(Callicarpa americana)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 10 feet

Spread: 6 feet

Shape: upright informal habit.

The primary and sole attribute of beautyberry, a large loosely branched shrub, is the showy display of magenta fruits in the fall.

(Cladrastis kentukea (prior name C. lutea))

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 50 feet

Spread: 55 feet

Shape: Vase-shaped

This vase-shaped medium tree has smooth bark and showy white flowers in the spring. It is also quite drought and alkaline soil tolerant.

(Kolkwitzia amabilis)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 15 feet

Spread: 8 feet

Shape: Upright, arching

The primary and sole attractive aspect of beautybush is a stunning mass of pink, bellshaped flowers in spring.

(Buxus species)

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 5 to 20 feet (depending on species and cultivar)

Spread: 5 to 20 feet (depending on species and cultivar)

Shape: Upright mound to round to upright narrow (depending on species and cultivar).

(Prunus laurocerasus `Otto Luyken')

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 4 feet

Spread: 8 feet

Shape: Spreading

The species (Prunus laurocerasus) is generally not sold in the U.S. Cultivars of cherrylaurel are low-growing with handsome glossy foliage and white flowers in spring. This species tolerates shade and is used as a border, hedge, and in mass.

Winter winds increase the rate of air exchange between the interior and exterior of a house, lowering the house’s interior temperature and thereby increasing the heating demand. In a windy site, a windbreak planting (also called a shelterbelt) can account for up to a 50-percent wind reduction and up to a 25-percent reduction in heating fuel consumption. A windbreak is a single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs in a linear configuration.

Container gardening allows you to have and enjoy many ornamental and food supplying plants that, for whatever reason, you do not want to grow in ground beds. You can use containergrown plants in entryways, patios, decks, rooftops, gardens, indoors, or anywhere you have a need to add a living component to enhance the appeal of an area. Each planted container will have its own personality; you can create container scenes. They can range from dramatic to subtle, and from grand to petite. Plants and containers offer limitless combinations of size, color, form, and texture that can give your inside and outside environments a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

(Cotoneaster species)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf (some species are evergreen)

Height: 12 inches to 6 feet

Spread: 2 to 8 feet

Shape: Spreading or upright

Leaves are small and glossy green. Showy small, white/pink, spring flowers are followed by red or black fruit which cover branches in the fall. The fruit display can be quite showy.

(Lagerstroemia indica)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 4 to 25 feet (depending on cultivar)

Spread: 5 to 20 feet (depending on cultivar)

Shape: Upright or mound (depending on cultivar)

Glossy, dark green foliage turns yellow, orange, and red in fall. Flowers may be white, pink, red, or purple. Exfoliating bark is ornamental.

Something is wrong with your plant. What’s the cause? You can begin to determine the cause of the problem by taking on the role of Sherlock Holmes – be a keen observer and ask many questions. Diagnosing plant problems is often a difficult task. There can be many different causes for a given symptom, not all of them related to insects or diseases. The health of a plant may be affected by soil nutrition and texture, weather conditions, quantity of light, other environmental and cultural conditions, and animals, including humans. Complicating this scenario is the fact that any two of the above factors can interact to give rise to a problem. For example, a prolonged period of drought may weaken plants so that they are more susceptible to pests; this is typically observed with boxwoods.

(Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 10 feet

Spread: 12 feet

Shape: Upright with horizontal branching pattern

Doublefile viburnum is a large wide spreading shrub with a horizontal branching habit and a spectacular flower display in spring.

(Leucothoe fontanesiana)

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 6 feet

Spread: 6 feet

Shape: Mound with arching branches

Drooping leucothoe is a beautiful and graceful evergreen medium-sized shrub with lustrous, dark green foliage. White bell-shaped flowers bloom in the spring. Its arching branches give it a fountain-like effect. This plant is not suitable for sunny or dry locations.

