8 Best Ornamental Shrubs That Bloom In Spring. Description, Varieties, Photo

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8 Best Ornamental Shrubs That Bloom In Spring. Description, Varieties, Photo
8 Best Ornamental Shrubs That Bloom In Spring. Description, Varieties, Photo

Video: 8 Best Ornamental Shrubs That Bloom In Spring. Description, Varieties, Photo

Video: 8 Best Ornamental Shrubs That Bloom In Spring. Description, Varieties, Photo
Video: Top 5 | Flowering Shrubs (Summer 2020) 2024, March
Anonim

In the middle lane, April is the time when the first flowering of plants begins in gardens and parks. The invariable soloists of the spring that has come into its own are bulbous primroses. But even among the ornamental shrubs you can find those that will delight you with fragrant flowers that enliven the still inconspicuous garden. The main riot of flowering shrubs occurs in May, and most of them, as a rule, bloom in mid-May. But even at the beginning of the last month of spring, some species and varieties also bloom.

8 best ornamental shrubs that bloom in spring
8 best ornamental shrubs that bloom in spring

Our article will help you better navigate the flowering times of popular spring shrubs. If you wish, even before summer, you can admire at least a few flowering bushes in the garden. And they will smoothly replace each other on the way to colorful June.

1. Forsythia

Each nation has its own plant, symbolizing the coming of spring. For the middle lane, these turned out to be blue spines, often called snowdrops. But in the environment of shrubs, a "primrose" can be called a cheerful solar forsythia.

Forsythia
Forsythia

The flowering of this original plant begins after the snow melts, with the onset of relatively warm days. Depending on weather conditions, flowers can begin to bloom from the beginning or from mid-April (and in a friendly and warm spring - even at the end of March).

The length of the bloom period can also vary from year to year. On average, forsythia pleases with its sunny flowers for about two weeks. The flowering intensity may also differ, since the number of flower buds directly depends on the wintering conditions and the vagaries of the weather, and also varies depending on the species and variety.

In any case, charming bright flowers cannot but delight the eye in early spring after long contemplation of monochrome landscapes. The flowering of this shrub begins before the leaves bloom right on the bare branches.

Forsythia flowers have a drooping bell-shaped shape and a bright yellow color, they sit so densely on the branches on their short stalks that the bushes from afar look as if they were cast from gold. The cheerful flowers are not only pleasing to the eye, but also have a pleasant aroma with hints of almonds, which attracts a large number of insects that woke up in spring. Sometimes gardeners want to stay and “warm up” for a longer time near these sunny flowers.

After flowering, yellow bells fall off on their own, and foliage begins to develop intensively on the branches, so the plant always looks neat and does not require pruning of faded inflorescences.

The leaves of most forsythia varieties are not particularly remarkable, they have a solid shape and jagged edges, but thanks to the dense dense crown, the shrub can successfully play the role of green curtains. This property also accounts for the popularity of using forsythia to create a clipped or free-growing hedge. It is important to keep in mind, however, that intensive haircuts will reduce flowering and can often even negate it.

Variegated forsythia
Variegated forsythia

The best types and varieties of forsythia

To make the everyday forsythia foliage attractive, breeders have worked intensively to develop variegated varieties. Today, among the forsythia, you can find options that have edged foliage (green forsythia "Citrus Swizzle") or bright golden veins on an emerald background (Korean forsythia "Kumson").

Variegated forsythia belong to the 5th zone of frost resistance and can freeze slightly in winter. Some green-leaved forsythia species may also have low winter hardiness, therefore, when choosing a plant, it is better to consider varieties of the most resistant oval (ovoid) forsythia and Siebold forsythia.

Forsythia is a very unpretentious shrub that will require minimal maintenance. The plant can grow well both in the sun and in light partial shade. The soil should be moderately fertile and well permeable.

2. Magnolia

For more than a dozen years, flower growers of the middle lane with various results have been trying to grow magnolia on the site. And the success of this notoriously risky venture depends not only on the microclimate on the site, but also on what species the exotic magnolia belongs to. After all, the winter hardiness of its various types varies significantly.

