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Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Inc.
Middletown office:
deKoven House Community Center
27 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: 860-346-3282
Fax: 860-346-3284
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Shrubs, Flowers and Tree Seedlings!
 THINK LOCAL―PLANT NATIVE & EDIBLE! CELEBRATE EARTH DAY AND ARBOR DAY AT OUR ANNUAL SHRUB AND SEEDLING SALE
Spruce up your landscape and support your local conservation district! The Annual Shrub and Seedling Sale held in April is our main fundraising event for the year. All proceeds fund our natural resources technical and educational programs and services.
At this annual event we offer a wide variety of hard-to-find native plants, including potted shrubs, ground covers, grasses, ferns, flowering perennials, herbs and bare root evergreen seedlings. Almost all plants are Connecticut natives.
Each tree, shrub and flower you plant enhances our environment by providing food and cover for wildlife, cleaning the air, curbing the greenhouse effect, cutting energy costs, reducing soil erosion, improving water quality and beautifying our community.
Planting information and other resources are available at the sale, and Master Gardeners are on hand to answer your gardening and planting questions.
Most plants are pre-ordered, though extras are also available the days of the sale. Some plants are in limited supply so it is best to order in advance to secure your choices. Contact us for more information, or if you would like to be placed on our mailing list to receive a copy of the brochure and order form.
Check out these links for additional information:
UCONN Plant Database
Connecticut Botanical Society
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Edible Landscaping, National Gardening Association
Edible Flowers, What's Cooking America
Alternatives for Invasive Ornamental Species, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
Our 2012 plant sale will take place April 20, 21 and 22 at the Old Saybrook Shopping Center (Stop & Shop plaza), Boston Post Road and Elm Street, Old Saybrook (same location as the past four years). The 2012 brochure and order form are now available (open PDF brochure)! Orders are due April 2, 2012.
We have two exciting additions this year: Organic Compost from Collins Powder Hill Farm in Enfield; and a "Buffer in a Bag" packet of 20 plants (bare root shrubs and trees, and potted perennials) to enhance habitat and protect water quality along streams, lakes or ponds. And once again, rain garden plants are featured, and edible landscaping is a special focus of the sale, with an expanded selection of fruit producing shrubs and other edible plants for wildlife and your family to enjoy.
Photographs and more detailed descriptions of all plant selections can be found at the "Plant Info/Photos" tab on this page (INFORMATION ON NEW SELECTIONS COMING SOON!).
More information about the plants offered, including photographs, along with information about edible landscaping and other resources, can be found at the websites listed below.
Check out these links for additional information:
UCONN Plant Database
Connecticut Botanical Society
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Edible Landscaping, National Gardening Association
Edible Flowers, What's Cooking America
Alternatives for Invasive Ornamental Species, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
Shrubs, Flowers and Tree Seedlings—Photographs and More!
SHRUBS AND GROUND COVERS
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American Cranberrybush
Viburnum trilobum
'Bailey's Compactum'
CT RG
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Compact growing shrub with upright, spreading branches. Creamy white flower heads appear in late May, followed by profuse long-lasting red fruit that shows beautifully against the shiny green foliage. A fall standout with its deep burgundy foliage and large, bright red berries. Fruit attracts birds. Perfect for the back of the border, where its dense form will create a nice backdrop for showier summer plants.
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Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
CT DR
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Excellent low growing evergreen ground cover suitable for difficult sites. White flowers bloom in spring. Bronze fall foliage and red berries in winter add interest. Does best in sandy well-drained soil; salt and wind tolerant. Low maintenance! See USDA fact sheet for more info.
