15 Plants for the Yard

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’–Otto Luyken Laurel

• All parts of plant are highly poisonous.
• Susceptible to bacterial shot-hole disease
• Height: 3-5 feet
• Width: 4-6 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 6-8 (9):

• Zone 6: Plant in fall or early spring; mulch heavily after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
• Zone 7-8: Plant in early fall; mulch in fall; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
• Zone 9: Plant in early fall; mulch in fall; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; growth may not be as vigorous in this zone.

Care for Otto Luyken Laurel:

• Plant in moist, but well drained soil; water when dry.
• Tolerates pruning well; used frequently as a hedge; prune in early spring before new growth.
• Plant in full sun to shade; very shade tolerant.

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea’–Gold Thread Chamaecyparis (False Cypress)

• Slow growing; unusual texture
• Interesting evergreen that can be massed together for a screen or used as a specimen.
• Even though this plant can get large (upwards of 20 feet), the slow growth rate and the ability to be pruned make it useful in smaller landscapes.
• The colorful foliage, which holds its color well year round, can be used as a backdrop or to complement plants with darker foliage.
• This conifer handles the southern heat very well.
• Height: 6-10 feet
• Width: 3-7 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:

• Zone 4-5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.
• Zone 6: Plant in early spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch heavily after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.
• Zone 7-8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch heavily after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.

Care for Gold Thread Chamaecyparis:

• Plant in organic, but well drained soil; water when dry.
• Plant in full sun to light shade.

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’–Bloodgood Japanese Maple

• Foliage color is better in full sun, but the plant may get brown leaf edges during hot, dry weather.
• Can be used in partial shade.
• The tree has moderate growth rate, which can be accelerated in full sun with good soil, water and nutrition.
• Height: 12-15 feet
• Width: 12-15 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:

• Zone 5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch heavily after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.
• Zone 6: Plant in early spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch heavily after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.
• Zone 7-8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch heavily after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer; water during dry spells.

Care for Bloodgood Japanese Maple:

• Plant in full sun to partial shade; foliage color is best in full sun.
• Plant in organic, but well drained soil.
• Water when dry.

Encore Azalea x Roblea ‘Autumn Princess’–Autumn Princess Azalea

• Unlike common azaleas, the Encore series is noted for its repeat bloom in the fall.
• There are (at last count) approximately 21 cultivars in this line that range in color from red through pink to white with and without stripes.
• Height: 3-5 feet
• Width: 3-5 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 7-9 (10):

• Zone 7-10: Plant in fall; plant in light to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells.

Care for Autumn Princess Azalea:

• Plant in light to partial shade.
• Plant in rich garden soil that is moist, but well drained.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘White Gem’–White Gem Gardenia

• Dwarf evergreen shrub with shiny foliage and heavenly fragrant white flowers in summer
• In a protected environment, it can be used successfully as a ground cover or at the front of a shrub border along paths and foundations.
• Height: 1-2 feet
• Width: 1-2 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 8-11:

• Zone 8-11: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.

Care for White Gem Gardenia:

• Plant in full sun to partial shade.
• Plant in rich garden soil that is well drained Plants do poorly in heavy soil.
• Whiteflies are one of the greatest pests to this plant and can cause significant blackening of the foliage.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Pink Elf’–Pink Elf Hydrangea

• Due to its small size, it can be planted in small gardens or where space is at a premium. It can be used in a container, but caution should be used to protect it from winter damage.
• Deer cause the most problems for this plant in the landscape.
• Height: 1-2 feet
• Width: 2-3 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 6-9:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring or very early fall; apply mulch after first hard frost; plant in light shade with protection from afternoon sun; plant may fail to bloom after hard late frosts; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
• Zone 7: Plant in early fall; apply mulch in fall; plant in light to partial shade with protection from afternoon sun; blooming may decrease after hard late frosts; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
• Zone 8-9: Plant in early fall; plant in partial shade with protection from afternoon sun; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Care for Pink Elf Hydrangea:

• Plant in moist, but well-drained soil.
• Plant in light to partial shade; prune after flowering in summer.
• It can be used in a container, but caution should be used to protect it from winter damage.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis–Himalayan Sweetbox

• Small fragrant white flowers in late winter or early spring.
• Height: 12-24 inches
• Width: 3-6 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 6-9:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring or very early fall; apply mulch after first hard frost; pull back mulch in spring; water when dry.
• Zone 7: Plant in early fall; apply mulch in fall; pull back mulch in spring; water when dry.
• Zone 8-9: Plant in early fall; water when dry.

Care for Sweetbox:

• Moist, but well-drained soil.
• Plant in partial to full shade.

Abelia x ‘Rose Creek’–Rose Creek Abelia

• Fragrant, white flowers
• Attractive to bees and butterflies
• Height: 24-36 inches
• Width: 36-48 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 6-9:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water when dry.
• Zone 7-8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water when dry.
• Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch after planting and again in spring; water when dry.

Care for Rose Creek Abelia:

• Plant in full sun to partial shade; foliage and flowering is better in full sun.
• Plant in average garden soil that is well drained.

Agapanthus africanus ‘Blue African Lily’–Lily of the Nile or Blue African Lily

• Produces fragrant, blue flowers that are 1 to 2 inches long, shaped like small funnels, 6 to 12 inches across early in the season
• May be grown outside or inside as a house plant
• Grows 2 to 3 feet high with a spread from 1.5 to 2 feet
• Attractive to bees, butterflies
• Zones 9-10; in some areas it’s grown as an annual

Care for Lily of the Nile:

• Full sun.
• Handling plant may cause skin irritation.
• Average water needs; do not over water.
• Can be used as a house plant; Keep the soil uniformly moist in summer but slightly dry in winter.
• If over-wintered, mulch and well-drained soil are essential.

Cuphea llavea–Batface Cuphea

• Tiny elongated purples and red blossoms that resemble a bat’s face bloom from spring to frost.
• It has an upright growth habit with a height of 1 foot and a spread of several feet under good conditions.
• Not prone to insect or disease problems.
• Some call it the Mickey Mouse plant.
• All zones — it’s an annual

Care for Batface Cuphea:

• Sun to partial shade.
• Water regularly.

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’–Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (aka Contorted Filbert)

• Plant in moist, but well drained soil.
• Prune non-contorted branches at any time, prune others in late winter as needed.
• Plant in full sun to light shade; flowering is better in sun.
• Height: 8-10 feet
• Width: 6-8 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:

• Zone 4-5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; water regularly in dry spells during growing season; apply mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring or very early fall; apply mulch after first hard frost; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
• Zone 7: Plant in early fall; apply mulch in fall; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
• Zone 8-9: Plant in early fall; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Lantana ‘New Gold’–New Gold Lantana

• Plant in full sun
• Plant in average to dry, well-drained soil
• Height: 1-2 feet
• Width: 3-4 feet

Hardy in USDA zones: 8b-10

• Zones 2-8a: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; plant in well-drained soil; pull up dead plants after first hard frost.
• Zone 8b: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; do not prune back dead stems until early spring.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; prune back dead stems in fall or early spring.
• Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; may continue flower throughout most of year; prune as needed.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’–Goshiki Osmanthus

• Upright evergreen with spiny multi-colored foliage in pink, green, gold and cream
• Plant in light to partial shade
• Plant in average garden soil that is well-drained
• Height: 5 feet
• Width: 4 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 6-9:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in light to partial shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water when dry.
• Zone 7-8: Plant in early fall; plant in light to partial shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water when dry.
• Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in light to partial shade; mulch after planting and again in spring; water when dry.

Aucuba japonica–Japanese Aucuba

• Plant in partial to full shade.
• Avoid planting in areas with heavy deer concentrations.
• Plant in average garden soil that is well-drained; fertilize in spring.
• Height: 4-6 feet
• Width: 4-6 feet

Hardy in USDA zones (6) 7-10:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells, especially in winter; mulch in fall; may be deciduous and suffer some tip dieback in harsh winter.
• Zone 7-10: Plant in fall; plant in partial to full shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells, especially in winter; mulch in fall.

Mahonia aquifolium–Oregon Grape (Mahonia)

• Plant in fertile, rich soil that is well-drained.
• Plant in partial to full shade with protection from drying winds.
• Height: 3-10 feet
• Width: 3-8 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:

• Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in partial to full shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in partial to full shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells, especially in winter.
• Zone 8-9: Plant in fall; plant in partial to full shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells, especially in winter.