shrubs Archives - Garden Experiments

Early Spring Flowers for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies

Garden Experiments — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 16:17:09 +0000

This early spring sky is filled with butterflies! I am seeing so many eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus) feeding on colorful spring flowers that it has really brightened my days. Eastern tiger swallowtails are quite large – with a wingspan of 3 to 5.5 inches and with their bright yellow wings with blue spots, […]

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Buttonbush for Wet Soils and Cool Blooms!

Garden Experiments — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:56:07 +0000

Nature produces some interesting shapes, which is true for the flower of the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Common buttonbush (or buttonwillow) produces these crazy-looking little spiky ball-like blooms of compound florets. They’re pretty cool, actually, and both bees and butterflies agree. I recently caught this skipper butterfly feeding on a buttonbush flower while hiking in the […]

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Scentless Mock Orange – Native Shrub

Garden Experiments — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 21:57:15 +0000

In late spring and early summer, scentless mock orange (Philadelphus inodorus) is covered with bright white, 4-petaled flowers with a yellow center. These deciduous shrubs make a great privacy screen and are easy to grow. They can reach a height of 12 feet, so prune them back in summer, just after the flowers are over. […]

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3 Top Reasons to Love the Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub

Garden Experiments — Mon, 16 May 2016 19:17:48 +0000

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a favorite of native plant gardeners for many reasons. If you’re looking for a shrub that is hardy, produces beautiful flowers, can grow in the shade, and has lovely fall colors, look no further. Here are just a few of the reasons why I love this shrub: #1 The large […]

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Forsythia: A Shrub for Early Spring Color

Garden Experiments — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:00:15 +0000

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) is a non-native, deciduous, woody ornamental shrub. It provides only a little wildlife benefit, but it is suitable for soil retention and a privacy barrier and is a fast grower. It is an early spring bloomer and provides bright yellow to the landscape when there isn’t much other color. Flowers are […]

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Plant American Holly for Winter Color and Wildlife Food

Garden Experiments — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 14:16:59 +0000

If you want to add some color to your winter garden and provide food and shelter for songbirds and other wildlife simultaneously, American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a good choice. The berries form in October and persist throughout the winter when many other food sources are gone. Its leaves are evergreen and form a dense […]

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How to Grow American Beautyberry Bush (Callicarpa americana)

Garden Experiments — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:15:55 +0000

American beautyberry is a perennial, native shrub found throughout the southeast that is deer resistant and an excellent food source for birds and pollinators. The rich purple color of the berries adds brilliant color to the shady areas of your garden. When planted in groupings, the color of the berries is a show stopper. American […]

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