Part 1

SHRUBS for Kansas Landscapes

Cooperative Extension Service • Kansas State University • Manhattan

This publication is one of a series of circulars to help you with your landscape planning. Use this bulletin when selecting shrubs for particular locations in your yard. Consider each plant for its intended use, site location, and exposure. Use the plant descriptions listed in the tables while visiting nurseries. This will help you to realize the size and performance you may expect from the plants.

All shrubs that will grow in the various sections of Kansas are not listed. Most of the shrubs mentioned were selected from the various Kansas retail nursery catalogs. A few shrub varieties are not listed in these retail catalogs, but your nurseryman can get them from wholesale nurseries supplying Kansas firms. The varieties listed are the more common shrubs used for landscaping purposes and will provide you with a wide assortment of plant material to solve any landscaping need.

GARY L. McDANIEL Extension Specialist Landscaping and Environmental Horticulture

The author wishes to thank Larry D. Leuthold for helpful comments during the preparation of this bulletin and Joe D. Roller for designing the illustrations used in this publication.

USES FOR WHICH WE WANT PLANT MATERIAL 1. Accent 2. Border 3. Soften Building Appearance 4. Screen poor views 5. Privacy 6. Hold a Soil Bank 7. ground cover

Shrubs are used in landscaping to provide low foliage and flowers that will compliment the house and trees in your yard. Each shrub used in your yard should fulfill a specific purpose for the overall design.

Select shrubs that will provide _accent_ for your entryway or border focal point, _soften_ corners and harsh lines, or provide a low _transition_ from one point to another. Shrubs are also useful for dividing spaces by _separating_ use areas in the yard. Shrubs are used with trees to _screen_ unpleasant views or protect our yards from strong winds.

^Shrubs as Accent Plants

Shrubs that create a definite accent must be used with more care in your landscape than shrubs that soften lines. Two primary areas in your landscape should be accented. The most important of these is the front entryway to your home.

If the sidewalk to your front door approaches from the driveway along the front of the house, the accent area is at the end of the walk. This will provide a “visual” as well as a “physical” barrier that will point out the front door. Sidewalks that lead directly from the street to the door present a different situation. Accent may be created on either side of the front door, but never make the plantings completely symmetrical on each side. Create a strong accent to one side and a less dominant accent on the other side of the entryway. Never use accent plants on the corners of your house.

Accents may be created by (1) _Height_—taller plants catch the eye first; (2) _Color_—brightly colored foliage always attracts attention; (3) _Texture_—coarse leaf or stem textures provide strong contrasts; and (4) _Form_—pyramidal shrubs or clipping shrubs into unnatural shapes will create accent.

ACCENT PLANTS

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet or more in height). Elder, Golden Fringe Tree, Red Privit, Golden Wayfaring Tree DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Medium (between 7 and 10 feet in height). Burning Bush, Winged Dogwood, Coral Dogwood, Redosier Dogwood, Silky Dogwood, Yellowtwig Ninebark, Common Ninebark, Goldleaf Sand Cherry, Purpleleaf Viburnum, Arrowwood Viburnum, Doublefile Weigela DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Small (between 4 and 6 feet in height). Barberry, Redleaf Burning Bush, Dwarf Winged Weigela, Dwarf DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Dwarf (less than 4 feet in height). Barberry, Crimson Pygmy Ninebark, Dwarf BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet or more in height). Holly Magnolia, Southern BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Medium (between 7 and 10 feet in height). Mahonia, Oregon Grape Viburnum, Leatherleaf BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Small (between 4 and 6 feet in height). Euonymus, Emerald ’n’ Gold Holly Nandina BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Dwarf (less than 4 feet in height). Azalea Euonymus, Emerald Gaiety Holly, Dwarf Mahonia, Compact Oregon Grape Rhododendron

^Shrubs that Soften the Building

Shrubs that will soften the lines of the house or buildings have a _round_, _oval_, or _irregular_ shape. These shrubs break the strong vertical lines at the corners of the house, rather than call attention to them.

