The Rose of Sharon is an upright, deciduous shrub that is a vigorous, erect, multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 8-12' tall. This shrub may also be trained as a single trunk tree or espalier. Leaves are diamond-shaped, dark green, slightly palmate and toothed. They bear flowers from mid summer until mid-fall.

This plant really requires no pruning, unless you need to remove a dead or damaged branch. It has a long, early summer to fall bloom period. It is an excellent flowering shrub that may be planted in groups, used as a specimen or some people even plant them in a row to make a hedge. The plant is very tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Larger flowers may be obtained by pruning back hard to 2-3 buds in early spring.

A deciduous vine-like shrub that grows 20 feet but continues growing as long as there is something to climb upon. Showy three lobed capsules, yellow orange on the inside, with crimson seeds; ripens in October. Collected and used for dried flower arrangements. Plant 18 inches apart. A twining vine which can easily be grown on fences, against walls, or on the ground. This plant can be self-pollinizing, but don't count on it. To get berries, plant at least 5 plants within 30 feet of each other.

Also known as Summer Lilac, the medium to large sized shrubs are attractive to butterflies. Tolerant to urban pollution. They prefer a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Cut back to about a foot high in late winter, before new growth appears. You'll be amazed by the height the shrub attains by midsummer. You'll also get more and larger flowers and a neater-looking shape.

Also known as Cork Tree. Dark green leaves, spring through summer, turn bright, clear red in fall. Corky ridges on flat, horizontal branches make this an interesting plant in winter. Excellent hedge plant, space 4 feet apart. Growth is dense, compact and needs very little pruning. Has best color in full sunlight.

Consistently produces loads of sweet flowers. Leaves turn scarlet in fall. Grows up to 15 feet tall with a rounded top. Branches are heavy with blooms July to September. Blooms in summer when most other plants have called it quits.

A southern favorite that comes in several vivid colors. A very dependable shrub that stands on its own or is great for use in foundation plantings.

Very fast, upright growth to 7 feet; spread of 5 feet. One of the best plants for fast flowering screen. Deep golden flowers are gorgeous in spring. Ordinary to poor soil. Can withstand adverse city conditions. This plant can easily be pruned, after blooming, to maintain desired height and will bloom better next year. If you prune late in the season, you are cutting off next year's blooms. For hedge, plant 4 feet apart.

Hibiscus can be perennial or tropical and you have to be sure to inquire which kind you are getting. Obviously the tropical Hibiscus will not make it through a zone 4 winter but the hardier perennial kind should have no problem. It is a beautiful plant with a gorgeous flower, sometimes measuring as large as a dinner plate. The more common ones are pretty good sized, too and when in full bloom, there isn't many other plants that can catch they eye as easily as this one. They can be in shrub form or trained and treated as a tree.

The Hydrangeas come in many different varities and colors. One even has leaves shaped like an Oak. The Nikko Blue Hydrangea has huge, 6 inch blooms which are brilliant blue, July- August. Plant singly or mass together for a spectacular screen or border. Exceptionally good for coastal plantings. To increase intensity of blue, add aluminum sulfate to your soil. If your soil is too alkaline, this plant will produce pink flowers. After blooming, prune back only the stems that have flowered.

Lush evergreen, handsome winter or summer with its short, waxy needles and orange berries in late summer. Reaches a mature 10- to 20-foot height, but can be kept clipped to a neatly manicured 2-3 feet. Thrives in sun or shade.

The Old Fashioned Lilac has dense, vigorous growth to 15 feet. Spread: 6 to 10 feet. Masses of very fragrant, light lavender flowers in late spring. Old flowers should be cut off as soon as flowers fade. An old fashioned favorite! Makes a wonderful flowering screen, space 6 feet apart.

Beautiful pinkish purple buds open to silvery catkins in the spring on this 15' shrub. New leaves emerge as a reddish brown color and mature to a dark blue-green above, with soft, lighter reverse. As all willows, this water lover is great in moist soils and full to partial sun. Can be pruned to keep it shorter.

Spirea Vanhouttei has arching, fountain-like branches are covered with great snowy sprays of blooms in mid-May. Foliage is an attractive bluish-green in summer, then turns golden in fall.

Lemon Princess has bright, lemon yellow foliage spring through fall. Pink blooms in summer. Compact mounded growth habit. A bright summer accent in any garden. Very showy against a red leaved plant.

