Deciduous Shrubs Flashcards
Bluemist Shrub or Bluemist Caryopteris
Caryopteris x clandonensis
Plant Description
Caryopteris x clandonensis (Bluemist Shrub) is a small shrub (2-3 feet tall) with silver-green foliage and purple-blue flowers. It is an herbaceous shrub, meaning that it dies back every year and largely regrows from new shoots, though some new growth can appear on older wood. For best growth, the plant shoot be cut back heavily in late winter or early spring before it has broken dormancy.
The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 1-2 inches long and arranged opposite on the stem. While the regular variety of Caryopteris x clandonensis has smooth leaf edges, many of the cultivars have serrated edges. The small and narrow leaves give the plant a light a airy look in the landscape. The small putple-blue blossoms occur in clusters and are carried on the last six inches of the stem. Blooms appear in mid to late summer and persist through fall.
Caryopteris x clandonensis is noted for its vigorous growth and tolerance of poor soils, heat and drought conditions. It does not perform well in wet soils. It spreads by seed and can easily take over an area if seedlings are not removed.
Landscape Use
As a small shrub, Caryopters x clandonensis work well in perennial border plantings or other massings of plants. It is also suitable for use in parking islands because of its tolerance for poor soils and hot conditions.
Notable Cultivars
Worcester Gold: A yellow-leaved variety with light blue blooms.
Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia
Plant Description
Forsythia x intermedia is a large shrub famous for its showy bright yellow blossoms in early spring. As one of the first plants to bloom in the spring it is widely recognizable, though it quickly fades from memory after the blooms are spent. Sizable, serrated, ovate leaves, arranged opposite each other on the stem, create a dense foliage cover on the shrub once the blossoming is done.
Once the blossoming is finished, Forsythia is easily identified through its stems. The most noticeable feature is the hollow pith between the bud nodes. The greenish stems also have prominent lenticels speckling the stems.
The form of the plant is naturally unkempt, especially during the blooming period when the plant can look spindly. However, they are easily pruned and shaped. Forsythia is noted for its hardiness and vigor. Regular pruning is needed to keep the plant from becoming overgrown and messy looking. Prune once blooming is completed to encourage new growth during the season.
Landscape Use
Forsythia x intermedia is often used in the landscape as a spring accent plant, either in mass plantings or as part of a larger planting. Because its tolerance of poor soils, it is an excellent choice for planting in islands of parking lots or other sites with poor soils. Dense summer foliage also makes Forsythia a suitable deciduous hedge selection.
Points of Interest
Forsythia has largely fallen out of favor, largely due to its overuse in the landscape for several decades. However, there are several new varieties that are garnering renewed interest.
Notable Cultivars
Lynwood Gold: A large cultivar (8 feet tall and wide) with especially heavy spring blooming of bright yellow flowers. The blossoms are more evenly distributed upon the stems than in other varieties, creating a more uniform looking shrub. Leaves are dark green and large (5 inches) with deep serration, and more lancate in shape than the regular species.
Gold Tide (Courtasol): A low (2 feet tall an up to 6 feet wide), spreading variety of Forsythia suitable for cascading or as a groundcover. Leaves are lime green and very lancate with less noticeable serration.
Tatarian Honeysuckle or Bush Honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica
Plant Description
Lonicera tatarica is a large (10 feet tall), blooming shrub. It has a good oval form, though branches may exhibit some slight weeping habit at the ends. Branching is very dense and should be regularly pruned to prevent it becoming too overgrown. The bark of the stems is a light grey and the stems have a hollow pith.
Leaves are green to blue-green, ovate, oppositely arranged on the stem and about 2 inches long with smooth edges. Flowers appear on the shrub in late spring, after the leaves have appeared. Clusters of colorful buds open into fragrant, four-petaled blossoms in the spring. The blossoms may be white or varying shades of pink. Following the blossoms, clusters of bright red berries, 1/2 inches in diameter, appear in the summer.
Lonicera tatarica is very cold hardy and also tolerates poor soil and other environmental conditions.
Landscape Use
Traditionally, Lonicera tatarica has been used as a hedge or border shrub. It is also suitable in bed plantings, though there are several other flowering and fruiting shrubs that are more impressive.