Never select shrubs that create an accent for corner plantings. Consider a brightly colored foliage on shrubs during the summer or fall as an accent. Do not plant upright-growing pyramidal evergreens, such as Junipers, for planting at the corners of your home. The shape of these plants creates an accent which will detract from the foundation planting. Instead of softening the harsh vertical lines at the corners of the house, pyramidal-shaped shrubs call attention to them.

TRANSITION PLANTINGS

Plants used as a transition are simply those shrubs or ground covers that pull together the plantings at the corners or accented entryways. These shrubs are used to soften the lines of the house, where the walls meet the ground.

Use shrubs that will not call attention to themselves by having bright foliage or coarse leaf texture. These shrubs also help to hide any exposed foundation walls along the house. Transition shrubs should be low-growing or dwarf in size. If the siding of your house extends to the ground without leaving the foundation walls exposed, a groundcover may be all that is required to add depth to the foundation planting.

CONTINUOUS BLOOM FOR YOUR LANDSCAPE

Whether you are selecting shrubs for the foundation plantings around the house or for a shrub border in your yard, choose shrubs that will bloom at different seasons. Most of the flowering shrubs that are available bloom during the spring. Once some shrubs have finished blooming, they have no other ornamental features. The interest in your landscape will be lost, unless you have selected some summer-blooming shrubs. Attempt to design your landscape so you can have continuous shrub bloom from early spring through late summer.

SHRUB ORDER OF BLOOM

EARLY SPRING

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Medium) Redbud Chinese Willow, Pussy DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Tall) Cherry, Nanking Crabapple, Sargent Forsythia Magnolia, Star DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Small) Honeysuckle, Winter (Fragrant) Quince, Flowering DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Dwarf) Quince, Japanese Flowering Forsythia, Bronx BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS Magnolia, Southern

LATE SPRING

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Tall) Cranberrybush Dogwood, Gray Honeysuckle, Tatarian Lilac Maple, Amur Olive, Autumn Pearlbush Pea Shrub Plum, Flowering Snowball Viburnum Wayfaring Tree DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Medium) Barberry Bayberry, Northern Beautybush Cotoneaster, Large Flowering Deutzia, Lemoine Dogwood Honeysuckle, Morrow Honeysuckle, Zabel Jetbead, Black Privit Sand Cherry, Purpleleaf Scotch Broom Spirea, Bridalwreath Spirea, Vanhoutte Viburnum DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Small) Almond, Flowering Barberry, Japanese Cotoneaster, Spreading Kerria Lilac, Dwarf Korean Spirea, Garland Spirea, Thunberg Weigela DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Dwarf) Barberry, Crimson Pygmy Cotoneaster, Cranberry Deutzia Pea Shrub, Pygmy Quince, Japanese Flowering Spirea, Snowmound BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS Barberry, Wintergreen Mahonia, Oregon Grape Pyracantha Viburnum, Leatherleaf

EARLY SUMMER

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Tall) Elder, Golden Fringe Tree, Red Mockorange, Big Scentless Privit Smoke Tree (Purple Fringe) Tamarisk DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Medium) Deutzia Lilac, Late Lilac, Persian Mockorange Viburnum DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Small) Beautyberry, Japanese Hydrangea, Annabelle Mockorange Spirea, Anthony Waterer Spirea, Froebel Spirea, Redflowering Japanese BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS Euonymus (Patens)

LATE SUMMER

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Tall) Crapemyrtle Rose-of-Sharon Tamarisk DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Medium) Butterfly Bush Tamarisk, ‘Summer Glow’ DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Small) Abelia, Glossy Hydrangea, A. G. Mockorange DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Dwarf) Chenault Coralberry Cinqefoil Hypericum Spirea, Anthony Waterer

SHRUB BLOOM COLOR

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Tall)

WHITE Cranberrybush Crapemyrtle Dogwood, Gray Elder, Golden Honeysuckle, White Tatarian Lilac, Common Lilac, Peking Pearlbush Privit Redbud, Chinese Rose-of-Sharon Snowball Viburnum PINK Crapemyrtle Fringe Tree, Red Honeysuckle, Red Tatarian Honeysuckle, Rosy Tatarian Plum, Flowering Rose-of-Sharon Smoke Tree (Purple Fringe) Tamarisk Willow, Pussy YELLOW Barberry, Mentor Maple, Amur Olive, Autumn Pea Shrub PURPLE-LILAC Lilac, Chinese Lilac, Common Rose-of-Sharon

