Armloads of Color!

If it's mid-May, then vibrant landscape colors are on the horizon.  

Let's take a stroll through Corliss Bros. Garden Center and
Nursery  in Ipswich, MA (31 Essex Rd / Rte. 133)

for just a glimpse of Mother Nature's springtime bounty.....

The most venerable member of the Corliss Bros. delivery fleet,
this 1928 Chevrolet Huckster seems poised to deliver a
truckload of lavish blooms.  Reminiscent of the Corliss delivery
vehicles of yore, this completely restored truck sometimes
makes a weekend appearance near our front door... much to the
delight of most Corliss customers... especially the youngsters!

When it comes to garden color, it's not only about the blooms.
A stroll through our dwarf and unusual specimens, will reveal
an astonishing range of color, structure, winter interest and
texture.  For rock gardens, conifer beds and mixed plantings,
there are specimens sure to please discriminating gardeners.

Flowering trees, like these eye-catching redbuds
(Cercis canadensis spp. & hybrids), are part of a
grand sequence of constantly changing focal points...
a parade of spring color on a grand scale.

Need inspiration?  The display area, located just beyond
our side door, changes weekly.... reflecting the always
shifting palette of color that awaits the avid gardener.

Don't forget the foliage!  This shot reminds us that it's not
all about blossoms.  Foliage plays a major role in the
well-planned landscape.  Silver, blue, golden or deep emerald...
foliage variegated with cream, gold, pink or red streaks
and borders... red or burgundy foliage... needled evergreens,
broadleaf evergreens, deciduous... from shrubs diminutive
enough to serve as groundcovers (think Microbiota decussata,
  Siberian Cypress - 1-2'H x 4-6'W), to weeping conifers
(like Blue Atlas Cedar, Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' -
40-50'H x 10-15'W), you'll find striking accents that
compliment all those flamboyant springtime blooms. 

Rhododendron 'Yaku Prince' 2-3’H x 5’W. Purple-pink 

buds open pink then fade to white.  Mid-May. 

Reliable bloomer.  Compact habit. Low spreading mound. 

For part shade gardens.  Dwarf “Yak” hybrid.

Rhododendron 'Ken Janeck' 2-3’H x 3-4’W. “Yak” hybrid. 

Dwarf low wide spreader with pale pink flowers in mid-May. 

Extremely interesting foliage with fuzzy, 

fleece-like soft underside

Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' 3-4’H x 5’W. 

Fleshy green foliage. Peach and pink flowers in mid-May, 

a truly unique color among rhodies. Requires a 

sheltered spot. Likes mid-day shade.

 Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ (Dappled Willow) 8-10’H x 8-
10’W. New flush speckled with green, pink, and white colors.
Likes some shade, prefers moist soil, can burn in hot dry spots.
Extremely vigorous, must be trimmed to keep small.

Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver' As the showy, fragrant
strands of bells fade, the unfurling new growth provides
us with a red accent that quickly lightens to a silvery pink.
This color contrast persists for several weeks, with the new
growth gradually turning deep green with silvery white
borders.  Like other Pieris varieties, this one likes sun and
well-drained soil. It is notably cold hardy.
Compact in form, it grows 3-5'H x 3-5'W

Rhododendron 'Capistrano' 5-7’H x 6-8’W. 

Rare, truly yellow flowers. Rounded habit. 

More cold hardy than other yellow cultivars.

Cytissus scoparius 'Moonlight' (Moonlight Scotch Broom) 

4-6’H x 4-5’W. Small, rounded shape with yellow flowers.
Tip: Shear Cytissus as soon as blossoms drop.

Cytissus scoparius 'Burkwoodii'
Burkwood Scotch Broom 4- 6’H x 4-5’W.
Crimson-red flowers. Vigorous. Bushy.

An old-fashioned combination!  Sometimes the simplicity
of red and white geraniums strikes exactly the right note,
spilling from a wooden window box.

Ulmus glabra 'Camperdownii'
(Camperdown Weeping Elm)
30-40’H x 30-40’W. Irregular, mounding habit
resembles a giant bonsai. Graceful appearance
year round. Rich green, deeply serrated foliage covers
the strong weeping branches. Vigorous.  

Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' (Kwanzan Japanese Cherry) 

20- 25’H x 15-20’W. Large, double-pink flowers. 

Upright vase habit when young, becomes spreading 

and rounded with age. Very vigorous grower. Disease free, 

durable foliage. Pretty fall colors range from yellow-orange 

to subdued reds. Needs well drained soil and plenty of sunlight.

'Kwanzan' has fabulous bark and branching structure.
This is a tree with year 'round interest.

Malus sargentii 'Tina' (Tina Crab) 8’H x 8’W. Perfect for small  

yards. Pink buds to white flowers. Slow grower with small, 

disease resistant foliage. Horizontal habit. Small persistent fruit. 

 'Tina' Flowering Crabapple blossoms.

I hope you enjoyed our mid-May stroll... maybe you'll
be tempted to scoop up an armload of color! 

Note: By the time you view this colorful display, some of these plants may be past bloom.  Because such specimens sell most quickly in flower, it's a good idea to call the nursery for availability, before making a special trip for any of the above ornamentals. (Corliss Bros... 978.356.5422)

Photos: ©Deb Lambert 2011

Catalog text: ©Corliss Bros., excerpted from the 2011 catalog