaped flowers and grey-green foliage which turns yellow in the fall. Compact, rounded form. Drought tolerant. Sparse in the literature, uncommonly cultivated but is has MANY attributes that make it a worthwhile addition to the ornamental landscape. Erect but with arching new growth. Pest and disease resistant. 1" blooms with yellow centers blend to cream rose-red edges born on old wood. The red color is brightest as the flowers open from brick red buds but then becomes less intense as they fully open. Will take some shade but performs better in sun. Great for borders, barrier plants and screens. Can be trained to a standard. In ideal conditions, it may get taller, but in general, it should range 4' x 4'. Next to impossible to find in the trade.

Soil: Well-drained, limey to neutral H:4' (10-12') W:5' (12-15') B/M: Purple red Growth Rate:

$10.99 Qt.

Caragana turkestanica Turkish Peashrub Zone: 3-7

Deciduous shrub/small tree. Pest and disease free, it's grown for it's beautiful foliage. Improves soil with Nitrogen fixation. Has a long bloom period. From Turkey, Xinjiang, China & the USSR. Very cold hardy. Yellow clustered pea-like blooms. Zone range probably greater than listed. Can be pruned hard in winter to keep shrubby. We are possibly the only source in the US for this plant. Needs care and protection from harsh winds, etc. for the first 3 (it's a year old, so possibly only 2 years) but then it's tough as nails!

Soil: Perfectly drained, even sand is ok H: 12-18' W: B/M: Yellow/Spring-Summer

$10.99 Qt.

Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy' Variegated Blue Curls Zone: (5)6-9

A vigorous grower. The very dark blue flowers with a little 'curl' at the end, catch the rays of sun and bend them like a prism. A herbaceous Caryopteris, rather than woody, it dies back to the ground in winter. Self seeds. Highly variegated foliage. Clump-forming. AKA, Caryopteris nepalensis. From Japan. (Technically not a shrub but it gets as big as a shrub, so here it is!) When we first saw it in Cole Burrell's garden we were just stunned! Lovely!

Soil: Well-drained H: 48-72" W: B/M: Dark Blue/9-10

New 2008

$10.99 Qt.

Caryopteris incana 'Sunshine Blue®' ('Jason' PPAF) Bluebeard Zone: 5-10

A dramatic improvement over other Yellow foliage Caryopteris. This is the new standard! Stronger growing than 'Worcester Gold' and it also has larger, brighter yellow foliage. Additionally, it has rich purple-blue blooms that leave the old varieties paling in comparison. Like all Caryopteris, wonderful for late season shrub blooms especially in the color blue which is hard to come by in fall bloomers. Hardy in zone 5 but will experience some die-back but returns quickly in spring.

Soil: Well-drained H:36-48" W:36-48" B/M: Amethyst Blue/9-10

$10.99 Qt.

Caryopteris tangutica (C. incana, C. trichosphaera ) Chinese Caryopteris Zone: 6-8

Beautiful blue flowers (as usual with this Genus) but with foliage much more felty (and gorgeous) and scalloped than other species. It looks more like a Nepeta. Easier to grow in warm climates than the more cold loving Caryopteris. Doesn't mind heat and humidity! Blooms surround the stems, with very little foliage on the long stems, reminding one of a Phlomis. The effect is totally, totally different than the typical Bluebeard.

In theory, it's supposed to be the same plant as Caryopteris incana. Our plants have a slightly different longer leaf, similar to the leaf to C. tangutica also of China and they do recognize this as a distinct species.

Soil: Well-drained H:20-40" W:20-40" B/M: Bluish Purple/Late summer

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur Simmonds' Bluebeard Zone: (4)5-9

According to trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, this is the hardiest of the bluebeards. This silver-foliaged shrub with powder blue flowers from July to September originated by Arthur Simmonds of Surrey, England. So if you're in a cold Zone 5 or want to attempt to grow a Bluebeard in a protected spot in Zone 4, this is definitely the one to try. A bit lower growing and tighter than the others as well.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 2-4' W: 2-4' B/M: Powder blue/7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Blue Mist' Bluebeard Zone: 5-9

Every garden should have a Caryopteris. Mounded shrub with spectacular blue flowers when few other shrubs are blooming. Pleasant scent. Blue Mist is much wider than the others and is excellent as a low hedge or specimen.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 30-36" W: 30-36" B/M: Bright powder blue/ 7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' Bluebeard Zone: 5-9

Every garden should have a Caryopteris. Mounded shrub with spectacular blue flowers when few other shrubs are blooming. Pleasant scent. These plants are absolute butterfly magnets. Dark Knight has fragrant, dark blue flowers with darker silver gray-green leaves. Blooms about 3 weeks earlier than Longwood Blue, extending the season. FIRST CHOICE AWARD 1996.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 30-36" W: 30-36" B/M: Deep Blue/ 7-9

Note: Many, many sources on the Internet have the height wrong on this plant. Both 'Blue Mist' and the dark blooming 'Dark Knight' are low, mounding Caryopteris. One source says 5' tall. Yikes! Totally wrong!

$10.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'First Choice' PP#11,958 Bluebeard Zone: 5-9

First choice was originally bred by Peter Catt of Liss Forest Nursery in Hampshire, England. It has more buds than most cultivars and an earlier bloom time; dark ink-blue buds opening to dark purple-blue flowers. This cultivar has wider leaves than species, dark green, satin appearing surface. More dense, more compact than most.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H:30-36"' W:30-36"' B/M: Purple-blue / 7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris 'Grand Blue' ^TM C. x clandonensis 'Inoveris' ppaf Compact Bluebeard Z: 5-9

A new compact cultivar with a much longer flowering period. Dark green foliage sets off deep blue flowers. Blooms are packed tightly along the stem, for a very dense bloom set. In side by side trials, this was the definite winner. This will become the Industry Standard in compact Bluebeard's. Dark green, glossy foliage.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 30" W: 30" B/M: Dark blue/7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' Bluebeard, Longwood Blue Zone: 5-9

Every garden should have a Caryopteris. Mounded shrub with spectacular blue flowers when few other shrubs are blooming. Pleasant scent. 'Longwood Blue' is from the famed Longwood Gardens and has the same wonderful shape as all Caryopteris do -- a very symmetrical globe. It has nice silver-gray foliage. One of the larger Caryopteris. A Missouri Botanical Garden 'Great Plants' Selection.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H:36-48" W: 36-48" B/M: Bright blue/7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Petit Bleu' ^TM C. 'MinBleu' ^PP146,748 Compact Bluebeard Z: 5-9

A dramatic improvement over an already great shrub. Developed in Angers, France by noted plantsman Jean-Paul Devasse of Minier Nurseries. This superior form with loads of dark, deep, intense blue flowers over dark, glossy green foliage. Comp'act branching & short internodes, which means more blooms per stem, result in an intense floral display creating a magnet, like all Caryopteris, for butterflies. A COLOR CHOICE selection. The shortest Caryopteris in the trade.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 24-30" W: 36"' B/M: Deep blue/7-9

$9.99 Qt.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold' Bluebeard, Worcester Gold Zone: 5-9

A great form of Caryopteris with decidedly golden foliage. Same great butterfly magnate, long-blooming, easy. Pleasant scent. Blooms late in the summer with very few shrubs are in flower.

Soil: Loose, loamy best H: 3' W: 3' B/M: Bright blue/7-9