Hybrid Landscaping

Ornamental Trees

• Hybrid ornamental trees can be used as specimen plants in landscaping or as small shade trees. Prunus "Snofozam Snow Fountains" is a weeping higan cherry that provides landscape interest in the spring, summer and fall. It grows to a mature height of 8 to 15 feet and is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. White flowers cover its weeping branches in spring followed by small black berries. The dark green foliage provides a colorful autumn display in burgundy, gold and orange. It thrives in average soil with six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Cornus florida "Comco No. 1 Cherokee Brave" is a flowering dogwood hybrid that grows quickly to 15 to 30 feet tall. It produces red flowers with white centers in the spring followed by bright red berries. The leaves have a red tint in the spring and turn burgundy, purple and red in autumn. Cherokee Brave can be grown in average soil with a full sun or partial shade exposure.

Mid-sized Shrubs

• Hybrid shrubs can be used as specimen plants, hedges or in foundation landscapes. Cornus sericea "Isanti" and "Budd's Yellow" are hybrid dogwood shrubs that provide landscape interest all year round. Both hybrids bloom in the spring. Isanti blooms in white and Budd's Yellow blooms in yellow. Throughout the summer they produce pale blue to white berries. Isanti is 4 to 5 feet tall with dark green leaves that change to burgundy in autumn. It also has bright red stems that retain their color throughout the winter. Bud's Yellow is 5 to 8 feet tall and does not develop autumn leaf color but has bright yellow stems. Both are hardy to zone 3 and grow in most soil types. They can be planted in full sun or partial shade.

Short Shrubs

• Shorter hybrid shrubs can be used in foundation plantings or as accent shrubs around an ornamental tree. Spiraea japonica "Anthony Waterer" is a hybrid Japanese spiraea that grows to only 2 to 3 feet tall. It blooms in bright red from mid- to late spring until mid-summer. The foliage has a burgundy tint in the spring, is blue-green in the summer and changes to red in autumn. The Nana cultivar blooms in pink and also has colorful autumn foliage. It stays a bit shorter with a mature height of only 1 foot. These hybrids are hardy in zones 4 to 8 and will grow in most types of soil in full sun or partial shade.

Perennials

• Hybrid herbaceous perennial plants are useful for filling in around shrubs and ornamental trees. Seedum hybrids grow to about 2 feet tall, have succulent foliage and bloom from midspring until fall. They grow well in most soil types in either full sun or partial shade. The Purple Emperor cultivar stays shorter with a mature height of 1 to 1 1/2 feet. It has purple foliage and pinkish-purple flowers. The Autumn Joy cultivar has bronzy-pink flowers. The Iceberg cultivar blooms in white. Seedums are hardy in zones 4 to 9. Monarda didyma or beebalm is a blooming perennial that generally grows to 3 to 4 feet tall. Beebalm is susceptible to powdery mildew but there are resistant hybrids. Gardenview Scarlet, Jacob Kline and Scorpio are all mildew resistant hybrids. Gardenview Scarlet grows to 2 to 3 feet tall with bright red flowers. Jacob Kline also blooms in red. Scorpio blooms in purple. Beebalm is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It prefers soil that is high in organic matter.