Spring Blooms III - Beyond Azaleas

Azaleas

Azaleas and Rhododendrons certainly

light up the spring garden.

For some, they may be a bit too electric.

If you're looking for spring flowering shrubs

with a more subtle show,

check out these options.

 

Rhododendron

The airy white flowers of Slender Deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) are
effective for a number of weeks. 

Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' is a dwarf variety which

maintains a height of about 2 feet with a spread of 2-5 feet.

Deutzia can be grown in full sun to part shade.

Slender Deutzia close-up.

White flower spikes cover the evergreen

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken').

Plant Cherry Laurel in full sun to part shade.

 

Variegated Weigela (Weigela florida var.)
branches, laden with flowers,
arch gently toward the ground.

For best flowering, site Weigela in full sun.

Weigela 

Weigela 'Wine and Roses' has purplish foliage .

It's easy to see where

Bridalwreath Spirea (Spiraea x vanhouttei) got its common name -

pristine white flowers trace arching brances
to create quite a spring show.

Bridalwreath Spirea flower clusters.
Best in full sun, Bridalwreath Spirea tolerates light shade.

Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) has moderately effective spring flowers.

They're an added bonus to its spectacular fall foliage - see it here and here).

Dwarf Fothergilla grows in full sun to part shade.

Feathery Dwarf Fothergilla blooms.

The vibrant yellow-orange flowers of

seemt to glow on the casual-looking,

Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora') shrub.

Grow Japanese Kerria in part shade to shade.

 

Sunny Japanese Kerria flowers.

If you want fragrant Lilac flowers,

but are short on space, consider

Miss Kim Korean Lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim').

Miss Kim is a compact variety with good mildew resistance. 

Lilacs bloom best in full sun, but tolerate light shade.

 

Showy white flowers perched along horizontal branches

create a splendid display on 

Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum). 

Doublefile Viburnum grows in sun to part shade.

Doublefile Viburnum flowers

For more spring flowering plants, see

Early Spring flowers and

Spring Flowers II.

Macro Light

Try as I might, I can't resist 

Gardening Gone Wild's photo contest.  This month's theme is

‘Lighting: A Closer Look’.

Although close-up photography is a lot of fun,

I don't do a lot of it.

I usually focus on pictures that

depict plants as they function in the landscape.

This was the perfect opportunity to bring out some of my

favorite spring close-ups.

Beautiful Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is pictured at the top.

Cherry blossoms

Azalea blooms

Spring Japanese Maple foliage

And then, those photogenic Iris.

Is there a more graceful...

 endlessly interesting flower than Iris?

My daughter chose this Iris shot as my entry in the contest.

I think she's got a good eye.

Check out all the wonderful entries at Gardening Gone Wild.

Spring Blooms II

Looking for spring flower ideas to

extend the show in your garden?

Tulips are a mainstay of the spring garden and
come in all sizes and colors.
But there are options beyond tulips.

This is the second in a series 
highlighting spring flowers. 

Early Spring Blooms started the parade (see them here).

The flowers highlighted in this post were
blooming in mid to late April in
south central Pennsylvania. 

Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxitalis), with its vivid yellow flowers, makes a

nice base for tulips.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a classic spring beauty.

Gold leaved varieties (pictured at the top), such as 'Gold Heart' 

add a new twist and light up the garden.

Since Bleeding Heart foliage goes dormant in the summer,

interplant it with summer blooming perennials to cover the gaps.

Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is a smaller plant

with a more delicate look.

It remains effective and

blooms through the summer in this region.

 Another fine-textured spring flower,

dreamy blue Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium reptans), is a nice

contrast for bold tulips. 

The yellow daisy-like flowers of Leopard's Bane (Doronicum orientale)

are bright and cheerful. 

Be aware that Leopard's Bane 

goes dormant in the heat of summer.

Windflower (Anemone blanda) makes a 

pleasant groundcover under this tree.

Be sure to have a plan B as well, since these will also

go dormant following flowering.

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is an aggressive spreader and is

grown as a groundcover, but 

has a bright blue spring display. 

A sedate spreader, Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is an

evergreen groundcover that interplants well with other perennials.

Crisp white flower clusters cover the plant in spring.

Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) is a

wonderful spring flowering perennial. 

After the dainty blue flowers fade, 

the heart shaped foliage

remains effective all season and makes a nice groundcover.

Cultivars offer

variegated and yellow foliage options for

Siberian Bugloss to add

even more interest.

Cowslip (Primula veris) provides a
punch of color
atop sturdy leaves.

The light, airy Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia) blooms are

just beginning to open in this photo -  

a petite plant worth including in a shade garden.

Don't let Lungwort's (Pulmonaria) common name scare you. 

Its spotted foliage, which supposedly resembles a diseased liver,

is the main attraction.

The subtle spring flowers are an added bonus.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are a

beautiful companion to Tulips. 

This is another spring perennial to interplant with others

since they'll go dormant in the summer.

The massive potential of Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria) is
vividly illustrated in this vine near my home. 

The impressive violet flowers make quite a show, but
be aware that it's considered invasive in many parts of the US (read about it here). 

The wonderful fragrance of

Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) flowers,

adds another dimension to their beauty.   

The pinkish glow of Koreanspice Viburnum flowers.

 

The subtle flowers of Purple-leaved Sand Cherry are complemented by its 

red-purple foliage, which provides

 interest throughout the growing season. 

Oregon Grapeholly (Mahonia aquifolium) is a 

sturdy, small evergreen shrub which

lights up in spring with yellow flowers.

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles x superba) has a rather ungainly form, but the

brilliant flowers are a welcome sight in the

lull between Forsythia and other flowering shrubs.

An evergreen backdrop would make 

the bright Flowering Quince blooms pop.

Flowering Trees are another major  

part of the spring flower act, but that's

a post for another day.

Go ahead, get more spring color in your garden!