Carrie Barre-LiBaire's Gardening Column

Down to Earth Gardening

It seems that for the past few weeks all I have been writing about is fungal diseases and other nasty things attacking our plants. So, I'd thought I'd share with you some of my favorite landscape plants that are doing really well. All of these plants are in their second or third year and have thrived on marginal neglect mixed with vast encouragement from their caretaker. I don't have time for fussy plants right now, so these can indeed be classified as low maintenance.

This time last year I was stalking a local garden center and happened to find a mass of beautiful small shrubs still on the pallet from the delivery truck. I was thrilled to find they were Center Glow™ Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). Introduced commercially in 2006, this shrub was developed right here in Minnesota to rave reviews and it does not disappoint. It has burgundy foliage and the new growth emerges a glowing yellow-orange-green. In the spring, the cutest little light pink flower buds appear all over the shrub. It's a very striking contrast to the burgundy foliage. Parts of mine have really shot up, but any Ninebark can take heavy pruning, so I'll prune it back to even things up early next spring.

If you haven't added Heuchera to your garden, you should. Commonly called Coral Bells, my Heuchera, 'Palace Purple' (Heuchera micrantha) is definitely a show stopper. Large, purple to deep red leaves are mounded to form a massive rounded clump. Shooting out of the center are dark red stems with tiny pink flowers. I have it right next to an Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens'Annabelle'). The huge mass of white flowers and large green leaves of the Hydrangea in contrast to the dark foliage and fine flowers of the Heuchera are a perfect focal point in my front garden.

Last fall I found a Tiger Eyes™ Sumac (rhus typhina'Bailtiger') at a bargain and decided I needed it. When spring finally came, though, I thought it was a goner from the rabbit buffet. All that was left of it was two sticks with some gnawed off tips. I was patient with it and it finally leafed out and now is just spectacular. It's in the backyard along with some other widely placed shrubs, that will eventually become another garden (don't tell my husband) and it stands out with chartreuse green and yellow leaves with rosy pink stems. When the evening sun hits it, it just glows. And anything that can take such rabbit damage is definitely a keeper in my landscape.

You might notice that these three plants I've mentioned have other than green colored foliage, and their flowers are somewhat of an afterthought. One of my most valuable gardening lessons learned is to mix foliage colors, forms and textures throughout the landscape. Don't be afraid to experiment with unconventional plants, you can always move something if you decide it's not a good fit. With so many new and exciting releases every year you don't always have to "go green".

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