Shrubs add interest to northern Colorado gardens

By Kathy Hatfield
Gardening Columnist

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The warmer days of April are not too early to begin planting some tough shrubs in the landscape. With the likelihood of another dry growing season ahead of us, we would be wise to plant shrubs that can tolerate hot, dry conditions. Some favorites are listed below. Check with your local garden center to get specific planting information on the ones you choose.

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) - The common name comes from the belief that the presence of this plant indicates lead in the soil. While we now know that this is not true, this shrub does survive on poor, dry soils - even clay, as long as it is not too wet. Purple flower spikes in midsummer attract bees and butterflies, and in the fall, small bean-like pods attract birds. It has a neater appearance if trimmed back to about 1 inch after it goes dormant in the fall.

Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris x clandonensis) - This plant is a well-behaved small shrub sporting clear blue flowers that last for weeks in late summer. Its sage-like scent attracts butterflies and honeybees. Once the flowers have finished blooming, and they often continue into fall, the dried flower heads remain intact throughout the winter. Prune the plant back in the spring to keep a neat and well-rounded shape.

Winterfat (Ceratoides lanata) - Though the flowers of winterfat are inconspicuous, the fluffy white seed heads provide interest from late summer through winter. This widely dispersed native plant is one of the toughest of the west, growing near sea level in Death Valley to over 10,000 feet in the mountains. Cold, heat and drought-tolerant, it grows well in sandy or clay soils. The common name refers to its tasty forage quality for wildlife.

Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) - Not sickening at all, as its scientific name implies, the green to bluish green leaves of rabbitbrush have a pleasant scent and the seed clusters are attractive in winter. It will grow on poor soil in full sun; too much water can cause floppy growth. Dwarf types are available for smaller planting areas. To maintain an attractive globe-shaped bush, prune the old growth in early spring. Small yellow flowers, which attract butterflies and bees, will form on the new growth.

Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) - Native Americans used the stems of this plant for making arrow shafts and brooms. Beautiful white, rose-like flowers bloom on new growth all summer, so it is best to prune old growth in early spring. The wispy, silvery pink seed heads extend the plant's attractiveness into winter. This one is a great accent plant for hot, dry, sunny locations, but it will tolerate some shade.

Three Leaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata) - The best feature of sumacs is their great fall color. This 6- to 10-foot tall native is one of the most drought-tolerant of the sumacs. Its edible reddish-orange fruits, when mixed with sugar and water, make a tasty drink similar to lemonade. Native Americans wove baskets from the young branches of this shrub, which also has the common name squawbush. Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) 'Gro-Low' is closely related to three leaf sumac. It grows to only 2 to 3 feet tall and makes a great ground cover.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) - Though not native, lilacs were probably one of the first and most commonly planted shrubs in the settling of the West. They are extremely hardy and include thousands of cultivars, with flower colors ranging from white to pinks to purples. A relative newcomer is Tinkerbelle(tm) lilac. It is slightly smaller than the common lilac and its flower buds are a deep reddish rose opening to pink.

Yucca or Soapweed (Yucca glauca) - Pioneers used yucca leaves to fashion a coarse rope, and used the root in making soap. Spine-tipped, narrow, evergreen leaves with shedding white threads along their edges give yucca year-round interest. In some years, white pendulous flowers bloom in midsummer. They are fragrant and more open at night so as to attract the yucca moth, which pollinates the flowers.