Comparison of Introduced Adaptability and Ornamental Evaluation of Five Ornamental Shrubs in the Xining City

This study introduced and cultivated five ornamental shrubs—Viburnum opulus L., Viburnum opulus Linn. var. cattlecens, Hydrangea paniculata Sieb, Symphoricarpos albus, and Spiraea japonica L.f—and tested their adaptability to open field conditions. Using grey correla-

tion analysis, their ornamental value was comprehensively assessed. The findings indicated that V. opulus, V. opulus Linn. var. calvescens, S. albus, and S. japonica L.f. could flower, fruit, and shed leaves normally in the Xining area, demonstrating good adaptability and suitability for landscaping there. For H. paniculata Sieb., about one-third of the length of one-year-old twigs dried and failed to sprout after winter, while approximately two-thirds of the lower part successfully germinated, grew, and bloomed. Its large panicle size and extended flowering period make it a recommended garden ornamental tree species to be introduced in suitable microclimate locations as a perennial, helping to address the shortage of flowering trees in autumn. The grey correlation analysis ranked the plants’ ornamental value as follows: S. japonica L.f. > V. opulus > V. opulus Linn. var. cattlecens > H. paniculata Sieb. > S. albus. S. japonica L.f. exhibited strong growth, excellent ornamental qualities, and robust ecological adaptability in the Xining area, making it a preferred choice for local gardens. Overall, this study provides a theoretical foundation for introducing and selecting ornamental shrubs and for garden plant arrangement in the Xining region.