Shrubs and trees for year-round interest, flowers and fragrance

Perennials may be popular, but shrubs and trees are the true foundation of the landscape. “shrubs and vines, along with trees, form the skeleton of a garden,” says Todd Boland, author of the new book Shrubs and Vines for Atlantic Canada.

“As they are above the snow all year long, they can provide year-round interest, especially those with evergreen foliage or interesting winter bark.”

Boland says that with careful plant selection you can pick shrubs and trees that flower from early spring through late autumn. “Some shrubs such as Bodnant viburnum and February daphne bloom as early as the crocus, while Seven-son flower and Rose-of-sharon bloom into October,” he says. “The added bonus of using a variety of shrubs in the landscape is providing pollinators with a food source from early spring to mid-autumn.”

Cathy Oulton, owner of Bloom Greenhouse and Garden Centre in Hammonds Plains loves shrubs and trees with fragrance. “I think people should also consider fragrance when selecting shrubs and trees because fragrant plants are often associated with strong memories,” says Oulton. “Mock orange, for example, reminds me of my grandmother.”

Oulton says that are many fragrant shrubs and trees to choose from that flower at different times of the year. She recommends French lilacs, rugosa roses, mock orange, and summer sweet, a summer-flowering shrub with beautifully fragrant bottlebrush flowers.

“Linden is a large tree that makes an excellent landscape plant but it also has fragrant flowers in late spring and when it blooms the whole city smells incredible,” she says, adding that many customers come to her garden centre to pick up a linden for their landscape once they've smelled the flowers.

Boland also has a couple of fragrant memory plants in his garden. “I have a mock orange and honeysuckle that were planted by my grandfather back in the 1940s (I now live in his house) and are both highly fragrant,” he says. “The mock-orange is now four metres tall and smothered in flowers in late July.” A photo of his grandfather's mock orange is featured in his book, Shrubs and Vines for Atlantic Canada. His honeysuckle blooms for many weeks and on warm summer evenings, the scent is heavenly.

With so many shrubs and trees to choose from it can be hard to narrow down the list. Essentials for Boland include Bodnant viburnum as well as rhododendrons. “I am a sucker for rhododendrons, especially those like R. yakushimanum, which not only have spectacular floral displays but beautiful new foliage,” he says adding that the new leaves are covered in an eye-catching creamy-white tomentum and indumentum which gives a silvery look to the plant.

The Kousa dogwood is a popular small tree in home landscapes. “Kousa dogwoods are fantastic,” says Oulton. “The long flowering period is a gift to gardeners and gives you something to enjoy for many weeks.” Kousa dogwoods also have edible fruits which ripen in late summer. They can be enjoyed by the gardener (a fruity, persimmon-like flavour) or left to feed the birds.

Oulton also suggests that gardeners consider lesserknown shrubs like Deutzia a deer-resistant spring bloomer. “This plant looks delicate, but is hardy, easy to care for, and puts on quite a spring show!” says Oulton. “The flower buds look like little pearls and are produced all along the flower stalk,” she says. “Once the buds open the pretty bell-shaped blooms persist for weeks.”

Don't have a lot of light? There are still many spectacular shrubs available for shady spots. Boland recommends climbing hydrangea which has white lace-cap flowers that brighten up a shady north wall. “Or, try Sunsation or Golden Nugget barberry in shade or Ivory halo dogwood, a shrub with gorgeous whiteedged leaves.”

Niki Jabbour is the best-selling author of three gardening books, and a two-time winner of the prestigious American Horticultural Society Book Award. Her latest book, Growing Under Cover is now available. Find her at Savvygardening.com.