In the Miss-Lou, when we think about flowering trees and shrubs, the first plants that come to mind are our wonderful spring blooming beauties such as redbud, dogwood, azaleas and spiraea. However, many summer blooming shrubs and trees are equally spectacular as far as adding fabulous color to your landscape. With a great variety of sizes and shapes available, these plants are useful as fillers and back drops to perennial borders or as stand-alone specimens.

A late spring-summer winner is the lilac chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). This old-time favorite adds marvelous hues to the garden and as the common name might suggest, it has a colorful history too. Commonly called vitex and native to the Mediterranean region, historically this tree is recognized as a powerful herbal medicine. Featured in Homer’s Iliad, the chaste tree represented a symbol of chastity. Modern research shows that chaste tree is very useful in the treatment of a variety of female ailments.

The chaste tree is a great addition to any sunny landscape. Growing to 10-20 feet tall and equally as wide, the deciduous chaste has six-to-seven inch showy fragrant flowers in clusters. The foliage has a gray-green color and is aromatic. Typically, chaste tree blooms are brilliant blue in color although lavender, pink and white flowering varieties are also grown — the blue flowers are the most prized for a reason.

For a spectacular mid-summer blooming, small tree, a real winner is the golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata). As the name suggests, the flowers are golden-yellow. Golden raintree is deciduous, reaching 20-30 feet in height and spreading 15-20 feet. Generally, this tree is pest and disease free. Leaves of the golden raintree resemble those of a Chinaberry tree. Give this small tree plenty of sunshine and good drainage. As an added bonus, the seedpods that form after flowering are equally eye-catching. This stunning tree is another in the long list of plants introduced to the United States by President Thomas Jefferson.

The butterfly bush (Buddleia) is an outstanding deciduous shrub that is very showy in a mixed border or as a specimen. A fertile, well-drained site in full to partial sun is essential for butterfly bush. Long arching branches with gray-green foliage bear lovely 12-inch conical shaped plumes from summer through fall. The height and spread of a butterfly bush depends on the species or variety grown. Dwarf varieties reach only 3-4 feet in height and spread, while others may grow to more than twice that size.

As the name suggests, the butterfly bush is a wonderful selection for attracting butterflies to your surroundings. The intensely fragrant blooms contain delicious nectar that is an excellent source of food. Available with purple, deep reddish-blue, blue, pink, white or yellow flowers, there is a butterfly bush suitable for any color scheme. In addition, the dazzling flowers are spectacular in cut flower arrangements.

Althea, also known as Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) and of course, the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) are some of the other wonderful, summer flowering selections for the Miss-Lou.

As you are working on your landscape this spring, imagine a sensational summer scene accented with a few of these colorful flowering trees and shrubs — then, make it happen.

Traci maier can be reached by e-mail at ratmaier@bellsouth.net.