Shrubs - Blue and Purple

Calluna Vulgaris 'County Wicklow' ( Heather )

 
Description: Hardy, evergreen, low growing shrub more contained than some at 10"tall x 14"wide. Leaves are almost needle like, but soft. Leaf and flower face up like spikes.
Ideal conditions: Sun. Well drained acidic soil. Takes salt wind well. Great for an exposed location.
Bloom: August to October is the bloom period for this type. Double light pink in color. It reminds me of candy floss when its in its glory.

Ceanothus 'Blue jeans' ( California lilac )

 
Description: Evergreen hedge or large shrub. Can get up to 10' tall and wide. Bright green shiny leaves up to 1" long. Tends to have a short life of 10 to 12 years in the garden setting.
Ideal conditions: Hot sun with extreme drainage. Great on the coast underneath an overhang with south exposure. May die suddenly with a cold winter.
Bloom: Covered in masses of bright blue fuzzy flowers in late spring to early summer. Attract bees by the hundreds.

Hebe 'Red Edge'

 
Description: Grey/green leaves with a purple tinge on the tips give it a distinct look in the garden. 2-3' tall and wide.
Ideal conditions: Although they claim that this can take temps as low as 15 celcius, I have lost quite a few. May have to do with the very wet snow that we receive on the coast. Surround with big buddies, lots of compost, and mulch. Regular water throughout the summer.
Bloom: Pale lilac blooms in early summer.
 

Hebe 'Icing sugar'

 
Description: Evergreen shrub with loosely spaced leaves that are narrow and pointed at the end 1-11/2 " long.
Ideal conditions: Well drained soil. Sun to part sun. Regular water. Compost/and or mulch to cover shallow roots.
Bloom: Up to 2" long flower spikes. white base to mauve tips appear in summer to fall.

Hebe 'Blue Gem'

 
Description: Evergreen Compact grower to 2' high and wide. Dark green leaves are up to 2" long with green stems.
Ideal conditions: Well drained soil. Sun to part sun. Regular water. Compost/and or mulch to cover shallow roots.
Bloom: Deep lavender blue spikes late spring and again in autumn.
 

Deutzia gracilis 'Rosea'

 
Description: Grows to 6' tall and wide. Similar arching habit of gracilis, but the leaves are not as glossy .
Ideal conditions: Full sun in cooler climates. Regular water. Seems to do well in a variety of soils as long as there is good drainage.
Bloom: Masses of light pink to pale white flowers in mid spring.

Berberis Thunbergii Atropurpurea 'Royal burgundy' ( Red leaf Japanese Barberry )

 
Description: 2-3' tall and wide deciduous shrub. Small red leaves turn darker in late summer. large spines are present under the leaves so careful placement is a bonus.
Ideal conditions: Moist composted soil with very good drainage. It can take drought once established. Full sun with protection from direct coastal wind. Can be sheared to shape or left wild. Quite hardy. 
Bloom: Small yellow flowers in late spring
 

Berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea 'Rose Glow' ( Red leaf Japanese Barberry )

 
Description: Deep burgundy colored leaves that are marbled with pink and lighter shades of red. Can reach anywhere from 5-8' in height. large spines are present under the leaves so careful placement is a bonus.
Ideal Conditions: Moist composted soil with very good drainage, but it can take drought once established. Full sun with protection from direct coastal wind. Can be shaped but the marble pattern seems to appear more on new growth, and the long branches look very graceful.
Bloom: Red berries in winter

Spiraea Japonica 'Firelight'

 
Description: 2-3' tall by the same wide deciduous shrub. Rich golden orange, chartruese and almost a purpleish red all mixed together depending on the light it receives. One of my favorite spring color blasts.
Ideal conditions: Sun to part shade. Good drainage with compost/mulch, and regular water. It can take drought once established but the leaves have a tendency to burn.
Bloom: Mid summer brings small sprays of dusty rose colored flowers .

Spiraea Japonica 'Limemound'

 
Description: 3' tall x 6' wide at maturity. Tightly knit branches have small leaves3/4" long that start out lemon yellow and mature to lime green. Fall turns them orange.
Ideal conditions: I like to see this one in part sun. It seems to make the colors richer. Good drainage, compost/mulch, and regular water, although it can take a drought once established.
Bloom: Small sprays of light pink appear in mid summer.
 

