Shrubs offer beauty, practicality & surprises
Cotinus, commonly called Smoke Tree or Smoke Bush, was once known for its “purpleness:’ How things have changed.
Syringa vulgaris or Common Lilac, a fragrant boon to the landscape, has been bred for re-blooming cultivars that will set blossoms three or four times a season.
Several varieties of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus) are available and hardy in our area. Pictured is Cutleaf Rhus Typhina “Dissecta."
Our previous column two weeks ago touted ornamental shrubs with re-blooming capability as well as nesting sites for birds. Today we continue our shrub odyssey with offerings that boast beauty but generally no nest cover. However, color, growth patterns and texture will amaze you and shrubs that you never thought of growing together will form a picture of exciting possibilities.
Idaho’s state flower, the syringa — or true lilac — is incomparable on its own, with shiny green leaves, exquisite white supremely scented flowers and an ornament to any landscape. Syringa vulgaris, or the common lilac, however, has seen a plethora of new cultivars especially bred for repeat blooming: all that’s needed is diligent removal of faded flowers. Lilacs are one of the most practical shrubs for our area since they prefer cool climates and require a long winter chill. Incidentally, the beloved old common lilac becomes so huge over time they do indeed provide cover for nesting birds.
Not so the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus). The “furry” branches, pretty spray-like wine-red flower/seedheads add real beauty and uniqueness to a garden. Another native is its cousin Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) which sports the same pinnately divided leaves/leaflets, but with florets of whitish to greenish, fruiting to dry fruits covered with hairs. Our pictured cutleaf variety is just one of many available cultivars. Notwithstanding its beauty to the landscape it is not without problems. It grows quickly and the brittle wood can suffer under heavy snow and ice damage. That said, a beautiful red-leaved Sumac growing in daughter Shelley’s front yard has gone unscathed for the past four or five years.
Sumac’s basic winter hardiness, tolerance to poor, dry soil and its flower/seedhead source of food for birds and pollinators — along with its graceful beauty makes it a winner for many landscapes. One note: They DO get big over time, so leave plenty of room and plan on smaller, low-growing shrubs to front them.
Cotinus or “Smoke bush” is an eye-catcher. A small graceful tree, known for its purple leaves and smoky, feathery flowers, it draws butterflies and pollinating wasps like a magnet. This graceful shrub is hardy here and mine came through the deep snow and freezing weather with no damage. Though generally called “Purple Smoke Tree” for its classic purple color, Cotinus is now also available in a brilliant red (“Grace”) and a yellow-lime variation (“Golden Spirit” pictured above) with autumn colors of orange, coral and red.
Cornus — our native Red and/or Yellow Osier dogwoods, with their bright stems enlivening winter landscapes, are generally shubby, but when grown singly, mature into a more tree-like form. These are choice for small landscapes, with all-season attractiveness and the bonus of making great feature-plantings when grouped closely together or staggered in threes. Depending on your choice, the bright red — or gold — stems provide gorgeous wintertime color. Slow to mature, they do offer the charming traditional small magnolia-type blossoms after a few years.
Our next column in this series will spotlight small berry-bearing shrubs/trees — native and/or cultivated — as perky and practical inclusion in your landscape background.
Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com. or by phone at 208-265-4688.