(Betula pendula)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 40 to 50 feet

Spread: 25 to 35 feet Shape: Upright

European white birch is a small/medium fast-growing tree with showy white bark and pendulous branch tips (especially when bearing seed). Small, glossy-green summer foliage turns yellow in fall exposing ornamental white bark. This species is considered to be short lived due its susceptibility to pests.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 3 to 8 feet (depending on cultivar)

Spread: 4 to 8 feet (depending on cultivar)

Shape: Upright, spreading

There are hundreds of evergreen azalea cultivars which vary in hardiness, size, form, flower color, time of flowering, and foliage. The primary attractive feature of azaleas is the very attractive and showy flower display in spring.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen

Height: 6 to 15 feet (depending on species or cultivar)

Spread: 5 to 15 feet (depending on species or cultivar)

Shape: Upright, rounded to oval

There are many Rhododendron species and cultivars thereof, as well as hundreds of hybrids.

Rhododendron species come in many sizes and shapes with a wide variety of leaf and flower forms. Azaleas are in the Rhododendron genus and will discussed in another article.

(Chaenomeles speciosa)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 10 feet

Spread: 12 feet Shape: Upright

Flowering quince is a large fast-growing shrub whose main merit is showy flowers (red, orange, white, pink depending on cultivar) in early spring. Uses of this species include hedge, shrub border, or mass plantings. Plants have thorns and therefore need careful placement.

(Photinia x fraseri)

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf Height: 20 feet

Spread: 10 feet Shape: Upright

Red tip is a large evergreen shrub. Newly emerging foliage is red and quite showy for a few weeks after which it changes to glossy, dark green. Clusters of white flowers occur in late spring. This plant is widely used in the south as a hedge. Unfortunately, this plant is overused in the landscape and is also susceptible to a serious leaf spot disease.

(Ginkgo biloba)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 80 feet

Spread: 40 feet Shape: Spreading, a lot of variation in the species

Ginkgo is a large shade tree that is tolerant of adverse growing conditions and has a bright yellow fall foliage color. One should only plant male trees since female trees bear fruit that smell like vomit.

(Koelreuteria paniculata)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 40 feet

Spread: 30 feet

Shape: Upright rounded

Goldenraintree is a medium tree with showy yellow flowers in early summer. Flowers are followed by bladder-like fruits that start out light green, turn yellow, and then brown. Fall color can be fair to good depending on the individual tree. This species is quite tolerant of adverse conditions.

(Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 60 feet

Spread: 50 feet Shape: Spreading

This large fast-growing tree is very tolerant of adverse conditions. Its fall foliage color is a yellow.

Select only those plants that appear to be free of pests. Check the undersides of the foliage and the junction of leaf and stem for signs of insects or disease. Select plants that look sturdy, clean, and well-potted. Choose plants with healthy foliage. Avoid plants with yellow or chlorotic leaves, brown leaf margins, wilted foliage, spots or blotches, or spindly growth. In addition, avoid those with torn leaves. Plants that have new flower and leaf buds along with young growth are usually of superior quality.

The purpose of gardening intensively is to harvest the most produce possible from a given space. More traditional gardens consist of long, single rows of vegetables spaced widely apart. Much of the garden area is taken by the space between the rows. An intensive garden minimizes wasted space. The practice of intensive gardening is not just for those with limited garden space; rather, an intensive garden concentrates your work efforts to create an ideal plant environment, giving better yields.

Invasive nonnative (nonindigenous) plants are the subject of a considerable amount of attention and debate. Stories about invasive plants are now common in the popular media. As purchasers of nonindigenous plants that have the potential to invade natural areas, consumers are links in the distribution chain of invasive plants. Other links are those who import, propagate, transport, and sell nonindigenous plants. Ultimately, the result is a potential impact on our natural environment.

(Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea )

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 3 to 8 feet (depending on cultivar)

Spread: 4 to 7 feet (depending on cultivar)

Shape: Upright mound

This medium to large shrub has purple foliage throughout the growing season. Japanese barberry has thorns which may be an advantage (deer proof, pedestrian traffic control) or a liability (injury to pedestrians).

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Resources and the Virginia Native Plant Society have ranked this as a “moderately invasive species” in the mountain, piedmont, and coastal areas of Virginia.

(Camellia japonica)

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 15 feet

Spread: 10 feet

Shape: Upright, dense Japanese camellia is a dense and formal-appearing large shrub/small tree suitable for USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. Foliage is a glossy, dark-green. Large flowers, ranging from white to pink to red, bloom from winter to spring.

(Ilex crenata)

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 2 to 10 feet (depending on cultivar)

Spread: 2 to 10 feet (depending on cultivar)

Shape: Upright or low mound (depending on cultivar)

There are numerous cultivars of Japanese holly. Many are compact, mounded forms with small, spineless, dark-green leaves and black fruit. They are primarily used in mass for borders, backgrounds, and foundation plants.

