Five "Rising Star" Shrubs for Foundations
The warm sunny days mean another growing season is upon us! One of the many projects people usually embark on in the summer is to refresh the landscaping around their home. I’m excited to share some of our “rising stars” for foundation plantings in our region. Not in any particular order, of course, I wouldn’t want to make any of them feel bad for not coming in first! Ha! But joking aside, these are certainly some fun shrub options.
LOTUS MOON PEARLBUSH
The elegance of a pearl necklace in the form of a shrub, the Lotus Moon Pearlbush. This attractive EARLY spring bloomer will surely be a nice addition to your landscape. White buds adorn this plant in late April, opening to white apple-like blooms in late April to early May. While many shrubs are round, the Lotus Moon is slightly taller than it is wide. An average of four feet tall by three feet wide is easy to expect in just a few seasons. No fall foliage to speak of on this plant.
jade parade sand cherry
Next up, the Jade Parade Sand cherry. Yes, you heard me right! SAND CHERRY. No, not the rangy one you find in NRCS or conservation plantings. The short and mounded nature of this plant lends itself well to foundation areas with windows where tall items might cause windows to be obstructed. Two to three feet tall, blue-green foliage with small white blooms in early May. The prostrate form of sand cherry has blooms that mature to dainty, rich black fruits in late summer. Any remaining fruits begin to pop when this foliage turns a blazing yellow-orange in fall. This exceptionally cold-hardy option is one to look for!
cesky gold birch
This next selection is truly an unusual choice. A birch! No, not a birch tree. A shrubby form of birch. The NEW “gold standard” for foundation plants, the Cesky Gold dwarf birch! We have fallen in LOVE with this plant. This compact, rounded shrub has brilliant, toothed foliage. Bright gold colored leaves adorn this plant all summer long. In the fall, the foliage turns a rich coppery color. Exceptionally cold hardy to -50°F! The challenge for you might be finding a place to offer this plant afternoon shade. It will not likely perform well in all-day sun!
incrediball smooth leaf hydrangea
We’ll get the ball rolling with this next choice. The Incrediball hydrangea! An improvement from the old favorite, the Annabelle, the advantage of the Incrediball is its slightly smaller habit and sturdier stems. Everyone loves the large white mop-head blooms of the smooth leaf hydrangea. Approximately four feet by four feet, this shrub is sure to fill the space. Afternoon shade is preferred for this beautiful addition to your landscape.
candy | coralberry
Last but certainly not least, the coralberry. Sweet like Candy, this unique shrub blooms in early July! Tiny white flowers adorn this shrub in midsummer, followed by tight clusters of small pink fruits all along the stem. If you’re looking for something for late summer interest, this is your item! A perfect size for foundation plantings, coralberry matures at approximately two and a half feet by around three feet wide. Not much for fall color is to be observed from this unique plant, but the pink berries hang on well into October.
We hope you’ve enjoyed sharing plants with us. Remember, we’re always here to help you succeed with gardening. Indoors or outdoors, plants are our thing! See you soon!