Shrubbery Design: Layering Landscape

Vibrant Varieties

Shrubbery design plays a pivotal role in landscaping, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces while offering numerous ecological benefits. One of the fundamental principles of effective landscaping is layering, which involves strategically arranging shrubs and plants to create depth, texture, and visual interest. In this exploration of shrubbery design, we will delve into the world of layering, focusing on some exquisite shrub varieties: hydrangea, viburnum, hollies, dogwoods, butterfly bushes, hibiscus, and witch hazel. Each of these shrubs contributes unique characteristics and charm to your landscape.

Hydrangea: The Elegance of Blooms

Hydrangeas are renowned for their stunning, showy blooms, making them a favorite choice among garden enthusiasts. These deciduous shrubs come in various species and cultivars, each offering a different display of colors and shapes. From the classic mophead hydrangeas with their round, globe-like clusters of flowers to the delicate lacecap varieties, hydrangeas provide unparalleled elegance. When incorporating hydrangeas into your landscape, consider their specific requirements, such as soil acidity and moisture levels. Their ability to change flower colors based on soil pH can add a fascinating dimension to your design. Planting hydrangeas alongside taller shrubs or trees can create an enchanting layered effect, with the hydrangeas providing a burst of color at mid-level.

Viburnum: Versatile and Reliable

Viburnums are versatile shrubs known for their adaptability and reliability in various growing conditions. With many species and cultivars, you can find viburnums to suit almost any landscape design. They are prized for their clusters of fragrant, white, or pink flowers in spring, followed by colorful berries and attractive foliage throughout the year. In a layered landscape, viburnums are excellent choices for mid-level shrubs. They can act as a transitional element between taller trees and lower groundcovers. The viburnum's seasonal changes provide interest and structure, making them key players in the design.

Hollies: Year-Round Evergreen Beauty

Hollies are evergreen shrubs renowned for their glossy, dark-green leaves and vibrant red berries during winter. Their year-round appeal and tolerance to pruning make them versatile additions to any landscape design. Hollies come in various shapes and sizes, from compact bushes to tall, tree-like forms. Hollies can lay a landscape's backbone, providing structure and permanence. Their dense foliage offers privacy and a backdrop for other, more ephemeral plants. The berries attract wildlife, adding ecological value to your garden.

Dogwoods: Four-Season Interest

Dogwoods are beloved for their striking spring blossoms and beautiful fall foliage. These deciduous shrubs or small trees offer an array of colors, from the iconic white or pink blooms to fiery red and burgundy leaves in the autumn. Some varieties also bear colorful fruits, adding to their appeal. Dogwoods work well as understory plants in a layered landscape, providing texture and diversity. Planted beneath taller trees or alongside hollies and viburnums, they bring seasonal interest to every layer of your design.

Butterfly Bushes: Pollinator's Paradise

Butterfly bushes, scientifically known as Buddleia, are aptly named for their ability to attract a wide array of butterflies and other pollinators. These deciduous shrubs produce long, arching clusters of fragrant, nectar-rich flowers in various colors, making them a vibrant addition to any garden. In a layered landscape, butterfly bushes can be strategically placed to invite pollinators and add a sense of movement and liveliness. Their slender, arching branches create an airy effect, visually contrasting denser shrubs like hollies or viburnums.

Hibiscus: Tropical Elegance

Hibiscus shrubs bring a touch of the tropics to your landscape with their large, striking flowers. These deciduous or evergreen shrubs thrive in sunny locations and come in various colors, including shades of pink, red, and white. Hibiscus can be focal points in a layered landscape, drawing the eye with bold blooms. Plant them strategically amidst other shrubs to create a dynamic, visually pleasing arrangement.

Witch Hazel: Winter's Fragrant Delight

Witch hazel, known for its unique winter flowering, adds an unexpected touch of beauty to the winter garden. The spidery, fragrant blooms appear on bare branches, providing a delightful contrast to the season's gloom. In a layered landscape, witch hazel can be placed as an accent shrub, particularly where its winter display can be appreciated. The scent and visual appeal it brings during the colder months make it a valuable addition to your design.

Layering shrubs in your landscape design is a sophisticated way to create depth, texture, and year-round interest. You can achieve a harmonious and visually captivating garden by carefully selecting and placing shrubs like hydrangeas, viburnums, hollies, dogwoods, butterfly bushes, hibiscus, and witch hazel. Each of these shrubs brings unique qualities, from vibrant blooms to year-round evergreen foliage, making your landscape a living work of art that evolves with the seasons. So, get creative and start layering to create a lush, inviting outdoor space that will bring joy and inspiration for years.

