| Are shrubs and bushes considered the same? What are the easiest and fastest shrubs to grow? Also what shrubs are best for dry climate, hard dirt(like clay dirt) And which bloom for the spring summer and fall? |
| Shrubs and bushes are one in the same. Some of the best shrubs for your gardening region, according to North Carolina State University, include the following: BOTANICAL NAME: Abelia grandiflora COMMON NAME: GLOSSY ABELIA HARDINESS ZONE:6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: medium to fine FORM: semi-global HEIGHT: 4-6? SPREAD: 3-5' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Tolerant of adverse conditions, good low hedge plant BOTANICAL NAME: Aucuba japonica COMMON NAME: AUCUBA JAPONICA HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: shade TEXTURE: coarse FORM: irregular upright HEIGHT: 4-5' SPREAD: 3-4' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Varigata' is a favorite for shaded areas BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis julianae COMMON NAME: WINTERGREEN BARBERRY HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine to medium FORM: rounded/oval HEIGHT: 5-6? SPREAD: 3-5? LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Thorns, glossy green foliage, hardiest of evergreen barberries BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus sempervirens COMMON NAME: AMERICAN BOXWOOD HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: part shade, shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: global HEIGHT: 5-8' SPREAD: 6-8' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Used in formal designs - requires pruning to keep in bounds BOTANICAL NAME: Cortaderia selloana COMMON NAME: PAMPAS GRASS HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: rapid EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: open, grass-like HEIGHT: 6-8' SPREAD: 6-8' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Valued for fall plumes. Should be pruned in spring. BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymus kiautschovicus COMMON NAME: SPREADING EUONYMUS HARDINESS ZONE:6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: rapid EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: medium to coarse FORM: open broad spread HEIGHT: 5-8' SPREAD: 4-8' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Do not use near patios - Not as susceptible to scale as other E. species BOTANICAL NAME: Fatsia japonica COMMON NAME: JAPANESE FATSIA HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: rapide EXPOSURE: semi-shade, shade TEXTURE: coarse FORM: irregular HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 4-6' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Useful in eastern N.C. as specimen plant BOTANICAL NAME: Forsythia intermedia COMMON NAME: BORDER FORSYTHIA HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: D GROWTH RATE: rapid EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: medium FORM: erect with arching branches HEIGHT: 6-8' SPREAD: 6-8' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Valued for early spring flowers, several cultivars available BOTANICAL NAME: Gardenia jasminoides COMMON NAME: CAPE-JASMINE HARDINESS ZONE: 8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun, part shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 4-5' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Fragrant white flowers. Is not cold hardy. BOTANICAL NAME: Hibiscus syriacus COMMON NAME: SHRUB ALTHEA-ROSE OF SHARON HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: D GROWTH RATE: rapid EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: medium FORM: upright HEIGHT: 6-8' SPREAD: 7-8' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Showy summer flowers BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cornuta COMMON NAME: DWARF BURFORD HOLLY HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: coarse FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 4-6' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Burfordi nana' BOTANICAL NAME: Kalmia latifolia COMMON NAME: MOUNTAIN LAUREL HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: semi-shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: upright HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 3-5' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Native to many areas of N.C. Good for "naturalizing" BOTANICAL NAME: Lonicera nitida COMMON NAME: BOX HONEYSUCKLE HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: oval rounded HEIGHT: 5-6? SPREAD: 3-4? LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Beautiful foliage-Several cultivars have pendulating branches BOTANICAL NAME: Nandina domistica COMMON NAME: NANDINA HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate to fast EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade TEXTURE: medium to fine FORM: upright HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 2-3' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Produces beautiful clusters of berries in winter BOTANICAL NAME: Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Varigatus' COMMON NAME: VARIGATED FALSE HOLLY HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: semi-shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 4-5' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good shrub for color contrast BOTANICAL NAME: Pieris floribunda COMMON NAME: MOUNTAIN ANDROMEDA HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: oval habit HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 3-4' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Very cold hardy. Nice specimen plant BOTANICAL NAME: Pieris japonica COMMON NAME: JAPANESE ANDROMEDA HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: shade to part shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: upright, tight habit HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 4-6' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Several cultivars available BOTANICAL NAME: Raphiolepis umbellata COMMON NAME: YEDDO-HAWTHORN HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8 GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: medium to coarse FORM: upright open HEIGHT: 4-6' SPREAD: 5-6' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Rather open appearance There are probably more for you to consider - why not visit your local garden center for more ideas? |
