Choose the Right Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Your Landscape

A compact, climbing perennial vine, ‘Nelly Moser’ quickly reaches 10 to 15 feet in height. Light pink flowers are streaked with dark pink in late spring and early summer. This is a bright, well-behaved climber for a trellis or fence. This low-maintenance vine can also add bright spots of color running through a bed of shrubs.

• Consider your hardiness zone. ‘Nelly Moser’ clematis grows well in zones 4 to 9.
• Plant during spring. Fertile, moist soil with good drainage is best, but this vine can work in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam and sandy soil.
• Allow at least 48 inches of space between plants.
• Plant where it’ll receive three to six hours of sunlight daily.
• Expect blooms to begin in late spring and carry on into summer.
• Water ‘Nelly Moser’ clematis weekly. In periods of high heat, it’ll need more frequent watering.
• Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead stems just beyond the last couple of good buds.

This brightly colored compact willow (Salix integra) features mottled foliage in hues of green, white and pink. Even in the winter months after the leaves fall, the pink or red stems of the shrub can add visual appeal to your landscape. ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ grows up to 15 to 20 feet tall but can be pruned to a smaller size of 6 to 10 feet, making it one of the best trees for backyard spaces.

• Plant ‘Hakuro Nishiki,’ or dappled willow, in hardiness zones 4 to 9.
• Plant during spring in fertile, moist and well-drained soil. This willow can work in clay, loam or sandy soil types.
• Allow 60 to 72 inches of space between plants.
• Make sure the tree receives partial to full sun — it needs at least three hours of sunlight daily, but six hours or more can bring out the greatest color.
• Look for blooms in spring. ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ can have blossoms until fall.
• Water weekly. The tree will need more water in periods of high heat.
• Prune as necessary in late winter or early spring to allow the growth of new, colorful foliage.

This short, spreading Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata monloo) grows slowly to 2-1/2 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It has attractive, dark green foliage year-round and can be grown as a shrub, small tree, low-maintenance hedge or ground cover. This evergreen shrub also works well on slopes and can help reduce erosion.

• Plant in hardiness zones 4 to 7 for the best results.
• Plan for spring planting in sandy, semi-moist soil with good drainage. It prefers soil that’s slightly acidic.
• Allow for generous space between plants — up to 12 feet.
• Place the Japanese yew in partial to full sun. It requires three to six hours of sunlight or more each day.
• Water each week. It may need supplemental water during periods of high heat.
• Prune in early spring for best results, but the plant will tolerate year-round pruning.

‘Emerald Gaiety’ wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) has dense, deep green foliage edged in bright white. This low-maintenance plant grows 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide and is great for foundation plantings and hedges.

• Plant in hardiness zones 5 to 9 for best performance.
• Plant in spring and summer in well-drained soil. It can handle clay, loam or sandy soil but won’t do well in wet soil.
• Allow for about 9 inches of space between plants.
• Plant in an area that receives a minimum of three hours of sun daily. Full sun — six hours or more daily — will also work, but partial shade will produce the variegated foliage.
• Water a couple of times a week and more frequently in very hot weather.
• Plan on regular maintenance trimming to prevent aggressive spreading.
• Prune to shape the plant after its small flowers bloom.

An award-winning shrub with season-long color, wine and roses offers rosy-pink flowers in spring and rich, dark purple foliage all summer. It’s great in shrub borders or as a specimen plant, and will grow 4 to 5 feet tall. It can also attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

• Plant wine and roses in hardiness zones 4 to 8 for best results.
• Plant in fall or early spring. While it can tolerate a variety of soil types, it needs moist soil that drains well.
• Plan for 5 to 6 feet of space between plants.
• Ensure the plant gets at least six hours of sunlight daily.
• Expect blooms to begin in early spring and continue into late spring.
• Provide supplemental water in dry or hot regions.
• Prune lightly after blooming.

With its upright habit and deep purplish-red foliage, this Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a hit in the landscape. Its slow growth and compact size — 3 to 4 feet tall — make it perfect for smaller gardens, and it can tolerate pollution found in urban areas as well as drought and heat.

