Featured Plants : hedge

Chicagoland Green Is A Favorite Evergreen Shrub

patti-nhn — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:43:00 GMT

This Chicagoland Green Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreens if you are wanting a border or hedge. Some of the things that make it attractive is its medium size height of 3 to 4 feet and will spread from 3 to 4 feet wide. It is a fine textured evergreen giving a nice soft look. It has an oval, rounded and uniform shape making it very decorative in any area of your landscape, showy enough for the front yard. The green foliage continues into winter making the cold weather seem not quite so intimidating. It is very cold hardy from zone 5 to zone 8 and will reach its full height in about 15 years.

Full sun to partial shade is needed for optimal growth. Well-drained soil is required but it can tolerate some drought so can grow in dry soil but loamy, sandy or clay soils are preferred to be acidic to slightly alkaline. This shrub should be protected from strong winter winds if planted in an exposed area. You can prune and shear this shrub with no problems as long as you don't overdo it. These shrubs are dense enough to make great border plants or hedges and being evergreen you'll have foliage all year long.

Green Mountain Boxwood Shrubs Beautiful And Easy Care

patti-nhn — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:33:00 GMT

For an evergreen shrub that begins growing quickly this Green Mountain Boxwood will be right up your alley! It will slow down to a medium growth rate as it ages. The unusual pyramidal growth of the tree adds lots of interest to your landscape. It is often used as a hedge, topiary, border or container plant. The foliage is very attractive with its small dark green leaves and is often the main reason this shrub is chosen, in addition to the fact that the green leaves will keep their beautiful color longer into the winter months. Most all Boxwood shrubs hold their color well but this is one of the best for long lasting color. It does flower in the spring but not enough to add interest, the flowers have very little color and the wonderful foliage is the most attractive attribute.

This Green Mountain will mature in height from 3 to 5 feet tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet wide making it a great size to fit in many areas of your landscaping. It needs soil that is cool, moist and well-drained. Full sun is best for the shrub to grow appropriately but it can tolerate partial shade. You will want to fertilize each spring. It is easy care and needs little pruning over the years. Green Mountain is cold hardy from zone 5 to zone 8. This shrub will give you years of beauty and color.

Pink Cloud Beauty Bushes Have Many Attributes

patti-nhn — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:02:00 GMT

If you want a large bush that is decorative and colorful, this Pink Cloud Beauty Bush would work like a charm. It will mature from 8 to 10 feet tall and spread from 6 to 8 feet tall giving you lots of bush as well as it is decorative with its arching branches which gives the appearance of a vase. In mid-spring its branches will show off pinkish-white flowers that are shaped like bells. The flowers are even more decorative with their yellow throats. They grow in clusters and very profusely. After they are done blooming, this bush will produce capsule like fruits. The green foliage continues until fall when the foliage will have yellow fall colors.

These bushes make great hedges, screens and can even be planted in a bare spot by themselves or in assortments of 2 or more together. The bushes do best in zone 4 to zone 8. They do need full to partial sun. Full sun will give you the most flowering and partial shade will give you more of the arching and spreading. It is adaptable to many types of soil as long as it is average, medium moisture and well-drained. The growth rate of this beautiful bush is medium so will grow slower than some and faster than others. With their arching branches they really look beautiful and you will enjoy them for years to come.

Green Ice Boxwood Evergreen Shrubs Are Super Hardy!

patti-nhn — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:16:00 GMT

For a super hardy evergreen shrub, this is one of the best! The Green Ice Boxwood is decorative all year 'round. It is a medium sized shrub that will mature from 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It grows upright and has a decorative mounded size that is compact. This shrub would do well in almost any area that you are landscaping. The foliage is full and dense and is blue-green in the spring. Come summer, the foliage will become a deeper green and is glossy. Over the winter it has deep green foliage giving this evergreen its popularity.

