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Plants Of Merit 2009
Over 50 outstanding and
dependable plants suitable for the St. Louis region.
Plants Of Merit 2009 - Shrubs and Vines
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| Japanese boxwood - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Morris Midget' |
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| This compact, broad-leaved evergreen shrub grows very slowly to form a rounded foliage mound to only 12-18 inches tall. It makes an ideal accent for rock gardens, edgings, small hedges or foundations. If present, flowers are fragrant but not showy. Dense evergreen foliage prefers moist, well-drained soils and will thrive in sunny or sun-dappled sites. |
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| beautyberry - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' |
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| Large clusters of bright, glossy, spherical, amethyst-purple fruit adorn the leaf axils from late summer through fall on this graceful, deciduous shrub that typically grows 3-4 feet tall. Fruits are attractive to birds. Small lavender pink flowers appear in early summer. Stems may be lightly pruned in early spring or cut back to 6 inches in late winter to early spring. |
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| buttonbush - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis |
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| Fragrant, tiny, tubular, white flowers compacted into spherical 1-inch diameter flower heads bloom in early summer on this deciduous shrub that grows to 6-12 feet tall. Each flower has a projecting style which gives the flower head a pincushion-like appearance. Flower heads give way to hard, spherical fruits that resemble old-time dress buttons, hence the common name. This shrub thrives in moist humusy soils with good tolerance for boggy soils and some standing water. |
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| sweet pepperbush - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' |
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| Spicy, fragrant ruby flowers in narrow bottlebrush-like terminal panicles bloom in summer on this dense, rounded, deciduous shrub typically growing to 4-6 feet tall. Dark green leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. Flower panicles give way to dark brown seed capsules that often persist into winter. This flowering shrub brings showy, fragrant bloom to shady locations with moist soils. |
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| climbing hydrangea - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris |
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| Climbing by clinging aerial rootlets to as much as 30-50 feet, this vigorous woody vine will easily grow up a variety of structures including arbors, fences, trunks of large trees or walls. It will also sprawl as a ground cover. It features heart-shaped, serrate, dark green leaves with little fall color and a late spring bloom of white flowers in flattened, lacecap-type clusters. Lateral branching gives the foliage a somewhat tiered appearance. Exfoliating reddish-brown bark on mature vines can be quite attractive in winter. Thrives in moist shady locations. |
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| smooth hydrangea - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Hydrangea arborescens |
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| Flattened clusters of mostly fertile, dull, white flowers appear in late spring to early summer on this Missouri native shrub. Oval, serrate, dark green leaves are attractive throughout the growing season. Best form in garden areas may be achieved by cutting back stems each year to 12 inches in late winter. If cut back, this shrub will still grow to 3-5 feet tall in a single season. This is a good selection for part shade areas of shrub borders, woodland gardens or native plant areas. |
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| crape myrtle - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Lagerstroemia 'Acoma' |
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| From mid-summer to early fall, this deciduous, low-spreading crape myrtle produces a spectacular non-stop bloom of crinkly, crepe-papery, white flowers clustered in dense 7-inch panicles. Reddish-purple fall foliage color is an additional bonus. Although plants may die to the ground in harsh winters with roots surviving, many gardeners automatically trim stems to 8-12 inches in early spring each year to maintain plant growth to a compact 3-4 feet tall. |
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| spice bush - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Lindera benzoin |
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| This tough, broad-rounded, Missouri native shrub grows to 6-12 feet tall and is an excellent selection for shrub borders, open woodland gardens or along stream/pond edges. Fragrant, apetalous, yellow flowers bloom along the branches in early spring before the foliage emerges. Light green leaves are very aromatic when crushed, hence the common name. Leaves are a favorite food of the spicebush caterpillar. In fall, foliage turns yellow with female plants developing attractive but sometimes hidden red berry-like drupes. |
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| trumpet honeysuckle - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Lonicera sempervirens |
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| This non-invasive, semi-evergreen, twining honeysuckle vine is noted for its showy, non-stop, spring-to-fall bloom of two-toned tangerine red trumpets that flare at the tips revealing golden throats. Flowers appear in whorled clusters and are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Flowers give way to orange-red berries that are attractive to birds. Native to the eastern U. S., this vine is a perfect companion for small arbors, trellises and fences. It typically grows to 8-15 feet long, and can be shaped and controlled with occasional trimming. |
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| eastern white pine - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Pinus strobus 'Sea Urchin' |
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| Over the first ten years, this slow-growing miniature white pine forms a flattened globe of blue-green needles to only 2-3 feet tall, somewhat resembling in appearance the spiny hedgehog shape of a sea urchin. It is a colorful and interesting addition to small areas of the landscape including rock gardens, Japanese gardens, border fronts and foundations. |
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| deciduous azalea - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Rhododendron 'My Mary' |
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| Intensely fragrant, funnel-shaped, soft yellow flowers with projecting stamens bloom in clusters in April-May on this deciduous azalea that typically grows to 4-5 feet tall. It is a perfect choice for wind-protected, part shade areas in the landscape where both the flowers and their intoxicating fragrances can be enjoyed. Best performance occurs in acidic, loose, well-aerated, organically rich soils that are evenly moist but well-drained. |
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| snowberry - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Symphoricarpos x chenaultii 'Hancock' |
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| This dwarf spreading deciduous shrub only grows to 1 1/2 feet tall but spreads over time to as much as 10 feet wide by outwardly arching stems whose tips often touch the ground. Bell-shaped, pink to white flowers appear in summer, but the coral berries that follow are the predominant ornamental interest. Berries persist well beyond leaf drop, with berry-laden winter stems making interesting additions to floral arrangements. This is an excellent ground or bank cover for part-shade areas. |
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| yew - - - Shrubs and Vines |
| Taxus x media 'Citation' |
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| This tight, upright, columnar yew matures over time to 6-10 feet tall, but may be kept smaller by regular pruning. Linear, needle-like, dark green foliage is attractive throughout the year. Female plants produce attractive red, fleshy, berry-like fruits. ‘Citation’ is an excellent evergreen selection for shady areas of the landscape. |
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Garden, 2001-2009
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