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Blackberries
Rubus 'Chester Thornless'
E
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One of the most winter hardy and productive thornless varieties of blackberry available. Bears large, high quality fruit that ripens in early to mid-August, and continues until frost. Fruit has excellent flavor and does not soften or lose its shiny black color in hot weather. Chester is vigorous and shows resistance to cane blight. Good for fresh eating, jams, jellies, and pies! |
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Blueberry, highbush
Vaccinium corymbosum
CT RG E
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Upright, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with four season interest. Blooms spring through summer. Edible berries ripen July-August. Foliage yellow-red-burgundy in fall, bark is red or yellow-green in winter. See USDA fact sheet and USDA plant guide for more info. |
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Blueberry, lowbush
Vaccinium angustifolium
CT RG E
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Showy flowers produce edible dark blue berries mid-summer. Glossy, deep green leaves turn scarlet burgundy in fall. Excellent selection for borders or naturalizing. |
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Cranberry, creeping
Vaccinium macrocarpon
CT E
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Excellent low growing evergreen ground cover, especially for damp sites and near salt water. Tiny leaves on many stems spread rapidly; green leaves in summer turn mahogany red in fall. Edible red berries in fall add to plant's beauty. Very hardy! |
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Creeping Juniper
Juniperis horizontalis
CT DR
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Compact evergreen ground cover with flat, trailing branches. Intense silver-blue foliage is light purple in winter. Excellent for mass planting as turf substitute; rock gardens and overhanging rock ledges; and erosion control on light to moderate slopes. Heat and drought tolerant; resistant to salt damage. Grows well in almost any well-drained soil. |
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Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis 'Adams'
CT RG DR E
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American elderberry is a thicket-forming shrub with deep green foliage and profuse large flat-topped clusters of small, fragrant white flowers in spring. The flowers are a good source of nectar for pollinators. Big clusters of dark purple to black, berry-like fruits follow in late summer to fall, and provide an outstanding source of food for birds and other wildlife. Old stems provide overwintering sites for insects, and birds such as woodpeckers forage in the clumps for insects. Excellent for naturalizing in moist soil. Fruit is good for jam and wine! See USDA fact sheet and USDA plant guide for more info.
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Grape, seedless
Vitis 'Reliance'
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This seedless variety produces medium-sized clusters of sweet pink-fruited grapes, tops for flavor and texture. Fragrant, spring flowers are followed by medium to small size fruit with a thin, slip skin. Foliage is large, lobed, dark green in the summer with some fall color, and vines have shaggy bark. Ripening early in the season, this is an excellent eating grape, also good for jams, jellies, juice and raisins. Vines are vigorous and winter-hardy. In general, grapes are easy to grow, and a little careful effort will reward you with large crops of fruit. Grape vines usually begin producing the second or third year after planting, and a mature vine will produce 15-20 pounds annually. The vines also have ornamental value; large leaves cover a wall, form a screen, or offer overhead shade. Can be grown on a trellis or arbor.
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Hydrangea, smooth
Hydrangea aborescens
'Invincibelle Spirit'
CT
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Easy to grow shrub with dense full form and low, rounded habit. Rich pink flowers bloom from early summer to frost. Dark pink buds open to hot pink flowers that turn soft pink as they mature, finally changing to green at the end of their life cycle. Very hardy. Reliable bloomer. Thrives in sun or part shade. Good for grouping in dappled sun or to form colorful border planting, or as a specimen. Flowers are source of nectar; plants provide cover for birds.
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Inkberry
Ilex glabra 'Densa'
CT DR RG
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Excellent evergreen with compact habit and lustrous dark green foliage. Ideal for low hedge or grouping, or for a small foundation space. Very hardy and easy to grow! Tolerates a variety of landscape situations, including sandy soils or places prone to exposure to road salt or seaside conditions. Provides year round cover for birds and black berries provide an excellent food source. Also provides nectar for small pollinators. See USDA fact sheet for more info. |
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Magnolia, sweetbay
Magnolia virginiana
CT RG
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Semi-evergreen tree with wide, rounded form makes an excellent foundation, focal point or specimen plant. Long-blooming with large lemon-scented flowers. Seedpods provide food for birds. |
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Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latiflolia
CT
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The CT State Flower! One of the most beautiful, long-lived broad leaved evergreen shrubs. Slow growing and very hardy with striking clustered flowers. Good for massing and borders. Tolerates full sun, but grows best in partial shade. |
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Raspberries
Rubus 'Caroline'
CT E
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This upright everbearing raspberry variety blooms twice, producing summer and fall crops. Berries are large with rich, full and intense flavor. Very productive and vigorous! More disease resistant and with larger, earlier fruits than most everbearers. Considered one of the best everbearing varieties! Click here for growing information and more. |
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Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Baileyi'
CT DR RG
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Best known for its showy bright red stems in winter, this Red Twig dogwood also produces white berries in summer, and has great red-purple fall color. Likes moisture, but very adaptable and tolerates poor soils. Great for massing. Very hardy! See USDA fact sheet for more info. |
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Rosebay Rhododendron Rhododendron maximum 'Roseum'
CT RG
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Well-branched habit, rounded shape, extreme hardiness, late bloom time, dark green foliage, and ability to flower in dense shade makes this a handsome addition to the background of a woodland shade garden, or to shaded groupings. Globes of lavender-pink flowers in mid to late June-early July are carried over deep green foliage, and stems are reddish, especially in fall.
