I'm Neal, and I'm stark raving mad about anything with showy blossoms. I do enjoy foliage plants too, mostly because they make blooms look all the prettier! I've been gardening since I was a middle schooler. Unlike those youthful days of wanting only the biggest plants to add to the garden, nowadays I enjoy the journey as much, if not more than, the destination. So propagating woody plants is something I've just gotten into the last few years, and I'm finding it most rewarding. High on my list to learn here, is how to successfully propagate Lilacs!

There are so many shrubs I dearly love. A few include Lilacs, Hydrangeas, Viburnums, Forsythias, and Spireas. If I can ever get one to grow well, I think Caryopteris (Blue Mist shrub) will be among my favorites as well. I have some that just germinated a few days ago among my wintersown seeds- and I've got a good feeling about these :-)

That's beautiful, Neal. Does it have a name?

Hi everyone!
My name is Val and I live on a tiny lot in a city (only one-fifth of an acre). But I love my shrubs. So far, my favorites are Lilacs, Viburnums, and Mockorange. Yes, I garden mainly for fragrance. I also have several Calycanthus, Clethra, a Ninebark, Rhamnus, Boxwood, etc. Even though I have a tiny lot, I love my shrubs. I'm also have several spots open for more shrubs due to some hollies that weren't pleased with my clay soil.

I have one question---what's the difference between a bush and a shrub? Are things below 15' considered bushes? I've always wondered about this.

So, I'm not sure if this is really considered a shrub but it was the first thing to bloom for me this year. It is February Daphne and it's about 3 years old. It's sweetly fragrant.

Hi Val, welcome aboard! According to Wikipedia, shrub and bush are synonymous. You have a wonderful collection! I hope you'll stay plenty involved with this cubit- we need experience like yours :-). That Daphne is gorgeous! I think most Daphnes are considered shrubs, although the shape is tree like, I think that height of that one would classify it as a shrub too. The pic I posted is 'Snowmound' Spirea.

Spirea? Don't they bloom a long time? Even though they're not fragrant (that I know of), spireas are on my "look into" list for my empty spots. Others that I'm considering are Beautyberry, Barberry 'Concord", Nandina 'Nana Purpurea', and Virburnum 'Mohawk'. But the list keeps changing and getting longer.

I won't plant anything until next year so there's time to research.

So far, that Daphne is only 2' tall. Slow grower but I don't mind. It's a nice shrub for those of us who have small spaces.

You know I don't post a lot to any forum but this is one that I've been waiting for. I joined as soon as I saw it. Besides my roses, my shrubs are my favorites.

Will you be having a database for the cubit?

The spirea's bloom time is about average, probably about 2-3 weeks. They get pretty big, but I believe there are dwarf forms on the market these days. You may be thinking the pink summer blooming Spireas, those do bloom for a long time. We do indeed plan to develop a data base, any assistance would be greatly appreciated

I'd love to contribute in any way that I can.

Hi. I'm Polly, and I'm apparently getting here late, LOL. Neal and I are the cubit owners, and luckily he's picking up the pace without me.

I love shrubs, and have planted many ornamental ones on our property. I love them all, but I would have to say my favorite is lilacs. I have around 100 lilac cultivars. Other shrubs not nearly as many, but I do love physocarpus, viburnums, spirea, some of the barberries, daphnes, and the shrubby magnolias.

Welcome Val. Glad you'll be willing to contribute to a database. That's a great offer. Thanks!

Here's syringa 'Lilac Sunday'.

OMG- 100 cultivars! I want to come to your place in spring, and just sniff! 'Lilac Sunday' is stunning, I love the pendulous panicles!

My mini Highland Park. I grew up in Rochester, so lilacs have fond memories for me. Some are still tiny, but some are huge. But it does sniff good here in the spring. Come on up!

Hi Neal, well I found it. I've been meandering though the cubits, lost my way several times.

I'm Sharon. I live in the Zone 6 caused by the lake effect in Michigan. Still our winters are not nice, we have hardly any snow cover with cold weather. I live on a suburban lot with no fence. I've been in love with daylilies for almost 8 years now. They make up the main part of my gardens. However, I'm moving toward a more balanced garden. I love starting plants from seed and hope to have more patience for growing the perinneals from seed.

Please keep Val here with us.
Val, can you take pictures of your shrub gardens. I do need help with shrubs in my garden and I see you are in OH, I'm a neighbor to your north. :o) So hopefully our zones are close enough that I won't have to worry about the plants you suggest won't survive here.
If you don't mind the intrusion, I'd love to delve into your knowledge of 'shrubs on a small lot'.
sharon

Hi Polly!
A hundred cultivars of lilac?
A hundred cultivars of lilac?
My brain can't even imagine such springtime bliss. I can't wait to see all of the pictures. Lilac Sunday is beautiful. I can almost smell those blooms.

Hi Sharon!
It's a journey to find the right shrubs for a small space. I have several shrubs that are working out very well and I have shovel-pruned a few. It's a learning experience. The soil here is clay. As much as I love acid-loving shrubs, it just isn't meant to be. But if I can stick to the ones that like my soil, I'm usually good to go.

Well, I bought a shrub. A Pee Gee Hydrangea.

Peegees are great performers, good choice Sharon! I have a couple that look mature enough this year to put on a show.

Well, my fothergilla bloomed but the blooms were small because I let it get too dry last year. Most of my viburnums have bloomed, the calycanthus are blooming and my lilacs are starting to bloom. Rhamnus is leafing out, the boxwoods have new growth, and one of my mockoranges has tiny buds. Clethras are starting to leaf out and Fragrant Abelia will be blooming by next weekend. My mini butterfly bush ('Blue Chip') is leafing out. My ninebark 'Coppertina" is putting on a show with his leaves and will be blooming soon.

My itea is leafing very slowly--I think he would be happier in a wetter spot. We moved a Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ this year so it's a bit behind schedule.

I'd like to post some pix but I don't know where I should put them.

Oh, we do need a pics forum! I'll do that right now Val- can't wait to see all those beauties of yours!

Witch Hazel is it a shrub?? I have one withseed. I need to go take a pic of it, I hope they are still there. Durn, too late tonight also have a beauty berry Bush will get you pic tomarrow. Love to start of taking pic. got s couple insects tonight.
My name is Charleen and I love all kinds of fowers, plants, trees, just about anything that grows, I love.
i have lilacs, a wiegela, Confederate Rose, I don't know if that qualifies or not. We have 9 Ac. Part is wooded.

I believe Witch Hazel is classified as a shrub, I think I've seen some sources describe it as a large shrub/small tree. I love them- the blooms at a time of year nothing else is blooming and that wonderful fragrance. I don't have any here, and need to fix that!

Want to try some seed pods???
This is picture of overall shrub WitchHazel
Now here are the seed pods

Another shot

I remembered the beauty bush too. Have one that has white berries but I started out with the purple ones.
Close-up of berries

We need rain, the shrubs are drooping.

Sure, I'd love to try raising some from seed! Will you be participating in the piggy seed swap this year? Those would be good to offer there.

I've never seen the white beauty berry before, that's pretty! I love the purple, such a gorgeous contrast when the leaves turn yellow.