Cotinus Coggygria 'Royal Purple' ( Smoke Tree )

 
Description: Large deciduous shrub 12-15' high and wide. Leaves are round and dark purple.
Ideal conditions: Hot sun with good drainage. This plant is really tough and tolerates dry rocky soils. Water until established.
Bloom: Delicate sprays of miniature flowers in spring turn to tiny fuzzy balls that look like puffs of smoke hence the name.

Syringa Vulgaris ( Common lilac )

 
Description: This is a deciduous shrub that can reach 20' if it's located right. Leaves are bright green in color and 5" long. This type suckers a lot . They should be cut out.
Ideal conditions: Lilacs prefer a cold winter, and may bloom sporadically if its been mild. Hot sun is best with well drained soil. Water regular but you can stop towards the end of the summer to force dormancy. Neutral to alkaline soil is best, so use plenty of lime on the coast.
Bloom: Flowers in clusters to 10" or longer. Extremely aromatic. Most bloom on wood formed in the previous year. Early spring to early summer.

Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin' ( butterfly bush )

 
Description: Semi evergreen to deciduous shrub. Fast growth each Spring and summer up to 10' tall and wide. Tapered leaves are 4-12"long. Dark green with creamy white edges. White and felted beneath.
Ideal conditions: Full sun is best to light shade. Does just fine in poor dry soils with regular water until established. A great shrub for a tough location.
Bloom: Summer time flowers of reddish purple. Slender spikes are made up of small fragrant flowers in dense arching spikelike clusters 4-12" long or more

Buddleja davidii ( butterfly bush, Summer lilac)

 
Description: Semi evergreen to deciduous shrub. Fast growth each spring and summer up to 10' tall and wide. Tapered leaves are 4-12"long. Dull dark green leaf above, and light grey felt below.
Ideal conditions: ull sun is best to light shade. Does just fine in poor dry soils with regular water until established. A great shrub for a tough location.
Bloom: Summer time flowers of dark purple to blue. Slender spikes are made up of small fragrant flowers in dense upright spikelike clusters 4-12" long or more.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue' ( Blue mophead, blue hortensia, Big leaf hydrangea)

 
Description: Large deciduous shrub Symetrical, rounded habit. Grows 4-8' high and wide. Thick, shiny, coarsly toothed leaves up to 8" long.
Ideal conditions: Prefers a milder winter. May not bloom when plant freezes to the ground. Any soil will do, but compost enriched earth will make it amazing! Alkaline soil can turn it pink. Regular water, and full sun on the coast or part shade.
Bloom: Flowers in mid summer until frost. Bright blue, 8-10" round clusters of smaller 3/4-1"flowers make a bouquet on every branch.

Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' ( lacecap variety)

 
Description: Similar to macrophylla lacecap varieties except leaves are a bit narrower and tend to turn shades of red. 4-6' tall in height. and width. This one seems to grow more flowers than leaves.
Ideal conditions: This one seems to bloom very well in only part shade, but will tolerate full sun on the coast. Rich soil that is well drained with regular water.
Blooms: Flowers in mid summer until frost. This lace cap is smaller than macrophylla. Sterile flowers consist of 4 petals each. Fertile flowers are in the center. They are the seed like wisps of pink and blue combined.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Natchigall' ( Nightingale )

 
Description: Med height deciduous shrub 5-6' tall and wide. Leaves are bright green in the sun and darker in the shade.
Ideal conditions: Sun on the coast to part shade. Rich soil. Regular water.
Bloom: The flowers of this type seem very symmetrical. The sterile ones are quite large and seem to flip over before they fade completely. They also have faint traces of white veins. In our acid soil it is a vibrant shade of bright blue. This one will make you turn your head!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing embers' ( Alpengluhen )

 
Description: Med height deciduous shrub 5' x 5' tall and wide. Leaves are bright green in the sun and darker in the shade.
Ideal conditions: Sun on the coast to part shade. Rich soil. Regular water.
Bloom: The flowers that show on this plant from mid summer to frost are truly magical. It is grown as a red, but in our acidic soil it is a bright purple with rich blue centers and veins. The new buds open as cream and then the late night purple painters begin.
Copyright © 2013 Crystal Cove Beach Resort. All rights reserved.
Web design by Acro Media Inc