Forsythia shrubs are one of spring’s first bloomers. It is a good choice for gardeners who want things blooming early. Its bright yellow flowers look exceptionally cheerful at the end of winter. Since the flowers bloom before the leaves grow, no leaves block the view of the flowers covering the long branches. Their height can vary from one foot to ten feet, depending on the variety.
A forsythia is easy to grow, and it can handle a wide variety of conditions. It can grow in either acidic or alkaline soil. Although well-drained soil is ideal, this shrub can grow well in clay. The flowers bloom best with at least six hours of full sunlight daily, but the plants can live with less light.
A forsythia shrub can also tolerate less water than its ideal of two inches per week, making it a good choice for gardeners who live with water restrictions or want to conserve water. This shrub proliferates, but it does not need much pruning.
Hydrangea is another easy and beautiful choice. It has beautiful flowers that bloom from spring to early fall. The flowers attract butterflies, and they make excellent cut flowers. In wide varieties, the flowers are white. Some varieties have flowers that change color depending on the ph of the soil they are planted in.
These flowers are blue when grown in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. Soils that are neither strongly acidic nor very alkaline will give these flowers lavender tones. Changing the color of these flowers is possible by changing the soil.
Hydrangeas are easy to care for because they resist many pests and diseases. They can also thrive in a variety of soil conditions. Most varieties will do fine in full or partial sun, but afternoon shade can be beneficial in hot weather.
While most miniature varieties are between one and three feet tall, some varieties range from three to eight feet, and others can grow as tall as twenty feet. If the plants have plenty of room to grow, they do not need pruning except to remove dead wood. A hydrangea is easy to transplant when it is dormant in fall or winter.
A viburnum shrub is another choice that is easy to grow almost anywhere. Numerous varieties are available, and viburnum shrubs are suitable for almost any climate. The leaves may be either evergreen or deciduous, and the plants have pink or white flowers in spring.
If different viburnums are planted close enough to pollinate each other, the flowers will produce attractive berries that ripen in the fall. The berries change colors as they ripen, and the different varieties have a wide range of berry colors. In winter, berries are a food source for birds. Some viburnum varieties are known for showy flowers, intense fragrances, colorful leaves, and especially ornamental berries. The leaves of some deciduous varieties have excellent fall colors.
Viburnum shrubs are easy to grow in various conditions and soils. While full sun is ideal for most varieties, most also do fine in partial shade. Their height can range from a few feet to several feet. They can be grown as a hedge, and the evergreen varieties with dense branches make good privacy screens. They need little or no pruning to look great.