Flowers and plants

Shrubs 

This page contains following subjects:

• Introduction
• Use
• Care
• Some species

Introduction

Information is based on a moderate climate such as in Holland.
Shrubs are woody plants without a central main stem or main branch. Shrubs are very important in the design for a garden. Many species bloom very nice and some also have nice fruits, berries of leaves in summer or autumn. 
The term bush is used for a shrub grown as far that it no longer is young plant material. Plant ware is the younger small plant material.

Flowering shrubs
The decorative value of flowering shrubs is because of the beautiful flowers or inflorescence.

Half shrub
These are plants who will have wooden stems in the lower part, but in the top have soft stems like herbaceous. They are sensitive for frost.

deciduous shrubs
These shrubs are in wintertime bald in a moderate climate. In autumn the leaves fall off.

Winter green shrubs
The decorative value of the wintergreen shrubs is because they have beautiful leave shapes or leave colors. They also keep the leaves in wintertime. Because they keep their leaves they are very important in a garden.

Shrubs can be divided in height:

• higher as 4 meter is first height
• from 2 till 4 meter is second height
• from 0,50 till 2 meter is third height
• lower as 0,50 cm is fourth height (often these are soil covering species)

Shrubs are uses in different situations in a garden, such as the space available. Also it is important to think on qualifications such as can they stand see wind, wind, pollution, kind of soil and so on. Also the flowers, fruits, berries, shape of the leaves, leave color are an important element in our choice. Important also is the stand, shadow, sun, wet, dry. Some shrubs crawl via the roots through the garden. This is important to know when you buy shrubs and space is limited.
Some shrubs are ideal for insects, butterfly and birds. They give not only food, but often also a for place for the nest.
For flower art many species are suitable. Different phase can be used: bald branches, branches with flowers or leaves on or with fruits on.
Some species in Holland will have a special treatment to let them bloom in winter time: Forsythia, Syringa, Viburnum opulus, and Prunus triloba.

When shrubs are planted in the good way, they do not need much care. Pruning is important because the plants can grow to big or become bald on the lower part. Plants with few roots when you plant them, must be pruned directly after planting. If you forget this they often will not start growing. Pruning in the lower part of the plant stimulate to develop young shoots from the soil.

back to index flowers and plants

Last update of this page 23.05.2004