With everyone looking for the “new” plants, we often overlook some of our best ones that have been in nurseries for years. This is especially true of shrubs.
There are dozens of kinds that are among the most reliable yet are all too seldom used.
Cornelian Cherry
One of the oldest in years of cultivation is the cornelian cherry, Cornus mas. Besides making a good screen, it can be sheared into one of the best hedges.
The foliage stays good through the season, following myriads of small yellow flowers in very early spring.
It should fruit after the shrub has been in place for ten years or more. The red fruits make excellent jelly, although they do not stay on the plant very long.
Amur Maple
Another old timer that can be used for a screen or sheared hedge is the amur maple, Acer Ginnala.
It can also be trained as a tree for ranch-type houses. The small maple-like leaves turn brilliant red in autumn.
In July, the small seeds are also bright red. Both the cornelian cherry and the amur maple branch well to the ground, so there is seldom any need to plant lower-growing shrubs in front of them. Both are very hardy.
European Privet
The European privet, Ligustrum vulgare, has long been out of style. But if you had been growing it instead of any other privets last winter, there would have been no need to cut out dead wood last spring.
It is hardy up in Manitoba. The foliage stays on until cold weather. The white flowers in spring are followed by shiny black berries, decorative through the winter.
It will grow in poorly drained soil. We were troubled by a blight on this shrub for a few years, but it seems to have eased.
Viburnums
Viburnum lentago
A native shrub deserving more attention is the sheep or nannyberry, Viburnum lentago. The foliage is glossy green and withstands dry summers.
It has a gorgeous autumn color. And the blue-black berries stay on much of the winter. In many ways, the nannyberry resembles its sister shrub, the black haw, Viburnum prunifolium.
It is sometimes difficult to tell them apart. Both are good in sun or shade. The nannyberry usually grows wild in the open and the black hawk along the edges of the woods.
There is no question as to their hardiness. They can be used as screens or sheared as hedges. I believe the birds prefer the fruit of the black haw if they have a choice.
Viburnum Lantana
Another tough viburnum is the wayfaring tree, V. lantana. The leaves stay on until cold weather and are not bothered by hot, dry weather. The white flowers in the spring are not showy but are nice.
The fruit is red at first but turns black.
Chinese Lilac
The old-fashioned Chinese lilac has been overlooked in the rush for more fashionable French hybrids.
It does not have the trouble with oyster shell scale that the hybrids do, and there is seldom any trouble with its growing and blooming by the second season.
As a shrub, it is bushy and compact, which is more than you can say for many French hybrids.
When it blooms, it is covered, year after year. It will get at least ten feet tall and almost as broad and should be planted only where there is room for a shrub of this size.
American Highbush Cranberry
Another native that has been pushed aside for a foreigner is the American highbush cranberry, Viburnum triloba.
It does not usually have the plant lice on it that curl the leaves and distort the twigs of the European form.
Otherwise, it looks like the European sister. An easy way to tell them apart is to taste the berries.
The European taste terribleóeven the birds leave it alone until spring. The American does not taste quite as bad.
Naturally, none of these shrubs should be planted in front of a porch, window, or even a house unless you are ashamed of it and do not want anyone to see it. Any of them can be planted this fall or next spring.
44659 by Victor H. Ries