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Weeping plants make gardeners happy

I love plants that weep. Whether they are tall or small, display flowers or evergreen foliage, they make me happy.

Uses in the landscape

Weeping trees complement water features. Picture a weeping willow at the edge of a lake. Smaller water features are also enhanced by plants with pendulous forms. A Japanese maple or dwarf conifer with branches bending to caress the water is an enchanting scene.

Rock outcroppings are also boosted by plants with a pendant habit, and weeping plants are lovely accents in mixed shrub borders and perennial gardens. They are ideal candidates for containers where their silhouettes contrast with more traditional choices.

Like plants with variegated or dark foliage, using them prudently can take a landscape from ordinary to extraordinary. But be careful, planting too many weeping plants can make a landscape appear chaotic or cluttered.

Planting and care

The same rules of planting, watering and feeding apply to weepers. Give them the space they need to show off their form. Some need staking until they reach the desired height and develop a strong stem.

Many weeping trees and shrubs are grafted on different rootstock. If growth begins below the graft, remove it. Any new branches that grow above the graft, but are not weeping should also be removed. Care should be taken when pruning the weeping branches to avoid harming its structure.

Favorite varieties

There are many types of Japanese maples whose branches artfully cascade, but my favorite is Inabe Shidare. Very slowly growing to a mature size of 10 feet tall and even wider, its lacy foliage emerges deep purple in spring, becomes red-tinted in summer, and turns brilliant red in fall. Inabe Shidare is lovely planted by a pond, in a shrub border or as a specimen in the landscape.

Synonymous with Covey (Cercis canadensis), Lavender Twist redbud is a show stopper in early spring when its pendulous branches are covered with small rose-pink flowers before the large heart-shaped leaves unfurl. Lavender Twist again turns heads when leaves turn vivid yellow in fall. Plant it where the weeping branches can be appreciated in winter. Stake the leader to grow to the desired height.

An impressive weeper, Purple Fountain (Fagus sylvatica) is a small- to medium-sized tree with wavy margined leaves emerging purple in spring, maturing to purple-tinted green in summer, and turning yellow in fall. The best color occurs when it is planted in fall sun. Purple Fountain is best planted as a specimen where its cascading branches can be viewed as a piece of art.

Pendula (Pinus strobus) is one of the most common weeping evergreens. It boasts soft green needles on long branches that grow outward before tumbling down. Slow growing, mature trees reach up to 15 feet tall and wide.

Early Amethyst (Callicarpa dichotoma) sports long arching branches on a rounded shrub about 4 feet tall and wide. The small pink flowers in summer are nice, but it is the purple berries in fall that make beautyberry a must have.

Gold Mop false cypress offers gold needles to the landscape in addition to its weeping form. Resembling a shaggy haircut, the shrub grows up to 5 feet tall and wide. Gold Mop (Chamaecyparis pisifera) prefers a spot in the sun, but is not fussy about soil as long as it is not wet.

Old-fashioned bridal wreath is a sight to behold in spring when its arching branches are ensconced with pure white flowers. The small blue-green leaves turn vibrant orange red in fall. Give Renaissance spiraea room to appreciate its shape. It grows 5 feet tall and slightly wider.

A weeper for moist soils, Itea virginica displays fragrant, white flowers in late spring. Dark green leaves turn brilliant red, orange and golden yellow in fall. Virginia sweetspire will grow in full sun to part shade, but best fall color is seen in full sun. Henry's Garnet grows up to 5 feet tall; Little Henry is more compact, topping out at 3 feet.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, Ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.

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