Shrubs are some of the most important plants in the landscape offering color, texture, and oftentimes four-season interest. They can also create shade, attract birds or give you privacy from neighbors or a busy street. Mike Westpahl, McDonald Garden Center’s Garden Guru, has selected three of his favorite shrubs that thrive in Hampton Roads. .
Hampton Road’s love affair with crepe myrtles is undeniable. Few plants can match their combination of stunning summer flowers, vibrant autumn foliage, and unique and beautiful exfoliating bark.
The Canna Cannova Series separates itself from almost every other canna on the market. These easy-care, tropical bulbs are prized for their super-sized leaves in bright green, bronze, black, or variegated. Cannova has a compact, bushy habit and the ability to form multiple shoots. They bloom earlier and continue nonstop from summer until the first frost. Flowers come in shades of red, rose, yellow, scarlet, lemon, and mango and are available in standard forms that can grow 5 feet tall and dwarfs that grow just 2 feet tall.
The dwarf morning glory is a customary bedding plant that is ideal for massing, edging, hanging baskets, or containers. The bushy, slightly trailing mound blooms abundantly in summer with striking 1 to 2-inch-wide flowers in a carnival of colors including royal blue, red, pink, or white.
Acclaimed for their cheery, brightly colored flowers, coneflowers (echinacea) are a mainstay in summer garden. These long-blooming perennials are easy to grow and maintain, and make a great addition to any landscape or mixed container. Their long sturdy stems rise above the compact foliage, making them an excellent choice for cut flowers. Coneflowers are time-honored perennial that makes a classic addition to just about any garden style.