Magnolia
Magnolia

Good frost resistance in the middle lane was shown by such species as magnolia Sulange, magnolia cobus, pointed magnolia, Lebner's magnolia, three-petal magnolia. But the stellate magnolia (Magnolia stellata), whose planting material (of European origin) can most often be found in garden departments in large supermarkets, will grow very slowly and suffer greatly from frost.

Many magnolias bloom before the leaves open in early spring (April), and their goblet flowers look a bit like a water lily (half-open). The color, depending on the variety, can be white, cream, pink and purple. Some species have a pleasant lemon scent, while others lack scent. In any case, this tree has an unforgettable exotic look, its large flowers, sitting on bare branches, look really fantastic.

When growing magnolias, choose the sunniest place protected from the winds. These plants prefer slightly acidic soil, but they will grow well on ordinary loam without additional acidification, the main thing is that the soil is not calcareous. Magnolias love moderately moist areas without stagnant water.

Surprisingly, in general, this luxurious southerner is unpretentious in care and practically does not get sick, and is not even particularly attractive to pests. Shelter of winter-hardy species for the winter is not required, but for reliability in the fall, you can well mulch the trunk circle of young plants with a layer of 20-30 centimeters. In summer, during dry periods, magnolias must be watered.

3. Daphne

In mid-late April, a very interesting shrub blooms, known as "wolfberry" or "wolf berries" - daphne. The plant bears a similar name due to the elegant, but very poisonous fruits of bright red color, which appear on the plant in early autumn.

Deadly wolfberry, or ordinary (Daphne mezereum)
Deadly wolfberry, or ordinary (Daphne mezereum)

In the middle of spring, they are preceded by charming flowers in mauve colors (or white in some varieties and species). Daphne blooms so profusely that its branches are literally completely covered with flowers. Also, this shrub is appreciated for its pleasant aroma, which is well felt even from a distance. The flowering period in cool spring can last up to a month, but it usually lasts for two weeks.

The best species and varieties of daphne

Depending on the species, daphne can be a small shrub that is well suited for rock gardens, or a large shrub two meters high. In the wolfberry, there are evergreen and deciduous species, while in the middle lane it is better to give preference to the latter.

The hybrid daphne Burkwood, as well as daphne borovaya, showed the greatest resistance in the gardens of the middle zone. These species have varieties with white and pink flowers.

In our forests, the deadly wolfberry (Daphne mezereum) is sometimes found, which can also be successfully grown in the garden. The garden forms of Daphne lethal can have purple or white flowers, and in white-flowered shrubs, the color of the berries will not be red, but yellow.

In the wild, daphne can grow in the mountains or under the canopy of a forest, depending on this, a place for daphne in the garden is selected, focusing on the origin of a particular species. Mountain varieties of wolfberry prefer the sun and calcareous soil, and forest varieties prefer partial shade and neutral fertile soil. All types of daphne do not tolerate waterlogging and need well-drained soils.

4. Almonds

Under the name "almond" in ornamental gardening there are at least two different plants: steppe almond (luiseania) and lobed almond (bean).

Steppe almond (Prunus tenella)
Steppe almond (Prunus tenella)

Steppe almond is a medium-sized shrub up to 1.5 meters high. At the end of April, its thin branches are covered with small bright pink flowers, consisting of five delicate petals. In shape, they slightly resemble the flowers of apple, pear and other rosaceous plants, but they are not located in the brushes, but sit close to the branch.

Due to this arrangement and the abundance of inflorescences from a distance, almond bushes resemble a magical pink haze. The delicate scent of flowers attracts bees and other pollinating insects to the garden. Flowering can last from one to three weeks, depending on weather conditions. In autumn, fruits can set on the bushes, but it is better not to eat them, as this can harm the body.

Bobovnik is a very unpretentious, winter-hardy and drought-resistant shrub that prefers to grow in open, sunny places. The plant tolerates shearing well, which contributes to a more lush flowering.

