Choosing the Right Plants - University of Nevada, Reno

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION • (^35)

30’
Bees Birds Butterflies Cut Flowers Fall Color Caution Within 30 Ft Utility Tree Native

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS ∙ PART 2

Hamamelis intermedia

Hamamelis intermedia

30’

Witch Hazel – This plant has three

outstanding traits: it blooms in January when

nothing else is usually blooming, it has very

fragrant yellow flowers that can last three to four

weeks, and it thrives in gravelly, poorly drained

clay soil (present in much of our region). It

grows 8 ft. tall by 8 ft. wide. It is a somewhat

coarse-looking shrub that grows best in full sun

or partial shade, with twice-a-week watering.

The fall color is a coppery yellow. Use for

background or screen plantings.

Hibiscus syriacus

30’

Rose of Sharon – This plant can be grown as

a large, multistemmed shrub or trained into

a single-stem,

small tree, 10 -

12 ft. tall. It is

very late to leaf

out, some times

as late as June.

It is useful as a

hedge, screen

or back ground

plant. It toler ates full sun to partial shade, clay

soils, heat, wind and cold. The flowers bloom

August-Septem ber, and are rose, lilac, white or

a bluish-purple. This plant is not bothered by

rabbits, squirrels or deer.

SHRUBS

Forestiera neomexicana

Forestiera neomexicana

30’

New Mexico Privet – This native of the

four corners region is tolerant of the worst

conditions: cold, heat, poor soils, wind and

drought. Growing 8 ft. tall by 8 ft. wide, it

has medium green leaves similar to that of a

privet and makes a good informal hedge or

screen. Provide it with water once a week, full

sun and any garden soil. Fire resistant when

watered regularly. This plant is not bothered

by rabbits, squirrels or deer when planted as a

one gallon (or larger) size plant.

Forestiera neomexicana

Forsythia intermedia

Forsythia species

30’

Forsythia – One of the first to bloom in the

spring, its bright yellow flowers grow up the

entire stem, at the end of winter. Best used

in the back of a planter bed as a backdrop for

more colorful summer bloomers. Can also

be used as a screen or bank cover, or trained

as an espalier. Best performance with full sun,

annual fertilization and twice-a-week watering.

F. intermedia (Forsythia) – 7-10 ft. tall by 6-8

ft. wide; arching branches.

F. i. ‘Arnold Dwarf ’ – 3 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide;

fewer flowers than other varieties.

F. i. ‘Beatrix Farrand’ – 10 ft. tall by 7 ft. wide;

yellow with orange flowers.

F. i. ‘Lynwood’ – 6 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide; many

light yellow flowers.

F. i. ‘Spring Glory’ – 6 ft. tall by 6 ft.wide;

light yellow flowers.

F. suspensa (Weeping Forsythia) – 8 ft. tall by 8

ft. wide; roots where stems touch damp soil.

F. viridissima (Greenstem Forsythia) – 10 ft.

tall by 6 ft. wide; deep-green foliage.

F. v. ‘Bronxensis’ (Dwarf Forsythia) – 18 in.

tall by 2 ft. wide; ground cover or edge of

border.

Hibiscus syriacus