A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this column on the subject of new and unusual twists on old favorites for folks who want to create a landscape look that is just a little out of the ordinary. Judging by the e-mail I received, many readers are intrigued by the idea of less-than-familiar plants, so today I have a few more suggestions that will make your garden just a little more unique.
Spirea are among the easiest plants to transplant and to grow successfully. They also tend to grow quite quickly, so they are worth considering if you need to establish a mature look without a long wait. Spirea are not particularly uncommon, but if you pick one or two of the less common varieties you can put a personal stamp on your landscape.
Spirea "Snow Storm"
As the seasons change, this beauty seems to take on a whole different personality, if color is anything to go by. In late spring and early summer, it is covered by such a profusion of white blooms that it looks as if it had been blanketed by a freak snowstorm. The dome-shaped blooms are quite large (6 to 8 inches across) and are pure white with delicate pink centers. The blossoms contrast beautifully with the deep blue-green leaves.
When summer turns to fall, the foliage puts on an eye-popping display of yellow, red and orange, a marked contrast from the profusion of white seen only a few weeks before.
Snow Storm can work well as a specimen, but I’ve seen it as the backdrop for a perennial garden when several of them are planted about 5 feet apart. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re looking for an unusual shrub border. It is fairly easy to grow and seems to maintain a consistent flower color regardless of soil type, but in my experience it prefers well-drained or sandy soil. At maturity, Snow Storm reaches a height of 3 to 6 feet.
Spirea "Magic Carpet" pp # 9363
It is no exaggeration to say that I fell in love with Magic Carpet the first time I saw it at the nursery. It was the height of summer so it was in full bloom covered with deep pink flowers offset by leaves that were bronze to light green with red tips.
The nurseryman told me that, in the spring, it has vibrant, red-emerging leaf shoots that turn to the bronze/light green color I was looking at under the summer sun. In fact, bright sun will bring out the most vibrant color and Magic Carpet is quite drought-resistant, too. Apparently, the foliage will retain its rich russet tones until well into late fall or early winter.
This is a plant that can play many roles in a landscape, due to its compact size, reaching a mature height of only 12" to 18" with a spread of about two feet or so. This would make a spectacular – and unexpected – groundcover or work well as a small specimen shrub, perhaps with the larger Spirea Snow Storm as a back drop.
Two other spireas you might want to check out if you would like a personal look for your landscape: Darts Red (with its striking deep red blooms) and the compact Lemon Princess (sporting oversized bright pink flowers over toothed gold-green leaves).
All well worth looking for when you’re striving for a landscape that reflects your individual personality! If you’re having trouble finding them, drop a note to me at steve@landsteward.org and I’ll help you with some shopping information. If you missed the previous column featuring unusual twists on old favorites, you can find it at www.landsteward.org under the Plant Man heading. Look for "variations on old favorites add pizzazz to landscape."
As fall planting season approaches, I’ll try to come up with a few more uncommon plants that might appeal to you. Meanwhile, if you want some specific suggestions, send me an e-mail with a few details about your landscape and location and I’ll reply with some suggestions.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org and for resources and additional information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org
