Shrub Identification: Evergreen and Flowering Shrubs

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, divided the living things into animals and plants. According to him, animals are mobile, whereas plants are not. There are different types of plants ranging from trees, bushes, vines, herbs, and ferns. Different plants display different kinds of characteristics. The growth process is different for each of them. Depending on the growth process and the distinctive characteristics exhibited by the plants, they are grouped as annuals, biennials and perennials.

Shrub Definition: A shrub is a bush, which is categorized as a woody plant. A shrub is differentiated from a tree, by its low height and multiple stems. The height of a shrub is maximum 5 meters to 6 meters. Some examples of shrubs are rose, lavender, periwinkle and so on. A shrub is classified as an evergreen shrub or a flowering shrub.

Shrubs growing in your garden are known as a shrubbery. Most of the shrubs used in gardens are broad-leaved plants and small conifers such as Common Juniper and Mountain Pine. A shrub is either an evergreen or a deciduous plant. There are many shrubs that grow well in a greenhouse.

Flowering Shrub

Many of the flowering plants belong to the shrub category. A flowering shrub has brilliant and bright foliage and flowers that attract birds, bees and butterflies. Flowering shrubs are mostly deciduous and wither away at the end of the season. Though, Rhododendrons and azalea are considered as exceptions. Many of the flowering shrubs can be grown in containers as they make wonderful plants for container gardening.

Flowering shrubs should be pruned once in a year, to maintain a larger portion of the growth wood. Pruning helps in the vigorous growth of flowering shrubs and also produces healthy flower buds. Flowering shrubs with nectar and fragrance are ideal for making a butterfly garden.

Evergreen Shrub

An evergreen shrub is a plant that has evergreen leaves throughout the year. Some of the fascinating facts about evergreen shrubs are listed below:

• Remember, all evergreen shrubs shed some of their leaves, once in a year.
• You must consider soil conditions and location, where you wish to plant your evergreen shrubs before selecting them.
• There are broad-leaved and narrow-leaved evergreens. Many of the broad-leaved evergreens grow best in the areas protected from dry winds, cold and direct sunlight. Broad-leaved evergreens require consistent soil moisture.
• If you're planning for shrubs in your garden, leave ample space between two shrubs, because as they mature, evergreens become overcrowded. This could affect the beauty of your garden's landscaping plan. There are many manuals and books on gardening that can be a helpful guide.
• Check out the aeration of the soil and nutrients, as they are essential for optimum plant growth.
• Evergreen shrubs add a year-round beauty to your garden.

Bonsai: Known as ‘pun-sai’ in the land of its origin, China, bonsai is the art of growing miniaturized, ornamental trees or shrubs in a shallow pot or tray. In that early phase of bonsai growing, single trees were planted in pots, and they were shaped in such a manner that the foliage was sparse, and the trunks were gnarled and rugged, usually in the form of dragons, birds or other animals. The art of Chinese bonsai is replete with legends and myths and these animal-shaped trunks and roots are still appreciated as an art form, even today. However, drawn from the imaginative realm of creativity, they differ from the latter forms of bonsai, which focuses on the natural shape of the tree or shrub. Bonsai is an example of an evergreen shrub.

Many flowering and evergreen shrubs could be used for indoor gardening too. These provide an aesthetic beauty to the room and a cooling effect to the eyes. Various types of evergreen and deciduous shrubs are available for landscaping your rock garden. There are dwarf varieties of flowering and evergreen shrubs that add beauty to your rock garden. Many of the plants used to manufacture herbal medicines and herbal supplements are shrubs. The shrubs are grown as a part of herbal gardening.