Weigelas, [why-GEEL-yas], originally from China, have long been favorites in American yards and gardens. The several kinds of this showy flowering shrub all produce copious blooms in the late spring or early summer and are virtually pest free.

Old fashioned Weigelas and forms developed from it are the most commonly planted weigelas. Spectacular while in bloom, the rest of the season they are ordinary, blending into the green landscape, and serving as backdrops for other plants. Deciduous shrubs, they lose their leaves in the fall. Weigelas are also pollution resistant.

A hardy, fast-growing treasure from Japan - prized for its fascinating change of colors. Its foliage transitions from green to white and green, then white and pink to all white, then returns to white and green, and back to pure green. They're cold hardy and compact enough to grow in a container - in sun or shade! Reaches 6'-10' within two years. To keep the vivid colors on this shrub you must keep it pruned. The new growth is what is so pretty.

The Corkscrew Willow is a very interesting plant. Its limbs twist and turn while growing upwards and give it a strange but pleasing look.

It has also been called the Permanent Wave tree. It can grow to 20' but can be kept pruned to a smaller shrublike tree. Makes a wonderful speciman plant.

Wisteria provides a grand show in either a small planting area or where there's lots of space to fill. Hardy, fast-growing, free-flowering vine is loaded with 12" clusters of blue-violet flowers in late spring to early summer. Will grow 15-45'.

Requires some shelter to protect its flower buds from frost damage. Requires sturdy supports or trellising. Can be trained into tree form.

FRUITS

Blueberry - Sun 8-12' Zones 4-9

Blueberries are shallow rooted. Do not cultivate deeply around the plants. Peat is an excellent addition to the soil and makes a good mulch too. They need to be well watered the first summer and thereafter will need some moisture in arid summers. Light surface application of organic fertilizer or ammonium sulfate in the spring is beneficial.

Rabbits seem to like to nip off the tips of the plant so protection is suggested. Deer can also be a problem.

Elderberries are probably the easiest to grow and care for of all the fruits and probably the most consistently productive. The blossoms and berries have been used for centuries in cultures throughout the world. They have many edible and medicinal purposes.

Shrubs prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. They prefer soil with good organic content and good drainage. They are prolific, very heavy bearing and easy to grow. Suckers or shoots will easily root. Ours grow wild with no care on our part so that should say how hard they are to grow.

They make great informal deciduous hedges or accent plants. The hollow stems have many uses including making flutes, popguns, fences. The berries are used in dyes. Birds love them but so far we never had any problem losing them.

Gooseberries grow best in regions with humid, cool summers with great winter chilling. Gooseberries are deciduous shrubs, fast growing under optimum conditions to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. A gooseberry may be green, white (gray-green), yellow, or shades of red from pink to purple to almost black. The fruit has a flavor all its own, the best dessert cultivars as delicious as the best apple, strawberry or grape.

Grapes originated in Western Asia and are one of the oldest of cultivated plants. Grapes have been cultured for 3000 years. They are one of the commonly known fruits in almost any culture.

Plant in six to eight foot intervals, depending upon vigor of variety, relative fertility of site, pruning regimen. One vine, left to grow, can cover a large area.

There are many varieties of grapes, some do well in most areas and some only do well in specific areas. It is very important that you do research to learn the type of grape that would do well in your area and needs.

They will require pruning and training too detailed to mention here but once started they need minimal care.

Birds can be a problem as well as Japanese Beetles.

Plant with well rotted manure and fertilize the following spring with more manure. Provide adequate moisture during the growing season.

Pruning July bearers: Prune out second year canes in the fall after they are through fruiting. Don’t prune out new shoots.

Pruning "Everbearers": Summit and Golden Summit can bear on one and two year old wood. Prune or mow the canes each winter to get a free standing fall crop each year without using a trellis. Or trellis as you would with the July bearers and you will get a fall crop on the first year wood (primocanes) and also a crop the following summer before you remove the canes.

There are two main types of strawberries, june-bearing and everbearing. Everbearing means that the plant bears over a long period of time but that doesn't mean you get a large crop. You will get sporadic berries and you would have to have a lot of plants to get a lot at a time.

Junebearers produce in June and have lots of berries in a short period of time. This would be good if you only had a few plants or had a lot and wanted to put some up. The ever bearing types are nice if you want less of them but over a longer period.

There are many varieties and they have different qualities. Be sure you get the kind that is right for you and your area.