Regarded as one of the best purple-leaved Japanese Maples, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' is a large deciduous shrub or small rounded tree of great beauty in all seasons. In spring, it produces small purple flowers which give way to red fruits. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate spring foliage of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves, holds its color in summer and turns vibrant crimson-red in fall before shedding to the ground. As the leaves fall, they expose the blackish red bark, adding interest to the winter landscape.

Noted for its attractive glossy red berries and excellent red fall foliage color, Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' (Red Chokeberry) is a deciduous shrub adding multi-season beauty to the garden. In spring, a profusion of white to light pink flower clusters appear along the branches. They are followed in late summer by abundant clusters of edible red berries that persist throughout fall and well into winter.

Noted for its showy black berries and excellent purple-red foliage color, Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry) is a very adaptable, spreading, deciduous shrub that adds multi-season beauty to the garden. In spring, a profusion of fragrant, whitish-pink flowers are borne in loose clusters, 2 in wide (5 cm), of up to 8. The flowers are followed in late summer by abundant, glossy, pendulous clusters of black berries that persist throughout fall and well into winter. Ornamental and adding winter interest to the landscape, they also make tasty jams and jellies. The foliage of elliptic, finely toothed, lustrous leaves, emerges bright green in spring and darkens as the season progresses before turning brilliant crimson to wine-red to apricot in the fall. Nearly luminescent, the fall foliage brightens darker areas on cloudy fall days.

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.

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.

Noted for its colorful stems and twigs in winter, Cornus alba (Tatarian Dogwood) is a medium-sized ornamental shrub with great appeal. Rapidly growing, and adaptable to wet soils or dry soils, it features spectacular decorative features: stunning fall color, attractive berries, showy red stems, and sometimes a lovely variegated summer foliage. A spectacular addition in the garden for most seasons, Tatarian Dogwood certainly adds a WOW! to a winter landscape.

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.

Distinctive for its soft blue summer foliage, Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist' (Dwarf Fothergilla) is a deciduous, dwarf ornamental shrub that adds long-lasting beauty to the landscape during 3 seasons. In spring, this compact, slow-growing, mounded shrub gets beautifully covered with honey-scented, upright, creamy-white bottlebrush-like flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), before the leaves emerge. In summer, the foliage of oval leaves is an attractive frosty blue-green, which creates a striking contrast with the other plants. In fall, the foliage usually turns a glowing yellow, orange, and red, with all colors present in the same leaf.

Earliest to bloom, Hamamelis mollis 'Early Bright' (Chinese Witch Hazel) is a medium to large, upright deciduous, often vase-shaped, shrub or small tree with pleasantly fragrant, golden yellow flowers in early to mid-winter. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, crinkled, strap-shaped petals, delicately tinted red at their bases. Clustered along the leafless branches, the flowers unfurl their spidery petals on mild days. But on cold days, they curl up again and nearly close up to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. This Chinese Witch Hazel sports broadly oval green leaves, downy underneath, which turn attractive golden shades in the fall.

Hamamelis mollis 'Goldcrest' (Chinese Witch Hazel) is a medium to large, upright deciduous, spreading shrub or small tree with sweetly fragrant, golden yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, crinkled, strap-shaped petals, delicately tinged with claret-red at their bases. Clustered along the leafless branches, the flowers unfurl their spidery petals on mild days. But on cold days, they curl up again and nearly close up to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. This Chinese Witch Hazel sports broadly oval medium green leaves, downy underneath, which turn attractive shades of yellow and orange in fall.

Hamamelis vernalis 'Kohankie Red' (Vernal Witch Hazel) is a medium to large deciduous shrub with fragrant, reddish-purple flowers in mid to late winter. Each flower consists of 4 ribbon-like, curly, strap-shaped petals with dull purple calyces. Clustered along the leafless branches, the flowers unfurl their spidery petals on mild days. But on cold days, they curl up again and nearly close up to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. Upright when young, later spreading, this Vernal Witch Hazel sports broadly oval leaves, which emerge flushed bronze, and mature to dark green before turning attractive shades of golden-orange and crimson in the fall.

Noted for its fantastic fall attributes, Hamamelis virginiana (Virginian Witch Hazel) is an erect large, deciduous shrub or small tree, with sweetly-scented, pale yellow flowers in fall and early winter. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, slightly-twisted, crinkled petals. Clustered along the arching branches, the flowers emerge when you least expect them and may linger on the branches into December. This Witch Hazel sports smooth, broadly oval leaves, which open light green before turning dark green. They turn brilliant golden yellow shades in the fall. Smooth gray bark, handsome architecture, colorful fall foliage, and floral splendor make Hamamelis virginiana a great addition to the landscape. Virginian Witch Hazel is the species from which medicinal witch-hazel extract is made.

Noted for its distinct, boldly lobed leaves and superb double-flowered blooms, award-winner Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' (Oak Leaf Hydrangea) is a vigorous deciduous shrub that provides interest almost all year round. Named after the shape of its beautiful leaves, this Oak Leaf Hydrangea features large, arching, conical flower heads, up to 12 in. (30 cm), packed with double blossoms layered on top of one another. On display from late spring to midsummer, the long-lasting grapes of creamy-white flowers gradually turn rosy-pink as they mature. In the fall, the foliage of deeply lobed, oak-like leaves, turns bronze, crimson or burgundy (if planted in a sunny location with a little afternoon shade). In the winter, the rich brown exfoliating bark becomes a real center of attraction. A fabulous Hydrangea to be used as a garden focal point or combined with other shrubs or perennials.

Fragrant and exceptionally cold-hardy, Rhododendron 'Golden Lights' is a compact, deciduous Azalea that belongs to the Northern Lights Hybrid Series developed by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Opening from red-orange buds in late spring to early summer, before the leaves unfurl, 'Golden Lights' bears abundant flat trusses of 10 luminous, funnel-shaped, golden or butter-yellow flowers with lovely salmon-pink to orange highlights. Each bloom in the truss is less than 2 in. (5 cm), but they are so profuse that the trusses look enormous. The foliage of narrow, olive green leaves has the added advantage of greater resistance to mildew than some other hybrid azalea cultivars.

Fragrant and exceptionally cold hardy, Rhododendron 'Rosy Lights' is a compact, deciduous Azalea that belongs to the Northern Lights Hybrid Series developed by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Opening in late spring to early summer before the leaves unfurl, 'Rosy Lights' bears abundant dome-shaped trusses of 8 luminous, trumpet-shaped, deep rose-pink flowers with lovely orange freckles on their dorsal lobes. Extremely floriferous, this Azalea features a handsome foliage of narrow, olive green leaves that turns maroon in fall. 

Gorgeous and cold hardy, Rhododendron 'White Lights' is a charming deciduous Azalea that belongs to the Northern Lights Hybrid Series developed by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Any Azalea included in this series has flower bud hardiness of -30°F (-34°C) to -45°F (-42°C) to withstand Minnesota winters. Opening from delicate pale pink flower buds in late spring to early summer, 'White Lights' bears abundant dome-shaped trusses of 5 luminous, trumpet-shaped, shell-pink flowers, with faint golden markings and gradually fading to white over time. Extremely floriferous and slightly fragrant, this bestseller Azalea features a handsome foliage of elliptic, flat, olive green leaves that turn deep bronze in fall. 

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.