Unpretentious ornamental shrubs for the garden. Perennial shrubs for the garden. Medium and tall flowering shrubs for the garden
For low borders you can use a low and dense variety boxwood(Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa) is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with very attractive shiny dark green leaves.
Boxwood is perfect not only for decorating a balcony in an oriental style, but also for ceremonial trimmed borders. Several varieties of boxwood have been developed, which differ not only in leaf shape, but also in the variegated color of the leaves.
Boxwood is shade-tolerant and drought-resistant, prefers fertile, loose soil without stagnant water. For the winter, it is advisable to cover boxwood with agrospan to protect the leaves from winter and early spring sunburn.
Some varieties can be used for border plantings Euonymus Fortune(Euonymus fortunei) is a slow-growing, very low, creeping shrub up to half a meter high with long, up to 3 meters, shoots that easily take root in the internodes. These shoots are quite capable of clinging to support, if there is one. Fortune's euonymus has green, small, leathery leaves 2-5 centimeters in length.
This species, as well as its hybrid forms, for example, the variegated Fortune euonymus (Euonymus fortunei Variegatus) with white-green leaves and pink veins, which can also be used as a ground cover. And the ripening fruits will not only add decorative value to the bushes, but will also serve as food for birds.
Fortune's euonymus prefers hemifields, is quite drought-resistant, and tolerates pruning well.
Karagana(Caragana) has long been used as an ornamental plant. Maybe most of us know it as an acacia growing in forest belts and parks, but in fact it is a caragana. For example, types such as caragana prickly(Caragana pygmaea) and caragana orange(Caragana aurantiaca) are capable of creating even impenetrable thickets if they are not cut.
Orange caragana is a loose bush up to 1 meter high with numerous protruding shoots.
It grows well in urban conditions, tolerates drought well, and is not at all demanding on soil fertility. It needs to be trimmed constantly to get a continuous green border. The prickly caragana differs from the orange caragana only in its yellow flowers.
Very beautiful in a hedge snowberry(Symphoricarpos). Snowberry is a deciduous shrub up to 1-1.5 meters in height, especially beautiful in the fall, during long fruiting, when the branches bend under the weight of numerous white berries, truly reminiscent of small snowdrifts. Or maybe it’s called that because the berries on the bush last a long time, right up to the snow.
Snowberry grows very quickly, is completely unpretentious in care, prefers open sunny places, calcareous soils. Grows well in urban conditions with insufficient watering. It tolerates pruning and bush shaping well. Sometimes in harsh snowless winters it can freeze, but it recovers very quickly.
For a low hedge, you can use semi-evergreen honeysuckle glossy, or brilliant(Lonicera nitida) with many lodging shoots, abundantly dotted with shiny green oblong leaves.
Lustrous honeysuckle grows well on both sandy and clay soils, if measures are taken to increase fertility and the soil is made water- and breathable. It grows well in open, sunny places and in partial shade. Lustrous honeysuckle is heat-loving, so in our climate it loses its leaves in the winter and can freeze, so it requires shelter for the winter.
And honeysuckle(Lonicera pileata), distinguished from the first by its fragrant pale yellow flowers. It bears fruit, the fruits are medium-sized, about the size of a cherry, purple in color. Honeysuckle can grow in both sun and partial shade; In addition, it is more hardy than glossy honeysuckle, but in cold winters it still loses its leaves.
Almonds low, or steppe almond(Amygdalis nana = Amygdalis tenella = Prunus tenella) is a low, up to 1-1.5 meters tall, branched deciduous shrub, especially beautiful in early spring, when it blooms with very bright, attention-grabbing pink flowers that bloom along with the leaves. Almonds are unpretentious, so they can be successfully used to create permanent garden arrangements and flower beds.
Low almond prefers sunny places, tolerates drought easily, and can grow on poor sandy soils. On clay soils, almonds will have to be drained, since they absolutely cannot tolerate stagnation of water in the soil.
Suitable for low borders Dummer's cotoneaster(Cotoneaster dammeri), pressed cotoneaster(Cotoneaster adpressus), cotoneaster horizontal(Cotoneaster horizontalis). Dummer's cotoneaster is a groundcover evergreen shrub with long, easily rooted shoots and small, up to 4 centimeters, oval leaves. In autumn, the ripening red fruits add decorative value to the cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster is a deciduous ground cover plant. It has small, up to 1.5 centimeters, rounded leaves. Red fruits also ripen in September.
Cotoneasters are undemanding to soil fertility, can grow in open sunny places and in partial shade, do not tolerate severe waterlogging, but are very responsive to watering in dry times. During the winter, these types of cotoneasters need to be covered, as they freeze slightly.
