The heavenly fragrances of spring-blooming shrubs are one of the best things about the spring garden. But many of the traditional spring bloomers are way too big for a small garden (we’re looking at you, 12-foot-tall lilac).
If your garden is tiny, consider one of these dainty versions of spring favorites!
Deutzia
Deutzia gracilis (slender deutzia) is a fuss-free addition to the garden. Smothered in blooms in late spring, it then takes up a position as a lovely, tidy green shrub. Because it’s so compact, we especially like this spring-blooming shrub as an accent right at entryways.
- Deutzia gracilis ‘Nikko’ tops out at 2′ tall and about 5′ wide. White, double blooms in spring.
- D. gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ grows to about 3′ tall and wide. White, single flowers in spring set off yellow-green foliage.
- D. gracilis ‘Yuki Snowflake’ at an even tinier 1′ to 2′, is a heavier-blooming version of ‘Nikko.’
Forsythia
Brilliant yellow forsythia blooms are early harbingers of spring. While the old-fashioned kind gets at least 10′ tall and wide, more compact versions are now available. Forsythia looks terribly sad when pruned to anything except its natural fountain shape, so choose one that will fit the available space without pruning contortions.
- ‘Gold Cluster’ is a mid-sized plant at 4′ to 5′ tall and wide.
- ‘Show Off’ grows to 6′ tall and wide.
- ‘Show Off Starlet’ gets about 2 to 3′ tall and wide.
- ‘Show Off Sugar Baby’ grows to about 2.5′ tall and 3′ wide.
- ‘Golden Peep’ is particularly compact, at only to 30″ tall and wide.
Lilac
The fragrance of lilac really says spring! Alas, the truly fragrant varieties are also the truly tall ones, varieties of Syringa vulgaris. For a small garden, we recommend these less-fragrant but better behaved lilac species.
- Syringa pubescens subsp. spatula ‘Miss Kim’ grows to about 6′ to 8′ tall and wide with mauve blooms.
- S. meyeri ‘Paliban’ (dwarf Korean lilac) tops out at about 5′ tall and 5′ to 7′ wide, with mid-season reddish-purple buds that open to lavender-colored blooms.
- The Bloomerang series of reblooming lilacs grow to about 4′ to 5′. Available in pink, purple and dark purple, they bloom in spring and then sporadically throughout the summer.
- The Bloomerang series of reblooming lilacs now has a dwarf purple and dwarf pink too. Both grow to about 2.5′ to 3′ tall and wide.
Viburnum
Viburnums are among our favorite spring-blooming shrubs, supplying spring blooms, summer fruits for wildlife, and terrific fall colors. These compact varieties deserve a place in every garden!
- Viburnum carlesii ‘Spice Baby’ gets about 3.5′ to 5′ tall and wide. The white flowers of this half-size version of the Korean spice viburnum have a glorious spring fragrance.
- V. dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ grows 5′ to 7′ tall and wide. The blooms on this Indiana native aren’t show stoppers, but the blue fruit is terrific addition to the summer garden.
- V. dentatum ‘Glitter and Glows’ is actually two different plants in one pot! The leaves of ‘All That Glitters’ and ‘All That Glows’ are shinier than those of most viburnums. Growing to 5′ tall and wide, these two plants pollinate each other for the maximum number of berries.
- V. trilobum compactum is the America cranberry bush. It grows to about 5′ to 6′ tall and wide. (Don’t plant the European cranberry bush, V. opulus; it’s invasive.)
WISTERIA
The waterfall of wisteria over a trellis is breathtaking. Unfortunately, the popular Asian wisterias are capable of swamping inadequate trellises, taking over garages, and even eating entire houses. If you want to add one of these luscious vines to your garden, choose one of these less-rampant, American cultivars instead. And read more about it at our blog Growing Wisteria in the Midwest.
- Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’ (American wisteria) grows to 8′ to 10′ tall at about 1/3 rate of Asian wisteria.
- Wisteria macrostachya ‘Blue Moon’ (Kentucky wisteria) grows 15′ to 25′, with longer inflorescences (flower clusters) than American wisteria. Very hardy.
Want to add some spring beauty to your garden? Contact Spotts Garden Service to schedule a garden coaching or design consultation!