Black Lace Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’)
A stunning addition to any landscape addition is the intense purple black lacy foliage of the Black Lace Elderberry. Its finely cut lace leave make it a perfect resemblance to that of Japanese maples. Because of its extreme tolerance and adaptability to dry climates and droughts, it is an ideal alternative to Japanese maple which require afternoon shade in the hot Interior of British Columbia.
Top reasons to grow Black Lace Elderberry are its unique lacy black foliage, pink flowers in early summer and its adaptability to grow in a range of challenging conditions. It needs moderate amounts of water to survive drought conditions. The Black Lace Elderberry requires 6+ hours of full sun to thrive. It grows also well in part shade to full shade for 4 to 6 hours per day. Pruning must be completed after bloom as the new buds develop on old wood.
The average ornamental variety can reach a size of 96×108 inches tall and wide when mature. Its habit is upright with large clusters of pink flower and deep purple to black foliage. The Black lace Elderberry is hardy to zones 5 to 9. It grows best in moist soils but can easily tolerate dry and hot environments. To produce berries, a relative plant such as the Black Beauty, Instant Karma, or Laced Up elderberry is required as pollinator. Note: According to the Humane Society of America, elderberry can be toxic to pets if consumed.
Forsythia (Forsythia x)
An early spring bloomer, the bright yellow, cheery blooms of forsythia that appear before the foliage provide a welcome to gardeners anxiously awaiting the start of a new growing season. Commonly available shrub varieties grow between 4 to 7 feet tall and wide. Forsythia is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and is reliably hardy in most climates.
Forsythia with its dense foliage provides a lush backdrop to other plants when it is finished blooming. The shrub can be used as feature plant by itself or in a mass plantings, as hedge for privacy, in containers and also as woodland border. Even though this plant is drought tolerant, it requires a site with full sun to light shade and well-draining soil. Forsythia is tolerant of different soils, but performs best in rich, well-draining environments. For containers, high-quality potting mix is important.
American Filbert Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
An excellent thicket-forming native shrub for woodland gardens or as tall hedging in any landscape. Showy male flowers (catkins) add early spring interest and dark green leaves turn into beautiful colours in the fall.
The nuts mature from September to October, attracting seed-eating birds, such as blue jays and woodpeckers. Hazelnuts are fast growing shrubs that grow 5 to 8 feet tall and wide. They require full sun or 6 hours of direct light daily but can also do well in shady areas. They are cold hardy to minus 28 degrees Celsius / zone 5. Hazelnut plants prefer moist, well-drained to alkaline soils. Good drought tolerance once established.
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Lilac is a very popular ornamental, large deciduous shrub or multi-stemmed small tree. It is attractive for its purple to pink sweet-smelling flowers, which appear in early summer just before many other summer flowers come into bloom. Lilac plants grow fast and they can grow 3 to 20 feet in height and width, depending on variety. Secondary shoots from the base or roots can grow up to 8 inches in diameter. Lilac grows well in full sun and is cold hardy zone 4 to 8. It tolerates chalk, loam, clay and sandy soil conditions that are also moist and well-drained.
Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Mock Orange is an elegant, classic flowering shrub. It’s long been been a garden favourite for its pure white blooms, which are deliciously scented and reminiscent of orange blossom. Depending on variety, Mock Orange can grow from 4 to 10 feet high and wide. The shrubs appear in late spring and summer against a smart backdrop of dark green, often arching foliage. Mock Orange grows best in in full sun or light shade and moist but well-drained soil. Blooms on old wood. Prune after flowering.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Ninebark plants are spring-flowering shrubs common in many landscape settings. A super drought tolerant and cold hardy shrub that features, depending on variety either green or orange to deep burgundy foliage. Spring flowers emerge as light pink and turn white. Ninebark, an American native that grows 3 to 10 feet tall and wide thrives best in full sun and in clay and loamy soil. Its hardiness zone is 3 to 9 in Canada.
Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Saskatoon, also known as Serviceberry is an Okanagan native shrub that grows 6 to 12 feet tall and wide. It features green foliage and attractive white, fragrant blossoms in spring. Winter hardiness is exceptional (Zone 3) but frost can damage blooms as late as May. The shrub requires full sun exposure to ripen its purple, edible fruit.
Indigenous people in Canada have long been eating the sweet, nutty tasting fruits, fresh or dried. Saskatoon berries are well known as an ingredient in pemmican, added as flavour and preservative. They are used in saskatoon berry pie, jam, wines, cider, beers, and sugar-infused berries similar to dried cranberries used for cereals, trail mix, and snack foods.
Garden centers often carry tree versions of this cultivar that grow about 20 feet tall and wide at maturity. Saskatoons are adaptable to most soil types with exception of poorly drained or heavy clay soils lacking organic matter. Shallow soils should be avoided, especially if the water table is high or erratic.
Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Sumac is a dioecious, deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 16 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It has alternate, pinnately compound leaves, with serrate leaflets. Leaf petioles and stems are densely covered in rust-coloured hairs. The velvety texture and the forking pattern of the branches, reminiscent of antlers, have led to the common name “stag’s horn sumac”.
Small, greenish-white through yellowish flowers occur in dense terminal panicles, and flowers occur from May through July. Fruit ripens from June through September and is eaten by many birds in winter. Fall foliage is brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.
Staghorn sumac is an ornamental plant which provides interest throughout the year; though its vigorous, suckering habit makes it unsuitable for smaller gardens. It spreads by seeds and rhizomes and is considered invasive by some. It can grow under a wide array of conditions, but is most often found in dry and poor soil on which other plants cannot survive. Staghorn sumac is not closely related to poison sumac.
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