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Mike Epp's Landscape Gardening Weblog
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Plant list
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Plant
Recommendations Plants are truly amazing. I’ve always been fascinated by the amount of “things” that are produced from plants. They provide food, fiber and shelter. Plants are used in the production of items ranging from drugs to building materials and just about everything in between. A trip to a botanic garden or conservatory will open your eyes to the diversity and possibilities that exist within the plant world. So why do we limit ourselves to a handful of plants in the average home landscape garden? There are many unusual trees, shrubs and perennials that will perform very well for you and set your home apart from the ordinary, not to mention preventing pest and disease epidemics which run through vast plantings of the same susceptible plants. The following is not intended to be a complete list of landscape plants. It’s just a short list of some things that are available, adaptable, attractive and worthy of your consideration. The plants listed here will be alphabetized by Latin or botanical name. This is not to confuse anyone. Actually the Latin name is the only official name of a plant and should be used when shopping for plants to avoid confusion. There might be a trademarked cultivar or variety name also which is listed after the botanical name. Some plants have a widely accepted common name which (will be included in parenthesis) but many plants have several common or local names which only tend to create confusion. All nursery professionals should know the plants they sell by Latin or botanical names. All these plants are generally hardy in USDA zones 4 and 5. Although I won’t take the space here to totally describe each of these plants and their identifying characteristics, I’ll briefly describe the highlights of why I’m recommending them. You’ll also see a list of plants than I’m suggesting you AVOID for various reasons. Sizes listed are generally expected ultimate sizes of the plants grown in cultivation. Under ideal conditions or certainly in their natural habitat, plants can grow much larger. This plant list is an evolving work. Please feel free to help me by making your own suggestions! To see pictures of the listed plants, simply type the botanical name in an internet search engine and click on “images”.
Deciduous Trees Acer campestre - (hedge maple) 30’ Hedge maple is a European
native, common in the hedgerows of Acer miyabe - (miyabe maple) 40' This Japanese species is very similar to the above Hedge Maple but seems to be a touch hardier and a little taller. Otherwise they are the same. Acer x freemanii - ‘Autumn
Blaze’ – (AB maple)
55’ ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple has been promoted in recent years as a wonderful new tree. It is actually just a hybrid between the red maple (Acer rubrum) and the silver maple (Acer sacharrinum). I’m not real fond of the silver maple as explained in the section “Trees to use only with caution”. For my lawn I’d use the red maple for its superior fall color and better branching structure. There are other named varieties of this hybrid such as ‘Sienna’, ‘Celebration’ and ‘Armstrong’. Armstrong does have a more narrow upright habit which might be suitable for certain situations. Acer ginnala - (Amur maple) 15’ Small clump maple with good orange fall color. Very hardy Acer palmatum - (Japanese maple) 15’ The Japanese maples come in hundreds of varieties with different foliage colors and textures. The growth habits range from upright to weeping. All are very decorative but somewhat “touchy”. Japanese maples require protection from wind and hot dry locations. For this reason I generally prefer the green foliage species plants to the less vigorous selected varieties. 'Bloodgood' is a very popular purple foliage variety, 'Crimson Queen' is a weeping purple foliage variety. 'Dissectum Viridis' is a weeping lace leaf variety. I prefer this green leaved type for its beautiful fall color and general vigor. Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ - (CK maple) 40’ This is the dark crimson leaved tree often erroneously referred to as “red maple”. It’s a slow grower so don’t plant it for shade. But an excellent accent tree with its dark foliage. Acer rubrum - (red maple) 50’ Native shade tree with bright red fall color. Tolerates heavy, relatively wet soil. A good compromise between fast growth and strong wood. Acer saccharum - (sugar maple) 60’ Native shade tree with bright orange fall color. This species prefers better drainage, typically growing on hill tops. Acer x truncatum ‘Norwegian Sunset’ - (NS maple) 40’ This is a hybrid between Norway maple and truncatum maple. Basically it’s a Norway maple with bright red fall color! Aesculus octandra - (yellow buckeye) 60’ Less common than the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) this native shade tree offers cleaner foliage, larger stature and creamy yellow flowers. Also holds its foliage later into fall. Aesculus hippocastanum - (horsechestnut) (40’) Horsechestnut is a European native and very popular street tree on that continent. It has large leaves and showy flowers. There are red and pick flowered varieties available. Alnus glutinosa - (black alder) 50’ This is another European native. Black Alder is unique for its "nitrogen fixing" ability to make its own fertilizer from the nitrogen in the air. The foliage is glossy making this an attractive lawn tree. Very tolerant of seasonal flooding and may "naturalize" in bottom lands. Amelanchier laevis - (serviceberry) 20’ A truly 4 season native tree with white flowers in spring, edible fruits in fall (quite good!) clean foliage and smooth bark. A nice open growing clump tree for the corner of a house or patio. Betula nigra - (river birch) (60’) River birch is a Midwestern
native along the Carpinus caroliniana - (American hornbeam) 40' Often referred to as musclewood or ironwood, this native American has very dense, hard wood. The foliage is glossy making this a good shade tree choice. Carpinus betulus - (European hornbeam) 40' This is the European counterpart to our American hornbeam. Both are tough trees for any well drained soil, tolerant of partial shade. 'Fastigiata' is a popular upright variety for screening or parking areas. Catalpa speciosa - (northern catalpa) 50' Catalpa is a Midwestern native. A very tough tree with large leaves and clusters of white, bell shaped flowers in early summer. Celtis occidentalis - (hackberry) 60' A very large, rugged shade tree for difficult sites. No flowers or fall color to boast of but also no messy fruits or pest problems either. Cercis canadensis - (redbud) 20’ Another native with clean foliage, lavender flowers, open habit. Grown either single stem or clump form. 'Lavender Twist' is a very interesting weeping redbud. ‘ Chionanthus virginicus - (white fringetree) 15' This is a wonderful
small native tree from the Appalachian region of Cladrastus kentuckeana - (yellowood) 50’ A wonderful native shade tree with white flower clusters. Not many large trees have attractive flowers. This one does! The bark is smooth and dark. Cornus alternifolia - (pagoda dogwood) 15’ A small, rounded, native tree for a protected area. White flowers and orange fall color. Most notable is its horizontal branching habit giving it the common name of pagoda dogwood. Cornus Our common white dogwood
is a wonderful small native tree with bright white flowers displayed along horizontal branches. However, while it can be seen growing wild in the edge of the woods over much of the Cornus kousa - (kousa
