SHRUBS

These are very important components in the garden, as flowering

shrubs produce beautiful flowers at eye level and fragrant shrubs produce fragrant
flowers at nose level.eg: Jasmine auriculatum, Murraya exotica, Gardenia. They
display varied beauty with their richly coloured flowers, handsome foliage and
their shape. Varigated shrubs also produce beautiful appearance in the garden.
They are permanent components and form an intregal part of the garden. Shrubs
are very popular among gardeners due to the colour of flower and foliage, height,
ease in propagation and can be grown in various climatic conditions and in good
well drained soils. Sturdy shrubs withstand prunning and add beauty to the garden.
They give uniquiness, when they are planted alone.

They are planted in gardens -

 To enhance beauty of souuroundings

 To form a boundary
 For screening purpose
 For partitions

FLOWERING SHRUBS : They produce attractive flowers and can be planted singly
or in mass. eg: Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Ixora coccinea, Murraya exotica,
Bougainvillea spectabilis, Tabernaemontana, Ervatamia divericata, Nerium
indicum, Calliandra emarginata, Lantana camara, etc.

FOLIAGE SHRUBS : These are grown in gardens because of the beautiful richly
varigated foliage. Leaf is beautiful than flower.eg; Hibiscus rosasinensis, Codium
variegata, Acalypha tricolor, etc.

FRAGRANT FLOWERS : These shrubs produce handsome foliage and beautiful

flowers. eg: Murraya paniculata, Jasminum auriculatum, Gardenia, Ervetamia,
etc.

FOR BORDERS : These are planted in gardens as borders. eg: Lawsonia alba,
Casuarina equisitifolia, Allamanda cathartica, Jasminium auriculatum, Ixora
coccinea, etc.
SPECIMEN SHRUBS : These are usually planted singly and frequently trimmed
and some times modified to form topiery. They have elegant foliage and produce
beautiful flowers.eg : Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Ixora coccinea, Murraya exotica,
Bougainvillea spectabilis, Tabernaemontana, Ervatamia divericata, Nerium
indicum, Calliandra emarginata, Lantana camara, etc.

ARRANGEMENT OF SHRUBS

According to the height shrubs are categorised as tall, medium and dwarf. In very
large areas tall shrubs are preferred while dwarf shrubs for edges. They are
planted in such a manner that if tall : 2 plants in row, medium shrubs : 3-4 plants
in rows and if dwarf : 4-6 plants in rows.

According to the colour it depends on gardener to select color contrast scheme or

dominance of one color. Best results obtained in the contrast scheme.eg ; dark
green and fluroscent green - Casuarina equisetifoia and Duranta plumerii, white,
green and varigated – Tabernaemontana, Phyllanthus and Exocoecaria bicolor.
GROWING OF SHRUBS

Soil: Shrubs survive in any garden soil of varied pH, but growth depends on soil
type. Soil should be porous, loose, fertile,well drained, rich in moisture content
and humus. If soil is highly acidic or alkaline in nature, it should be modified by
suitable soil amendments. If soil is bad, the upper layer of 45cm should be
removed and refilled with fertile good textured soil.

Preparation of grounds: After site selection the soil should be prepared atleast 15
days prior to planting. Pits of 60 X 60 X 60 cm are made and it is exposed to
sunlight for upto two weeks after which they are refilled with rooting mixture of
fine soil, sand and farm yard manure in 1:1:1 ratio. To prevent attack of weeds,
pests and other pathogens 5% each of Bavistin, BHC and 2,4,D can be mixed
with the soil. To plant shrubs as borders, long trenches of 60 cm dimension are
made before planting.

Propagation of shrubs : They are propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.

1. Seeds: collected when fully ripe, dried in shade and stored in air tight
containers in dry areas. During rainy season seed beds are prepared and
 seeds are sown. Seedlings are transplanted to the prepared pits or trenches or
pots withcare.
eg: Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Thevetia peruviana
2. Cuttings: majority of shrubs are propagated by cuttings during rainy season.
15 – 20 cm long stem cuttings are made, planted in pots or beds ( Soil : sand
: manure in 1:2:1 proportion) and transplanted in the next planting season.

eg: Ixora coccinia, Hamelia patens, Murraya exotica, Hibiscus rosa

sinensis.

3. Layering: shrubs not easily propagated by seeds or cuttings are multiplied

by layering during rainy season.
Jasminum auriculatum, Bougainvillea spectabilis.

Planting of shrubs : Best time of planting is during rainy season. The planting
distance of different shrubs depends on their height and spread. Tall shrubs are
planted at a planting distance of 150 -180 cm, medium shrubs of 90 -120 cm and
dwarf shrubs with 45 – 90 cm. For borders and hedges they are planted in groups.

Watering : Immediately after planting, watering should be done frequently till

they are established.

Filling of gaps : Newly planted shrubberies need attention in the beginning

specially for filling the gaps. As soon as mortality occurs, new plants should be
planted.

Irrigation : The shrubbery should be irrigated at regular intervals. Frequency of

irrigation depends upon soil texture, season, etc. During rainy season no irrrigation
is required. From September onwards, irrigation should be done at monthly
intervals upto March. After that irrigation should be done at fortnightly intervals.
In sandy soils, more frequent irrigation may be required.

Weeding : Weeds should be removed regualrly otherwise they compete with main
plants for sunlight, nutrients and moisture. During rainy season, one or two
weedings are necessary and after that occasional weeding will serve the purpose.

Pruning : Shrubs need careful pruning. Winter flowering shrubs e.g. Poinsettia
pulcherrima, Holmskioldia sp., and Doembeya sp. are pruned at the end of
summer, whereas others are pruned at the close of winter season. Cutting back the
growth of the shrubs is very important and the performance of the plants is
improved. Trimming and method of pruning depend upon their age and form. All
the superfluous growth, old or weak branches are best cut at ground level or as low
as possible.

Common Shrubs for gardens

1. Acalypha colorata ( Euphorbiaceae) – leaves variegated, attractive, plants

propogated by cuttings.

2. Acalypha hispida - attractive flowers in catkin inflorescence, propagated by

stem cuttings.

3. Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Caesalpiniaceae) - commonly called peacock

flower, with orange, yellow and crimson flowers in corymb inflorescence
and propagated by seeds.

4. Hamelia patans (Rubiaceae) – Attractive foliage and scarlet red flowers

through out the year. Due to profuse branching it shapes well and appears
elegant. Propagated easily by cuttings.

5. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae) – commonly called shoe flower,

producing large bright flowers in wide range of colors from white to purple
through out the year. Propagated through cuttings.

6. Ixora coccinea ( Rubiaceae) – Flowers of wide range if colors, borne in

terminal trusses through out the year. Propagated by cutting and layering.

7. Jasminum auriculatum (Oleaceae) – The common Jasmine, producing

highly fragrant single or double petalled white flowers, singly or in groups
during March to September. Propagated by layering and cutting.

8. Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) – Medium sized shrub, popular in gardens

as it appears pretty in bloom, with flowers in different colors ie. yellow,
white, pink, lilac, etc. and dark green, rough textured leaves. Propagated by
seeds or cuttings.
9. Nerium indicum (Apocynaceae) - tall shrub with dark green, thick leathery
leaves and fragrant, attractive single or double petalled flowers in clusters
through out the year. Propagated by cuttings.

10. Mussaenda philipica ( Rubiaceae) – tall shrub producing soft textured

bright bracts in white, pink and red shades. The flowers are small yellow
but bracts are prominantly attractive . Propagated by stem cutting.

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