Happy days: spring has definitely sprung and in places the grass is riz. I always look forward to this time of year - it's a hopeful time, full of promise. Of course, after a winter like this, I can almost be certain that some of my plants have not survived. Rather than lamenting my losses before they've had a chance to sprout, I have the time now to plan how I might do things differently in the garden this year. And even if everything pulls through, I may want to mix things up anyway. I've narrowed my choices down to themes: shade, fragrance, coloured leaves and vines. Here are my "top five" in these categories.
Shade
Hosta Patriot- My favourite hosta: with variegated green and crisp white leaves, dependably hardy and can take a fair amount of sun. Flowers: mauve/lilac, mid-summer. Size: 20 x 30 in (height x width).
Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) Excalibur - Leaves are variegated, silver with green edge. Flowers: purple, early spring blooming. Size: 10 x 20 in. (h x w).
Liverwort/liverleaf (Hepatica nobilis) - Another early spring bloomer, liverwort forms a very nice green mound. The leathery, lobed leaves are evergreen, but cut back plant to ground after flowering to allow new growth to shine. Flower: blue, white, purple, pink, early spring. Size: 8 x 12 in. (h x w).
False lamium (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) Herman's Pride - This cultivar is a non-spreading form of this species. With silvery variegated leaves, it's a real stand out in the shade. It is tolerant of poorer, dry soil once established. Flowers: golden yellow, mid-summer. Size: 12 x 12+ in. (h x 2); slowly spreading.
Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) Jack Frost - This one was the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2012 with good reason. With large variegated leaves, it really draws your eye to shady spots. And it's slug resistant. Flowers: sprays of forget-me-not bright blue flowers, late spring. Size: 12 x 18 in. (h x w).
Fragrance
Rose Bill Reid - Bill Reid is one of the Canadian Artist Series Roses. Unlike other yellow roses, this one is a repeat bloomer with good disease resistance. Flowers: golden yellow, throughout season. Size: 3 x 2.5 ft. (h x w).
Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) - I'm always caught by surprise when these are blooming the park behind my house: their fragrance is lemony and sweet. Flowers: pale yellow, mid- to late summer. Size: 70 x 30 ft. (h x w) at maturity
Mockorange (Philadelphus lewisii) Blizzard - Blizzard seems to be standard variety with a well-deserved name: when in bloom, you can imagine yourself going snow-blind. Citrusy and sweet smelling. Flowers: brilliant white, early summer: Size: 7 x 5 ft. (h x w).
Lilac (Syringa prestoniea) Coral - There are so many lilacs to choose from. Preston lilacs are well behaved, non-suckering and flower a little later than other lilacs. Flowers: rosy pink, early summer. Size: 8 x 7 ft. (h x w).
Lily Northern Carillon - A spectacular specimen, developed on the Prairies. Can literally fill your yard with its fragrance. Flowers: large, downward facing trumpets; dark purple-red throat with white edges. Size: up to 5 ft. tall.
Coloured Leaves
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Black Lace - Lacy, dark purple leaves add dimension and texture to the garden. Best colour in full sun. Flowers: large clusters of light pink flowers (nice contrast to leaves) in early summer. Size: 6 x 6 ft.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Diabolo - Golden ninebark was the standard for years, but then in the 90s, along came the vividly dark purple Diabolo. Excellent as a specimen or planted in a row as a informal hedge. Flowers: pinkish-white, early summer. Size: 6 - 8 x 6 - 8 ft.
Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda) Mini Sunglo - The name says it all: a small and brightly shining sun of a shrub. It has been a mainstay in my garden for over 10 years. Flowers: small drifts of pink, early summer; repeat bloom in late summer. Size: 1.5 x 1.5 ft.
Dogwood (Cornus alba) Ivory Halo - Silver dogwood is everywhere but can get out of hand. 'Ivory Halo' is a smaller, slow-growing version and does quite well in sun or shade. Flowers: small white clusters, early summer. Size: 3 x 3 ft. after 5 years, double that after 15 - 20 years.
Rose daphne (Daphne x burkwoodii) Carol Mackie - This diminutive, slow-growing, semi-evergreen shrub has green with narrow white margined leaves. If you can find it, 'Moonlight' is the reverse (creamy white with narrow green margin). Flowers: cluster of small, pink, fragrant flowers, late spring. Size: 3 x 3 ft.
Vines and Groundcovers
Clematis Nelly Moser - There are far more clematis in the world than 'Jackmanii'. Nelly Moser is a nice change (as are Joe Zary, Willie and Blue Bird) and is equally dependable. Flowers: 6 - 8 in. blooms, light pink with darker lilac stripe down each petal; early summer. Size: 6 to 10 ft. long
Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) - If you have a large rocky slope to cover, riverbank grape will oblige you in spades. Purple fruit makes great jelly or wine. Yum! Flowers: small, pale yellow, early summer. Size: to 20 ft. long.
Virginia creeper/Engelmann's ivy (Parthenocissus quinqeufolia) - These two are nearly identical except Engelmann's Ivy has tendrils with adhesive tips that allows it to climb and Virginia Creeper does not. Expect excellent fiery red fall color. Great as a groundcover, to cover a chain link fence, etc. Flowers: small pale green, insignificant; early to late summer. Size: to 50 ft long.
Golden hops (Humulus lupulus Aureus) - Golden hops adds a bit of brilliance in the spring to trellises or other vertical surfaces. As a bonus, clusters of yellow hops are produced in the fall. For the adventuresome, try your hand at making beer with them. Flowers: unimportant. Size: to 15 ft. long.
False lamium (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) - The "unimproved" version of false lamium (see Herman's Pride in shade category) is a variegated (silver and green), vigorous ground cover that grows well in dry shade. Flowers: Creamy to golden yellow in late spring to early summer. Size: 12 in. x spreading.
- This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; [email protected]).
