Compact berry bearing shrubs for shade
kali_deere
4 years ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agosweet_betsy No AL Z7
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Best tasting Sea-Buckthorn (Seaberry) and HoneyBerry / shade tole
Comments (12)I bought two Haskap(Honeyberry)subspecies,emphyllocalyx from Maxine Thompson,where she had a table at the Orchard Show in Canby,Oregon last Fall.She has done extensive work with this plant from Japan. I was hesitant to get Honeyberry from any seller because of some reports of them being somewhat sour.She said maybe people were picking them too soon and the Japanese ones were better suited to a more moderate climate than the Russian species. I have never tried a Honeyberry,but am looking forward to it.The ones I have are just starting to bud.I'm not sure if it's male and female that are needed for fruiting.What I think Maxine said,that it took two "different" plants.Maybe like Blueberries or some kinds of fruit trees. Here is Maxine's phone number and e-mail.She will be better to talk about these plants.She lives in Corvallis,Oregon.I believe some growers are working with her in other parts of the country,that she may refer to. Brady Dr.Maxine M. Thompson Phone:541.745.7266 e-mail:thompsom@onid.orst.edu Note:the last letter in her e-mail name is "m" rather than "n"....See MoreHAVE: Lots to Trade - seeking cold hardy berries shrubs perre
Comments (13)HAVE: Seeds from heirloom 6' tall bush w/ lovely, shiny, small green leaves. In Spring, it gets tiny pink/white flowers shaped like teacups. And in Autumn, it has purplish-blue berries. As I am unable to identify the bush, I believe them to be NON-EDIBLE. The leaves turn a lovely shade of pinky-peachy-gold in Autumn. Pictures are on this website, which is not mine: http://ramblinganne.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html Not sure if this is what you're looking for, and they're probably not edible. Am mostly interested in flowers, mostly perennial. Let me know if you're interested in a trade. Thanks....See MoreCompact Flowering Shrub Challenge
Comments (12)It would be good to know what part of the country you're in and what type of soil you have (pH and texture) to get really good suggestions. I live in the NE where I have loamy, acid soil, so my suggestions will be best if you have acid soil. Heaths and heathers are great 4 season plants - you can get different ones that flower here in NH from when there is still snow on the ground right through until until late fall in shades of white, pink, purple, and red. They have small foliage, somewhat like junipers, and they come in many colors from silvery to dark green to golds and red. Several of them change foliage color as cold weather arreves. However, they wouldn't be happy in many areas of the southeast where there is a long season of heat and humidity. Once established, they don't mind dryish conditions, though they need regular water the first year. Rockspray Nursery in MA is a good source. Another plant to look into if you like rhodies is PJM Checkmate. It has the same bright pinky purple flowers as the regular PJMs but is very short - at 2 years, mine is only about 1 1/2 feet tall and it's supposed to top out at about 3 feet. It has smallish, olive green leaves that turn at least partly darker reddish in the cold weather. There are some dwarf or low-growing spireas. Also, bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) grows about a foot high, Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' tops off at about 2 1/2 feet and has white spring flowers, and there are some 1-3' Forsythisas that might be hardy enough to bloom in your area. Dwarf Leucothoe (L. fontanesiana 'Nana') might be small enough for your purposes and has evergreen leaves and white flowers. Vaccinium angustifolium (low bush blueberry) has reddish new growth, white spring flowers, scarlet fall color, and of course blueberries. It's about 2' tall. One of the maroon foliaged Weigelas, either midnight wine or wine & roses, is short and has pink flowers. There are also miniature and groundcover roses, and you could ask for info on the rose forum. If you want acid loving plants and are in an alkaline soil area, you can dig out your soil and replace it a couple feet deep with an acid soil mix - look on the azalea and rhody forum for suggestions. You'd need to water with rain water, though since your goundwater would be basic along with the soil. Also, you may want to look into perennials and ornamental grasses....See MoreDeep shade shrubs? Will these work?
Comments (11)Quote: "Barb, wow, that's quite a list! I'm glad to hear Cranberry Viburnum is doing well in shade...we may put that in a western corner. And I'm definately going to be planting perennials, too; I just want to get the shrubs out of the way first. I was surprised to see Burning Bush on your list. Is that Wahoo, our native burning bush, or Eunonymus alata, the infamous invasive exotic? I only mention it because it seems like you have made an effort to plant native or native-freindly plants elsewhere. The Burning Bush I was referring to is the "Dwarf Winged Euonymous" that is dark green and shiny all summer and crimson red in fall. I understand that it is invasive and considered a "weed", even problematic in some regions but here we find it does well without any spreading. I wonder if our conditions here are just too harsh for it to become even slightly problematic because I have never seen one even produce a single baby nor have I ever seen one naturalized into a field, ditch or woods anywhere and we've done a lot of hiking over the years. I was surprised to hear from folks to the south of us in the USA that this species is considered a "noxious weed" in some areas. Very strange. But you mention a good point in that the native "Burning Bush" would be an excellent alternative IF you can find it. Sadly I find that locating native specimens even in the largest and most reputable nurseries, is very difficult. What a shame that we can't get our hands on plants, shrubs and trees that are "NATIVE" yet we can easily get these other things that come from afar. Many of the shade loving shrubs are fruit bearing and the birds will LOOOOOOOVE you for planting them. Perhaps you mother (if not already) will become an avid "birder" :o) and most certainly you will need to add some bird houses, a bird bath and feeders to the property to keep the birds that come to feast on the ripe berries. (Christmas and birthday gift ideas for the future) Yes, when we bought our property which is half woods and half groomed lawn, we agreed (my husband and I) that I could do what I wanted with the groomed area but the woods would be all native. I have stuck to my part of the deal but my husband feels that I've pushed the limits by placing a garden that divides our woods from the groomed area (mix of native and non-native) with almost all non-native shrubs. I'm a sucker for fall colour so I wanted the edge of the woods, before you enter it, to blaze with colour in the fall but he feels I've got my proverbial "toe on the line". Oh well... ;o) I do love my native woods but there are just a few non-natives that I just can't live without simply because of their fall foliage. In my shady foundation area between my house and the house next door I also have non-native, Japanese Painted Ferns and Autumn Ferns... again, for colour. Mixed with the perennial pink and white Dicentra Bleeding Hearts, the Orange Trolius Globeflowers, the various coloured Hostas, some dwarf iris, Columbine, bright Orange Butterfly weed and Blue Oat Grass which are in the sunny bits, this shady foundation planting is VERY colourful. Now I only wish I had more property to plant but alas I'm running out and will have to carry on in the coming years with container planting on my various porches and decks (we are building phase 1 of our decks this summer and phase 2 next summer along with a little bistro patio area outide my kitchen. I guess with more "land" I should also wish for more MONEY hahaha. ;o) :o) Barb Oh, PS... if you get a Highbush Cranberry, you might consider putting it nearest to your eavestrough downspout. They LOOOOVE water and will fruit like crazy....See Morecyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agoFrozeBudd_z3/4
4 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoroxanna7
4 years agocyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
4 years agomxk3 z5b_MI
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agokitasei
4 years agokali_deere
4 years agocyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
4 years ago
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