Points of Interest
The Russian Aphid can cause significant ornamental and physical damage to Tatarian Honeysuckle and has been a major problems throughout the country. Tatarian Honeysuckle is also considered invasive in many parts of the country.
Notable Cultivars
Arnold’s Red: The most popular commercially available cultivar. It was selected specifically for its resistance to the Russian Aphid. Blossoms are red.
European Fly Honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum
Plant Description
Lonicera xylosteum, or European Fly Honeysuckle, is a fast-growing, large deciduous shrub (8-10 feet tall) with a good rounded habit. Similarly to L. tatarica, the branches can assume a weeping habit at the ends. The chestnut-colored stems are slightly pubescent (covered with small hairs). Regular pruning is necessary to prevent the plant from becoming too overgrown.
The leaves of the L. xylosteum are elliptic, silver-green and 1.5 inches long. Young leaves are very pubescent, with light hairs giving the leaves a silver tinge. Mature leaves are also slightly pubescent. White blooms occur in mid-spring and last for a couple of weeks. They are not as showy as other species of Honeysuckle. L. xylosteum also bears less fruit than other species of Honeysuckle. Any fruit borne is red and 1/2 inches diameter.
Landscape Use
Lonicera xylosteum is useful as a screen or border hedge, as the dense stems provide effective screening even during the winter. The European Fly Honeysuckle is also useful in places with poor soil conditions. The smaller cultivars are popular as foundation plantings.
Points of Interest
Lonicera xylosteum does not perform well in consistently hot climates.
Notable Cultivars
Emerald Mound: A compact form, this variety has a slightly spreading form (3 feet high by 5 feet wide). The blue-green foliage grows very dense, making it ideal for foundation plantings.
Claveyi: A smaller cultivar (5-6 feet tall and wide) than the regular species, Claveyi is an excellent selection for parking lot plantings because of its high tolerance of salt. The blooms are a creamy yellow.
Miniglobe: This compact variety grows to be 4 feet high and wide. The white blossoms are small and the most inconspicuous of the species.
Mock Orange
Philadelphus virginalis
Plant Description
Philadelphus virginalis, or Mock Orange, is famous for its strongly fragrant blossoms whose citrus scent is similar to that of orange blossoms. The four-petaled white blossoms are very showy, especially on double-blooming varieties. Best blooming occurs during a two-week period in mid-summer, but irregular blooming will last for several weeks. The leaves are green to dark-green, 2-4 inches long and ovate in shape with very visible veins. Depending on the cultivar, there may be very noticeable teeth on the leaf margins, or only slightly noticeable teeth.
The shrub can grow up to 8 feet high, with a width varying from 5 to 7 feet. The form is upright with a degree of wildness. It can easily become leggy or woody looking if left unpruned, and regular pruning is recommended to promote new growth and better blooming. The ovate, dark-green leaves are 2-3 inches long and arranged oppositely on the stem.
Mock Orange is noted for how easy it is to grow. It tolerates most soil and moisture conditions. It prefers full sun, but performs well in nearly full shade.
Landscape Use
Use larger cultivars of Mock Orange towards the back of shrub borders, while the smaller cultivars can be used near the front. Because of its fragrant blossoms, it is ideal to use near patios or other outdoor spaces, though it is best not used as a visual focal point because of its short period of interest while in bloom.
Points of Interest
While you have learned a common hybrid species of Mock Orange, there are many other species in the genus of Philadelphusthat are also very popular in the industry.
Notable Cultivars
Miniature Snowflake: A dwarf selection of Mock Orange (2-3 feet tall and wide) with very fragrant double-blooming flowers.
Natchez: A large selection of Mock Orange (8-10 feet tall) that is extremely showy when in bloom. However, the flowers are not fragrant as other cultivars.
Blizzard: This compact cultivar (4-5 feet tall and 3 feet wide) has prolific single white blossoms that are very fragrant. The leaves are smaller and a lighter green than other varieties. (Pictured above in 3d)
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Plant Description
Physocarpus opulifolius, or Ninebark, is an extremely hardy, large (up to 10 feet tall and wide) deciduous shrub with a natural cascading form that becomes rounded with maturity. The bark is light brown to cinnamon in color and exfoliates in strands on older stems, providing good appeal in the winter. Ninebark will withstand extreme cold and nearly all types of soil conditions and is very drought tolerant once established.
