This is a genus of shrubby plants native to New Guinea where they grow alongside their relatives in the Ericaceae—vireya rhododendrons, blueberries and Gaultheria spp. This genus is most closely related to blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) but unlike their widespread and widely grown relatives, the various species of Dimorphanthera are rarely seen in cultivation. The flowers and fruit are very similar to those of a blueberry but on a vastly larger scale—with the flowers sometimes over two inches in length. These range in color from white to pink, red and bicolor. This species has solid red, glossy flowers. Best treated like a vireya with excellent drainage and protection from frost.
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The Cutleaf Goldthread is a charming evergreen perennial native to the mountains of the Pacific NW. This slowly creeping groundcover spreads by means of bright yellow rhizomes – hence the common name. The finely cut, glossy and leathery foliage rises to only a couple of inches from the ground, and the delicate flowers have narrow “threadlike” white petals and are not particularly showy, but this is a beautiful small-scale groundcover. Best in woodland conditions. A collection from the now northernmost known population which was a pretty substantial northern range extension into central Washington.
This is a rarely grown evergreen shrub or small tree with dark green, narrow, and toothed leaves and an upright habit. The amazing flowers appear in late spring on the ends of long pendulous stalks. They are large, bright red, and urn-shaped with a very thick and fleshy texture—really quite stunning. To quote Bean: “one of the most attractive of all shrubs.” Native to temperate forests in southern Chile. May suffer some damage in very cold winters but comes back rapidly from old wood or the roots. Best in light shade.
A very unusual and quite striking evergreen perennial plant from the cloud forests of northern Vietnam. It features long and pleated, very fuzzy leaves with a very narrow, strap-like shape up to four or more feet in length. The leaves are beautifully arranged in a vase-like shape from the base. The yellow flowers are borne in a large and compact head that looks like a small pineapple. Probably best as a stunning container specimen in all but the mildest climates.
An amazing dwarf “heath-like” alpine shrublet with tiny elliptic leaves of an almost metallic blue-gray color. The undersides of the leaves are striped with white. Tiny white flowers appear in spring. This native of New Zealand is relatively easy to grow but rarely seen in gardens. Very slow growing and best in a bright position with excellent drainage. Perfect for a trough or container.
This is a rarely grown evergreen shrub with sharply toothed leaves that look exactly like those of your basic English Holly. Out of flower it is easily told from a holly by the opposite branching pattern. The amazing flowers appear in late summer and are reminiscent of the orange and yellow bicolored flowers of R. cinnabarinum (Blandfordiiflorum Group). The long glossy blossoms are pendulous from the ends of the branches and quite long-lasting. A native of Chile and quite adaptable in our climate. Best in sun and a real knockout in flower. This clone, grown from seed collected wild by Dan Hinkley in Chile has flowers that are longer, narrower and an almost solid red compared to the typical form seen in gardens.
I can do no better than to quote my good friends at Far Reaches Farm: “Extreme rarity from the summit of Jinfoshan where this was found growing in moss and leaf litter atop a narrow shoulder of hard limestone napped in snow from the night before. A diminutive species to just 3" tall with small evergreen thumbnail leaves and small white flowers touched in rose on the interior. Light lavender fruit follows. We expect this to be among the hardiest of the Disporopsis and are pleased to be the first to introduce and offer the true species. As a side note of irony, the collection site has subsequently been destroyed by development for eco-tourism.” Thanks to Kelly and Sue for sharing this with us!
The Chilean Fire Tree is a stunning small evergreen tree native to temperate forests in Chile and adjacent parts of Argentina. It has narrow to elliptic foliage and a bushy but upright habit and features clusters of long and tubular red to orange flowers in late spring and early summer. It usually stays in flower for several weeks and is an absolute magnet for hummingbirds. Easy and tough once established and, like all members of the Proteaceae, you should avoid fertilizer, especially when grown in a container.
A large deciduous shrub with panicles of very large bell-shaped white to cream or reddish flowers in late spring. The flowers are often striped with red. Brilliant red fall foliage color. Easy and a stunner in sun or light shade. Perfect with its relative the rhododendron. This collection has showy, bright red woody fruits in the autumn.
This is an evergreen “tree heath,” which has a very interesting native range including southern Europe, North Africa, and into the foothills of the western Caucasus. Amazingly, it is also found in Abyssinia and on many of the higher mountains of eastern and central Africa (including Mt Kilimanjaro)! This forms an erect shrub or small tree with tiny linear leaves of deep glossy green. The small but quite fragrant white flowers appear in masses in mid-spring. This species has been cultivated here in the garden since 1994 and has never suffered any damage from cold temperatures. A beautiful and easily grown wild heath that deserves wider cultivation.
An evergreen “tree heath” which is a native of southern Europe. This forms an erect shrub or small tree with tiny linear leaves of deep glossy green. The small but clustered pale rose flowers appear in mid- to late summer. This species has been cultivated here in the garden since 1994 and has never suffered any damage from cold temperatures. A beautiful and easily grown wild heath that deserves wider cultivation.
First introduction into cultivation. This is a low and mounding evergreen shrub with the stems arching up and out from the base. These are lined with very glossy, very narrowly elliptic and toothed leaves. A very eye‑catching habit and texture. Like all Eurya, this species is not very showy in flower, but it is really quite striking overall. It can be found growing in the wilds of S China on mossy boulders in the middle of fast running streams – a most remarkable setting.