Favorite Shrubs from a Woody Plant Breeder

by Heather Prince

unforgiving place to grow plants between alkaline clay soil, harsh winters, and hot summers. However, it also makes a terrific place to trial plants for toughness and adaptability. In a conversation with Todd West, Woody Plant Improvement Program Director at North Dakota State University, we talked about shrubs that have performed well no matter what North Dakota dishes out. “Although we’re known for tree research, the Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum also has a shrub selection program,” commented West. The NDSU Woody Plant Improvement research program has introduced more than 50 superior woody plants and continues to develop tough, tolerant plant selections for the Midwest and beyond.

Consider these selections as you plan client installations to add diversity and lower maintenance choices to your designs. These are some of West’s favorites for small spaces that deliver in flower power, interesting bark, lush foliage, and other ornamental features. Some are tried and true varieties and some are fresh from the breeding bench. Deciduous Shrubs

With more pests and diseases cropping up, diversity of woody plant material in the landscape is becoming increasingly important. These shrubs offer flower, fragrance, nifty foliage, unique bark, and more while being easy-going options when planted in the right conditions. They all tolerate clay soils, cold winters, and steamy summers with little fuss.

Cinnamon Curls® Birch Betula costata ‘CinnDak’ Zone: 4a to 6/7 Height/width: 9 feet Sun: full sun to very light shade Soil: average to moist, pH tolerant Foliage: Clear green leaves that turn to a golden yellow. Bark: Lovely creamy white exfoliating bark with cinnamon-colored undersides curling in strips. Notes: This dwarf slowgrowing birch introduced by North Dakota State University is a delightful way to add all the features of a birch tree in a small space. This Korean selection is birch borer resistant and with a higher tolerance of pH so avoids chlorosis issues. Forming a nice tight clump, it tucks into small landscapes easily and can also be a great focal point or specimen with uplighting to showcase its shape. It rarely requires pruning to maintain its tidy shape.

Fiber Optics® Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Bailoptics’ Zone: 4 to 9 Height/width: 5 to 6 feet Sun: full sun Soil: moist to wet Flower: Fragrant white golf-ball like flowers favored by pollinators in June to July and followed by seeds devoured by birds. Notes: “I really love it,” commented West. “It’s a native selection with unique flowers and flood tolerant. You get a nice smaller size with Fiber Optics and tidier habit than species.” This is a terrific option for the edges of ponds and streams where it can be consistently moist. Perfect as a shrub accent in a pollinator garden as it draws crowds of bees and butterflies.

Romantic Knight Mock Orange Philadelphus coronarius ‘Romanizam’ Zone: 4 to 8 Height/width: 12 to 12 feet Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained, but tolerates a wide range as long as it gets some decent drainage Flower: Large, semi-double, deeply fragrant 2-inch white flowers on racemes of about 12 to 14 flowers in May to June Notes: “I love mock orange, especially Romantic Knight because it makes a nice screen and has outstanding fragrant spring flowers,” recommended West. Consider this as an alternative hedging plant than privet that’s loaded with fragrant flowers reminiscent of orange blossoms in spring and easy to shear. With a naturally fountainy habit, it’s easy to tuck into a mixed border as well. This mock orange blooms on old wood, so be sure to prune after flowering before new buds set for the following year.

Fireflare Orange® Mollis Azalea Rhododendron xkosteranum ‘FireDak’ Zone: 3b to 8 Height/width: 4 to 5 feet Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained, pH tolerant Flower: Fiery orange azalea flowers in May in large clusters. Foliage: Rich green leaves that turn yellow orange to reddish purple in fall. Notes: Seek these out and snap them up! This is a cold hardy pH tolerant azalea that handles whatever winter throws at it. A revolutionary new selection from North Dakota State University, “It might be another year or two before we see a good supply, but this azalea has really impressed,” commented West. “We selected it, and it is tolerant of clay soil and high pH. Pretty much everything that an azalea isn’t. It’s a pretty big breakthrough for azaleas.”

