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Those Santa Cruz gardeners who grew up here, or in other parts of the state, often reject deciduous plants since they know that they can fill their gardens with evergreens. They often believe that a plant that is bare in winter is a liability, and prefer those that keep their leaves. There is also the perception that deciduous equals messy, since the sudden leaf fall in a short period is very visible. These are prejudices that I would like to change, however, since some of the most stunning plants available are deciduous; it would be difficult to find in the evergreen world the splendid foliage color provided by some deciduous plants.
Spring and early summer are the peak times for most deciduous shrubs. That is when most bloom, and also when their foliage is fresh and most vibrant. (Many are also splendid in the fall, providing exuberant color just before their leaves drop.) A number of new introductions are coming into the nurseries this spring. If you have an empty spot in your garden that needs a dramatic focal point during the seasons when we spend most time outdoors, take a look at the following plants. All are cold hardy in much more severe climates than any in the Santa Cruz area, and all are moderate in their water requirements once established in the garden. Philadelphus 'Fallbrook' covers itself in late spring or early summer with intensely fragrant single and double white flowers; this plant is renowned for its perfume. The common name of this genus is Mock Orange, and the fragrance does resemble that of an orange blossom. Height is 6'- 8'; foliage is a pleasant fresh green that in mild winters often persists through the winter, and the graceful arching stems move gently in a breeze. Weigela florida 'Dark Horse' foliage is an amazing deep purple-black. The dusky rose tubular flowers are dramatic against the dark leaves. It grows 6-8' tall and wide. Showcased against a light-colored wall or fence, or behind smaller gold foliaged plants, it is a knockout. Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit' (Smoke Bush) has the round leaves of its relatives but in a beautiful golden color. Leaves emerge in spring as bright yellow, turning soft gold, and then in summer attaining a golden-lime hue. In fall, the plant is magically transformed into a rainbow mix of red, orange, coral and yellow, described by one devotee as "like a dish of sugar coated candy." Golden Spirit, like its burgundy-leaved relatives, grows 6-8' and the clusters of buff-colored airy flowers resemble a puff of smoke at first glance. This plant shows up beautifully in front of dark greens like redwoods or other conifers, or in front of a brown or blue wall. It also looks stunning placed among burgundy-foliaged plants, or grown in a large intensely blue or Chinese red container. |
Deciduous plants
The annual leaf drop of
deciduous plants is actually easier to manage; leaf fall is in a short period
and can be cleaned up all at once, whereas evergreen plants drop leaves
constantly, so that many seem always a little beyond-control. It is possible to
showcase the attributes of deciduous plants during their glory season, and let
their bare winter stems act as punctuation to the evergreen foliage around
them, or let them quietly fade into the background without being a "sore thumb"
plant in the landscape.
