V

Vaccinium corymbosum  see  Blueberry

Verbena  annual and perennial herbs. Verbenaceae. rev 10/2011

bonariensis 'Lollipop'    flowers!!!    a much more petite, manageable version of the 6' original, to only 2' tall and about 3' wide. It produces clouds of light purple flowers from spring through fall. The open stems reach up so you can plant it close to lower border varieties, and the flowers add action to the garden in the form of fluttering butterflies and brawling hummingbirds. Sun and average watering. Sunset zones 3-9, 14-24/USDA 7. rev 10/2011 *NEW for 2012!*

canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’    closeup    civic planting with California Poppies    another wall of flowers    a really satisfying variety, fast, reliable, incredibly showy. Grows as an herbaceous perennial groundcover, evergreen in milder areas, bears large spikes of rich purple flowers from spring through late fall. Sun to part shade, average watering. rev 10/2011

‘Tapiens’ TM    Pink    Blue-Violet    Lavender    an outstanding series of hybrids resembling and probably involving V. tenuisecta, with dark green finely cut foliage and strongly prostrate habits. Flowers range from dark purple through red, rose pink, salmon pink, soft pink, light lavender and pale blue. Sun to half shade, average watering, not reliably frost hardy below 25-28°F. Great in hanging baskets. They take trimming well, and respond with thickened habit and renewed flowering. Mildew-free for us in our cool, foggy climate. Patented, unauthorized propagation prohibited. rev 10/2011

Viburnum plicatum 'Summer Snowflake’      LACECAP VIBURNUM     closeup    typical habit      distinguished by a compact rounded habit and its ability to flower throughout the growing season. Somewhat slow in containers or when first planted, but soon quite vigorous. Can easily reach 6-9’ tall and wide, with dense, compact foliage. Sun to part shade, average watering, frost hardy. all varieties Sunset zones 3-9, 14-24. China, Japan. Caprifoliaceae. rev 11/2006

Vinca major ‘Expoflora’    VARIEGATED VINCA    foliage    a sprawling groundcover that spreads slowly by underground stolons. This is an improved variegated form, with darker green leaves and brighter creamy white variegation. Scattered dark blue flowers to 1" across are produced intermittently in summer and look wonderful against colored leaves, but the real value here is for the foliage, even when not in bloom. This is a great perennial to mix with other “foliage and texture” perennials for containers, baskets, or just in the border. Grows well even in mostly shade and is relatively drought tolerant when established. Frost hardy to around 10°F and root hardy to even lower temperatures. The green form, or reversions of this form, will overgrow the variegated foliage if not rogued out. In addition, it is dangerously invasive in coastal forests and any plantings of this plant should be monitored closely if you are at all close to such an area. rev 10/2011

minor    DWARF PERIWINKLE    evergreen perennial groundcover to 6-12" tall, spreading by underground stolons and rooting in stems. Dark green, glossy foliage is formal, neat looking. Bears medium blue flowers, with a touch of violet. Typical part sun to full shade conditions, with watering pretty much as you want to. Substitute freely for all groundcover uses. Sunset zones all zones/USDA zone 4-9. Europe. Apocynaceae. rev 7/2011

'Bowles Double'  DOUBLE DWARF PERIWINKLE   flowers   did you know that V. minor is a cumulative short day plant? That means it blooms heaviest under short days. Don't believe me? Watch its cycle, you'll see. This is typical of many Mediterranean and subtropical plants, as they take advantage of the cooler, wettter periods. These flowers are semidouble to hose-in-hose, mostly opening flat to two ranks of light blue petals. rev 7/2011
‘Burgundy’    closeup    with light violet purple flowers.
‘Illumination’ PP#12,132    flowers against beautiful leaves    usually offered as a hanging basket, it grows long, chain-like runners with leaves edged with bright gold to chartreuse. The periwinkle blue flowers opening against the bright foliage is striking and pretty. Faster than you would expect for such strong variegation. Mature leaves turn green the second year. A wonderful container subject, I haven't seen it used in the garden yet but it should be interesting, especially as an underplanting for dark or contrasting foliage plants. rev 12/2002
‘Miner’s Gold’    closeup    leaves dark, glossy green irregularly splashed with gold. Deep blue flowers. MBN INTRODUCTION-2000
‘Sterling Silver’    closeup    deep blue flowers are held against creamy white and green variegated foliage. 

Viola adunca 'Alba Road' WESTERN DOG VIOLET  blooming clump   this is an outstanding local Santa Cruz Mountains native, from Alba Road, above Ben Lomond. Most of our local popluations have been extirpated, unfortunately. Ray Collett, former Director of the Arboretum at UCSC, has been instrumental in helping to popularize the virtues of this vanishing local form, as well as other noteworthy local plant subjects. It forms a little clump of heart shaped leaves and produces rose pink flowers all spring. Nice spotted around the herb garden or under shrubs, it is tough as nails when established as long as it is planted in mostly shade and gets a decent amount of winter rain. To only to 3" tall, spreading modestly by runners. Part sun or shade. Average to little watering. Sunset zones 1-9, 14-24/USDA 4. US. Violaceae. rev 6/2011

'Molly Sanderson'   black flowers   not just for Halloween, this little black violet is for winter and spring too. It blooms as long as the weather stays cool. Velvety black petals show a small, dark yellow eye. Plants grow as a small clump, 6-8" tall and 12" wide. Stands out against grey foliage and looks great with grassy leaves. This is a hardy perennial for sun or part shade, good soil, and regular watering. All Sunset zones/USDA 6. rev 6/2011-Suzy Brooks

odorata 'Blue Remington'    very close    dark green, heart shaped leaves, rich blue flowers with a white center, all in a small package that can adorn the herb or vegetable garden and generate tidy little bouquets for windowsills. A big bloomer in spring and again as it cools off in fall. Stays under a foot tall and likes regular waterings if possible. Nice at the base of shrubs or mixed in the flower bed. Sun to part shade. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 9/2011-Suzy Brooks

Vitis 'Thompson Seedless'    the standard seedless green grape for HOT hot areas and no summer rain. Very, very small fruit along the coast make it essentially worthless there. rev 9/2010