dogwood) 20’ The oriental kousa dogwood has gained popularity for it’s ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the modern landscape. It’s often recommended as a substitute for our common dogwood for its small stature and white spring flowers. However, the flowers appear later than common dogwood and they are more cream white with pointed tips. While the flowers appear later (avoiding frost damage) and plants are more vigorous, the ultimate cold hardiness of the tree seems to be somewhat less than our common dogwood. Cornus mas - (Cornelean cherry dogwood) 20’ An interesting dogwood species with very early yellow flowers. Blooms in March! Extremely hardy. Decorative bark. Crataegus crusgalli ‘Inermis’ - (thornless cockspur hawthorn) 20' This is the thornless cockspur hawthorn. A very tough little flowering tree with glossy foliage and red fall color. The habit is low and wide. Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ - (Winter King hawthorn) 30' Hawthorns in general are very tough little flowering trees. Winter King hawthorn has a very clean winter appearance with it's showy red fruits and bright silver bark. Crataegus
phaenopyrum - ( A very tough small flowering tree. Densely branched providing good shelter for birds. Branches are very thorny bearing white spring flowers and red fruits in fall. The fall color is orange. This tree may require some pruning for thinning. Eucommia ulmoides
- (hardy rubber tree) 40’ This unusual tree is quite a conversation piece. Tearing apart the leaves reveals a sticky latex sap which could produce rubber, like the tropical rubber tree. Other than the novelty factor, it’s a trouble free medium size shade tree with glossy green foliage. Fagus grandiflora
- (American beech) 60’ American beech is a wonderful native tree that is unfortunately, little used in the landscape/nursery trade. It has a reputation for being sensitive to foot traffic around the roots, but that’s only a problem with developing around an established native tree. If American beech is grown in a nursery environment and transplanted it is just as adaptable to lawns as the European beech which is much more commonly planted. American beech has a wonderful glossy foliage and bright silvery bark. Fagus sylvatica -
(European beech) 60’ The European beech is much more common in gardens. Since European gardens
are so much older than American gardens, there have been many more varieties selected of the European Beech giving us many
interesting foliage colors, textures and habits to choose from. ‘Pendula’
is a weeping form. But unlike the
weeping crabapples, Japanese maples and cherries………….this one gets BIG. ‘Riversii’
– Upright purple leaved variety ‘Purple Fountain’ - Purple weeping variety ‘Asplenifolia’
– While most of the beech varieties are quite weak, slow growers, ‘Asplenifolia’
is a vigorous grower with wonderful fine textured lacy foliage. ‘Tricolor’ – A very popular variety with leaves tinged with a mix of purple, pink and white. Be advised however, that ‘Tricolor’ is a very weak, slow grower. If you can find it……..’Roseo Marginata’ has similar foliage coloration (light purple leaves with pink edges) and is a much more vigorous grower. Fraxinus – (ash) 60’ Sadly, because of the incidence of Emerald Ash Borer, I can’t recommend the ash genus any more. This exotic pest was discovered in Gleditsia triacanthos
‘inermis’ - (thornless honeylocust) 50’ Thornless honeylocust makes a wonderful landscape tree. It is native to
the Gymnocladus dioicus ( An interesting, unusual and very durable shade tree choice. With all the
tree pest and disease problems encountered over the years, we are seeking out trees that are simply vigorous survivors. Halesia Hamamelis virginiana - (witchhazel) 20’ This “tree” might just as well be listed as a shrub for it’s small stature. Although, like many large shrubs, older specimens will make a fine, small patio tree. The habit is open and arching. Foliage is clean with orange fall color. The flowers are interesting for opening in the late fall unlike most other plants which bloom in the spring. The closely related species Hamamelis vernalis (vernal witchhazel) flowers in very early spring on warm March days while snow might still cover the ground. Koelreuteria paniculata - (goldenraintree) 30’ Goldenraintree is a summer bloomer which is unusual. Flowers are large
yellow panicles. It’s growth habit is open and spreading. A great patio tree but not quite hardy enough for the northern parts of the Liquidambar styraciflua
- (sweetgum) 50’ Sweetgum is a southern Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree) 70’ This is another Midwestern native actually related to the Magnolias. Tuliptree can become quite a large shade tree with glossy “tulip” shaped leaves. The tree also produces tulip shaped flowers but these are not significantly showy since they are usually sparsely produced at the top of the tree. Maackia amurensis (Amur maackia) 15’ Amur maackia is native
to the cold north eastern Amur River region of Magnolia acuminata - (cucumber tree) 60’ This is a very interesting and little used native tree from the Appalachian region. It’s a large shade tree with flowers! Not very many shade trees have decorative flowers. I’ve seen old log cabins made with the trunks of these trees ……….”cucumber logs”. Magolia soulangeana - (saucer magnolia) 15-25’ Saucer magnolia is the traditional, wide spreading, small tree covered in early spring with large pink “tulip”
shaped flowers. It is a wonderful flowering tree for most of the Malus
varieties (crabapple) 25’ The crabapples are excellent, but much maligned small flowering trees. They are given a bad name because of the sometimes messy fruits and tendency to develop a defoliating disease in wet springs. However, newer varieties have tiny fruits which are actually quite showy in fall and winter. The better varieties are also resistant to apple scab disease. Named varieties are very diverse, ranging from small bushy or weeping trees to narrow upright types. Flower colors are available ranging from white through pink to red. Fruit colors also vary from yellow to red. There are also purple foliage types. This group of flowering trees is extremely hardy and serviceable. Nyssa sylvatica (black gum) 50’ Black gum is one of my favorite trees. It is an eastern American native with very glossy foliage and bright red fall color. It is a very strong wooded tree somewhat resembling the structure of an oak. This is a classic for any lawn. Ostrya virginiana (hop hornbeam) 40’ Here is another American native which makes a fine ornamental. The foliage is small and glossy. No flowers but excellent branching habit and very strong wooded. Hop hornbeam will tolerate shade and is a good choice to fill in under larger, older trees. Platanus acerifolia ( Prunus species (flowering cherries) 25’ There are many ornamental cherry trees. Most flower pink or white. Most are small trees suitable for planting near patios or the corner of the house. Flowering cherries, although beautiful in bloom, are somewhat prone to late frost
damage and frost cracking on the trunks. Probably the most notable are the weeping
cherries. The pink weeping cherry gets quite large in time. A newer variety, ‘Snowfountain’ is actually somewhat hardier, flowers white and stays
smaller. Prunus sargentii (sargent cherry) 30’ Sargent cherry is a Chinese species that gets larger, flowers white and is very hardy. Prunus yedoense (yoshino cherry) 25’ Yoshino is the famous flowering cherry planted around the tidal basin in Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak) 60’ This is a very good choice for heavy, wet clay soil situations. Swamp white
oak gets very large, is a vigorous grower, and has large glossy dark green foliage.
