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Shrubs

Many of the shrubs in my garden always get taken for granted. They work hard for little reward - some are rarely even photographed, let alone taken notice of. It is time they got some better recognition.

With a neighbourly flax and some delphiniums.

Choisya Sundance and Friends

The garden has many new Camellias and Rhododendrons, which are starting to give wonderful colour displays in the spring months. These shrubs are talked about all the time in the diary (actually the Rhododendrons seem to be shifted around every year, but that's another story). They are becoming so dominant that they now have their own sections.

Of course many of the New Zealand natives have been acknowledged already, as is politically correct. And shrubs who have really 'made it' have been given the elevated description of Foliage Plants section. So the shrubs section is especially for the left-overs.

Contributions that all my shrubs make with flowers and leaves allow the Moosey garden to be a success. Cheapness of purchase also gives the head gardener many exciting design options (the ability to buy expensive variegated cordylines, for example).

Naturally there will be good and bad shrubs for different countries and different locations. Some shrubs on my list may be undesirable, invasive, or even banned in your garden. Be alert! No respectable gardener ever knowingly should give shelter to ecological criminals!

Oak-Leaved Hydrangea... Sat 17th Feb 2007: Hydrangea quercifolia is a super-stylish shrub I grow. It's an oak-leaved hydrangea, with beautifully shaped summer flowers and beautifully coloured oak-like autumn leaves.
Shrubs in the Pink... Sat 18th Nov 2006: As I get older I find myself liking the colour pink in my garden more and more. Those hot orange borders with startling blue-black contrasts are just a little too bold. Forget hot colours. I am obviously entering a pale pink gardening phase...
Gorse... Wed 1st Nov 2006: How did this dreadful plant ever get its own page? This prickly pest with such beautiful yellow flowers, here in the shrubs section? Hmm... Gorse a shrub? It's a complete and utter pest in New Zealand...
Choisya Sundance... Fri 21st Jul 2006: A foliage shrub with sunny leaves in the middle of winter - a shrub which doesn't sulk in too much shade, or scorch if there's not enough - welcome, Choisya Sundance! You are indeed well-named.
Daphne... Sat 10th Sep 2005: There were already three Daphne bushes in the garden when I first came to Mooseys Country Garden - in a small area by the washing line, with lavenders and some herbs. These early plantings make hanging the clothes on the line more enjoyable!
Rosemary... Sat 10th Sep 2005: Would it be rude to describe the flowering shrub Rosemary as a 'work-horse' in the garden? My Rosemary bushes are just that - they work hard filling their space, gift their beautiful blue flowers freely in spring, and never complain.
White Cistus... Wed 5th Jan 2005: Cistus are great shrubs. They are easy to find (often on the sale table at the nursery), and also easy to propagate. I've been less than kind to Cistus shrubs in my gardening past, though...
Cistus - Rock Rose... Tue 30th Nov 2004: Flowering shrubs are the backbone of a big garden full of mixed plantings. Easily overlooked when the real roses are blooming is the so called ’Rock Rose’ or Cistus shrub.
Philadelphus... Fri 26th Nov 2004: Books about shrubs for the sensible gardener always mention a Philadelphus bush. Thoughtful gardeners always include at least one Philadelphus in their shrubberies. I've found one - in the originl plantings by the house.
Weigela... Sat 20th Nov 2004: Shrubs which flower in late spring are easy to take for granted - the rhododendrons are busy showing off, and the roses are starting to bloom. This beautiful red-flowering Weigela deserves to be noticed more.
Choisya Ternata... Sat 6th Nov 2004: Chiosya Ternata, or Mexican Orange Blossom, is one of those shrubs which never fails its situation in the garden. It’s evergreen with mid to dark green shiny leaves - easy to keep trimmed and tidy. It flowers generously throughout spring.
Erica... Fri 3rd Sep 2004: Winter flowering shrubs are worth a very special mention - in the Moosey winter garden I have a particularly well-loved Erica. It's low to the ground and extremely beautiful.
Leucadendron Safari Sunset... Wed 11th Aug 2004: Garden colour in the middle of winter should be cherished! The Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' is a truly beautiful winter shrub with its warm red bracts.
Viburnum Tinus... Mon 10th May 2004: There were many Viburnum Tinus shrubs here in the garden when I arrived - or rather they were dotted around in some of the lawn areas. I moved them into the garden proper as quickly as possible, then stood back and watched them grow.
Euphorbia Fireglow... Mon 10th May 2004: This euphorbia is usually considered half perennial half shrub. The flower colour is a rich deep orange with red, and the flowers appear in summer.
Purple-Leaf Berberis... Sun 9th May 2004: Berberis is a very useful deciduous shrub which adds good red colours to my mixed borders. It is quite thorny, and difficult to prune without thick gloves.
Purple Smoke Bush... Sun 9th May 2004: There are two main types of Smoke Bush, or Cotinus, and I only grow the purple-red leaved variety. Their small flowers look like puffs of smoke over the purple leaves, and the autumn colour changes are quite stunning.
Hypericum... Sun 9th May 2004: Hypericum is a great summer shrub - it flowers right in mid-summer and brings yet more sunshine to the garden with its bright yellow flowers. Sometimes my Hypericums will flower spasmodically in Autumn, too.
Hydrangea... Sun 20th Jun 1999: Some gardeners think of hydrangeas as boring shrubs for old ladies, used to fill up the dark side of the house. I admit I was less than committed when I first took some cuttings from the one existing plant here.