Small trees and shrubs for specimen planting
Have you ever looked out your living room window and saw lots of beautiful plants, but thought the view was a little boring? Or you walked into your backyard and admired the overall landscape, but wondered what was missing? Not to worry - the fix is easy. All you need is a few well-placed focal points.
A piece of statuary, a birdbath, or a fountain is an obvious choice, but consider living focal points instead by using small trees or shrubs as specimens.
You may be wondering, "What makes a plant a specimen, and not just another plant in the landscape?" A specimen plant is one used as a focal point because of its form, blooms, foliage, or other characteristic that catches and holds the eye. Focal points can change with the seasons as flowers fade or as leaves fall or change color.
When I think of small trees to utilize as specimens, Japanese maples are the first that come to mind. Sited with protection from winter winds and relief from afternoon sun, a Japanese maple is picturesque. Bloodgood is a fine choice with deep reddish purple foliage that turns red in the fall, but I favor the dissectum group. I love their finely cut leaves that give them a lacy appearance. When mature, the branches gracefully 'fall' from the trunk. They also exhibit lovely fall colors. Don't rush to the garden center to buy one today; Japanese maples are best planted in the spring.
Shrubs trained as small trees, or standards, are outstanding when used as specimens. I recently saw a Diablo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo') trained as a standard and instantly fell in love. The reddish-brown foliage is attractive all season; white flowers appear in early summer; and exfoliating bark peels in attractive curls - what's not to love?
I also just added a Pink Diamond hydrangea standard ((Hydrangea paniculata 'Pink Diamond') to my landscape. It has bloomed continuously since midsummer with large white cones of flowers that are fading to rosy-pink.
Another choice is a member of the willow family, Salix integra 'Hakuru Nishiki'. It is elegant with its cascading branches of pink and white-blotched foliage. Plant this beauty in a spot with some protection from afternoon sun.
Burning bushes (Euonymus alatus) sound too common to be used as a focal point? Try one as a standard. It is a blazing focal point in fall when it turns brilliant crimson-pink.
Many shrubs are relegated to supporting roles most of the year, but get to star for a brief time when they are in flower. Here are my picks for the brightest flowering focal points.
Chase away the gray of winter with Forsythia. Dazzling, golden yellow, star-shaped flowers command attention. There are dwarf varieties now available that mingle delightfully with perennials in mixed borders.
Flowering quinces (Chaenomeles spp.) shine in early spring when their bright, saucer-shaped flowers appear in shades of red, orange, pink and white. Texas Scarlet is a spreading shrub with the brightest red blooms of all the flowering quinces.
Summer is the season for smokebushes (Cotinus coggygria) to stand out. Huge, fawn-colored globes of flowers persist into late summer when they turn smoky purple. Some varieties have green foliage; some have purple.
Don't forget to include some trees or shrubs that will serve as focal points in the winter.
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') is most beautiful in the winter when completely defoliated. Mine is planted near my front door where it can be fully appreciated by all who stop by. Its twisted, curling branches create an elaborate sculpture and are exquisite when dusted with light snow.
Pendula false cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula') is barely noticeable in my backyard all summer long, but you can't miss its widely spaced, arching branches of deep green foliage in winter.
If you need a smaller, upright evergreen, choose Chamaecyparis obtuse 'Tempelhof.' Fan-shaped sprays of foliage are held horizontally on this densely foliaged, 3-4' shrub.
Take a walk around your yard, and view your landscape looking out through windows. You will quickly notice where a focal point is needed. It may be as you round the corner into your backyard, under a large tree that you see as you're doing the dishes, or a spot you notice when you approach the front door. A few well-placed specimen trees or shrubs will help take your landscape from nice, but nothing special, to fabulous!
Diana Stoll is a horticulturalist, master gardener, and the Garden Center Manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call 630-293-1040.