Snow Hill Hydrangea - TN Nursery

Snow Hill Hydrangea

Snow Hill Hydrangea is a compact deciduous shrub with large rounded clusters of white, snowball-like flowers, making it a popular choice for garden borders and as a foundation plant. They bring various benefits to landscaping projects, contributing to outdoor spaces' visual aesthetics, versatility, and overall charm. This hydrangea cultivar offers unique features that make it a valuable choice for various landscape designs. One of the primary benefits of landscaping is its stunning floral display. The Snow Hill Hydrangea is perfect for people fantasizing about winter wonderlands. With snowball-like blooms, these gorgeous shrubs bring the beauty and magic of them to your garden without the chill of a natural snowfall. What Can I Expect From the Foliage of Snow Hill Hydrangea Formally referred to as arborescens, this deciduous shrub is a compact plant, with most specimens topping around five feet in height. In terms of width, they typically span three feet to five feet. Stems are tan with a velvety texture. The simple leaves are serrated with fine hair. Either rounded or oval, they're broad and measure three inches to six inches across. Most will be at most six inches in length. This native shrub has two-tone leaves in the spring. The tops are deep green, but the undersides are paler green. Of course, these leaves change with the seasons. In the fall, they turn yellow. How Do Snow Hill Hydrangea's Bloom They produce impressive ball-shaped clusters of flowers that measure between eight inches and 12 inches. These clusters are formed by incredibility dense groupings of smaller flowers. Each bloom features four or five petals and measures less than one inch across. They have a lengthy bloom period. It starts in May or June. Flowers will generally remain white until September. Does Snow Hill Hydrangea's Bloom Change Color While many can react to soil changes by changing the color of their flowers, it won't disappoint fans of the winter season. They consistently deliver white or cream flowers at the start of the summer season. It is a deciduous plant, so it does reflect the seasons. If the ball-shaped blooms are allowed to dry in place, they will shift briefly to pink before turning brown. It's a different look, but these dried flowerheads can still add visual interest to a fall garden.  Snow Hill Hydrangeas are striking plants that efficiently fulfill various purposes. They can serve as a focal point or provide concealment. They grow beautifully along slopes and in borders, and they would be happy in rain gardens, shade gardens, and pollinator gardens.

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Arrowwood Viburnum - TN Nursery

Arrowwood Viburnum

Arrowwood Viburnum shrub blooms with clusters of creamy white flowers, creating a visually stunning display. In late summer, the flowers give way to glossy, dark green leaves that turn red, purple, and orange tones in the fall, providing captivating foliage throughout the year. Why Choose the Arrowwood Viburnum Arrowwood Viburnum, aka Dentatum Viburnum, is among the many North American viburnums in the Adoxaceae family. These resilient plants are known for their ornamental appearance and are famously used in landscaping for hedging, screening, and mass planting. Arrowwood Viburnum Has Stunning Blooms The plant features stunning creamy white spring flowers clustered together to form this beautiful, vibrant foliage. In the summers, these white flowers turn into small blue-black berries. During the autumn, these flowers turn into stunning shades of reds and purples that are pleasing to the eye and offer numerous benefits. From enhancing your garden’s visual appeal to attracting pollinators, this plant is more than just a pretty addition to your landscape. Whether you are a passionate gardener or take it as your hobby, adding Arrowwood Viburnum to your landscape will provide you with year-round lush foliage. TN Nursery sells viburnum bushes, and you can prepare to see the magic they create in your backyard. Features of Arrowwood Viburnum The creamy white spring flowers and subtle fragrance lure pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies and provide them with food, making them ideal for pollinator gardens. Also, the delicious small blue-black berries feed different species of birds during the summer. This shrub thrives in partially shaded to full-sun gardens with well-drained soil. So, when planting the shrubs, ensure your yard gets plenty of sunlight to bloom flowers and grow berries. This hardy shrub can thrive in zones 3-8, making it the perfect addition to all types of gardens in different climates. When planted in ideal growing conditions, it can rise between 3 and 10 feet in height and up to 8 feet in width, making it suitable for front yard landscaping. Arrowwood Viburnum is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance. However, it does require pruning to maintain a beautiful shape. You can get these viburnum shrubs for sale from TN Nursery and pair them with other plants, such as Hosta, Lilac Shrubs, and blue Hydrangea.

