17 
GRNAMENTAL SHRUBS 
Shrubs are used for foundation plantings and for borders at the 
edge of the lawn. Border plantings in front lawns are important. 
They are needed in combination with the house (foundation) planting to 
make the complete picture of the front or public area. Every picture 
needs a frame and a background. 
_ _ For border plantings, particularly a wall of green for an Outdoor 
Living Room, it is important to choose sturdy and compact shrubs with 
good green foriage. For example; the Honeysuckles, Chinese Lilac, 
Peking Cotoneaster and Vanhoutte Spirea. They make for good mass, 
good body, and good background for a border. Such plants as Viburnum 
and Euonymus are too slow. The slow growing and showy shrubs may be 
placed on the inside tier of a shrub border We emphasize that foli- 
age is more important than bloom in building a border. 
We do not recommend a rule of thumb for spacing of shrubs--be- 
cause the spacing depends on the height at which we plan to maintain 
them. In this Handbook we are giving information for spacing each 
variety accordingly. 
, We wish to caution that when planting two different varieties 
side by side, the spaces should be as much or more as given for the 
variety with the wider space recommendation. sitet Ait teks spacing of one 
variety together is not as serious an error as the crowding between 
different varieties. 
On smaller properties, it is necessary to maintain many shrubs 
by trimming to control their size so they may continue to fit the pro- 
per proportion for a harmonious setting. Determine the height a shrub 
will ultimately be maintained, then space accordingly. Advise your 
customer later how to maintain the intended picture. 
ALTHEA (Hibiscus syriacus) 
Also called Rose of Sharon. Used mainly in southern Nebraska and 
Kansas as it is not hardy here and north. Upright narrow habit of 
growth. Height 8 to 12 feet, spread 6 to 10 feet. May be maintained 
smalier. Order red, pink or purple. Most orders are for red. 
ARROWWOOD 
(See Viburnum for listing) 
BARBERRY, JAPANESE (Berberis thunbergii) 
A very dense rounded shrub, broader than tall, compact numerous 
branches. Foliage good to the ground. Small green leaves throughout 
the summer turn to a rich coppery red color in the fall. Inconspic- 
uous yellow flowers late May produce a heavy crop of small attractive 
red berries in the fall which hang on throughout most of the winter. 
Shrub compact appearance in the winter, with good looking texture of 
reddish twigs. Used singly or several in a group. Shade or sun. 
Foundation, facer in borders and for hedges. Usually maintained by 
one annual trimming 2 to 3 feet high and spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. If 
an ultimate height of 4 to 5 feet is contemplated, space 4 feet apart. 
An excellent shrub, effective at all seasons. 
BARBERRY MENTOR 
Similar to Japanese Barberry, except grows larger, has larger 
leaves, and foliage hangs on later. It is semi-hardy in most of our 
territory. : 
BARBERRY, REDLEAF (Berberris thunbergii atropurpurea) 
A redleaf variety. Should be planted in full sun. Shrub does 
not grow as thrifty as its parent and will appreciate not being crowd- 
ed. Usually maintained 2 to 3 feet high and spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. 
