Do your research before planting flowering trees or shrubs

Judy Stevens, Iowa State University Extension

This spring has been beautiful in Eastern Iowa with all the trees and shrubs in full bloom. It is tempting to make a selection on a new tree or shrub for your own yard based upon the beauty of a tree you see as you're traveling around. But do a little research first to make sure you end up with what you want since trees and shrubs have many different cultivars to choose from.

The flowering crab is a spring classic in Iowa, ranging in color from white to a dark pink and almost red color. Many gardeners became discouraged with this tree because it was very susceptible to apple scab and various fungal diseases which resulted in an unsightly, almost bare tree by late summer. There now are many cultivars available that are resistant to the fungal diseases and result in attractive trees all summer long. Check the label for disease resistance and height and width of the tree.

Another feature of the flowering crab is the fruit it produces. Some gardeners don't want the tree to bear fruit, and that's another feature you can shop for, no fruit. Other gardeners prefer a fruit-bearing tree to attract birds. If that is the case, choose a tree that bears fruit that stays on the tree until fall.

Some trees will retain fruit into early spring, which is a feast for Cedar Waxwing birds, which will clean up the fruit in a few days. Choosing a long-holding, fruit-bearing tree gives you a long period of bird watching. There also are varieties of crab trees that birds simply do not like. These varieties are 'Donald Wyman,” 'Red Jewel” and 'Adams.”

One of the most well known spring shrub that is admired this time of year is the lilac. Most people are familiar with the common lilac, which can grow 8 feet to 10 feet tall and 6 feet to 8 feet wide. The lilac is available in white to lavender to a pinkish color. If you don't have room for the common variety, investigate other cultivars that are available in a smaller version and just as colorful and fragrant. One of the popular varieties is the Korean lilac which grows 4 feet to 5 feet tall and is much more compact.

Viburnums are a shrub with many different sizes and shapes. There is a spring blooming Viburnum 'Korean Spice,” which is covered in baseball shaped white flowers now and is very fragrant. Some of the Viburnums also produce berries, which are very attractive to birds.

This is a short list of a few common and attractive spring bloomers. Investigate your possibilities and plant one in your yard.

l For questions, call the Linn County Extension Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647.