University of California Cooperative Extension Valley Landscape Views Fresno, Tulare and Kings Counties Issue # 5: Shrubs in the Landscape January 2006 Shrub Selection for Valley Gardens IN THIS ISSUE Pamela Geisel Shrubs are major components of most landscapes. They are used to screen, Shrub Selection for Valley Gardens direct traffic, as accents, for wildlife habitats, as windbreaks, as fill and Outstanding Shrubs for the foundational plantings and for color and texture in the landscape. How we San Joaquin Valley use shrubs should dictate the species selection for any given landscape. Spring Flowering Shrubs Before purchasing any shrubs, decide the ultimate use and make sure that Tips to Creating a Groomed Hedge the chosen plants fit the needs. Also make sure that cultural practices are appropriate for the species. For example, it isn’t uncommon to see Nutrient Deficiencies - IRON flowering quince sheared into a boxy shape resulting in an odd flowering INSECT Management habit associated with the incorrect pruning method for the species (see next - Mites, Scales, Aphids article on pruning shrubs for maximum flowering). DISEASE Management Consideration should also be given to the need for color. There are many - Root & Crown deciduous and evergreen shrubs that contribute not only flower color but - Leaf spots, Rusts, Cankers also berry, bark, and foliage color to the landscape. For example, leaves with white or yellow variegation can brighten up a dark corner. Spring Sources of Information flowering shrubs such as hydrangea contribute large showy flowers in spring. Evergreen shrubs such as juniper come in a variety of foliage colors UC Cooperative Extension and contribute significantly to a garden in winter. Ornamental Horticulture Farm Advisors Shrub form is also important. Shrubs may be columnar, round headed, spreading and prostrate, or pyramidal. These shapes can add dimension and Fresno County Pamela Geisel movement to a landscape. The columnar shape of a juniper repeated down UC Cooperative Extension a long driveway can add a sense of drama to the approach of your home. 1720 S. Maple Avenue Fresno, CA 93702 Office: (559) 456-7554 The key to successful shrub selection however, is ultimate size. Shrubs are E-mail: [email protected] a permanent part of the landscape. They should be enjoyed for many years with little maintenance. We often plant shrubs (or small trees) that are too Tulare and Kings Counties Michelle Le Strange large for the site and as such must be frequently pruned to keep them UC Cooperative Extension confined. It is important that the ultimate size of the shrub be taken into 4437 S. Laspina St., Ste. B Tulare, CA, 93274 consideration prior to planting to avoid the frequent maintenance Office: (559) 685-3309 Ext. 220 requirements. Inside this newsletter are several tables that I’ve compiled to E-Mail: [email protected] help in appropriate shrub selection for landscape use in San Joaquin Valley Gardens. -1- Outstanding Shrubs for San Joaquin Valley Gardens Short Shrubs (1- 3 feet in height) Common Name Genus and species Cultural Conditions Exposure Notes Many cultivars and colors Azalea Rhododendron sp. Organic well drained soils Part to full shade available. Evergreen Require excellent drainage, Emerald Carpet Arctostaphylos “Emerald Full sun to part shade, Many other cultivars available. with deep infrequent Manzanita Carpet” especially in afternoon Evergreen irrigation Good drainage and Nice green mat or ground Dwarf Coyote Brush Baccharis pilularis Full sun to part shade, monthly watering cover. Evergreen Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii Regular water Full sun to light shade Deciduous, red-leaf Low mounding shrub. Full sun, shear after Deciduous with clusters of Blue Mist Caryopteris Caryopteris x clandonensis Needs moderate water. bloom for repeat bloom blue flowers in summer Best in part shade to Purple to blue flowers. Many Carmel Creeper Ceanothus griseus Low growing shrub; width full sun, some summer dwarf to large cultivars Ceanothus horizontalis 5-15 ft. water. Prune after available. bloom Best in dryer conditions Lovely red berries, excellent Pyreness cotoneaster Cotoneaster congestus Full sun with little pruning. draped over a wall. Many dwarf species and Dwarf juniper Juniperus sp. Regular water Full sun to partial shade cultivars. Avoid water logged soils. Lagerstroemia hybrid True dwarf deciduous shrub to Crape Myrtle Moderate water Full sun ‘Chickaswa’ true dwarf 20 inches. Many species, best sheared Moderate water with Lavender Lavendula sp. Full sun after bloom for compact excellent drainage growth. Lovely evergreen low Moderate water with Siberian carpet cypress Microbiota decussata Partial shade sprawling shrub 1.5 ft. high to excellent drainage 7 ft. wide. Nandina