Very decorative cinquefoil. Suitable for low hedges Dahurian cinquefoil(Potentella davutica) and shrubby cinquefoil(Potentella fruticosa).
Cinquefoil Dahuriana is a low deciduous shrub up to 1 meter high, blooming all summer with white flowers. Cinquefoil shrub - neat shrubs with a rounded shape, but slightly taller than the cinquefoil Daurian, blooms with yellow flowers, there are varietal forms with white, pink and red flowers. Potentillas are unpretentious in care and grow well in an open sunny area with minimal watering and fertilizing. They tolerate haircuts well and do not require shelter for the winter.
For dry areas with depleted soil, a steppe plant such as gorse(Genista tinctoria) - a dense bush up to 1 meter high with thin shoots directed upward. The shoots are covered with narrow pale green leaves. Blooms with bright yellow flowers. The shrub is very unpretentious, although in snowless winters it can freeze, but quickly recovers.
Rose(Rose) - in no way inferior in beauty to rhododendon, rather, equal among equals, is a worthy representative of ornamental garden shrubs. For low borders, it is quite possible to use ground cover, miniature, patio, polyantha and even some low-growing varieties of floribunda roses. Whether neatly trimmed or growing freely, roses never leave anyone indifferent.
However, to ensure that roses are always in excellent condition, you need to work hard: roses are quite whimsical. They need nutritious soil, moderately moist. Roses need both thinning and sanitary pruning. All roses need to be covered for the winter.
For some reason currants(Ribes) and gooseberries(Grossularia) we are used to treating only as fruit bushes. However, it is worth looking at them from a different perspective. Any currant is decorative during the growing season: in spring, during flowering, and in summer, during fruiting, and even without fruit.
All currants and gooseberries are very similar, but for a low-growing hedge they are quite suitable alpine currant(Ribes alpinum) is a compact and fairly dense deciduous shrub up to 1.5 meters high, a dioecious plant, female specimens are suitable for fruiting. True, the berries of alpine currants are tasteless. Alpine currant is quite unpretentious, grows well in sunny areas, is undemanding to soil, but when fertilized, the bush is much denser, tolerates pruning well, and does not need shelter.
Chaenomeles japonica hedge is very decorative. Chaenomeles japonica(Chaenomeles japonica), or japonica- a dense deciduous shrub up to 1 meter tall. Chaenomeles is very beautiful during flowering, when it is covered with marvelous red flowers. When set, small round fruits with a pleasant lemon taste and smell are formed, from which jams and preserves are made.
However, Chaenomeles japonica requires protection from northern winds. It is light-loving and grows best in fertile, well-drained soils. In winter, the shoots may freeze slightly, but in the spring they quickly recover. In case of strong thickening, thinning is required.
From this list, it is quite possible to select plants that are ideal for your site, depending on the requirements for maintenance conditions, fertility, acidity and soil moisture.
There is absolutely no need to go against nature and plant mahonia or rhododendron on poor dry soils, or almonds, gorse or boxwood in wet wetlands. Only plants that are ideally suited to your conditions will grow quickly, become a real highlight of the garden, and most importantly, will not require much care.
Used literature: Konovalova T.Yu., Shevyreva N.A. Ornamental shrubs, 2004
Image source flickr.com: Leonora Enking (5), John Hickey, Ron Gay, Deborah Cowder, www.jardinerosenaccion.es, Janette Dollamore, Tracey Stout, Jodi, Stefano, peganum, Josef Lex (mission accomplished!), Matt Lavin, Mountain Partnership at FAO, per.aasen, Cheryl Moorehead, Andreas Balzer, Dietmut Teijgeman-Hansen, flemertown, dangle earrings, Maja Dumat (2), Daniela Ionesco, Diddlecome Dawcock, Paul Simpson, Eirien, Yasuki Fujinuma, Ron Wolf, Nobuhiro Suhara (2), Steve Garvie, Jens Schmidt, David Trevan, Ben Rushbrooke, Jan Sølve Borlaug, Marcel, stanze, jacqueline (Jackie) ramsey, naturgucker.de / enjoynature.net, Wulf Forrester-Barker, Nacho, Mark Watts, gartenknorze, Helge Vindenes. Ruschi. Carl Lewis, Martha B. Moss, L"herbier en photos, Stephanie, jlcummins - Washington State, matt hirt, Andrew Caird, photopoésie, Betsy, tesselaarusa (2), -eney- (3), Marc Kummel, Sirpa Tähkämö, Dan Davis, Kirill Ignatyev, FarOutFlora, Rainer Fritz
A modern garden with a beautiful landscape design cannot do without such a landscaping element as ornamental shrubs. They are planted in open areas, used as hedges, grown as single specimens or in groups, and with their help they create a background for flower arrangements. Now there are a considerable number of species and varieties of garden shrubs, differing in size, shape and color of foliage and flowers, timing and duration of flowering. Therefore, when choosing them, you need to be guided by certain criteria.
