Choosing the Right Plants - University of Nevada, Reno

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION • (^33)

30’
Bees Birds Butterflies Cut Flowers Fall Color Caution Within 30 Ft Utility Tree Native
Buddleia davidii Caragana arborescens

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS ∙ PART 2

Buddleia species

>30’

Butterfly Bush – The showy flowers on this

shrub are much loved by its namesake, the

butterfly. It prefers well-drained soil and a

once-to-twice-weekly watering regime. The

felty leaves are green on the top and gray

underneath. Flowers

appear June-July on

last year’s growth.

Prune out the oldest

wood to the ground.

Flowers are 6-12 in.

long in shades of blue,

purple, lilac, pink,

yellow and white.

B. alternifolia

(Fountain Buddleia) –

12 ft. tall by 8 ft. wide;

fragrant lilac flowers

(can train as a tree).

B. davidii (Summer Lilac) – 10 ft. tall by 8 ft.

wide; fragrant; various colors.

Caragana species

< 2’ >3 0’

Peashrub – Native of Siberia, these shrubs

tol erate extreme cold, wind, heat, drought

and poor soils. Yellow sweet pea flowers

appear in spring on last year’s wood, and are

followed by pea pods July-August. Use as

windbreak, screen or hedge.

C. frutex ‘Globosa’ (Globe Peashrub) – A dwarf

version that only grows 2 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide;

light green leaves.

Taller plants should be used sparingly

within 30 ft. of the house:

C. arborescens (Siberian Peashrub) – 15 ft. tall by

12 ft. wide; light green leaves.

C. a.’ Nana’ (Dwarf Peashrub ) – 6 ft. tall by

3 ft. wide; light green leaves.

C. pygmaea (Pygmy Peashrub) – 3 ft. tall by

3 ft. wide; spines, dark green leaves.

Caryopteris x clandonensis

>30’

Blue Mist Spiraea – This late-summer flower-

ing shrub bears lovely blue flowers among

its gray-green foliage. It grows 3 ft. tall by 3

ft. wide and flowers on this year’s wood, so it

needs to be pruned to the ground every win-

ter. It reblooms if pruned right after the first

bloom. Pre fers well-drained soil with lots of

humus or com post added, full sun, and once-

a-week watering.

Chaenomeles speciosa

Chaenomeles speciosa

30’

Flowering Quince – A large spiny shrub

that provides edible fruits for birds, and large

and small mammals. The parent species has

brilliant scarlet-red flowers, but there are

hybrid varieties in white, apricot, pink and

orange shades as well. The flowers usually

bloom in May or June, depending on variety.

Grow in full sun and well-drained soil, and

water once a week. This plant is not bothered

by rabbits, squirrels or deer.

SHRUBS

Buddleia davidii

Caryopteris x clandonensis