The botanical name “bicolor” refers to the contrast between the dark leaf upper surface and the whitish
underside which is decorative when the wind blows. Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) 60’ Scarlet oak is another American native. It is unique in that its foliage
resembles the fine texture and red fall color of the more common pin oak. Scarlet
oak, on the other hand, doesn’t exhibit the low hanging branching habit or yellowing foliage problem of the pin oak. A very nice choice in a shade tree! Quercus
imbricaria (shingle oak) 50’ Another native of the American Midwest. Given it’s name for it’s
use in shingle making by the early settlers. Shingle Oak has long narrow leaves,
unusual for an oak, and becomes a wide stately tree. Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
60’ Bur Oak is a large tree with open habit. Quite vigorous and tolerant of
a wide range of soil conditions. Quercus muhlenbergii (chinkapin oak) 50’ Another Quercus palustris (pin oak) 60’ Pin oak, although very common and popular, has a limited use in the landscape. One possible problem is its low hanging bottom branches. They are a nuisance to mow around and prohibits it’s use around driveways and parking lots. In an alkaline soil, pin oak will often have yellowing leaves due to an iron deficiency. Pin oak might be appropriate in a screen or windbreak situation but otherwise I prefer any other oak. Quercus
rubra - (red oak) 60’ Red oak is one of the more commonly used Oak species for it’s reddish fall color.
The oaks are perceived to be slow growing but this is not necessarily the case.
The most important thing is to choose the right one for the location and provide proper care. Red oak is tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Sophora japonica - (Japanese pagoda tree) 50’ Another little used summer flowering shade tree, the Japanese pagoda tree makes a great lawn tree. The foliage is not so dense that it inhibits the growth of the lawn like many denser trees. White panicles of bloom appearing in the summer is a bonus. Fall
color is just yellow and hardiness could be an issue in the northern regions of the Syringa reticulata
– (Japanese tree lilac) 20’ The Japanese tree lilac has gained poplarity as a hardy street tree with large white flowers in summer. The flowers aren’t fragrant like the common lilac shrub but they are showy and notable for their late flowering time. The popular variety ‘Ivory Silk’ was developed specifically for its oval upright habit. But for home use, I prefer the low, wide habit of the species if you can find it! It’s great as a multistemmed tree since the bark is also decorative. Besides reticulata, there is a Chinese species called Syringa pekinense which has similar flowers but a cinnamon colored bark. Tilia Americana
- (American American Linden is sometimes called basswood. It is a large shade tree
with rounded leaves and an open habit. Tiny flowers create a fragrance in the
spring. Fall color is yellow. A
good choice in a large tree. Tilia cordata (littleleaf linden) 45’ The little leaf linden is smaller in stature with a dense, oval crown. The
foliage is a favorite food of Japanese beetles so you might see some skeletonized foliage in bad Jap beetle years. Tilia tomentosa (silver linden) 60’ This is probably my favorite of the Ulmus hybrids (American elm hybrids)
60’ There are many new hybrids being developed to replace the American Elm lost many years ago to the dutch elm disease. They are generally tall, “vase shaped” shade trees, excellent for street
tree use. Of course all the new hybrids are resistant to the dutch elm disease. Ulmus parviflora (lacebark elm) 45’ Lacebark elm is a Chinese species which has a wide arching growth habit, smaller, glossy foliage and a peeling, decorative bark. It makes a wonderful lawn tree, however, some hardiness problems will occur at 20-30 below zero. Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova) 45’ Zelkova was introduced into cultivation years ago to replace the American elm. It is similar to elm in it’s large V shaped habit and rough, green foliage. However, it doesn’t get as big and can freeze back in hard winters. It is nonetheless, an interesting tree with clean foliage and no pest problems.
Coniferous Trees Abies concolor
- (white fir) 40’ White fir is one of the few true firs hardy in Larix decidua - (European larch) 50’ Larch is one of the few interesting conifers (cone bearing trees) which are not evergreens. Deciduous conifers drop their needles in the winter. This is a good thing when you consider the benefit of allowing the winter sunlight to shine into your windows. The fall color, normally yellow, is also interesting provided you don’t cut the tree down thinking it is dead! Larch is very hardy ranging into the coldest northern regions of the world. Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- (dawn redwood) 80’ Although I have several, this has to be another one of my favorite trees. Dawn
redwood is closely related to our native bald cypress (Taxodium) but is indigenous to central Picea glauca - (white spruce) 50’ This is a rocky mountain native, resembling a cross between Norway spruce and Picea omorika - (Serbian spruce) 50’ Sorry, but this is another of my favorites. Serbian spruce is an excellent evergreen tree for the homeowner. It grows tall and narrow, fitting well into urban sites. The branches droop down and curve upward on the tips revealing the whitish undersides of the needles. A very graceful and attractive spruce species. Picea pungens - ( This is the very popular “blue spruce” which grows wild in the Pinus banksiana
– (jack pine) 40’ Jack pine is native to northern Pinus flexilis
– (limber pine) 40’ A rocky mountain native, limber pine is a decorative alternative to the more common white pine. The habit is naturally more sparse and open with course branching. As with most pines, they may be “sheared” to make them more dense. However, the open habit can be attractive as a focal point. The name “limber pine” comes from the flexible branches which can actually be tied in knots! Pinus parviflora
– (Japanese white pine) 30’ This is a very decorative smaller pine. A great focal point for all seasons. Growth is erratic, needles are short and stiff. Pinus strobus
– (eastern white pine)
75’ White pine is the most
common pine tree in eastern Taxodium distichum
- (bald cypress) 85’ Interestingly, this hardy deciduous conifer which naturally ranges into the northern midwestern states, is the same
tree that grows in cypress gardens Tsuga Canadensis
– (hemlock) 85’ Eastern hemlock is another native evergreen to northern
Trees to use only with caution Acer sacharrinum - (silver maple)
65’ Silver maple was commonly
planted during settling of Pyrus calleryana
– (callery pear) 45’ Ornamental pears are very popular because of their glossy foliage, fall color, white flowers and upright oval growth
habits. But, as mentioned before, much forethought must be given to species selection
when planting trees and the problems outweigh the benefits for callery pears.
I’ll take some heat for putting this tree on the “bad boy”
list, but it’s for good reason. Commonly known as “ Salix –
(weeping willow) 65’ There is much interest in willow trees simply for their fast growth and weeping habits. But they quickly become big, messy and soon die. Willows are generally outlawed for planting on city streets. They may have a place in a wet back yard or beside a large pond. But be careful where you place them as their roots are very invasive and they can drop large branches in a storm. Populus –
(poplar) 85’ Poplars are similar to willows in that they grow fast and die fast. They grow fast because they have a lot of water in the wood but this also leads to easy breakage. Trees like this might be good for starting a screen but something longer lived should be planted behind them for a more permanent planting.
