Lush landscapes and thriving gardens begin with the right plants in
the right places. Here are our top picks for fabulous foliage that complement
almost any design and flourish with little maintenance.
Australian Willow (Agonis
flexuosa)
The Australian Willow, a picturesque tree with a cloud-shaped canopy,
is a low-maintenance addition to any landscape and an outstanding roadside
adornment. Long, slender leaves are abundant, giving the tree a lush
look year round, and tiny white flowers add flair in the spring. The
“evergreen” nature of the Australian Willow means there’s
no leaf-drop season, and no seeds or fruit drop. This landscape showcase
typically grows at a moderate rate to a height of 20 or 30 feet, tolerates
drought and sandy soil, is pest resistant and requires almost no attention
short of an occasional light pruning. The Australian Willow fares best
in areas that do not experience strong winds, heavy fog or salt air.
Loropetalum, Razzleberry variety (Loropetalum
chinense)
The Razzleberry, with a heritage rooted in China, is a showy shrub often
used as a perimeter plant to enhance the privacy of pool/patio areas.
Clusters of brilliant pink blooms add pizzazz in the spring and fall
and will even reward gardeners with some summer splashes of color.
The Razzleberry enriches landscapes with texture created by rich green
leaves that turn to a distinctive bronze in the fall and winter, which
makes this showpiece an excellent contrast to other landscape choices.
Despite the dramatic changes, the Razzleberry – which can grow
to six feet and fares well in both sun and shade – is a year-round
plant with no leaf drop to fuss with.
Lily
of the Valley Shrub (Pieris japonica)
The versatility of the Lily of the Valley Shrub and its ability to
thrive in a wide range of planting conditions and soils makes it a perfect
landscape choice. The compact shrub with white blossoms reaches up to
six feet by six feet at maturity and rewards gardeners with a kaleidoscope
of new-growth red leaves and rich-green mature leaves. The evergreen
and cold-hardy character of the Lily of the Valley Shrub, which should
not be pruned or trimmed, means this accent to any landscape is virtually
maintenance free. It needs shade and cannot tolerate full sun, which
makes it an ideal choice as an under-story plant.
Butterfly Bush/Summer Lilac (Buddleja
davidii)
Bright clusters of lavender-pink flowers and variegated leaves make
the Butterfly Bush a magnificent complement to any landscape. As the
name implies, butterflies love the nectar-laden blossoms that grow
like lilacs along “spikes” at the tips of branches. White
velvet under the long, tapered leaves and the shrub’s round
shape make it an ideal choice as a background accent and especially
as a fragrant addition to a butterfly garden. The shrub – which
averages four feet tall but can grow to 10 feet – fares well
in full sun and requires little attention beyond tending to a moderate
leaf drop.
Azalea (from the Rhododendron
family)
Azaleas have been landscape darlings with both landscape designers
and home gardeners since the world’s first cluster of spring blooms
popped. This member of the Rhododendron family delights the
senses with flowers dressed in Crayola colors, from angel white to pinks,
reds, peach, orange and even vibrant purple, all nestled in beds of
bold green foliage. Dozens of choices that range from a diminutive 12
inches to eight feet tall offer a myriad of planting options, including
clusters in stand-alone gardens, brilliant hedge-like arrangements and
borders. Azaleas have few requirements beyond acidic, well-drained soil,
occasional grooming with pruning sheers and an annual fertilizer dinner.
We love them all.
My Botanica’s team welcomes the opportunity to help you choose
the proper plant for the proper job and the proper location. Our fine line
of environmentally friendly products will
help you maintain a thriving landscape and gardens and keep your plants
and trees lush. Please call toll free 1-888-722-4308.
