Top 10 Sustainable Plants
You may already know that smart plant selection is the single most important way to create a low-maintenance, high-enjoyment garden.
Phipps offers a list of Top 10 Sustainable Plants, selected for their non-invasive habits, as well as their resistance to disease and insects. Once established, they require minimal watering and fertilization. Many of these plants are on display in the Outdoor Garden at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Also, look for the Project Green Heart tag at local nurseries.
For a complete list of sustainable plants recommended by Phipps staff members, click here.
Top 10 Sustainable Plants for 2008
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Cornus mas
Small tree with arching branches that can reach 20-25' tall. Known for its frothy display of yellow flowers presented on bare twigs in early spring, and bright red cherry-like drupes in summer. Attractive, flaky bark.
Find the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
Small tree with a wide spreading habit that typically grows 12-20' tall. Spring-blooming, fragrant flowers feature airy clusters (4-6" long) of fringe-like, creamy white petals. The blue-black fruit attracts birds. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun.
Find the Fringetree at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Japanese White Pine
Pinus parviflora
Evergreen conifer with bluish-green needles that typically grows 30-50' tall. Trees are pyramidal when young, but with age develop a more spreading habit and flatter top. Requires good drainage and full sun.
Find the Japanese White Pine at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Lacebark Pine
Pinus bungeana
Slow-growing conifer which typically reaches 30-50' in height. Over time, its exfoliating bark reveals a patchwork of white, olive, light purple and silver. Initially pyramid-shaped, it becomes more open and flat-topped with maturity. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Tolerant of high pH.
Find the Lacebark Pine at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Dwarf Fothergilla
Fothergilla gardenii
Native deciduous shrub growing 3-5' tall and wide. It blooms in early spring producing fragrant, white bottlebrush flowers. The blue-green foliage turns flaming orange to burgundy in the fall. Prefers full sun to partial shade and acid soil.
Find the Dwarf Fothergilla at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' and 'Jim Dandy'
'Red Sprite' is a 3-4' tall deciduous shrub that is ideal for a smaller landscape. A female selection, this variety produces bright red berries in fall that remain on the plant through winter. Fruit set requires the male, 'Jim Dandy', for pollination. Prefers moist, acid soil.
Find the Winterberry Holly at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Winter Gem Boxwood
Buxus microphylla 'Winter Gem'
A very cold-hardy and densely branched, broadleaved evergreen that shears well and retains its green foliage through winter, making it an attractive landscape choice. A moderate grower reaching 2-3' tall and wide. Full sun to part shade.
Find the Winter Gem Boxwood at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Blue Star Flower
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Easy-to-grow, clump-forming 2-3' high plant with star-shaped blue blossoms in spring. Attracts butterflies. Happy in full sun to partial shade. In fall, the willow-shaped leaves turn bright yellow.
Find the Blue Star Flower at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
False Indigo
Baptisia australis and cultivars
Upright plant with lupine-like, bright flowers that can reach 3' in height. The flower stalks rise a foot above plants and bloom in early summer. Makes a dense, shrub-like clump of very attractive blue-green foliage that stands up to heat. Large enough to use as a single specimen. Prefers full sun and room to spread.
Find the False Indigo at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Coneflower
Echinacea hybrids
Big, bold daisies that add oomph to any garden. Plants produce a 30" flowering clump that blooms from midsummer to early autumn. Attracts bees and butterflies. After flowering, the blooms make attractive seed heads which can be left over winter to feed the birds. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
Find the Coneflower at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Top 10 Sustainable Plants for 2009
Barrenwort
Epimedium sp.
Slowly spreading, clump forming perennial has heart shaped foliage that is evergreen in some varieties. Dainty flowers in shades of pink, yellow, purple or white, depending on variety. Grow in fertile, moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil; partial shade. Does well in dry shade once established.
Find the Barrenwort at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Aesculus parviflora
Exceptional widespreading, suckering, shrub reaching 8–12' in height and 8–15' in width. Medium to dark green summer foliage turns yellow-green in fall. Outstanding white, upright, 8–12" flower panicles bloom in late June to July. Plant this native in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter in full sun to shade. Especially nice for massing.
Find the Bottlebrush Buckeye at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Palibin Lilac
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
This small, compact lilac, reaching just 4–5' in height and 5–7' in width, is useful in small gardens. It blooms heavily, starting at a young age, with reddish purple buds opening to whitish pink, very fragrant flowers. And, unlike most lilacs, it is extremely resistant to mildew! Plant in full sun (it will tolerate very light shade) in average well drained soil.
Find the Palibin Lilac at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Lungwort
Pulmonaria hybrids
An attractive perennial for shade to semi-shade, lungwort is grown for its attractive, low-growing, clumping foliage which is often spotted. Early spring flowers appear in shades of pink and blue or a combination. Grow in moist to average welldrained soil that is rich in organic matter. Excellent for shade garden and as a shady groundcover. Many excellent and beautiful cultivars available.
Find the Lungwort at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Sneezeweed
Helenium autunmale ‘Mardi Gras’
This deer and rabbit resistant, butterfly attracting perennial features daisy-like flowers with yellow petals edged in bright orange-red, surrounding a deep brown center cone; blooms for 6 to 8 weeks in mid to late summer and grows 36–40" high by 24–36" wide. Grow in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Cut back in early spring to promote branching. Nice cut flower.
Find the Sneezeweed at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Paperbark Maple
Acer griseum
This slow growing tree with upright-oval form gets up to 20–30' in height. Beautiful exfoliating bark, cinnamon to red-brown in color, starts to develop on second year wood. Dark green summer leaves change to russet red, bronze or red combinations in fall. Plant in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Nice specimen or accent plant.
Find the Paperbark Maple at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Rozanne™ Cranesbill
Geranium 'Gerwat'
Attractive, deeply cut green foliage is topped with beautiful, large blue flowers from early summer to frost on this easy, carefree spreading herbaceous perennial. Foliage turns reddish-brown in fall. Plant in moist, welldrained soil in full sun to part shade. Disease and pest free and deer resistant.
2008 Perennial Plant of the Year
Find the Rozanne™ Cranesbill at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia
Large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, (10–20' in height), excellent for early bloom and fall color; long lasting, spider-like, fragrant flowers in shades from yellow to red, depending on variety, generally appear in March, opening and closing with the weather. Nice gray green foliage turns to shades of yellow to yelloworange in the fall. Plant in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Find the Witchhazel at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Hinoki Falsecypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa cultivars
Beautiful evergreen with shiny dark green foliage, arranged in fan-shaped sprays. Although the species becomes a very large tree, there are numerous excellent cultivars for landscape use from rock garden size to those reaching over 10' in height. Grow in most, well-drained soil in full sun to very light shade.
Find the Hinoki Falsecypress at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata
Dense, multi-branched, broadleaved evergreen shrub with lustrous, dark green foliage year round. Medium fine texture with ½ to 1" leaves. Grows best in moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil in sun or part shade. Withstands severe pruning, but pruning not generally needed. Drought tolerant once established. Numerous slow growing cultivars are available in a variety of sizes and forms.
Find the Japanese Holly at one of Phipps' Recommended Local Nurseries
