70861 Laburnocytisus -adamii —(-10°F, USDA Zones 6-8) This intriguing small tree is a hybrid of Laburnum anagyroides and Chamaecytisus purpureus. The plant shows interesting characteristics of its parentage, bearing pealike flowers of light purple as well as the pink of Cytisus and the yellow of Laburnum, all on the same plant! It is similar to laburnum in appearance but with smaller leaves. A living lesson in botany. One thing to keep in mind: this plant and the seeds contain a toxic alkaloid, so caution should be used in determining its site. 5-6' $49.95

70182 Laburnum alpinum - Scotch Laburnum — (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-7) This will be a 20' tree with a short sturdy trunk. The leaves are deep green and flowers are golden yellow occurring in long racemes in May, followed by 2-3'' pods. Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. 2-3' $19.95

LAGERSTROEMIA - CREPE MYRTLE — (0°F, USDA Zones 7-9) Cultivars are numerous but share similar characteristics and needs. Fast growth to 20' in taller forms, 8-12' in semidwarf forms, 3-6' in dwarf types. All are deciduous with new leaves delicately colored shades of yellow to purple and becoming dark green. Fall display is gorgeous yellow, orange and red together on the plant. Give plants full sun, moist, well drained soil, and prune hard in spring to encourage best flower production. Flowers are crinkly in appearance, borne in panicles at end of new wood.

73903 Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Fantasy’ — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) Upright, multistemmed, deciduous tree with peeling, red brown bark and oblong , dark green leaves. In summer, white flowers are produced in panicles 2-4'' long. Grows vigorously to 25' tall and wide. 1-2' $12.95

Lagerstroemia indica — (0°F, USDA Zones 7-9) These are beautiful, large shrubs from China & Korea that do well in hot sun. They flower in late summer. Prune while dormant to increase flowering wood.

72283 Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ — Dark coral pink. Intense and long lasting blooms. What a delight to see these fresh blooms in late summer when the rest of the garden is quieting down. 1-2' $19.95

70377 Laurus nobilis - Bay Laurel — (10°F, USDA Zones 8-10) This is the famous laurel of ancient history, cultivated for centuries by the Greeks and Romans. It is grown for its aromatic foliage and its usefulness as a dense shrub or tree. An excellent choice if you need a dense hedge, and it’s the plant that produces the aromatic bay leaf used in cooking. 2-3' $24.95

LAVANDULA - LAVENDER — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-9) An evergreen subshrub that will get up to 3' tall depending on the cultivar. They all have a well-developed woody base. Flowers are produced from June to August and are very fragrant, especially when crushed. Grow in well drained soil kept on the dry side, but neutral to alkaline in nature. Give full sun for best growth. Makes a fine container plant planted with trailing annuals and tall, erect, yellow perennials. Or, create the lavender fields of France and plant en masse. Clipping back every few years encourages well-behaved plants. We have used Virginia McNaughton’s excellent new book Lavender, the Grower’s Guide, to assign our cultivars to the proper species.

Lavandula angustifolia - English Lavender — A smaller form of lavender forming clumps of gray-blue to gray-green foliage mounding 20 to 24''. In early summer spikes of highly fragrant flowers rise 4 to 12'' above the foliage. Though classified as English lavender, most selections come from southern Europe. Plant high in most areas to provide the necessary drainage for long-lived plants.

Lavandula x intermedia — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-8) A hybrid of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. A rounded shrub with branching stems. Grows to 3' or more and is less likely to suffer root rot in wet winter areas. Flowers generally in midsummer.

Lavandula stoechas - French Lavender — (10°F, USDA Zones 8-9) Most French lavenders can reach 3' and benefit from yearly pruning but it’s not required. The foliage is intensely fragrant! They flower in spring and some varieties will offer a second bloom in late summer if given a hard pruning after the first bloom.

LEUCOTHOE — Grow in humus rich, reliably moist but well drained, acidic soils. Grow best with deep to partial shade, but with lots of water, can take full sun. Mostly evergreen, glossy-leaved shrubs offering long green leaves and dense growth.

70811 Leucothoe axillaris — (-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) Native to eastern North America. Evergreen shrub grows 4-5' high and 1½ times that in width. Lustrous dark green leaves with axillary racemes of white flowers, suspended on arching stems, 1-2½'' long in April and May. 1-2' $14.95

LINDERA - SPICEBUSH — Grow best in moist but well drained soils. They definitely need moisture. They like sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Some can be grown into small shrubby trees, but most are considered medium to large shrubs.

70357 Lindera benzoin — (-30°F, USDA Zones 4-9) Light green in summer, changing to an excellent golden yellow in the fall, this deciduous shrub will grow to around 12'. Good for borders. In the shade it is light and airy. Equally beautiful in full sun, but more dense. The flowers are pretty, and the fruits are brilliant scarlet, very eye-catching in the autumn sun. 4-5' $49.95

LIQUIDAMBAR - SWEETGUM — These trees need deep, moist but well drained, slightly acidic soils. The root systems need to have time to establish themselves, so make sure you pamper it for at least the first year or two. Give it a site with full sun for best growth but it will tolerate some shade. One of the best deciduous trees for fall color, and it doesn’t seem to matter the weather, it always has gorgeous fall color!

71630 Liquidambar formosanum - Chinese Sweetgum —(-10°F, USDA Zones 6-9) A conical tree with 3-lobed palmate leaves to 5" long. When young, the leaves appear purple and mature to dark green. Fall color is red, orange and purple. Tree will reach 40' in height with a 30' spread. 5-6' $119.95, 7-8' $139.95

Liquidambar styraciflua — (-20°F, USDA Zones 5-9) The beautiful maple-like leaves are deep lustrous green in summer, and create one of the most spectacular of all fall displays in shades of bright orange, yellow, purple and red. A medium to fast grower once established. It will reach a height of 60-75' with a rounded crown.

LIRIODENDRON - TULIP TREE — All of the tulip trees prefer to be provided with sites that have deep, loamy, moist but well drained soils.

LONICERA — See the Vine Section for additional listings. A large genus of deciduous and evergreen vines and shrubs for sun and shade. Most have fragrant, showy flowers. Leaves on both types are opposite. The flowers on the shrubby types are usually borne in pairs and the berries that follow are joined. These attractive shrubs are generally easy to grow, tolerating a variety of soils and conditions. They’re at their finest mixed with other trees, shrubs and perennials.