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Flowering Shrubs
Introduction Screening Plants
Flowering Shrubs
Colorful Shrubs
Back to Landscape
101
Azaleas
are perhaps Atlanta's most popular shrub. The
springtime blooms of white, red, pink, and purple, combined
with the white blooms of dogwoods, send gardeners into a
landscaping frenzy. Azaleas were first cultivated by
the Japanese many centuries ago. Today, there are
thousands of hybrids. Azaleas can be grown in the sun or
shade. If grown in full sun, consistent watering is a must
or the plant will suffer and die. Azaleas are slow growers
and do not need a lot of fertilizer. However, regular
fertilizations will result in faster growth and more
flowers. Fertilize in February through April. Prune azaleas
after they finish blooming. If you prune azaleas in late
summer or fall, you will be pruning off next springs
flowers. Deadheading, or removing dead flowers, is
beneficial to increasing next year's flowers.

Rhododendrons
have large and spectacular flower displays in late spring.
Cousins of Azaleas, they are larger, with bigger and darker
green leaves. Rhododendrons come from the Himalayan
mountains where large plants grow over 50 feet tall. They
are also very popular in Britain. American varieties tend to
grow 3 to 8 feet tall. There are numerous varieties, sizes,
and shapes. Most grow best in partial shade. Removing dead
flowers, deadheading, will dramatically increase the number
of next year's flowers.
Camellia
Japonica Dense pyramid of lustrous dark green foliage.
This shrub has beautiful flowers from December till April.
Cold nights can brown its petals. Below 0 degree
temperatures can kill the plant. It grows 8 to 10 feet tall
and grows best in partial shade.
Camellia Sasanqua Smaller and more refined than Camellia Japonica. The
leaves are a lustrous dark green though smaller than
Camellia Japonica. Small flowers bloom from September
to December.
Summer
flowering deciduous shrub which comes in numerous varieties.
The plant has large medium green leaves. It does best in
partial shade and is actually very difficult to establish in
full sun. Hydrangeas bloom on previous years growth and
pruning should be done right after flowering. The flower's
color is dependent on soil PH and can change. Blue flowers
need a PH of 5.0 to 5.5 and pink flowers from 6.0 and
higher. Aluminum ions in the soil also affect the color
change.
An
excellent large broadleaf evergreen which is famous for its
rich bronze to red and pink leaves, the new growth, which
change to a dark green. White flowers bloom in the spring.
Pretty flower buds grow at the tops of branches all winter
until flowering. It needs partial shade. It is slow growing
to 9 to 12 feet in height by 6 feet wide.

Deciduous shrub or
small tree growing 8 to 12 feet tall. It has large flowers
in the summer. There are numerous varieties, some which are
tropical and must be brought indoors during the winter.
A
large, dense, oval-rounded shrub which grows 15 to 20 feet
tall, though it can be pruned to smaller heights. Very
fragrant white flowers typically bloom in the fall but can
also bloom is spring.
Small
mounded evergreen shrub growing to 3 feet. This
temperamental plant does best in shade. It has fragrant,
rosy purple flowers in early spring.
Irregularly rounded
evergreen shrub, with dark red or green leaves, depending on
the variety. Small fluorescent pink flowers appear in April.
Grows 6 to 10 feet tall and wide.
Small deciduous shrub
grows 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide. Has soft, small
leaves that are yellow to dark green, depending on the
variety. Small white to deep pink flowers bloom during the
summer months. must be grown in full sun. Popular Atlanta
species include: Anthony Waterer Spirea, Bumald Spirea,
Dolchica, Gold Flame Spirea , and Gold Mound Spirea.

Introduction Screening Plants
Flowering Shrubs
Colorful Shrubs
Back to Landscape
101
|