Additional "Flowering Shrubs" Abelia x grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’ Glossy Abelia Dark green, glossy, little leaves make a dense, well-formed shrub 3-5' in height. An abundance of pale lavender-pink flowers appear in July and August for added interest. The Abelia specie “grandiflora” is deciduous and truly hardy. Abelias thrive in well-drained soil enriched with leaf mold in a protected spot. Plant three feet apart Zone 6–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal grandiflora ‘Sherwood’ Dwarf Glossy Abelia A dwarf form of Abelia at 3', ‘Sherwood’ has a dense compact habit. Its little white bell-shaped flowers are flushed pink in loose terminal panicles in July and August. Just as tidy and shiny as can be, try this dwarf Abelia in your sunny perennial border where some modest architectural definition is needed. Plant three feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’ Dwarf Red Barberry Reddish-purple foliage on this classic dwarf Barberry consists of small leaves on arching spiny stems at 2-3'. Insignificant yellow flowers appear in mid-spring and are followed by tiny red fruit. Here’s a shrub that handles most any kind of soil as long as it’s not waterlogged. Its dense habit, striking mahogany foliage, and ability to blend well with a host of perennials and other shrubs, accounts for its consistent popularity. Plant three feet apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal
davidii ‘Royal Red’ Butterfly Bush A deep wine-red in color, the blooms of ‘Royal Red’ appear from July to September on this fountain-shaped 4–6' tall Butterfly Bush. All our varieties thrive in average to moist, well-drained soils and, of course, attract many varieties of butterflies. Striking combined with the blue of Caryopteris. Plant 36 inches apart Zone 6–9 full sun 1 gal davidii ‘White Ball’ Dwarf Butterfly Bush As a not-so-big white Butterfly Bush, try 3-4' ‘White Ball’ for a long season of sweet blooms. It is adaptable to the border where this little woody perennial will not overwhelm surrounding herbaceous perennials with its more modest size while blooming from mid-July-September. Plant 36 inches apart Zone 6–9 full sun 1 gal davidii ‘White Profusion’ Butterfly Bush A fine, summer-long bloomer that produces hundreds of pure, snowy-white flower spikes, beautifully displayed against green foliage. Attractive seed heads follow the flowers and extend the period of interest. ‘White Profusion’ will also handle heavy pruning in early spring before new growth appears. Grows to 5–6', blooming from July–September. Plant 36 inches apart Zone 6–9 full sun 1 gal Caryopteris clandonensis ‘Longwood Blue’ Blue Beard This sky-blue, heavily-flowering shrub with its silvery foliage is a color rarely seen in the fall garden where it blooms to about 42" from late August to early October. This selection is desirable also for the quantity of blooms on young plants the first year. Butterflies love both our varieties. Cut flowers make a long-lasting indoor display. Prune back to live wood in early spring just before new growth starts. Plant 24 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun 1 gal Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’ Fothergilla is a group of deciduous, spring-flowering shrubs known for fall color and fragrant flowers. We have chosen to grow ‘Mt. Airy’ because of its vigorous growth habit (to 5'), lovely autumn color, dependable cold hardiness, and the bonus of those white flowers that open as leaves emerge in spring. Fall color is most brilliant where this shrub is grown in full sun. Give it the moist, peaty, acid soil it prefers for best performance. Plant three feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Wave’ Lacecap Hydrangea This hardy Hydrangea has the distinct flower heads to which the term “Lacecap” refers: a small cluster of deep blue flowers in the center with a ring of large, flat flowers around the outside. ‘Blue Wave’ has wide, flat blue blooms in July and August. The bright green leaves are shiny, wide, and rounded. Hardy and tough, the blue flowers turn a parchment pink hue as cool autumn weather arrives. This long bloomer reaches 6' in height and can be 12' across and is not fussy about soil as long as it has even moisture. Plant five feet apart Zone 6–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal
macrophylla ‘Mariesii Variegata’ Lacecap Hydrangea The unusual white and green variegated leaves and round shape of this Lacecap Hydrangea are striking at 4-6' and will surely brighten a semi-shady corner. Add the lovely blue June-July Lacecap blooms, and we understand ‘Mariessi Variegata’s’ popularity. Plant five feet apart Zone 6–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal paniculata ‘Tardiva’ Garden Hydrangea For late summer, fall, and winter interest in the landscape the elegant, lacy elongated white flower heads of ‘Tardiva’ are simply beautiful amid the changing foliage of our Maryland autumn. The pure white panicles open from August-October at the ends of the leafy stems, and turn a delicate buff color that lasts all winter. ‘Tardiva’ handles most any soil except the wettest or the driest, flowers well in full sun to dappled shade, and can grow to 10-12' if left unpruned. Try it in combination with the deep blue of Aconitum and pink Begonia grandis, or accented by purple Buddleia or blue Caryopteris. Plant six feet apart Zone 4–8 full sun to part shade 2 gal quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Oakleaf