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Shadbush
Amelanchier canadensis 'Rainbow Pillar'
CT DR RG
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Compact shadbush with narrow upright, dense form. Clouds of small white flowers bloom before deep green foliage emerges in late April. Dark purple berries form in late summer, well loved by birds. In fall, foliage provides a colorful show, first turning yellow, then orange then finally bright red. An attractive multi-stemmed specimen plant, or grouped together forms an innovative hedge that will attract wildlife. |
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Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
CT DR RG
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Oval upright shrub with tiny aromatic yellow-green flower clusters along branches before deep green leaves develop, providing early season nectar to butterflies and bees. Summer foliage provides cover for birds, and red berries provide food. Showy yellow foliage in fall. Versatile and easy to grow! Perfect for grouping as a backdrop or screen in any location, even in shady, moist areas.
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Strawberries
Fragaria x ananassa 'Honeoye'
E
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Early-midseason variety recommended for beginners and home gardeners, and suited for organic growing. Produces large firm berries with superb quality and flavor, also excellent for freezing. High yields over long fruiting season. Hardy and vigorous. A great edible ground cover! Click here for growing information and more.
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Summersweet
(aka Sweet Pepperbush)
Clethra alnifolia
'Vanilla Spice'
CT DR RG
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A dense Clethra with lustrous glossy deep dark green foliage and rounded shape. In late summer, abundant, long, very fragrant white bottlebrush-like flower spikes on upright branches attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Flowers are double the size of other varieties. Leaves provide an excellent show of golden-brown fall color. Great massed in naturalized landscapes, and an excellent addition to a foundation, border or woodland edge. Prefers shady locations, and adapts to a variety of soils and is salt tolerant. See USDA fact sheet for more info. |
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Swamp Azalea
Azalea viscosum
'Lemon Drop'
CT RG
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An upright growing, multi-stemmed, deciduous plant with sweetly scented early-summer flowers and lustrous green foliage. Peach flower buds open to pastel yellow blooms with a subtle lemon fragrance. Planted in mass, its fine texture, flower display, and flame red fall foliage make this shrub truly amazing. Stems are distinctive red-brown color, providing winter interest. Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Happy in poorly-drained soil and wetland areas, making it a good choice for rain gardens. Also tolerates some drought.
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Winterberry, female
'Jolly Red'
CT DR RG
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Another great wildlife plant! Deciduous holly with deep green lustrous foliage spreads to form multi-stemmed thickets that provide good cover for birds. Clusters of bright red berries persist in winter, providing interest and important wildlife food. Good for naturalizing. See USDA fact sheet for more info. |
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| Winterberry, male
CT DR RG
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Deciduous holly with deep green lustrous foliage spreads to form multi-stemmed thickets. Pollinates females (see above), which produce bright red, persistent berries in winter. Only one male is needed to pollinate many female bushes planted nearby. Good for naturalizing. |
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Wintergreen, Christmas
Gaultheria procumbuns
CT DR E
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Dense, compact hardy evergreen ground cover, acid soil and shade loving. Provides an excellent fall and winter show, with red-tinged, dark green foliage, and large persistent edible red berries. |
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Wisteria, American
Wisteria frutescens
'Amethyst Falls'
CT |
Twining woody vine with showy blooms. Soft grey-green compound leaves emerges in late April-early May, followed by large bud clusters that elongate and open to grape-like clusters of deep lilace to purple flowers. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. More dependable blooms and less invasive growth habit than non-native wisteria varieties. Needs heavy duty arbor, trellis or other support. |
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| Witchhazel
CT DR
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Noteworthy for being one of the last woody plant species to flower, this multi-stemmed small tree or shrub has upright, spreading branches, and provides a unique display of small, fragrant, twisted yellow flowers in late fall-early winter. Witchhazel also adds winter interest with leaves that turn an outstanding showy gold in the fall, and is moderately drought tolerant. Flowers provide nectar for migrating insects, and seeds are eaten by a variety of birds and wildlife, including wild turkey, northern bobwhite and gray squirrel. Upright spreading branches are perfect nesting sites for birds. Good in shrub borders, naturalistic areas, shady areas and as a screen.
