Plants that deserve more frequent use in garden design:

 

Why are plants underutilized?  This can result from two interrelated problems: either customers are not aware of their usefulness or nurseries do not have them available for sale.  A major nursery leader, here in our area once told me, “Show me the demand and I will grow the plants to meet that demand.”  How do we generate demand for plants that have great utility, yet remain hard to find in the nursery trade?  One way to solve that riddle is to write a blog entry!  Please let us know if you are interested in purchasing or finding out how to incorporate any of these recommended plants into your landscape planning.

 

EnergyScapes landscape designs are based on the most hardy, locally adapted plants, so we generally focus on plants native to our Upper Midwest region.  There are many we could pick for this topic of under used species.  I selected just five plants that I find tremendously useful, yet seem to be rarely included in landscape designs.  I have included three perennials and three shrubs, none of which suffer from insect or disease problems. The diagram below suggests how they might be used in the landscape.

 

 

Dogbane - Apocynum androsaemifolium

This perennial has striking reddish stems about 3’ high with clusters of small tubular flowers in this season and earlier.  Will tolerate poor soils and drought.  Because it spreads by creeping rhizomes, it is excellent for the tough sites above walls or in gravel facing south.  Does best with more sun.  Added bonus:  American Indians used the tough inner bark for weaving into cordage.

 

White Upland Aster - Aster ptarmicoides

This is a white flowered perennial that will stay ~ 12 x 12” unless you have a moist growing season.  With more moisture it will be larger.  Wonderful greeter plant along walks and entries because of its small stature and showy clusters of white blooms over mid to late summer.  Note:  has also been known as Solidago ptarmicoides.

http://www.outbacknursery.com/catalog/Asterptarmicoides.htm

 Flowering Spurge - Euphorbia corollata

 

This is another white flowering perennial that can grow up to 3′ in height. The small white flowers bloom from June to August, and are excellent for massing in gardens. It prefers dry to mesic soils in full sun. 

 

 

 

 

 American Hazelnut - Corylus americana

 

Hazelnut is one of my favorite shrubs for a dense head high privacy screen along division between manicured turf and wildflower meadows.  It spreads with rhizomes into extensive colonies from the woodland edge to very dry, full-sun.  One of the most drought resistant shrubs of the upper Midwest.  Nuts are delicious, but also preferred by squirrels and other wildlife.  Striking green sheath surrounds maturing nut.  Fall color can be coppery-red.  Thrives in all but damp clay soils.

http://www.outbacknursery.com/catalog/Corylusamericana.htm

Common Witch Hazel - Hamamelis virginiana

Deciduous shrub : Ht. 20-30′ W 25-35′. Witch hazel is one of the shrubs that can be a wonderful addition to raingardens.  That is any depression where you direct roof or pavement runoff to soak into your soil.  It can tolerate drought once established, but will need more moisture if in full sun.  NOTE:  yellow filaments of flowers do not appear until after gorgeous creamy yellow foliage drops in fall.  Go out for a treat after Thanksgiving dinner searching for the witch hazel blooms.  Eastern species, Hamamelis vernalis, blooms in the spring and does poorly here in Midwest.This plant has been used for dousing, pain relief and a general sore muscle linement.  If you are suffering from too much gardening straining your body, simply chew on the bark of your witch hazel.  Found in seasonally wet draws in native woodland habitats.  Slow to reach mature size.Photo: Michelle Zimmerman

Speckled Alder - Alnus incana ssp. rugosa

Speckled alder has also been known at Alnus rugosa.  If you have a place nothing else will grow, this is the plant for you.  It will colonize the absolute worst soil conditions including mine spoil, areas scraped clear of any organic matter following construction or ice damage.  If you have soil that is soggy or dry it will thrive.  Its maximum height and width are 15-20’.  It will send up new shoots if you renewal prune to the ground.  Its unusual cones, approximately 3/4 “ long first appear as a tight nut, opening into a layered appearance.  Another perfect plant to use for privacy screening where more height is desired.   Because it tolerates flooding, it can be an awesome addition to raingardens where you might have standing water for up to two days.

Photo: Colby-Sawyer College

View other blogs in the the Garden Designers Roundtable:

Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA »
Carolyn Gail Choi : Sweet Home and Garden Chicago : Chicago, IL »
Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA »
Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT
Douglas Owens-Pike : Energyscapes : Minneapolis, MN »
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA »
Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO »
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK »
Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX »
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In the Garden : Los Altos, CA »
Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT »
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ »
Tara Dillard : Vanishing Threshold: Garden Life Home : Atlanta, GA »

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 9:01 am and is filed under Garden Maintenance, Garden Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.