I’ve always had a fondness for shrubs. They are the workhorses of the garden. Planted in the right spot they require less care than perennials or trees do. They reliably leaf out, bloom and display fall colors. And they ask for little in return.

And nothing beats native shrubs. They are perfectly suited for our climate, are not invasive and they give you that good “green” feeling when you plant them (wildlife depend on them).

Two shrubs are currently going nuts in my garden and all over western Washington. They are the Mahonias (Oregon grape) and the Ribes (current).

I have three types of Mahonias. With evergreen holly-like leaves and brilliant yellow blossoms they make quite a sight. Aquifolium is the tall variety, nervosa is the waist-high variety (pictured above) and repens is the dwarf. They are all native. There are many other Mahonias on the market from other parts of the world. Some are spectacular. But choose wisely. They can be invasive.

Ribes sanguineum, the redflower current, is tremendously beautiful this time of year. (See the photo above) The deciduous plant can reach 12 feet tall. Our native variety is actually a dark pink but there are stunning white and lighter pink blossomed varieties on the market as well as a pink blossomed/chartreuse leafed version. The latter I have in my garden in a shady spot where light foliage isn’t washed out in the sun. Here’s a picture…

If you’re driving on I-5 in Lacey anytime soon you can see what a mass of native shrubs looks like. The Washington Department of Transportation has surrounded the Marvin Road/I-5 interchange with Mahonias and Ribes. It’s something to see right now.

Just don’t take your eyes off the road too long.