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NURSERY |
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SPRING COLOR IN THE LANDSCAPE: SHRUBS AND TREES
Spring in the Pacific Northwest can begin as early as February, depending on the
strength of winter's grip. The first notice of seasonal change comes from winter
hazels - Corylopsis. Their yellow-greenish catkiins hang from rain spangled twigs
bringing brightness to the garden. For scent, it is the evergreen Daphne odora -
mostly in its variegated form 'Aureomarginata' - which owns the air. The small
white tubular flowers with their dark pink backs fill the air with a fragrance akin
to rose water. Some gardeners might choose Sarcoccoca - the winter box - as
the first sign of spring with its thick, almond-like scent, but, like snowdrops and
cyclamen, it is truly a denizen of winter time.
Yellow flowers are well suited for this gloomily lit time of year. Most know the
bright, sometimes acid yellow bells of Forsythia which begin their act in late
February running nearly until April some years. The Cornelian Cherry - not
a cherry but a dogwood, Cornus mas - is a lovely small tree for the garden. Its
masses of tiny yellow flowers along its stem provide early nourishment for insects
and birds. Later in the year small cherry red or yellow edible fruit forms - hence
the common name. There are variegated leaf forms providing light and color in
summer when planted against dark green conifers.
The low ground cover Ericas (heathers) bloom throughout the year. In our area
it is E. darleyensis and its numerous cultivars which add cool pinks, mauves,
whites and dark purples to the early season garden. They - and their relatives
the heaths (Calluna) - also have richly colored foliage in colors of orange, purple,
yellow, ruddy reds and cream which intensify in hue during winter months. Most
are pruned after flowering to keep the plants tidy and within bounds.
Once March arrives the abundance of spring flowers is often too much to
choose from, leaving rather chaotic plantings fully screaming for attention. A
sublter and less known tree and shrub is found in the Amelanchier tribe. Known
as the shad blows or service berries, these North American natives range in
height from 6' to 25', having early clusters of white flowers which turn into purple
berries in summer, then quickly eaten by birds. In autumn the leaves take on
tints of orange, red and purple.
The rich purples and blues of Ceanothus - called California Lilacs - stand out
in spring because true blue is such an unusual flower color. Insects of all types
love the buckwheat scented flowers. Ceanothus require abundant hot sun, well
drained and rather starved soils. Too much watering and compost can kill them.
The evergreen types don't like hard pruning so plant accordingly; the deciduous
kinds respond well to pruning.
Along the freeways the reds, oranges and corals of the quince flowers hug tightly
the erratic, zig-zaggy, thorned stems. In the garden Chaenomeles can be pruned
into an open shape for a clematis to climb through and from which to drape its
summer flowers. Choose a viticella type of clematis which can be cut back hard
in February and still bloom in summer.
A magnolia tree in full flower is magnificent. but not everyone has room for a
large, one-hit-wonder. However, the typical small, city garden has room for the
Star Manolia - Magnolia stellata - in its many forms range from 10' to 20'. The
strappy flowers come in hues from bright white to the rich pink of M.s. 'Hane Platt.'
Again, a small summer blooming clematis trained up the magnolia provides a second
season of bloom.
There is a good range of evergreen, spring flowering shrubs which includes our
native Oregon Grape - Mahonia aquifolium - covered with bright yellow flowers
which delight the hummingbirds. White flowers form along the graceful, arching
branches of Osmanthus x burkwoodii and O. delavayi with their small, evergreen
leaves. Both can be pruned into geometric hedges. Unpruned they can reach to
12' or more after a couple of decades, but most remain small with a little corrective
pruning. In late February you can find Pieris stretching out their panicles from
which dangle lily-of-the-valley-like flowers for many weeks. These broad leaf
evergreens provide year round interest, peaking with their spring flowers of
white or pink tints and colorful spring foliage in ruddy reds, pinks, corals, soft
greens and creams. For a sunny, well drained site, perhaps with sandy or
gravelly soil, you should plant rosemary which blooms surprisingly early blue
or mauvish-blue flowers. Plant it near a walkway or sunny door or patio to
enjoy the scent of its leaves close at hand, year round.