Shrubs Aesculus parviflora
– (bottlebrush buckeye ) 12’ An interesting, shrub form of buckeye that’s truly a garden aristocrat.
It is interesting in its growth habit forming a large spreading colony of erect stems with leaves layered on top and
beneath. The white flower spikes are showy in early summer. Aronia arbutifolia
- (red chokeberry ) 6-8’ I like the red chokeberry for it’s open habit and all season interest. The growth habit is upright to V shaped. The plant is not very dense, making it a good choice to plant in front of a stone or brick wall without hiding the wall. It makes a nice vertical accent in front of a stone chimney. The glossy green foliage is accented with clusters of small white flowers in the spring. The glossy foliage turns bright red in fall followed by decorative red fruits which persist into the winter. Azalea - 3’ Technically, Azaleas are species of Rhododendron. Please read more under Rhododendron. Berberis – (barberry) 3-6’ There are many species of barberries for various purposes. The most popular ones are low growing, “groundcover” shrubs such as ‘Crimson Pygmy’ which has dark purple foliage. There are others with green or yellow foliage and some which make hedges up to 6’ tall. These taller species and varieties make effective, impenetrable hedges, but they are also a maintenance nightmare if pruning is needed. Buxus – (boxwood) 2-6’ The size range is wide on some of these shrubs because of the wide variability between different species and varieties. Boxwoods have always been very popular landscape and hedging plants in Cephalanthus occidentalis
– (buttonbush) 6-8’ Buttonbush is a native Midwestern flowering shrub. It grows in swampy areas and watersides making it a perfect plant for our heavy clay soils. The plant does get quite large so may not be the best choice for a foundation planting. But for screening along the perimeter of your property and particularly in a low area, it is perfect. Chamaecyparis
– (false cypress) 3 – 50’ OK………so this range of heights might be a bit much. But
the false cypress is actually a large evergreen tree in the Clethra alnifolia
– (summersweet) 4-6’ As the name implies, summersweet is most notable for sweetly fragrant spikey white flowers in summer. It’s an American native, forms colonies and tolerates shady sites. The fall color is a bright yellow. Cornus sericea
– (red twig dogwood) 4-6’ The red twig dogwood is very commonly used in the average Midwestern landscape. Unfortunately, this is probably because of it’s rapid growth rate, which results in a large, inexpensive plant. The most noteworthy feature of red twig dogwood is its bright red stems which are very effective against a snowy background in winter. Red twig dogwood has white flower clusters and it makes a good filler for shade or wet sites, but personally, I can think of many better choices for planting near the house. The red stems can turn black from disease so regular pruning is necessary. Corylus avellana
‘Contorta’ – (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick) 9’ Contorted Filbert, with it’s gnarly, twisted stems is definitely an eye catcher and particularly in winter when the foliage is gone. This is a great choice to add interest to a perennial bed in the winter when the crooked stems are even more noticeable. And if that isn’t enough to peak your interest, there is also a purple foliage form! Contorted Filbert is very hardy and prefers full sun. Cotinus coggygria
– (smokebush) 12’ The species is a large green shrub with a “smokey” haze of flowers in summer. More commonly used is purple leaved ‘Royal Purple’. Cotinus is now available in dwarf forms ‘Young Lady’ and yellow leaved varieties ‘Golden Spirit’. This is a good screening or specimen tree for it’s bright foliage. The summer flowers, which give it a hazy “smokey” halo are a conversation starter. An interesting use for the purple smokebush is to plant it in the background of a perennial bed and prune it to the ground every year. This causes erect purple shoots to rise up about 4-5’ tall providing a striking contrast in the perennial bed. Cotoneaster apiculatus
– (cranberry cotoneaster) 2-3’ This is a spreading deciduous shrub for a woody groundcover on a bank or beneath trees. It’s claim to fame is hardiness, red berries in fall and decent red fall color. However, cranberry cotoneaster is not as popular as it used to be due to an increase in popularity of perennials as groundcover. Such perennials usually have nice flowers for a short time but lack the woody structure in the winter. On the other hand, cotoneaster has a tendency to catch leaves in their dense branches leading to a potential maintenance problem. Although a bit less hardy, there are several broadleaf evergreen species of cotoneaster such as Coral Beauty and Willowleaf to consider. Deutzia gracilis
– (slender deutzia) 3’ Slender deutzia is a somewhat unusual small flowering shrub. White bell
shaped flowers are displayed for a couple weeks in late spring. The foliage is
a soft green on “slender” stems. Fall color is just yellow. There is a very tight little variety called “ Diervilla lonicera
– (dwarf bush honeysuckle) 3’ Diervilla (a better name than the common name) is a unique little native shrub for border planting. It is a native plant in the eastern US. Flowers are yellow but not very showy. The foliage is glossy and fall color is a nice red. The plant has few pest problems and that is a BIG factor in plant selection these days. Euonymus alatus
‘Compacta’ – (compact burning bush) 6’ Burning bush is a well known landscape plant with excellent bright red fall color.
