Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

12/27/04

Contacts:
Richard Jauron, Horticulture, (515) 294-1871, rjauron@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Yard and Garden Column for the week of Dec. 31

Distinctive Shrubs for the Home Landscape

By Richard Jauron
Extension Horticulturist
Iowa State University

When selecting shrubs for the landscape, many gardeners choose familiar plants, such as lilacs, dogwoods, and spireas. Many other attractive shrubs are often overlooked. While the following shrubs are not widely planted, they are excellent additions to new and existing home landscapes.

The white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a large, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. In late May or early June, plants produces white, wispy flowers in 6- to 8-inch-long, pendulous clusters (panicles). Fringetrees are dioecious (either male or female). Flowers are produced by both male and female plants. However, the male flowers are slightly larger. Female plants also produce fleshy, dark blue, olive-sized fruits. Leaves of the white fringetree are 4 to 8 inches long, 2 to 4 inches wide, and are medium to dark green. Fall leaf color is occasionally an attractive yellow.

White fringetrees grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. Insects and diseases are not major problems. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

While most trees and shrubs bloom in spring, summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) blooms in mid to late summer. The fragrant, white flowers are borne on 2- to 6-inch-long, bottlebrush-like racemes. The glossy foliage of summersweet clethra is medium to dark green. Fall leaf color is rather inconsistent, but in good years can range from pale yellow to golden brown. The shrub grows 4 to 8 feet tall with an equal or slightly greater width.

Several excellent varieties are available. 'Hummingbird' is a compact cultivar which grows 3 to 4 feet tall. It has glossy green foliage and produces white flowers on 6-inch-long flower spikes. Pink flowering cultivars are also available. 'Rosea' produces pale pink flowers that fade to white as they age. 'Ruby Spice' produces bright pink, nonfading flowers on 4-foot-tall plants.

In the home landscape, summersweet clethra performs best in moist, slightly acidic soils that are high in organic matter. Summersweet clethra doesn't tolerate dry sites. It grows well in partial shade to full sun. Plants are hardy in zones 3 to 8. It is generally free of insect and disease problems.

Pearlbush (Exochorda serratifolia) is an upright shrub that can grow up to 12 feet tall. Its most striking ornamental feature is the pure white, 1 _-inch-wide flowers which appear in May. The common name comes from the pearl-like appearance of the round, pure white flower buds.

'Northern Pearls,' introduced by the University of Minnesota, grows 10 to 12 feet tall. It is covered by masses of white, 2-inch-diameter flowers in spring. 'Northern Pearls' is hardy in zones 4 to 7. 'The Bride' is another excellent variety. Plants are free-flowering, 4 feet tall, and hardy in zones 5 to 7.

Pearlbush prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun. It has no serious insect or disease problems.

Fothergilla (Fothergilla species) is a spectacular shrub that possesses interest throughout the growing season. In spring, plants produce small, white, honey-scented flowers on 1- to 2-inch-long, upright spikes. (The flower spikes somewhat resemble small bottlebrushes.) The foliage varies from dark green to blue green in summer. Bright Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) is a small, rounded shrub that grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Large fothergilla (Fothergilla major) is more upright in form and grows 6 to 8 feet tall.

'Blue Mist' and 'Mt. Airy' are two noteworthy cultivars. 'Blue Mist' forms a mounded plant 2 to 3 feet tall and possesses glaucous blue foliage. Fall leaf color, however, is often insignificant. 'Mt. Airy' possesses an upright growth habit, blooms heavily in spring, and grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Its foliage is blue-green in summer and yellow to orange to red in fall.

Fothergillas perform best in well-drained, acid soils. While they do well in partial shade to full sun, the best flower displays and fall leaf colors occur in full sun. Fothergillas have no serious insect or disease problems. They are hardy in zones 5 to 8.

Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) produces lightly fragrant, white flowers on 2- to 6-inch-long, arching spikes in early summer. Its leaves are medium to dark green in summer. Fall leaf color varies from yellow to orange to reddish purple. Plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall. 'Henry's Garnet' (3 to 5 feet tall) and Little Henry™ (2 to 3 feet tall) are excellent varieties with reddish purple fall foliage.

Virginia sweetspire performs best in moist to wet soils. Plants grow well in sun to partial shade. It is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

An upright, arching shrub, beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) grows 8 to 10 feet tall with a slightly smaller spread. It produces bell-shaped, pale pink flowers in late May to early June. Leaves of the beautybush are 1 to 3 inches long and dull green in color. The gray-brown bark on older stems often exfoliates, providing some winter interest. 'Pink Cloud' is a cultivar that was selected for its heavy bloom and clear pink flowers.

Beautybush performs best in well-drained soils in full sun. It has no serious insect or disease problems and is hardy in zones 5 to 8.

Other excellent, underutilized shrubs include common sweetshrub or Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus), common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica).

Lilacs, dogwoods, and spireas are attractive, reliable performers in the home landscape. However, there are many other shrubs that perform well in our area. When visiting your local garden or nursery, be sure to check out all the wonderful possibilities.

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Editors: Four color photos, suitable for publication, are available at right. Click on each thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. Shrub Fothergilla 1 (268K): Bright fall color adds to the impact of the shrub fothergilla in the home landscape.
Shrub Fothergilla 2 (172K): Fothergilla plants produce small, white, honey-scented flowers on 1- to 2-inch-long, upright spikes. The flower spikes somewhat resemble small bottlebrushes.
Shrub Fringetree 1 (236K): The white fringetree plant produces white, wispy flowers in 6- to 8-inch-long, pendulous clusters (panicles) in late May or early June.
Shrub Fringetree 2 (256K): Female white fringetree plants produce fleshy, dark blue, olive-sized fruits.

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