Plant Material

Central Nurseries offers one of the best selections of plant material in Southern New England.

SHRUBS

Central Nurseries has many varieties of native and ornamental shrubs, both deciduous and evergreen, flowering and non-flowering.

Evergreen – Great for softening foundations, massing, screening, specimen use, structure and winter interest.

Examples: Azalea, Buxus (Boxwood), Chamaecyparis (False Cypress), Euonymus, Ilex (Holly), Juniperus (Juniper), Kalmia (Mountain Laurel), Leucothoe, Pieris (Andromeda), Rhododendron, Taxus (Yew)

Deciduous – Great for extending bloom time and adding a diversity of textures and colorful foliage throughout the season. They often provide attractive fall colors and ornamental fruit.

Examples: Azalea, Buddliea (Butterfly Bush), Clethra (Summersweet), Cornus (Dogwood), Deutzia, Forsythia, Fothergilla, Hamamelis (Witchazel), Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon), Hydrangea, Ilex Verticillata (Winterberry), Itea (Sweetspire), Physocarpus (Ninebark), Potentilla, Spiraea, Syringa (Lilac), Viburnum

Shade Tolerant – Great for understory conditions or foundation plantings along the North side of your house. There are different degrees of shade tolerance, check with a sales associate for more information.

Evergreen Shade Tolerant Shrubs: Azalea, Buxus (Boxwood), Ilex (Holly), Kalmia (Mountain Laurel), Leucothoe, Microbiota (Russian Cypress), Pieris (Andromeda), Rhododendron, Taxus (Yew)

Deciduous Shade Tolerant Shrubs: Azalea, Clethra (Summersweet), Fotherfilla, Hamamelis (Witchazel), Hydrangea, Itea (Sweetspire), Viburnum.

TREES

We have a large selection of trees on our 5 acre garden center in Johnston and even more on our nearly 100 acres of land in Chepachet, ranging in size from small potted trees to large B&B specimens.

Screening, shading, flowering, seasonal interest, street trees, ornamentals and fruit trees.

Deciduous Shade Trees – We have an extensive selection of shade trees for all spaces and applications. Shade trees provide shade, screening, noise reduction, wildlife habitat and give scale and structure to our landscape.

Examples: Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Betula (Birch), Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree), Liquidambar (Sweetgum), Liriodendron (Tulip Tree), Nyssa (Tupelo), Quercus (Oak), Tilia (Linden), Ulmus (Elm)

Evergreen Trees – We have a wide assortment of evergreens ranging from large screening varities to one of a kind specimens. Great for screening, wind breakers, noise reduction, wildlife, specimen use and winter interest.

Examples: Abies (Fir), Chamaecyparis (False Cypress), Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar), Ilex (Holly), Juniperus (Juniper), Picea (Spruce), Pinus (Pine), Thuja (Arborvitae), Tsuga (Hemlock)

Flowering Trees – We offer a great selection of trees that will provide flower and ornamental value during all seasons. Great for smaller spaces, specimen use and focal point areas.

Examples: Amelanchier (Service Berry), Cercis (Redbud), Cornus (Dogwood), Magnolia (Magnolia), Malus (Crabapple), Oxydendron (Sourwood), Prunus (Cherry), Stryax (Japanese Snowball), Stewartia (Stewartia), Syringa (Japanese Tree Lilac), Pyrus (Ornamental Pear)

Ornamentals – These trees add uniqueness to smaller spaces and landscapes and will be viewed from all angles. Many ornamentals will provide four season interest.

Examples: Japanese Maple, Paperbark Maple, Dwarf False Cypress, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Boxwood & Juniper Topiaries, Dwarf & Weeping Spruce, Dwarf & Weeping Pine, Weeping Hemlock

Fruit Trees – Great for the home orchardist who wants to produce their own food. (Keep in mind many fruit trees are not self-fruitful and may require additional pollinators.

Examples: Apple, Cherry, Fig, Pear, Peach, Plum.

PERENNIALS

We offer a fantastic selection of perennials for every lighting and soil condition. Perennials are a great addition to any landscape as you can enjoy them year after year. They are great filler plants, extend blooming throughout the season and can be divided to make new plants.

Sun – Achillea (Yarrow), Agastache (Hyssop), Coreopsis (Tickseed), Dianthus (Pink), Echinacea (Coneflower), Geranium (Cranes Bill), Helenium (Sneezeweed), Helianthus (Sun Flower), Hemerocallis (Daylily), Iris, Lavandula (Lavender), Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy), Liatris (Gayflower), Lilium (Lily), Nepeta (Catmint), Pervoskia (Russian Sage), Phlox, Rudbeckia (Black Eye Susan), Salvia (Sage), Sedum (Stonecrop), Veronica (Speedwell)

Shade – Astilbe, Anemone, Brunnera, Dicentra (Bleeding Heart), Epimedium (Barrenwort), Ferns, Hellebore (Lenton Rose), Heuchera (Coral Bells), Hosta (Plantain Lily), Paeonia (Peony), Pulmonaria (Lunwort), Tiarella (Foam Flower)

VEGETABLES & HERBS

We have a great selection of vegetables and herbs. Nothing is more satisfying than enjoying the veggies and herbs that you grew in your own yard!

ANNUALS

Annual flowers are a great filler plant and provide seasonal color. Annuals are also great to use in container gardens or window boxes. Our talented Garden Center staff can also handle your seasonal planters and container arrangements for you.

ROSES

We stock Hybrid Teas, Grandiflora and Climbers but out most popular roses are the groundcover and landscape shrub roses. We have a number of roses that are carefree and easy to grow.

Examples: Carpet Roses, Drift Roses, Knock Out Roses

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES & GROUNDCOVERS

Ornamental Grasses - Central Nurseries offers a great selection of ornamental grasses which can serve as a nice focal point in your landscape or a screening plant in the summer. You can enjoy grasses for 3 seasons out of the year; Summer, Fall & Winter. Spring is a good time to cut your grasses down to allow new growth to flourish.

Examples: Carex (Sedge), Calamagrostis (Reed Grass), Fescuta (Fescue), Hakonechloa (Forest Grass), Miscanthus (Maiden Grass), Pennisetum (Fountain Grass), Panicum (Switch Grass)

Groundcovers – a nice alternative in areas where you do not want grass or it is difficult to grow. Lower maintenance than turf, groundcovers can be flowering or non-flowering and provide seasonal interest.

Examples: Ajuga (Bugleweed), Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), Epimedium (Barrenwort), Galium (Sweet Woodruff), Hedera (Ivy), Iberis (Candytuft), Lamium (Dead Nettle), Pachysandra (Spurge), Sedum (Stonecrop), Thymus (Thyme)