Top 20 ornamental shrubs
These beautiful plants may have significant differences in the requirements for agricultural conditions, so in order for them to truly become a decoration of the garden plot, you must first study their botanical description and maintenance rules. Next, for your dacha or garden plot, you need to choose exactly those that will be combined with already planted plants or fit smoothly into the planned landscape design. In this case, you should take into account the size and characteristics of the seedlings and the garden itself, as well as the weather conditions of the region. The most popular shrubs with high decorative properties include the following plants.
Lilac
This shrub begins to delight people with its aroma at the end of spring.
Lilac (Syringa) has remained for many years one of the most popular garden shrubs in dachas and garden plots, and at the same time it is quite frost-resistant. To date, more than two thousand new hybrid varieties have been developed. Their inflorescences consist of many flowers, which can be either small with a simple shape or large, densely double. In addition to lilac, they have white, pink, lilac, bluish, lilac, purple and violet colors. Lilac bushes grow from 2 to 5 m in height and are quite compact in shape.
Planting of lilacs begins in mid-August and ends at the end of September. It is not recommended to root seedlings in the spring; they take a long time to take root and grow weak and painful.
Depending on the variety and region of growth, flowering of bushes can begin in May and last until the end of July.
forsythia
This plant begins to bloom very early, and the leaves, which sometimes change color to purple in the fall, grow only after the buds fall off.
Forsythia (Forsythia) is a long-lived shrub; it can grow safely in one place for more than seventy years.
Bright and unusually flowering spreading bushes are highly valued, while in warm regions inflorescences can appear as early as April and last for about a month. The plants are covered with graceful bell flowers that are golden yellow in color. At the same time, the light green foliage begins to hatch only after the buds fall off. It has an oval shape with smooth or jagged edges. With the onset of autumn, it acquires yellow, orange and purple colors, which makes the bushes even more decorative. The height of the shrub ranges from 1 to 3 m, and the crown width can reach 2 m.
Vegaila
This “tree”, in addition to crimson, can have five more colors
Wegeila (Weigela) is a small garden shrub from 70 cm to 2 m in height. About 20 species of this plant are now known, and there are also hybrid varieties. All of them have large, tubular, bell-shaped flowers that grow either singly or in umbrella inflorescences. They can be white, cream, yellowish, pink and red in color. Only a few species of this ornamental shrub are grown in our country:
- Early wegeela (Weigela praecox) with cream flowers, the core of which is decorated with orange spots;
- Weigela middendorffiana, which has yellowish-white flowers with purple and bright yellow streaks in the throat cavity;
- Pleasant weigela (Weigela suavis), considered the most graceful of all species - its flowers are light purple on the outside and pale pink on the inside;
- Weigela hybrida, which combines many varieties obtained as a result of the work of breeders.
Vegeila is valued by gardeners for its two-time flowering, the first of which begins in May, and the second at the end of August. The buds replace each other within a month.
Shrubs should be planted in mid-spring. Since vegeila is a heat-loving plant, seedlings planted in the fall may freeze in regions with cold winters.
It is very convenient to grow, so today breeders have already developed many of its varieties.
Spiraea is one of the popular frost-resistant ornamental shrubs that bloom quite unusually. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, abundant flowering and rapid growth. Moreover, there are about 130 natural species of this plant and many hybrids. Their height ranges from 30 cm to 3 m, the shoots can be either erect or drooping. The shape of the jagged foliage is lobed, depending on the species it can be lanceolate, linear or round.
All plant species are divided into early flowering and late flowering. Therefore, if you choose the right seedlings, you can get a bush planting that will bloom from mid-May to early October. It is advisable to plant young plants in the garden plot in mid-August.
Spring spirea will produce white corymbose inflorescences. In summer varieties, small flowers are collected in pink umbrellas, and in autumn varieties in purple clusters. This is a truly original decoration for any garden.
Chaenomeles
This “Japanese quince” bears small yellow apple-like fruits after flowering.
Chaenomeles or Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is a very showy thorny shrub with dark green shiny foliage. Its height ranges from 50 cm to 3 m. Large flowers with a diameter of up to 5 cm have a simple or double shape and are collected in small bunches.
Flowering of Chaenomeles begins in mid-spring and lasts for a month. After its completion, interesting fruits are formed on the plants, reminiscent of small apples. Against the background of glossy foliage, they give the plant a special decorative effect.
This shrub is of Asian origin and prefers spring planting, which can be done from mid-April to late May.