The Green Ice needs full sun and well-drained soil but is not picky about moisture. It does not require pruning to keep its mounded shape. This Boxwood can be grown from zone 5 to zone 9 giving it winter hardiness. Often it is used as a compact hedge or planted in the same area with a couple others to make a nice ornamental look. Due to their size, they are very adaptable to many different planting options. Since their color is green year-round, they can be used to enhance other bushes or plants that are deciduous. There are lots of options with this shrub.

Commones Boxwood Is A Versatile Tall Shrub or Small Tree

patti-nhn — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:08:00 GMT

The Commones Boxwood, also known as the Common Boxwood, gives you lots of options in your landscape. They grow from 15 to 20 feet tall and spread from 15 to 20 feet wide giving them a rounded shape. This boxwood is a great choice for a formal dense hedge that will give you privacy. It can also be sheared back to a smaller height and width for a border hedge. These can also be pruned into a topiary. One of the attributes that make it so popular is that it's branches are dense with small, smooth edged leaves. The leaves are dark green and shiny and being an evergreen will stay that way all year round.

Commones Boxwood needs full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, alkaline soil is also helpful. You will want to mulch to keep the ground cool and moist. It is a slow growing shrub and is well worth the wait, it looks great as it grows to its large size. This hardy hedge can be grown from zone 5 to zone 8 so can grow well in many areas. You will want to keep this evergreen in an area protected from drying winds in the winter. The fact that you can prune it to any size and shape make it a great choice for year round interest.

Dwarf Sunjoy Gold Beret Barberry Bush Is A Gem!

patti-nhn — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:23:00 GMT

Bright Gold is the color of this Dwarf Sunjoy Gold Beret Barberry Bush. This low mounding bush not only has beautiful color but can fill a small area with its compact size. It matures from 6 to 12 inches tall and will spread from 6 to 12 inches wide giving it a decorative mounding shape. This is the first upright golden Barberry that has red new growth in the spring, in the summer the foliage will turn to a bright gold and in fall it will have orange-red foliage. The bush will give you lots of interest in your landscape all year round. It can be planted in front of a border or used to give color to other areas on its own or among other plants.

The Sunjoy requires full sun to get the best foliage coloring. It can tolerate some shade but you will be giving up foliage color. It needs dry to medium soil that is well-drained. Sunjoy is very adaptable to pollutants and has some tolerance to drought conditions. Another advantage is that it is burn resistant. This bush is a slow grower but well worth the wait. It grows from zone 4 to zone 10 making it a very hardy bush. For a plant that will get lots of attention in your garden whether on its own or mixed with other plants or planting several together in one area, you will enjoy it season after season.

Green Gem Boxwood Bush Is Winter Hardy

patti-nhn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:47:00 GMT

This Green Gem Boxwood Bush is an evergreen hybrid that is winter hardy. Its rounded globe shape makes it very attractive and popular as well as the fact that it keeps its green color into the winter. It is a low grower at 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide making this a very popular bush for small areas. It can also make a formal hedge and it doesn't require heavy pruning. The foliage is very attractive with its oval, dark green and glossy leaves. There are small yellow/green flowers that will appear but they are not showy.

The Green Gem prefers well drained soil that is loamy, sandy or clay and that is acidic to slightly alkaline. It can handle most drought conditions with no trouble. While it is winter hardy, you will want to have it sheltered from strong winds in the winter. It can be grown from zone 4 to zone 9 making it cold hardy. Full sun to partial shade is needed for it to grow appropriately. This evergreen has shallow roots so you will want to be careful if cultivating near the bush. For a great hedge or adding additional interest into your garden, this Boxwood has great attributes making it so popular.

Korean Barberry Bushes Make Great Barrier Plants

patti-nhn — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:33:00 GMT

If you want to put up a barrier, decorative hedge or privacy hedge, the Korean Barberry Bush lends itself to that very easily. This colorful oval shaped shrub has thorns and has very dense foliage. One time of meeting up with the thorns should deter just about anything from roaming into the area they are bordering. The Korean Barberry also is decorative with its small yellow flowers in mid-spring that brighten the bush as they hang in clusters. In Autumn, berries will appear with their bright red color that can continue into winter. Reddish-Purple fall foliage adds to its year round interest and beauty.

