Just because it's winter dosen't mean it can't be interesting!

Need a pick me up this winter? Try some fun shrubs that have winter interest. Sea Buckthorn and Burning Bush can make any garden in the winter a little bit brighter. Sea Buckthorn can add colour through most of the winter with its bright orange berries and texture with its 2.5-5.1cm spines. Burning Bush stands out with it's wing like ribs on it's stems. Although you may not be out gardening during the winter it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy your garden.

Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides

You got to love bright orange in the dead of winter. These berries aren't only high in vitamin A and C, but show them selves in the fall and winter. 

This fun shrub grows 4.6-9.1m high and spreads 4.6-9.1m.

It has yellow flowers in the spring before it's leaves show.

We also can't forget its interesting silvery-green leaves.

Sea Buckthorn prefers to grow in hot, dry, sunny locations. It can survive in poor, salty, alkaline soil. So I suggest this plant for sea-side gardeners and by roadways that get salted in the winter.

This hardy shrub looks great in mass plantings and hedges. Try it in front of a line of large evergreens. It can also be used to stabilize slopes.

Prune Sea Buckthorn after it blooms, because it blooms heaviest on previous seasons growth.

The spines on this shrub not only add texture to this shrub, but can help keep animals out of areas if it's planted in a hedge. 

For this shrub to produce this yummy berry it is necessary to have a male and female shrub. The female plant will produce berries and the male plant is needed for pollination. 

Burning Bush or Winged Euonymus, 

Euonymus alatus

You can't say no to this shrub, because not only does it have bright red foliage in the fall, but when the leaves are gone and the snow falls the ridges hold the snow creating a stunning display.

This shrub does get small green-yellow flowers in mid-summer followed by seed pods in the fall. Although these features aren't noticed often, because of it's foliage.

Winged Euonymus is 4.5-6.1m high and wide with a rounded form.

This funky shrub prefers moist soil and grows in sun or shade.

If looks great as a hedge or as an accent plant. 

Prune this shrub in late winter or early spring before the leaves show.

Plant in a sheltered site that gets good snow cover thorough out the winter.

Also try this unique stems in your next floral arrangement!

WATCH OUT!!!

No one loves Red Osier Dogwood more than me because of its amazing red bark that just pops out at you through the snow. But WATCH OUT!!! it can easily propagate on it's own. If stems of this shrub gets buried by soil or mulch it can sprout roots and start spreading. This is great for a more messy natural look, but for a more formal round look it may take some work to keep it that way.

Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'

Red Osier is 6.1-9.1m wide and 4.6-7.6m tall.

This fun shrub has creamy white flowers that smell wonderful!

It also has blue-black berries.

The best to time to prune this shrub is in late winter or early spring. It is suggested that old wood is pruned out to encourage new bright red growth every three to four years. 

This cheeky stemmed shrub stands out under mature trees. 

Fun Late Flowering Perennials!

Every gardeners dream is to have flowers blooming in their gardens all season long. Planting late flowering perennials can push the limit to how long your garden can be in bloom. Joe Pye Weed and Liatris are common, fun late bloomers. Never underestimate the importance of having flowers blooming during all times of the season.

Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium purpureum


Joe Pye Weed is a stunning plant to add to any garden and does well as an accent plant, in a formal border and in the back of the border.

It grows 90-180cm tall and spreads 90-150cm. It eventually grows into a large bush.


It blooms from late summer to frost.

It prefers moist soil and sunny conditions, but can grow in light shade.

It looks great with daylilies, garden phlox, coneflowers, ornamental grasses and asters.


It looks awesome in mixed bouquets and has a sweet vanilla scent!



Liatris, Liatris spicata


Liatris is not only a late bloomer, but has many interesting characteristic such as its foliage and unique, spike flowers.

It grows 60-90cm tall and spreads 90cm.


This funky flower prefers to grow in full sun, but can survive in light shade.


Liatris is long lasting cut flower that adds interest to flowers and bouquets.


It looks spectacular in the back of the border and any flower bed!




Liatris is drought tolerant and shouldn't be planted where a lot of snow melt happens.

It can self seed, so it is suggested that the seedlings are transplant to other areas of the garden.









WATCH OUT!!!

For this weeks WATCH OUT!!! Monkshood is on the radar, because it is poisonous. It is suggested that if the gardener touches the tuberose roots they should wash their hands. Even though Monkshood is poisonous it is a very attractive perennial that blooms from midsummer till frost.

Monkshood, Aconitum napellus


Monkshood grows 120-150cm and spreads 90cm.

It grows in partial shade and full sun. Monkshood needs moist soil if grown in full sun.

Monkshood adds beautiful, vertical blue flowers to mixed borders and at the back of the border.





This fun perennial works great as a substitute for Delphinium which needs full sun. Monkshood needs very little sun, so it works great in shade gardens



Monkshood is a wonderful cut flower and can last up to two weeks.

DEER PROOF!!! That's right another plant for the gardener with deer problems.

Attractive Foliage for any Garden!

Gardeners have a tendency of going for lots of big, bold flowers that bloom as long as possible and may not consider foliage texture, colour and attractivness. Some of the best perennials for their foliage are Lupin and Stonecrop. These perennials add foliage interest to any garden.

