When it comes to drama, few shrubs can compare with the dark leaved elders. Used well, they add a touch of magic to a border, especially with schemes of reds, purples and oranges. 'Guincho Purple' has pinnate leaves that are a dark green as they unfurl but mature to a purple black, becoming, in autumn, a glorious red. This elder has large panicles of ivory flowers tinged with pink in summer, followed by tiny black fruits. Like all the elders with coloured leaves, it colours best in sun, but retains its colour longest in dappled shade. It grows up to about 20 feet, with a similar spread, but responds well to heavy pruning. It should be grown in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil in sun or light shade.
Propagation: Take hardwood cuttings in winter or greenwood cuttings in early summer. |
Few shrubs have more spectacular autumn foliage than this cotinus. Its leaves are bronze when young and a soft green when mature. As they wane in autumn, they turn a brilliant array of oranges, reds and purples. Continus obovatus' flowers appear in summer, carried in airy panicles like smoke plumes that give it and other cotinuses their colloquial name. Cotinus looks good planted in groups, but is also a great specimen plant. Continus obovatus should be grown in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil, in full or light shade. Over manured soil may result in poor autumn colouring. It will be about 30 feet by 25 feet at maturity.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Layer in spring. Root softwood cuttings in summer. |
No garden should be without at least one viburnum as they are such dependably decorative shrubs. Viburnum opulus 'Compactum' is a deciduous one, with maple-like leaves. It has lacecap, white flowers in late spring and early summer, followed in autumn by bright red berries. Handsome through spring and summer, it is even more attractive in autumn, when the fruits are ripe and its leaves turn a sensuous red. It certainly adds good colour to a shrub border at this time of year. 'Compactum' may be grown in any moderately fertile soil but is especially happy in boggy soil. It may be grown in sun or dappled shade and reaches about five feet with a similar spread when mature.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in a cold frame or in a seed bed in autumn. Take greenwood cuttings in summer. |