Hydrangea Take note — this may be the best shrub around for its long list of desirable traits. Native to the Southeast, it is prized for its oakleaf-shape foliage and its strong, upright panicles of pure white flowers that appear in late June-July. The leathery dark green leaves handle summer sun, heavy wind and rain with ease. The flowers age to tones of purple as the leaves turn russet red in fall. Then the cinnamon bark of the stems exfoliates as it ages through the snows of winter. For dried arrangements the mature flowers are exceptional. Its growth is compact, but reaches 5-7' in both directions in 6 years, and matures to 10-12'. It handles full sun to some shade with no problem, preferring moist, but well-drained soil. Plant six feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun to part shade 2 gal Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire Native Itea is gaining popularity for its usefulness in all sorts of landscaping situations whether massed by a pond or stream, or in a border as a companion to a host of perennials. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has fragrant 6" long white racemes in June and July in good quantity. The rich green leaves make a nice rounded shape 4-5' high and 6' wide. Its foliage in the fall is dependably brilliant reddish-purple in color before fulfilling its deciduous life cycle. This shrub is easy to grow handling shade or sun, and wet or dry soils. Plant five feet apart Zone 5–9 ull sun to full shade 2 gal virginica Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire The arching shoots of native ‘Little Henry’ bear the same fragrant white bottlebrush blooms as ‘Henry’s Garnet’, but this handy little deciduous shrub reaches 2 1/2' tall at best. Tidy in shape, the shiny dark green leaves turn brilliantly red-purple in fall. As a foil for competing perennial colors in the border, for foliage contrast, or massed on its own, ‘Little Henry’ is an alternative worth considering. Plant three feet apart Zone 5–8 full sun to full shade 2 gal Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ Dwarf Bridal Wreath Many clusters of pale pink, flat-topped flowers are carried above small dark green leaves in June and July, and intermittently into early fall. This handy dwarf deciduous shrub has a compact 2' height that could be the anchor in your small perennial border. Plant two feet apart Zone 4–8 full sun 2 gal japonica ‘Magic Carpet’ Variegated Bridal Wreath While the 24" height is a plus, the chartreuse to light yellow leaf color of ‘Magic Carpet’ will add an unusual color accent to the perennial border, or massed on its own. Vivid orange-red new stems with deep rose pink flowers in June-July complete the vibrant combination of colors that will drift through the landscape and combine nicely with a host of perennials. Plant three feet apart Zone 4–8 full sun 2 gal ‘Neon Flash’ Bridal Wreath In any decent garden soil ‘Neon Flash’ will be a dependable long bloomer in June and July, and then off and on until fall. Its blooms are a rich dark rosy pink color, which contrasts nicely with the dark green tidy foliage. While preferring fertile, well-drained soil, don’t let the soil dry out through the drought we so often experience in the mid-Atlantic region during the growing season. Expect this upright deciduous shrub to reach about 3-4' in height. ‘Neon Flash’ is trouble-free, easy to grow, and long-lived. Plant three feet apart Zone 4–8 full sun 2 gal Weigela florida ‘French Lace’ This 3-4' deciduous shrub has arresting rose red nodding tubular flowers in May-June. But like so many shrubs of special interest to perennial gardeners, it’s the variegated foliage that offers a striking presence in the landscape all season long. Leaves are green with bright yellow margins. What a background for those red flowers! Plant three feet apart Zone 4–8 full sun 2 gal Yucca filamentosa Adam’s Needle As a bold accent in groups or in the border, evergreen Yucca is unsurpassed. The sword-like blue-green leaves of this native, with thin curling threads on the leaf margins, are 3–4' high and are of interest all year long. In July and August, very showy and fragrant, creamy-white, bell-shaped flower spikes rise on stiff stems to 5–6'. Sun and drought-tolerant, its foliage is a great contrast to a host of finer-textured plants from Coreopsis to Sedums. Plant two feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun 2 gal filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’ Variegated Adam’s Needle Thriving in infertile, dry, sandy soil, as well as being reliably hardy, Yuccas continue to gain popularity throughout our area. Couple these attributes with the striking beauty of variegated ‘Bright Edge’ and we understand this evergreen perennial’s success as a landscape fixture. The sword-like leaves are rich green with a decidedly bright yellow leaf edge. The height is 36", and the same lovely white flower bells rise on strong stalks in July and August. Plant two feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun 2 gal
flaccida ‘Golden Sword’ Variegated Adam’s Needle As useful for bold architectural emphasis in the landscape as Yucca filamentosa, ‘Golden Sword’ offers creamy yellow and green variegated leaves with a slightly more relaxed habit. Plan on all the attributes common to our other Yuccas plus a lovely coral winter foliage color at about 30-36". Creamy white fragrant flowers on tall spikes in July-August are a given. Plant two feet apart Zone 5–9 full sun 2 gal |
