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.