Extremely hardy, Berberis koreana (Korean Barberry) is a fabulous addition to the landscape thanks to its four seasons of interest. In mid-spring, this small, multi-stemmed, semi-evergreen shrub produces striking pendulous clusters of golden-yellow flowers. They are followed by an abundance of egg-shaped, bright red berries, which often persist well into winter. The summer foliage of elliptical, medium green leaves, turns dramatic maroon to deep purple shades in the fall.

Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea (Purple Japanese Barberry) is always a spectacular addition to the landscape where it brings a strong color accent from spring to fall. This dense, arching, deciduous shrub features broadly oval, reddish-purple leaves which turn into brilliant red or red-orange shades in the fall. Tiny, scented, pale yellow flowers appear in mid-late spring, followed by an abundant crop of bright red berries in the fall.

Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) is a gorgeous, compact, slowly spreading, deciduous shrub that features bottlebrush spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers which bloom for 4-6 weeks in mid to late summer. Opening from bottom to top, they are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. The serrated, glossy, dark green foliage turns golden-yellow in fall. One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations.

A truly beautiful shrub with distinctive, bright pink, bottlebrush-like, flower spikes, delightfully fragrant and long-lasting (up to six weeks) in mid-late summer. It also provides great fall color with its lustrous dark green leaves turning glowing yellow. More compact than the species, this hardy shrub should be planted near a patio to enjoy its extremely fragrant summer blooms. Insect and disease-resistant, its flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus) is a handsome, upright, bushy shrub with spectacular fall color and attractive clusters of nodding, bell-shaped, red-veined, creamy-yellow to whitish-pink flowers from late spring to mid-summer. Its elliptic, blue-green leaves are crowded in clusters at the branch tips and turn magnificent shades of orange and red in fall. Generally pest and disease free.

The best red-flowered Witch Hazel, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' is a large deciduous shrub of open and spreading habit. Hardy, this winter-flowering shrub produces dense clusters of slightly scented, red to copper-red flowers in mid and late winter. Each flower consists of 4 ribbon-like, crinkled, strap-shaped petals with claret bases and a purple-red calyx. The broadly oval, green leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall.

Noted for its abundant flowering, the quality of its foliage, and its pleasant fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida' (Witch Hazel) is one of the most popular hybrid Witch Hazels and one of the finest winter-flowering shrubs. Hardy, this medium to large, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub features dense clusters of sweetly and strongly scented, bright sulfur-yellow flowers in late winter. Each frost-proof flower consists of 4 narrow, curled, and crinkled, strap-shaped petals with red-purple calyces. Standing out well from a distance, the ascending branches of this Witch Hazel are clothed with broad oval green leaves which turn eye-catching shades of yellow in fall.

The state flower of Connecticut, Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that gets covered with abundant clusters of bright pale pink flowers, opening from deeper pink buds and lasting for several weeks in late spring and early summer. Very showy, the blooms are bell-shaped, white to pink with deep rose spots inside, and give way to brown fruits that persist into winter. The quality year-round foliage of oval, leathery, glossy leaves changes from light-green to dark-green to purple throughout the year and is reminiscent of the leaves of rhododendrons. Native to Eastern North America, Mountain Laurel is one of the most beautiful native flowering shrubs and is well displayed as an ornamental in many gardens.

Adding color and splendor to the shade garden, Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly) is a striking evergreen shrub with multi-season interest. In spring, racemes of cheerful, bright golden-yellow flowers appear just above the leaves. Lightly fragrant, they attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of dark blue-purple, edible berries in late summer. Resembling small grapes, they attract birds and wildlife. They may be eaten fresh off the plant and make excellent jellies. The lustrous evergreen foliage of holly-like, leathery leaves, emerges bronze-red in spring, matures to glossy dark green by summer before turning deep burgundy in fall. This small ornamental shrub is the State Flower of Oregon.

Forming an attractive and tight ground cover, Mahonia repens (Creeping Mahonia) is a low-growing, evergreen shrub with multi-season interest. In spring, racemes of cheerful, bright golden-yellow flowers appear just above the leaves. Fragrant, they attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of dark blue-purple, edible berries in late summer. Resembling small grapes, they attract birds and wildlife. The lustrous foliage of holly-like, glossy, leathery, blue-green leaves, turns mauve, rose, and rust-colored in winter.

An excellent choice for the landscape, Pieris 'Brouwer's Beauty' is a dense, compact, evergreen shrub that provides desirable winter interest, abundant spring blooms and a delightful foliage which holds its color across the seasons. It features deep purplish red flower buds in winter, which contrast nicely with the shiny, dark green foliage, transitioning to a profusion of urn-shaped, pendulous, creamy white flowers held in horizontal trusses at the tips of the branches.