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Dakota Goldcharm Spiraea (Spiraea japonica ‘Mertyann’ Zone: 3 to 8 Height/width: 12 to 18 inches high by 2 to 3 feet wide Sun: full sun Soil: average to moist well-drained soils Flower: Two to three-inch bright pink flowers in clusters in June with sporadic blooms into September. Foliage: Bright yellow foliage that turns light bronze in fall. Notes: A dwarf, durable selection from North Dakota State University that has stood the test of time and winter hardiness. This tidy pink-flowering gold selection stays small with little fuss and brightens a sunny garden. A good choice for the charm of a spirea that stays small with minimal fuss.

Prairie Petite Lilac Syringa vulgaris ‘Prairie Petite’ Zone: 3 to 8 Height/width: 3 to 4 feet Sun: full sun Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: Classic fragrant pinkish-lavender lilac flowers in May to June. Notes: This round ball-shaped lilac packs all the classic flower power into a dwarf package. Perfect for spaces where a traditional lilac is too big. “It’s a complete round ball. I love it. It’s really cool and it does very well for powdery mildew. You never have to prune it! Plant it and forget it,” enthused West.

French Lace™ Weigela Weigela florida ‘Brigela’ Zone: 4 to 8 Height/width: 4 to 6 feet Sun: full sun to light shade Soil: average to moist well-drained and clay tolerant Flower: Large red flowers with a dark pink throat that cover the plant in May and might sporadically rebloom later in the summer. Weigelas often attract early migrating hummingbirds. Foliage: Light green leaves with a broad yellow margin and a red edge for a zippy variegation that’s brightest in full sun. Notes: “Pretty flowers, interesting foliage, and a nice smaller size than the traditional weigela,” enthused West. This fast-growing mounding selection gives a bright splash of chartreuse in a mixed border. Try it with red flowers to play up the red edges of the leaves and add it to perennial borders for beautiful structure.

Grey Owl Juniper Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ Zone: 2 to 9 Height/width: 2 to 3 feet high; 4 to 6 feet wide Sun: full sun Soil: average to dry Foliage: Silvery gray needles add an arching soft feathery texture to the garden. Notes: A lovely tried and true selection of juniper that provides a consistent brilliant silver in full sun and good drainage. It may also have berries that will be enjoyed by birds. Try it with purpleleaved ninebark for a serene combination.

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Blueberry Delight® Juniper Juniperus communis var. depressa ‘AmiDak’ Zone: 2 to 6 Height/width: 18 to 24 inches high; 8 to 10 feet wide Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to dry Foliage: Needles are large and a rich, dark green with contrasting silveryblue hues on the upper leaf surface for a starry silvery effect. Notes: “It is one of my favorite evergreens because of the size, foliage color with the silver on upper side of the leaf, the abundant blueberry-like fruit, and it is a native selection,” commented West. “This derives from a female selection made from a native plant of this variety growing in the Badlands of western North Dakota. It has a densely spreading, naturalistic growth habit growing 15 to 22 inches in height. Its summer color is retained well in winter, which is rare for this species of juniper. Heavy crops of showy blueberry-like cones are produced annually if male plants are nearby, which adds significantly to the plant’s attractiveness. Drought and alkaline tolerant, it grows well in full sun, as well as partially shaded sites.”

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Hyland Splendor® Mugo Pine Pinus mugo ‘HyDak’ Zone: 3 to 7 Height/width: 13 to 15 feet high; 6 to 8 feet wide Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained; pH tolerant Foliage: Rich dark green needles that are darker than other mugo pines and stay green year-round. Notes: “It grows 20% faster than Tannenbaum, so you get a small tree faster,” recommended West. “Originally when I selected it, it seemed almost bluish, but I’d call it dark army green. Oregon Pride Nursery loves it because in winter in Oregon, mugos turn a bit chartreuse. Hyland Splendor stayed nice and dark. They were also really impressed with the growth rate. It’s a nice smaller scaled upright pine.” If you’re looking for an alternate for spruce or Scotch pine, this might be the ticket for a compact evergreen. Perfect for small spaces and as focal points, blend it into a mixed hedge for a rich four-season screening element.