Flowering shrubs

Shrubs flowering in Early Spring

	All the early-flowering Viburnums are intensely fragrant. Their flowers are arranged in rounded clusters, smaller than many of the later blooming varieties. the latter are showier but none of them has any fragrance. Typical examples are Viburnum carlesii, judii and burkwoodii. Purple Sandcherry (Prunus cistena) is a medium-sized shrub with purple foliage and light pink, seetly scented flowers early in the spring.

old photo will be replaced	Arnolds Promise Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold's Promise') blooms in the winter and early spring. This small tree also develops a good reddish fall color. Bottlebrush Shrub (Fothergilla gardenii and F. mayor) are beautiful multi-season shrubs with white spring flowers and a very impressive orange-red fall color. They have a dense, clean habit that needs no pruning.	old photo will be replaced

	Azaleas bloom in a wide range of colors in the spring or early summer, depending on the variety. They can be evergreen or deciduous (as these examples here). The deciduous azaleas are usually very hardy and grow taller than most evergreen types. Most of them are very fragrant, and some also develop beautiful fall foliage. Azaleas are really forms of Rhododenrons. "White Lights" and several native species are good white or light pink flowered azaleas. Rhododendron "Gibraltar"

	Tree Peonies (shown here: Rimpoh) are considered shrubs because they develop woody stems and branches. They flower earlier than perennial peonies. Spirea prunifolium is a great shrub for hedges and screens. It blooms early in the spring with white, scented flowers. It also leaves out early to provide quick screening in the spring, and it grows fast into an easy to maintain shrub.

	Lilacs - no serious gardener could do without them! Spring without Lilacs would be like Spring without birds. Traditional "French Hybrids" bloom early and usually have heavy, fragrant flowers. Catherine Havemeyer (to the right) originates from Nancy in France. Arch McKean is an American-bred, more modern "French Hybrid" Beauty of Moskow, originally called "Krasavitsa Moskvy" is a wonderful and finely scented variety from Russia.
Below: Monge in bud and (below center) in bloom. It is an outstanding French hybrid with great color impact.		Below: A very compact, rounded growing lilac, otherwise with characteristics of the French Hybrids, is Wedgewood Blue


	Preston Hybrids bloom 10 days later. In the second half of the season, their foliage looks still crisp and dense. They are not susceptible to mildew. James Macfarlane Lilac (Syringa x prestoniae James Macfarlane) is bred in New Hampshire and can be used in locations that are too moist for other lilacs. Minuet, a compicated cross, resembles the Preston-Hybrids in foliage and is one of the most compact of the upright growing lilacs, reaching only about 6 to 7 ft. in height. Agnes Smith is a white-flowered Preston-Hybrid with a very fine fragrance and excellent foliage quality. It is a compact growing variety and one of my favorites.


Littleleaf Lilac (Syringa microphylla) is somewhat smaller than traditional garden Lilacs, has a finer leaf and light pink fragrant flowers.	Prince Charming is a modern variety somewhat related to Dwarf Korean and Littleleaf Lilac, but with much darker flower buds that open to a light pink.	Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri 'Palibin') is the densest, roundest and smallest of all lilacs. It has smaller foliage, blooms a bit later, and is wonderfully fragrant. This is a most useful and maintenance-free plant for many landscaping and gardening situations.
not photographed yet, but coming soon: Syringa laciniata - Cutleaf Lilac - an outstanding plant with bluish-purple flowers and an intense perfume. The foliage is different from any other lilac, being deeply cut and with a fern-like appearance.