Usually grown as a shrub or small tree, Vitex (chaste tree) reaches about twelve feet tall and wide. The very attractive leaves are divided into five to seven leaflets and are a grey green. The flower spikes appear in summer and are usually purple, although white is also available. The plant is deciduous and can take the heat and cold. This is a great addition to any garden.
Abelia grandiflora has arching stems six to eight feet tall and produces large numbers of small white or pink bell-shaped flowers in summer. The variety ‘Sherwoodii’ is three to four feet tall and has lavender flowers and darker green leaves. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is only two to three feet tall with yellow variegated foliage and white flowers in summer. The leaf color tends to redden…
This is an evergreen shrub that adds color all year round. It can reach up to ten feet and has an upright growth habit It can take sun or partial shade and does best with regular water.
Coleonema pulchellum (or Breath of Heaven) is a charming, wispy plant with very small pink flowers. The flowers themselves are not showy, but the sheer numbers of them in spring make the plant a real sight. It grows to about five feet tall and wide, but ‘Compacta’ gets only about three feet. ‘Sunset Gold’ has…
Viburnum is a genus that contains many species, both evergreen and deciduous, and there are several good varieties for our area. Viburnum tinus ‘Robustum’ and Viburnum ‘Spring Bouquet’ are among the earliest spring blooming shrubs. They both have flat heads of pink buds opening to white blossoms which in turn form dark blue berries. The former can grow…
Lagerstroemia (crape myrtle) These shrubs are a great favorite in our area as they adapt so well to heat, bloom in the summer and require little water once established. The plants naturally grow as multi-trunked shrubs, but are often trained as standard trees. The height varies greatly from three to twenty feet, so be sure to choose the right variety for…
The most commonly available species is Caryopteris x clandonensis. There are several named varieties, all of which grow to about two feet. They are known for their lovely purple flowers, much loved by bees. Caryopteris loses its leaves in winter, prefers full sun and moderate water.