Dwarf Plants
by Dr. Robert Black, Consumer Horticultural Specialist

After many years of pruning the ligustrum, arborvitae and spreading juniper from the front door welcome mat, homeowners have come to realize and appreciate the advantages of dwarf plants.

In search of replacements for the overly large doorway plots, plant breeders have introduced many new and exciting and very useful dwarfs . . . and dwarfs they are . . . compared to our larger, more common shrub plantings which commonly reach six and eight feet high and wide.

In the nursery trade a dwarf plant is one that is three feet or less in ultimate height. The homeowner, or grower, must plant with the ultimate height or size in mind so as to allow ample and ultimate growing room and to eliminate the constant chore of pruning to keep the plant in proper perspective.

Dwarf plants are best used in small, detailed areas where they will be observed at close range, such as patio and entrance areas. The small sizes are not significant in back borders or distant plantings or without close observation. Popular dwarfs are in demand along walk areas, beneath low windows and walks and in close conjunction with detailed gardens, and planter box plantings.

The wide versatility and adaptability of dwarf plants add to their popularity. There are dwarfs adaptable to fully-shaded areas, open sun, pot and tub plantings, clipped borders, ground-covers, and for formal and informal plantings. Because of their size, they mix well in group or mass plantings or in combination with other plants. The dwarf plant, too, can be used as a single specimen or accent plant.

Many of the larger standards now come in "dwarf models." One can grow dwarf junipers, pyracantha, nandina, pittosporum, gardenia, bamboo, barberry, sasanqua, crape myrtle, pomegranate, yucca and holly.

There are dwarfs which prefer dense shade, such as holly fern, fatsia, aucuba, dwarf azalea, mahonia, holly malpighia and vinca, while others prefer a sunny exposure, such as junipers, hollies, barberry, pomegranate, crape myrtle, pyracantha, and dwarf natal-plum. Still, there are some dwarfs which are not particular at all and will grow in sun or partial shade. These include the popular dwarf yaupon holly, many hollies, nandina, japanese black pine, japanese purple honeysuckle, Indian hawthorne, boxwood, pittosporum, coontie and dwarf sasanqua.

For that special accent or specimen planting, there are dwarfs which make excellent tub or pot plants for entrance, poolside, and patio areas. Those which are most adaptable include: holly fern, fatsia, dwarf yaupon, dwarf nandina, aucuba, japanese black pine, dwarf yucca, and dwarf bamboo. The advantage of the hardy dwarfs in pots and tubs is that they will tolerate winter conditions out of doors and do not require shifting or lifting to protected areas come winter.

Some dwarfs which reward the grower with seasonal blooms include: dwarf azalea, cuphea, dwarf sasanqua, dwarf gardenia, dwarf crape myrtle, pomegranate, lantana, japanese purple honeysuckle and Indian hawthorne. Others produce attractive fruit or berry, such as some of the dwarf hollies, mahonia, and pyracantha. Many of those which did not flower or fruit display rich colorful foliage, as do aucuba, senecio, dwarf nandina, and some of the dwarf junipers. Now is an ideal time to decide what contributions dwarfs can make in your landscape.