These mini-apples are not only edible, but also very healthy, although they are a bit sour if you try to eat them fresh and without sugar.
Chubushnik
With its flowing branches, light shades and subtle aroma, it evokes associations with a veil
Mock orange (Philadelphus) has been known since the times of Ancient Egypt, but even now it is one of the most common ornamental shrubs, beautiful and frost-resistant. This is due to its unpretentiousness, rapid rooting and rare damage by diseases and pests. The plant is quite spreading, from 1 to 3 m high and up to 2 m wide. Its dark green foliage of an elongated ovoid shape takes on a bright lemon hue in the fall.
The goblet-shaped flowers of numerous species can have a simple or densely double shape and a white, light cream or pinkish color. They gather in delicate clusters and spread a delicate, sweetish jasmine aroma throughout the garden. Flowering of various varieties lasts from mid-June to early autumn.
You can plant mock orange in a permanent place in the garden both in the fall and in the spring.
She has a relative with flowers of similar shape - herbaceous cinquefoil
Cinquefoil (Potentilla) is not only a brightly flowering plant, but also a medicinal plant, which is recognized even by official medicine. It grows from 70 cm to 1.5 m in height. Its greyish-green, pubescent foliage is pinnately shaped and consists of five small leaves.
The golden-yellow flowers have five petals and a diameter of about 3 cm. They are collected in small racemes that bloom in mid-June. Flowering continues until the first frost. Hybrid varieties of shrubby cinquefoil can have a double shape and a white, pinkish or red color.
It is best to plant young plants in a permanent place in mid-spring.
Rhododendron
And this plant’s relative is the indoor azalea, with almost a large range of shades
Rhododendron (Rhododendron), blooming luxuriantly and abundantly, is valued by many gardeners for its special grace and noble appearance. This ornamental shrub is the true king of the dacha or garden. Depending on the species, the dark green, shiny or leathery foliage of the plant has a serrated or ovoid shape, its length can reach 15 cm. The height of the plant ranges from 50 cm to 4 m, and the crown width can reach 2 m.
Large rhododendron flowers have a diameter of up to 15 cm and are white, pinkish, purple, orange or bright red in color. Their shape resembles garden roses. Each inflorescence has from 10 to 25 buds and can be a separate spectacular bouquet.
Rhododendrons can be planted in open ground in mid-spring and early autumn.
In recent years, hydrangea has come back into fashion and is very popular both in garden plots and in floristry.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea) is a very shade-tolerant and fairly frost-resistant garden plant. In addition, it is unpretentious and can grow even on the most acidified soils, and depending on changes in the composition of the soil, it can change the color of the inflorescences. The height of different types of hydrangea ranges from 1 to 3 m. Large bright green foliage has an ovoid, pointed shape.
Hydrangea inflorescences consist of a huge number of small flowers and are bright large balls, umbrellas or panicles, coloring cottages and garden plots. They can be white, pink, blue, blue, purple. They are often used as cut flowers for original bouquets.
This shrub can be planted both in the spring and in the fall, several months before the onset of frost.
During the season, it is characterized by a change in color not only of the stems, but also of the leaves and needles
Thunberg barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a beautiful plant with colorful stems and foliage, blooming in shades of yellow, pink and red. This plant has a huge number of species. Its peculiarity is the stems, which over time change their color from yellow to bright red, purple-red, and as a result become reddish-brown. Depending on the time of year, the shoots are strewn with small green, golden or orange leaves and needles. The height of the bushes can reach 3 m.
The flowers of this ornamental shrub are collected in large, distinctive inflorescences, appearing in late May or early June and remaining on the branches for a month.
After its completion, fruits about 1 cm in diameter begin to form on the bushes, which when ripe acquire a bright red color and a sour taste. Thunberg barberry can be planted from mid-spring to early autumn.
The berries of this plant are widely used in cooking.
In our next article you will find a selection of unpretentious flowers for the cottage and garden:.
Its flowering is a bit reminiscent of the brushes of decorative Kalanchoe, but on a bush it looks much more beautiful
Hawthorn (Crataegus) can be grown in the garden not only for decorative purposes, but also to collect medicinal fruits from it. This shrub is not only beautiful, but also frost-resistant, unpretentious in care and undemanding to growing conditions. The height of some of its species can reach 4 m. Its bright green foliage has a diamond shape and sharp, deep cavities.
Corymbose inflorescences consist of small white or pink flowers, in place of which bright red berries are formed in the fall.
These red berries are useful for normalizing the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, digestion and nervous system
Hawthorn blooms throughout June, and fruit ripening ends in early September. This shrub can be planted in the garden both during the spring and autumn.
