The most unusual and interesting ornamental shrubs

Lesser-known ornamental shrubs are recommended by Kristiāna Komina-Parfenoviča, the manager of the garden center "Labklājības dārzi".

Weigela (lat. Weigela) shrubs are very colorful and brightly flowering. The shrub is approximately the same in width and height – usually from 40 cm to 3 meters, fast-growing, blooms in early summer, and under good conditions blooms a second time.

The main thing is to provide the weigela with a sunny and well-watered place with fertile soil. The sunnier the planting site, the more magnificent flowers will bloom. The plant is resistant to temperature fluctuations. Although in very cold winters it may happen that some branches freeze, in which case they must be cut out. There are also some weigela species that are not really suitable for the eastern zone of Latvia, such as Korean weigela and Beautiful weigela.

Weigela are one of the ornamental shrubs that pleases me the most, because they are fantastic with their great variety of colors. For example, weigela foliage can be various shades of green, green with a white border, yellowish, yellow-mottled, or various shades of red;
but the flowers are white, slightly yellowish, soft pink to bright pink and even red.

Each variety is worthy of admiration, the following weigela varieties are popular:
Bokrashine or Naomi Campbell with reddish-brown foliage, bright pink flowers, height 0.8m
Eva Rathke with green foliage, bright, dark carmine flowers, height 1.5m
Looymansii Aurea with yellow-green foliage, pink flowers, height 1m
Nana Variegata leaves are green with a yellow, pronounced border, flowers are light pink, height 0.5-0.8m
Red Prince with green foliage, bright red flowers, height 1.5m

Korean weigela (lat. Weigela coraeensis) variety Alba, with green foliage, white flowers, height 2-3m

Varieties of the magnificent weigela (lat. Weigela florida):
Alexandra foliage dark purple, flowers reddish pink, height 1.5m
Bruegel or Moulin Rouge with yellow-mottled foliage, red flowers, height 1.5m
Milk and Honey leaves are green with a yellow middle, flowers are white with yellow, height 1.5 m.

Interesting in garden plantings is the Smooth-edged willow (lat. Salix integra) Hakuro-nishiki , although its tall-stemmed form is more often used, but it is also worth choosing a shrub form. A very decorative shrub, grows in sun, partial shade, in moderately rich soil, moisture-demanding.
Foliage with light pink spots, later white-mottled, branches orange-red in winter.

Want more fragrance in your garden? Choose Mosan abelia (lat. Abelia mosanensis).
Mosan abelias boast fragrant flowers in summer and orange-red foliage in late summer. They are medium-sized evergreen shrubs that reach a height of 2 meters. The fragrant bright pink funnel-shaped flowers are arranged in terminal inflorescences. They bloom in late June.

Plant in sunny, wind-protected locations, in drained, calcareous, moderately fertile clay or loamy soils. Relatively early – in the second half of summer, the green foliage turns red. In winter, the trunks of the bush are distinctly gray. Winter-hardy, but in harsher winters the tips of the shoots tend to freeze.

The charming colkwitzia (lat. Kolkwitzia amabilis) is special with the pleasant scent of its flowers, which bloom in June. But in autumn it will bring a variety of colors with its yellow-pink foliage.
The crown is upright, rounded with overhanging branches, height 2m, width 1.5m, foliage green, turning yellow in autumn, flowers bell-shaped, pink to light purple.
Planted in well-drained, fertile soils, in a sunny location, in the western and central parts of Latvia, less often in the wetter parts. Will fit into any garden - both in groups of plants and as a solitary.

Japanese kerria (lat. Kerria japonica) is planted in normal, calcareous loam and sandy loam soils, quite fast-growing. Sun-loving.
The popular variety is Pleniflora, with an upright crown, green foliage, bright yellow, double flowers, and a height of 1.5-2m.
It should be noted that there are relatively few shrubs with yellow flowers, so Japanese kerry is a good option to make your garden appear sunnier.

Less winter-hardy, but very effective and unusual during flowering is the four-pollen tamarisk (lat. Tamarix tetrandra) . The plant grows in western and central Latvia, and if it freezes, it quickly grows back.
A small shrub, rarer tree, 1.2-1.5m tall with a steep crown. Foliage green, leaves narrow, delicate, flowers pink, forming racemes, bloom in the second half of summer.
Planted in moist soils, on coasts, in dunes, but in a place where water does not stand, so there must be good drainage, sun-loving. Also used for strengthening sand dunes and desalinizing soil.

It must be admitted, however, that this shrub will be difficult to find in nurseries. Looking at the range of plants offered, seedlings are sold by Zaļenieki Nurseries and its Riga branch, Labklājības dārzi.