In late April and early May, another plant blooms, also called almond - lobed luiseania. In appearance, this shrub from the Rosaceae family is similar to the famous Japanese sakura. Its large double flowers consist of many pink petals, hiding numerous fluffy stamens.

The flowering of luiseania is so abundant that its branches are literally covered with charming flowers, and you can admire the northern sakura for 2-2.5 weeks. Unlike the steppe louisiania almonds, it is less winter-hardy and regularly freezes in winter, so a light shelter can be used when growing it.

The shrub is photophilous and moderately drought-resistant, the soil prefers an average level of fertility, it is possible to grow it on sandy soils. Louisiana is not recommended to be planted in lowlands with a high level of groundwater, as this contributes to the development of the main scourge of this shrub - the fungal disease moniliosis.

5. Rhododendron

Numerous varieties of dazzling evergreen rhododendrons captivate the hearts of flower growers every year, but growing them involves a number of difficulties, in particular, associated with the need to provide winter shelter. But in the ranks of rhododendrons, there are also deciduous varieties that are more adapted for growing in the conditions of the Middle Belt.

Rhododendron daurian (Rhododendron dauricum)
Rhododendron daurian (Rhododendron dauricum)

One of the most unpretentious and early flowering deciduous rhododendrons is the Daurian rhododendron, also known as wild rosemary. Blooming wild rosemary resembles a pink haze, its flowers are smaller and not as exotic as those of varietal rhododendrons, but still its delicate beauty is a welcome decoration for a garden in spring.

Since this shrub is a natural species that grows in a rather cool climate (in Russia it can be found in Eastern Siberia and the Far East), it will not cause any problems to the grower in the garden and will not require special care and shelter for the winter (wild rosemary wood tolerates frosts up to -45 degrees).

Nevertheless, when growing wild rosemary, it is important to remember one unpleasant property of the plant - the sharp camphor smell of wild rosemary flowers has a negative effect on humans, in particular, it causes headaches, dizziness and weakness. In addition, all parts of the plant are poisonous.

In this regard, it is not recommended to plant shrubs near resting places, as well as grow them in the form of arrays, but a small bush in the far corner of the garden will not harm anyone.

Daurian rhododendron blooms very early, its flowering can begin even during a long thaw at the end of winter or in March, but most often this shrub blooms in April. The flowering time is highly dependent on weather conditions and can range from 10 days to a month.

Daurian rhododendron grows not quickly, but at the age of 20 it can reach two meters in height. The key to success when growing rhododendron is planting in the correct soil. Like all rhododendrons, rosemary needs acidic soils, therefore, if your site has a neutral and even more alkaline soil reaction, then planting pits must certainly be prepared for the plant.

It is recommended to pull out all the soil from the prepared planting site and replace it with acidic peat mixed with sand, pine needles and leafy soil, or purchase a special soil for heather crops.

Daurian rhododendron is a moisture-loving plant, therefore it will grow well on the shore of a reservoir or in areas prone to spring flooding. In summer, during the dry period, wild rosemary must be watered.

Japanese azalea (Azalea japonica)
Japanese azalea (Azalea japonica)

Japanese azalea

Another species of deciduous rhododendron is the Japanese azalea. The flowers of this plant are in no way inferior to the evergreen rhododendron in size, beauty and richness of colors, since at the moment many varieties of Japanese rhododendron have been bred, among which you can choose the most winter-hardy.

The natural species of Japanese azalea, which blooms with large flowers of various shades of orange, and sometimes yellow-colored varieties, will survive the winter best in the middle lane.

Japanese rhododendron blooms in late May, occasionally in cool spring, the buds can begin to bloom only in early June.

6. Weigela

In May, the relay passes to another charming shrub - the weigela. The earliest varieties of weigela (for example, "Debussy") begin to bloom at the beginning of May, but most of the varieties bloom towards the end of the calendar spring.

Weigela Middendorf (Middendorf weigela)
Weigela Middendorf (Middendorf weigela)

Weigela is a shrub with a height of 50 cm to 3 meters, depending on the species and variety. During flowering, the plant is densely covered with small bright bells in a pink-crimson color scheme, and certain species and varieties, for example, Weigela Middendorf, bloom yellow or white flowers. The flowering period, on average, lasts about a month.

