shrubs

Trees and Shrubs That Will Attract Birds

Fall is an excellent time to plant trees or shrubs. Many of the spring bloomers yield an excellent crop of berries later in the season.  These berries will attract local birds, and also those on the fall migration.

 To attract birds, consider some of these:

  • Flowering Crab Trees – we carry over 20 varieties. Spring blooms range in color from white to pink to purple to deep red. Most grow 10 – 20’ tall.  All varieties, except Spring Snow, produce small berries that the birds love. They typically aren’t messy as the berries are small enough that most cling to the trees until the birds clean them off. 

  • Serviceberry Trees – these come in a single stem or clump form and grow  20-30’.  Trees bloom white in the spring, followed by orange berries in fall.  These berries are a favorite of  cedar wax wings on the migration.

  • Viburnums (Cranberries) – There are many varieties of viburnum shrubs ranging in size from 3’ to 20’. Spring blooms turn to red or dark blue berries in the fall. Most varieties also have beautiful red, orange, and yellow fall colors. 

  • Aronia Berries And Cotoneasters – Aronias produce white blooms in spring followed by dark blue berries. They are considered an antioxidant for humans and can be made into juice or wine. Birds love them also. Leaves have a beautiful red/burgundy color. 

  • Coral Berries/Snowberries – These are smaller plants ranging generally from 2-4’ tall. Berries may be white or pink depending on the variety. A good choice if your space is limited. They tolerate part sun. 

New Plant: Nitty Gritty Roses

It’s always fun to see the new plants that come in each spring and this year is no exception.

We are excited to announce a new shrub rose (in 3 colors!) we are carrying called

The Nitty Gritty Rose.

Photos taken from Monrovia tags

Why we love them:

  • disease resistant

  • long blooming (all summer!)

  • lightly fragrant

  • low maintenance (read: no dead heading or covering over the winter!)

  • very hardy!

They grow 3-4’ high and wide and stay compact.

Dwarf Cranberry Bush: A Botanical Gem

The Dwarf Cranberry Bush (Viburnum Opulus Nanum) is one of our most outstanding plants for many reasons. It is a botanical gem and especially good for the gardener who likes maintenance free plants.

 These sturdy little plants have a dense mounding habit and grow 2-3’ tall. They grow very compact and require little to no trimming.  The glossy deep green tri-lobed leaves emerge with a tinge of red and then remain beautiful green all summer. Fall color is a stunning bright red.

If you need a nice “filler” plant or a dense low hedge, these cranberries work very nice in either situation. They grow in sun or part sun and are quite shade tolerant except for deep shade.  In early summer plants produce dainty white flowers but do not produce fruit.

 Don’t confuse these cranberries (viburnums) with other varieties with a similar name. There are other dwarf viburnums (for example Bailey Compact) that grow 5-6’ tall. Make sure you are getting the “Nanum” variety if you are looking for the above characteristics.

These little plants will serve you well for many years with minimal work.

The Forgotten Potentilla

Best Selling Shrub: Potentilla

Twenty five years ago our best selling shrub was the potentilla. When they came on the market, there were no other plants for this area that bloomed all summer. Over the years, potentillas were overtaken by an explosion of newer varieties of other popular plants that have now become the hot sellers. These plants include spireas, barberries, and endless varieties of perennials.

Don’t forget the potentillas.

They are a staple for any yard. Their dainty yellow blooms bring a touch of delight to any landscape. They start blooming in June, and with just 1 trimming mid-summer will bloom until frost. They also bloom in the “off-season” of early July after the spring bloomers have waned and before the fall bloomers begin.

Common complaint solved easily.

One common complaint about potentillas is that they start getting “leggy” or look ragged. This is simply a fertilizer and/or trimming problem. If potentillas are fertilized once or twice a season, and are trimmed twice a year – once mid-summer and again after frost in the fall- they will perform beautifully season after season.

Many varieties available

Potentillas now come in multiple varieties ranging in colors of yellow, white, pink, and tangerine. Sizes vary from 18” to 3’. 

If you haven’t included a potentilla in your yard, give them a try.