Plants for a Small Urban Garden
Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum
- Small to medium deciduous tree with cinnamon-colored exfoliating bark and red fall color
- Plant in rich, moist but well-drained soil; fertilize in spring
- Plant in full sun to light shade; prune while dormant in winter
- Height: 20-30 feet
- Width: 15-25 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
- Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
- 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 after first hard frost; color will be brighter in full sun.
- Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; color will be brighter in full sun.
- Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; color will be brighter in full sun.
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum

- Small to medium deciduous tree with green or variegated foliage, depending upon cultivar
- Plant in rich, moist but well-drained soil; fertilize in spring
- Plant in full sun to light shade; prune while dormant in winter
- Height: 10-12 feet
- Width: 6-12 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
- 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 after first hard frost; color will be brighter in full sun.
- Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; color will be brighter in full sun.
- Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; color will be brighter in full sun.
Berry Heavy Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata 'Berry Heavy'

- Large, suckering deciduous shrub noted for its profusion of red berries along the stem that persist into winter
- Female cultivar requiring a male cultivar for berry production
- Plant in rich, moist to wet soil
- Plant in full sun to light shade
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Width: 4-6 feet, suckering
Hardy in USDA zones 3-9:
- Zone 3: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 4: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; 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 after first hard frost.
- Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost.
- Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
Weeping Alaskan Cedar
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Van den Akker'

- Narrow, columnar, weeping evergreen with dark green foliage
- Plant in loose, organic soil that is well drained
- Plant in full sun
- Height: 30-45 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-7:
- Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
- Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost.
Zebra or Porcupine (Maiden) Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

Gardener's Note: Miscanthus sinensis is a non-native invasive grass from Asia. It has escaped cultivation and invaded natural areas throughout the Midwest and South.
- Large upright ornamental grass with gold-banded foliage and copper plumes
- Plant in full sun to light shade
- Can be invasive
- Tolerant of a wide range of soil
- Prune back to ground in late winter to early spring; fertilize in spring
- Divide every few years in early spring
- Height: 4-9 feet
- Width: 2-6 feet
Hardy in zones 5-9:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost to prevent winter heaving; remove mulch in spring; avoid exposure to salt; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring.
Oriental Fountain Grass
Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'

- Dwarf, finely textured ornamental grass with rosy-purple seed heads and good fall color
- Plant in organic, but well drained soil; water when dry; fertilize in spring
- Plant in full sun; prune while dormant in winter.
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 6-8:
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
Lily Turf
Liriope muscari

- Thick, tufted evergreen ground cover with linear foliage
- 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.
Yukon Belle Firethorn
Pyracantha angustifolia 'Monon'

- Evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with white flowers in spring and orange flowers in winter
- Extremely thorny
- Plant in rich garden soil that is well-drained
- Plant in full sun; prune while dormant
- Height: 8-10 feet
- Width: 6-8 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring; may be semi-evergreen in this zone.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring or 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 in fall; pull back mulch in spring.
White Mazus
Mazus reptans 'Albus'

- Evergreen to semi-evergreen mat-forming groundcover with white flowers in late spring to early summer
- Plant in rich garden soil that is moist, but well-drained
- Plant in full sun to partial shade
- Height: 1-2 inches
- Width: 12 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; avoid exposure to salt; mulch heavily after first frost; pull back mulch in spring; may be semi-evergreen in this zone.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost; pull back mulch in spring.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring or 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 in fall; pull back mulch in spring.
Creme Brulee Coreopsis
Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee'

- Upright perennial with yellow daisy-like flowers in spring through summer and fern-like foliage
- Plant in well-drained soil; water when dry
- Plant in full sun to light shade
- Height: 18-20 inches
- Width: 12-18 inches
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; pull back mulch in spring; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; pull back mulch in spring
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Sarah English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Sarah'

- Profuse blue-purple flowering in spring
- Attractive evergreen gray-blue aromatic foliage
- Grow in full sun in all zones
- Grow in fertile, but sharply drained soil
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Width:12-18 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:
- Zones 5: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; remove old flower heads and leggy growth in early spring and after flowering.
- Zones 6: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; remove old flower heads and leggy growth in early spring and after flowering.
- Zones 7: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; remove old flower heads and leggy growth in early spring and after flowering.
- Zones 8: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; remove old flower heads and leggy growth in early spring and after flowering.
- Zones 9: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; remove old flower heads and leggy growth in early spring and after flowering.
Genovese Basil
Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese'

- Aromatic annual or short-lived perennial
- Grow in full sun in all zones
- Grow in fertile, but sharply drained soil
- Height: 18-24 inches
- Width: 12-15 inches
Annual in USDA zones 2-8
- Perennial in USDA zones 9-11:
- Zones 2-8: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; pinch out flower heads to promote foliage growth.
- Zones 9-11: Plant in spring; mulch lightly to conserve moisture; pinch out flower heads to promote foliage growth.
Robert Mitchum Peppermint
Mentha 'Robert Mitchum'

- Vigorous if not invasive creeping perennial herb with lilac flowers in the summer and foliage that tastes like peppermint
- Foliage strongly aromatic
- Grow in fertile, moist or damp soil
- Grow in full sun in all zones
- Grow in containers if concerned above invasiveness
- Height: to 12-18 inches
- Width: to infinity
Hardy in USDA zones 6-10:
- Zones 6: Plant in spring; mulch in spring and heavier in fall; prune frequently to keep in check; root cuttings indoors for spring planting in marginal areas.
- Zones 7: Plant in spring; mulch in spring and heavier in fall; prune to keep in check as needed.
- Zones 8: Plant in spring; mulch in spring and fall; prune to keep in check as needed.
- Zones 9: Plant in spring; mulch in spring and fall; prune to keep in check as needed.
- Zones 10: Plant in spring; mulch in spring and fall; prune to keep in check as needed.
Berggarten Sage in Bloom
Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten'

- Perennial woody evergreen herb with hairy green leaves and lilac blue flowers
- Very short-lived, often grown as a perennial
- Plant in full sun
- Plant in average, but sharply drained soil; does not tolerate winter moisture
- Divide every few years in early spring
- Height: 12-18 inches
- Width: 18-24 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; mulch for protection; plant in full sun; water when dry.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; mulch for protection; plant in full sun; water when dry.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; water when dry.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; water when dry.
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis

- Herb is often used in chicken, potato and French dishes.
- Pale blue flowers
- Grows up to 3 feet tall.
- Favorite of bonsai and topiary enthusiasts because it can be trimmed into various shapes
- Zones 6-11
Care for Rosemary:
- Full sun
- Loves to be pruned regularly
- Regular watering to establish plant, then it's recognized for its drought-tolerance
- Zones 6-7: Plant in early spring; mulch in spring and again heavier in fall; place in warmer micro-climate near structure or protected area; prune in spring to desired shape.
- Zones 8: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in spring and fall; prune in spring to desired shape.
- Zones 9: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in fall; prune in spring to desired shape.
- Zones 10: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in fall; prune in spring to desired shape.
- Zones 11: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in fall; prune in spring to desired shape.