This is how it looks in the fall and can remain just as elegant all winter long.
Holly (Ilex) is a frost-hardy evergreen shrub. Its glossy foliage is characterized by an elliptical shape and pointed teeth along the edges. In addition to species that have a green color, there are variegated specimens, the leaves of which have white or yellow spots. The height of the bush ranges from 3 to 5 m.
Holly blooms from May to July, but this plant becomes most beautiful in the fall, when it is covered with large fruits of red, white, yellow or dark brown color, adding brightness to the garden. They can remain on the plant until next spring. Holly can be planted in a country house or garden throughout the entire growing season.
These “summer snowballs” in the fall are replaced by clusters of red berries, useful as an antiseptic, blood purifier and metabolic stimulant.
Viburnum Bulldonezh or snow globe (Viburnum buldenezh) is frost-resistant and has very beautiful carved foliage of bright green color. Delicate white flowers are collected in large inflorescences that reach 20 cm in diameter. From a distance, they truly resemble dazzling snow globes. In autumn, large clusters with red berries, which have medicinal properties, form in their place. This ornamental shrub is very famous and popular in cottages and garden plots.
The flowering of this ornamental shrub begins in late May - early June and lasts for a month.
It is advisable to plant Viburnum Buldonezh on a garden plot in the spring, but you can do this in early autumn.
Its “cap” of this plant can also be pink, lilac or purple
Deutzia is a beautiful shrub with a spreading crown and abundant flowering, which is of East Asian origin, and therefore is not very frost-resistant. The plant reaches a height of 50 cm to 2 m. The entire foliage can be smooth or rough, and have smooth or jagged edges.
Small bell-shaped flowers can be single or double. They gather in numerous panicle inflorescences of white, pink, lilac or purple color.
Flowering begins at the end of May and ends at the beginning of July. Deutia can be planted both in spring and autumn.
White or pink inflorescences against a background of purple or violet-burgundy leaves look quite impressive
Bladderwort (Physocarpus Amurensis) is a beautiful, frost-resistant and unpretentious plant that tolerates light shading. The shrub has an interesting spherical shape of a dense crown. Its large foliage is purple or violet-burgundy in color.
Small inflorescences up to 7 cm in diameter are formed by small white or pink flowers. The height of the vesicular carp can be more than 3 m, and the width is about 2 m.
Flowering of this shrub begins in June and continues throughout the month. Bladderwort can be propagated from mid-spring to early autumn.
It blooms with white-pink clusters, and the fruits can also be black in color, while their consumption has a beneficial effect on the immune system, skin, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract and metabolism
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) is an ornamental shrub, highly valued in gardening for its dense crown, which is easy to shape and retains its shape for a long time. In addition, it is not too demanding on growing conditions. Its shoots are covered with many bright green, shiny, ovoid leaves, which turn reddish and then purple in color with the onset of autumn. Depending on the varietal, the plant can reach from 50 cm to 3 m in height.
Small white or pink cotoneaster flowers are collected in small clusters. Flowering begins at the end of May and continues until the beginning of July.
At the beginning of autumn, red, bright orange or black fruits ripen on the bushes. In combination with burgundy leaves, they give the bushes a particularly attractive appearance. It is advisable to plant cotoneaster in mid-spring.
This plant can very often be found in gardens and dachas in the South of Russia, although it is also suitable for more northern ones, since it is quite frost-resistant.
Beautiful foliage is one of the advantages of this plant; in addition to yellow-green, its colors can also include orange, red and purple.
Euonymus (Euonymus) can be called a rather unusual garden shrub. The green leaves of some of its species can be simultaneously decorated with white, yellow, orange, red and purple patterns. Plant height ranges from 50 cm to 3.5 m. This is a frost-resistant plant that needs bright light.
Small inflorescences consisting of small yellowish-green flowers look inconspicuous. And the fruits that are formed from them are highly decorative. They are four- or five-sided boxes of pink or red color. Large seeds of white, yellow, red or black color ripen in them. When the ripe fruits burst, they come out.
The fruits of this plant look like red or pink boxes, and the seeds inside them are white, yellow, red or black.
Euonymus blooms in May and June. Young plants are planted in the fall.
Sometimes this plant is sold in pots, being considered elite and expensive.
Camellia (Camellia) has many varieties, but in garden plots, as a rule, Japanese Camellia and Williams Camellia hybrids are grown. This shrub has dense elliptical or ovoid leaves with a shiny surface and serrated edges. Their length ranges from 10 to 17 cm.
The height of the plant can reach 5 m.
