Brunfelsia, commonly called Yesterday-today-and tomorrow, is grown for its handsome foliage and flowers that change color from the time they open until they drop. Blossoms open purple (“yesterday”), then fade to lavender (“today”), and then fade again to white (“tomorrow”). Brunfelsia can be grown indoors and out but they require some pampering. They want humus-rich soil […] More
Loropetalum, commonly called fringe flower or Chinese fringe flower, is a graceful small to medium-size evergreen shrub with drooping tiered branches and colorful spider-like flowers. Loropetalum species have mid-green leaves and white flowers. Cultivars have red to burgundy colored leaves and red flowers. Loropetalum blooms early in spring and then sometimes blooms again in autumn. […] More
Grevillea is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees native to Australia. Grevillea bears showy clusters of slender tubular flowers that split and curve backward giving them a spidery look Flower colors vary by species, but red is often seen. The foliage is often fine and needlelike. Grevilleas species and cultivars vary in size from small […] More
Callistemon–commonly called bottlebrush–is an evergreen shrub commonly grown for its colorful, bottlebrush-like flower spikes which are usually red but can be purple, pink, white, green, or yellow. Callistemon are subtropical plants; they don’t tolerate cold. They are fast-growing. Callistemon can be grown in a shrub border or as foundation plants. They can be planted against […] More
Rosmarinus–commonly called Rosemary–is an evergreen shrub that is commonly cultivated for its bright lavender-blue flowers. The narrowly linear leaves are rich in aromatic oil and often included in culinary herb gardens. Rosmarinus cultivars include both low-growing and tall shrubs. Tall cultivars can be grown in a shrub border, mixed border, or as a hedge. Low-growing […] More
Escallonia is a genus of subtropical evergreen shrubs grown for their shiny, often aromatic foliage and long-blooming, funnel-shaped, five-petaled flowers. Escallonia flowers freely over a long season mainly in summer. Flowers are white to pink or red. Escallonia leaves are glossy green and broadly oval. They appear alternately or whorled. Escallonia can be grown as a […] More
Pittosporum is a genus of subtropical mostly evergreen shrubs and trees grown for their glossy, leathery leaves and dense foliage. Pittosporums also bear clusters of fragrant small white flowers and showy pea-size fruit. Pittosporums adapt to a wide range of soils and tend to make good seaside plantings. They can withstand salt, drought, and wind, in full sun […] More
Acca–commonly called pineapple guava–is a subtropical evergreen shrub cultivated for its colorful cup-shaped flowers and in warm regions for its edible fruits. Acca is sometimes listed under its previous genus name Feijoa. Acca flowers are more than an inch across; they have long red stamens and purple-red petals that are white on the margins. In […] More
Trees and shrubs with decorative bark can add another element of interest to the garden. There are colorful barks, flaking barks, and peeling barks. Some trees and shrubs have all three. Tree and shrub size and form are commonly the first things gardeners look at when choosing a tree or shrub for the garden. Not far […] More
Many shrubs that have been a backdrop to summer flowers take center stage in autumn. Brilliant and bold leaves (and berries) take over the garden in fall just as the last bright blooms of summer fade. Autumn shrub colors are the result of plants winding down their growing season. As plants cease the production of […] More
Many shrubs are grown for their attractive colored berries or fruit that commonly appear in autumn or winter. Some varieties produce more abundant crops than others. The right growing conditions are important for berry and fruit production. Some shrubs produce male and female flowers on separate plants (these are referred to as dioecious). Cross-pollination must […] More
Symplocos–commonly called sapphireberry–is a large deciduous shrub or small tree that is often grown for its panicles or racemes of yellow or white flowers that appear in spring followed by blue, black, purple, or white berry-like fruits in autumn. There are about 250 species in the Symplocos genus, but only one, S. paniculata, is generally […] More
Stephen Albert