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| Hanock Coralberry |
Now that we are heading into winter, it's time to gather up some summer garden memories to sustain us through the cold months. As I work through the winter creating planting designs here are two shrubs that were wonderful throughout the summer that I’ll keep in mind.
I always appreciate the simple form of Hanock Coralberry (Symphoricarpis x chenault ‘Hancock’) shrubs when they're grown in a little shade; their mounding arching habit of blue green round leaves cascading over the edge of a path or lawn has a soft inviting touch. This plant doesn’t have large colorful blooms or brilliant fall color, but it provides a peaceful sense of green similar to what a lush thicket of bright green bamboo might evoke. The blooms are inconspicuous to us but the buzz of honeybees is strong when they bloom in June and adds a quiet humming sound to the garden. This shrub grows low, only two or three feet in height but can spread out over 6 feet. Given space to grow, it requires little pruning. Even planted in full sun and grown under thrifty watering conditions, it is a successful plant offering a large mass of arching stems and leaves with a natural look. Plant it in masses as a large groundcover or as a foreground to larger shrubs.
Gro-Low Sumac (Rhus aromatic ‘Gro-Low’) which is a shorter variety of Fragrant Sumac is another shrub I use often and continue to enjoy. Beyond the intense red and orange fall color, this plant offers an interesting texture because of its three-lobed leaf shape and stem structure. The small catkins that persist on the stems also add to this effect. This is another shrub that requires little care and is drought tolerant. Many times I’ll design with these shrubs forming a mass to help create a natural feel in the landscape. As a gardener I never mind wading through a mass of this Sumac, because brushing the leaves releases a strong sharp earthy fragrance that is as pleasant in the moment as it is easy to recall in the dead of winter.
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| Gro-Lo Sumac |
