Spring Shrubs

Spring has arrived big time in Middle Tennessee, and despite the storms it has still been a lovely spring! Here are some blooming shrubs that help to make the season bright in my gardens. What's blooming in yours?

White Azalea

This azaleas is one of 20 that was transplanted to the farm. It grows in acid soil in part sun alongside a small vernal pond on a slope. 


Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)

The 'Blackhaw' was moved to the farm last fall. It has done extremely well in its new growing conditions that see it near some deciduous trees, yet in some sun, in rocky, organically rich, acid soil. 


Florida Flame Azalea

All of the azaleas were moved to the farm a few months ago before the big freeze and ice storm. They are all doing well except one or two, but nothing seems to have slowed down the deciduous azaleas as they are all preparing to bloom. The 'Florida Flame' azalea is a deciduous azalea.


Double Kerria (Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora') 

The kerrias were recently moved alongside the driveway. I dug up one plant and came away with eleven new plants. All but one have survived the transplant and are now blooming. They grow in well draining acid soil under some deciduous trees.


Single Kerria (Kerria japonica)


'Athens' Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus 'Athens')

The two sweetshrubs I grow are in full shade in my current garden. I did not have the heart to dig them up while they were in full bloom. Sweetshrubs are easy to grow, very reliable, and drought tolerant. In their current positions the two I grow are next to one another right next to a mature oak tree. These sweetshrubs get no sun, yet they bloom wonderfully. I plan to move them to the farm where they will get some sun alongside the driveway. Sweetshrubs will be fine with more sun as some are found growing in full sun, though I am not so sure I would recommend that you grow them in full sun.


'Raulston' Sweetshrub (X Sinocalycalycanthus raulstonii) 'Hartlage Wine'

'Raulston' sweetshrub is a nice counterpoint to the yellow of 'Athens'.

For me shrubs and trees are the mainstay of my gardens and I so adore them all for their blooms, their differences, their colors, their strength, and their variety....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Plant of the Month-April 09

From In the Garden

There are so many good plants in bloom this month that I had to narrow my choice down to one single question:

What is a show stopper in the garden right now?

The answer to that question has to be the Japanese Rose, aka Kerria japonica. My particular cultivar is 'Plenifora'; which is a double kerria that grows to about 6 feet tall and spreads slowly by suckers. It is growing in a spot where it only gets afternoon sun and it is doing great! I planted this shrub last spring and rarely watered it last summer. Despite neglect it bloomed off an on all summer and fall. And just look at it now! I think a showstopper indeed. Especially more so since it is sited under mature oak trees.

According to this website the kerria is hardy to Zone 5. Yeah for northern gardeners! This plant is a must have in all gardens. I like the green stems in the winter and I like its ease of care and long period of bloom. On my recent trip to McMinnville with my friends Judie and Phil, I insisted they should also get a kerria, and they did. You see, kerrias are poisonous and are listed as rarely damaged plants when deer maraud your garden. A good thing for gardeners with deer problems like my friends Judie and Phil. So far I do not have a deer issue here, and my dogs do not eat my plants so I do not worry about the kerria being poisonous. If you have plant eating children or pets take care when planting the kerria.

I also wanted to show you some other plants in the running for the coveted title of Plant of the Month in my garden. Last April's Plant of the was pulmonaria, a stellar performer even this year but not quite the showstopper like the kerria.

Grape hyacinths are a real stunner this year. I love the blue of them.

Camellias are still blooming strong. This particular one is a Camellia japonica. It is one of only two japonicas I grow and only because it was a markdown plant.

The 'Perfecta' bergenias I recently planted are trying to bloom.

Pieris is an outstanding shrub in the garden. I posted on this plant this time last year.

The tulips look pretty good. I enjoy them each year though hybrids are not my favorite. A post will come concerning the differences between species tulips and hybrid tulips at some point. Stay tuned.

Candytuft, aka Iberis sempervirens is hard to beat no matter the month of the year. I love this perennial very much!

Hyacinths are wonderful this year. I planted several hundred bulbs last fall. These were all marked down to cents at Rural King and I think I bought them out. The results show. And the bonus of hyacinths is that they will return each year.

Sorry about the other plant pictures, but I thought I'd use these as part of my bloom day post too and I also thought some of you might have these plants growing in your garden. I bet one of them could be your choice for your 'Plant of the Month'-so do let us know which one it is or if it is one not pictured....

in the garden....