Gardening Tips: Landscape Color After Azaleas Fade
Azaleas are a beautiful and popular shrub that command attention in the landscape when in full bloom. Nearly every southern landscape has at least one, and many have several. Because azaleas are so abundant in our landscapes, our landscapes can often lose some of their effect once the colors fade. What replaces the interest lost after the azalea blossoms pass? Here are some interesting late spring and summer flowering shrubs that can be used in the landscape to keep your yard interesting throughout the summer.
Hydrangeas are popular shrubs that come in many different colors, sizes, and shapes. Flower blossoms may be blue, pink, or white, and may come in big round balls, long slender spikes, or delicate lacelike blooms. The oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) has long slender white flower clusters that fade to a pinkish color, and large leaves that resemble oak leaves. The flowers bloom in mid May and the leaves turn a deep red or orange color in the fall. The blooms of this and other hydrangeas are great for cut or dried flower arrangements. Oakleaf hydrangea will reach a mature size of about 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide.
If you have a shady and damp spot in your landscape where nothing will grow, a summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) may be the perfect plant to fill that spot and provide great summer color. The flowers come in shades of white, pink, or red depending on the variety, and are formed in large slender spikes, up to 12 inches long on some varieties. The flowers are extremely fragrant and make a nice display in July and August. It also has a nice yellow to gold fall color. Summer sweet will reach a height of up to 8 feet, with a spread of about 6 feet wide.
Hypericum or St. Johnswort (Hypericum frondosum) is a short rounded shrub, 3-4’ tall and wide, with small bright yellow flowers in June and July. The variety ‘Sunburst’ does especially well in hot, dry weather typical of our North Carolina summers. The leaves are small, delicate, and bluish-green, and make the shrub distinct and attractive in the landscape even when not in flower.
Blue Mist caryopteris (Caryopteris incana) is another low growing shrub (2-3 feet tall) with small clusters of light blue or purple flowers. Flowers are formed on new growth, so the shrub can be pruned back severely in winter or early spring, and can be pruned lightly during flowering to encourage a longer bloom period. Flowers will appear in July and last to late August.
All of these plants are well suited to our North Carolina summers and will produce great color in the summer when many other shrubs are simply green. Of course, you can always use low growing annuals and perennials as a source of color during the summer in combination with trees and shrubs, but the shrubs mentioned above will truly standout due to their size and unique display of color. Each of the shrubs I mentioned is growing in my own yard so I can personally attest to their landscape value.
The Roanoke Valley Farmers Market got off to a successful start this past week and will be open every Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. The Halifax Farmers Market is also open on Wednesdays from 8 to 5. Visit us either day for fresh locally grown produce, baked goods, crafts and more!
Matthew Stevens is the horticulture extension agent for Halifax County Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions about this article or other aspects of your home gardening, please contact Matthew at 583-5161 or .