Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Mulberry Miniatures

Mulberry Miniatures

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Welcome to Mark’s dream section. The smaller the plant is, the more he likes it. "I find these miniatures, so often overlooked and even walked on, absolutely fascinating. Why? Possibly as I mature in my plant tastes, the subtle details of these noble, slow growers are just as exciting as their substantial, bold, splashy counterparts. Certainly it has to do with no matter how many varieties I find, there are, literally, always room for more. And there's the fact that they are just darn cute, like the tiny doll furniture, that make you yearn to be just their size. I suppose I like the contrast with this weird world and my own sacred space, where everything is child-like perfection for my boys and me. No war, no hunger, and no weeds! Creating authentic miniature worlds, transport the artists and lucky participants."

We hope you enjoy these selections as much as we have reveled in collecting them.

Coprosma, Benton's Gold

Coprosma X kirkii 'Benton's Gold'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Shade to Shade
Height: 2' x 2'
Water: Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Bonsai, Container, Garden Railroads, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Gold and green blotched, spoon-shaped foliage suggests the name for this mini, tropical, woody tree. Its gray trunk is particularly interesting for bonsai enthusiasts. Great little plant from New Zealand.

Cotoneaster, Silver-Leaf 2 year

Cotoneaster cv.

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Sun – P. Sun
Height: 16h x 12w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Apple Tree, Bonsai

At least two characteristics distinguish this cotoneaster from the others: its fruits are the reddest of all and the foliage is, as you'd expect, quite felted silver.

Cotoneaster, Streibs Findling 2 year

Cotoneaster 'Streibs Findling

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Sun – P. Sun
Height: 12h x 12w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Apple Tree, Bonsai

This compares similarly to the standard of miniature cotoneasters, "Tom Thumb” but with redder berries. Makes a great alpine cascade or trained upright as an even better tiny apple tree.

Cotoneaster, Thyme-Leaved

Cotoneaster thymifolia

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Sun – P. Sun
Height: 16h x 12w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Apple Tree, Bonsai

Though this variety is in the “World's Smallest LEAVED Cotoneaster” club, it is a vigorous grower, reaching three feet tall and wide in several year. No worries. You can keep it easily pruned into a mini apple tree or hedge.

Cotoneaster, Tom Thumb 3 Year

Cotoneaster thymifolia 'Tom Thumb'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 12in. x 12
Water: Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Miniature/Faery Garden, Garden Railroads, Topiary

Tom Thumb is small! - small leaves, small flowers, small berries. It is a ground hugging, compact version of the popular cotoneaster (pronounced cot'-won-e'-aster not cotton-easter), landscape staple. Absolutely cold hardy, with white spring flowers and fall red/orange berries-it's a faerie's apple tree!

Cotoneaster, Variegated Rock

Cotoneaster horizontalis 'Variegatus'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2 x 3 feet
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Late Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Butterfly, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

At a distance, you might think you are seeing a miniature, blooming apple tree, when, in fact, it is this cotoneaster. Why flower when it can have year round, white edged variegation lending to an elegant bonsai or that sweet, aforementioed apple tree in a railroad garden setting. Winter indoors in climates colder than zone 5.

Cremnosedum, Little Gem

X Cremnosedum 'Little Gem'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

This flowering succulent is a cross between a sedum and a lesser known succulent resulting in a tropical, "Hen & chick" look. Each leaf is plump but comes to a point on the end. Encourage winter, yellow blooms by placing it in a sunny south window. Like most sedums, it blushes when it is outdoors all summer.

Delphinium, Dwarf Electric Blue

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade-Sun
Height: 12in. x 6
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Middle Spring to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Borders, Butterfly, Fragrant, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

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Picture electric blue butterflies dancing in your flower beds, altitude 1 foot high! Grown for 7 years in upright, unearthed, land tiles at the entrance to the greenhouse, it never fails to stop customers in their tracks. Re-blooms throughout the growing season. Will re-seed sparingly for years of enjoyment. Longer life than its taller delphinium cousins.

Dianthus, Grey Stone

Dianthus simulans

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun Only
Height: 2in. x 5
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

The foliage is so tiny and compact, that this Dianthus, as the name implies, appears as a blueish-gray rock that (not) only a collector could love. Super hardy with well drained soil. Occasionally surprises us with pink spring flowers.