Large, deeply lobed and serrated leaves give the plant a coarse texture in the landscape which is contrasted by the light and airy look of the clustered blossoms. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, and can be up to 5 inches long.
Flowering occurs in corymbs (rounded or flat-topped clusters of blossoms) of white or very pale pink blossoms. These occur during the summer and are followed by clusters of red berries in late fall.
Landscape Use
Because of its drought tolerance, Physocarpus opulifolius is an excellent choice for dry locations. It is suitable in mass plantings or as a hedge. It can also be used as an accent plant in a shrub border, especially the purple or yellow cultivars.
Points of Interest
Ninebark is said to have earned its name from its exfoliating bark, from which emerged the belief that it had nine layers of bark.
Notable Cultivars
Diablo: Almost true purple foliage, with a dark purple on the top of the leaf and a gray-green shade on the bottom side. Flowers are white with a pink overcast. Grows to 8 feet tall and wide.
Summer Wine: A very popular smaller (5 feet high and wide) variety of Ninebark with deeply lobed dark red foliage and pinkish-white blossoms.
Snowfall: A green-leaved cultivar with bright white blossoms. The form is more spreading and cascading than other varieties, with a mature height of 6 feet and a width of up to 10 feet.
Dart’s Gold: Spring foliage appears bright yellow before fading to lime green in the summer. White blossoms appear on the plant but are not nearly as noticeable against the yellow foliage. Grows 5 feet high and wide.
Potentilla or Bush Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Plant Description
Potentilla fruticosa, or Potentilla or Cinquefoil, is a small shrub (4 feet high and wide) that is very common in both residential and commercial landscapes due to its hardiness, soft texture and showy blooms. It will naturally form an irregularly shaped bush with a slight weeping habit towards the ends of the branches. It can also be easily pruned and sheared, and is regularly seen in well manicured forms in commercial landscapes. Some large stems form in the plant, but the majority of growth occurs on the droves of finer stems.
The green leaves are alternately pinnately compound and less than an inch long. There are normally five leaflets, from which the plant gains ones of its common names (Cinquefoil). The leaves are soft. The small leaves give the plant a fine texture and it appears to be a delicate plant but in reality is one of the hardiest.
Round, one inch flowers with five petals cover the stems of the shrub in summer and last throughout the fall. The flowering is very dense and showy which, combined with its long bloom period, makes Potentilla one of the best flowering shrubs.
Landscape Use
Best used as a flowering accent in borders or in mass plantings. Potentilla fruticosa is often used as a foundation planting because of its small size, early spring leafing and colorful blossoms.
Points of Interest
While Potentilla fruticosa performs exceptionally in climates with cold winters, it will not do well in more temperate climates. Our high dosage of summer UV rays will bleach the color out of the blossoms on many cultivars as the summer progresses. Pink blossoms will often become white, and red and orange blossoms will become yellow. Plant in a location that is protected from the late afternoon sun to preserve better color.
Notable Cultivars
Abbotswood: Profuse white blossoms stand out against the blue-green foliage of this cultivar.
Red Ace: Dark red-orange blossoms. Blossoms will end up more orange than red in Utah.
Gold Drop: A superior yellow-blooming Potentilla and one of the most widely used cultivars. Very profuse and consistent bloomer.
Tangerine: Yellow blossoms with heavy orange overtones are very beautiful. Unfortunately, I have had little success with maintaining.
Apricot Whisper: Apricot colored flowers with light green foliage. Slightly smaller than most other cultivars.
Pink Beauty: Pure pink flowers with dense green foliage.
Bumald Spirea
Spiraea x bumalda
Plant Description
Spiraea x bumalda is a small (3-4 feet high, 4-5 feet wide) mounded shrub with a dense branching habit. Its compact form and relatively low-maintenance need have made it very popular in commercial landscapes. It is a hardy plant once it is established, but it is common to see die back, though it will typically quickly recover with a little pruning.