For sheer elegance it is difficult to surpass the Japanese Cherry trees,
especially the disease resistant and shade tolerant white flowering 'Shirotae'
or Mt. Fuji cherry tree. It makes a broad tree, with bright green foliage,
suitable for a modest garden - if you can have only one spring flowering tree.
For larger gardens there are Prunus 'Amanogawa,' 'Accolade,' x yedoensis,
and Yoshino.'
The cool pink flowers of Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' open in November
continuing throughout the winter and early spring months, especially during
warm periods, holding buds in reserve if frosted. This viburnum makes a small
tree or large shrub and has ribbed green leaves edged in tones of purple.
There are smaller viburnums with fragrance and early bloom: V x burkwoodii
with leaves glossy on top and felted beneath. It is semi-evergreen and has
white-ish flowers from green or blush tinted buds. The variety 'Mohawk' has
dark red buds opening to white. Viburnum carlesii has sweetly scented white
flowers from pink buds. The leaves are greyish and downy, turning purplish
in winter. Its hybrid offspring V. x carlcephalum has good red and purple
autumn color. It is a big and vigorous shrub. The selection 'Cayuga' is a
smaller plant, withlarge flower heads and autumn colors in the orange-
reds.
While April sees the daffodils finishing - though jonquils are still to bloom
in May - this is the month of spring flowers in all their glory. To distinguish
themselves now, many flowers are perfumed. The small daphnes hold theirs
close: D. cneorum, sericea Collina Group, and tangutica Retusa Group. The
crabapples, however lay a delicate sweet fragrance on the warm spring air.
Wells Medina Nursery carries a fine selection of disease resistant flowering
crabapples which color up well in autumn and have small colorful fruits which
don't cause a mess on sidewalks or patios.
From Argentina and Chile comes Drimys winteri, an elegant broadleaf
evergreen with ruddy stems holding clusters of staryy white flowers.
Another of the ruddy, bronz-ish broad leaved evergreens is Leucothoe
fontanesiana. Plant in a moisture retentive soil to enjoy its long racemes
of white bell flowers which bring a subtle beauty to this arching shrub
with narrow, willow like leaves. There are dark and variegated leaved,
as well as dwarf forms.
In recent years the common lilac - Syringa vulgaris - has moved its blooming
into April - its powdery fragrance filling the air on warm days. The Rouen lilac
Syringa x chinensis - has smaller clusters of blooms, coming on a week or two
earlier on a more graceful plant. The dwarf Korean lilac - S. meyeri 'Palibin' - is
like a miniature common lilac, more dense and twiggy. It can be pruned to a
hedge shape - after flowering - and has rich orange-yellow-purple fall color.
Spring foliiage can be as colorful as flowers. The wise gardener will consider
the bronzy orange tints of the Serviceberry trees and shrubs, or the bright
yellows of Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' and the various yellow leaved
barberries, as well as Physocarpus 'Nugget' - which has a purple-red leaved
relative, P. Diabolo. The new growth from Photinia x fraseri can seem
unnaturally red at first - a bright cherry red bordering on true red. It is
best associated with the yellows of Kerria japonica, the early yellow roses
or the softer yellow forsythias. It is an evergreen shrub of great value for any
sized garden, though commonly and inadequately used as hedging for
dry shady areas. Given some sun and decent soil, it makes a large
lovely shrub or small tree with year round interest.
Other evergreen shrubs which have beauty in spring are Fatsia japonica,
Eleagnus, the many conifers, Daphniphyllum, Arbutus undeo, Garrya,
the Cherry and Portugese laurels, Magnolia grandiflora, bamboos,
Rhododendrons, Hebes and Choisya. A walk round any neighborhood
or the many nurseries and public gardens around Puget Sound will
give introduction to the vast wealth of early to late spring flowering
shrubs and trees. With pencil and notebook in hand, prepare to be inspired.
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