Winter’s WORKERS
They don’t win as many plaudits as their rivals, but shrubs still raise spirits at this time of year
In my early 20s I worked as a glasshouse technician at a horticultural college where the gardening staff’s breakroom was a dusty old potting shed set outside a Victorian walled garden. Inside were shelves packed with well-read books covering many aspects of horticulture, although the majority were dedicated to shrubs.
These works of non-fiction were largely published in the mid-to-late 20th century, a period considered a golden age for shrubs. But by the time I qualified as a professional horticulturist, shrubs had been usurped in popularity by fancier upstarts, such as prairie-style perennials and architectural exotics.
Despite being sidelined, shrubs have never gone away. They have also been welldecorated in recent plant of the year contests at Chelsea. Like many other gardeners, I’ve had my head turned by groups of plants that have found themselves in vogue, but I can honestly say that I’ve never ignored shrubs. For as long as I can remember, this group of evergreen and deciduous woody plants have been the glue that holds a garden together.
No other plants, in my opinion, are as hard-working. For example, they can provide structure, hide eyesores, attract wildlife, act as focal points and add height to displays. Some make a seasonal splash with their flowers, berries, bark or colour-changing foliage, while others add interest all year round.
One of the most cherished sub-groups are those that endeavour to raise spirits in winter. Mahonias, viburnums and witch hazels are loved for their scented, beautiful blooms. Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Red dragon’ grows to 5ft and has bare shoots topped with spherical orange flowers.
It’s not just flowering shrubs that are invaluable during the colder months of the year — evergreen types with showy, variegated leaves will help to brighten up gloomy days. Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’, Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt edge’ and Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ will thrive in all light. Forsythias will get spring off to a flyer with their vivid yellow flowers that smother bare stems, while lilacs and flowering currants will end the season in style. Philadelphus, ceanothus, hebe, lavender, ceratostigma and a host of other shrubs are guaranteed to compete with perennials for attention in summer.
Growing seasonal wonders is a luxury when space is tight, so pick a shrub that offers more value. Oakleaf hydrangeas boast flowers in summer and lobed leaves that turn red in autumn. Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ has white flowers in summer followed by red berries, and evergreen foliage that changes colour in autumn.
In recent years there’s been a trend for breeders to create compact varieties of familiar shrubs which are suited to smaller spaces. This includes the buddleia ‘Buzz’ series that reach 4ft rather than 12ft, and the ‘Little’ group of mophead hydrangeas
that stand at just 2ft. Launched in 2021, Weigela ‘Prism magic carpet’ is a variety that bucks the family trend of forming a substantial, 8ft-tall bush. Instead, it makes a 2ft-tall, bushy clump smothered with masses of tubular pink flowers in spring and summer.
As for picking shrubs for your garden, bear in mind the old adage: ‘Right plant, right place.’ There’s a multitude of varieties available to suit every space, whether it’s sheltered or exposed, north, east, south or west-facing.
Also consider your soil conditions, the room available and your garden’s climate to determine your shrub’s hardiness.
Prior to planting, dunk containergrown shrubs in a bucket of water for an hour to ensure roots are hydrated. Next, dig a hole three times the diameter of the pot and the same depth — spike the sides and bottom with a garden fork to allow roots to spread. Place the plant in the centre, backfill with soil and firm with your heel. Water well.
Only a few shrubs are available as bare-root specimens — lifted from the ground and sold between November and March. Dig a hole that’s twice the diameter of the root system and deep enough so the bit where the stem meets the roots and flares out is level with the ground.
Compact shrubs are perfect in 12inwide containers filled with soil-based compost, such as John Innes No 3, fortified with controlled-release fertiliser granules. Ensure it remains damp and feed regularly during the growing season. Plants will have filled their allocated space within two years and need moving into slightly larger containers.