The Right-Size Flower Garden. Kerry Ann Mendez
with flowering shrubs and conifers. Dig, dig, swap, swap…Oh what a relief it is! You really don’t appreciate how much more work perennials are, compared to shrubs, until you make the switch. Don’t misunderstand, I still love perennials and will always have these in my gardens, just a lot less of them. Most “woodies” simply don’t require the same amount of water, fertilizer and routine care. And I can get every bit, if not more, color from shrubs and trees, especially given the explosion of new cultivars with dazzling foliage, berries, bark and/or form.
Drought Tolerant Flowering Shrubs for Sun to Part Sun
HYDRANGEA (PANICLE, SMOOTH AND OAKLEAF)
Hydrangea paniculata, arborescens and quercifolia
Zones 3 – 8 ♦ Sun to Part Shade
2.5' – 15'+ tall, 3' – 10' wide
Summer, fall flowers: white, pink
Attributes: Drought tolerant, cut and dried flower, container plant (some varieties); oakleaf is native to southeastern North America, smooth is native to North America I’m not playing water boy anymore, and neither should you. I’m putting my muck boot down on big leaf hydrangea’s (H. macrophylla) afternoon hissy fit, when its wilting leaves whine for water. It’s time to throw in the bucket and plant panicle, smooth or oakleaf hydrangeas instead. They’re just as beautiful and much less work. Check out this gorgeous oakleaf hydrangea ‘Gatsby Gal’! If you still insist on having blue flowers, then buy florist’s spray paint and spray away.
NINEBARK
Physocarpus opulifolius
Zones 3 – 8 ♦ Sun
3' – 10' tall, 3' – 6' wide
Early summer flowers: white with pink tinge
Attributes: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, container plant, bee and bird friendly, attractive foliage, exfoliating bark, native to central and eastern North America Vase-shaped ninebarks are the perfect alternative to invasive Japanese barberries. Ninebark produces delicious berries that birds find irresistible, but “recycled” seeds don’t create havoc in the environment. Fashionable foliage colors include chocolate, coppery-red, gold and green. Exfoliating bark keeps the show going in winter. ‘Little Devil’, ‘Tiny Wine’ and ‘Little Wine’ are the minis in the collection, maturing to only 3' – 4' tall with petite dusky leaves. (Pictured above: ‘Tiny Wine’.)
BLUE MIST, BLUEBEARD, BLUE SPIREA
Caryopteris clandonensis
Zones 5 – 11 ♦ Sun
2' – 4' tall, 2' – 3' wide
Late summer, fall flowers: blue, violet
Attributes: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, bee and butterfly friendly, fragrant foliage, hedge plant Blue mist shrub saves the best for last – an explosion of misty blue flowers in late summer. Butterflies relish the blooms even more than we do! Foliage can be silvery green or golden. ‘Lil Miss Sunshine’ (gold leaves) and ‘Petit Blue’ are the shortest in this family, topping out at 24" – 30". Blue mist shrub dies back to its trunk in colder climates. No worries, just prune off dead wood and it’s off to the races for another year of dazzling flowers. (Pictured above: ‘Petit Blue’.)
REBLOOMING LILAC
Syringa vulgaris
Zones 3 – 7 ♦ Sun
4' – 7' tall, 3' – 4' wide
Spring, summer, fall flowers: purple, violet
Attributes: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, hummingbird and butterfly friendly, fragrant, cut flower, container plant, hedge plant
Hold on to your garden hat! The ‘Bloomerang’ series of lilacs doesn’t know when to stop. Instead of only one flower flush, ‘Bloomerang’ yields two to three rounds of heavenly scented, purple flowers. ‘Bloomerangs’ max out around 6' and are mildew resistant. These are the perfect choice for entryways, entertainment areas and hedges. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage a more robust rebloom.
CHASTE TREE
Vitex agnus-castus
Zones 5 – 9 ♦ Sun
3' – 9'+ tall, 3'– 8' wide
Summer flowers: lavender, blue
Attributes: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, fragrant flowers and leaves, enjoyed by bees and butterflies, salt tolerant This is one of the few flowering shrubs I’ve yet to grow. What’s wrong with me?! These vase-shaped lookers sport gray-green, lance-shaped leaves and spikey, lavender-blue flowers in the heat of summer. ‘Little Diddley’ is a Proven Winners selection that only gets 3' – 6' tall. ‘Shoal Creek’ is favored for its extended bloom (fragrant flower spikes can be 8" – 12" long) and can be grown as a shrub or open-canopied tree reaching 15' or more in warmer climates. To control height, prune hard in late winter or early spring. Like blue mist shrub, chaste tree dies back to the ground in zones 5 and 6 and then shoots forth new wood from the base. And I’m sure you are wondering why it’s called chaste tree. Seems that in ancient times the leaves were believed to be an anaphrodisiac, helpful in curbing lustful urges. (Pictured above: ‘Little Diddley’.)
Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)
Additional flowering shrub choices include: Potentilla, Rugosa rose, Forsythia, tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), butterfly bush (Buddleia, sterile cultivars available)
Drought Tolerant Flowering Shrubs for Part Shade and Shade
JAPANESE KERRIA, JAPANESE ROSE, EASTER ROSE
Kerria japonica
Zones 4 – 9 ♦ Part Shade to Shade
3' – 10' tall, 4' – 8'+ wide
Spring flowers: yellow
Attributes: Drought tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant, tolerates wet soil, golden fall foliage
When people saw Kerria’s bright yellow, pom-pom flowers in my shade garden, they’d ask where in the world I found a spring-blooming rose that thrives in low light. This underused shrub deserves more respect! Yellow blooms can be single-petaled or clustered. Arching, lime-green