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Medium)

WHITE Butterflybush Crabapple, Sargent Deutzia, Lemoine Deutzia, Pride of Rochester Dogwood Honeysuckle, Morrow Jetbead, Black Magnolia, Star Mockorange Privit Sand Cherry, Purpleleaf Scotch Broom Spirea, Bridalwreath Spirea, Vanhoutte Viburnum PINK Bayberry, Northern Beautybush Butterfly Bush Cherry, Nanking Cotoneaster, Large Flowering Crabapple, Sargent Deutzia, Pride of Rochester Honeysuckle, Zabel Lilac, Late Lilac, Persian Magnolia, Pink Star Scotch Broom Tamarix, ‘Summer Glow’ Weigela YELLOW Barberry Forsythia Scotch Broom

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Small)

WHITE Almond, Flowering Honeysuckle, Winter (Fragrant) Hydrangea, A. G. Mockorange Quince, Japanese Flowering Spirea, Garland Spirea, Thunberg Viburnum PINK Abelia, Glossy Almond, Flowering Beautyberry, Japanese Cotoneaster, Spreading Hydrangea Quince, Japanese Flowering Weigela YELLOW Barberry, Japanese Kerria PURPLE Hydrangea (blue) Lilac, Dwarf Korean

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (Dwarf)

WHITE Deutzia, Slender Hydrangea, Annabelle Mockorange, Dwarf Spirea, Snowmound PINK Chenault Coralberry Cotoneaster, Cranberry Deutzia, Rosepanicle Quince, Japanese Flowering (red) Spirea, Froebel (crimson) Spirea, Anthony Waterer Spirea, Redflowering, Japanese YELLOW Barberry, Crimson Pygmy Cinquefoil Forsythia, Bronx Hypericum Pea Shrub, Pygmy ORANGE Quince, Japanese Flowering

BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS

WHITE Azalea Euonymus (Patens) Magnolia, Southern Pyracantha Rhododendron Viburnum, Leatherleaf LILAC Rhododendron PINK Azalea Rhododendron YELLOW Azalea Barberry, Wintergreen Mahonia, Oregon Grape

^Shrubs for Shady Locations

Most of the plants that are adapted for western Kansas will grow on the north side if they are planted 3 to 4 feet from the building and out from the roof overhang. In eastern Kansas it is necessary to consider shade tolerance when planting on the north side of the house.

Most shrubs will bloom more profusely and produce more fruit when planted in the sun, even though they may survive quite well in deep shade. Often shrubs will grow better in shade simply because they are protected from the southwest winds. If you don’t want to plant dwarf shrubs 3 to 4 feet out from the foundation of the house, then plant only shade tolerant shrubs.

What is often thought of as a shade problem is often the result of competition from the roots of adjoining trees. Apply plant food and water and thin the tree branches to correct this problem.

The shrubs listed for shady locations may be expected to perform adequately on the north side of the house or behind fences in deep shade. Many of these same shrubs will do equally well in strong sunlight or shade.

