Native Triumvirate Deliver White Flowers + Brilliant Fall Color

Blue Mist Fothergilla

Pee Wee Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea  

Sugartina Summersweet Clethra

Now and then the landscape gardener goes looking for must-have Native shrubs that will fit into smaller scale urban and intown gardens. Leading the pack for fall color are three U.S. natives that also share other characteristics. Crabapple LandscapExperts note:

• all three plants are North American natives
• alike in their small, dwarf size and perfect for intown gardens
• mature  around three feet in height and width
• all similiar in habitat, growing in sun to partial shade
• all trouble-free from disease and insect pests
• all have white flowers, though in very different shapes.
• all three exhibit long-lasting, brilliant fall color

This selection of low-growing native shrubs are perfect for low hedges, foundation plantings and containers

Blue Mist Fothergilla

This dense compact plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and has blue-gray leaves all summer. White, fragrant flowers are produced in spring.

Pee Gee Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea

A wonderful native dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea that matures around 3 feet high and wide, Pee Wee has abundant white flower heads that appear in early to mid-summer, followed by excellent rose to red-purple wine-red fall leaf color, and is a great selection for smaller gardens. Broadly pyramidal inflorescences are delicate, small abundant and almost hide the fertile flowers.

Sugartina™ Summersweet PP21561 Clethra alnifolia ‘Crystaltina’

Dark green foliage perfectly frames the pure white, very fragrant flowers of this dwarf Summersweet. Fall foliage is a warm yellow. This native, low maintenance landscape plant grows 28-30 inches tall and is a butterfly favorite.

Crabapple LandscapExperts enjoy working native shrubs into the landscape when we can. 

Photos courtesy Greenleaf Nursery Company