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The lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), above, is one of two plants that play a large role in the subsistence economy of boreal Alaska. The other is bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Institute of Arctic Biology ecologist Christa Mulder and her research team are investigating whether the presence of the invasive legume sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) can alter the production of fruits of lingonberry and blueberry.
SPECIAL LOW GROWING PLANTS YOU WON’T OFTEN FIND AVAILABLE
WE GROW ALL OUR PLANTS OUTSIDE, NOT GREENHOUSES! THAT MAKES OUR PLANTS MUCH TOUGHER AND MORE ADAPTABLE!
TO ORDER just email your wish list to easternplant@juno.com
IT’S EASY TO ORDER FROM EASTERN PLANT
BEARBERRY Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
One of the prettiest groundcovers that can tolerate harsh conditions. The ground hugging wiry branches are covered with glistening green, rounded evergreen leaves. Dainty pink and white bell flowers in spring are followed by scarlet edible berries. Shiny leaves turn deep maroon in fall, staying reddish all winter. Hardy zones 4 thru 8- it likes well drained sandy or gravelly soil-not for clay! Excellent trailing over walls, even on sand dunes areas, looks great mixed with creeping junipers and conifers. 4-6 inch $6.95 3 for $17 6 for $32
Below, larger 8-12 inch plants…best ever! 8-12 inches $8.95 3 for $23 6 for $44 12 for $85
SWEETFERN Comptonia peregrina
This fascinating native is actually related to Bayberry, it’s not a fern. The soft, slender leaves are finely serrated and do have the aroma of hay when crushed. Totally carefree and a great plant for sunny, well drained areas. It will grow in sand, gravel or loamy soil and likes full sun. Foliage holds let and then turns a shimmering bunt orange. Grows to 2-3 feet tall and as wide. zones 3-8 8-12 inch $13 2 for $19 3 for $25
FERNS ARE FOUND IN THE FERN SECTION
HEATHS AND HEATHERS
Related to rhododendrons, heaths and heathers are simply delightful low growing plants that can be used as a groundcover. They provide early spring/late winter flowers for heaths and late summer flowers for heathers. For both, beautiful winter foliage color unlike anything else. This group is misunderstood: all they need is sun, very well drained sandy/gravelly soil. Do not fertilize, do not overwater. Obey those easy rules and they thrive! Heaths and heathers are so adapted to our sandy soil at our Maine farm they are naturally seeding all through our field …come see them!
Heathers are 2 year old plants and well established. $7.50 each 3 for $20 6 for $39 12 for $75
other varieties are avaiable
SPRINGWOOD WHITE HEATH
BLAZEAWAY HEATHER
WHITE KNIGHT HEATHER
WHITE LAWN HEATHER
FOAMFLOWER Tiarella SEE WILDFLOWER SECTION
SANDMYTRLE Leiophyllum buxifolium
A VERY RARE PLANT Native to the NJ pine barrens but hardy into New England. Tiny shiny leaves on a slow spreading plant that only gets to 6 inches high and a foot across. In spring, starbursts of pink tinged starry flowers burst forth. Needs well drained sandy, rocky or gravelly soil. Related to rhododendron. zones 4-7 4-6 inch $29
CREEPING MAHONIA
Evergreen and smaller growing than common mahonia, growing to a foot tall. Makes a neat small scale groundcover in partly shaded, well drained sites. Clusters of yellow flowers in spring, blue berries in fall. Foliage takes on red to orange colors in winter. zones 5b-8 $7.95 3 for $19 6 for $34
WINTERGREEN Gaultheria procumbens
A native groundcover known for its edible red berries and spicy, scented foliage. A delightful plant, oblong shiny leaves, pinkish bell flowers in spring. A delicious tea can be made from the berries and leaves. It needs sandy, gravelly, well drained soil, not for clay or composty soil; we are the only nursery that honestly says that. zones 4-8 4-6 inch pieces of sod, we grow this in the ground-it’s better for the plant. $12.95 3 for $35
