Plant List
Gold Mound Spirea
Although S. japonica is listed as a nonnative invasive shrub, ‘Gold Mound’ is actually a hybrid of Spiraea japonica var. alpina and S. x bumalda ‘Gold Flame’. It may be sterile, but further research is warranted.
Deciduous shrub noted for its golden foliage and pink flowers in early summer
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Plant in rich but well-drained soil
Water regularly until established; fertilize in spring; prune 1/2 to 1/3 when dormant
Height: 2-3 feet; width: 3-4 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
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 or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; gold foliage may fade and defoliate early in hot, dry weather.
Blue Princess Holly
Evergreen shrub noted for its glossy green foliage and abundant red fruit (female cultivar)
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Plant in rich but well-drained soil
Water regularly until established
Prune in spring as needed
Height: 10 feet; width: 10 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-7:
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 or early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall.
Russian Sage
Deciduous shrub with silver foliage and showy violet-blue flowers in late summer and early fall
Height: 3-5 feet; width: 2-4 feet
Plant in poor to average garden soil that is well drained
Plant in full sun; prune severely when dormant
Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:
Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; prune back to 12 inches and mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; prune back to 12 inches and mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; prune back to 12 inches and mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; prune back to 12 inches and mulch in fall; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; prune back to 12 inches and mulch in fall; pull back mulch in spring.
Little Princess Spiraea
This is a nonnative plant that is on the invasive watch list of the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia and the U.S. Forest Service. It is best avoided near moist areas.
Deciduous shrub with light-green foliage, rose-pink flowers
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Plant in rich but well-drained soil
Water regularly until established; fertilize in spring; prune one-half to one-third when dormant
Deadhead to prevent the formation of seeds that produce unwanted seedlings
Height: 2-3 feet; width: to 3 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9:
Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt; may suffer some tip dieback in this zone.
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 to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; may defoliate early in hot, dry weather.
Purple Emperor Stonecrop
Deciduous perennial with succulent dark-purple foliage and pinkish-purple flowers
Plant in full sun
Plant in average to poor but well-drained soil
Heat and drought tolerant
Height: 12-15 inches; width: 12-15 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 early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Autumn Joy Stonecrop
Deciduous perennial with succulent green foliage and pink flowers
Plant in full sun
Plant in average to poor but well-drained soil
Heat and drought tolerant
Height: 12-15 inches; width: 12-15 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 3-10:
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 early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Zone 10: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Tricolor Stonecrop
Evergreen perennial groundcover with succulent pale-reen leaves with cream and edged in pink
Pink flowers in summer
Plant in full sun
Plant in average to poor but well-drained soil
Heat and drought tolerant
Height: 3-4 inches; with: 12-15 inches, spreading, possibly invasive
Hardy in USDA zones (3) 4-9:
Zone 3: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt; may be marginally hardy in this zone without adequate protection or snow cover.
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: Pant 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 early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall.
Becky Shasta Daisy
Herbaceous perennial with large white daisy flowers in early to mid-summer
Tolerant of most well-drained soils
Plant in full sun; prune foliage back after flowering
Fertilize in spring; divide in spring when new foliage appears
Height: 2-4 feet; width: 1-3 feet, slowly spreading
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Daybreak Yoshino Cherry
Deciduous tree with showy white to soft-pink flowers in early spring before the leaves
Fast-growing tree popularized by the Washington Cherry Blossom Festival
Plant in full sun for best flowering; prune, if needed, after flowering
Fertilize in spring
Height: 25-35 feet; width: 25-40 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:
Zone 5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring; flower buds may be damaged by late frosts.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
Mellow Yellow Spiraea
Gardener’s Note: This is a nonnative plant as reported by the National Park Service and has been reported invasive in North Carolina.
Deciduous arching shrub with bright-yellow foliage in spring and white flowers in summer
Foliage changes to greenish yellow in summer, then russet in the fall
Plant in full sun for best flowering and foliage color
Plant in rich but well-drained soil
Water regularly until established; fertilize in spring; prune after flowering
Deadhead to prevent the formation of seeds that produce unwanted seedlings
Height: 3-6 feet; width: 3-6 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; avoid contact with salt; may suffer some tip dieback in this zone.
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 to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; plant may have muted foliage color and defoliate early in hot, dry weather.
Dianthus
Trailing evergreen perennial grown as a groundcover or in containers with silver foliage and pink flowers in mid-spring
Plant in moist but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun
Shear back after flowering to promote reblooming
Height: 7 inches; width: 12 inches
Hardy in USDA zones (3) 4-9:
Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may be marginally hardy in this zone.
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
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; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun.
Apricot Beauty Tulip
Annual or perennial bulb with apricot blooms with light-rose flames on outer petals in mid-spring
Plant in rich but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun
Divide every few years in early spring
Height: 14-16 inches; width: 6 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 3-6(7,8):
Zone 3: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 4: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; plants are often short-lived or annual in this warmer zone.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun; plants are often short-lived or annual in this warmer zone.
Japanese Pachysandra
A native alternative is the Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), which has bolder foliage and larger flowers.
Spreading, evergreen groundcover with white flowers in the spring
Plant in partial to full shade
Plant in average to dry well-drained soil
Height: 6-12 inches; width: 18-24 inches, spreading
Hardy in USDA zones: 4-8
Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; mulch in fall; avoid contact with salt; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade; mulch in fall; avoid contact with salt; pull back mulch in spring.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade.
Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade.
Next Up
Desert Plants
Plant Shopping List
12 Plant Varieties and Their Zones
Shade-Tolerant Plants
Plant Labels
Shade Trees and Easy-Care Perennials
More Items for a Nursery Shopping List
More Foliage, More Flowers
More Plants and Foliage
