Planting Instructions:
We recommend that our flowering shrubs be planted in the way described in this part of the tag. Click here for more information and a video.

Light Exposure:

• Sun: 6+ hours of bright sun each day
• Part Sun: 4-6 hours of sun daily, or filtered light throughout the day
• Shade: less than 4 hours of sun a day.

If more than one exposure is listed, this indicates that the plant can tolerate both conditions. It also indicates that the plant prefers shadier conditions in hot climates and sunnier conditions in cool ones.

Features:

Season of Interest:
When you can expect the plant to flower. If it says “foliage plant” here, that means it is does not bloom (in the case of conifers) or that the blooms are insignificant (boxwood, for example).

Uses:
This section lists some common landscape uses for the plant, based on its habit (height, width, and whether it is upright, rounded, creeping, etc.). These are just suggestions; plants are versatile and can be used just about any way that you can dream up. Don’t feel bound by what you see here if you had a different use in mind.

Hardiness:
This tells you if a plant tolerates the coldest winter temperatures experienced in your area. If you do not know your hardiness zone, you can find it here. Generally speaking, if you find one of our shrubs for sale at your local garden center, you can count on it being hardy in your landscape.

Size:
The height and width you can expect the plant to achieve at maturity. It may take several seasons for the plant to reach these proportions, depending on climate, growing conditions, and the size of the plant you start with.

Spacing:
A rough guideline explaining how far apart to plant multiple specimens of the same variety based on the width of the plant at maturity.

Soil & Water:
Here you’ll find any special soil and watering requirements to consider before planting. Most of our varieties are not terribly finicky about soil, though the majority of plants do require well-drained soil.

Pruning:
This indicates the best time to prune the plant IF it needs it. Not all plants strictly require regular pruning. Click to view our helpful guide “Pruning Demystified”. If you are in doubt about whether or not you should prune your plant, err on the side of caution and do not prune it. Please contact us with your pruning questions for specific pruning advice.

Deer Resistance:
We rank a plant’s deer resistance on a scale of low, medium, or high. This assessment is based on Rutgers University’s website, compiled from research and reports at multiple universities around the country. Here’s a closer look at how we qualify these ratings:

• Low: deer favor these plants, and their damage may disfigure the plant substantially. In some cases, low deer resistance may also mean that deer specifically eat the flower buds of the plant, depriving you of one of the key benefits of growing it. If deer visit your garden, plan on protecting any plant that are ranked “low” on our scale.
• Medium: deer may browse these plants occasionally or lightly. Any damage that they cause will typically be easy for the plant to recover from, though it may limit growth somewhat. It would be a good idea to protect these plants with a repellent, netting, or fence if you live in an area with high deer activity.
• High: deer rarely, if ever, browse these plants, so they can be grown in the open, without protection. Be aware that no plant is deer-proof, however, and if other food sources become scarce, deer may eat even their least-favorite plants.