Captivating Shrubs - All About Them

Red Flowering Dogwood

Red Flowering Dogwood is a fiery rose blooming favorite and an ornamental tree with numerous landscaping benefits. It brings a range of advantages that contribute to the overall appeal and ecological health of the surrounding environment. Red Flowering Dogwood, also known as Cornus florida var. rubra, is a vibrantly colored species that stands apart from most other trees. If you plant one in your yard, you'll enjoy its eye-catching colors from spring through fall. The Intense Colors Of Red Flowering Dogwood These trees delight those who want to experience fall-like colors throughout the growing season! When spring arrives, they're covered in bright rose flowers that could make you swear it's already fallen. Don't worry, though, because these trees also transform into a reddish-purple color to celebrate autumn's arrival.  The brightly colored flowers will undoubtedly catch everyone's attention, but they're not the end of the show! Shortly after the flowers appear, there will also be reddish leaves that eventually turn into a classic green color. However, there's still one more trick left in these oval-shaped leaves, as they will transform again for the fall season. Crimson is the best word to describe how these leaves end their lifecycle, giving you a brilliant display of color. The Berries Of Red Flowering Dogwood The leaves will eventually fall to the ground during the fall season, but this tree still isn't fully revealing itself. Fall time is when the berries come into the picture, and they'll keep the rose-red around for a little longer. If you enjoy looking at birds, you'll want to invest in at least one of these trees, as wildlife of all types will flock to its berries. The Bark Of The Red Flowering Dogwood The bark of these trees is yet another thing that helps set it apart. Made of a unique and attractive light gray color, the bark will be pretty smooth and delicate during the early years of its life. Once it begins to age, you'll notice a scale-like texture appearing. Although this may remove its former smoothness, it adds another compellingly beautiful aspect to these relatively short trees. Regarding their height, Red Flowering Dogwood will only reach 20-30 feet, making it ideal for planting around your home. Give yourself and your entire neighborhood a tree to capture everyone's attention.

Forsythia

Forsythia has vibrant yellow, bell-shaped flowers that bloom profusely in early spring before their green leaves emerge, creating a striking burst of color in gardens and landscapes. It is a deciduous shrub widely appreciated for its abundant and vibrant yellow flowers that herald the arrival of spring. It offers numerous landscaping benefits, making it a popular choice for gardens and outdoor spaces. One of the primary advantages of incorporating it into landscaping is its early-blooming nature.  The Golden Color Forsythia Forsythia is unparalleled in filling yards with a profusion of golden colors. Their early-season blossoming is so abundant that it covers landscapes in a kaleidoscope of yellow hues, signaling the arrival of spring. Pollinators that emerge during the first signs of spring rely on the nectar produced by these blooms. Seeing these colorful, bell-shaped blossoms arranged so closely together along the stems is breathtaking. They can reach eight to ten feet in height and ten to 12 feet in width. Their bark is rough and gray-brown. They can be erect, rounded, mounded, or arching. Their branches can be straight or curved. You can plant them as focal pieces or in mass groups. Yellow To Purple Foliage With The Forsythia In addition to their showy yellow blossoms, they alter their leaves with the seasons. The leaves transition from green to yellow to purple depending on the time of year. They stay primarily green during the summer and transition from yellow to deep purple hues throughout late autumn, right before falling to the ground. These plants go dormant in the winter. They, particularly the more significant types, are shrubs that proliferate, often reaching a height of two feet in only 12 months. Because they grow fast, they can quickly fill empty spaces in gardens and landscaping. Their fast growth also makes them work well as natural privacy screens. You can even grow them as hedges and borders for gardens and driveways. Their rapid growth also increases their resilience to environmental stresses. Design a Border With Forsythia In addition to their use as natural hedges and borders, forsythias provide a great deal of creative flexibility in design. Planting them side by side along a garden path will cause them to grow inward, creating a natural archway. Some people use them to create focal points. Others use them to help with soil stabilization on sloped banks because of their deep, complex root systems that retain topsoil.

Old Fashion Snowball

Old Fashion Snowball is a showy deciduous shrub prized for its spherical clusters of large, flashy, sterile white flowers that resemble snowballs, adding charm and elegance to gardens and landscapes. It is a versatile and aesthetically pleasing shrub that offers numerous benefits when incorporated into landscaping. The old-fashioned snowball is a flowering shrub that was a mainstay in residential yards decades ago. Many people may remember these eye-catching shrubs when visiting their older relatives' houses. Of course, if you've never heard of this shrub, you may be surprised to learn that it's been around for centuries. It was first introduced into the United States in the 1700s. Its botanical name is Viburnum Opulus, and it's prized for its large white flowers. Other names for this bush include the Japanese or European bush. Prized Features of the Old Fashion Snowball Viburnum Opulus is a flowering shrub. Its large, round flowers, which have a three-inch diameter, are prevalent in late spring and summer. The flowers are initially green, then turn white and sometimes pink. These shrubs can reach heights of between six and 12 feet. In the fall, the green leaves turn red and purple, which helps give this bush three-season appeal. Best Landscaping Uses For Old Fashion Snowball Landscapers and gardeners can plant this vibrant bush anywhere they have space in their yard. Due to their lush foliage, they look best along fencelines and as focal points in medium—to large yards. They also make incredible living privacy fences. Old Fashion Snowball Is Great For Pollinator Gardens Old Fashion Snowball is a great shrub to add if you're looking to attract more bees and butterflies to your home. The pollen and nectar attract butterflies and bees, and the red fruit and its seeds attract birds, which is excellent for the birdwatcher in your family. Since Old Fashion Snowball can grow to a height of 12 feet, gardeners may want to choose plants to fill the void created by the shrub's stem and foliage. Great plants to plant under the Viburnum Opulus include lobelia, bacopa, and alyssum. Additionally, smaller bushes and shrubs usually do well under the viburnum. Gardeners can also plant vica vines and English ivy around these bushes. Gardeners who want to turn their yards into a botanical show will love the Viburnum Opulus. They're prized for their large round flowers and three-season appeal.