To attract hummingbirds to your garden provide a habitat that will give them food, water, shade, and shelter. Plant flowering shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, and vines on which they can perch and nest, and from which they can get the nectar they need to thrive. Hummingbirds rely on bright colors to find their food. Choose […] More
Erythrina — commonly called Coral Tree–is grown for its brilliant flowers in colors ranging from greenish white through yellow, light orange, and light red to orange and red. Flowers are borne singly or in clusters in the leaf axial or on terminal racemes Erythrina is native to woodland and thickets in tropical regions worldwide. It is commonly grown […] More
Exochorda — commonly called Pearlbush–is a deciduous shrub grown for its arching habit and abundant, showy, cup or saucer-shaped white flowers. Flowers appear in loose, spikelike clusters and open from a profusion of buds resembling pearls. Exochorda resembles spiraea to which it is related. Flowers are most showy in spring, then the plant fades into the landscape. […] More
Corylus — which includes filberts and hazelnuts–are grown in shrub borders and as specimen trees. Smaller hazels are best grown in shrub borders. Larger species and cultivars are excellent specimen trees. Filberts and hazelnuts are usually thought of as trees grown for their edible nuts, but several are pleasing ornamental shrubs–particularly European filbert (Corylus avellana), ‘Contorta’–known as […] More
Elaeagnus are fast-growing shrubs often used for hedges and screens. They are dense, full, and tough; they are upright and spreading growers that require little upkeep. Elaeagnus tolerate heat, wind, and seashore conditions. Established plants can withstand drought. Grow Elaeagnus in shrub borders and also as specimen shrubs. Evergreen varieties are well-suited for hedges or screens. […] More
Colutea —commonly called bladder senna–is a vigorous deciduous shrub grown for its pea-like flowers that are yellow or orange-brown. Colutea is suitable for shrub borders or dry, sunny banks where the flowers will stand out. Colutea grow in moderately fertile soil. They tolerate poor, dry soils, coastal conditions, and urban pollution. Don’t allow seeds to drop or […] More
Caesalpinia — which is synonymous with Poinciana–are grown for their panicles of 30 to 40 flowers that can be bright yellow, orange, or red depending on the variety. Caesalpinia are commonly known as bird of paradise bush or dwarf poinciana Caesalpinia are fast-growing shrubs of small trees with finely cut, filmy foliage. The plants are open and […] More
Caragana — Peashrub–is grown for its bright green leaves and peas-like usually yellow but sometimes white or pink flowers. The flowers are followed by slender brown pods in autumn. Caragana is a good choice for shrub borders and windbreaks. It tolerates cold, heat, wind, bright sun and is nearly indestructible in most situations. It grows best in humus-rich, […] More
Aronia — commonly called Chokeberry–are grown for their white, sometimes pink-tinged flowers borne in late spring. Aronia are also grown for their stunning fall colors and winter berries. Aronia are tough, undemanding shrubs useful as fillers or background plantings. They can survive on much or little water and tolerate a wide variety of soils. Aronia can grow […] More
Taxus — commonly called yew–are broadly rounded to upright and columnar evergreen coniferous large shrubs and trees. Taxus can be grown as trees or shrubs. They can be used as specimens or used as hedges or topiaries. Taxus have linear, dark green leaves, often paler beneath. The leaves are spirally arranged. Taxus are conifers but they do […] More
Prunus shrubs—often called laurels–include deciduous and evergreen plants that grow upright, rounded, or occasionally spreading depending on the species or variety. Two species–the English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and the Portuguese laurel (P. lusitanica) are dense and bushy and often used for hedges and shrubs borders. Others are also suited for hedging but are less commonly used. […] More
Photinia is medium to tall shrub grown for its dense, colorful foliage. It is often used in hedges both waist high and taller. Photinia is sometimes called redtip for the color of its young foliage; leaves are red when young, mid to dark green in summer, and turn red again in cold winter temperatures. Photinia also […] More
Stephen Albert