The foliage is clean and bright green. Habit is rounded and the plant
requires very little pruning if properly sited. But that is the rub. The moniker ‘Compacta’ can be misleading as plants will get 6 + feet tall. Like all plants, they grow until they die so older plants can easily outgrow the allotted space. The species actually gets closer to 10 feet tall and can be pruned into a small tree. There are several varieties in the trade today that are actually more compact than ‘Compacta’
such as ‘Rudy Hague’, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Grove Compact’. Forsythia –
(forsythia) 6-8’ Forsythia is one of the earliest spring bloomers. It is said that we’ll get “3 snows after the forsythia blooms”. It’s a great harbinger of spring flowering along with the spring bulbs. But forsythia gets quite large and sprawling. Give it plenty of room, such as a border along the property line. There are more compact varieties but most don’t bloom as well as the old fashioned varieties. I particularly like Bronx Forsythia which only gets 2’ tall but it can freeze out after cold winters in exposed sites. Fothergilla gardenia
– (dwarf fothergilla) 6’ This is a very interesting and attractive native shrub for a semi shaded site on a good loam soil. The habit is clean and open with decorative, bottlebrush type flowers on the branch tips in spring. The foliage is a dull green but with a very nice fall color. Hydrangea arborescens
– (smooth hydrangea) 4’ Very hardy and vigorous low flowering shrub that spreads and masses well in a sunny area. One of the most popular varieties is ‘Annabelle’ which has very large panicles of white
flowers in the summer. A newer variety with large blooms is “Incrediball”
as well as a pink variety “Invincibelle Spirit”. However, despite
all these quite showy varieties, I still like the original species for its flat topped flowers, vigorous habit, and erect stems. One problem with the large
flowered varieties is the fact that the flowers can flop over when weighted down with a heavy rain. Hibiscus syriacus
– (rose of sharon) 10’ The rose of Sharon is an old fashioned shrub that gets too large for foundation planting, but can be limbed up into a nice tree form. The foliage and fall color is nothing to get excited about, but the colorful late summer flowers are unique. This is one of many large flowering shrubs that are well suited to planting around the perimeter of your property for privacy hedging. Hydrangea macrophylla
– (bigleaf hydrangea) 3-5’ Somewhat like the Rhododendrons, while beautiful, this hydrangea is much more finicky about its environment. The beauty
is in its glossy large leaves and bright blue flower clusters. You’ll find
excellent conditions for blue hydrangeas in the Hydrangea paniculata
– (panicled hydrangea) 8-10’ The most common variety of this species is paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ or Pee Gee hydrangea. PG hydrangea has very large white flower panicles in mid summer. It is usually a large shrub but can also be trained into a small tree. On the down side, I don’t like how the flowering branches flop after a heavy rain. I prefer the variety ‘Tardiva’ which has more open panicled flowers that are less likely to flop. The variety ‘Limelight’ is a slightly shorter plant with greenish white flowers. Hydrangea quercifolia
– (oakleaf hydrangea) 4-5’ Oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorites for the Ilex species
and hybrids – (holly) 3-30’ American holly (ilex opaca) is a wonderful small evergreen tree for the southeastern regions of Ilex crenata –
(Japanese holly) 3’ I’m not real fond of the Japanese holly used in the northern regions of the This is one of many plants native to the swampy regions of Ilex verticillata - (winterberry
holly)
6-8’ This is a very interesting naturalizing plant for the right location. Winterberry is a deciduous holly so it will loose its leaves, but display abundant red berries all winter. They get a bit tall for foundation use but work well in a shrub border or woodland edge. They are very tolerant and actually prefer moist soils. As with the other hollies, males and females are required for berries and there are many selected varieties for compact habit, varying size berries, time of fruiting and berry color. Itea virginica - ( This is another native American plant that has become popular in recent years. The foliage is clean and soft green with excellent red, long lasting fall color. Summer flowers are white panicles. Plants are usually clustered as they will sucker and form masses. Juniperus chinensis
– (Chinese juniper) 2-12’ This species of juniper includes a wide range of useful evergreens for the landscape.
Some, such as ‘Nick’s Compact’ or ‘Kallay’ are great low (2-3’) spreading types. ‘Gold Coast’ is a yellow spreader.
Many varieties are upright growing making good screen plantings. These
would include ‘ Juniperus conferta
– (shore juniper)
1-2’ Shore juniper grows naturally along the sea coast. This makes it a great
choice for salt prone areas along roadways which are salted for ice control in the wintertime.
The foliage is soft to the touch and the texture is soft and open. ‘Blue
Pacific’ is a popular variety. Juniperus horizontalis - (creeping juniper) 1’ The groundcover junipers are very serviceable plants which are sometimes overlooked.
Like the name crabapple, sometimes just the suggestion of a juniper “turns people off” because it conjures
up images of the commonly used, large sprawling evergreens which can overtake the front of a house when used as a foundation
plant. But these low varieties are excellent evergreens for covering the ground
and providing winter color. Heights may range from a few inches to a foot or
more. Varieties are available ranging from yellow through shades of green to
blue. Some great varieties include ‘Blue
Rug’, ‘Plumosa’, ‘Blue Chip’ and ‘Gold Carpet’. Juniperus procumbens
‘nana’- (Japanese garden juniper)
1’ Japanese rock garden juniper is a very tight, low form with “stellate” (star-like) foliage. It is a light, gray green, very neat and tidy. A good choice
for an evergreen groundcover in bright sun. Juniperus sabina
– (savin juniper) 1-3’ This is one of my favorite spreading junipers. Savin juniper is bright
green with soft foliage. ‘ Juniperus scopulorum - ( Rocky mountain juniper
is an upright species with many blue foliage forms. Popular varieties include
‘Blue Arrow’, ‘Moonglow’, the extremely narrow ‘Skyrocket’ and ‘Wichita Blue’. Juniperus squamata – (Himalayan juniper ) 2-3’ This juniper species
comes from Juniperus virginiana - (Eastern red cedar)
15-20’ Red cedar, while not a “true cedar” is an upright native species from eastern Lindera benzoin - (spicebush) 5-6’ Spicebush is a native shrub for a shady site in the edge of a woods. The
habit is rather open with large bright green foliage. Flowers are small but fragrant
in early spring. It’s claim to fame is the orange fall color. A good plant for naturalizing and butterfly attracting. Magolia jane - (Jane magnolia)
12-15’ Jane magnolia is a wonderful flowering shrub or small tree with large pink/purple flowers. This hybrid is similar to the popular saucer magnolia but with a later bloom time which avoids the danger of frost damage. While usually planted as a shrub, plants can easily be pruned up into a small tree with age. There are many other hybrids developed by the USDA in the 1950s and collectively referred to as the “little girl hybrids”, but ‘Jane’ is one of the more popular and hardy forms. Magolia virginiana - (sweet bay magnolia) 12-15’ Another of my favorites, sweet bay magnolia is an American native which is rather upright growing, very loose and open. Foliage is semi-evergreen and glossy. The flowers are white and very fragrant appearing in early summer. This plant is well suited for planting as a specimen near the house where it can easily be kept to a reasonable size and won’t get unruly. Myrica pensylvanica
– (bayberry) 6’ Bayberry is a very serviceable but underused shrub. It is a broadleaf evergreen for all but the coldest part of winter. The gray, waxy berries are attractive and provide food for many bird species. Being a native to the seacoast, bayberry is very tolerant of salt spray. It spreads and masses well providing a great background or screen planting. Plants may be hard pruned to keep them dense. Physocarpos opulifolius - (ninebark) 8’ Common ninebark is an old fashioned shrub that has been little used in recent years due to it’s unruly habit and
not so attractive flowers or fall color. However, several hybrid introductions
have brought this plant into the forefront lately. Hybrids with colorful foliage
have been developed such as the dark purple leaved ‘Diablo’, the dwarf purple ‘Summer Wine’, the yellow
leaved ‘Dart’s Gold’, yellow edged purple ‘Coppertina’ . Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ - (bird nest spruce) 2-3’ As the name indicates, the habit of this dwarf evergreen is spreading with a low center.