Camellia is valued by gardeners for its large flowers, the diameter of which reaches 12 cm. They can be simple or double, have a white, pink, red or variegated color. Their core is formed by many yellow stamens. From a distance, camellia bushes resemble roses. It is not very frost-resistant, and is grown in regions with mild climates, where flowering begins in mid-spring and continues for several months. Plants are planted in the garden plot in the spring.
The seeds of this type of almond are also edible and have a number of beneficial properties, including rejuvenation of the body
Low almond (Amygdalus nana) is a small but very beautiful shrub about 1.5 m high. On its erect stems there are a large number of narrow lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges. Many simple flowers of this frost-resistant plant, unlike its dessert varieties, are white or bright pink.
Low almond blossoms begin at the end of April, when there is no foliage on it yet. It lasts for a month, then the formation and ripening of small fruits in a fluffy shell begins. Planting young plants in the garden or country house can be done both in spring and autumn.
This winter-hardy mini-tree can also be white or pink
Ceanothus is interesting for its late flowering. In appearance it resembles a small tree with a spreading crown. Its shoots are covered with large green, velvety leaves. Small flowers are collected in large beautiful inflorescences, reminiscent of lilacs. They can be white, pink, blue or purple.
The value of ceanothus lies in the fact that its flowering begins in August and continues until mid-autumn. You can plant shrubs in the garden both in spring and autumn. This ornamental shrub is quite frost-resistant.
In addition to those listed, there are many more ornamental shrubs that can adequately decorate any garden. Therefore, everyone can choose plants for their dacha or garden according to their wishes and create their intended landscape compositions. Of course, you need to take into account the characteristics of the site, plant characteristics, flowering period and planting time.
In modern garden design, shrubs with dark foliage are increasingly appearing - purple, red, burgundy, brown, violet and almost black for some garden styles. These shrubs have an amazing appeal - their foliage immediately attracts attention and literally fascinates, giving both brightness and depth to the greenery and flowers surrounding them. And if for some reason there is a pause in flowering in your garden, they will come to the rescue in maintaining the color scheme - elegant, bright, mysterious, and your garden will never be boring.
Physocarpus opulifolius
- an unpretentious winter-hardy plant with large beautiful leaves. The color of popular varieties is dark purple with a violet or brown tint. Even the names of some of them, for example Litlle Devil, will be appreciated by lovers of the noir style (from the French Noir, “black”).
The most popular variety Diabolo, the second name is Purpureus, is also often translated as “Devil's Purple”. The shrub is large in size; if not trimmed, it can grow up to 3 m. However, do not be alarmed - a neatly trimmed shrub surrounded by greenery and warm-colored flowers turns into a bright, sophisticated accent plant that completely transforms the design of your garden.
The assortment also includes varieties with leaves of a more joyful purple-red (Lady in Red, Red Baron) or orange-red (Diabolo d’Or) color. These are low-growing varieties, so they can be used to decorate mixborders and alpine slides.
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Like the bladderwort, it is an unpretentious and winter-hardy plant. During flowering, it is densely covered with inflorescences of a beautiful pink color with a pleasant smell. The fruits are edible. It has several varieties with dark, almost black leaves, which is reflected in their name: Black beauty, Black Lace, Black Tower. Large shrubs up to 2.5 m high.
They differ in the shape of the bush and leaves: Black beauty and Black Lace are spreading bushes. The foliage, as the name of the variety suggests, is more delicate in Black Lace. Black Tower got its name because of the shape of the bush - the branches are erect, directed straight up and do not fall apart even without pruning.
Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple
With the rise in popularity of extravagant Art Nouveau plants, Mackerel has become quite popular in modern gardens, especially the Royal Purple variety. Its leaves are very dark, purple-purple on top and bright red below, which makes the shrub look more cheerful. During flowering, when the foliage above is covered with loose, large inflorescences of a lighter, darker pink color, it seems that the bush is covered with torn clouds. And after flowering, when the flowers have fallen and only the red stalks remain, the bush becomes completely unusual, as if it had suddenly grown hair. Hence the common name for scumpia - “wig tree”.
It is unpretentious in cultivation, it can grow even on rocky soils, you just need to choose the right place for it: the plant must be protected from cold winter winds and drafts.
Large hazel (Corylus maxima) Purpurea
Known to all of us for its delicious fruits, there is also a variety with colored leaves - Purpurea. This is a tall, spreading bush with beautiful leaves - wrinkled, covered with fine hair. The color is softer than that of previous forms: when they appear, the leaves are light red, then darken. The flowers are red and yellow earrings up to 10 cm long; they appear before the leaves, so the bush has color already in April.
Weigela
Weigela, mainly the flowering weigela species (Weigela florida), also has varieties with beautiful purple foliage: one and a half meter Alexandra and Purpurea and low, up to 1 m, Nana Purpurea and Minor Black.
