Five Amazing Shrubs

 A garden designer recommends five plants 

I always call low-maintenance, high-impact plants a "rental plant." To me, that means a plant that keeps the garden going by reliably contributing year-round interest. If a plant is only good for two or three weeks, I don't use it. As a result, I rely heavily on shrubs—especially these eight—as key players in my borders. Every gardener wants a garden that's easy to care for, and shrubs provide long-lasting impact without all the work of perennials. In fact, you can use these plants in a border and make an interesting, beautiful planting all year round.

1. An unusual hydrangea

I love all hydrangeas, but the oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorites because its large leaves look beautiful on their own and in combination with other plants. The large, oakleaf-shaped leaves contrast well with smaller-leaved plants, but the white flowers in large panicles, which turn pink as they age, make 'Snowflake' oakleaf hydrangea a winner. Its flowers are double, tube-in-hose, meaning that as the new white petals emerge from the center of the flower, the older petals hold and fade to pink, creating complexity and depth to the flower. The show continues throughout the fall as the foliage turns red, reaching deeper hues on plants located in full sun. Flowers last through winter to complement the shrub's fiery bark. 'Snowflake' grows up to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide - but won't grow too large if grown in the shade it prefers in hot climates.

2. Stunning seasonal color

Some of the shrubs I rely on are spireas, as are hydrangea. Most spireas are relatively small, making them useful. They can look normal if clipped, or wild and wavy if allowed to grow unpruned. 'Ocon' spirea grows to 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with a compact form in full sun. Small white flowers are the first to open, followed by narrow, apple green leaves that turn vibrant yellow-green and light up the summer border. Its narrow leaves contrast beautifully with oakleaf hydrangea, and the golden color complements the red leaves of shrubs such as purple smoke bush.

3. Smoky shades of purple

Placed where the sun shines through them, purple smoke bushes light up the border. Their stems grow straight like pipe cleaners, making useful additions to any border that requires a variety of shapes. Growing up to 15 feet tall and wide, purple smoke bushes can be controlled by cutting back hard each spring after the first leaves break. They send out new growth every year. Older plants grown in full sun will "smoke" (flower) if left unpruned and even young specimens will turn a striking burnt orange-purple in autumn.

4. Endless Rose

I've never been much of a rose fan, but I have to admit that the Knockout ® series of roses are practically perfect plants. These shrubs, 2 to 4 feet tall and wide, bloom from mid-spring through fall. In zones 6 and warmer, they bloom well into December, meaning they contribute to the garden nearly nine months of the year. Knockout ® roses do not require pruning to bloom again and are disease and pest resistant, so their value is guaranteed. New stems and leaves are purple, especially in red-flowered 'Ratras' varieties.

5. A green and white charm

When it comes to greenery, colorful plants always top my list. An excellent evergreen is 'Emerald Gaiety' wintercreeper, a 3-foot-tall and 5-foot-wide ground cover that looks wonderful when grown in front of tall shrubs. Its greenish-white foliage lasts all winter and has an attractive pink edge. 'Emerald Gaiety' has a compact, bushy form that is particularly useful as a ground cover or as an accent at the front of a border.