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nhbabs

Shrubs that do well in the perennial garden

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

This is perhaps a bit off topic, but I like having a mix of shrubs and perennials together. Some of the shrubs I have added have not played well with perennials such as Ilex verticillata/winterberry holly ‘Winter Red’, which suckered so vigorously that it now takes up a swath of garden 10’x4’, or several shrubs that got large enough to shade out nearby perennials.

Some shrubs that have worked well in my perennial gardens for more than 5 years include

- smaller to medium sized Spiraeas. Most I don’t find very interesting, but Spiraea ‘Ogon’ has white spring flowers, narrow chartreuse foliage, and gold to orange autumn color which holds on late in the season.

- dwarf Deutzia are chock full of flowers for a short time in spring. Many are just tidy green blobs the rest of the season, but ‘Chardonnay Pearls‘ has chartreuse foliage.

- Some of the smaller Rhododendrons

- several roses, though my cold winters may keep size in check in a way that may not apply in areas less frigid in winter

- some of the smaller Hydrangea paniculata

- Hydrangea serrata ’Tuff Stuff’

Do you have shrubs that play well with perennials in your garden beds? (If your location isn’t included in your name, please add that to your post.)

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