This is an excellent alternative to the more commonly used junipers, Taxus and boxwood for foundation plantings. They look nice in groups or as specimens. But
don’t be fooled if you by a small plant in a 1 gallon pot. Like everything,
this plant grows until it dies and might some day reach 4-6’ wide! Picea glauca ‘Conica’ - (dwarf This is a commonly used dwarf conifer. Like many shrub forms of large evergreen
trees, it originated from a “sport” of unusual growth on a white spruce tree.
Most such sports result in spreading bush forms but this one a tight pyramidal habit.
While I have seen plants reaching 8-10 feet tall, the growth is very slow and it takes many years to get large. Spider mites can be a pest of this plant and that problem is aggravated by dryness. So a situation in semi shade and supplemental watering might benefit. Picea pungens
glauca ‘Globosa’ - (globe
blue spruce) 6’ Everyone likes blue spruce. How about a blue spruce that is a dwarf shrub form? Globe blue spruce makes a wonderful specimen plant for year around color. But, again, don’t be surprised if this cute little critter becomes a 6-8’ monster in time. Pinus mugo - (mugo pine) 10’ Although it’s often used as a foundation evergreen, this rather common evergreen shrub can easily grow to 10 feet
tall. Pruning off the new growth in spring can slow it down. There are also a few more compact varieties such as ‘Pumila’ and ‘Slowmound’. Like birds nest spruce, this is another great evergreen alternative to Taxus
and juniper for massing along the foundation. Potentilla fruticosa - (potentilla) 3’ Potentilla is an American native to the rocky mountain region. It’s one of the few shrubs that blooms continuously all summer. Simple yellow f lowers cover the plant. Leaves and branches are fine textured on a bushy small shrub. Hard pruning every few years is recommended to rejuvenate the plant. This is a good choice for a foundation planting in full sun. Rhamnus frangula
‘Asplenifolia’ - (fernleaf
buckthorn) 10’ While not widely popular, this is another favorite of mine. I call it “the poor man’s Japanese Maple” for it’s delicate texture in a very hardy, inexpensive plant. Don’t let the name “buckthorn” fool you because the plant has NO thorns. The species “glossy buckthorn” isn’t commonly used but this variety has long, narrow leaves providing the lacy texture. The habit is upright lending itself to easy pruning into a small tree. Fernleaf buckthorn makes an eye catching specimen plant for use near an entryway. Flowers are inconspicuous but the bright yellow fall color is effective. Rhododendron - 3-8’ Rhododendrons can be difficult to grow in many parts of the Note: Not all azaleas are broadleaf evergreens! Some are deciduous which might help with the winter wind issue. But
they still require a well drained, acidic soil. Rhus aromatica - (fragrant sumac) 5’ Thanks to the introduction of the low growing variety, ‘Gro Lo’ (3’), fragrant sumac has gained popularity
in recent years for a woody groundcover. It is a sprawling ground hugger with
bright red fall color. It’s primary use is for covering hillsides in commercial
sites but can be useful as a bank cover or low border on the edge of a woodland. Shade
tolerance is good. Rhus typhina - (staghorn sumac) 10-12’ Another American native, the staghorn sumac can be a very exotic looking ornamental.
The winter effect is it’s erect display of brown fuzzy branch tips resembling a deer’s antlers. In summer the appearance changes drastically when these branches are covered with 18” long compound
leaves. The foliage turns a flaming red in the fall which is the highlight for
this plant. Another species, Rhus copallina or shining sumac, has glossy
leaves. Salix purpurea ‘nana’ - (dwarf blue arctic willow)
6’ Not all willows are big weeping trees! Salix is a very large genus with
species ranging from groundcovers and shrubs to large trees. The common “pussy
willow” is well known. Dwarf blue arctic willow is a bit less common but
a fine textured, dense shrub for borders or hedges. Foliage is very soft to the
touch and bluish-purple in color. As
with most willows, poor drainage is not a problem. Spirea x bumalda
- (dwarf spirea)
2-6’ There are many dwarf spirea hybrids which are commonly used and well suited for the modern landscape garden. They are great for massing, forming tight mounds in full sun with small leaves and usually pink summer
flowers. ‘Little Princess’ (x japonica) has tiny green leaves
and stays under 2’ tall. ‘Goldmound’ has bright yellow leaves
and is also quite low, but the yellow foliage goes a bit off color in late summer. I
prefer ‘Magic Carpet’ which goes more orange in late summer. Spirea
betulifolia ‘Thor’ is a nice variety for fresh green foliage, white flowers and about 3’ in height. Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ - (dwarf Korean lilac) 6’ I can usually find a place in every garden for this wonderful small lilac. This
is a densely branched shrub with small, glossy leaves. It takes shearing well
if you want to keep it smaller. Flowers are abundant, lavender in color and extremely
fragrant. There is another dwarf lilac by the name of Miss Kim which is rather
popular, probably for it’s cute name. But Miss Kim gets 8’ tall,
has coarser foliage, sparser flowers and develops a leaf spot disease in late summer. Syringa vulgarus - (common lilac) 10’ This is the large old lilac with the wonderful fragrant spring flowers. Plants
can get quite large limiting its use as a foundation plant unless it’s placed on an outside corner. Many varieties have been developed with different flower colors but the most fragrant vigorous plant is
still the common species. Taxus x media – (yew) 3-10’ Taxus or yews have been the staple evergreen for foundation planting
for many years. Some folks will avoid them because they are so common and often
become sheared into boxes and globes to keep them under control. But there are
species and varieties that stay more compact and retain a nice natural shape if pruned properly. ‘Wardii’ has a more compact, natural habit. ‘Everlow’
is another compact variety. Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’, while
a bit less hardy in exposed sites, has a wonderful low “weeping” habit.
