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YARD AND GARDEN

Plants that go the distance

David Robson

During the winter months, when there was snow covering everything, and my furnace was liquefying my savings, I surveyed my vast 1/100th of an acre behind my house and thought about starting over. Ripping things out. Creating compost fodder. Supporting the nursery industry.

Now, there's nothing wrong with keeping some plants around forever. Cutting down a large white oak or sugar maple seems a tad too much, unless the tree is ready to topple on top of your house. But if the enjoyment of a plant has passed, or you've realized that the blue hydrangea will never flower in your yard, get rid of the plant. When you realize that the flowering lilac only provides beauty for about 10 days a year, and there are tons of other plants that can provide 365 days of enjoyment, find the chainsaw.

It was that 365 days of enjoyment that got me going. Now, I like the smell of a lilac and the purplish-blue color. In fact, I enjoy the one my neighbor has behind her garage, where she doesn't have to see the mildew-covered green leaves all summer, or the stale brown color the leaves turn in October. In fact, it's a perfect place for the lilac. Over the years, as plants have come and gone, and the yard keeps looking more like a somewhat contained urban jungle, I've decided if a plant can't provide at least two or three seasons worth of interest, its no longer welcomed.

How difficult is that? Well, its easier to remove the plants, especially after some internal liquid lubrication (myself, not the plants) than it is to find plants that can provide interest throughout the year. There are some, though.

Oakleaf hydrangea probably is in the top five. The leaves are a rich, hunter-green during the summer with a fuzzy rust color underneath. They are rather large, which provides more of a contrast with the delicate foliage of most flowers and shrubs. That's one characteristic. The plant's flowers are large white panicles that show up in May and June, without scent (one negative) that dry a pale pink and remain on the plant until next spring. Characteristic two, fall color is outstanding, a rich purplish burgundy, sometimes with a smattering of orange. Greatness number three, once the leaves are off, you get a glimpse of the cinnamon-orange colored peeling bark. Bingo! That's year-round interest.

Oakleaf hydrangeas prefer to grow in light shade, though some specimens will do well in full sun. Just make sure the soil is slightly acidic and well drained.

Another plant is the blueberry. Yep, the muffin fruit. Blueberries have one of the glossiest green leaves you can find. It almost looks like someone coated them with candle wax. In May, you'll notice little white, bell-like flowers hanging from the bush in clusters. The flowers are slightly fragrant, but you'll probably have to stick your nose in one to really get a whiff.

Of course, after the flowers comes the blue fruit, which of course might be enough in most people's book.

In the fall, the leaves can match a burning bush's for intensity, except there are more yellow, orange, red and purple hues. When the leaves do fall, you'll notice the reddish-orange stems that persist through the winter. It's tough to find four-season plants. Sometimes you have to settle for three, such as the viburnum, forsythia and holly. Sometimes for two. But never settle for just one season's worth of interest, even if for 10 days the plant is spectacular. Let someone else grow those, and go visit them. And then ask for some lilac flowers to take home and stick in a vase. I'll try to provide a list of other plants, common and rare, throughout the next couple of months.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, 1L 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515. E-Mail: robsond@mail.aces.uiuc.edu or SOLUTIONS: www.ag.uiuc.edu/~robsond/solutions.

16 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • MARCH 2001