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American Holly - TN Nursery

American Holly

American Holly, with its vibrant red berries and emerald green leaves, remains visually pleasing throughout all seasons. It provides a splash of color during the colder months when many other plants have shed their foliage. The tree's dense and conical shape adds an element of elegance and structure to any landscape, making it an ideal focal point or anchor in garden designs. When choosing a tree that checks all the boxes, nothing can beat American Holly. American Holly is a slow-growing evergreen tree known for its dense foliage and year-round privacy barrier. American Holly Is A Evergreen This evergreen tree plays a massive role in purifying air when enhancing the overall air quality around your house. The dense foliage traps pollutants from the air and ensures fresh oxygen for you to breathe in. You will instantly breathe in fresh and pure air whenever you enter your garden, making it an ideal choice to plant in and around your yard. This dense foliage also creates a natural privacy screen between houses and roads, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space more comfortably whenever you can. So, you can buy American holly online and turn your yard into a sanctuary for yourself and other species. Features of American Holly Plant The American Holly features glossy and spiky leaves and smooth gray-white bark that maintain their green foliage all seasons. During the winter, when the tree is covered with snow, you can enjoy delicious bright red berries that add color. This makes it a perfect tree during the holiday season with natural decoration. The American Holly Has Stunning Berries These berries are also a famous source for different wildlife and migrating birds during times of scarcity, ensuring they stay plump and happy even during chillier months. The dense foliage of the American Holly plant provides birds and small critters with much-needed shelter and nesting spots, resulting in a thriving mini ecosystem. TN Nursery features a range of other plants, shrubs, and trees that pair with the American Holly Tree. In addition to American holly plants for sale, the top three choices include White Pine, Green Giant Arborvitae, and a Cedar Tree.

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Flowering Dogwood Trees - TN Nursery

Flowering Dogwood Trees

Flowering Dogwood Trees are hand-crafted and come in a variety of colors. They are one of Sprin's most glorious types, with delicate blooms and green foliage. TN Nursery offers the best prices on grafted dogwood trees, and we guarantee our plants for one full year. Flowering Dogwood Trees Are Highly Sought After  The Cherokee Brave is a fascinating and distinctive type known by its scientific name, Cornus florida 'Comco No. 1'. This particular ornamental type is highly sought after in horticulture thanks to its exceptional beauty. In the spring, the plant's large clusters of vibrant, deep pink to reddish blooms create a stunning contrast against its dark green foliage, making it a sight to behold. As a small deciduous type, it usually grows to 20-25 feet. It offers year-round visual interest with its attractive branching pattern and fall foliage, which displays shades of red. It is cherished for its aesthetic appeal, which makes it a popular choice for enthusiasts. Additionally, the plant holds cultural significance among Native American tribes like the Cherokee, where it embodies traits of resilience and natural elegance in garden landscapes. The White Princess type, scientifically known as Cornus florida 'White Princess,' is a breathtaking ornamental type that exudes enchanting elegance. Gracefully standing at 15-20 feet tall, this compact type boasts a profusion of creamy white blossoms in spring, arranged in clusters that create a magical spell of delicate allure. As the seasons progress, the leaves of this plant change to a vibrant red in autumn, adding another layer of visual interest to the plant. Whether you have a small garden or a large landscape, it is an excellent choice for adding year-round joy to your outdoor space and is sure to be the centerpiece of your garden.  Spring Grove type, scientifically known as Cornus 'Spring Grove,' is a stunning ornamental type cherished for its vibrant foliage and graceful form. This deciduous beauty typically reaches a height of 15-20 feet with a similar spread, making it ideal for small to medium-sized gardens. In spring, it flaunts clusters of creamy white flowers that contrast beautifully against its deep green leaves. As the seasons progress, the foliage transforms into rich shades of burgundy and purple in autumn, adding a striking display of color to the landscape. Its elegant structure and year-round visual interest make Spring Grove type a beloved gardener choice. The Super Princess type is a botanical masterpiece that amazes those who come across it. With its graceful branches extending upward towards the sky, it displays a magnificent crown of striking pink flowers that radiate with vibrant energy. Not only is this variety unique for its exceptional resilience, but it also possesses a natural elegance that captures the attention of all who behold it. Flowering Dogwood Trees' regal height and abundance of flowers make them a cherished centerpiece in gardens and parks worldwide. But beyond its ornamental value, the Super Princess carries cultural significance, symbolizing grace, strength, and enduring beauty.  The Pink Kousa, scientifically known as Cornus kousa var. chinensis 'Pink,' is stunning. Originating from East Asia, these ornamental types display breathtaking pink blossoms in late spring, creating a captivating spectacle for anyone who gazes upon them. The unique and delicate star-shaped flowers adorn the branches amidst the glossy green foliage and exude an unmatched ethereal charm. As the seasons progress, the blooms give way to raspberry-like fruits that add to their beauty and attract an array of wildlife, including birds. With their graceful form, vibrant hues, and exceptional beauty, these are more than just exquisite ornamentals. Flowering Dogwood Trees Has A Rich History The Chief Red is a magnificent and towering symbol of Cherokee heritage with a rich history and captivating legend. Its vibrant, crimson-hued leaves sway gently in the breeze as if dancing to the whispers of generations past, embodying the strength and resilience of the Cherokee people. According to the legend, Chief Red, a noble leader, had his spirit entwined with the earth upon his passing, giving rise to this magnificent type. For the Cherokee tribes, this plant is a site of great reverence and spiritual significance, serving as a sacred gathering place for ceremonies where stories of bravery and wisdom are shared, echoing through the rustling leaves. The magnificent Greensleeves Kousa is an ornamental type with beauty and elegance. They boast a lush canopy of green foliage and an abundance of stunning white blooms that charm any landscape. As a deciduous type, it can grow to an impressive height of 15 to 30 feet, providing a picturesque backdrop for any outdoor setting. In spring, their green flowers bloom and transform into a vibrant red fruit in autumn, which serves as a natural food source for birds and other wildlife. With its moderate growth rate, these can thrive in various soil types and prefer partial shade to total sun exposure.  Flowering Dogwood Trees Are Highly Prized  The Rubra Red, scientifically known as Cornus florida 'Rubra,' is a stunning ornamental tree highly prized for its vibrant spring display of pink to red flowers. These beautiful blossoms stand out against the backdrop of its dark green foliage, creating a picturesque scene in gardens and landscapes. As the seasons progress, the Flowering Dogwood Trees' foliage transitions to shades of red and purple in the fall, adding another dimension of beauty to its appearance. This compact, deciduous type typically reaches a height of 15-30 feet, making it ideal for smaller gardens or more significant landscapes. Its beauty and adaptability make it a favorite among gardeners.