A very interesting variety is Monet Verweig with not very dark, brown-red-pink leaves with pink edges.
Of the hybrid weigela varieties (Weigela hybrida), the Bokrashine variety has the darkest red-brown leaves. The bush is very decorative, but more heat-loving than other varieties. However, this does not affect the color of the leaves in any way, and there will be a second wave of flowering on the shoots of the current year, even if the bush freezes over the winter.
As with skumpia, the place for weigela should be protected from cold winter winds and drafts. Otherwise it is unpretentious and grows even on heavy calcareous soils.
Barberry (Berberis)
This shrub needs no introduction, as it is one of the most beloved garden plants. Barberry is unpretentious to grow, winter-hardy, grows like weigela, even on heavy calcareous soils, is very decorative, and the fruits are not only decorative, but also edible. Forms with colored leaves are found in (Berberis thunbergii) and (Berberis ottawensis).
P popular varieties of Thunberg barberry:
● Atropurpurea – tall bush, up to 2 m, dark red foliage, lighter in autumn;
● Atropurpurea Nana - differs from the previous one only in size - up to 1.5 m;
● Red Pillar – purple-violet foliage; it has a neat columnar shape - with a height of 1.5 m, the width of the crown, as a rule, does not exceed 1.5 m;
● Admiration is one of the most interesting varieties: low, less than 0.5 m, spreading greatly in width; The color of the foliage is red-brown, bright red in autumn, with a light border along the edge of the leaf.
Popular varieties of Ottawa barberry:
● Superba – tall, up to 4 m, with dark red leaves that lighten in autumn;
● Auricoma - about 2.5 m high, with leaves that are red in spring and summer and orange in autumn;
● Silver Miles - the variety is interesting because, unlike other shrubs with decorative leaves, it needs to be planted deep in the plot, since the foliage has a very strange color: gray spots and stripes of different sizes are scattered on a purple background, which does not look very neat up close , and from a distance the color seems lilac.
For shrubs with dark-colored foliage, it is very important to correctly determine the planting site. Such a place should be illuminated by the sun at least in the morning; in deep shade the color will lose its brightness.
In our huge country there are a large number of summer residents who tend their own gardens. However, many of them limit themselves only to flower beds, as they think that growing ornamental shrubs is much more difficult. And in vain!
After all, many varieties of these plants do not require special daily effort from you to grow.
So which bush is better to plant in your garden?
About 1,500 different types of shrubs are grown in Russia. Naturally, each type requires specific care, but what kind of care?
This depends on the climate of the particular region, the level of shade in your garden and the winds.
Which shrubs are winter resistant?
Frost-resistant shrubs that bloom throughout the summer season are especially popular. Such plants are suitable for the harsh climates of our country, because they do not need to be additionally insulated against cold weather.
Let's look at the most common types of them.
Lilac is a bush that grows 3 meters in height. Its branches can interfere with the growth of other plants, so lilacs must be pruned promptly and correctly.
If you are not sure that this bush will survive the cold, you can purchase special varieties for cold climates. For example, "Alice Harding" or "Paul Tyrion".
Hydrangea is a bush with large inflorescences. It is required to regularly fertilize with magnesium or iron, as well as prune the plant.
You need to cut off excess shoots in the fall, when the flowering period ends, and in the spring you need to remove the tops of the branches to the upper buds. That is, circumcision is done twice a year.
Spiraea is a bush that resembles the shape of a cascade due to the heaviness of its flowers. Some can grow up to 2.5 meters high. Therefore, of course, you need to remove the shoots. This should be done immediately after flowering.
The varieties that gardeners most often grow are “Golden Princess” and “Shirobana” - they are small and, with proper care, grow to about 70 cm.
Buddleia - a bush that can reach about 3 meters in height. Prune it as soon as it finishes blooming. More suitable for temperate climates. It can withstand cold frosts, but before that it needs to be hilled up and then covered with spruce branches.
What shrubs love shade?
Another shrub that is often planted is shade-tolerant. They can be used as decorations not only for the garden, but also for the appearance of your home - this will not harm the growth of the bushes. Below are the most popular plants.
Weigela is a shrub that grows up to 70–80 cm. The flowers bloom at the end of April and most often bloom until late autumn. Mandatory conditions for flowering: warm weather and shady area.
Wisteria is a shrub that sometimes reaches a height of 18 meters. Many people use such plants to decorate unfortunate places in the garden. Wisteria blooms from spring to autumn and is accompanied by a rich aroma.
Deutzia is a small shrub that begins flowering in late spring. If you plant several bushes nearby, you get an interesting composition. But you need to regularly trim branches and shoots to maintain beauty.
