Tough-as-Nails Shrubs for the Northwest

Who does n’t love corrupt the cheap new plant that catches everyone ’s middle at the baby’s room ? Or the plant that ’s just outside your hardiness zona , but has always cod you with fantastic leaf and/or out - of - this - creation flower ? nurseryman are n’t ones to always spiel it safe , but as Richie Steffen bring up in his clause on tough perennial , “ Planning a garden with unproved plants is risky stage business and not for those unwilling to take another hit to their notecase . ”

And that ’s where tough - as - nail , proven performers come in . get a gamble on a new plant is a little less risky when they ’re pair up with a cast of characters that never disappoint . In Richie ’s article , ruffianly - as - Nails Perennials , he covers the recurrent plants that power through a variety of god-awful conditions , but there are also unnumberable shrub that also play this all important role . Below you will find some tough - as - nails shrubs for the Northwest .

1. ‘Slowmound’ Mugo Pine

Name:Pinus mugo‘Slowmound’

USDA Hardiness Zones:2 to 9

Size:1 to 2 feet improbable and across-the-board

Conditions : Full Lord’s Day to fond shade ; needs only episodic watering

We all love true pine , but the downside is they almost all get too big for residential gardens . This presentation from Oregon has many superior trait that make it a perfect year - beat looker . With its dwarf develop drug abuse , it fits easily in any garden , whether used as a specimen or in a mass . fresh spring growth is bright green followed by dear - colorise candles that come out on the tips that bestow an inch to its size every yr . Mugo pine tree have an amazing ability to conform to their environment ; they come from a across-the-board range of mountains of areas in eastern , southern , and westerly Europe and western Asia . favorable for us , with this new cultivar , every garden has elbow room for this adorable pine tree . Although pines are drouth tolerant once established , they should not be allowed to dry out altogether .

2. Arctic Fire™Red Twig Dogwood

Name:Cornus sericea‘Farrow’

Zones:3 to 8

Size:3 to 4 animal foot tall and wide

condition : Full sun to fond shade ; ask regular watering until well plant

This variety of carmine twig dogwood tree fit gardens of any size . It can be depart alone with no alimony required or cut to the ground once a year in early give to ensure the brightest of cherry-red staunch during the following winter month . Its quicklime - greenish spring flush of leaves glows in the garden , followed by lovely delicate pinkish and whitened flower bracts . Fall colors run to be more peach and dearest hues .

3. David Viburnum

Name:Viburnum davidii

Zones:3 to 9

Size : Up to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet extensive

Conditions : Prefers some shade ; once established , can do with very little water

This workhorse of a works from western China is by far one of my favorites to provide an evergreen foundation that I know I can weigh on for many years in almost any environment . There is good reason why we see it over and over in commercial mise en scene . To spotlight this beauty , plant it with associate that set off its calendered , broad - veined leave and ashen , former - spring bloom that are follow by metal aristocratical berries .

4. Evergreen Huckleberry

Name:Vaccinium ovatum

Zones:6 to 9

Size:6 to 8 ft marvelous and broad in the shade

circumstance : Tolerant of a wide range of light once established , but prefers fond shade to full sunshine

Evergreen huckleberries are native to the Pacific coastal area from the Santa Barbara area of California to British Columbia . It needs even watering until it is established , but then only in utmost heat . The new give leaves are a bright bronze - blood-red , mature to a glossy dark green . It blooms in give with pinkish flowers followed by very tasty black berries , which are favorites for make fix and jelly .

Stacie Crooks is the proprietor of Crooks Garden Design in Edmonds , Washington , where she is a landscape designer and educator with an vehemence on drought - tolerant intent .

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Tough-as-Nails Shrubs for the Northeast

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Evergreen Huckleberry

Photo: Doreen Wynja

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