Of course pruning should be done with hand pruners rather than hedge shears to maintain the natural shape as opposed
to the boxy look. Thuja occidentalis
– (American arborvitae) 10-20’ Arborvitae has traditionally been the obligatory pyramid plant for the corner of the house. While I’d rather see a large flowering shrub or small tree for the outside corner, there are many
good uses for the pyramid arborvitaes. They make good evergreen hedges in tight
spaces. Arborvitae is a native American and will tolerate some shade and wetness. In their native range of northern Thuja plicata
‘Spring Grove - (western
arborvitae) 18-24’ The western arborvitae gets to be a large lumber tree in the pacific northwest, but it has become a more popular hedging
plant in the Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ - (weeping hemlock) 10’ As with most conifers, hemlock includes some dwarf forms that may be used as shrubs. Weeping
hemlock has a lovely pendulous evergreen form. Some
other common dwarf varieties include ‘Jeddeloh’ and the variegated ‘Gentsch White’. As mentioned before, you must be very careful when using dwarf conifers because, while they are often bought
as cute little container plants, they can get very large in time. Viburnum x burkwoodii
- (burkwood viburnum) 10-12’ The viburnums are very popular landscape shrubs. There are many species
widely ranging in size, appearance and hardiness. Most are taller and used for
corner planting or screening. Some have very fragrant flowers of which burkwood
is my favorite. The flowers are dome shaped, white and sweetly fragrant in May. The foliage is a glossy bright green. ‘Mohawk’
is a more compact variety. Viburnum carlesi
– (koreanspice viburnum)
8-10’ This is probably the better known of the fragrant viburnums. The flowers
are about the same as burkwood and the plant stays a bit smaller, but the leaves are large, fuzzy and dull green. There are more compact varieties including ‘Compacta’ and ‘Cayuga’. ‘Juddii’ is often substituted for carlesii but this hybrid gets larger. Viburnum opulus - European cranberrybush 10-12’ The double flowered
variety of this plant is commonly called ‘Snowball bush’. Flowers
are a “fist size” white ball resembling snowballs in May. Another
large flowering shrub suitable for borders and screening. Red fruits in fall
help feed the birds in winter. ‘Compacta’ is a smaller variety with
single blooms which makes a nice foundation plant for semishaded areas. Viburnum plicatum tomentosum -
doublefile viburnum 6-8’ Doublefile viburnum
is named for its horizontal branching habit with neat rows of white flowers perched
on top. Fall color is a rusty red. This
species is popular throughout the Weigela Weigela is a summer flowering shrub with trumpet shaped flowers of pink, purple, red and white on the various varieties. Some fine new introductions have been made in recent years that are more compact with dark purple foliage. These include ‘Summer Wine’ and ‘Fine Wine’. ‘Midnight Wine’ is very tight and low but the flowers and hardiness are somewhat lacking. Yucca - (Adam’s
needle) 2’ Plants can be so fascinating,
many of them defy classification. This hardy, old fashioned plant could be considered
a woody perennial but I’ll place it here with the shrubs. It looks a little
out of place in the Midwest American landscape with its spiky foliage and tall panicle of white summer blooms. But for those looking for an exotic effect, it can be a great plant.
While I’m not a fan of gravel mulch and the southwest style of landscaping in the
Perennials
The perennials category is so huge I’ll not attempt to cover
the topic. Listed here are a few that I like to mix into low maintenance gardens. Astilbe – False Spirea includes many species and hybrids of colorful summer flowering perennials for semishade
and moist soils. There are a couple of stand out species for tougher conditions. Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’ is a groundcover type for full sun. It spreads well and is covered with spikes of pink flowers in summer. Another tough species is Astilbe taquetii ‘Superba’ which gets about 3’ tall with
large pink flowers and grows well out in full sun. Brunnera macrophylla –
Siberian Bugloss has large, dull green leaves with sprays of tiny blue flowers. It’s
a very neat, clean perennial for semishaded woodland sites. Jack Frost is a very
nice variety with silvery/white foliage. Convallaria majalis - lily of the valley
8” A very vigorous, old fashioned groundcover perennial. Can be somewhat
invasive and goes off color in summer. But the vigor can be good if a complete
groundcover is desired and the small, nodding, bell shaped white flowers are very attractive in spring. Coreopsis verticillata - threadleaf coreopsis 1-2’ Very delicate textured plant with small yellow, daisy type flowers. Reblooms
well with shearing. Full sun. Crocosmia –
montbretia 2-3’ Very decorative, nodding red or yellow flower panicles on tall stems. Foliage
somewhat resembles that of iris. Might benefit from a sheltered, sunny spot as
cold winters could be a p Dianthus – pinks 12” The Dianthus are mostly have tight, clumping rock garden plants. They often have attractive blue gray foliage and an abundance of little flowers ranging from white to red through pink. Sharp drainage is required. Dicentra - bleeding hearts A well known spring bloomer with nodding flower panicles and lush green foliage. Plants will die back after the cool spring season so this will require a summer companion to fill in. Echinacea - coneflower 3-4’ Great background plants for full sun. Large daiseylike flowers with drooping petals and a big black center “cone”. Flowers are normally purple but many hybrids have been introduced in recent years in various shades from
yellow through orange to red. Some double forms and large cone types are available. Some caution should be used with new varieties.
With intense crossing for flower forms and colors, they are sometimes lacking in vigor. Epimedium -
bishop’s hat 12”
I really like this plant for a groundcover in dense, dry shade. Shady
gardens may also be dry with root competition from big trees. This plant is one
of the few that can take it. The most decorative aspect is the crisp, glossy
foliage, but little pendulous flowers impart the name “bishop’s hat”. Geranium sanguineum - cranesbill
12” Perennial Geranium is a nice flowering groundcover for the shade garden.
Flowers are long lasting, ranging from white, pink, red to bluish. Many
species and varieties are available. Common evergreen groundcover for shady sites. Requires some maintenance
to keep it from running up the walls and up your trees but this can be done by regularly cutting stems at the base of trees
and walls. Hemerocallis
spp. -
daylily
18-24” Daylilies are well known for their vigor in full sun. “Road lilies”
will succeed in a ditch along the road so they’ll surely do well in your garden!
Although most only bloom for a couple weeks, I like them for their pleasant foliage as well. Flowers range from white through cream to yellow, pink red and nearly black. There are several repeat blooming varieties of which the yellows tend to be the most reliable. Heuchera
- coral bells 12-18” Good companion for Hostas in the shade garden. Old fashioned coral bells were grown for the small nodding bell shaped flowers and their ability to attract
hummingbirds. Nowadays we have a wonderful selection of colorful foliage types
ranging from yellow to orange and dark purple. This is an often overlooked native plant for sunny, wet sites. Very large,
dinner plate size flowers make a bold display in late summer in white, pink and red. Some types have purplish foliage. Hosta
spp. -
hosta
18-24” A wonderful genus of plants grown primarily in shade gardens for their wide variety of foliage types. Most have attractive flower panicles and some can also be fragrant.
Use with caution in areas with heavy deer pressure. Iris sibirica - Siberian iris
24” This is one of my favorite perennials. Flowers come in many
colors and the foliage is very slender, resembling a grass when it’s not in bloom.