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet or more in height). Mockorange, Big Scentless Privit, Amur River North Privit, California Privit, Common Viburnum, Cranberrybush Viburnum, Snowball Wahoo DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Medium (between 7 and 10 feet in height). Barberry, Mentor Barberry, Truehedge Dogwood, Coral Dogwood, Redozier Dogwood, Silky Dogwood, Yellowtwig Holly, Winterberry Jetbead, Black Mockorange, Enchantment Mockorange, Innocence Mockorange, Minnesota Snowflake Mockorange, Sweet Ninebark Spirea, Vanhoutte DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Small (between 4 and 6 feet in height). Abelia, Glossy Barberry, Japanese (green) Barberry, Kobold Honeysuckle, Winter (Fragrant) Hydrangea, A. G. Hydrangea, Nikko Blue Indiancurrent Coralberry Kerria, Japanese Mockorange, Alberta and Glacier Mockorange, Belle Etoile Mockorange, Bouquet Blanc Snowberry DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Dwarf (less than 4 feet in height). Chenault Coralberry Hydrangea, Annabelle Mockorange, Dwarf Minnesota Snowflake Mockorange, Silver Showers Mockorange, Dwarf Sweet Ninebark, Dwarf BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet or more in height). Holly, American Holly, Yaupon Magnolia, Southern BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Medium (between 7 and 10 feet in height). Euonymus, Large Leaf Euonymus, Manhattan Holly, Burford Mahonia, Oregon Grape Viburnum, Leatherleaf BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Small (between 4 and 6 feet in height). Euonymus, Dupont Euonymus, Jewel Euonymus, Medium Leaf Euonymus, Sarcoxie Holly, Dwarf Japanese Holly, Heller’s Holly, Hetz Nandina BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Dwarf (less than 4 feet in height). Azalea, Kurume Azalea, Mollis Hybrid Boxwood, Edging Boxwood, Wintergreen Euonymus, Emerald Cushion Euonymus, Emerald Gaiety Euonymus, Small Leaf Euonymus, Vinca Leaf Holly, Dwarf Burford Holly, Dwarf Chinese Mahonia, Compact Oregon Grape Rhododendron

SHRUBS HAVING FRUIT THAT WILL ATTRACT BIRDS

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet or more in height). Cotoneaster, Peking Cranberrybush, American Dogwood, Gray Elder, Golden Honeysuckle, Tatarian Olive, Autumn Privit, California Privit, Common Privit, Golden (Vicary) Viburnum, Nannyberry Wayfaring Tree DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Medium (between 7 and 10 feet in height). Barberry, Truehedge Cherry, Nanking Dogwood, Coral Honeysuckle, Morrow Honeysuckle, Zabel Jetbead, Black Privit, Border Privit, Regel Sand Cherry, Purpleleaf Viburnum, Arrowwood Viburnum, Korean Spice Viburnum, Linden DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Small (between 4 and 6 feet in height). Barberry, Japanese Beautyberry, Japanese Cranberrybush, Dwarf American Honeysuckle, Clavey Dwarf Honeysuckle, Winter (Fragrant) Viburnum, Wrights’ DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Dwarf (less than 4 feet in height). Chenault Coralberry Cotoneaster, Cranberry BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS Holly (female) Pyracantha Nandina

Low Maintenance _for your shrubs

HEIGHT AND SPREAD

Consider low maintenance when planning your landscape. When selecting shrubs for your yard, determine the maximum height and spread you want from the planting, and then select only from shrubs with those characteristics.

The shrubs listed in this bulletin have been grouped according to their mature heights. If you are looking for a shrub that will grow under a window that is 4 feet from the ground, select from those listed as dwarf shrubs. You certainly would not select a Tatarian Honeysuckle (10 to 12 feet) for this location.

Never select a shrub that will ultimately grow too high for its location and expect to keep it shorter by constant clipping. This will only add to your time in maintaining your landscape.

MAINTAINING SHRUB SIZE

Shrubs will require periodic pruning to maintain their proper shape and size. Many shrubs will grow tall and spindly if not thinned-out occasionally. Some shrubs will sucker severely at the ground if the older stems or canes are not removed. This causes the shrub to spread beyond its normal limits.

The proper method for maintaining shrub shape is to remove all canes that are larger than one inch in diameter. These should be removed as close to the ground line as possible. This practice will open the center of the plant so that more light can penetrate into it. Also, the size of the shrub will be maintained at the desirable height.

ADAPTABILITY AND HARDINESS

Which plants are best suited for your landscape? This will depend on whether the shrubs will be planted on a farmstead or in a city lot. It will also depend on whether your yard is exposed to direct southwest winds, or whether you have some protection.

Plant adaptability has been considered for each shrub listed in this bulletin. You may plant any shrub that is listed as ‘Hardy’ in an open, fully exposed location and expect it to survive. Those shrubs that have an ‘X’ will most likely not survive if planted where they will receive direct exposure to the hot winds of late summer. If you live in a town or city, you may have enough wind protection to use these shrubs. This is most important for homeowners living in the western counties of Kansas.