The 1-3 inch long leaves are arranged alternately and elliptic-lanceolate in shape with serrated edges. New leaves emerge in shades of red and gradually change to a dark green. In fall the leaves turn a rusty orange color.
During the late spring and early summer plentiful flowers emerge in corymbs up to 4 inches across. Typically the blossoms are either pink or white. The stem and buds on the corymbs are typically a dark red and are showy in their own right. Once the blossoms are spent, the brown corymbs covering the plant are quite unsightly and should be pruned.
Landscape Use
Spiraea x bumalda is very popular with landscapers for use in mass plantings, as foundation plantings, or island plantings in parking lots. It can also be used in shrub or perennial borders.
Points of Interest
Spiraea x bumalda is overused in landscapes, especially commercial, and has become all too common.
Notable Cultivars
Anthony Waterer: Probably the most used Spirea, of any species. New leaves emerge red before turning to green, then turn to a deep maroon color in the fall. Blossoms are bright pink. Reaches 4 feet tall and wide.
Crispa: A smaller form, it grows only 2-3 feet tall and wide. The leaves have deeply cut serrations with overtones of red. Flowers are bright pink.
Goldflame: The foliage has beautiful variegation on young foliage of yellow, orange and lime green turning to green in the summer. Pink bloomer.
Vanhoutte or Bridalwreath Spirea
Spiraea x vanhouttei
Plant Description
This medium-large sized shrub (8 feet tall and 12 feet wide) is a true heritage variety, and it is a testament to its beauty and hardiness that it has remained popular for well over a hundred years. The shape of the shrub is defined by its graceful weeping branches giving it a fountain-like shape.
Unlike other species of Spiraea small umbels of white flowers, instead of corymbs, completely cover the shrub while in bloom . It is without a doubt one of the most showy blooming shrubs. One inch long leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. The leaves have 3 or 5 lobes, though they are ill-defined and can blend in with the irregular serration on the leaf edge.
Landscape Use
Good for use as an accent plant because of its excellent flowering.
Points of Interest
Although very hardy, Spiraea x vanhouttei is susceptible to ornamental damage from leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Japanese Spirea
Spiraea japonica
Plant Description
A small, compact shrub (2-3 feet tall and wide) with generally smaller leaves and finer texture than other species of Spiraea. Most cultivars have generally rounded form that requires little maintenance to keep. Prefers full sun, but will perform well in shade, though flower production may lessen. Requires regular watering or the leaves will burn quickly.
Dark green serrated leaves (1-2 inches) are arranged alternately on the stem. Large clusters of pink flower corymbs appear in the late spring. Once the blossoms are spent, the brown corymbs covering the plant are quite unsightly and should be pruned.
Landscape Use
Perfect for foundation plantings and as flowering accent shrubs in planting beds and borders. Can be used as informal ornamental low hedges. Good for parking lot islands because the small size will not obstruct a driver’s view.
Points of Interest
Although very hardy, Spiraea japonica is susceptible to ornamental damage from leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Notable Cultivars
Alpina: Small leaved variety (3/4 inch long) with dark green, slightly serrated leaves, and clusters of light pink and white flowers. Short and spread, 1-2 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide.
Little Princess: Small leaved variety (3/4 inch long) with rich green leaves. The plant is slightly larger than most other cultivars of S. japonica at nearly 3 feet. Blossoms are a pale pink.
Shirobana: A very large cultivar of S. japonica at nearly 4 feet high at maturity. It is unique for its clusters of dark pink, light pink and white blossoms can appear on the bush, though this is inconsistent between plants and many plants do not exhibit this attribute.
Magic Carpet: A beautiful dwarf form (18-24 inches) with vibrant leaf coloration. Leaves emerge dark red and slowly fade to orange, then yellow and finally to a light green. Blossoms are pink.
Common Lilac
Syringa x vulgaris
Plant Description
Although overused in the past, Lilac has plenty of good qualities to always warrant its consideration for inclusion in a landscape. It is more famous for its powerful fragrance when in full bloom. Showy blossoms occur on large panicles in the early spring and are very showy. Following the blossoms, fruit capsules appear on the panicles. Lilacs are easily identifiable throughout the year (even in winter) by these fruit clusters. Blossoming occurs on old growth, so pruning is best done shortly after the blooms have faded.