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Red Hibiscus - TN Nursery

Red Swamp Rose Mallow

Red Swamp Rose Mallow has deep scarlet flowers that serve as eye-catching focal points, adding a splash of vibrant color that instantly draws attention and adds vibrancy to any garden or landscape design. The lush, evergreen foliage provides a lush backdrop that enhances the contrast and highlights the beauty of the flowers. The beauty of the red hibiscus can be enjoyed throughout much of the year, making it a lovely option to incorporate into your landscape design. This plant, which is also known as the rose of Sharon, is native to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates. Because of this, it is well-suited for your yard's warmer and moister areas. What are some top reasons to update your landscaping with this flowering plant? It blooms in the latter half of the summer, while many other flowering plants bloom in the spring and early summer. Because of its late blooming period, the plant is the perfect way to enjoy color in your yard for a more extended period each year. The rose petals are dainty and well-defined, with a beautiful yellow stamen. The distinctive look makes them a gorgeous focal point of your space. Red Swamp Rose Mallow Has Stunning Fall Foliage After the crimson blooms fade at the end of the summer season, the green leaves turn stunning shades of yellow and orange. While many flowering plants turn brown when cold weather arrives, this plant continues to dress up your space through autumn. The foliage will fall to the ground and return in early spring to provide your landscape a fresh, green color. Red Swamp Rose Mallow Will Help You Attract Pollinators  The Swamp Red Rose Mallow flowers draw hummingbirds and pollinating insects to your yard, benefiting other plants. In addition, these insects are natural predators of some damaging and unwanted pests that otherwise would thrive in the yard, providing you with natural insect control. Red Swamp Rose Mallow Gets Fairly Large Red Swamp Rose Mallow is a large plant that can grow seven feet or more in height and four feet wide. From a small plant, the rose of Sharon can reach full maturity in only two to three years with minimal care. It does best in damp soil and direct sunlight.

