Truly a unique variety of Rose of Sharon is the Purple Pillar. Unlike other Rose of Sharon plants, this one naturally grows as a narrow column instead of a wide, spreading plant. With heights topping off between 12-16′ and widths around 4′ building a privacy screen or hedge becomes effortless. Don’t need a hedge? This stunning specimen can be used as a stand-a-lone, focal point in a planting bed or in large patio pots. Along with dark green foliage, in summer each stem will be packed with beautiful long lasting semi-double purple flowers that will bloom until fall.
The Purple Pillar attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, but resists deer, and drought and is heat tolerant. Like most all hibiscus, it will do best in full sun and needs good drainage. Requiring minimal maintenance, providing several planting options, along with a healthy dose of color, a Purple Pillar would be a great addition to any landscape.
Wanting to make a big, colorful impact to your landscape, the Pop Star Hydrangea does just that. This season-long reblooming flower power with its large lacecap blooms not only brings unique texture, it will also attract bees, butterflies, and other garden pollinators. Growing to a height and width of only 18 to 36 inches tall and wide the tight compact shrub makes an ideal choice for planting beds or containers.
This plant will truly shine if planted in areas receiving sun/part shade. Although naturally disease resistant, regular pruning will help maintain overall appearance as well as the addition of soil acidifier to enhance the natural PH for more vivid color.
Have a pergola, trellis, retaining wall or fence line in full sun that is need of some color? Why not try an Aunt Dee Wisteria vine. Being one of the hardiest of all wisterias, this vine features coppery-bronze foliage that will turn green and later, yellow. Stunning chains of fragrant lilac-purple flowers cascade from the stems in the spring attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Deer are not fans, so this is one plant that they will leave alone. Although breathtaking, wisterias are not for the inexperienced gardener as they will require much-needed care. The vigorous growing twining vine can grow to be about 30′ tall and 24′ wide. With that said, it should be trained to grow upwards or trail sideways. Aunt Dee Wisteria will become quite woody, so ample support will be needed along with regular pruning in order to maintain the health and beauty of this plant.
As with other vines, the base tends to look a bit leggy and bare so planting some sun-loving perennials in front will provide the right amount of camouflage and remedy that situation. Pet owners and people with children will need to exercise caution if choosing this plant as it can be toxic if eaten.
Wanting to add something native that attracts butterflies, feeds and protects the birds, is deer resistant and provides season-long interest? Look no further than the Fountains of Rouge Sweetspire. This 3′ h x 4′ w medium-sized beauty with deep green, leathery foliage, and a compact rounded form, produces fragrant 6 wands of white blooms in late spring. In the fall leaves take on a dark red color that is sure to add flare to any landscape. This versatile shrub can handle both sun and part-shade and various soil types.
Snow White Mockorange is an upright versatile shrub with dark green foliage that can reach up to 5 in height with about a 4-foot spread. Springtime brings 2-inch double white fragrant flowers that will have a repeat blooming period later in summer. Use this shrub in planting beds, in front of darker colored fences, retaining walls or houses as the white of the flower will pop. Although versatile, be sure to choose a sunnier location that will provide at least 5-6 hours of full sun. Anything less than that could result in reduced flower production or a plant that does not thrive. Be sure to keep soil moist during dryer months but not saturated.