Dianthus, Pink Thrills

Dianthus 'Well-Sweep Pink Thrills'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun Only
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Mark still has the pleasure of swapping plants and visiting other fine horticultural destinations. During a visit to Well-Sweep Herb Farm in 2012, he procured this tiny, trough loving, classic, fine bladed dianthus. He was surprised by its large pink, airy flowers that seemed pleasantly loud for a demure rock garden.

Dianthus, Tiny Rubies

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. spreading
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bedding Plant, Butterfly, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Commonly grown alpine because of it's easy culture. Bright ruby-pink faerie flowers smother the bluish grass foliage in spring. Can eventually form a 2 foot across mat.

Double Daisy, Red

Bellis perennis 'Rominette Red'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: P.Sun- P.Shade to Full Sun
Height: 3in.x 6
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Butterfly, Container, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

These are the red, double english daisies that were carefully illustrated along with the faeries of Cicely Mary Barker. Each spring, 3-4"" mounds of dark green leaves appear followed by 6"" tall, double red daisy flowers during the summer. Divide and share every other year to prevent rotting.

Draba, Bristle-Tipped

Draba aizoides

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 1in. x 3
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Winter to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Appears as a 1/2"" wide, green Hen-n-Chicks-like alpine exhibiting bright yellow flowers each spring. Tiny individual chicks form clusters of about 5-inches across. Looks great in between rocks and fills in pockets in a mini landscape.

Draba, Crete

Draba brunifolia ssp. olympica

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 1in. x 3
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Draba, Crete

Draba brunifolia ssp. olympica

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Stacked! Miniature red and green "Hen & Chick" leaves, tightly stacked, anchor butter yellow, spring flowers, though sporadic summer encores are not out of the ordinary. Divide individual rosettes and place in a straight line for a cabbage look for any mini landscape.

Draba, Crusted

Draba oligosperma

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub, Alpine Garden

Drabas are best appreciated up close. This variety displays a white crusting, like webbing, all over the bluish leaves. That's not a diplomatic way of saying an alpine that “only a mother could love” for Drabas are Mark's favorite group of miniature alpines. In fact, this one has spectacular, bright yellow spring flowers. .

Draba, Moss Mound

Draba dedeana

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub, Alpine Garden

Make your hills come alive with masses of white flowering, mossy green rosettes, strategically plunked among rocks to boulders. It does best in gritty, though evenly moist soils from full sun to partial shade.

Draba, Teenie Weenie

Draba rigida bryoides

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 1/2in. x 4in.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Ironically, this Draba stands out because it is the smallest of our offerings. It appears as a miniature ""Hen & Chicks"" which are small themselves! Clusters of teenie weenie, lemon yellow flowers make complimentary partners with cool blue sedums as they all enjoy sandy, dry situations.

DWARF CONIFER

Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Rock Garden

A fine selection of differing shapes and sizes, all reasonably priced. All are hardy to at least Zone 5-10. All prefer as much sun as possible, unless otherwise noted, (especially any golden variety) in any type of garden soil. However well drained soil, will always increase their winter hardiness. All mini-landscapes are best achieved by using at least 3 of the same variety. “Forests” are best created by using 7 or 9 of the same variety and mixing in an odd-ball to break it up. Most importantly- HAVE FUN!

DWARF CONIFER- Arborvitae, Tiny Tim

Thuja occidentalis 'Tiny Tim'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 18in. x 18in.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

When this is small, it roughly resembles a miniature scaled oak. Expect a lifetime height of maybe 3 feet from this fine textured, tough little variety.

DWARF CONIFER- Arborvitea, Hetz Midget

Thuja occidentalis 'Hetzi Midget'

Cold Tolerance: Zone Zone 3-9
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2 x2 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Eventually this slow growing green globe will mature to 18""x18."" In trough gardens, we like to plant it in clumps of 3 or more to represent a knee high, oak tree forest, with a little pruning.

DWARF CONIFER- Arborvitea, Linesville

Thuja occidentalis 'Linesville'

Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2 x2 Feet
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Yes, this is a linear ""Arborvitae"" that begins as juvenile green foliage with blue cast and matures to a fine textured, 2 by 2 foot globe often with a plum wash as the season progresses. We suggest you plant several to imitate a mini-forest.

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Blue Feathers

Chameocyparis obtusa 'Blue Feathers'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3' x 2'
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Golden Sprite

Chameocyparis obtusa 'Golden Sprite

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Sun-P.Shade to P.Shade
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Sprite is right! This is a quarter of the size of ""Gold Fern Hinoki"", perfectly content to live out its life as a golden, bun-shaped conifer. Great foundation plant outside a railroad building.