• For optimal performance, plant in hardiness zones 4 to 8.
• Plant in spring, summer or fall in soil with good drainage. It works in different soil types but won’t do well in wet soil.
• Be sure the plant gets full sun — at least six hours each day.
• Look for blooms in spring and red berries in fall.
• Plan for 6 inches of space between plants.
• Water about once a week and more frequently in high-heat conditions.
• Prune dead or diseased branches in late winter or early spring to improve air circulation.

A narrow, dense arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), ‘Emerald Green’ makes an excellent screening plant and is one of the best trees for privacy. It grows to be 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide in a pyramidal shape. The disease-resistant foliage retains its color even in winter.

• Plant ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae in hardiness zones 3 to 8 for the best results.
• Plant during spring, summer or fall in moist, well-drained soil. It prefers loam with a neutral pH but can work in other soil types as well.
• Allow 48 inches of space between plants.
• Make sure the plant receives direct sunlight for six hours or more each day.
• Provide water weekly after it’s established.
• Prune only to remove dead or diseased branches and improve air circulation.

This quick-growing perennial vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia monham) grips walls to provide rapid coverage. The deciduous green foliage is splashed with white, providing dramatic variety and texture for the landscape in warm weather and gaining a pink tint in the cooler months.

• Plant star showers Virginia creeper in hardiness zones 4 to 9 for the best performance.
• Plant in spring, summer or fall. It works in a variety of soil types but needs well-drained soil with a medium level of moisture.
• Allow 36 to 48 inches of space between plants.
• Plant in locations that get at least three hours of sunlight. The fast-growing vine needs partial to full sun.
• Water only occasionally. Supply enough water to penetrate the soil deeply.
• Plan on maintenance trimming to keep the plant contained.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is an upright flowering shrub that boasts large pink double flowers in late summer. This shrub grows 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, makes a good screening plant or focal point, and can tolerate pollution from urban areas.

• Plant rose of Sharon in hardiness zones 5 to 9.
• Plant during spring. Semi-moist, fertile soil is best, but this plant can handle poor soils as well.
• Allow for 24 to 36 inches of space between plants.
• Plan for a location that receives partial to full sun — at least three hours of sunlight a day.
• Look for blooms in summer and into early fall.
• Water weekly. Rose of Sharon may need more water in hot conditions or when grown in containers.
• Prune to shape the shrub in late fall after it loses its leaves or before budding begins in early spring.

These big-leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) bloom from late spring to fall and feature white, blue, pink, red, apricot or bicolor flowers. Plants grow 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. These shrubs can attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

• Plant this shrub in hardiness zones 5 to 9.
• Plant in spring, summer and fall in fertile, well-drained, moist soil.
• Allow 36 to 72 inches of space between plants.
• Plant in a location with three to six hours of sun. This shrub does best in the morning sunlight or in areas that get spotty afternoon shade. The east side of a house is a good location.
• Expect spring and summer blooms.
• Water a couple of times each week after the plant has been established but be ready to provide more water in high-heat conditions.
• Prune after the shrub blooms in late summer and early fall, or early in spring to keep the desired shape and size.

This vigorous climbing vine can reach 30 to 50 feet in length and features large maple-like leaves that turn burgundy in fall. It clings to walls and grows over rocks and logs. This vine tolerates poor soil and drought as well as pollution from urban areas.

• Plant this ivy in hardiness zones 4 to 9 for best results.
• Plant in spring or fall in well-drained soil with a medium amount of moisture. Loam is best for this plant.
• Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
• Ensure the ivy gets at least three hours of sun daily.
• Water weekly and be prepared to provide more water in high-heat environments.
• Prune late in winter after the plant enters dormancy. Trim to keep the vine contained if needed.

This disease-resistant shrub rose is decorated with blooms from spring through fall. It grows to be 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It attracts butterflies and comes in a range of colors, including pink, coral, yellow and the double-flowered red pictured here.

• Plant knock out roses where they’ll grow best — in hardiness zones 5 to 11.
• Plant in spring or summer in well-drained soil. Knock out roses work in a variety of soil types, but a neutral pH works best.
• Plant multiple roses with at least 48 inches of space between plants.
• Choose an area where the plant will get full sun — six hours of sunlight or more each day.
• Expect blooms in spring and summer.
• Water a couple of times a week after the rose becomes established if the top few inches of soil are dry.
• Prune to maintain size and remove damaged canes in late winter or in early spring when you see new growth along the canes.