74 
House & Garden 
UNCOMMON HARDY SHRUBS FOR THE BORDER 
Twenty-Five Different Types That Lend Color 
To The Garden In Various Seasons 
STUART ORTLOFF 
E ffective planting 
in and around Ameri¬ 
can gardens has come 
to depend a great deal upon 
flowering shrubs and small 
trees. We realize how im¬ 
portant they are in filling the 
.gap which exists between 
our flowering plants and 
the trees; how effective they 
are as screens; how efficient 
they are as wind-breaks, and 
how beautiful they are as 
specimens. But many times 
we are criticized for using 
such material too lavishly. 
There are several reasons 
why this may be a just 
criticism. 
One of these is that we 
are apt to forget that a mass 
of shrubbery should depend 
largely on the relationship of 
the individuals which make 
up the group, in order that 
it may have a place of in¬ 
terest and value in the land¬ 
scape composition. We too often consider 
a shrub just a shrub and nothing more. 
We do not concern ourselves with the color 
of its foliage or blossom, the time of bloom, 
or the ultimate height. 
Another trouble with shrub planting is 
that we strive to gather together a hetero¬ 
geneous collection of plants with little re¬ 
gard to harmony or unity in their various 
characteristics. We do not plant in broad 
masses, but select one or two of this, several 
of that, and a few of the other, and plant 
them all in together with not enough under¬ 
standing of the individualities of each 
variety. 
Still another trouble is the fact that 
many people are familiar with only 
limited number of shrubs, the forsylhia, the 
deutzia, the weigelia, and other old and 
tried garden favorites. We will have to 
admit that these are all admirable things, 
but there are so many others which have 
as interesting characteristics, and which 
have not been so overworked, that they do 
not demand sufficient interest to make them 
valuable in our planting schemes. 
Therefore, it is the intention of this 
article to present a number of flowering 
shrubs, which have several characteristics 
which are interesting, and which do not 
enjoy sufficient use to make them popular 
in all gardens. Many of them have the 
right qualities to make them valuable in 
hold masses, while others have such strik¬ 
ing individualities that the}' will serve 
spring. It has a very spread¬ 
ing habit. Is valuable for the 
middle ground of shrub mass¬ 
es, or as an edging plant in 
the foreground. Has unusual 
deep purple flowers with 
yellow anthers in late June. 
Resembles Indigo. Arrange¬ 
ment and size of leaves gives 
the plant a feathery texture 
from a distance. Prune in 
early spring or late winter. 
Prefers sunny and somewhat 
moist situations. Hardy as 
far north as New York City, 
but is most effective south 
from Philadelphia. 
Red Chokeclierry (Aronia 
arbutifolia ): 
A native deciduous shrub 
I'Left) These are 2 ft.-8 ft. high. In late May 
the blossoms of t n 
the Chinese Fringe man} white flowers 
tree of which a which are followed by at- 
very typical sped- tractive red fruit in Septem- 
men is shown in , _ . , T . 
bloom at the top of ber - ls valuable for its 
the opposite page autumn foliage and serves 
admirably as a filler for 
shrub borders. Native from Massachusetts 
south to Florida and westward. Prefers 
moist situations, but will thrive in any 
good soil. 
Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halmifolia): 
Another native shrub of exceptional value 
as material for seaside plantings because 
it will stand the rigorous exposure. Grows 
four to eight feet high and in September 
is covered with masses of white fluffy 
haired fruit which resembles flowers. 
Sunny situations in well drained soil pre¬ 
ferred. Found from Massachusetts to 
Georgia, near the ocean. 
Spice Bush (Benzoin odorifcrum) : 
Native from Ontario through New' Eng¬ 
land and southward, this shrub delights 
with its masses of bright yellow bloom in 
April and May before the leaves are out, 
and later in the autumn its bright red 
fruits and clear yellow foliage make it very 
desirable. It grow's from four to eight feet 
in height, and is very spreading in habit. 
It will endure partial shade and prefers 
moist situations, but will grow in any good 
soil. Should be transplanted in the spring 
and only pruned, if necessary, after 
blooming. 
Siberian Pea Tree (Caragana arborescens): 
A deciduous shrub or small tree which 
wall attain a height of eighteen feet. It 
has been considered the best yellow blos- 
(Continued on page 116) 
(Above) The 
snowdrop tree , 
with its ivhite 
bell-like flowers, 
is apt to outgrow 
the shrub class. 
It is suited to back¬ 
ground planting 
best as specimens to be used among other 
material, and so lend themselves as points 
of especial interest. 
It would not be possible to enumerate 
all the various kinds of shrubs which 
might fill such requirements, but the fol¬ 
lowing are representative, and attention has 
been given to their outstanding points of 
value, their time of bloom, height, and the 
regions in v'hich they will prove most 
effective. 
Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens): 
Deciduous shrub, three to four feet high. 
A dense habit and many flowers in laven¬ 
der and light blue in early July. 
Suitable for the foreground of shrub masses, 
and very good for Rock gardens. Sunny 
and somewhat dry situations are most favor¬ 
able. Native of the w r est, and is hardy as 
far north as Massachusetts. 
Bastard Indigo (Amorpha fruiticosa) : 
Another deciduous shrub of the same 
family, but grow'ing to fifteen feet in 
height. Should be transplanted in the 