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Witch Hazel Tree - TN Nursery

Witch Hazel

The Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub known for its spidery, fragrant yellow to orange-red flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring, often before its leaves emerge. This makes it a unique and welcome sight in gardens. It is a versatile shrub that offers numerous landscaping benefits beyond its well-known medicinal uses. Native to North America and parts of Asia, these deciduous shrubs are prized for their unique appearance, vibrant foliage, and striking winter blooms. When incorporated into landscape designs, this plant can enhance outdoor spaces with a range of aesthetic and functional advantages. Witch Hazel adds Interest Throughout The Year Four-Season Interest: In late winter or early spring, the shrub bursts into bloom, displaying fragrant, spidery flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red. This early flowering period provides a much-needed splash of color when most other plants are still dormant. Additionally, Autumn's foliage turns vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red, creating a stunning autumnal display. Natural Privacy Screen: This shrub, with its dense branching and arching habit, can be an effective natural privacy screen. Planted strategically along property borders or in groupings, it can shield outdoor spaces from prying eyes and create a sense of seclusion. Pollinator-Friendly: The flowers are a valuable nectar source for early-emerging pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. By attracting these beneficial insects, this shrub contributes to the overall health and biodiversity of the landscape, promoting a balanced ecosystem. Tolerance to Shade: It thrives in partial shade to full sun, making it an excellent option for landscapes with varying light conditions. Its adaptability allows for planting in different locations, from under the canopy of more giant trees to sunnier spots in the garden. Erosion Control: The extensive root system helps stabilize the soil and prevent soil erosion, prevention on slopes, or areas prone to water runoff. Low Maintenance: Once established, this shrub is relatively low-maintenance. It is resistant to pests and diseases and requires minimal intervention. Wildlife Attraction: Apart from pollinators, this shrub attracts other wildlife, such as birds, which feed on the seeds and seek shelter within the shrub's branches. This feature contributes to the overall biodiversity and liveliness of the landscape. Winter Interest: Distinctive, ribbon-like flowers appear in winter, adding a unique touch to the landscape during an otherwise less colorful season. These spidery blooms can withstand light frosts, offering an enchanting sight in colder climates. Versatile Uses: Beyond standalone plantings, this shrub can be incorporated into mixed borders, woodland gardens, or naturalized areas. Its adaptability allows it to blend seamlessly with other plants and design elements. In conclusion, Witch Hazel is valuable to any landscape design, offering four-season interest, privacy screening, pollinator support, erosion control, and low maintenance. Its unique beauty and ecological contributions make it a sought-after shrub for enhancing outdoor spaces. By incorporating this shrub into landscaping plans, homeowners and landscape designers can create visually appealing and ecologically friendly gardens that stand out every season. Witch Hazel Has Bright Golden Blooms This green-leafed shrub blooms with bright yellow flowers between October and December. The ribbon-like yellow petals usually appear after the leaves have fallen but sometimes will appear while the oval-shaped yellow autumn leaves still cling to the branches. It also has fruits that will form from fertilized flowers. They first appear as green capsules but then turn brown over time. Its scientific name is because this shrub’s flowers, fruits, and leaves can all appear on its branches simultaneously. Hamamelis loosely translates as “together with fruit.” Its hardy nature makes it an easy-to-grow shrub. Because of this, it is trendy amongst gardeners as a shrub hedge or screen. Its fragrant flowers often lead to it being grown in an area where its pleasant scent is noticeable. It is usually the last bit of color in a garden due to its late bloom. Witch Hazel Thrives In Most U.S. Zones This shrub can be planted successfully in U.S.D.A. zones 3 to 9. It requires a lot of sunlight and does best in full sun or partial shade. Flowering will peak in full sun. It does well in moist, acidic soil and can handle heavy clay soil. The height increases by 13 to 24 inches yearly, giving it a slow to medium growth rate. If preferred, pruning can be done in early spring to keep the shrub from growing too large. This plant requires little maintenance to flourish and rarely has insect or disease problems. Witch hazel has a broad, rounded leaf arranged in an alternating pattern along the branches. The flowers are also noteworthy in appearance, with slender petals. Some bloom in spring while others counter that, and the plant can showcase its cycle between seeding and blooming, such as the snapping type with seeds that split in a manner that ejects the seeds to a sufficient distance of nearly 30 feet. The sunny yellow flowers of this shrub add a glow of happiness to yards and gardens. The delightful fragrance of those flowers creates an even more cheerful atmosphere. It is so easy to care for and an excellent fit for even the hands-off gardeners.

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