What plants are grown to create hedges?
For hedges, fast-growing shrubs that do not reach large sizes are best suited. The following are widespread among summer residents.
Barberry is a bush that creates a difficult-to-pass hedge due to its thorns, and also easily takes its shape thanks to its crown. Treatment does not take much effort: feed no more than once a month, trim the upper branches if necessary, spray periodically.
Thorn is a bush that sometimes grows up to 3 meters, so it needs to regularly cut off its branches and give it the necessary shape. During the flowering period, sloe smells like almonds.
Dogwood is a bush that grows up to 5 meters in height. Because of this, it is more often used for external garden fences. The crown of this plant requires regular pruning of branches. The bush blooms from March to May, but in the summer you can enjoy its berries.
What shrubs with fruits can be grown in the garden?
You can probably find raspberries, currants or plums in every summer cottage - these are all fruit bushes.
If your garden does not allow you to grow large ornamental shrubs, then you can decorate the area with fruit species of plants of different varieties.
For example, most people think of raspberries as red or pink, but they can also be purple, white or black.
What are evergreen shrubs good for?
Evergreens are usually used to create hedges or decorative elements. For this, the bushes listed below are most often used.
Magnolia is a shrub not exceeding 1 meter in height. Its beautiful leaves can remain on the branches for many years. In the warm season they turn green, and in the cold season they turn copper.
Honeysuckle is a shrub no more than 50 cm high. It tolerates shady areas well. During the frosty season, it is better to cover honeysuckle.
Rhododendrons are usually low shrubs. It does not require constant watering and grows well in the shade, but in winter it should be covered with special material.
How to feed shrubs in the fall?
Different plants require different care. Some people need iron, others need fluoride, others need something else. But there are general recommendations that are suitable for almost all plants.
Give the bushes fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. This procedure can be done only once every two years.
Also, experienced summer residents advise eliminating fertilizing containing nitrogen in the fall - this will only enhance the growth of new branches, and they will die during the first cold weather.
Photos of ornamental shrubs
It was beautiful all year round; plants are selected different in height, timing of flowering or fruiting, and resistance to climatic conditions. In this article we will talk about the most popular of them.
The best blooming ones (with photos)
A tall shrub, grows up to three meters, with a spreading crown. About one hundred varieties and forms of the plant are known. Flowering time, depending on the species, is from mid-summer to frost.
Paniculate inflorescences are more like clusters, reach 45 cm in length, there are different shades: white, pink, orange, purple, lavender. The flowers are small with tubular petals, similar to lilac or, with four lobes.
When grown, it prefers places that are closed from drafts but open to the sun; it is unpretentious to soils. Care consists of watering, fertilizing,...
Propagated by seeds, which are formed in the box after flowering, and by cuttings: green and woody.
Care consists of regular watering, weeding, etc. Even in winter, if there is no snow, it is better to cover the crop. Cassiopeia propagates by cuttings.
Frost-resistant species
A product of selection by Canadian scientists, grown for northern latitudes. These flowers can withstand 45-degree frosts.
If their foliage freezes due to sudden temperature changes, it quickly recovers without damage to the plant. Roses bloom profusely with bright colors of various shades and are not afraid of shadows or diseases.
The shrub has curly, juicy green foliage and strong, thin shoots. Roses are easy to care for.
Frequent visitor to gardens and parks. The branched, lush shrub grows quickly and lends itself well to pruning. 
Thanks to the dense, oval foliage, the shrub makes an almost continuous hedge. Common lilac tolerates shade well; in too bright sun its delicate inflorescences can get burned and turn brown.
It blooms early in April - May with beautiful bright clusters of white, cream, pink and lilac inflorescences. Lilac feels great on any type of soil, but prefers loose soils.
Decorative fruit bushes for the garden
A bush about a meter high, with thin shoots arched. The foliage is green, glossy, some species have thorns.
Lush flowering begins in May, the flowers are simple and double. Most often there are varieties with orange inflorescences, but there are also pink and white ones.
The plant bears yellowish fruit, similar to quince. Quince is drought-resistant and grows in almost any soil.
Important! Transplantation is carried out extremely carefully due to the long tap root, which is easily damaged.
- not only decorative, but also. It grows up to five meters high, has thorns on red-brown glossy stems.
The foliage is up to 6 cm long, oval in shape with pile on both sides of the leaf. Small shield-shaped inflorescences bloom in May, and red fruits appear in late summer.
Hawthorn grows equally well in dry and marshy areas, in the shade and in the sun, and easily adapts to weather conditions.
Another medicinal and, of course, beautiful plant is viburnum. ordinary- a tall lush bush, with brown bark, dense green foliage, which turns red in the fall.