Lupin, Lupinus x hybrida

Lupins have dark green, palmate leaves. 

This creative perennial dislikes acidic soils. If your having trouble growing Lupins in your garden it is suggest that a soil test is preformed. Dolomitic lime may be used to slowly correct the soil.

Lupins can grow 38-90 cm tall and spread 60 cm. 

They bloom late spring to midsummer.

DEER PROOF!!! For anyone who has to deal with these pesky pests Lupins could be your answer!

They grow best in mixed flower beds, mass plantings and looks best in the middle or back of the border. 

This perennial should not be divide, because it has a long tap root. It should also be noted they do not need to be moved because they are a short lived perennial. They only live 3-4 years and should be replaced when they are finished. 

This fun perennial comes in a wide variety of colours. It can be blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, white and can even be solid in colour or bicolour. 

Lupins prefer well draining soil. It is best to plant them were puddles don't form from rainfall or melting snowfall. 

This flower is a self seeder, but the self seeded plants have a tendency of reverting back to blue or white. 

To extend the blooming period deadhead. 

Lupins are a great cut flower. Cut them when the spike has begun to open and the flower will last 7-10 days. 

Showy Stonecrop, Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant'

The foliage of Brilliant is a light green. It is an attractive thicker leaf that you just can't help, but reach out and touch it!

Brilliant grows 45 cm tall and wide. Its flower is large and is raspberry-carmine in colour. 

It prefers hot, dry sunny locations and should only be watered when dry.

It is suggest that the flower heads are left on through the winter to add interest.

This stonecrop looks great in the middle of the border  to the front of the border. 

Show Stonecrop should be divided every 3-5 years. 

If you are looking for plant material for pots stonecrop may not be your best option. It usually does best only in garden beds and may look floppy at the store, but will perk up after it is transplanted.

This perennial is also a great cut flower. Cut when the clusters have begun to open. The cuttings will last 2 weeks.

WATCH OUT!!!

This perennial has its ups and downs. It has bright, green ivy shaped leaves that are edged with a creamy, white border. This touch of colour adds interest and a full feeling in the landscpe. But the big WATCH OUT for this plant is its intense spreading nature. It has been considered a nightmare in many gardens were it couldn't be kept under control. 

Variegated Goutweed, Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'

This perennial is quick growing and is used as a ground cover. 

Goutweed is 25-30 cm tall and you can guess the spread!!!

To control Goutweed, plant a barrer around it that is 45 cm deep. If left unchecked this perennial will take over other plants and spread into the lawn. Even weed killer has little effect on managing it. 

It can grow in any soil and in any condition.

It grows best with plants that don't need to be divided such as peonies and clematis. 

It blooms white flowers in midsummer. The bloom resembles Queens's lace and can be used as a cut flower. 

Long Lasting Blooms for any Garden!

Everybody loves a colourful garden that is full of blooming perennials. False-Sunflower and Honeysuckle are well known for their long lasting blooms. False-Sunflower blooms from early summer to the fall and Honeysuckle blooms from spring till frost.

False-Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides




This bright and funky flower can grow in poor soil, but produces more flowers in good soil with moisture.


It grows well in sun to partial shade.


It grows 60-90 cm tall and spreads 90 cm.

This happy flower looks great in mixed perennial borders, shrub beds and cutting gardens.


False-Sunflower is a great cut flower that can be harvested all summer long.

It also works wonders in dried flower arrangements. The blooms should be harvested when they are three-quarters open and hung upside down.






This pretty perennial attracts butterflies.



Heliopsis means 'Like the sun' and the genus, Helianthoides, means 'like a sunflower'.








Honeysuckle, Lonicera x Dropmore Scarlet 



This pretty climbing vine needs a lattice, fence or arbour to grow up.




It grows well sun to partial shade with a south or west exposure.



It grows to a height of 3-4.5 m and spreads 120 cm.


This vine creates a dark wall of green leaves, while adding colour all summer.

Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds.




This attractive vine blooms on new wood.

It should be pruned when the leaves are unfolding in the spring.




Watch Out!!
Another wonderful long lasting bloomer is the Ornamental Strawberry (Fragaria frel 'Pink Panda'). It blooms all summer, but spreads like wildfire! Some times it is great to have spreading perennials that fill up areas and make a garden look flush and full. Although Ornamental Strawberry may spread too quickly to keep up with. If the grower wants fruit it is best to pinch the runners. If the flowers are removed he first year the plant will be more vigorous. This strawberry also looks great in hanging baskets and containers, but it is necessary to transplant it into the ground before winter so it survives.

This pretty pink is actually a cross between a strawberry and a potentilla.


It grows 15-25 cm tall and spreads 45-60 cm.

Strawberry's love sun! And the more sun the better, because they will produce more flowers and fruit. Although they will grow in partial shade.

They look great at the front of the border, in rock gardens and in front of the border.

Check out more great plants on the Holes website!

http://www.holesonline.com/

This video gives some tips on creating a mixed border.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dtImmQhcXY


Check out my next blog on perennials with attractive foliage. We will take a look at Stonecrop and Lupin and don't forget to check out my WATCH OUT! section.