Fast Growing Ornamental Shrubs: Shrubs are ornamental horticulture/floriculture plants in Landscape Gardening. It is a very important species of horticulture plant. Here we will know about some Important Species of Ornamental Shrubs.
Definition/Meaning
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS: Ornamental plants are a group of different flowering, foliage and stylish plants. These plants are used for the beautification of selected part of a site or other places.
Table 01. Examples of different ornamental plants used in Landscaping.
S. N. | Flowering Plants | Foliage Plants | Other Types |
1. | Jasmine | Difenbachia | Bonsai, ornamental bamboo. |
SCREENING: In ornamental horticulture screening is a way to hide or protect main crop from unwanted manmade and natural phenomena. Example- plants of beautiful species of cactus can be placed at the border of plant nursery beds to protect them from hot wind.
LANDSCAPING:
landscaping or landscape designing is an art of modifying the overall appearance of a given piece of land using different ornamental plants. It is an artificial process. A garden or national and international playgrounds are the example of artificially landscaped area.
SHRUBS: Shrub is a semi-woody or woody plant. It is a perennial plant. The height of a shrubs is up to 4 meters. Less number or no trunk is the main characteristic of a shrub.
Ornamental Shrubs: Introduction
There are different ornamental shrubs. These shrubs can be divided into two groups:
- Hedge.
- Edge.
Shrubs are used as hedge and edge in ornamental horticulture. Classification of hedge according to height:
- Dwarf hedge: 1 meter.
- Tall hedge: 2.5 – 4 meter.
Also Read: Cultivation Practice of African Marigold.
Hedge
When the tall hedges are planted at the border of nursery, crop field or around a building, it is called hedge.
Table 02. Examples of Tall ornamental hedge.
S. N. | C. N. | Sc. Name | Remarks |
1. | False ashoka | Polyalthia longifolia | Originated in India |
2. | Orange Jasmine | Murraya exotica | South-east Asia |
3. | Chinese weeping cypree | Cupressus funeberis | Central China |
4. | Heena/hina | Lawsonia alba | Source of dye hina |
5. | Thuja | Thuja orientalis | Easy to make topiary |
Table 03. Examples of Tall Protective hedge
S. N. | C. N. | Sc. Name | Remarks |
1. | Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea spp. | Native to S. America |
2. | Madras Thorn, Ganga Emli in C. G. | Inga dulcis | Native to laconic coast |
3. | Durenta | Duranta spp. | Golden berry |
4. | Carandus plum, karonda in Hindi | Carissa carandus | Fruits are used to make pickles |
5. | Sweet acacia | Acacia farnensiana | Vachellia farnensia var. farnensia is wild species |
Edge
When dwarf shrubs are planted at the border of plant nursery, nursery path or other place, it is called edge.
Table 04. Examples of dwarf ornamental edge
S. N. | C. N. | Sc. Name | Remarks |
1. | Lantana white | Lantana sellowiana | |
2. | Garden privet | Linustrum ovalifolium |
Table 05. Examples of dwarf protective edge
S. N. | C. N. | Sc. Name | Remarks |
1. | Berberis | Berberis spp. | |
2. | Opuntia | Opuntia spp. |
Purpose of Planting Shrubs
- To glorify overall appearance of surrounding.
- As wind break.
- Shelter for birds in summer.
- As live boundary.
- Avenue planting.
- Rookeries.
- Cut flower and foliage.
- Kitchen garden.
- Terrace garden.
- Hedge and
- Edge.
Ideal Site For Planting Shrubs
- Avoid shade of tree.
- Planting should be done in South-east direction.
- Availability of ample space.
Fast Growing Shrubs
Here we are going to describe about some fast and easy growing species of shrubs. The list is as fallow:
- Jasmine.
- Duranta.
JASMINE
Categoery: Hedge
- Scientific name: Jasminum officinale.
- Family: Oleaceae.
- Origin: Native go Eurasia, Oceania.
- Propagation: cutting.
- Characteristics: Flowers are fragrant and source of jasmine essential oil. It is both deciduous and evergreen plant. Flowers are used as cut flower.
- Ideal Site: Site should be free from overshadow. Marshland is not suitable.
Duranta
Category: Edge/hedge

- Scientific name: Duranta erecta.
- Family: Verbenaceae.
- Origin: Native to Australia.
- Propagation: Cuttings.
- Characteristic: Hard plant.
- Site: All cultivable land.
Oleander
Category: Hedge

Scientific name: Nerium oleander.
Family: Apocynaceae.
Origin: Morocco, Mauritania, Mediterranean region.
Propagation: Cutting is successful using root producing hormones.
Characteristics: Evergreen plant. Hard in nature.
Site: All types of soil.
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