by Anna Sauve, Master Gardener
Flowering shrubs and small trees add so much to our gardens. I choose my favourites based on shape and form, seasonal interest, ease of maintenance, disease resistance, hardiness to Zone 5 or lower, and - of course - colour. Here are a few to consider for your garden.
Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) is the most reliable flowering shrub for early spring colour. The bright yellow flowers appear all along the stems before the leaves emerge. Forsythia is a low-maintenance shrub, perfect for experienced and novice gardeners. They prefer full sun and should be pruned immediately after flowering to maintain size, shape and encourage next season’s blooms.
The cultivar ‘Northern Gold’ is a popular and hardy variety growing upwards of seven feet. There are numerous varieties better suited to smaller gardens.
Beautiful, fragrant lilacs (Syringa spp.) are stars of the mid-spring garden. Blooming from May to mid-June, their fragrant flowers span a colour palette from white to pinks to purples to deep burgundies. Plant lilacs in average soil with full sun and good aircirculation. Prune below the flowers immediately after bloom. For smaller gardens, consider dwarf varieties. One of the most popular is the Korean lilac (Syringa meyerii) ‘palibin’. This reliable shrub reaches a maximum height of five feet and features long- lasting purple blooms.
Lesser known are, my favourites, the Preston hybrids, developed by Isabella Preston, one of Canada’s pioneers in ornamental plant breeding. The Prestons are large (eight-ten feet), fast-growing shrubs, do not sucker, are cold-hardy, pest resistant, and make good windbreaks. The cultivar ‘Miss Canada’ is one of Preston’s best.
Our native serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis spp.) is ideal for smaller gardens, and is adaptable to various growing conditions. Serviceberry is a multi-trunk shrub or small tree reaching heights of about 15 feet. They truly provide three-season interest: masses of white blooms in spring, red berries for birds in late summer, and brilliant colourful foliage in fall. Once they have reached maturity, serviceberry can be pruned in early spring to maintain shape and height.
Another garden staple is dogwood (Cornus spp.). Eight species are native to Ontario, one of the most popular being Red Osier dogwood (cornus sericea) whose bright red stems are a standout feature in the winter garden. There are also numerous cultivated varieties of dogwood. Dogwoods are fast-growing tough, hardy shrubs adaptable to a wide variety of soil and light situations, including partial shade.
Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), is a native shrub with four-season interest. White flowers on arching branchesappear in early summer, turning to seed clusters in fall for feeding birds, bronze-yellow fall foliage, and textured exfoliating bark for winter interest. Ninebark tolerates many soil and light conditions, is fast- growing and good for screening.
Lastly, don’t forget that reliable June bloomer, weigela (Weigela florida). Hummingbirds love the long- lasting, bell-shaped flowers which blanket the shrubs. Heights span 18 inches to 10 feet and the leaf colour palette is broad. Weigelas like deep, well-drained soil and full sun. Prune to shape after they bloom – never in the fall.
Consider this. Adding colourful shrubs and small trees to your garden can provide multi-season interest throughout the growing season. Many support biodiversity, and the selection of compact varieties means they can be suitable additions to even the smallest garden.
This series of gardening articles is brought to you by the Simcoe County Master Gardeners, members of the Master Gardeners of Ontario. For more information, visit www. simcoecountymg.ca.
