|
Whether you are
looking for a low-maintenance landscape or are interested in
improving the year-long character of a traditional flower
garden, shrubs are really the ticket. They offer height and
structure, make for great seasonal interest, and provide a nice
habitat—shelter and many times food—for our feathered
friends. The following are six great shrubs that are hardy for
Northeast Wisconsin.
Ilex verticillata
‘Red Sprite’ (winterberry)
– ‘Red Sprite’ is a smaller selection of winterberry,
maturing to only 3 to 5 feet high and wide. It makes a nice
foundation or border plant with its medium green, glossy foliage
that is highlighted by a showy display of bright red berries in
fall. ‘Red Spite’ is a female plant, which means one male
pollinator such as ‘Jim Dandy’ should be planted for every
one to four female plants in order to produce the attractive
berries which persist through much of the winter and are
attractive to birds.
Physocarpus
opulifolius ‘Monlo’ (DiabloTM ninebark)
– This deciduous shrub is adaptable to many growing
conditions. Its wonderful foliage emerges a dark purple to
provide a beautiful backdrop for rounded clusters of pinkish
white flowers in early summer. ‘Monlo’ can be grown in full
sun to part shade, although its dark purple foliage sometimes
turns a bit greener in the heat of the summer, especially when in
full sun. Leaves drop in fall to expose reddish-brown, peeling
bark that adds winter interest. Matures to 6 to 8 feet tall by 6
to 10 feet wide, although may be maintained to a somewhat
smaller size with proper pruning.
Thuja occidentalis (American arborvitae) – Arborvitae are
common, yet very useful in providing consistent color and
structure in the landscape throughout the year. Be sure to
choose a cultivar that will fit the location you are planting it
in for the long term. ‘Holmstrup’ has the general
color and pyramidal shape of common arborvitae however it is a
slow grower that matures to just 6 to 8 feet. If you are a
little more daring with regard to color, ‘Sunkist’ features
gold-tipped branches. Although full sun is typically recommended
to bring out its interesting coloring, I have seen the most
lovely specimen grown in partial shade conditions.
Weigela florida -
Weigelas have been around for years, but as of late, new
varieties with dark burgundy to purple foliage are all the rage.
‘Alexandria’ (Wine and RosesTM) is a compact
shrub (4 to 5 feet high and wide) with bold, dark
burgundy-purple foliage. Its rosy-pink flowers appear in early
summer and really stand out against the dark foliage.
‘Brigela’ (French LaceTM) is a newer variety with
featuring dark red flowers against green foliage with yellow
margins.
Euonymus alatus 'Rudy Haag' (burning bush) – For fall color,
its tough to beat the outstanding red hues of burning bush.
“Rudy Haag’ is a dwarf variety maturing to 3 to 5 feet high
and wide. This versatile shrub prefers full sun to part shade,
and is equally good as a specimen plant or in mass as hedge,
screen, foundation or border plant.
Cotinus
coggygria (smoketree)
– Cotinus make a very interesting specimen plant that
varies in size from a shrub to a small tree. It’s rounded
foliage gives way to flower heads in early- to mid-summer that
resemble puffs of smoke. ‘Velvet Cloak’ has purple foliage
and can grow to 10 to 15 feet high. A new cultivar, ‘Ancot’
(Golden Spirit TM), was
recently introduced and has brilliant lime green foliage with
light pink flower heads. Both of these varieties turn to shades
of orange and red in fall.
|
