Favorite Shrubs

Part Three of my garden series is all about . . .

Shrubs

A hard working, often overlooked, addition to any garden Shrubs can add color, texture and height to your space.  Plus taller varieties can provide a soft backdrop for flowers.

#1:  Boxwood

If you like a neatly clipped and shaped shrubs,  Boxwood is a great choice.  Ranging in size and color you'd be hard pressed to find one that wouldn't work for your yard.  Here in Minnesota we are pretty much limited to a few varieties, but that's fine by me.  Personally I like the smaller, dwarf varieties since I like to use boxwood to frame a garden entrance or for accents in garden beds.  Using their shape and color to add structure to a space.

My favorite is the Green Velvet Boxwood.  It will grow up to four feet tall.  I've planted four throughout my yard and hope to add more in the future.

#2:  Lilac

Beautiful, fragrant Lilac -- not much needs to be said about this beauty that you don't already know and love.   I dream of having the space for a large hedge row, but sadly I've only been able to squeeze two shrubs into my existing landscape.

The first is a Dwarf Korean which should grow to five feet tall with dark purple flowers.  The second I forgot to write down.  It's should also grow to about 5 feet and has pale purple flowers.

#3:  Potentilla

Potentilla is a fabulous shrub with small, glossy leaves.  Ranging in sizes and growth habit from rounded  to arching, Potentilla's best feature is the small yellow or white flowers that bloom all summer long.  My mother has encircled a shed with these delightful shrubs and it's always a treat to see them.

I have four of the yellow shrubs planted in my front yard garden and one white variety called Mckay's White.  I enjoy both.

#4:  Peony

Although not technically a shrub, I'm throwing it in the mix since tend to treat it as one.  Peony's tend to be a little slow to settle into a garden but once established they become a very tough plant.  Plus their flowers are GORGEOUS!

I have two Peonies transplanted from my mothers garden (she's not a fan - GASP!!!).  I have also purchased two Sarah Bernhardt Double Peony's that I have placed in my cutting garden.  One thing I have found is that the don't take to shade at all, not even light shade.  This is definitely a full sun plant.  Truth be told I have moved my poor Peonies so many times I began to wonder if they would ever produce flowers since they don't take kindly to being moved about.  Last spring I did have two blooms, so I'm hoping I have found the perfect spot and am looking forward to at least a handful this coming spring.

#5:  Spirea

When we moved into our current house I was pleased to realize I had a nice row of Spirea leading up to the front door.  Spirea are a great plant for the ever changing temperature's of Minnesota.  I also like them because they grow fast, have pretty flowers in a range of colors, and are easy to clip into neat rounded shapes.

My front yard garden has a total of five Spirea that bloom a pretty mid-toned purple in late spring and then again in late summer.  Deadheading the spent flowers keep them looking nice until they rebloom.  Come autumn, the leave turn a pretty redish, rust color which is nice.

#6:  Shrub Roses

For years I resisted purchasing any roses because of all the horror stories I'd heard about how much upkeep are needed.  But then I discovered Shrub Roses and fell in love.  Shrub Roses require very little extra effort besides deadheading.  They produce one to two inch roses all summer long in a range of colors.

I have kept my rose selections limited to two types.  Knock Out Rose and Flower Carpet Rose.

Knock Out Rose shrubs will grow to four feet tall.  Flower Carpet Rose's grow two feet tall and spread to three feet.  Both produce large amounts of flowers all summer long and are very easy to grow.

In the backyard garden I have two hot pink Knock Out Roses' and one yellow Flower Carpet Rose.  In the Cutting garden I have placed two more Knock Out Rose's in a light pink.  In the front yard garden I have two mid-toned pink Knock Out Roses and plans to add two more Flower Carpet Roses in pale pink.

I have found that I have a family of bunnies that like to come over and snack on my Rose leaves but a dusting of cayenne pepper keeps them protected.

#7:  Hydrangea

Gorgeous Hydrangea!  Is there a more perfect flowering shrub?  I think not.  Ranging is color from white to bright blue, there is a favorite to be found for everyone.  I'm sure there isn't much I can say about this beautiful plant that you don't already know.    Lets just say it's a favorite of mine, and hands down across the board I bet it's one of your's too!

In my backyard garden I have two white Annabelle Hydrangea, one Limelight Hydrangea and one Pink Diamond Hydrangea.  Of the four, the Pink Diamond is my favorite.  It blooms a soft pink color, deepend into a darker pink and then into a lime green color by fall.  It's breathating!  I plan to add a few more to my front yard this year.

That conculded my thoughts on Shrubs!

Hope you enjoyed,

Robin

(next up in my Garden Series - - Bulbs and Edibles)

In case you missed Part 1:  Annuals or Part 2:  Perennials you can check them out HERE and HERE.