This bush can meet many of your needs and can be used in so many different ways by itself or together with others. Mature height of this bush is from 4 to 6 feet tall and it will spread from 4 to 5 feet wide and could fill in a large area well. It has a moderate growth rate and requires full sun to partial shade. The bush is adaptable to many soils but not overly wet soils. You may want to prune if you want it to maintain a certain shape, otherwise, you can let it go without pruning, you have both options. The zones from 3 to zone 8 are where this bush grows, making it rather cold hardy. For beauty and function, this is one of the best bushes for you.

Austrian Copper Roses Bloom Early

patti-nhn — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:56:00 GMT

The first thing that got my attention with this Austrian Copper rose was the coloring of the blooms. This bush blooms in spring and often before other roses have started to bloom. The blooms are a bright coppery orange on the inside and gold on the outside as well as having a moderate fragrance. Their foliage is attractive and will have 5 to 7 leaflets per each leaf. It is so popular that it has been said to be the most grown species in the world!

The Austrian Copper rose will mature from 6 to 8 feet tall and being a vigorous grower it may only take a couple of years to get to 6 to 7 feet tall. This rose requires full sun, can tolerate poor soil and can be grown in zones 5 to 7. They are winter hardy and have an average disease resistance. It is best not to prune as it dislikes pruning. It can make a great hedge if allowed to sucker. This is a beautiful rose that is very popular and hardy and would do well in any garden space on its own or with other types of roses or plants.

Azalea White Mollis Hybrid Has Large Clusters of White Flowers!

patti-nhn — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:00 GMT

If you are a fan of Azaleas, you will want to try this Hybrid White Mollis Azalea. The flowers call out to those who walk by, they just have to come closer to get a better look. The funnel-shaped blooms and clean white petals make this Azalea bush burst with beauty from spring into early summer. Its fall color adds more interest. Being hybridized, it is hardy in colder regions from zone 5 to the warmer regions of zone 8. With their funnel shaped blooms, they can attract hummingbirds and butterflies as well as other birds.

Growing conditions for this Azalea require full sun, too much shade will reduce blooming the next year. Soil should be acidic and well-drained otherwise they could get too dry midsummer and that will also affect next year's growth. It is a slow grower but your patience will be well rewarded. It will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and spread from 3 to 4 feet wide. This is a relatively trouble free plant and low maintenance. Azaleas look great planted alone, especially in a bare spot where you need some pizazz. They can also be planted as a hedge or border plant, wherever you want showy flowers.

Barberry Sunjoy Gold Pillar Bushes Are Proven Winners

patti-nhn — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:35:00 GMT

This Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry Bush is a Proven Winners Color Choice Shrub that has outstanding color. They are wonderful in your landscaping with all of their wonderful year-round color. It has bright gold foliage and its new growth is red. In the autumn it blazes orange-red colors. Being a yellow/gold leaved barberry bush, the foliage will not burn like some other yellow barberry bushes. Its upright growth habit will mature from 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide making them quite appealing. Often they are grown with other plants surrounding them or can be used as a small hedge or border as well as on their own.

Planting in full sun is required, it can tolerate some light shade but the foliage may not be as colorful. Soil should be dry to medium moisture and well-drained. It is somewhat tolerant of drought conditions. This Barberry bush should be grown in zones 4 to 10. It is an easy plant to grow and maintain. The Sunjoy is similar in shape to a Helmond Pillar Barberry bush, you might even want to combine them for an interesting hedge or corner of your landscape. Barberries are great bushes for their versatility, color and hardiness. Their bright colors might even attract butterflies to entertain you!