domestica Full sun to partial Spreads by underground Harbour dwarf nandina Little to moderate water “Harbour Dwarf” shade. rhizomes. Dwarf Carnation- Tolerant of many soils, orange Punica granatum ‘Chico’ Moderate water Full sun flowered Pomegranate red flowers. Many cultivars but the Azalea Rhododendron hybrids Moderate water Partial shade Southern Indica hybrids most hardy Sarcococca hookerana Low growing glossy green Sarcococca Moderate water Partial to full shade humilis foliage Small Shrubs (3-5 feet in height) Common Name Genus and species Cultural Conditions Exposure Notes White flowers similar to White forsythia Abeliophyllum distichum Regular water Full sun to partial shade forsythia in late winter. Deciduous Little to moderate water. Partial shade in hot Woollybush Adenanthos meisneri Purplish summer flowers. Needs good drainage areas Regular water, clip often Cold winters cause foliage to Japanese Boxwood Buxus m. japonica to keep small. Compacta Full sun to partial shade become bronze in color. an extra dwarf cultivar Many cultivars, regular Euonymus Euonymus japonica Full sun, heat tolerant Prone to some insect pests. water Bright orange flowers in Lion’s Tail Leonotis leonurus Little to no water Full sun summer. Glossy green foliage, fragrant Little to moderate water. Myrtle Myrtus communis Full sun or partial shade when crushed. Good informal Needs good drainage hedge, screen or topiary. Nerium oleander ‘Little Great shrub for tough Oleander Little to moderate water Full sun Red or Petite Pink’ conditions. - 2 - Small Shrubs (3-5 feet in height) - continued Common Name Genus and species Cultural Conditions Exposure Notes Pyracantha coccinea ‘Red Low varieties useful in Low growing Pyracantha Elf’, ‘Ruby Mound’, Tiny Moderate water Full sun landscapes with red berries. Tim’ Rhaphiolepsis indica Indian Hawthorn-Low ‘Ballerina’, ‘Enchantress’, Pink blooms in spring, Little to regular water Full sun growing cultivars. ‘Indian Princess’, compact form. ‘Springtime’ Rosmarinus officinalis Evergreen shrub. Many ‘Benenden Blue’, ‘Irene’, cultivars that grow tall or Dwarf Rosemary Little to moderate water Full sun ‘Ken Talyor’, ‘Miss sprawling type ground covers. Jessup’ Blue flowers. Ternastroemia Regular to ample water. Glossy, leathery foliage. Ternastroemia Partial to full shade gymnanthera Well drained soil Good for shade plantings. Medium Shrubs (4-8 feet in height) Common Name Genus and species Cultural Conditions Exposure Notes Regular water, some dwarf Pink to white flowers, Glossy Abelia Abelia grandiflora Full sun to part shade cultivars evergreen to semi-evergreen. Full sun. May die to Moderate water. Needs Flowers spike similar to lilac Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii ground in severe cold. good drainage with pinkish flowers. Prune to shape Small lilac or pink flowers are Deciduous shrub needs followed by clusters of round Beautyberry Callicarpa bodinierei Full sun to light shade moderate water. violet fruits that persist into winter. Evergreen shrub; requires Best in light shade. regular water. Can grow to Many flower types, colors and Camellia Camellia japonica Prefers more acid, 20 feet but most often forms. organic soils lower White flowers in spring. Best with some summer Best in light shade. Bush anemone Carpenteria californica Cutting grown “Elizabeth” water Prune after bloom variety is nice. Needs fast drainage, Shear after bloom for compact Pink Breath of Heaven Coleonema pulchrum Full sun to light shade regular water growth Deciduous with yellow Forsythia Forsythia hybrids Moderate regular water Full sun flowers. Many cultivars. Prune after bloom. Fast growing sprawling shrub. Lavender Star Flower Grewia occidentalis Regular water Full sun Lavender bloom in late spring. Prune after flowering. One of the best hollies for Ilex x altaclerensis Wilson Holly Regular water Full sun or partial shade inland valley. Good espalier, ‘Wilsonii’ screen or hedge. Red berries. Evergreen silver leafed shrub. Texas Ranger Leucophyllum frutescens Little to moderate water Full sun Lavender blooms. Mahonia aquifolium Best in light shade Shear as formal hedge or cut Oregon Grape Little to regular water ‘Orange flame’ inland individual shoots to ground. Filtered sunlight or Nice cultivar with brilliant red Regular water, excellent partial shade, acid Pieris hybrid Pieris ‘Forest Flame’’ foliage and profuse bell drainage organic soil similar to shaped bloom. azaleas Mugo pine Pinus mugo mugo Regular water Full sun to light shade Compact evergreen. Plumbago auriculata Bright blue flowers on semi- Cape plumbago ‘Royal Cape’ or ‘Imperial Little to regular water Full sun or light shade evergreen willowy shrub. Blue’ are best selections Shear for compactness. for blue flower color Many hybrids, deciduous Weigelia