I’m finally starting to believe that, eventually, these piles of snow will recede – we have a long way to go here in New England, but every day of runoff-wet roads lifts my winter-weary spirits. I’ve even started to plan for new plantings.
I’m hoping to add interest and variation to my garden-fresh bouquets, and a whole variety of new shrubs by Proven Winners are catching my eye.
Except for the Sugar Shack Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – which I planted last year and am hoping it has survived – all are new introductions that will make their way to garden centers in small pots this year (look for them via mail order too) and in bigger pots next year.
I look for things like texture and shape (in the form of berries, buds, leaf shape and blooms), color through all seasons, and fragrance when I think about plants that will serve the dual purpose of adding to the garden and beautifying an arrangement. This collection of shrubs will pair beautifully with the hydrangeas, peonies, dahlias and other blossoms that I already grow to make arrangments that are entirely different from what I can buy at the flower market (which is exactly what I want). My spring fever is swelling – and I’m really looking forward to trying out these new additions!
Plant List:
- Berry Heavy® Gold Winterberry Ilex verticillata
- Black Cat™ Pussywillow Salix chaenomeloides
- Lemony Lace Elderbrry Sambucus racemosa
- Sweet Emotion™ Hardy abelia Abelia mosanensis
- Kodiak™ Orange Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla
- Sugar Shack® Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
An Update on these Shrubs from 10 years later
It is the summer of 2024 and I was looking for this post to figure out how long ago it was that I planted my Berry Heavy Gold winterberry shrubs. (the answer is 9 years). But 9 years on – they are amazing – I wrote a whole post about them. I want more and highly recommend you get some for yourself. Invest in bigger plants, though – so you can get to the good part sooner.
Nine years ago, I was planting tiny babies – shrubs that came in 4in pots (this isn’t what you will ever find retail). So don’t misjudge the results of their growth based on this data – 4in shubs are a little on the small side, and sometimes, with really small plants, you have to expect that they will not have the strength to settle in unless they are very coddled for a while.
And to be clear, I am not a plant coddler.
Berry Heavy® Gold Winterberry Ilex verticillata – So Great!!! – Read the full post.
Black Cat™ Pussywillow Salix chaenomeloides – It didn’t survive. I might try salix black cat again – I love the idea of having pussy willows – particularly pretty black ones available, but I don’t have a lot of wet areas. I might have to remedy this before I give them a second chance. (I’m contemplating adding a pond to the garden).
Sweet Emotion™ Hardy abelia Abelia mosanensis – yeah – this didn’t make it either.
Kodiak™ Orange Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla – This is also a great plant that is absolutely worth it – if you have space. It isn’t a wow moment, but it is a solid workhorse that requires absolutely zero care yet still manages to look great (particularly in the fall when it fades to many shades of pink, yellow and orange) and it is a nativar. The flowers are small – not even something I’d notice, except that the pollinators love them (despite their tiny and inconsequential look).
Read Also for Cutting Gardens and Great Shrubs:
Images: courtesy of Proven Winners
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