After flowering, many varieties of weigela continue to look decorative, since they have brightly colored foliage. Cultivars like Olympiade and Aurea have a sunny, bright yellow leaf blade. But most foliage varieties are purple in varying degrees of intensity. The darkest leaf color in the hybrid weigela "Minor Black" and "Naomi Campbell".

Weigela variegata is distinguished by white-bordered foliage, reminiscent of deren leaves. Variegated coloring can be found in the varieties "Monet", "Costeriana Variegata", "Magic Rainbow" and others.

Growing features

Weigela develops well in the sun and in light partial shade. The plant is undemanding in terms of soil, and grows well on almost any garden soil. When choosing a site, it is very important to avoid planting in a place where melt water can stagnate in spring. Stagnant water is the main danger for weigela, leading to inevitable death. But it tolerates a small drought more firmly.

Weigela's winter hardiness cannot be called very high, so every winter you can observe frozen tips of shoots on the bushes. But such freezing, as a rule, is not critical, after sanitary pruning, the plant is completely restored and blooms profusely on the shoots of the current year. To reduce the negative effects of frost, it is better to plant weigela in a protected place without strong winds, and bend young seedlings to the ground in the early years.

7. Chubushnik

The spring parade will smoothly finish and lead us into the summer with the divine aroma of the mock-orange that blooms at the very end of May or early June. Already few of the gardeners in the old fashioned way call him "jasmine", calling this fragrant bush by its correct name - mock-orange.

Chubushnik (Philadelphus)
Chubushnik (Philadelphus)

It is necessary to choose the varieties of chubushnik especially thoughtfully, since there are several pitfalls here. For example, some varieties of chubushnika (most often terry) may not have the very jasmine aroma for which the summer resident often decides to plant a bush.

Also remember that some dwarf mock-orange varieties (for example, "Gnome") practically do not bloom. Another difficulty is associated with the low winter hardiness of certain species of this shrub. In particular, it is not uncommon for garden departments to sell numerous varieties of Lemoine's mock-orange, which regularly freezes over from the middle lane, and in some severe winters it can even freeze completely.

The best varieties of chubushnik

Therefore, for reliability, it is better to give preference to the old varieties of Soviet selection, bred by the breeder Vekhov, which do not lose their relevance to this day. Among those are: "Unusual", "Ballet of Moths", "Moonlight", "Airborne Assault" and others.

Some hybrid chubushniki have a completely extraordinary aroma, for example, the variety "Ripe apples" is famous for its characteristic apple aroma of flowers, and the chubushnik "Strawberry" does not smell like jasmine, but real strawberries.

Also noteworthy are the variegated varieties of chubushnik: 'Innocence' with white-bordered leaves and 'Aureus' with golden foliage.

8. Lilac

Speaking about the shrubs of spring, one cannot but recall the lilac, which has a huge number of varieties. They differ in different periods of being in bloom, which allows you to stretch the lilac flowering period for a long time.

Lilac (Syringa)
Lilac (Syringa)

Early flowering varieties of lilacs bloom in early to mid-May. Mid-blooming flowers begin to bloom in mid-May or early June, and late-blooming flowers reveal their flowers only in summer in June-July.

At the same time, there is a pattern that varieties with inflorescences of light colors (soft pink, white-pink and white) bloom earlier. Whereas varieties of lilacs of more intense purple and purple tones bloom later.

One lilac panicle is in bloom for 15-20 days, and the flowering period of a whole bush is 30-40 days. Having picked up varieties with different flowering periods, you can feel the continuous fragrance of lilacs in your garden from early May to mid-summer.

Towards the end of May, another flowering shrub blooms, deytion, which deserves the attention of gardeners. For her abundant snow-white outfit at the time of flowering, she is sometimes called "the bride in the garden."

Also, May is notable for the snow-white "foam" of spring-flowering spirea species.

Dear Readers! What shrubs that bloom in spring grow on your site? Tell us about them in the comments to the article.

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