Evergreens are great. They have a year-round presence, hide unsightly foundations, and provide clippings for holiday decorations. But many are, well, a boring green. This episode explores the world of shrubs that sport interesting or unique foliage. Whether they have intense variegation, a hue that is as fiery as a sunset, or simply just a fine texture that makes them alluring, these shrubs are standouts. Why plant a green meatball when you can plant a hydrangea that has tricolor leaves? We also got one of the East Coast’s premier shrub experts, Andy Brand of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, to share some of his favorite unique shrubs. Have you ever heard of ‘Pucker Up’ dogwood? We hadn’t either!
Did you know that there’s more to ninebarks than just burgundy foliage? Coppertina® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindia’, Zones 3–7) has a brilliant shimmer that is unique. It can appear red, orange, and gold depending on the light.
Bigleaf hydrangeas can’t always be counted on to actually bloom each year—particularly in cooler zones. Steve says that if ‘New Wave’ hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘New Wave’, Zones 6–9) never blooms, it won’t matter because its multicolor leaves are beautiful enough.
It’s variegated, it’s a dwarf, and it blooms prolifically in spring. Creme Fraiche® deutzia (Deutzia gracilis ‘Mincream’, Zones 5–8) packs a lot of great traits into a tiny package.
Although black willow (Salix nigra, Zones 4–9) may not be the type of shrub that pops to mind when talking about “unique shrubs,” its texture is unbeatable.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
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Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
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Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Comments
Your lead in text had me confused, I must say. "Evergreens are great" but the article focuses on deciduous shrubs. There are indeed variegated evergreens, as there are also non-variegated evergreens that offer alternatives to "boring green." That's what I imagined would follow…...
Wow so amazing!!
Love it!
Great work!
amazing
amazing
like it
nice
excellent!
lovely
It's amazing!
its real natural beauty
amazing
great
graceful
wonderful
Wow! so nice!
I love nature
It's fantastic!
I love nature!
I love this garden!
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