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Witherod Viburnum, smooth
Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur'
CT RG
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Excellent viburnum with dense rounded form, large fragrant white flower heads, striking multi-colored blue to black fruit, and crimsom-purple fall foliage. Provides cover and nesting for birds and other wildife. Flowers attract butterflies, and birds love the berries. Tolerates partial shade and a wide range of soil conditions from dry to moist. A good specimen plant, or group to create a wildlife-friendly hedge!
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FLOWERING PERENNIALS-FERNS-GRASSES
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Beard Tongue
Penstemon digitalis
'Husker Red'
CT DR
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Beautiful deep bronze-red leaves all year, give rise to 2-3’ spikes with profuse small white bell-shaped flowers attached to dark rose-wine stems in June. A much loved native perennial known to bloom a long period of time when spent flowers are removed. Flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators for nectar. Songbirds such as cardinals and goldfinch eat ripe seed from the flower stems in fall and winter. This taller variety can stand alone or is attractive grouped together. Great as a cut flower! |
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Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
'After Midnight'
CT DR E
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New, distinctive, dwarf cultivar from the popular Big Sky™ Series has fragrant, dark magenta purple flowers with a black-red cone. Wide, overlapping flower petals give the blossoms a full look atop dramatic black stems, just 1' tall, with blue-green foliage. Well branched, compact and vigorous. Perfect for containers or the front of the flower border. A result of crosses between E. purpurea and E. paradoxa, it has inherited the dominant characteristics of E. purpurea, but with fuller, toothed leaves and wider petals Vibrant, showy, daisy-like blooms are long-lasting and make great cut or dried flowers. Attracts butterflies and bees, and birds in winter if cones are left on plant. Drought tolerant once established. Leaves, flowers and roots can be used for tea.
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Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
'Sterntaler'
CT DR
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Vigorous, compact and easy to grow. 16” stems of striking bi-color fringed flowers, yellow-gold with burgundy rings, look brilliant throughout the summer months. This compact variety is good for the front border. Attracts butterflies. Heat and drought tolerant.
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Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
'Allegheny Smoke'
CT DR
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Fast growing 6" semi-dwarf variety with pale, grayish blue flowers blooming in spring on dense mats of finely textured foliage. Flowers are lightly fragrant and attract butterflies. Good for ground cover or border front. Drought tolerant. |
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Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
'Delaware'
CT DR RG
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Long-lasting pink to white "foamy" flower spikes bloom from late April to June, held high above the foliage on dark red stems. Large velvety leaves are maple-shaped with subtle purple markings, which become more pronounced as foliage ages. Leaves are semi-evergreen. |
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Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium dubium
'Baby Joe'
CT DR RG
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Compact form of Joe Pye Weed, growing just 24-30". Masses of lavender-rose flowers bloom in large, domed, flower heads are long-blooming in summer. Bright green foliage. Great for mid to back of the border, and for naturalizing, meadows and wild gardens. Does well in damp soil, next to a water feature, pond or stream. Flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. |
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Asparagus
'Jersey Supreme'
E
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Great tasting and very tender! The newest release from the Jersey asparagus breeding program, Supreme has very high yield potential, producing for 15+ years, with a spear size more uniform than other Jersey hybrids. Supreme is quite early, emerging approximately 7-10 days before other varieties, cold tolerant, and adapted to temperate, warm and cool climates. Easy to grow and disease resistant. |
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Lavender
'Munstead'
DR E
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Low-growing shrub-like perennial. Features aromatic silvery-gray vegetation topped in summer with stems of showy, fragrant, white to purple-violet hued flowers. A favorite for herb gardens or in the perennial border. Attracts butterflies. Drought tolerant when established. Excellent in fresh or dried arrangements. Use in cooking, sachets, potpourri and baths. |
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Oregano
DR E
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Aromatic and popular culinary herb, with oval, dark green leaves and spiky white to pink flower stalks. Easy to grow in the garden. Makes a nice edging plant and ground cover, requiring little maintenance. High in antioxidants, and useful for relieving headaches and coughs.
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| Rosemary
DR E
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One of the most popular herbs for the garden! Shrub-like herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves used fresh or dried for cooking, and for aromatic oil. Long-lasting, fragrant blue flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Drought tolerant. This is a tender perennial that should be potted and brought inside for winter.