A large shrub (10-15 feet tall and wide), Lilac is vigorous and can become invasive is suckers are allowed to spread. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun. The stems have a smooth, light grey bark. The bush will become very woody with thin foliage at the base over time, though vigilant thinning can lead to the The dark green, ovate leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems. The leaves tend to fold along the central vein, a trait that is exaggerated when the plant is under-watered or stressed.
Landscape Use
Excellent has a hedge or screen or at the back of large shrub borders. Smaller cultivars are suitable for use in planting beds.
Points of Interest
Lilacs are susceptible to aphids and powdery mildew.
Notable Cultivars
Alba: A large white cultivar with a good scent. 10 feet tall.
Ludwig Spaeth: Bright purple flowers and an excellent smell. 10-12 feet high and 6-8 feet wide.
Charles Joly: Hot pink or magenta blooms. 10 feet tall and wide.
Sensation: A popular variety with bicolored purple flowers with white edges. 10 feet tall.
President Lincoln: Nearly true blue blossoms have made this a consistently popular variety. Reaches 8 feet high with a slightly larger width.
Syringa meyeri Palibin: Dwarf Korean Lilac- A dwarf form of lilac with very fragrant light pink blossoms. Grows only 4-5 feet tall and wide.
European Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum opulus
Plant Description
Viburnum opulus is a large (10 feet tall and wide) deciduous shrub with well-rounded shape. It is adaptable to many soil and site conditions and is considered a very tough and hardy shrub. Performs best, especially in berry production, in full sun.
The branching and foliage cover is very dense, making it an excellent choice for hedges and screens. The dark green 3-4 inch leaves are arranged opposite on the stem and have three large pointed lobes. The edge of the leaf is serrated. The leaves turn orangish-red in the fall.
White flowers appear in rounded corymbs with showy white flowers forming a ring around a larger cluster of inconspicuous smaller white flowers. Bright red berries appear in late summer and persist through the fall, but by winter they appear shriveled and of little aesthetic value.
Landscape Use
Performs very well as a hedge or screen. Can also be used as a flowering accent plant.
Points of Interest
Viburnum opulus is very susceptible to aphids, and infected bushes should be treated immediately. The berries are attractive to birds, but they are mildly poisonous to humans.
Notable Cultivars
Compactum: About half the size of the regular species (4-6 feet tall and wide) with good flower and fruit production.
Nanum: A dwarf form (2 feet tall and wide) that has a very dense habit and a good globular form. It very rarely flowers or sets fruit. Its small size and excellent form makes it a popular accent plant.
Sterile (or Roseum): Also known as Snowball Bush. The large white double blooms resemble snowballs and appear profusely all over the bush.
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum trilobum
Plant Description
Viburnum trilobum is a medium to large deciduous (8-12 feet tall and wide) shrub with a rounded and compact form. The branching habit is upright very dense, creating an impenetrable shrub. It is very similar in appearance and form to V. opulusexcept that it is usually slightly smaller. It is not picky about its soil or pH, but performs best when in moist, well-drained soil. Plant in full sun to part shade, though I have seen beautiful specimens in deep shade.
The green leaves are 3-5 inches long and 2.5-4 inches wide. They have three distinct lobes, with the central lobe composing half the leaf or more, and are finely serrated along the leaf margin. They are arranged opposite of each other on the stem. In fall the leaves turn a mixture of reds and purple.
White flowers appear in rounded corymbs with showy white flowers forming a ring around a larger cluster of inconspicuous smaller white flowers. Bright red berries appear in late summer and persist through the fall.
Landscape Use
Viburnum trilobum is very popular for use in hedges and borders. Its blossoms, fruit and good fall color also make it a suitable selection as an accent plant. It is also attractive to birds and other wildlife.
Points of Interest
The fruit is edible.
Notable Cultivars
Bailey Compact: A good compact form (6 feet tall and wide) and an industry standard. The leaves are lighter shade of green and it turns a deep red in the fall. Flower and fruit production is fair, but not as consistent as the regular species.
Alfredo: A compact form (6 feet tall and wide) with good red fall color. Extremely similar to Bailey Compact. Branching is a little more dense and fruit production is more consistent.
