Specimen plants serve as a focal point in our landscapes. They’re often emphasized by their form, texture or color. Some put on an extra show in spring, others display their dramatic colors in fall. Whatever the season, these superstars never fade into the background.

Plant these gems in full sun to part shade. Here are a few of our favorites.

Japanese Maples

Bloodgood
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’

Bloodgood is one of the most popular Japanese Maple varieties. Its deep purple leaves emerge in spring maturing to a deep burgundy all summer. In fall, the palm-shaped leaves turn a brilliant red.  It grows 15 to 20 feet tall.

Crimson Queen
Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’

Crimson Queen is a dwarf, rounded tree with a weeping branching habit that adds a fine and graceful texture to the garden. The highly dissected purple foliage emerges purple in spring and develops to spectacular shades of red and orange in fall. It grows 8 to 10 feet tall. 

Virdis Laceleaf
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Virdis’

This is Crimson Queen’s green twin in habit and form. The fern-like leaves remain a bright green throughout the season, and turn a beautiful golden-yellow with hints of red in the fall. It grows 10 to 15 feet tall.

Katsura
Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’ 

Yellow lobed palm-like leaves emerge in spring and develop to chartreuse foliage during the season. As fall approaches the leaves turn to stunning shades of orange. Even in winter the deep purple younger branches and twigs stand out against the older, gray bark.  It grows 10 to 12 feet tall.

Tamukeyama
Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama’ 

Sporting a mounding and weeping form, the lacy foliage emerges a beautiful crimson-red fading to a purple-green in summer. It turns a stunning fiery shade of red in fall. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall.

Evergreens

Creeping Blue Spruce
Picea pungens ‘ Glauca Procumbens ‘

This spreading, undulating groundcover produces a striking effect when planted to drape over a rock wall or slope. The attractive blue form makes an excellent alternative to ground covering junipers. Plant in full sun. It will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and spread 6 to 8 feet wide.

Weeping Alaskan Cedar
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’

A slender, pyramidal and delicate weeping tree with pendulous branches produces a striking effect in the landscape.  Plant in full sun to part shade.  It grows 15 to 20 feet tall.