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| Sage 'Compacta'
DR E
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This dwarf version of common sage is a natural for containers or small hedges. Many branched, shrubby evergreen perennial with velvety gray-green foliage; covered with showy bright blue flower spikes in summer. Very easy to grow, performing nicely in the garden and attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Use fresh or dried in cooking. |
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Thyme
DR E
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Easiest herb to grow! This generally upright, woody-based perennial is grown primarily as a culinary herb. Highly aromatic needle-shaped green leaves reach their peak just before plants flower. Whorls of tiny, tubular pink to lilac flowers appear on stem ends in late spring to early summer. Foliage forms dense, ground-hugging mats. Perfect as a low spreading ground cover in rock gardens, rock walls, in between flagstones or simply planted in the garden. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Drought tolerant once established. Attractive to butterflies and bees. Use fresh or dried in cooking, and for teas, potpourri and baths.
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Oak Fern
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
'Plumosum'
CT DR
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One of the showiest native Oak Ferns, especially in spring. 8-10" plumed form. Delicate, small, three-lobed chartreuse fronds are held nearly erect. Makes a good low, shady area ground cover. |
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Crested Wood Fern
Dryopteris cristata
CT DR RG
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Tall, narrow fern good for planting along streams, ponds or lakes. Narrow, delicately formed, 3’ fronds, with spores on undersides. Easy to grow and rugged, adapting to both extremes of cold and heat. Excellent in the woodland garden combined with shade plants. Fertile fronds are deciduous, and sterile fronds are evergreen. |
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Mist Grass
CT DR RG
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Upright, finely textured, clump forming ornamental grass with spectacular, billowy masses of purplish-red to pinkish-gray inflorescences that form a cloud-like mist. Showy flowers, foliage and seed heads provide summer, fall and winter interest. Drought tolerant once established. Use for accent or massing. Vibrant wispy flowers are good for cutting. |
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Woodrush Grass
Luzula
'Ruby Stiletto'
CT DR RG
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Compact woodrush with fine, downy-gray foliage in summer, and red-tipped, red-edged leaves most pronounced in winter and early spring. Flowers May-June. Grows best in partial shade. Good for rock, alpine or woodland gardens, planted alone or en masse. |
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BARE ROOT TREE SEEDLINGS
| Douglas Fir
DR
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Large evergreen tree with conical form. Excellent Xmas tree, or shade or lawn tree. Moderate to rapid growth. Needles are short, soft, spirally-arranged, with blue-green to gray-green color. Bark is smooth on young trunks; reddish brown ridges with age. Not for dry or poorly drained sites. Dislikes high winds. |
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| Eastern Red Cedar
CT DR
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Fast growing pyramid-shape evergreen with flat needles. Gnarled fluted trunk and gray to red-brown bark of ornamental interest. Prickly foliage is browse resistant. Good for specimen trees, masses, screens, windbreaks or hedges, and difficult sites. Attracts songbirds, butterflies, small mammals. |
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| Eastern White Pine
CT DR
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Rapid grower with broad pyramid to dense column-like shape. Thin soft needles are light green with a bluish cast. Smooth gray to gray-green bark, becomes furrowed with age. Very versatile; use as an ornamental, Xmas tree or windbreak. Good specimen for parks or other large spaces. Easily transplanted and grown, but not tolerant of strong winds, salt, and vulnerable to ice/heavy snows. |
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| White Spruce
CT DR
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Fast growing, very hardy compact tree with narrow, conical form. Needles are short, 4-sided stiff pointed blue-green needles. Good for Xmas trees or ornamentals; in windbreaks, screens, hedges, and mass plantings; and along the seashore, due to salt tolerance. |
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FERTILIZER TABLETS Slow release 2-year fertilizer tablets for root feeding evergreen and hardwood seedlings and trees, shrubs, and fruit, flower and shade trees. These long-lasting tablets are not water soluble, but depend on action of soil bacteria to convert nutrients into a plant usable form. Easy to use, completely non-burning and promotes vigorous growth. The tablet is simply dropped into the hole at the root zone of the plant at planting time (near, but not touching the roots). Tablets are 10 grams each, 20% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphoric Acid, 5% Potash.
Check out these links for additional information about plant choices and landscaping:
UCONN Plant Database
Connecticut Botanical Society
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Edible Landscaping, National Gardening Association
Edible Flowers, What's Cooking America
Plants for a Future, Edible Uses
Alternatives for Invasive Ornamental Species, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
Celebrating Wildflowers, U.S. Forest Service
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