Low growing shrubs

From Gardening Wiki

Low Growing Shrubs for Various Purposes

This is a list of shrubs that are used in the garden for several purposes.

Deciduous Low Growing Shrubs

Cotoneaster horizontalis. For edging; semi-evergreen.

Daphne Mezereum. Flowers light purple, appearing in early April before the leaves. There is a white variety. An erect shrub 3 feet high, with stout branches, which are flexible and leathery like those of Leatherwood (Dirca palustris).

Hypericum Buckleyi. Forms neat, compact mats. The earliest of the Hypericums. Flowers yellow, early July.

Lonicera spinosa [ L. Albertii]. Has slender twigs and narrow linear leaves. Flowers pink, late May. Plant low, from 1 to 2 feet high.

Rhododendron canadense (Rhodora). A slender shrub, 2 feet high. Is good in a rock garden with a ground cover of the following species. Flowers rosy purple, appearing before the leaves in late April and early May. Vacdnium pertnsylvanicum (Early Low Blueberry). From 6 to 12 inches high. Should make good dwarf edging. Flowers white in early May.

Evergreen Low Growing Shrubs

Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (Bearberry). A creeping, vine-like shrub with small leaves, abundant in Canada, forming broad mats over rocky ledges and slopes. Berries red.

Bryanthus (See Phyllodoce).

Calluna vulgaris (Scotch Heather). Flowers pink, July and August. There is a white variety.

Chimaphila umbellata (Prince's Pine, or Popsissewa). Somewhat resembles Pachysandra, Cotoneaster adpressa and (7. microphylla. Resemble C. horizontalis, mentioned above, but are more dwarf and evergreen. Both have a neat habit and* glossy foliage. May not be hardy everywhere, but should be tried for low, stiff edging.

Daphne Cneorum (Garland Flower). Dense and compact. Pink flowers in May. Excellent for edging. From 6 to 12 inches high. Twigs flexible and leathery, as those of D. Mezereum, described above.

Dendrium [ Leiophyllum] buxifolium (Sand Myrtle.) A dense shrub, to 3 feet high. There is a low, tufted form, var. prostratum. Flowers w,hite or blush in May. Empetrum nigrum (Black Crowberry).

Erica carnea (Hardy Spring Heath.) Pink in April and May. From 6 to 12 inches high.

Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen, or Checkerberry.) Red berries. Leaves have good flavor.

Gaylussada brachycera (Box Huckleberry). Very dwarf and compact.

Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens. An excellent low Juniper.

Juniperus Sabina var. tamariscifolia. A very neat Juniper for edging.

Leiophyllum. (See Dendrium.)

Lycopodium obscurum (Ground Pine). A native Club Moss related to Trailing Christmas

Green (L. complanatum], but with stems erect and treelike, to 12 inches high. Mitchella repens (Partridge Berry). This and the preceding are two creeping, vine-like plants excellent for the rock garden. Moneywort has bright yellow flowers in June, and Partridge Berry has handsome red berries all Winter.

Pachysandra terminalis.

PhyUodoce [ Bryanthus] cnerulea (Mountain Heath). A low alpine shrub, from 3 to 6 inches high. Flowers pinkish purple, July.

PotentiUa tridentata. Plant from 4 to 8 inches high, forming thick mats. Foliage bronz- ing in Winter. Flowers white, Strawberry-like.

Rhododendron [ Azalea hinodegira.} A low shrub, better than R. am&na, leaves large, and flowers a brilliant red. Late May and early June.