Viburnums are a wide ranging, popular garden shrub with over 120 varieties. Some viburnums, such as the arrowwood or maple-leaf, are ideal for the woodland garden. Others have a more formal feel such as the Korean spice or burkwood varieties and are suitable for shrub borders and specimen plants. Viburnums are a very low maintenance, easy to grow shrub which adds to their appeal.
Archive for the ‘shrubs’ Category
Viburnums
On January - 8 - 2010
Shrubs For Acidic Soils
On December - 30 - 2009
Here in New England soils are quite acidic in part due to the pine and oak forests. When the leaves and needles of these trees break down the resulting organic matter raises the acidity of the soil. This post lists a few beautiful shrubs which are tolerant acidic soil.
Hydrangeas For The Summer Garden
On December - 28 - 2009
A common concern among gardeners is that there seems to be a lack of color in the landscape during late summer. There are, however, quite a few late blooming shrubs and hydrangeas, with their wonderful flowers, are perhaps the most beautiful.
10 More Native Shrubs For The Garden
On December - 21 - 2009
Native shrubs are among some of the easiest to grow, useful and most beautiful plants available to the gardener. This list of native shrubs for the garden is a continuation of a previous post on the same subject.
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) blooms in spring with white flowers. Flowers are followed by blue berries, which ripen in summer and attract wildlife. Lowbush blueberry has lustrous blue-green leaves that turn bronze & scarlet in fall. It grows well in dry, acid, nutrient poor soil.
Variegated Evergreen Shrubs
On December - 13 - 2009
Evergreen shrubs provide the garden with year-round color and interest. Variegated varieties are perfect for brightening up a shady landscape. Some of the most popular varieties include Euonymus, Holly, and Arborvitae.
Wintercreeper Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Gracillimus’) is a creeping evergreen shrub with colorful white, green, and purple leaves. Clusters of insignificant, green flowers appear in May and June among small, lustrous, green leaves with yellow margins. This variegated evergreen shrub makes excellent groundcover and is a often planted as specimens or used in rock gardens and low-maintenance gardens. Its tough and will thrive in any well-drained border in sun or partial shade.
Variegated Deciduous Shrubs
On December - 5 - 2009
Deciduous variegated shrubs are an effect way to brighten up shady areas of the garden.
Variegated Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Variegata’) has beautiful blue or pink lacecap flowers but is commonly planted in the landscape for its striking variegated foliage. Perfect in the shrub border or grouped together with other hydrangeas..
10 Native Shrubs For The Garden
On December - 5 - 2009
Native species of shrubs are under utilized in the garden. Many native plants are beautiful and easy to grow. The following are few prized native shrubs which are perfect for the garden.
Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a desiduous shrub with fragrant yellow flowers that open in late October or early November. It takes a full year for the fruit to mature. When the seed capsule splits open in fall, 1-2 black seeds explode out of it, landing up to 30 feet away. Various birds and wildlife eat the seed after it falls to the ground. Upright spreading branches are perfect nesting sites for a variety of birds. Deep, golden yellow fall leaf color can be outstanding.
8 Beautiful Specimen Evergreens
On December - 2 - 2009
Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo ‘Rock Garden’) is a true dwarf variety. Many mugo pines have an unpredictable grow rate and size, this variety however has been propagated to remain a dwarf. This mugo pine is a low-growing, spreading evergreen. It has dark green, stiff needles that are 2-3 inches long. Its easy to grow as it is tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Widely used in foundation plantings and is an excellent choice for bonsai projects and Japanese gardens.
6 More Specimen Shrubs
On November - 22 - 2009
Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) produces golden blossoms which hang elegantly from its branches. Long colorful seed pods form in the fall. The unique look of the golden rain tree makes it ideal to plant as a specimen tree in the landscapes.
Gardening With Evergreens
On November - 21 - 2009
Evergreen shrubs have a place almost any garden. As hedges they add structure to a formal garden. Those with unique form are wonderful accent plants and add to the garden off season interest. Evergreens are also quite practical as they can be used to create privacy as a screen or to protect more fragile plants as a windbreak. In winter evergreens add color to garden and in some instances, berries.
