Native Plants
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Thursday - June 25, 2009
From: Rindge, NH
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Shrubs for New Hampshire
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Will be landscaping next Spring: Do you think using 'Ilex Crenata'-Japanese Holly together with variegated Euonymus (species: fortunei) as shrub hedges in front of our house is a good combo? Do they grow fast? How high and wide? Do they keep their foliage ALL year round? I don't want shrubs that are bare at anytime during the year? Are they easily maintained? Any other possible shrubs you might suggest?ANSWER:
Since the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's mission is "to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes," Mr. Smarty Plants would not recommend planting either Ilex crenata (Japanese holly) or Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper) because they are both non-native plants whose origins are in Asia. Additionally E. fortunei is listed on Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council's Invasive Exotic Pest Plants in Tennessee-2004 and Weeds of Wisconsin. Ilex crenata also appears on WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States and the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council list.Here are some New Hampshire evergreen native alternatives for these two species:
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry)
Juniperus communis var. depressa (common juniper) and here are photos and information.
Kalmia angustifolia (sheep laurel)
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Ledum groenlandicum (bog Labrador tea)
Rhododendron maximum (great laurel)
More Shrubs Questions
Shrubs to grow in a narrow area no taller than 3 ft. in Cadiz, KY.
May 27, 2011 - I need to plant shrubs in a narrow area between my house and sidewalk. I have a low porch so I want the shrub to grow no taller than 3 ft. What do you recommend? It is in full sun.
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Yellow leaves on non-native pittisporum in Wharton TX
March 17, 2009 - Green pittisporum that I planted 2 years ago and 1 year ago are getting a lot of yellow leaves. Variegated pittisporum that I planted at the same 2 times are doing fine.
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Mountain Laurel slowly dying in San Antonio, TX
December 26, 2012 - My Texas Mountain Laurel seems to be dying in a slow unusual manner.
Over the past two weeks the leaves have been turning yellow and falling off starting with the south facing side of my multi-tru...
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Protection of American beautyberry in Pennsylvania
July 30, 2007 - I have had a beauty berry 2 years now. I trim it back in early spring and it returns beautifully. ...but no flowers this year and it's almost August. Last year, very few berries. Can you help? I...
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Bugs eating new growth on Mountain Laurel shrubs from Dripping Springs TX
April 02, 2013 - What is eating the new growth on my mountain laurel shrubs? One plant has red bugs and the other has black (could they be love bugs?). Is there something I can do to preserve the new growth?
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