PGMS Member Area > PGMS Knowledge Center

March-April, 2002

When I was in high school I had a history instructor who could quickly build you up or make you feel tiny. However, he did both in jovial ways that didn’t build you up too high or tear you down too far, respectively. He frequently would tell us that we could grow up to be “outstanding in our fields” or we could be “standing out in a field.” The latter quote meant that if we made asses of ourselves in high school that we would be conspicuous in our ineptitude in later life.

Now, landscape plants do not have the luxury of deciding if they will be outstanding in their field or just standing out in a field. In fact, we should be utilizing plants that are able to do both in and around our properties. If a plant can stand out in a field, figuratively and literally, then it is worth a second look from a landscaping perspective.

The following is a list of plants that are worthy of greater use in the majority of states in this great country and abroad:

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) – Here is a plant that is very coarsely textured yet very elegant in form. Hardiness of the oakleaf hydrangea ranges from zone 4 through 9. It will tolerate sun or heavy shade, light or heavy soils, drought, is resistant to most insect threats, requires minimal maintenance yet shines like a gem in the landscape.

Large, cone-shaped panicles of white flowers are born in mid-summer, followed by fall leafs possessing color ranging from red to orange to yellow and purple. Its winter appeal also has merit. If allowed to thicken up to an inch or more the branches on this plant take on a paperbark maple appearance. That is, the cinnamon colored bark begins to exfoliate and create a beautiful winter habit.

In recent years many new cultivars have been introduced to the trade. The following is a list of just a few of them:

‘Snow Queen’ - One of the first to be introduced this cultivar’s propensity for large, upright flower panicles has made it the standard by which other cultivars are selected. It will grow to nearly 10’ tall if kept unpruned.

‘Snowflake’ – This is a somewhat obscure form that sports such large panicles of double and triple florets that the flower clusters literally hang to the ground. A useful quality if positioned at the top of a wall or on the edge of the flower border, otherwise be wary of how you utilize this selection.

‘Sike’s Dwarf’ – This is a fairly new selection of hydrangea that is rapidly making its way into the trade. It boasts all the qualities of the species but is a more diminutive form, growing to only 4 to 5’ tall.

‘Pee Wee’ – Similar to Sike’s Dwarf but doesn’t seem to be as readily available to the marketplace as Sike’s Dwarf.

‘Alice’ – This is a selection made by Dr. Michael Dirr from the University of Georgia in Athens. It is notable for its tremendous and consistent fall leaf coloration. Each year you can depend on red and purple fall foliage. Otherwise it is similar to ‘Snow Queen’ in size and floral characteristics.

Syringa reticulata (Japanese Tree Lilac) – This plant has so many things going for it that it deserves its own article. It is “stone cold” winter hardy through zone 3 but it doesn’t like hot summers. I’ve seen it perform well in southern Tennessee (zone 7), but much further south than that it may languish and perform poorly.

In Cincinnati the Japanese tree lilac reliably blooms in May. Reports indicate that it has minor insect problems, but I’ve yet to encounter any. Fall leaf color is not spectacular but its yellow fall color is definitely effective.

Japanese tree lilac’s strongest suit is its ability to withstand heavy and compacted soils. This attribute alone makes it desirable for those PGMS members whose facilities regularly encounter heavy foot traffic.

When utilizing this plant be sure to select one of the named cultivars since seedling grown plants may only bloom in alternate years. Below is a list of suitable selections:

‘Ivory Silk’ – This is a reliable selection for large flowers at a young age. In youth it tends to be somewhat upright but will become rounded with age. Ultimate height will be in the 20’ range. It has become the standard for tree lilacs.

‘Summer Snow’ – Similar to Ivory Silk but a little more compact in habit.

Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac) – For durability, versatility and reliability the first shrub that comes to my mind is fragrant sumac. It is a tough shrub for just about any location. It is hardy from zones 3 through 9, tolerates heavy shade or full sun, prefers a loamy soil but also handles clay, colors up well in the fall, has a rapid horizontal growth rate and is generally pest free. This is another awesome plant for heavy traffic or poor soil areas.

Fragrant sumac is an excellent plant to use en masse, especially if used for soil stabilization or as a quickly spreading ground cover. Since it has the ability to root in wherever the stems touch the ground fragrant sumac will provide tremendous erosion control.

The growth habit of the species is variable and can range from 2’ to 8’ tall and from 3’ to 10’ wide. The opportunity is out there for an avid plantsperson to select and promote new forms of fragrant sumac to fill niches within the market. It is advisable to use a named selection when using this plant in the landscape. A couple of selections that I have seen available in the trade are the following:

‘Green Globe’ – Still somewhat obscure from an availability standpoint, but worth the search. It will grow to 6’ tall and form a rounded mound.

‘Gro-low’ – Glossy green leaves on a low spreading plant to 2.5’ tall and 8’ wide. Fall leaf color is a subdued, but noticeable, orangish-red. This is the plant to use for covering a hillside or stabilizing soil.

‘Konza’ – This is a selection that I have seen available from many nurseries but have never utilized the plant personally. It is reported to be similar to ‘Gro-low’ but slightly more compact.

The list of plants suitable for most parts of this country is a long one to say the least. Staying abreast of the plants most readily available and suitable in your part of the world is best accomplished by networking with your local nursery professionals, grounds managers and technicians, garden center employees, landscapers and extension agents.
Oh, by the way, everyone mentioned in the previous paragraph can be found within the ranks of your Professional Grounds Management Society.