Escallonia × fradesii 'Pink Princess' (Escallonia)

Escallonias are among the workhorses of the Oregon coast garden, and 'Pink Princess' is a particularly rewarding selection. It produces clusters of small, bright pink flowers from late spring into fall against a backdrop of glossy, dark green leaves. The salt tolerance that makes escallonias so valuable along the coast is fully present here, and the shrub shrugs off ocean breezes that would damage softer plants.

Use 'Pink Princess' as a hedge, a foundation shrub, or a freestanding specimen in a mixed border. It responds well to pruning and can be shaped to size after the main flush of bloom, though it flowers on old wood so avoid cutting back too hard in spring. Left unpruned, it builds into a rounded, dense mound that becomes a reliable stopping point for bees and hummingbirds throughout the long bloom season.

Escallonias prefer excellent drainage and a position with good air circulation. Once established they are quite drought-tolerant, which is useful during dry Oregon summers. This is a dependable, low-drama shrub that earns its space in the landscape year after year.