HOW MANY OF THESE SHRUBS CAN YOU IDENTIFY?
According to a new poll in the U.K., over 65 per cent of Brits can’t name a single shrub. What a shock — aren’t they supposed to be a nation of gardeners? And here in Canada? The same poll would surely yield even worse results. Yet I could be wrong. Thus, to celebrate our national holiday, here’s a little quiz. See if you can identify the shrubs pictured here. No prizes for correct answers. But if you get them all right, take a bow. You’re a real gardener.
Shrub 1: Weigela: Common, bright as a traffic light, easy to grow. Not for snobby gardeners, but I love mine. How to pronounce that name? It was named after a German botanist, thus Vie-GEE-LA is strictly correct. But most of us say
Why-GEE-luh, with a hard G.
Shrub 2: Abelia: Why isn’t this smashing shrub better known? Mine, a Proven Winners hybrid called “Sweet Emotion” is tough as nails, produces pretty pink and white flowers in spring (that smell like jasmine), doesn’t mind some shade and the foliage becomes a beautiful bronze in fall.
Shrub 3: Starbright Mock Or
ange: Ha, gotcha with this one. It’s a cross between common Philadel
phus and an Asian version, and was developed in Newfoundland. Launched with great fanfare back in 2011. Has since vanished from Ontario garden centres. Too bad. Mine Is thriving, smells sweet and the stark white flowers do look like stars.
Shrub 4: Hi Bush Cranberry:
Viburnum trilobum. A confusing native shrub. Not really a cranberry, with a European cousin, Vibur
num opulus that is more common in gardens. But plant this one. Its bright red berries hang on all winter to feed hungry birds — and the big bush looks fabulous in spring.
Shrub 5: Ninebark. Physocarpus. A North American native. My fave shrub, for so many reasons. It’s easy to grow. Unbothered by anything. Comes in so many varieties now, with green, purplish-red or copper foliage. Spreads nicely. Produces pretty spring flowers and red berry clusters in fall.
Shrub 6: Winterberry. Ilex verti
cillata. An oddball “Christmas holly,” native to North America, that loses its shiny green leaves in winter. But ah, those berries! Big, fat and red. Ravishing during grey, boring winters. Remember, though: You need both a male and female plant to get the berries.