My 2017 list: Shrubs

As I get older I am trying to make my garden a lower-maintenance project. For me, that means using my own "proven winners": plants that perform well, don't need much attention or extra water and don't have pest problems. My top performers: Epimediums, true Geraniums, Hellebores, ferns, Carex and Hakonechloa grasses

The last few years I have been creating sweeps of those plants in the garden AND adding more shrubs. This year's shrub choices extend the variety. The nursery where I ordered the plants is listed first and descriptions are taken from their catalogs as well. My comments follow the descriptions.

AVANT GARDENS

Pieris japonica 'Cavatine'

A very dwarf evergreen shrub for the shade border, with coppery fall/winter color and apricot buds that open in early spring with drupes of white lily of the valley flowers. Slowly grows to 2-3' tall and wide. Best in an evenly moist soil that has good drainage in partial shade. Zone 5.

Though Avant Gardens lists this as evergreen I doubt that will hold true in my zone. But this has the big advantage of being shade tolerant and that's what I have more of than sun. I've been lusting after a couple of other Pieris plants from Rare Find Nursery but am still on the fence about buying them.

Rubus spectabilis 'Golden Ruby'

A plant to brighten the woodland with brilliant chartreuse foliage and rosy pink single rose-like flowers in spring. Not as floriferous as the species. Plants grow 4' tall and do spread. Attractive to hummingbirds.

I was on the verge of ordering a white-flowered, thornless variety of this plant when I found this one. I decided that this foliage would look better in the shade than the typical green leaved-forms and that the reddish flowers would work better with the other reds and purples already growing in the area where I will put this. Full sun to full shade. Zone 5.

Salix purpurea 'Nana"

A hardy compact shrub with narrow deciduous dark blue green foliage, and stems that take on more pronounced purplish red tones in winter. Dwarf Arctic Willow responds well to pruning and stooling and is probably most attractive when kept at a 2-3 tall plant, but can grow to 5' if left alone. Attractive to butterflies. Zone 4.

Willows grow well here and I plan to keep this small, preferably 2 rather than 3 feet. I'm thinking of putting it near our Purple Weeping Beech. The willow foliage and stems would look beautiful next to the tree's leaves which emerge coppery, turn purple and then dark purply green.

FAR REACHES FARM

Corns sanguinea 'Compressa'

Tough little mutant redstem dogwood.  Intensely columnar and slow with curled leaves held close to the vertical stems. These turn a most satisfying purple in the fall.  As far as flowers go, forget about it.  Slow growing, our 6 footer in the garden is pushing 40 years of age. Zone 4.

I've seen this growing in a couple of gardens but this is the first time I've found a source. Can take half sun which is always a selling point with my garden. Alas I will be dead before this reaches 6 feet tall. 

BLUESTONE PERENNIALS 

Thuja occidentalis 'Pancake'

Arborvitae. Deep sage green summer foliage transforms to blue foliage through the winter months. Long fingers of  foliage on a low flat profile. No pruning needed to maintain the shape. Native to North America. Zone 3.

This is the first time I've ordered from Bluestone Perennials in years so we'll see how it turns out. I will put this charmer by the dwarf willow for a little compare/contrast moment.

Ilex verticillata 'Berry Poppins'

Winterberry Holly. Berries appear on females after flowering and mature to bright red, remaining until mid-winter or later. Dwarf variety. Needs 'Mr. Poppins' for pollination. Grows 3-4 feet tall and needs sun. Road salt tolerant.

After seeing a stunning display of dwarf winterberry shrubs on the UW-Madison campus this winter, I fell for this one. Our garden no longer has many berried plants, having lost them over the years to storm damage. I want to plant this in the driveway towards the road where I will be able to see it from the kitchen window, so salt tolerance is a plus. Of course, I bought 'Mr. Poppins' as well. 

Comments

[Barbara H.]

That's a great sounding list of shrubs, Linda. I'm appreciating shrubs more and more. Thanks!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

What a nice selection of plants. I have had one of those willows before. It is tough as nails. I planted mine in a place where it simply outgrew the space alotted. For some reason my DB hated this plant so it had to go. I have had one of those dwarf Peris too. It was such a sweet plant. A dog we were sitting ate it. I mean the plant. She tore it to bits. She was a puppy and I guess it was very chewable. UGH... I have never replaced it. The blooms are so sweet. I have seen that little pancake Thuga in nurseries around here and almost bought it. I think you have chosen some really interesting plants. Good luck with them.

[Linda Brazill]

Most of these are new for me so I will see how it goes. But shrubs are a good way to lower maintenance in the garden — or so they say.

[Linda Brazill]

Luckily no dogs so that will help my success rate!

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

I love seeing your selections. They are so well researched and different from the the usual. I particularly like that Cornus. I'll be interested to see how your Bluestone order goes. I had good luck with their plants (and excellent customer service) but they were always so small.

[Linda Brazill]

I have really been paying attention to pot size so I am aware of what I will be getting and what I am paying for it. It's always a tossup when you want something that you can't find locally.

[Loree / danger garden]

All excellent but I'm especially fond of the Corns sanguinea 'Compressa', I have a small start given to me by a friend. It is a fabulous plant! (good fall color too)

[Linda Brazill]

Nice to hear from gardeners who have experience with some of these plants. Thanks.

[rusty duck]

Lower maintenance is a good idea, especially when we have large gardens to manage. The winterberry is lovely. A real statement shrub that keeps to a reasonable size.

[Linda Brazill]

I'm hoping it performs as good as it looks!

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Lovely choices! I've ordered from Bluestone several times and have been happy with the products. I recently ordered several shrubs to replace a few invasive species (should have done this years ago, but the budget is better now than when the kids were in college). It will be fun to follow your posts about your new garden additions.

[Linda Brazill]

You'll have to write about what you are planting, too.

[Pam/Digging]

Since I'm in the midst of the yearly perennial cut-back chore, I'm seeing the wisdom of adding more shrubs to my garden too. Your choices are lovely.

[Kristin]

I saved this for the weekend so I could spent more time with it. I am adding more shrubs for winter interest and lowering maintenance. We had a Pieris that didn't survive, but I think it was a late season bargain buy. Thanks so much for these ideas!

[Peter/Outlaw]

Great choices all! That Rubus is a beautiful color. I'll be on the lookout for one. I spent the better part of a day cutting down all of the large ornamental grasses in my garden all the while thinking that some of them might need to be replaced with something that doesn't require an annual haircut.

[Linda Brazill]

The Bluestone plants are really small. Check out Rare Find Nursery and Klehm's Song Sparrow, both of which have some great offerings at larger sizes. Pricey but good quality.

[Linda Brazill]

Far Reaches Farm has a beautiful white flowered Rubus that is thornless, though the leaves are a dark green.

[sarah ross]

The willow family has worked very well in my yard in various forms. Their habit and lace-like leaves are gorgeous--and they are very hardy in our northern illinois climate!