Unique and Unusual Landscaping that is Easy to Grow

Trees and shrubs do not have to be boring; nor do they have to grow straight or be shades of green and brown. If you are someone who likes things different, then you should consider one of the trees and shrubs. Do not worry; these are not fragile tropical plants. These are hardy plants; most are capable of surviving colder temperatures. Even better, they are not that difficult to find or even that expensive. Having a landscape that expresses your own unique sense of style is well worth the effort. Here are a few trees, shrubs, and grasses that you might want to consider.

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta')
Also called the Contorted Weeping Filbert or the Contorted Hazelnut, the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick has stems and leaves that naturally twist and turn as they grow. It is named for a Scottish comedian who used an extremely gnarly cane. The natural corkscrew shape of its branches will provide an interesting picture any time of the year, but more so in the wintertime after it has shed its leaves. Although it is technically a shrub, it is sometimes grafted onto rootstalk to make an ornamental tree. When it "flowers" in the spring, it produces clusters of dangling yellow catkins. In the summer, it sprouts small leaves that almost look like crepe paper.

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is very slow growing. Naturally, it can grow up to heights of about twenty feet. When it is grafted onto a rootstalk, it usually grows about eight to ten feet tall with a similar spread. It needs a full sun to partial shade exposure and will grow well in zones 3 through 9. The soil should be well drained with a pH level between 6.8 and 7.7. It will tolerate drought if it is well watered during the first season it is planted to help it establish a deep root system. After that, it should be watered whenever the top three inches of soil is dry. It should be fertilized in the spring before new growth begins.

Corkscrew Willow (Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa')
The Corkscrew Willow is also known as the Tortuosa, Curly Willow, Hankow Willow, Twisted-Twig Willow, or Dragon's Claw Willow. It is a fast growing tree with the unique habit of twisting and curling its branches. This tree grows more vertically than Harry Lauder's Walking Stick and usually reaches heights of about thirty feet tall with a fifteen-foot spread. However, it has been known to reach heights between forty and fifty feet tall. In the fall, its narrow light green leaves turn a pretty shade of yellow.

Corkscrew Willows are capable of tolerating almost any soil, including wet soils with poor drainage. It needs a full sun to partial sun exposure. Parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. It is hardiest in zones 4 through 8.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea or Cornus stolonifera)
The Red Osier Dogwood has a variety of names including the Arctic Fire Cornus, Red-Twig Dogwood, Red-stemmed Cornel, Redbrush, Cornus baileyi,and Red Willow. It gets its name from its bright red branches that will provide color to any winter garden. In the late spring, it produces small white clusters of flowers that turn into white or red berries. The berries are known to attract many varieties of songbirds and other wildlife.

The Red Osier Dogwood prefers a full sun to partial shade exposure. It likes rich, moist soils with high levels of mineral nutrients and a pH level between 5.5 and 7.0. It will tolerate flooding. This shrub has a fast growth rate and will become anywhere from three to ten feet tall. It is hardiest in zones 3 through 7 and does not generally tolerate the areas with high summer temperatures.

Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Similar to the Red Osier Dogwood, some cultivars of the Bloodtwig Dogwood have red branches. Others have bright orange-yellow or even yellow stems tipped with red that can make a beautiful display in a winter garden. In the late spring, it produces tiny white flower clusters that turn into dark purple fruit. The fruit will attract many songbirds and other wildlife. In the fall, its leaves turn golden yellow.

The Bloodtwig Dogwood needs a full sun to partial shade exposure. The soil should be medium wet and well drained. It will generally tolerate a wide range of soils. In about eight years, this shrub can easily reach five to six feet tall with a similar spread. It is hardiest in zones 3 through 7.

Weeping Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Weeping Beeches are a cultivated variety of the European Beech. Not every Weeping Beech can be considered unique. However, several cultivars of this tree produce unique purple foliage. Some of the more popular cultivars are the 'Purpurea Pendula,' which has dark purple foliage that turns copper in the fall; 'Black Swan,' which has dark purple or black-red leaves; 'Purple Fountain,' which has leaves that are bronze, purple, or green; and the 'Red Obelisk,' which has purple, dissected leaves.

Weeping Beech will grow about ten to twenty feet high with a similar spread. It tends to grow downward until it reaches the ground. It needs a full sun exposure and prefers a well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.8 to 7.7. It will tolerate a variety of soil types including loamy, sandy, and clay. It is hardiest in zones 4 through 7.

Festuca Grass (Festuca glauca)
You may have heard of bluegrass before, but Festuca is literally a blue grass. Some varieties have shades that range from grayish blue to greenish blue; however, other varieties can be amazing shades of bright blue. It also produces small spikes of bluish flowers in the summer that look slightly like blue wheat stalks.

This grass grows fast and will quickly reach its full height of about eight to twelve inches. It is fast growing and will need to be divided and replanted about every two to three years if you want to maintain its color. It is capable of growing in poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun. It is hardiest in zones 4 through 8.

Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrical)
Japanese Blood Grass starts out tipped with a red color that increases throughout the summer until it becomes blood red by the fall. It can be a colorful addition to rock gardens, borders, and containers.

Japanese Blood Grass likes well-drained, moist soils with a full sun to partial shade exposure. It grows about twelve to eighteen inches tall and is slow spreading. Any solid green blades should be removed when they are found to ensure this grass keeps it color. It is hardiest in zones 5 through 9.

Sources:
National Arbor Day Foundation. .
Starbuck, Christopher J. "Selecting Landscape Plants: Uncommon Trees for Specimen Planting." .