Low-Profile Landscaping Plants
Low-profile landscaping plants may be used along house foundations to give foliar and floral attention without the necessity for regular pruning to control their height. They may also be utilized elsewhere in landscaped areas as accent plants, high groundcovers or informal hedges. Deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs and flowering perennials may be united for year-round color and texture in landscaped areas through your property.
Deciduous Shrubs
Dwarf fothergillas (Fothergilla gardenii) and also the sweet pepperbush or summersweet cultivar “Crystalina” or “Sugartina” (Clethra alnifolia “Crystalina”) are low-profile deciduous shrubs that grow to a height and width of about 3 feet. Dwarf fothergillas are hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. In warm Mediterranean climates, they should be planted where they’ll be shaded in the day. They create fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in the spring and create bright orange, red or yellow foliage in the fall. This tree needs acidic soil that’s high in organic matter. “Crystalina” shrubs are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and favor acidic, sandy soil in partial shade. In addition they create fragrant white bottlebrush flowers but not until summertime. In the fall, their foliage changes to deep, golden yellow.
Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs
False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as Mexican false heather, Hawaiian heather and elfin herb, and Silverbush or bush morning glory (Convolvulus cneorum) are evergreen shrubs that grow to 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Both shrubs can be grown in full sunlight or partial shade. False heather is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11 and tolerates brief periods of drought. Its branches and small, shiny green leaves are held at flat sprays, providing the tree a feathery appearance. Small flowers are produced along the length of the branches nearly year-round. The species blossoms in purple, however, there are varieties that bloom in dark rose, white or pink. Silverbush is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10. This really is a drought-tolerant plant that is crocheted. Its green leaves are covered with silver hairs, giving the tree a frosted appearance. In the summer and spring, this tree produces white, funnel-shaped blossoms.
Needle-leaved Evergreen Shrubs
Parson’s juniper (Juniperus davurica “Parsonii”) and singleseed juniper (Juniperus squamata) are needle-leaved evergreen conifer shrubs. Parson’s juniper is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 11. It rises to a height of 2 to 3 feet and width of 4 to 10 feet using blue-green foliage. This really is a drought- and salt-tolerant landscape plant that will grow in acidic to slightly alkaline soil. Singleseed juniper, also known as flaky juniper, is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. The “Blue Carpet” cultivar grows to a height of 8 to 12 inches and width of 4 to 5 feet using blue-gray foliage. The “Blue Star” cultivar grows to a height of 16 inches and width of 2 feet with silvery blue-green foliage. They’re moderately drought-tolerant. Parson’s and singleseed junipers will grow in full sunlight or partial shade.
Flowering Herbaceous Perennials
Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) and mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) are low-profile, flowering herbaceous perennial landscape plants. Lenten rose is evergreen in warm Mediterranean climates. It rises to a height and width of 1 to 1 1/2 feet having enormous 18-inch long, 16-inch broad dark green shiny leaves. In late winter and early spring, it produces 2- to 3-inch diameter pink, pink or purple blooms. It’s hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and prefers organically rich soil in partial or full shade. Mistflower, also known as blue mistflower, wild or hardy ageratum, pink eupatorium and blue boneset, grows to a height and breadth of 1 1/2 to 3 feet. The “Wayside Form” cultivar grows to a height of only 15 inches. They blossom in the summer and fall, producing 2- to 4-inch broad clusters of fuzzy little blue blooms. The color has been described as pink-blue or sky-blue-pink. Full sun or partial shade is great for this plant. It prefers damp soil conditions but will grow in dry conditions once it becomes established. Mistflowers are generally hardy in USDA zones 4 to 11, but that varies slightly depending on the cultivar.