Vaccinium angustifolium (Lowbush Blueberry) is an American beauty that puts on a long-lasting show in the landscape. In spring, it features attractive clusters of small, waxy, white, pink-tinged, bell-shaped flowers. They are followed by abundant, juicy, and edible blue berries in summer - a delight for birds, wildlife, and humans alike! Its glossy, lustrous foliage turns from reddish-green in spring to bluish-green in summer and to spectacular shades of bronze, scarlet and crimson in fall. Even winter provides charming interest with the yellow-green to reddish twiggy branches forming a lovely silhouette.

An incredible beauty for most seasons, Viburnum carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum) is a bushy, medium-sized, deciduous shrub noted for its heady fragrance, stunning snowball blooms and attractive fall color. In spring, red flower buds open to very fragrant, blushing pink flowers arranged in snowball clusters, 3 in. wide (7 cm). Elegantly held above the foliage, they gradually fade to brilliant white. They give way to oval, bright red fruits, borne in dense upward clusters, that ripen to black in late summer. The foliage of broadly ovate leaves emerges copper-colored, matures to dull dark green before turning either glorious wine-red or dull burgundy shades in fall.

Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry) is a large, suckering, deciduous shrub or single- or multi-stemmed small tree noted for its eye-catching flower clusters, shiny foliage, fall color, and fruit display. In spring, masses of flat-topped creamy-white flower clusters emerge from large vase-shaped buds and are elegantly held above the foliage. The blooms give way to pendulous clusters of bluish-black berries with bright red stalks in fall. Showy when viewed up-close or from a short distance, they often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make jams and preserves. The handsome foliage of ovate, finely toothed, glossy dark green leaves turns attractive shades of yellow, red, and purple in fall.

Viburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush) is prized for its spring foliage color, healthy summer foliage, vibrant fall color, and showy fruits. In late spring, this multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat clusters. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to pendulous clusters of ornamental fleshy, translucent, bright red berries that persist through mid-fall. By winter, they shrivel and resemble dried red raisins. In the fall, the handsome foliage of relatively large, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns occasionally bright yellow-red or rich reddish purple.

A multi-season beauty, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta' (Doublefile Viburnum) is a dense, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub without equal when it comes to flowering. In late spring, it is almost entirely covered with flat-topped, lacecap-like clusters, 6 in. wide (15 cm), of large, showy, snow-white flowers which extend along the branches and above the foliage in double rows. They give way to abundant, egg-shaped, bright red fruits in mid-summer which mature to black and provide a summer picnic for birds. The strongly-veined, dark green foliage turns burgundy red to purplish red in fall. Its compact habit makes 'Shasta' a great addition to small gardens. Introduced in 1979 by the U.S. National Arboretum.

Very ornamental, Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw) is a large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or small tree noted for its eye-catching flower clusters, colorful berries, and attractive fall color. In spring, masses of flat-topped creamy-white flower clusters, 4.5 in. wide (11 cm), are elegantly held above the foliage. Rich in nectar, they are loved by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The blooms give way to pink-rose berries, borne in dense clusters, that ripen to blue-black in the fall. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make jams and preserves. Resembling plum leaves, the handsome foliage of ovate, glossy dark green leaves turns rich bronze to vibrant red in fall. A very rewarding shrub that is not only good-looking but also durable and pest free.

With four seasons of interest, Viburnum trilobum 'Redwing' (American Cranberrybush) is a lovely addition to the landscape. In spring, this densely branched, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by an outer ring of larger sterile florets. They are elegantly held above the red-blushed leaves. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to drooping clusters of ornamental bright red berries that persist from fall through early winter. In the fall, the handsome foliage of three-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns a brilliant red.

Native to the United States, Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak Leaf Hydrangea) is a very handsome and versatile deciduous shrub that provides a spectacular show all year round. Named after the shape of its beautiful leaves, it produces a profusion of magnificent grapes of creamy-white flowers, up to 12 in. (30 cm), in late spring and early summer. Lasting about 3-4 weeks, the elongated flower clusters gradually turn pink as fall approaches. In fall, the foliage of deeply lobed, oak-like leaves steals the show by turning bronze, crimson, or burgundy, making this flowering shrub one of the most attractive shrubs for the fall garden. As the leaves fall, they expose the rich brown exfoliating bark. Best in partial shade in hot summer areas but they tolerate full sun in cooler, moist climates. It is a great candidate for mass plantings, hedges, and mixed shrub borders, as a backdrop or accent plant. USDA 5-9