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Spring has always represented a time of rebirth and reawakening to me. It is a time of beauty and, most of all, a time of flowers. Spectacular bulbs, stately trees and the magnificent spring-flowering shrubs create beautiful splashes of color that contrast with the bright green of the resurrected garden.
Beauty bush is another very hardy deciduous shrub. It grows upright with graceful 10- to 12-foot arching stems and thrives in partial shade or in full sun. Clusters of small, pink flowers with yellow throats are followed by pinkish-brown fruits. The most unusual characteristic is brown flaking bark that peels off the stems in large sheets.
Spireas are hardy shrubs that grow in all kinds of soil in sun or light shade. The form, height and flowering season are variable, but all provide generous quantities of pink, white or reddish flowers. Spring-flowering varieties are included here, but there are also many summer- and fall-blooming spireas.
Flowering quinces are among the earliest blooming shrubs. The plants themselves are practically indestructible and form excellent hedges or barriers. They tolerate extremes of cold and heat and most soils, although they suffer from iron chlorosis if the pH is too alkaline. There are dozens of different varieties, with many heights and shapes.
Mock oranges are white-flowered spring shrubs. They bloom late in the spring and are covered with fragrant blossoms with a scent reminiscent of orange blossoms. Plants prefer full sun and tolerate most normal growing conditions. There are several species as well as numerous varieties.
Several species of honeysuckles are included among the spring-flowering shrubs. They are valued for their beautiful, fragrant flowers. These flowers are unusually attractive to hummingbirds and the fruits are eaten by many kinds of birds later in the season. Honeysuckles tolerate most soils and grow best in full sun.
Pay close attention to the shrubs that are blooming now. Choose some spring-flowering plants as anchors for your spring garden. They form delightful backgrounds for the other flowers as they awaken, blossom and fade during this glorious season.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BEAUTY BUSH
Kolkwitzia amabilis
(no selected varieties) pink flowers w/yellow throat
SPIREA
Spirea douglessi (Western Spirea), (no selected varieties) pink
Spirea prunifolia (Bridal Wreath)
Spirea thunbergii small, gray-white
Spirea trilobata small, white
FLOWERING QUINCE, Chaenomeles (Hybrids)
Apple Blossom white and pink
Cameo pink apricot double
Contorta white and pink
Corallina reddish orange
Coral Sea coral pink
Enchantress shell pink
Falonat Charlet salmon pink double
Hollandia red - rebloom in fall
Jet Trail white low spreading
Minerva cherry red low spreading
Nivalis white
Orange Delight orange red low spreading
Pink Lady rose low spreading
Snow white 6-8
HONEYSUCKLE
Lonicera heckrotti, Gold Flame coral pink/yellow centers
Lonicera tatarica, Tartarian pink
Arnold pink
SWEET MOCK ORANGE
Philadelphus coronaries, Aureus white
Philadelphus lemoinei
Enchantment white double 5-6
Philadelphus lewisii
Wild Mock Orange (drought tolerant native state flower of Idaho)
Pale yellow variable
Philadelphus purpureomaculatus (Hybrid)
Belle Etoile white/purple center
Philadelphus virginalis (Hybrid)
Minnesota Snowflake white double
Virgia white double
Natchez white double
Glacier white double
Dwarf Minnesota Snowflake, white double
Larry Sagers
Horticultural Specialist
Utah State University Extension Service
Thanksgiving Point Office
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