Protection from southwest summer winds may be provided by a windbreak, trees in the city, by planting on the east or north side of the house, or behind a screen fence. If you have this protection you might be able to use plants that are not listed for your area. However, if your yard is exposed to hot summer winds, you had better use only the plant listed for your section of Kansas.

You will sometimes find plants growing in your area that are not listed for your particular section of Kansas. It is possible to grow some plants outside their recommended region, provided these plants receive adequate protection and care. These shrubs will usually not grow as large or as tall as they would further south or east. If you are rather certain that your yard will provide enough protection for these plants, you might try growing a few.

VARIETY LISTINGS OF SHRUBS

Common Name Botanical Name Height Spread Adaptability [1] DECIDUOUS SHRUBS: Tall (10 feet in height or more)

Cotoneaster, Peking Cotoneaster acutifolia 10-12′ 8-10′ Hardy Cranberrybush, American Viburnum trilobum 12′ 10-12′ Hardy Cranberrybush, European Viburnum opulus 8-12′ 10-12′ Hardy Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica 10-12′ 5′ SE Dogwood, Gray Cornus racemosa 8-12′ 8-12′ Hardy Elder, Golden Sambucus canadensis 12′ 10-12′ Hardy ′Aurea’ Fringe Tree, Red Cotonis coggygria 10′ 10-12′ X, P ′rubrifolia’ Honeysuckle, Tatarian Lonicera tatarica 10-12′ 8-10′ Hardy Hydrangea, P. G. Hydrangea paniculata 10-15′ 10-15′ X, P ′grandiflora’ Lilac, Chinese Syringa chinensis 10-15′ 10-15′ Hardy (Rothamagensis) Lilac, Common Syringa vulgaris 12-15′ 12-15′ Hardy Lilac, Manchurian Syringa amurensis 12-15′ 12-15′ Hardy Lilac, Peking Syringa pekinensis 10-15′ 10-15′ Hardy Maple, Amur Acer ginneis 15-20′ 10-12′ X, P Mockorange, Big Scentless Philadelphus grandiflorus 9-12′ 5-8′ Hardy Olive, Autumn Eleagnus umbellatus 14-16′ 15-17′ Hardy Pea Shrub Caragana arborescens 15-18′ 12-15′ Hardy Pearlbush Exochorda racemosa 10-15′ 10-15′ SC Plum, Flowering Prunus triloba ′plena’ 12′ 10-12′ X Privit, Amur River North Ligustrum amurense 10-12′ 5-7′ Hardy Privit, California Ligustrum ovalifolium 10-12′ 6-8′ X, P Privit, Common Ligustrum vulgare 10-12′ 6-8′ Hardy Privit, Golden (Vicary) Ligustrum X vicari 12′ 6-8′ X, P Redbud, Chinese Cercis chinensis 10-12′ 10-12′ X, P Rose-of-Sharon (Althea) Hibiscus syriacus 8-12′ 6-10′ Hardy Smoke Tree (Purple Cotinus coggygria 15′ 8′ X, P Fringe) Snowball Viburnum opulus ′sterilis’ 8-12′ 10-12′ Hardy Sumac, Smooth Rhus giabra 10-12′ 12′ Hardy Sumac, Staghorn Rhus typhina 20′ 15-20′ Hardy Tamarisk, Common Tamarix hispida 10-12′ 8-10′ Hardy Tamarisk, African Tamarix africana 10-12 10′ SE Viburnum, Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum 8-10′ 10-12′ NC, P Viburnum, Nannyberry Viburnum lentago 8-12′ 10-12′ Hardy Viburnum, Siebold Viburnum sieboldi 12-15′ 10-12′ NC Viburnum, Tea Viburnum setigerum 10′ 8-10′ NC Wahoo Euonymus atropurpureus 10-15′ 15-18′ Hardy Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana 10-12′ 12′ NC Willow, Corkscrew Salix matsudana ‘tortuosa’ 12-15′ 12′ X, P Willow, Pussy Salix discolor 10-12′ 12′ X, P