Landscape design and construction
www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation April 2015 27
Red Rhapsody Hydrangea Vine
Schizophragma elliptifolium 'LaBaHe
Blush'
USDA Zone 6 - 9
This extremely rare selection from the
Dan Hinkley Collection makes a dramatic
statement by virtue of its foliage alone.
Its varnished-red new growth is stunning
in spring, while its heads of flowers sur-
rounded by large, cream-colored bracts
are beautiful in contrast. Six years ago
Hinkley was driving through a remote
area of southwest Sichuan Province when
he noticed some seed heads on a plant.
The foliage was gone, and with only the
dried flower head, he wasn't sure if he had
anything special. When the seedlings were
two years old, he realized he had a very
rare species that, to his knowledge, has
never been successfully grown in Western
cultivation. Red Rhapsody will self adhere,
reaching 10 to 15 feet, and is best grown
on the trunks of sizable trees, fences or
arbors in a shade to part shade in evenly
moist soils.
Available from Monrovia
Tiny Tower Arborvitae
Thuja x 'MonRig' P.P.A.F.
USDA Zones 5 – 9
A sport of the well known Green Gi-
ant, its parent plant, Tiny Tower is a noted
improvement. It has an upright, more
compact habit and is a slower grower. Its
lively green foliage is finer to the touch
and maintains a tighter shape. It will reach
18 to 20 feet tall by 4 to 5 feet wide in 10
years. Use this handsome, easy-care shrub
to create an evergreen screen, define the
back of a border, or feature as an accent
specimen in the landscape or a container.
Full sun.
Available from Monrovia
Ember Waves Western Arborvitae
Thuja plicata x standishii 'MonPin'
P.P.A.F.
USDA Zones 5 – 8
A superb new conifer with bright
yellow-gold new foliage that matures to
chartreuse, creating a striking color con-
trast. The real drama arrives in winter
when foliage turns deep gold with brilliant
orange-red tips. It is vigorous, virtually
disease-free and deer resistant. Responds
well to shearing. Slightly more compact
than its parent 'Green Giant', superb as
an accent or screen. Evergreen. Moderate
growth to 25 feet tall and eight feet wide.
Full sun.
Available from Monrovia
Crimson Kisses Weigela
Weigela 'Slingco 1' P.P. #23,654
USDA Zones 5 – 9
A compact reblooming Weigela, Crim-
son Kisses has a tidy, rounded shape and
is covered with unique dark, lipstick-red
flowers, kissed with a white eye, backed by
