Recommended Palette for Common Element Landscape Areasshrubs

June 1, 2017

RECOMMENDED PALETTE FOR COMMON ELEMENT LANDSCAPE AREASSHRUBS

SMALL-MEDIUM SHRUBS

Coralberry, Hancock

Dwarf Coralberry, spreading habit with pink flowers. Excellent ground cover. Grows well in difficult conditions. Mature height - 3’; spread – 3’. Partial shade.

Leadpant, Dwarf

Gray, fuzzy leaflets give fern-like form. Flowers are long, violet spikes from mid to late summer. Grows well in dry, clay soils. Mature height 2-3’; spread – 2-3’. Full sun.

Mockorange, Littleleaf

Small leaves and star-shaped flowers. Fine textured plant. Flowers early to mid-summer. Mature height – 4’; spread – 4’. Full sun.

Ninebark, Mountain

Rugged, compact, native plant. Clusters of rose tinted white flowers from late May through June. Foliage changes to shades of orange and red in the fall. Can be used as a hedge. Mature height – 3’; spread – 4’. Partial shade to full sun. Low water.

Rabbitbrush

Hardy, native plant. Thin, silver leaves with yellow flowers in the autumn. Mature height – 4’; spread – 4’. Full sun.

Rabbitbrush, Dwarf

Hardy, native plant. Thin, silver leaves with yellow flowers in the autumn. Mature height – 2’; spread – 3’. Full sun.

Sage, Dwarf Russian

Lavender blue spikes in late summer. Mature height – 2’; spread – 2’. Full sun.

LARGER SHRUBS

Apache Plum

Native plant. White, rose-like flowers in the spring followed by fuzzy seed heads in summer. Mature height – 5’; spread – 5’. Full sun.

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Burning Bush, Dwarf

Corky, winged branches with brilliant crimson fall color. Mature height – 5’; spread – 4’. Full sun. Low to moderate water.

Dogwood, Yellow Twig

Highly decorative yellow bark with white flowers with bluish white berries. Can be maintained in an upright growth habit. Mature height – 6’; spread – 5’. Partial shade to full sun. Low to moderate water.

Lilac, Miss Kim

Dwarf, compact growth habit. Dark green foliage changes to burgundy in the fall. Pale flowers bloom later than other lilacs. Mature height – 5’; spread – 5’. Partial shade to full sun.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS

SPREADING JUNIPERS

Blue Chip

Silver-blue with fine foliage. Low, mounding, spreading habit. Excellent ground cover. Very dense. Mature height – l0”; spread – 6’. Partial shade to full sun.

Buffalo

Soft, feathery branches creating a wide, spreading form. Very hardy. Foliage is bright green. Mature height – 12”; spread – 6’. Partial shade to full sun.

Armstrong

Lime green, finely textured foliage on slightly arching branches. Symmetrical branching habit. Mature height – 4’; spread – 4’. Full sun.

UPRIGHT JUNIPERS

Blue Point

Keeps it broad, pyramidal shape with minimal pruning/shearing. About half the height of most uprights. Mature height – 12’; spread 4-6’. Partial shade to full sun.

Spartan or Spearmint

Tall, pyramidal with rich green foliage. Rapid grower. Mature height – 15’; spread – 5’. Full sun.

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ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Blue Fescue

Round, mounded ornamental blue grass. Mature height – 8-12”; spread – 8-12”. Full sun.

Feather Reed

Pinkish, feathery blooms in spring that mature to gold in the summer. Mature height – 4-5’; spread – 2’. Full sun. Low water.

Fountain

Clump forming grass. Long, slender blades produce plumes of white to cream. Mature height – 2-3’; spread – 2’. Full sun.

Red, Switch

Gathers attention from early summer with its red tips to September when the entire leaf blade turns to burgundy with misty pink plumes. Mature height – 3-4’; spread – 21/2’. Full sun. Low water.

PERENNIAL FLOWERS

Catmint, Walkers Low

Long blooming, two to three foot tall blue violet flowers. Mature height – 2-3’; spread – 21/2’. Full sun.

Coral Bells, Alumroot

Coral pink flowers on tall stems. Blooms June through August. Long lasting flowers. Mature height – 1-2’; spread 1’. Partial shade to full sun.

Daylilly, Stella D’Oro

Dwarf variety with yellow flowers June through September. Excellent plant for any location. Mature height – 1 1/2’; spread – 1 1/2’. Partial shade to full sun.

Fern, Japanese Painted

Blend of soft red and gray/green leaves. Mature height – 11/2’; spread – 11/2’. Full shade. Low water.

Gayfeather

Showy plants with thick, tufted masses of blade-like foliage. Produces tall spikes of feathery flowers from the top of each stalk downward. Lavender flowers July through September. Mature height – 2-4’; spread – 2’. Partial shade to full sun.

Penstemon, Mexicale “Red Rocks”

Pink, bell shaped flowers with fine foliage. Blooms June into September. Mature height – 2 1/2’; spread – 1’. Partial shade to full sun.

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NOTES

Rock and planting beds are not irrigated.

Xeriscape does not mean water and maintenance are not required. All plants need water early on to establish their root system. Once established, most of recommended plantings should require minimal water to survive. However, a little extra water can be the difference in thriving vs. surviving.

It is recommended staying away from low growing, spreading perennial flowers as ground cover. Generally, these plants do not create dense enough growth to keep weeds from growing within the plant. Once weeds are established within the plant, they are next to impossible to eradicate.

It is important that all plantings are installed in appropriate locations. Proper sun exposure and an area large enough to contain the plant with minimal maintenance will lead to healthier plantings and lower maintenance costs.

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