Winged Euonymus is more often referred to as "Burning Bush". When fall arrives, it's easy to see why it got this common name. In full sun, it turns into a blazing inferno of red. In partial shade (where it does quite well, thank you), you get a rather nice variation of color. Inner and more shaded branches remain dark green, fading to golden orange as they get a bit more light and culminating in glowing pinky-red at the tips. My cultivar 'Compactus' doesn't have the highly pronounced corky wings on the stems like the species, but some stems do have vestiges of them. It's been in the ground for about ten years, slowly making a seven foot (2.13m) tall, dense, neatly rounded shrub on it's way to it's ultimate height of ten feet (3.04m). This member of the highly diversified Euonymous tribe isn't picky about soil, either, as long as it's not water-logged. It is right at home as a specimen, part of a border or a group or as a "foundation" plant, requiring virtually no care in USDA zones 3-8.
Glowing Embers
The sparks fly on some plants while for others, the flames have died, leaving the rusts, cranberries and wine shades; rich warm tones, enlivened by glowing embers of orange and red.
Virginia Sweetspire is an underutilized native that should be in every shady garden from USDA zones 5-9. It suckers, but not rampantly. And, you will go far to beat the fragrant long racemes of white flowers that appear in early summer for me (mid summer in some gardens). I have the cultivar 'Henry's Garnet'. It makes a lush fountain about two or three feet (0.60 - 1m) tall; perfect for shade or sun as long as the soil is moist and fertile. Plants will be a bit more compact with some sun than they are in deep shade. I hear it also makes a nice container plant for the patio or balcony. The branches are erect - seeming to spring directly from the soil - drooping and branching at the top. The species can supposedly reach ten feet (3.04m) in height, although it will generally be shorter in cultivation. Cuttings are easy to root in sand in July and seeds need no pretreatment to germinate.
I'm a fan of Spirea; there are several in my garden. They are practically indestructible and not picky in the least as long as they have good drainage. I find they do quite well in partial to medium shade in my garden although I always read that they should have full sun. Those of you in more northern climes may find that they do need a fairly sunny spot. Very early to leaf out, the leaves ring quiet changes through the season from reddish at unfolding through green to end up stained in rusts and burgundy. This particular species is actually a cross between S. albiflora and S. japonica. The name is correctly rendered Spirea x bumalda (just so you know). It gets about three feet (1m) tall and has deep pink flowers in summer followed by brown seed heads that are nothing special. It does seed around! I started with one and now have a bank covered with them. But, the seedlings are easy to pull or dig and pot to give away.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Marge Talt's Shade Gardening topic, please visit the Discussions page.