Unique Plants to Enjoy This Spring

April is a great month to get your spring garden projects underway. Despite the continued cool, wet weather we’ve had in the last month, plants are waking up from dormancy and temperatures are warm enough to plant any shrubs, trees or perennials.

'Valentine' dicentra

Most spring-blooming plants look their best in sunny weather. Rain just has a way of making even the hardiest bloomers look soggy. Not so with bleeding hearts, however. Dicentra—the botanical name for “bleeding hearts”—is a great plant to enjoy even in the rain. And this year, there’s a brand-new variety you’ll want to find a spot for in your garden. ‘Valentine’ is a full-size dicentra with true red flowers—a departure from the pink blooms of older varieties. Along with the red blooms you’ll enjoy deep red stems and dark plum-green foliage.

A second brand-new plant that works well in even the smallest gardens is ‘Tiny Gold’ dwarf barberry. True to its name, ‘Tiny Gold’ tops out at around 18 inches tall and wide; the small size of this gold-leafed variety means you’ll never have to deal with pruning back overgrown, thorny branches. If yellow isn’t your color, last year’s introduction called ‘Admiration’ is a great alternative. With bright red leaves finely edged in gold through spring and summer, it turns neon pink in autumn. Additionally, like ‘Tiny Gold’ it stays small, maturing to just two feet tall and wide.

'Snowkist' Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

In the worst of the rainy season, which—let’s be honest—around here is spring, fall and winter (and sometimes parts of summer), the best-looking plants in the yard are evergreens. With always-there foliage, conifers add structure and balance to the other seasonal and deciduous plants you may enjoy. But just because they’re “always there” doesn’t mean evergreens have to be never-changing or boring. Take, for instance, ‘Snowkist’ dwarf Hinoki cypress. This slow-growing dwarf isn’t just green—the tips of branches out in the sun turn an eye-catching creamy white. 

Another unique conifer sure to brighten your yard this spring is ‘Jean’s Dilly’ dwarf Alberta spruce. Like other Alberta-type spruce, ‘Jean’s Dilly’ (pronounced “John’s Dilly”) exhibits bright green spring growth, albeit later than other strains. Unique, however, is the size and shape of this plant from its cousins. ‘Jean’s Dilly’ is a very slow-growing strain with a much tighter, narrower form than the standard Alberta spruce. Excellent for small planting beds or even containers, you’ll want to check out this remarkable shrub this spring.

Now, if you enjoy gardening with edibles—and specifically growing strawberries—check out the new ‘Puget Crimson’ strawberry this spring. This late-season strawberry boasts large, sweet, deep red berries and heavy yields. Whether you plant a row in your garden this year or pick up an oak wine barrel or cedar planter so you can enjoy them on your patio, don’t miss out on these great berries. 

Finally, April is a great month for taking care of maintenance in your yard and garden. For vegetable gardens, rototill or spade mushroom compost into your soil for greatly improved crop yields. Around your house, spread bark in your flowerbeds to keep weeds down and moisture in, and fertilize shrubs with Jack’s ClassiCote or Crystal Green slow-release fertilizers for balanced feeding all season long. 

In between rain showers, this month is an excellent time for watching your garden burst once again into color. Stop at Vander Giessen Nursery this month to see what’s looking great and pick up some plants and supplies for a productive season ahead.