(Acer palmatum)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf. Foliage color, depending on cultivar, varies from green to red to purple to a marble pattern composed of varying combinations of white, pink and shades of green. Foliage shape can vary from the “normal” looking leaf to dissected (leaves with very thin lobes often referred to a “cut leaf” forms). Dissected leaves impart a very lacy look and fine texture to plants. Spring and fall foliage colors are quite vibrant and can be bright red, yellow, chartreuse, or maroon. Red-leaved cultivars will have green leaves if grown in the shade.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 75 feet

Spread: 75 feet

Shape: Oval to round, spreading

Japanese pagodatree is a medium/large shade tree with showy flowers in summer. Green seed pods, somewhat ornamental, hang on tree until late in the fall. Flower petals can be messy if tree is used near a house, road, or pathway.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 15 feet

Spread: 15 feet

Shape: Upright, multi-stem shrub

This large shrub has dark green leaves that are large, slender, and wrinkled. This species has showy white flowers in late spring. Clusters of red to black berries form (inconsistently) in late summer.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 70 feet

Spread: 40 feet

Shape: Upright oval

This medium tree has wonderfully fragrant flowers in June and is tolerant of adverse conditions.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 40 feet

Spread: 60 feet

Shape: Spreading

A massive and majestic shade tree with evergreen foliage that is bright olive-green when new and changes to a glossy, dark green when mature.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 100 feet

Spread: 80 feet

Shape: Pyramidal in youth, spreading with age

London planetree is a medium/large species that is very tolerant of adverse conditions. It has ornamental which bark flakes off, exposing tan, greenish and creamy white colors.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen or semi-evergreen broadleaf

Height: 10 feet Spread: 5 feet

Shape: Upright, cane growth (very little side branching)

Heavenly bamboo is a medium-large upright shrub. In late spring it bears showy white flowers and in the late fall/winter it has attractive reddish foliage (sun) and large clusters of red berries. This species can tolerate full sun or full shade and is drought tolerant. There are several dwarf cultivars that are suitable for small spaces.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 50 feet

Spread: 50 feet Shape: Oval to round

Norway maple is a medium/large shade tree that is tolerant of adverse conditions. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Resources and the Virginia Native Plant Society have ranked Norway maple as a “moderately invasive species” in the mountain, piedmont, and coastal areas of Virginia.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 9 feet

Spread: 12 feet Shape: upright, spreading

Old fashioned weigela is a large shrub with a coarse texture and showy spring flowers. This plant is best suited for a shrub border. There are several new cultivars which are improved versions (dwarf, foliage and flower characteristics) compared to the species.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 3 to 9 feet (depending on form)

Spread: 5 feet

Shape: Upright, cane growth (very little side branching)

Oregongrapeholly is a slow-growing, medium to large evergreen shrub with lustrous foliage and bright yellow flowers in spring which are followed by robin egg blue fruit in summer.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 70 feet

Spread: 40 feet

Shape: Upright pyramidal in youth, oval at maturity

This large oak has wine-red foliage in the fall.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 4 to 15 feet

Spread: 4 to 8 feet Shape: Bushy

Small, green, summer foliage. When unpruned, pyramidal clusters of small white flowers produce black berries.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 60 feet

Spread: 60 feet

Shape: Oval to round

Red maple is a fast-growing medium/large shade tree species with a spectacular fall foliage color. It has showy red flowers in the spring. There are many cultivars of this species that vary in form, tolerance of wet conditions, and fall color.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 10 feet

Spread: 6 feet Shape: Upright

Rose-of- Sharon is a large shrub with showy. Relatively large single or double flowers bloom in summer. Flower colors include white, red, purple, violet, and blue.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf Height: 15 +feet Spread: 15 feet

Shape: Spreading – can get wild (sprawling) if not pruned

Pyracantha is a large, fast-growing shrub has showy white blooms in spring and a spectacular display of orange/red fruit in the fall. This plant requires pruning since unpruned plants are very rangy looking. Stems have very sharp thorns, thus pruning this plant must be performed with caution. Plants should be not situated where children or pedestrians may encounter stems.

