Aucuba A truly magnificent plant with glossy leaves, sometimes variegated. Tiny blossoms form on male and female shrubs which are separate plants. The fruit is in the form of red or cream berries and appears only on the female plant. It is happy growing in coastal areas and will withstand smog, sun and shade very well. Propagate with seeds or by layering. Provide lots of water. Beauty Bush An attractive shrub which comes alive with a wonderful display of flowers in the summer. The flowers range from light pink to lavender, bell shaped with yellow throats. The long, oval leaves turn to red in the fall almost hiding the brown fruit which lasts through the winter. Will do well in most soils, but prefers dry, sandy ground. Buy the plants and place them where required. Camelia An unmistakable and unforgettable shrub. It comes into bloom, depending on the zone climate, and time from spring to winter. It has large, waxy looking white, red or pink flowers. It will grow in the shade as well as it does in full sun. Mulch the ground well and feed twice during the season. Camelias like moist, slightly acid soil but dislikes areas exposed to the wind. Easiest to buy this shrub ready to grow. Fuschia Red,white,blue and purple blossoms that arrive mid-summer and always make me think of tiny ballerinas. Fuschias serve the garden well - as bedding plant, in borders, as a shrub, in planters or in hanging baskets. It prefers full sun and slightly acid, mulched soil. Don't dig around the roots as they are easily damaged. It is semi-hardy. It can be propagated from cuttings but you may prefer to purchase. Grows to about 3ft. Forsythia Also known as Golden bell, this shrub will surprise you with a glorious display of golden blossom in very early spring, long before most other shrubs are awake. It will accept full sun or partial shade and even does well in smoggy areas. It likes an average soil but one that has been well mulched and kept moist during dry spells. You can grow Forsythia from seeds, cuttings or by layering. Semi-hardy. Gardenia For years, a favorite of gardeners, the Gardenia is an easy plant to grow. It prefers soil that is sandy, slightly acid and well drained. In return it will give you a display of wonderfully fragrant, white or creamy flowers that look as if they are made of wax. Give this shrub plenty of sun, althou- it will take a certain amount of shade. Avoid digging around the roots. Prop- agate with semi-hard wood cuttings. Hebe Also known as Veronica. This shrub will provide white or pinkish flowers in the summer and will comfortably fill that odd corner in the garden. It grows to between 5 and 8 ft with a spread of about 5 ft. It will grow in sun or shade and is not fussy about soil but prefers well drained sandy soil. Grow from seeds sown as soon as they are ripe or take short cuttings in the fall. Hibiscus Hibiscus takes either deciduous or ever- green form. The evergreen shrub is suitable only for areas which remain frost free, The deciduous are fairly hardy. The flowers are large, red, white, purple or pink and take several shapes, single and double. It flowers in late summer when shrub blooms are scarce. It likes full sun and will do well in any soil. It can be grown in tubs. You can propagate - but buy it. Honeysuckle This is a nice, friendly plant. Easy to grow, not fussy about sun or partial shade, it seldom needs rescuing from disease or insects. The flowers are white, pink, yellow or red and are usually fragrant. Birds are attracted to the berries which follow the flowers. It is deciduous and will grow to about 6 ft. It likes moist, mulched soil. You can propagate by layering or cuttings. Seeds difficult. Hydrangea What a beautiful shrub this is! The flowers appear in large round clusters and are usually seen as blue or pink. The blue flowers will fequently turn pink if the soil is alkaline. The blue color can be restored by watering with a solution of aluminum sulfate, 3oz per gallon of water. It likes rich soil and sun if it is not too harsh. Watch for attacks of powdery mildew and protect from high winds. Propagate by cuttings. Jasmine This is a mild climate shrub that likes lots of sun and a soil rich in humus or peat moss. The flowers are yellow and single, occasionally double. Jasmine is often used to cover walls or garden structures such as gate posts and patio structures. Star Jasmine or as it is also called, Confederate Jasmine will grow as a vine. Propagate from seeds or cuttings but both can be difficult.
