Van Bourgondien

Garden Guide Roses, Shrubs and Vines

Varieties

Forsythia

(Forsythia x 'Northern Gold') Grows 7' tall and wide covered in bright yellow flowers in very early spring. Prefers full sun or very light shade. Prune after flowering by at least 1/3 and remove a few of the oldest, thickest stems each year. Hardy to zone 3 with protection. Flower buds will not survive above the snow line in zones 3-4, so cover with snow if possible.

Ground Cover Rose

This plant is very disease resistant, tolerates poor soils and thrives in full sun or partial shade. Will tolerate full shade. Ideal for bedding or mass plantings as well as a ground cover and container plant. Grows 15-24" tall. Blooms June-September. Hardy in zones 4-9.

Honeysuckle, Climbing

(White: Lonicera japonica'Halliana', Orange: Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet', Pink/Yellow: Lonicera x heckrotti 'Goldflame') Grows in full sun to partial shade. Honeysuckles will perform best in moist soils; however, all honey suckles are somewhat drought tolerant. Prefers well drained, slightly alkaline soils. Attaches by twining stems to whatever is nearby. Provide a support and when too large, prune back to main stems. Remove climber from its supports to see if the main stems are very thick and old. If so, cut them back to the vigourous young shoots near the bases of the stems. If the main stems are only a few years old, retain them and remove all lateral growth. Then tie the pruned vine back into position on its supports. Can grow up to 18' high and 5' wide. Hardy in zones 5-8.

Hops Vine

(Humulus lupulus) Can reach heights of 25' in a single season but will die back to the crown each fall. The soil should be tilled to create a weed free area. Plant in early spring once the threat of frost is gone but no later than May. Work soil into a fine, friable condition prior to planting. In cold climates, plant in pots and transplant in June. Plant in deeply worked, well-drained, sandy loam soil at least 3'apart. Requires frequent light watering during the first year while the plant is establishing its root system. In July, the lowest 4' of foliage and lateral branches can be removed to aid in air circulation and reduce disease development. In August, allow additional bottom growth to remain to promote hardiness of the crown and plant vigor for following year. Fertilizers rich in potassium, phosphate, and nitrogen should be applied 2 or 3 times each year between March and mid-July. If manure or compost is applied around the hop plant, fertilizer applications may be reduced accordingly. Hardy in zones 5-8.

Hummingbird Vine

(Campsis radicans) Plant with crown at soil level in any well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soil and restricted roots. Provide a very sturdy, large support. Vigourous clinging (attaches by aerial rootlets to any rough surface) climber up to 30'. Blooms in late summer to autumn on new growth. Prune regularly in spring. Will overtake other plantings if not controlled. Very easy, fast growing vine. Hardy in zones 4-9.

Hydrangea

Plant in either spring or fall in full sun to full shade locations. Space 6' apart, depending on variety and pruning. They may be pruned immediately after blooming as flower buds are formed on previous season's growth to maintain a specific height. Prefer moist, well-drained soil which has been amended with peat moss, leaf mold etc. Flower color for blue, pink and red varieties is strongly affected by the soil pH and the amount of aluminum in the soil. 'Nikko Blue' prefers acidic soils with a pH range of 5. 0 to 5. 5, while a pH of 6. 0 to 6. 5 and higher is best for pinks and reds. Aluminum sulfate may be added to soils and an acidic fertilizer may be applied in early spring to improve coloration. Hardy in zones 3-9. In cold regions, flowerbuds may freeze without some protection.

Kiwi, Arctic Beauty

(Actinidia kolomikta) Commonly called Kiwi Vine, this low maintenance plant can reach heights of 15' to 40' with a 6' to 10' spread. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, medium-wet, well-drained soil. Properly pruned vines will remain more compact and will bear somewhat larger fruit. The vines can, however, be grown quite satisfactorily without care. In most cases the vines produce only male or only female flowers. Only female plants will produce fruit, but male vines are usually needed for pollination. A few selections produce both female and male flowers and will self-pollinate. Even with self-pollinating selections, however, it is best to include a male pollinator in the planting to assure good pollination. If growing only for ornamental foliage, consider planting only male plants. Under favorable conditions, the vines can yield heavy crops of fruit. Hardy in zones 4-8.

Lilacs

Plant in a location that provides at least 6hours of strong sunlight and good drainage. Give them plenty of room, as some lilacs grow 12' tall and wide. In a hole wider than the root ball, plant at the same soil level and in container level it was received in (be sure not to bury the trunk or stem) . To fill in around the plant, using a mix of compost and a little peat moss. One suggestion would be to add a bit of lime, as lilacs enjoy sweet soil. Keep the lilac well watered, but not wet. As the lilac grows and blooms, trim off spent flowers before they seed to enhance newer blooms. Hardy in zones 3-7.

Lonicera

Plant in either spring or fall in full to partial sun. This honeysuckle is adaptable to any soil condition as long as it is well-drained, as they detest "wet feet" . Space plants 4-10' apart. Provide strong support for their vigorous, upward-vining habit. Prune after blooming. If drastic pruning is needed, do not hesitate to prune back to ground level in the early spring, as they will quickly rebound with renewed vigor. Grows 10-20' tall. Hardy in zones 3-9.

Magnolia

(Magnolia stellata and Magnolia x 'Anne') Grow magnolias in partial shade; morning sun with afternoon shade is best. Select a very sheltered location between buildings or among large evergreens where snow collects. Magnolias set their flower buds for the next year in late summer, and these buds are more tender than other parts of the shrub. Star magnolia will bloom profusely only if protected during cold, dry winter weather. A warm spell in March may signal buds to break dormancy; frost afterwards will kill buds. Prune immediately after flowering for shape and size. Magnolias often drop all their leaves at once on a calm day; leave in place and lightly cover with mulch to keep soil fertility high. Blooms in early spring before leafing out. Slow growing. Can grow up to 20' high, but expect a smaller size in cold climates. Hardy in zones 4-9.