Five "Hidden" (Often Ignored) Shrub Favorites
Let’s talk shrubs! There are so many different reasons and uses for introducing shrubs into your landscape. From foundation plantings to rock gardens, the uses of shrubs are many. Spend some time with us sharing some of our Hidden Shrub Favorites that we find make attractive choices in our outdoor spaces. Again, I’d hate to establish any hierarchy or order to this list; I wouldn’t want to offend my plant friends by having one of them not come in first!
ICEBERG ALLEY WILLOW (HANDY ANDYS)
ICEBERG ALLEY WILLOW
While there are things to be celebrated about almost any plant, the foliage of the Iceberg Alley Willow is probably its strongest characteristic. Rich, fuzzy grey to silver foliage covers this shrub during the entire growing season. Offering a color and texture to both shade and sun gardens, the Iceberg is anything but cold! Small fuzzy catkins begin this shrub's performance often earlier than other items in the landscape. Exceptionally cold hardy (Zone 2, -50°F), this shrub is a perfect size for foundation plantings. This two-and-a-half-foot-tall by three-foot-wide shrub will fill a space almost anywhere! No fall color to speak of with this unique shrub, but the summer attention it will receive certainly makes it worthy of consideration.
NEON BURST DOGWOOD
NEON BURST DOGWOOD (HANDY ANDYS)
Another of the many favorite choices we find enjoyable is this new form of Dogwood. Neon Burst is sure to brighten any landscape planting. The tough, leathery foliage of a dogwood means it can handle sites that might be more rural or exposed to some of the challenges of our region. In addition to its sturdy stems and foliage, this selection offers wonderful color to the landscape. The red stems you’ve come to expect from a dogwood adorn this plant’s younger growth. Bright lemony yellow foliage will turn a more green or chartreuse in shadier areas. A medium sized shrub, Neon will “burst” to a size roughly five feet by five feet.
LITTLE DEVIL NINEBARK
Next up, the devil is in the details with this next option. Little Devil Ninebark. This compact form of Ninebark matures to a height of around four feet. It will achieve this within a season or two. Spreading to up to four feet wide however will take more time. Dark chocolate colored foliage adorns this plant all summer. As fall arrives expect first purple then orange tones out of the foliage. Tolerant of any sun conditions expect darker more intense foliage in higher light while greener duller foliage in more shade. Having Ninebark in your landscape encourages you to “take a closer look”. In fact the genus of ninebark receives its name from the theory that one can count the number of “barks” on the stems of this unique plant.
BOBO HYDRANGEA
BOBO HYDRANGEA (HANDY ANDYS)
*Late June, Building its’s flower*
Everyone loves hydrangea! And none as tough as the Panicle Hydrangea. If you’re looking for late summer interest; they’re hard to beat. No soil treatment required for THESE “color-changing” Hydrangea. As early August arrives these plants begin their show with blooms that are built a chartreuse-green color. As the blooms open they turn white. That same bloom, as it tires and September approaches matures a rich pink, all without doing anything to the soil! In the past plants such as PeeGee and others have been to large to be considered for foundation plantings, but no more! Enter the Bobo Hydrangea. A petite two and a half by two and a half foot selection this hydrangea fits easily in most residential sites! East, West, or South exposures are preferred for best blooming performance!
TIGER EYES SUMAC
TIGER EYES SUMAC
Last but not least, the fiercest of the bunch; the Tiger Eyes Sumac! Few shrubs offer a more exotic look than that of Tiger Eyes. Blazing fall color can be expected from most items in the Sumac genus and this one is no different! A height and spread of between four and five feet can be expected from this fierce option. Foliage colors emerge pale green and mature to yellow in bright well-lit spaces. Foliage matures a rich orange-red in fall. Sometimes prone to some stem dieback from our cold winters the Tiger Eyes usually forms a mounded shrub quite well.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this recent exploration of some Hidden Shrub Favorites. Remember, we’re always here to help you succeed. Indoors or out, plants are our thing! See you soon!