Boxwood is used extensively in the landscape development of homes, gardens, and public grounds in Virginia. Since colonial times, it has been an integral part of the landscape, and many historical gardens in the state are noted for their boxwoods. Today, many people who have colonial architecture select this plant because they feel it fits this style best, but boxwood is also being used with modern or contemporary homes.

Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread quickly to form a dense cover. They add beauty to the landscape and, at the same time, help prevent soil erosion. Grass is the best known ground cover, but grass is not suited to all locations. Other ground cover plants should be used where grass is difficult to grow or maintain.

What is a shrub? A shrub is generally considered a multi-stem woody plant that is less than 15 feet tall. Of course, this and other plant size categories are definitions contrived by humans to categorize nature. What is the difference between a large shrub and a small tree? In many cases, there is none. A shrub does not become a tree just because it grows higher than 15 feet. Classifying plants into ground cover, shrub, and tree designations are aids to allow us to conveniently classify and describe plants, albeit with a significant amount of ambiguity.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 15 feet

Spread: 15

Shape: Upright, spreading

Smokebush is a small tree or large shrub depending on how one prunes the plant. Leaves of the species are green. Depending on cultivar; leaves can be purple or yellow during the growing season. After flowering (with small relatively inconspicuous flowers) in spring, clusters of fine filaments associated with flowering give the appearance of “smoke”. Fall foliage color is quite showy.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 80 feet

Spread: 50 feet

Shape: Upright, pyramidal to narrow pyramidal

This is a magnificent large evergreen tree with very large, wonderfully fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer. There are many cultivars with variations in tree shape and size, flower, and foliage characteristics.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 15 feet

Spread: 15 feet Shape: Upright, multi-stem

Southern waxmyrtle is a large evergreen shrub or small tree depending on how one prunes it.

This species tolerates wet and dry soils and females have a somewhat showy display of gray berries in the fall/winter.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 100 feet

Spread: 80 feet Shape: Oval to round

Sugar maple is a medium/large shade tree with a no less than spectacular fall foliage display.

There are many cultivars; cultivar characteristics include growth rate, form, and fall foliage color.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 50 feet

Spread: 30 feet Shape: Pyramidal in youth, round to oval at maturity

Sweetgum is a medium/large tree with very showy fall foliage colors. It tolerates moist to dry

soils. A notable disadvantage is the mess created by the fallen spiny fruit (gum balls).

(Liquidambar styraciflua)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 50 feet

Spread: 30 feet Shape: Pyramidal in youth, round to oval at maturity

Sweetgum is a medium/large tree with very showy fall foliage colors. It tolerates moist to dry soils. A notable disadvantage is the mess created by the fallen spiny fruit (gum balls).

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf

Height: 90 feet

Spread: 50 feet

Shape: Upright oval

Tuliptree is a very tall, large tree with a straight trunk. It bears beautiful tulip-shaped flowers in May but generally go unnoticed since they high in the tree.

(Spiraea x vanhouttei)

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 10 feet

Spread: 12 feet Shape: Vase-shaped with arching branches

Vanhoutte spirea is a large shrub with graceful arching branches. Its main claim to fame is it abundant and showy display of white flowers in spring. This species is best used in a shrub border or in mass.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 100 feet

Spread: 80 feet Shape: Broad-rounded

White oak is a magnificent large spreading tree. This species is somewhat slow growing but is well worth the wait. Do not plant this tree in an area that is apt to be subjected to soil compaction.

Summary:

Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf Height: 10 feet

Spread: 10 feet Shape: Upright oval

Winterberry is a large shrub and somewhat informal in character. There are cultivars that are shorter and have a more formal appearance. This native wetland species has very showy bright red fruit (on female plants) in early autumn that persist till February.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf 

Height: 4 inches as a ground cover 20 feet as a vine

Shape: Spreading Wintercreeper euonymus is a low-growing evergreen ground cover that will climb when it encounters a vertical surface. There are several cultivars which vary in foliage color and height.

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf

Height: 5 to 20 feet (depending on cultivar)

Spread: 3 to 10 feet (depending on cultivar)

Shape: Compact mound

This and several other similar cultivars are used in landscapes as border plants or in mass. This species is very tolerant of most adverse landscape conditions. Some female cultivars have stems laden with very showy persistent red fruit. This species is suited to warmer areas of Virginia (zone 7 and higher).