Plants for Landscape and Privacy Screenings

An attractive, versatile shrub with waxy, pointed glossy green leaves with white edges and blotches; the shrub has an open shape as it ages, it is quite beautiful and can be limbed up and used for bonsai; delightful panicles of white flowers. Variegated Japanese Privet features showy panicles of white flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has white-variegated dark green foliage. The glossy pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.

Variegated Japanese Privet is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Japanese Privet is recommended for useage within the following landscape applications;

1. Mass Planting
2. Hedges/Screening
3. Woodland Gardens
4. Topiary
5. Container Planting

Variegated Japanese Privet will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt.

Cornus sericea – Red Twig Dogwood

Excellent massed or as a specimen. Effective in shrub borders where plants can be combined with evergreens or a contrasting color of redtwig dogwoods for interesting winter contrast. Also effective in naturalistic plantings in moist soils where plants can be allowed to spread and form thickets. Plants perform very well in wet locations such as low spots or along streams or ponds where spreading roots can help combat soil erosion. May also be used as a property line screen.

In Spring, it puts out attractive white flowers. Summer, it fills out into a well shaped shrub with beautiful green leaves. Fall starts warming up with red fall foliage. Come winter, the leaves drop, exposing this amazing bright, red bark. Use the Red Twig Dogwood as a privacy screen or even as a foundation hedge. It makes an attractive, large shrub all by itself, but is definitely most dramatic when several are planted together. Birds in need of good camouflage are drawn to the foliage of this shrub. More importantly, this serves as a place for shelter and food supply, too. By tending this tree, you effortlessly yet significantly contribute to providing a more conducive ecosystem to overlooked species that are integral part of our spheres too.

Security of property need not be sealed with high fences and steel bars. Nature permits gardeners to maintain the fluidity and serenity via privacy trees like the red twig dogwood. For those who simply want a private space outdoors, planting this shrub will definitely make your leisure time more worthwhile and intimate, too. You can enjoy the wind, the sun, the snow, or a little of nature’s wonders without having to worry whether you are being stalked or talked about bypassers-by or nosy neighbors.

Grows in full sun or shade, but the more sun, the more color. The red twig dogwoo is a staple in a winter garden because it boasts of bright reds that signal the time for the sappy, cozy, crazy season, too. The ravishing yet very random rusty red across a stark white scenery is both captivating and comforting. The red twig dogwood is at its peak when it sheds its leaves to let the world see its stems that seem to purposefully trim its intricacies.

is a cross between A. chinensis and A. uniflora. It is a deer resistant rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub in the honeysuckle family. Typically grows on gracefully arching branches to 2-4′ tall. Specimen or grouping or mass for shrub borders or foundations. Also effective as an informal hedge or low screening.

Mass on slopes or banks for attractive shrubby cover and erosion control.Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best flowering in full sun. Prefers moist, organically rich soils which drain well.

Abelias (Abelia x Grandiflora usually used as a hedge) has the distinct hedging advantage of a dense, bushy habit, and throughout summer they look fantastic with the small, tubular white flowers held in clusters above reddish coloured sepals (that’s the bit that holds the flower in place) against the back-drop of dark glossy green leaves. Its small size makes it ideal for small gardens and for growing in pots for a terrace or deck.

The middle of summer is when Abelia is in full bloom. Flowers range from lavender to pinkish white to pure white depending on the variety you’ve selected. Blooms are fairly fragrant, and often persist in random numbers all through summer and into early fall in many areas. Foliage will also take on a very interesting, and equally attractive, soft purplish green color during winter months – returning to the usual dark green with the onset of warmer temps in spring. No serious pests or disease problems noted with this plant. Possible branch dieback / damage has been observed in some zone 6 areas if winter temps drop below zero degrees.