Great plant for grouping in full sun. Also tolerates heavy wet soil. Flowers and foliage are much finer in texture than
the old German bearded iris. Lamium
- dead nettle 6” Lamium is a good perennial groundcover for dry shade. Grown primarily
for the frosty variegated foliage
but also sports pink flower spikes. Resistant to deer browsing. Lavender
- lavender 12-18” This common herb is also a decorative perennial for full sun. Foliage
is a frosty gray with little blue flower
spikes. Good drainage is a must. I’ve
seen lavender as a woody hedge in milder climates. Leucanthemum
- Shasta daisy 24” Another great performer for full sun. Dark glossy foliage is capped with
bright white flowers having yellow centers. Many varieties will require dead
heading as the spent flowers aren’t pretty. Liatris -
gayfeather 24” Liatris gives a vertical aspect to the border with it’s fuzzy spikes of bright blue flowers. White varieties are also available. Lilium
- Asiatic lilies 1-6’ These summer bulbs provide an exotic look with large, tubular, brightly colored
flowers topping long slender, glossy leaved stems. Works well as a pop up surprise for summer color among spring bloomers.
Varieties are available in white, yellow, orange, red and pink. Cultivars
also vary in heights from dwarf (1’) to very tall (6’). Liriope
- lilyturf 6-12” Often considered a grass, this lily relative makes a dense groundcover that’s semievergreen and sports blue flower spikes in summer. The popular variety ‘Big Blue’ will need some protection from exposure. I like the lesser known L. spicata which is very tough
and durable. Lythrum
- loosestrife 3-4’ Lythrum was very popular a few years ago for tall spikes of purple flowers in summer.
Loves heavy wet soil and even standing water. However, it should be used
with some caution. Species plants can spread
by seed becoming a weed in wetlands and ditches. Some states have even
outlawed its use for being an invasive plant. Mertensia
- A wonderful spring groundcover perennial with nodding blue, bell shaped flowers.
Like bleeding hearts, this “wildflower” is only decorative in early spring. I like drifts of Monarda in the sunny border for their bright pink or red summer flowers which attract butterflies,
hummingbirds and sphinx moths. Paeonia
- peony 24” Peonies are kind of old fashioned and the double flowers typically flop in the rain.
But they are very tough
performers. I particularly like the single flowering varieties which don’t
flop and look a bit more exotic. I should also mention the extremely large flowered
and exotic looking “tree peonies”. This is a great choice for collectors
who want something different as a conversation piece. Perovskia - Russian sage
3’ A very vigorous perennial for a bright sunny site in full exposure. Gray
lacy foliage tipped with bright blue flower spikes. Can even be somewhat invasive. Phlox paniculata -
garden phox
24-36” Garden phlox presents very colorful panicles of flowers in mid summer. Colors
range from white through pink to red and purple to almost blue. Foliage can be
susceptible to powdery mildew but there are some more resistant new varieties available. Phlox subulata
- creeping phlox 6” This is the very colorful groundcover that looks like blooming moss in early spring. That’s the good news, but the bad news is the foliage is kind of bland in the summer. Also requires good drainage for best performance. Best suited for a rock garden or raised bed. Platycodon -
balloonflower
1-2’ Bright blue or white flowers form “balloons” before opening. A great summer bloomer for the foreground. Rudbeckia - black eyed susan 24” Great massing plant for sunny sites. Bright yellow daisy type flowers with black centers. Deadheading
might be preferred but not necessary. Salvia -
sage 12-18” Bright blue or dark purple flowering perennial for sunny sites. Foliage
is gray green and somewhat decorative. Sedum
- stone crop 6-18” There are many species of sedum ranging from groundcovers to short, erect perennials.
They all prefer bright sunny, dry sites. A mix of the groundcover types
is commonly used for rooftop gardens. Alpine or rock gardens are also great sites
for the sedums. Sisyrinchium
- blue eyed grass
8” This little native perennial has grasslike foliage but sports many, small bright blue flowers in the summer. Best used as an eye catching specimen in the foreground of a bed or rock garden. Veronica
- speedwell 18-24” Typical veronicas have dark glossy green foliage and blue flower spikes in summer.
There are white flowering
types as well as blue, purple and pink forms. A good companion for the sunny
perennial border or a splash of perennial color in a shrub bed. Vinca
- myrtle 6” One of my favorite woodland groundcovers. Considered by some to be invasive
but it doesn’t climb walls like ivy and it produces nice blue flowers in spring. The foliage is glossy and evergreen. What’s
not to like? . Ferns Dryopteris erythrosora - Sweet autumn fern
24” Vigorous, easily grown fern with glossy fronds and bronze fall color. Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’ - Japanese painted fern 18” Colorful fern with purple to silvery variegated fronds. Many varieties
can be found in the trade today. Matteuccia pensylvanica -
Ostrich fern 3-4’ Very tall graceful woodland fern. Polystichum acrostichoides
- Christmas fern
2-3’ Thick, glossy evergreen fronds. Grasses Calamagrostis acutiflora
- feather reed grass
2-3’ The most popular variety is ‘Karl Foerster’. Foliage and flower
panicles are very erect and showy lending
a short, vertical aspect to the garden. There is a variegated form. Full sun. Carex morrowi
- sedge 6-12” The sedges are short grasses with thick leaves. Likes full sun and tolerates
heavy, wet soil. Variegated forms
are bright cream or yellow. Erianthus ravennae
- hardy pampas grass 12’ The true pampas grass (Cortaderia) is not reliably hardy in central Ohio. But
we have the very exotic looking hardy
pampas grass which gets much taller and quickly provides a seasonal screen to 10-12’
tall. The flower plumes are decorative.
Great for background or screen planting. Festuca ovina
- fescue 6-12” Blue fescue is commonly grown. This is a short clumping grass with bright
blue foliage. Tan colored flower panicles are held atop short, erect stalks. Likes good drainage. Hakonechloa macra
- Japanese forest grass 12-18” Hakonachloa is a very graceful, nodding groundcover grass for semishade. Besides
light green forms there are varieties with yellow and white variegated foliage. Miscanthus is a popular ornamental grass in the medium height range. Many
forms are grown for shorter stature and narrow or variegated leaves. Flowers
are clustered like a paint brush gently swaying
in the breeze. Fountain grass is another very popular landscaping grass. Its foliage
is very fine textured and flowers are bottle brush like in appearance. More dwarf
varieties are available. Some winter damage may occur in cold, wet winters Annuals I won’t even begin to list all the available annuals and tropicals which are fair game for planting in the summer
months. I’d just like to mention this category to complete the list of
potential garden plants available to us. While perennials are wonderful for returning
year after year. Annuals do a much better job if you want bright flower
color continually throughout the growing season. Also consider tropicals such as palms and bananas which provide an exotic focal point.
But, of course, remember that they must be taken inside before the fall frost hits. Bulbs Another
category of garden plants which provide a surprise splash of color for a short time while their companion plants are dormant
or dull. I recommend the many varieties of daffodils because they naturalize
well and are not eaten by squirrels, as is often a p email: mikeepp@mindspring.com |
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