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Winter Wisdom Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State University Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Each week we feature interesting topics for winter reading. |
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Week of 3/3/03 Responding to several recent calls on pruning shrubs, we suggested refraining from pruning early spring blooming shrubs at this time because flowering may be reduced if the buds have already been formed. This led to some inquiries about which flowering shrubs thrive in this area. Let’s start with some old favorites. Among the most familiar is Forsythia. This hardy, golden-flowered harbinger of spring is now available in new varieties that offer larger flowers, variegated foliage and red stems. They are most spectacular when grown in full sun and allowed to develop their natural upright arching habit. Pruning them flat spoils their natural grace and beauty. Look for new varieties like Fiesta that have yellow and green variegated leaves and red stems when grown in full sun. Spirea is another hardy favorite enjoying a rebirth of popularity. It is now available in a great variety of sizes, summer and fall foliage colors, and flower colors ranging from traditional white to lemon yellow, pink and bright red. Foliage may be dark green, bright yellow, or variegated, and the size may range from dwarf border plants through six-foot tall giants. Weigela rounds out the trio of old standbys that retain their popularity due to their hardiness and the fact that new varieties offer foliage ranging from green leaves edged in yellow or white, shiny dark purple leaves, or bright yellow foliage. Flowers range in color from light pink to deep rose and ruby red. Sizes range from 18 inches to over six feet, adding to their landscape versatility. Weigela also has the dubious distinction of being the most often misspelled and mispronounced shrub name. It is named for a German mid-18th century botanist, Christian Weigel. The botanical genus name is Weigela, without a final –ia and it is pronounced accordingly. Among other reliably hardy spring and summer bloomers are Aronias (Chokeberry). The species melanocarpus has glossy green leaves that turn deep red in fall, and bears black ornamental berries. Other hardy flowering shrubs include Callicarpa (Beautybush), with its bright purple berries, and Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet), noted for its fragrant white or pink flowers that attract butterflies. Clethra is versatile in that it grows well in part to full sun, and tolerates moist conditions. Deutzia scabra is a four to six foot shrub with double pink flowers in early summer. Older plants often have peeling orange bark. Shrubs increasing in popularity for the home landscape include several Hamamelis (Witchhazel) varieties. These large shrubs or small trees can grow to 20 feet tall. Their uniquely shaped blossoms of yellow, orange or red are borne in late winter and very early spring. Some top their early performance with a brilliant yellow to red foliage display in the fall. In our next article we shall initiate the seasonal change from “Winter Wisdom” to “What’s Hot on the Hotline?” that coincides with the reopening of the Hotline, by addressing the wonderful world of broadleaf evergreens including hardy Azaleas, Ilex and Rhododendrons, as well as some more exotic selections. Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension
Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent. * Winter Wisdom is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm . To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas. Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson
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