Things that are different always seem to attract the most attention. A bright yellow car among grey and black vehicles may get a second look. A particularly tall person, pardon the pun, stands out in a crowd. As a redhead, unfortunately, I knew by the time I was 5 that I was different.
When considering which plants to choose for your landscaping, different may indeed be better, depending on what you are trying to achieve. Plants with foliage that is a color other than green can be quite breathtaking. Purple, yellow, and variegated foliage shrubs tend to brighten an area. The following list of shrubs that have foliage during the spring, summer, and fall that is different.
Crimson Queen Japanese Maple(Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’)
Gorgeous purple foliage on this weeping form tree. Mature height and width is 6-8’. Japanese Maples are marginally hardy. Great care must be taken when choosing a site for this year. Prefers full sun to part shade.
Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry(Berberis thunbergii ‘Maria’)
This upright plant can reach 3’ in height with a width of 18”. The bright gold foliage makes for a great accent plant. Does best in full sun.
Concorde Barberry(Berberis thunbergii ‘Concorde’)
The velvety deep purple foliage on this very compact barberry really adds a lot of dimension to a planting bed. The mature height is 24” and mature width is 32”. Does best in full sun.
Ivory Halo Redtwig Dogwood(Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’)
The variegated white and green foliage on this dogwood make it stand out from the rest. The red stems in the winter are another great attribute to this plant. Does best in full sun.
Golden Spirit Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’)
This smokebush is a bit more compact than other forms. The golden colored foliage appears on a shrub that will grow to about 7’ by 7’. The yellow leaves do have a nice burgundy/red fall color. Prefers full sun to part shade.
Blondy Euonymus (Euonymus fortune ‘Interbolwjo’) T
his broadleaf evergreen has clear yellow foliage with green margins. The yellow stems also add color to this shrub. It will grow to about 24” tall and wide. Prefers full sun to part shade.
Daub’s Frosted Juniper(Juniperus chinensis ‘Daub’s Frosted’)
The light yellow new growth on this evergreen matures to a feathery blue green color. Over time it will grow to about 18” high and 4’ wide. It prefers full sun.
Amber Jubilee Ninebark(Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’)
The foliage practically glows a mixture of orange, gold, and yellow tones. Amber Jubilee has a white flower in the spring and will grow to about 5’ by 5’. Prefers full sun to part shade.
Fire Chief Arborvitae(Thuja ‘Congabe’)
This globe arborvitae has bright orange foliage in the spring and red tones in the fall. It will reach an overall height and width of 3 1/2’. Prefers full sun to part shade.
My Monet Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Verweig’)
The white, green and pink foliage on this very compact plant make is the perfect addition to a border or in a small space. Prefers full sun to part shade.
Wine and Roses Weigela(Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’)
The dark purple foliage makes this plant very attractive. It’s arching habit will result in a mature width and height of 5’. The pink trumpet shaped flowers in the spring are another bonus! Prefers full sun to part shade.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or tgsinc12@msn.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
