What type of colorful bush/shrub will do well along the side of a house?

Question

I am looking to add color to the west side of the house and would prefer low maintence, high color items. Something that may be as tall as 5 ft.

In addition, I am looking to plant withing 12-24 inches from the house and don't want to cause any foundation problems. I'm in SE Wisconsin, not sure what zone that is.

Answer 1

Rhododendrons

MJ

Answer 2

You stated that you live in SE Wisconsin, so looking at my hardiness zone map that shows me that you are in zone 5. There are many types of plants that will work in zone 5, but being a western side, you may have to guard against wind burn for certain plants until they become established.
Hollys, rhododendrens, lilac, and honeysuckle would all work well in your zone. By color, did you mean color of overall plant, or flowers, as some bushes will produce colors of different types at diferent times of the year, i.e., hollys produce redberries for winter food for wildlife, rhodendren produce late spring flowers, along with lilac.
I would say your best bet would be to speak with someone from your state nursery or a knowledgable local garden center.

Answer 3

If you have full sun and are not shaded by buildings, a burning bush needs full sun, and will be ideal providing you get the compactus or dwarf variety. They can get 8' tall, even the dwarf will reach 6'.

The Dart's Gold Ninebark has a beautiful gold color early in the growing season fading to a limey yellow-green and has interesting looking branches in the winter. It also flowers in May and has a nice seed pod. It grows to just 5' tall.

If you have eight hours of full sun you might want to consider the Pink Knockout rose or Champlain rose.

If it is fairly shady ,you might choose something like an Annabelle Hydrangea with the large white mophead flowers, which look good dead even through the winter.

The PJM rhododendron with its mahogany winter leaves and bright fushia blooms in April is also a good choice for our region, although it needs regular feeding with Miracid to be happy.

There are a number of perennials like Autumn Joy sedums, heuchera Palace Purple and Stella di Oro daylilies that could also be beautiful additions to a foundation planting and have something to recommend them most of the year.

I think you have a lot of choices, and it come down to the look you want to achieve and how you want to accent your house. If you have lots of blues and greens the Dart's Gold would be a nice choice. If more of a brown palette, the PJM or the burning bush with its fall color might be nice.

Answer 4

That depends on several factors. What will grow in your part of the country? This will vary widely from one area to the next. Here in East Texas, azaleas are a favorite, chinese fringe has become popular with its redish copper leaves and colorfull blooms, photinia frazeri or red tips can be nice, and like the fringe, can be maintained at almost any height. Check with local nurseries for their recomendations if you can't get the info here. They will know what is best suited for your area.

Answer 5

James B. has a very good point. In order to really answer your question, we'd need to know what USDA hardiness zone you are in. Your local independent garden center will be a great resource to you.

Not to be left out though, here in my hardiness zone (5), I'd look at: salt spray roses (Rosa rugosa), dwarf lilac (Syringa patula 'Miss Kim'), slender deutzia (Deutzia gracillis) or dwarf flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Texas Scarlet' 'Jet Trails'). Just some of my favorites.

I hope that this helps

Answer 6

We have honeysuckle alongside our house. It blooms in early June, then makes bird-berries, so it always has some color. We had to trim it back hard when we bought the house 6 years ago, but it stays about 5'.

Answer 7

Burning Bush but those only change in the fall to a beautiful array of colors from purple to reds

Answer 8

I would recommend any type of clematis. It comes in the most beautiful colours and flower shapes and sizes and rambles away to its heart's content. Low maintenance, very pretty. Good luck with your planting!

Answer 9

i recently ordered two Burning Bush plants.I have'nt gotten them yet but they are supposed to be real colorful in the fall.....a bright orange...and a bright green in summer.supposedly real hardy plants.low maintenance,also.good luck!