Comments on: FG Declares “The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow”

By: Germi

Germi — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:35:37 +0000

Boo for this list!
Not that I don’t think the shrubs are great, but ENOUGH of this ZONE-a-phobia!
We who garden in the heat are forever left out of the ‘Top (fill in the number) Lists in garden mags – the focus on plant hardiness of the USDA Zone maps leaves us out in the … heat, again. And yes, there is a new heat zone consideration, but … sigh.
What about us? We’d like a little shrub love, too …
Thanks for the opportunity to vent a little!

By: suzq

suzq — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:33:55 +0000

Oakleaf hydrangeas are salad bars for deer in my MD neighborhood. I second the sentiment about viburnum.

By: eliz

eliz — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:05:52 +0000

I like them allâ€” though I’m not a huge spirea fanâ€”except the knock-out roses. If a rose does not have a distinctive flower form, the I can’t get excited about it. Those aren’t very interesting as roses, though they may perform well as shrubs.

By: Denise

Denise — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:43:22 +0000

I like the list, for a starting place. I love Oakleaf hydrangea but may not have mine in the right spot. My pink diamond hydrangea is in the right spot, however, and it is one that I consider a ‘must have.’ I don’t know that spirea, though, and I will check it out–until and unless it becomes overplanted–I agree with Cindy about the Knock-outs.

By: Kathy, Washington Gardener

Kathy, Washington Gardener — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:10:16 +0000

That is the problem with a National-scope mag — many readers will not be able to grow the choices or relate. For ourDC-area, all look good — though I find the red twig dogwood highly over-rated and am eyeing mine daily considering whther to yank them out and give them away or to re-plant them in an out of the way corner.

By: Layanee

Layanee — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:21:01 +0000

Great choices for gardens but, as with any list, somewhat limiting. The beginning gardener does need direction and a place to start. Lists always have value in that respect. Maybe a better question would be ‘What seven shrubs could you not do without in your garden?’ That would give a really varied response. ‘The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow’ doesn’t speak to plant addicts does it?