Herrin, IL

618-942-4865

Flowering Shrubs

   Most shrubs flower during spring or summer, some blooming for a short period of time, and a few delighting us with colorful flowers from July to September.  A few even rebloom in the fall.  We have a great selection of Flowering Shrubs for sun or shade.

AZALEAS  Spring blooming - acid soil - good drainage - shade (can take some morning sun).

Girard Hybrids - Very hardy, always reliable, with spectacular blooms; the best for southern Illinois: 'Crimson',  Dwarf Lavender', 'Fuchsia', 'Hot Shot' (scarlet red), 'Pleasant White', and 'Rose'.

Compact Poukhanense - Very hardy Korean Azalea with  beautiful lavender blooms for a naturalizing effect. 

Deciduous Azaleas - usually taller and wider with larger blooms, very hardy, more tolerant of sun. 'Rosy Lights',  'Orchid Lights', 'Mandarin Lights',  'Golden Lights'.  

BUTTERFLY BUSH   Fragrant spires bloom from July - September. Colors: purple, pink, red, white. Dwarf (3-5') or standard (6-8').  Cut back to 6 inches from the ground by March 1. Prefers a sunny location.

CRAPEMYRTLE   Showy blossoms from July-September.  Colors: red, pink, white, purple. Dwarf (3-6'), semi-dwarf (6-8'), standard (8' and up).  Grow as a shrub in our area (Zone 6) or a few hardy varieties can be grown in tree form.  It has beautiful bark as it ages if tree grown.  If a shrub form is desired, trim back by March 1. Crapemyrtles prefer a sunny location.

LILACS   Very fragrant lavender blooms in spring.  Old Fashioned Lilac needs plenty of space (8').Spray in summer for powdery mildew. 

Dwarf Korean Lilac grows 4-5' and no powdery mildew problem.  It likes lime sprinkled around the base each year for a higher pH soil. Prune after blooming to thin out older stems. Plant in a sunny location.

HIBISCUS (Rose of Sharon or Althea)   Summer blooming from July-September on tall (8-10') vase-shaped plants.  Large single flowers in white, pink, lavender, or red, some with contrasting eye.  Blooms on new wood; prune back hard by March. Plant in a sunny location.

VIBURNUMS   Spring blooming white flowers, red to blue to black berries, enjoyed by the birds, but not messy. Excellent screening plants for a large hedge or shrub border. Can be quite a specimen in full bloom. Sun to part sun.

 'Cayuga' - fragrant white flowers, pink in bud, grows 8' x 8'

 'Winterthur' - spectacular red fall color, white flowers, grows 6' x 6'

HYDRANGEAS   Read Michael Dirr's new book, Hydrangeas For American Gardens.  A lovely group of shrubs, mostly for shade, hydrangeas are enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Two types of flowers are available,  mophead (snowball) or lacecap, blue, pink, red, or white.  White blooming 'Tardiva' and PeeGee have coneshaped blooms and grow in sun. Oakleaf hydrangeas are lovely in shade with white coneshaped blooms and oak shaped leaves.  Fall color is red.

Endless Summer™Hydrangea is hot! Blue (or pink) flowers are produced on new or old wood so it doesn't matter if you prune at the wrong time of year or if the winter kills back the stems.  Add lime to turn the flowers pink., aluminum sulfate to keep it blue.  Also grow Endless Summer Blushing Bride™, a soft pink.

See the listings below for all the hydrangeas we have in stock.