Rosa glauca
 |
Rosa glauca Family: Rosaceae |
|
Description: A vigorous-growing species rose with an arching habit of red stems. Leaves are blue-grey to reddish-mauve in colour. Unscented, single-petalled, delightfully bright, almost hot-pink flowers with white centres and golden yellow stamens appear in late spring to early summer followed by deep brownish-purple hips that turn red in winter.
Special Notes: Introduced in 1789. Grows best in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Prune out old growth periodically. Reliably pest and disease resistant although there may be the occasional rose gall which should be pruned out. Propagate by fresh seed; softwood cuttings in early spring; hardwood cuttings in late summer.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993; Great Plant Pick 2002
In our Zone 7a garden: For a bullet-tough, no fuss, no muss rose this is IT! The shape of this shrub rose combined with the colour of its foliage and the glorious hips it produces are its real charms. Did I happen to mention it is not susceptible to the standard rose problems? Just one year out of 15, our mother plant did get some black spot on its leaves but that was an exceptional growing year. The mother plant has also had a couple of rose galls in its later years which were quickly pruned out and bagged for the garbage. Not sure if it is weather or age related. Have not seen galls on any of our other Rosa glauca shrubs. John has taken the mother plant out now as he was changing that bed around to accommodate his increasing collection of tree peonies. But I still have the daughter of the original shrub in my garden. And when I say bullet-tough, this rose will thrive in poor and/or sandy soil, drought (once established) and compete against mature trees. Granted, given those conditions, the shrub will not perform to quite its full magnificent self but it is still capable of lending its delightful vase-like form and dark foliage colouring to a landscape design in an incredibly tough, hard-to-garden area such as my front border bed. Sadly, for a rose, the flowers are the one disappointing factor, even with their lovely splash of colour brightening up the garden. They are devoid of all scent and do not last long…just barely two weeks.
Posted on May 8, 2013
|
|
Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’
 |
Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’ Family: Rosaceae |
|
Description: A deciduous shrub with an upright growth habit. Sharply toothed, lanceolate leaves are bright yellow to yellowish-green with red tips. Masses of showy rose-pink flowers appear in late spring through summer.
Special Notes: Native to Japan. Foliage tends to hold less golden hue in deeper shade. Flowers form on current year’s growth; either prune to shape or cut back young stems and remove old stems in early spring. Late frost can damage new growth. Drought tolerant. Rabbit resistant. Propagate by seed; softwood cuttings in summer.
Posted on January 31, 2013 |
|
Spiraea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’
 |
Spiraea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’ Family: Rosaceae |
|
Description: A deciduous shrub with an upright growth habit. Small sharply-toothed, lanceolate leaves are burnished yellow to yellowish-green tipped with red. Masses of showy rose-pink flowers appear in late spring through summer.
Special Notes: Native to Japan. Foliage tends to hold less golden hue in deeper shade. Flowers are formed on current year’s growth; either prune to shape or cut back young stems and remove old stems in early spring. Late frost can damage new growth. Drought tolerant. Rabbit resistant. Propagate by seed; softwood cuttings in summer.
Posted on January 12, 2013; updated on April 7, 2022
|
|
Hypericum androsaemum ‘Albury Purple’
 |
Hypericum androsaemum ‘Albury Purple’ |
|
Posted on October 19, 2012; Updated on March 12, 2022
|
|
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’ (Diablo®)
 |
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’ Family: Rosaceae Common name: ninebark |
|
Description: A deciduous shrub with upright, arching branches. Ovate, three-lobed, toothed leaves are a delicious dark chocolate colour tinged with purple. Corymbs of white flowers with tinges of pink appear in early summer.
Special Notes: Native to North America. Foliage can turn a dark green colour in excessive heat or when grown in excessive shade. Flowers on last year’s wood; prune for shaping right after flowering to remove crossed branches or dead wood. Wonderful exfoliating bark for winter interest. Propagate by seed; softwood cuttings in summer; rooted suckers in spring or autumn.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 2002
In our Zone 7a garden: A few of the dark leaves have shown areas of reversion to green, typically along the mid-vein. No major reversion change on the shrub as a whole has been noted, as in whole branches of leaves reverting to a variegation of dark chocolate mixed with green. There have just been one varied leaf here and one there kind of occurrence. If the appearance of leaf variegation disturbs you, the leaf is easily removed. Even with the odd leaf reversion happening…this is one of our favourite plants. Give it space in your garden to adequately show off its stellar vase-like form.
Posted on August 29, 2012; updated on February 3, 2013
|
|
