Are they shhrubs or perennials - Does it matter?
Some plants defy categorization-although they appear to be shrubs, or are shrubs in warmer zones, they act like perennials here. They die back to the ground each winter, with new growth emerging from the base in the spring. Others are truly perennials, but have such a substantial, bushy growing habit that they look like shrubs and, for the growing season at least, serve a similar function in the landscape.
Whether these plants serve as a backdrop for the flower garden, are mixed into the shrub border, are massed for maximum impact, or are planted as specimens, they make welcome additions to the suburban landscape.
Amsonia
Amsonia should be in everyone's sun-filled garden. Growing up to three feet tall and wide, it boasts steel blue flowers early in the summer. Amsonia is easy to grow, adaptable to many different soil types, and seldom needs dividing.
Arkansas Amsonia (A. hubrectii) has threadlike foliage; Willow Amsonia (A. tabernaemontana) has attractive narrow leaves. Both turn golden yellow in the fall.
Baptisia
One of my favorite such plants is Baptisia (False Indigo). This long-lived perennial can grow up to three or four feet tall and as wide. In May and June, it bears showy, sweet pea-like blue flowers on spikes, followed later by interesting, black seedpods. Blooms are good for cutting, and the pods are excellent for dried arrangements. The blue-green foliage is attractive, too, and the plants form dense, shrublike mounds. Although Baptisia is slow to mature, once established it serves well as a specimen planting or as a backdrop to smaller perennials.
This is an easy-to-care-for, adaptable plant that grows well in sun to part shade as long as the site has good drainage. It is best to plant Baptisia where you want it to grow, as it is tricky to transplant. It rarely needs dividing. Plants will sometimes self-seed, and in my experience seedlings can be transplanted quite easily if moved in the spring. These take some time to mature, of course, but I think they're worth the wait. Leave plants up for winter interest, or cut back at the end of the growing season if you prefer.
Although the classic Baptisia bears indigo flowers, breeders have developed other varieties with purple, yellow, and even bicolored flowers. Check out Starlite Prairieblues for its unique periwinkle and creamy yellow blossoms.
Buddleia
In recent years Buddleia (butterfly bush) has been getting a lot of attention. This is a large plant that really is a shrub in warmer places, but dies back to the ground here. Its numerous, long spikes of fragrant, tubular flowers are borne from mid summer until frost. They are butterfly magnets, and hummingbirds like them too.
They come in almost every color in the rainbow, and range in height from dwarf, three-foot varieties to larger plants eight or more feet tall. Give this plant a lot of room, as its spreading branches grow outward as well as upward. Use Buddleia at the back of a perennial border or mixed in with shrubs.
Butterfly bushes do need some special care to survive winter in Chicago's Zone 5. Plant them in a sunny location, in rich soil with good drainage. Mulch plants over the winter, and cut back to about six inches tall in the spring. Be patient with your Buddleia, as it will be late to show any new spring growth.
Although there are a great many varieties to choose from, Black Knight is hardier with deep purple, almost black flowers, highlighted with a bright orange eye.
Caryopteris
For late summer blooms, consider planting Caryopteris (Bluebeard). Again, this plant is a shrub in warmer climates, but dies down to the ground in our area. It bears attractive clusters of blue flowers in August, over aromatic, toothed foliage. Growing about two to three feet tall, Caryopteris fits well into the perennial border, and combines beautifully with late-bloomers like Autumn Joy Sedum.
Give these plants full sun and good drainage, and cut them back hard to about six inches tall in late winter for the best blooms. Like Buddleia, they need a little help to make it through our harsh winters.
Typically Caryopteris has silvery blue foliage with blue-toned flowers, but this can vary. For something different, check out Worchester Gold. It features yellow foliage and contrasting violet-blue flowers.
Lespedeza
Lespedeza (Bush Clover) is a woody perennial grown for its graceful, long arching shoots, blue-green, pea-like foliage, and delicate, purple, sweet pea-like flowers in late summer. In our area, plants grow to about five feet tall, and they mix easily into the perennial border.
This plant is not demanding, happily growing in average to dry soil in any sunny location. Cut back plants in late winter, and be patient - growth begins again in late spring. Try planting some spring bulbs in its vicinity to fill in earlier in the season.
•Maureen Safarik is a horticulturalist affiliated with The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit