Plants With Year-Round Interest

Crimson King Norway Maple

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’

Gardener’s Note: The Norway Maple and its cultivars can be invasive.

• Dense green tree that fills with maroon yellow blooms in the spring.
• Oval to rounded crown fills provides a lot of shade.
• Plant in part sun to full shade.
• Needs well-drained soil.
• Height 35-45 feet
• Width 25-40 feet

This tree has a shallow root system, which can compete with grass and make mowing under the tree difficult. Best for a more natural, less manicured landscape.

• Hardy USDA Zones 3-7
• Zone 3: Plant in part sun or full sun. Needs well-drained soil.
• Zone 4: Plant in part sun or full sun. Needs well-drained soil.
• Zone 5: Plant in part sun or full sun. Needs well-drained soil.
• Zone 6: Plant in part sun or full sun. Needs well-drained soil.
• Zone 7: Plant in part sun or full sun. Needs well-drained soil.

English Roseum Rhododendron

Rhododendron ‘English Roseum’

• Dense evergreen shrub with pink blooms in the spring.
• Plant in rich garden soil that is moist, but well drained.
• Plant in light to partial shade.
• Height: 6-8 feet
• Width: 6-8 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 4-7 (South) 8 (West):

• Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; mulch in fall; avoid exposure to salt and winter wind.
• Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; mulch in fall; avoid exposure to salt and winter wind.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in light to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; mulch in fall; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
• Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in light to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
• Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in light to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells; will suffer in warmer areas of this zone, especially in the south, but will be more tolerant of zone 8 in the cooler Pacific Northwest.

Summer Snowflake Doublefile Viburnum

Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake

• Deciduous shrub with horizontal branching and white lace-cap flowers from spring to fall and good fall color.
• Plant in full sun to partial shade.
• Plant in average to moist soil.
• Height: 6-8 feet
• Width: 6-8 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:

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

Snow Fairy Caryopteris (Blue Beard)

Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’

• Low-growing woody perennial with variegated white/green leaves and blue flowers in summer.
• Plant in average garden soil that is well drained, can tolerate poor soil; drought tolerant.
• Leaves have unpleasant odor if crushed.
• Prune while dormant.
• Plant in full sun.
• Attractive to bees and butterflies.
• Height: 2 feet
• Width: 2 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 6-9:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.

Golden Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’

• Deciduous, shade-tolerant, clump-forming perennial grass with bright gold foliage.
• Plant in rich, organic soil.
• Plant in light to partial shade.
• Height: to 10 inches
• Width: to 18 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 5-8 (South); 5-10 (West):

• Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in light shade; protect with mulch in fall.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; protect with mulch in fall.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; protect with mulch in fall.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; protect with mulch in fall.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; protect with mulch in fall; plant may languish in this zone in the Southern United States.
• Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; protect with mulch in fall; plant may languish in this zone in the Southern United States.

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia pensylvanica

• Large, deciduous fern reaching upwards of four feet.
• Plant in rich, wet to moist soil.
• Plant in medium to full shade for all zones.
• Hardy in AHS heat zones 8-1

Hardy in USDA zones 3-8:

• Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; mulch heavily after first hard frost; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.
• Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; mulch after first hard frost; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.
• Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; mulch after first hard frost; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring or fall; mulch in the fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring or fall; mulch in the fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring or fall; mulch in the fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide as new growth appears in early spring.

Green Spice Coral Bells

Heuchera Americana ‘Green Spice’

• Evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial with gray-edged silver leaves and purple veins.
• White flowers on stems above the foliage in spring.
• Plant in partial to full shade.
• Plant in moist to dry, but well drained rich soil.
• Fertilize in spring as new foliage appears.
• Height: 10-12 inches
• Width: 15-18 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 4-9:

• Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; mulch after planting and again after first hard frost to prevent heaving; avoid contact with salt; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.
• Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; mulch after planting and again after first hard frost to prevent heaving; avoid contact with salt; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in partial to medium shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears; pull mulch away from crown in spring.

Petunia Hybrid

Supertunia® ‘Royal Velvet’

• Spreading tender perennial grown as an annual with profuse purple flowers.
• Vigorous growth.
• Good heat tolerance.
• Plant in full sun.
• Plant in rich, but well-drained soil; water and fertilize regularly.
• Height: 5-7 inches
• Width: 24-36 inches, spreading

Annual or houseplant in USDA zones 2-9
Tender perennial in USDA zones 10-11:

• Zones 2-9: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; mulch in colder zones for protection; plant in full sun; fertilizer frequently; water when dry; bring indoors before first frost or discard after frost.
• Zones 10-11: Plant in spring; mulch to conserve moisture; plant in full sun; fertilizer frequently; water when dry; cut back by half fall; water sparingly in winter.

Variegated Lilyturf

Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’

• Thick, tufted evergreen ground cover with linear foliage with creamy edges.
• Blue-purple flowers in fall followed by a dark berries.
• Plant in full sun to full shade.
• Prune or mow in late winter; divide in spring.
• Plant in fertile, moist but well-drained soil; water freely until established.
• Height: 12 inches
• Width: 18 inches

Hardy in zones 6-10:

• Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; protect from drying winds.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; protect from drying winds.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to moderate shade; mulch in fall; protect from drying winds.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to full shade; mulch in fall; protect from drying winds.
• Zone 10: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to full shade; mulch in fall; protect from drying winds.

Vera Jameson Stonecrop

Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’

• Low-growing perennial with succulent foliage that turns burgundy in the fall and pink flowers.
• Plant in full sun.
• Plant in average to poor, but well-drained soil.
• Heat and drought tolerant.
• Height: 8-12 inches
• Width: 12 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 3-9:

• Zone 3: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt.
• Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
• Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
• Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
• Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.