Belle Poitevine Roses Are Fragrant And Make Beautiful Hedges As Well!

patti-nhn — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:18:00 GMT

With the Belle Poitevine Rose Bush, you will enjoy a fragrant colorful bush that originated in 1894 and is still going. It is a vigorous bush that makes a great large hedge as they will grow from 4 to 5 feet tall making them great as a hedge and also in the garden for lots of presence. In early summer their buds will be a deep magenta-pink. Once they have opened up they will have a warm pink color and their wonderful fragrance will carry well into fall until the first frost. Also in the fall, their green foliage will then begin showing off yellow and orange foliage. It will give you wonderful autumn color for your landscape. Another plus is that they also produce a large sized fruit with orange/red coloring.

Full sun is required and it is hardy from zones 3 to 7 making it very hardy into the colder climates. This rose has excellent disease resistance. It is an "own root" rose which is a hardier rose bush than some. It can be planted as a hedge, even intermingled with other colors and sizes of roses in your garden. Even on its own, it makes a wonderful specimen. For a beautiful shrub with lots of great color and lots of scent to share, this is a great choice.

Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae Shrubs Are Known For Their Brilliant Color

patti-nhn — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:40:00 GMT

If you like yellow foliage in your landscape beyond the spring and summer season, the Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae will fit your needs. Being an evergreen shrub it will hold its golden yellow color all year long giving you lots of enjoyment even in the bleakest of winters. What is great about the Yellow Ribbon is its size. It will mature from 5 to 10 feet tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet tall making it fit into smaller areas and amongst other shrubs to add some background interest and color. Cones will develop that have an urn shape that will grow to about 1/2 inch in length, in the autumn the cones will turn a reddish brown.

This shrub works great in an area that has full sun to partial shade for proper growth and color. Soil should be well-drained but the Yellow Ribbon is not picky about the type of soil. It grows from zone 2 to zone 7 making it cold hardy and a very adaptable plant. It does prefer humidity and an area where it rains regularly. If you are in a hot and dry area, it will do fine as long as you give it regular deep waterings. This arborvitae works well as a screen, hedge and in small areas where you don't have a lot of space but want some color and texture. You can't beat arborvitaes for their versatility and beauty.

Red Mollis Hybrid Azaleas Are Lush And Hardy

patti-nhn — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:28:00 GMT

This Red Mollis Hybrid Azalea is hybridized to be hardy in the colder climates. This shrub has funnel shaped blooms that attract attention with their reddish-orange blooms in spring to early summer. The flowers grow in large clusters and the flowers are 2 to 3 inches in size. There are large trusses that hold the many flowers that fill this shrub giving it quite a beautiful appearance. Red Mollis is known for its fall color as well. With its rounded shape and height of 4 to 6 feet and a 3 to 4 foot spread, it is a wonderful specimen in any landscape.

As with most Azaleas, full sun is required. Moist well-drained acidic soil is needed. The hardiness of the shrub makes it almost completely free of any problems. The foliage is green and it is deciduous meaning it will lose its leaves in the late fall/early wintertime. It does well in zones 5 to 8 and is a slow grower but well worth the wait! These shrubs add a lot of color to your landscape and can be planted individually or in groups. Shrubs are often used by birds for protection and cover as well as butterflies and hummingbirds may be attracted to the flowers.

This Golden Globe Arborvitae Doesn't Get Out of Control

patti-nhn — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:10:00 GMT

The Golden Globe Arborvitae is known for its attractive round shape, similar to a globe. It will keep its shape as it grows to maturity without growing out of control. This bush is an evergreen and will mature to a height of 3 to 4 feet and will spread from 3 to 4 feet wide. Its foliage is colorful with its bright green interior and the golden yellow coloring on its edges. The foliage is dense so will fill in nicely. It does produce cones that are shaped like an urn and are about 1/2" long. These cones will mature in autumn and have a nice reddish brown color. In the winter the coloration of the foliage will become a very attractive bronze.

The Golden Globe is hardy from zone 4 to zone 8 and is easy care. They prefer moist, well drained soil and humid weather with plenty of rain. If the area is hot and dry, you will want to do a deep soak on a regular basis before the soil has a chance to dry out. It should be planted in full sun to partial shade. These bushes are most often planted close together and used as hedges or borders. They can also be grown on their own as an accent plant. They will make a great background plant as well.