PARTRIDGEBERRY Mitchella repens
Talk about creepy …this hugs the ground with heavily veined, small rounded leaves forming a dense mat when happy. Lovely, scented white flower sin spring, edible red berries in fall. Evergreen, very slow growing. Needs leafy organic, damp soil. Native to cool, mossy forest areas. zones 3-7 4 inch clump $9.95 3 for $23
ALLEGHANY PACHYSANDRA Pachysandra procumbens
Native to the U.S. Much more attractive than common Japanese pachy yet rarely seen. Semi evergreen foliage takes on silvery mottling during winter. White powder puff flowers in spring. A neat groundcover impressive in both small and large scale plantings. zones 5-8 heavy divisions 5 for $19 10 for $35 inquire for large quantities
LEUCOTHOE PERFECTION
The cleanest, most disease resistant leucothoe ever. After 25 years of observation there’s NO other leucothoe that performs as well. Related to rhodos, this is the perfect tall groundcover to use in massing or as a specimen, bearing long sprays of white bell flowers in June. Evergreen lance shaped leaves are on gently cascading stems forming a billowy mound. Foliage is very dark in color with coppery red tones on new growth and again turning red in winter. Best in somewhat shaded areas. Excellent cascading over walls, stream edges or mass planted in the garden. I got this in NJ 25 years ago from a local grower & noticed how disease free it was…when I moved to Maine it came with me, now 25 years later it still outdoes any other leucothoe, is totally hardy & does not get leaf spot. The BEST LEUCOTHOE I have ever seen. Our mature plants, draw oohs & ahhs! Adaptable zones 5 thru 7 8-12 inch $15 for 1 $43 for 3 $80 for 6 12-15 inch $18 for 1 $52 for 3 $99 for 6 15-18 inch $21 for one $59 for 3 $115 for 6
PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE Carex pensylvanica
This fine textured sedge is becoming more widely used for its feathery look, adaptability to part shade and dry soil. Forms a billow undulating groundcover to 8 inches needing no care. zones 4-7 from Quart $6.95 3 for $16 INQUIRE FOR QUANTITY PRICING AT A STEEP DISCOUNT
CRANBERRY Vaccinium macrocarpon
The same cranberry you eat at Thanksgiving makes a wonderful landscape plant. Evergreen, with tiny leaves on multitudes of interweaving stems that form a dense cover. Fascinating flowers followed by edible red fruit in fall. NEEDS full sun and acid, sandy to peaty soil. Grows to 6 or so inches tall spreads sideways. Foliage turns reddish in winter. zones 4-7 from quart $6.95 3 for $18 6 for $34
Here’s a scarce evergreen creeper with edible fruit. It is also called Lingonberry. It needs coolish summers so great for New Eng. and upper midwest. We grow this in the ground making it MUCH MORE adaptable than any others grown in pots-remember to ask that if you get it elsewhere-we hope you don’t. Those shipped in from the west coast will not adapt. The tiny waxy shiny leaves are on multitudes of stems to 5 inches high. In late spring, dangling pink bell flowers adorn the plant, later giving way to edible red berries that are great in jams or eating raw. Much in demand in Europe. NEEDS acid peaty soil and half sun. Thrives in New Eng. zones 3-6 6-8 inch sod $13.95 3 for $33 6 for $63
TO ORDER JUST EMAIL YOUR WISH LIST TO easternplant@juno.com AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU. THANK YOU! EASTERN PLANT …SINCE 1985
Eastern Plant 
Hello, very nice blog. Looks good Mark. Pictures are nice: are all the pictures from your place in Maine? The deer are back here after being away all winter. The cold weather hasn’t helped. I’m going to try and get out this weekend and see what if any damage has been done. I hope you are well and gaining ground getting ready for a good spring. You have a lot to offer folks Mark, a lot of good information. My best to you.
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