Six Problem-Solving Shrubs You can be Thankful For
By Natalie Carmolli, from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs
As the season of gratitude approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on plants that bring both beauty and purpose to landscapes. Shrubs, in particular, can be true gifts in the garden, solving problems and easily filling in tricky spaces.
From drought tolerance and deer resistance to shade adaptability and rapid growth for screening, we’ll explore resilient shrubs that can tackle a range of landscape challenges while adding charm to your garden and landscape.
Drought tolerant dynamos
When water is scarce, choosing the right plants makes all the difference. These drought-tolerant shrubs withstand dry conditions and bring lasting beauty and resilience to your landscape.
Butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are an excellent choice for drought-prone landscapes due to their deep root systems and ability to store water, which allows them to survive periods of low moisture. Additionally, their narrow leaves help reduce water loss by minimizing transpiration, making them well-suited to dry conditions once established.
For a compact butterfly bush that fits almost any garden, try the Pugster® series. These dwarf varieties feature large blooms on a short, sturdy frame with thick stems for improved winter hardiness. Pugster Blue® butterfly bush offers true blue flowers with a sweet honey fragrance and proven drought tolerance—it even won the Blue Ribbon Award at UC Davis low water trials. Plus, it creates little to no seed, so you don’t have to worry about it spreading into natural areas. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, Pugster Blue® grows 2-3' tall and wide with annual pruning.
St. John’s wort also boasts a deep-rooted system and tough, leathery leaves, both which help it conserve water and thrive in dry conditions.
Also UC Davis Blue Ribbon Award winner, Sunny Boulevard® Hypericum (St. John's Wort), is a native cultivar that naturally grows with an appealing rounded shape that looks neat and tidy without pruning. In summer, it's covered in hundreds of cheerful yellow flowers, each sporting a regal crown of fluffy yellow stamens. The blooms last for weeks and attract pollinators of all types. It's the perfect choice for a low hedge, edging, specimen, or border plant in any sunny, dry spot. Hardy in USDA zones 4-7, it will grow to a tidy little 2-3' ball.
Rain garden wonders
Rain gardens thrive where water collects, making them ideal for managing runoff while adding lush beauty. Red twig dogwoods(Cornus sericea) are ideally suited to rain gardens, soaking up excess moisture and transforming soggy spots into vibrant, eco-friendly landscapes.
They not only tolerate the occasional standing water typical of rain gardens but also add striking winter interest with their vibrant red and yellow stems. These dogwoods help manage runoff effectively, stabilizing soil with extensive root systems while bringing a bold, natural beauty to rain gardens year-round.
ARCTIC FIRE® Red Cornus sericea is a magical addition to any garden, especially those that embrace a winter display or native plants. It produces tiny white flowers in the springtime, supporting local pollinators first and later supporting wildlife with little berries. Thankfully, it doesn't support deer, as it rarely suffers from browsing damage. At just 3-5', this selection is much smaller than the typical option, growing to just half the size of the conventional species. It's a great plant for building up borders, cut flower gardens, or using in drifts to create an impressive display for fall and winter. This cold-climate beauty is hardy in USDA Zones 2-7.
ARCTIC FIRE® Yellow Cornus sericea has the same durability as red-twig dogwood but in a lovely shade of yellow! When grown in a mass or as a hedge, its bare yellow branches make an unforgettable view in late fall and all throughout winter. In spring, it's dotted with groupings of fluffy white flowers, which, if pollinated, turn into bright white berries in late summer or early fall. Also great for cutting gardens, as the stems add a festive touch to any bouquet. With semi-regular pruning, you'll get loads of bright yellow branches each season. This native selection will grow to 4-5' tall and 6' wide with the same USDA 2-7 hardiness.
Made for the shade
Itea, also known as sweetspire, is a fantastic choice for shaded areas in the landscape. With its fragrant white blooms in summer and brilliant red fall foliage, sweetspire brings year-round interest to low-light spots. It's a resilient and low-maintenance shrub that thrives in partial to full shade, making it perfect for brightening up those challenging shady areas.
Conventional Itea have flowers that bloom at the end of arching stems, but FIZZY MIZZY® is quite unconventional with early summer flower spikes that stand out straight like exclamation points all over the plant. It also boasts a neat and tidy habit with thick, dark green leaves that contrast nicely with the lightly fragrant, pure white blooms. This tidy, 2-3' shrub is happily planted in full sun to shade, but note that the red fall foliage color is more pronounced when grown in some sun. Hardy is USDA zones 5-9.
A Green Screen Dream
Buckthorn is an excellent choice for creating lush green screens in the landscape. With its dense foliage and fast-growing nature, it forms a thick barrier that offers privacy and wind protection. Ideal for property borders or as a natural fence, buckthorn is a resilient option that provides year-round greenery and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Conventional buckthorn produces a large quantity of seeds that are easily dispersed by birds and animals and is considered an invasive species in many regions due to its aggressive growth habit and ability to outcompete native plants.
But FINE LINE® Rhamnus alnus (was frangula) produces minimal seed and is non-invasive! So you get that beautiful pillar of fast-growing, soft, dense foliage without the worry about it encroaching into natural habitats. As a young plant, Fine Line buckthorn will happily perform as a centerpiece in decorative containers and is generally an excellent choice for front-yard plantings. This selection will mature to 5-7' tall and just 2-4' wide. Hardy in USDA zones 2-7.
Selecting the right shrubs can transform your landscape into a vibrant, functional space that meets your needs while solving common gardening challenges. As you plan your garden, consider using some of these hardworking shrubs that not only address specific issues but also bring year-round interest and joy.
Few bulbs are easier to grow than amaryllis-and few bloom with greater exuberance and beauty. But many just toss them at the end of their initial show.
Importantly there are tricks to get them to bloom again. Click here for an informative article about extending the life of amaryllis.
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