A shrub is a small, woody, tree-like plant that typically grows no taller than 20 feet. Unlike a tree, which grows from a single trunk or stem structure, a shrub typically grows from multiple stems. In home landscape settings, shrubs are ideal for serving as hedges or borders, as they provide dense foliage, are low maintenance and can provide visual interest during the winter months. Does this Spark an idea?
Climactic Adaptations
The success you have with growing a shrub will depend largely on the type or species of shrub you are using. As with all plants, different shrubs have adapted to different climates and thrive best in the temperature and weather conditions they are used to. When you grow a shrub in foreign conditions, extensive irrigation, fertilizing and other treatments may become necessary to ensure shrub survival. So depending on the region you live in, certain types of shrubs may be better for growing in your landscape than others. As examples, The Alliance For Water Efficiency notes that witch hazel and Scotch broom grow well in the Southeast; cranberry bush and Canada yew grow well in New England; Apache plume and Mormon tea grow well in the Southwest; peas shrub and fern bush grow well in the Rocky Mountains; butterfly bush and acacia grow well in California; and mock orange and boxwood grow well in the Pacific Northwest.
Water-Spending
Shrubs are well-known for being able to persist in dry, arid soils. Shrubs achieve this resistance to drought and dryness typically through one of two adaptations: water-spending or water-saving. Shrubs that are water-spenders utilize water immediately upon receiving it from the ground -- via their roots -- or from rain, via their foliage. The cell wall rigidity of water-spending shrubs is low, which allows moisture to easily penetrate inside. This adaptation ensures that no water is wasted when it finally becomes available. Examples of water-spending shrubs include sand willow (Salix psammophila) and sweetvech (Hedysarum mongolicum).
Water-Saving
Water-saving shrubs utilize the opposite strategy of water-spenders for resisting drought. Instead of maximizing water usage during episodes of water availability, the shrubs maximize water storage, which allows them to utilize the water for carrying out life processes as necessary. Similar to succulent cacti, water-saving shrubs have thick skin and rigid cell walls for preventing water from escaping. Examples include the savin juniper (Sabina vulgaris) and oil firewood (Tetraena mongolica).
Fire Resistance
Shrubs belonging to the pocosin classification of plants have natural adaptations that allow them to thrive following forest or wild fires. The shrubs utilize underground organs, similar to bulbs or tubers, which allow the plants to re-emerge following infernos. Pocosin shrubs also promote fires due to their tough leaves, which decompose slowly, accumulating on the ground as fuel.
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