Top 5 Shrubs with Long Season Color
Finding shrubs with long season color in Arkansas can be tough! The fact that fall is just around the corner is pretty inspiring PLUS it’s the best time to plant trees and shrubs in Arkansas. For those who need a little landscape boost, we have some ideas for you. Here are some outstanding shrubs that either bloom for a long period of time, re-bloom or provide colorful foliage for an extended period of time:
Encore Azalea
Encore Azaleas were developed from a variety of older types of azaleas and have several unique and attractive qualities. These evergreen shrubs can thrive in more sun than traditional azaleas, provided there is good drainage and adequate, regular watering. As the name Encore would indicate, these plants offer encore seasons of blooms, with a full bloom in the spring, sporadic flowering in the summer and another full bloom cycle in the fall. There is an Encore azalea for everyone with colors ranging from white to pink, red, and even purple and bi-color. As with traditional azaleas, prune after spring blooms fade, and apply Ferti-Lome Azalea/Evergreen Food with Systemic Insect Control several times throughout the summer to both feed and protect the plants. We just stocked up again and have many available! See our current Encore Azalea inventory here.
‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum
‘Sunshine’ ligustrum is one of our favorite new plants of the past few years! The vibrant golden foliage is present year round, and the small, oblong leaves provide a fine texture to landscapes. This from the Southern Living plant collection, which features plants that grow well in the southern states. ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum works well as a hedge, planted as accents, mass planted and also in container plantings! Pair it with one of the other plants mentioned here for maximum contrast and outstanding visibility!
Drift Rose
Who doesn’t love roses? Ok, who doesn’t love easy roses?! Drift roses are low growing, easy to grow, and easy to care for roses. Only two feet tall and three feet wide at maturity, Drift roses make a wonderful border for sunny landscape beds. Prune hard in February and enjoy blooms from April to November. Apply an all in one rose food with insect and disease control throughout the growing season for maximum blooms. Drift roses are also disease resistant! With many colors to choose from, including this lovely Coral Drift, this series is a winner! See which Drift Roses are stock now.
Loropetalum
‘Purple Diamond’ loropetalum is also from the Southern Living plant collection. When you think of loropetalums, you may think of the 8 feet tall, traditional varieties but there are smaller ones available such as ‘Purple Diamond’ which is only 4-6 feet feet tall with a spread of 4-5 feet wide. It can be kept at a 3-4 ft height. The purple foliage and hot pink blooms in spring contrast well with the bright foliage of some plants… such as ‘Sunshine’ ligustrum! There are actually several newer varieties of smaller sized loropetalums such as Crimson Fire and Cherry Blast. See our complete inventory here.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses may not bloom all season, but they absolutely shine in the fall! Ornamental grasses are easy care, drought tolerant, showy and unique, which is why they make the list. Even in the winter when the grass blades have turned a wheat color, they offer visual interest. Every fall, we get many questions about the purple blooming grass at Pleasant Ridge Town Center just up the road. Purple Muhly grass, with its showy purple clouds dancing in the breeze, is stunning and we are very well stocked at the moment. We also have many other ornamental grasses, both in 3 gallon containers and for the first time, quart size grasses, which are perfect in fall container gardens or in areas where compacted soil makes for difficult digging. Check out our inventory here.
This isn’t a complete list, of course; there are so many new and exciting shrubs to choose from! We invite you to take some pictures of your landscape, take note of how much sun your area gets and come see us for more possibilities!