“Does it flower?” Demand for Blooming Shrubs Grows
These days, homeowners are looking for high-impact plants; even for small spaces. That means landscapers need to choose plants that serve many purposes, not just one. While shrubs have traditionally be planted to provide foliage backdrop or foundation planting, more and more homeowners are interested in blooms. By providing sturdy accent, hedge and foundation shrubs that also offer blooms, landscapers can offer their customers more bloom for their buck.
Blooming shrubs can bring a landscape to life and offer color and contrast. They can become the focal point in the garden while in bloom, then offer a foliage backdrop for other plants when they aren’t blooming. Blooming shrubs can be incorporated into traditional foundation plantings and mixed borders or they can be planted separately as standalone features.
For an impressive blooming specimen for warm climates, don’t miss the tropical looking blooms of Red Oleander. Oleander begin blooming in early summer and continue through mid-autumn, providing long-lasting color. Plants can reach 20-feet in height but can be tip-pruned to keep a smaller size.
For something showy on the smaller side, consider Caryopteris. Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Knight‘, also known as Blue Mist flower, is a small, deciduous shrub that sports true blue flowers that are delicate in beauty but very easy to maintain. ‘Dark Knight’ can also be planted in large patio containers.
Rose of Sharon is known as a showy blooming shrub with large hibiscus-like flowers in summer. This blooming shrub makes the perfect focal-point or accent plant in large beds. There are many types to choose from but the double-flowering types, such as ‘Double Pink’ and ‘Double Purple’ are extra showy. If your climate is too cold for Oleander, Rose of Sharon can deliver blooms to climates as far north as zone 5.
