If you’re planting in a limited space, you can find the perfect shrubs for a tiny garden. Many types are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making them ideal for small yards. Here are four great choices:
Evergreen shrubs
When it comes to choosing the right evergreen shrub for your space, you’re going to need a few things to make sure you’ve got the best ones. Winter heath, for example, is a low-growing evergreen shrub with a prodigious blooming period. It will put out flowers even in the winter and can flower half of the year. These shrubs are not only attractive but also excellent for your ecosystem. They provide nectar to caterpillars, butterflies, and hummingbirds, as well as being food for a number of mammals. Since they thrive in areas with poor soil and little sunlight, they can be easily pruned to a smaller size.
Another great choice is the Hebe. This plant is available in a variety of colours and shapes, but will grow best in free-draining soil. It will not grow more than one metre (3 feet) high, and will make an ideal foundation plant or low hedge. The bright pink stem tips of ‘Sweet Kim’ and ‘Silver Queen’ will attract butterflies and bees.
During the blooming season, yuccas create a spectacular display. Their golden foliage will provide a pop of color to your landscape even if they’re not in bloom. Another option for smaller evergreen shrubs is winter heaths. These shrubs are compact, but they produce flowers even in the winter, so they’ll flower half of the year. This is a great option for those with limited space.
There are also many compact varieties of evergreen shrubs available. Many will thrive in patio pots and narrow borders and are low-maintenance. Some even have flowering shrubs. You’re sure to find a small-space-friendly shrub that you’ll love! And remember, the smaller the space, the less maintenance you’ll need to do. It’s also much easier than you think! It’s time to choose your evergreen shrubs! So go ahead and give your space a little boost!
Mountain laurel is another good choice. This broadleaf evergreen is a perfect choice for small spaces. Its flowers come out in May and June. The leaves are glossy and elongated. Unlike many other evergreens, mountain laurel rarely reaches 10 feet and generally grows only two to three feet. It will thrive in a woodland or shade garden. It requires water during dry periods, but as it matures, it will be drought-tolerant.
The ‘Emerald ‘n’ gold’ cultivar has bicolored foliage. It is small-sized (only about three feet tall) and has tiny, glossy green leaves. It can be trained to grow as a vine or in a small container. And it’s winter-hardy to -20degF! Just the right size makes it ideal for small spaces. You’ll be delighted with your new evergreen shrub.
If you want something low-growing and shady, you can consider dwarf conifers. They’re low-growing and require minimal care once they’re established. They also come in different shapes, textures, and colours. They’re great for a small space as they look great in the front and the back. Taller evergreens will provide seclusion and privacy and can accentuate the fall season’s colours.
‘Pencil Point’ Juniper has unique, columnar growth. This evergreen shrub grows to an average of five feet tall and one foot wide. The foliage is blue-green, and the female plants produce blue berries in the fall. ‘Blue Chip’ juniper is a great choice for small spaces because it’s drought-tolerant once established. So, whatever size your space is, you’re sure to find something that works!
Dwarf Colorado spruce: If you’re looking for an evergreen shrub that doesn’t take much care, this one is for you. Its blue needles are attractive, and its compact form will keep your space looking nice. While it’s not the prettiest specimen in the world, it’s a low-maintenance choice and can be planted in most soil types. A few mature conifers need a good soak during periods of dry weather.
Sky Pencil Holly: Another evergreen option is the Emerald Green Arborvitae. This narrow evergreen in the Cypress family grows naturally skyward and can reach eight to 10 feet in height. Arborvitaes are great for small spaces and have a compact growth habit. However, their low height isn’t always desirable. They may take up more space than they should, but they are still worth the effort.
Native shrubs
If you have limited space in your yard, there are many native shrubs for small spaces that can provide beauty and shade. If you are looking for shrubs that will bloom all season, you should try the buttonbush. This plant is native to the eastern U.S. and grows in zones 5-9. It is a deciduous shrub with maple leaf-shaped leaves. Its flowers are small and yellow in the spring, and it produces red berries in the summer and fall.
Meadowsweet is a wonderful native shrub that will fill in the front of your shrub border. Its flower spikes will create a fluffy display in late summer and dry into attractive seed heads in winter. It will grow well in part shade or full sun. Weigelas are also very attractive to hummingbirds, so they are a great choice for small spaces. This shrub is also very easy to grow and tolerates part shade.
Generally, native shrubs are 2 to 6 feet tall and two feet wide. These are the perfect substitute for some of the more commonly used exotics. Small native shrubs are also more adaptable to smaller spaces and can fit in containers and low borders. Many of these plants have a wide variety of uses and are relatively easy to care for. You can learn more about native shrubs by reading our other articles on the subject.
A few of the more unusual native shrubs for small spaces are the winterberry and the black chokeberry. They are typically found near fields and swamps, but can grow in all kinds of soil conditions. They provide four seasons of interest in your yard. In spring, they bloom white flowers with pink anthers. The foliage is glossy and dark green in summer. Fall foliage is crimson. The black chokeberry produces persistent blue-black fruits.
American holly is another native shrub for small spaces. It grows in moist areas and is a good choice for small gardens. The flowers are white with pinkish-red anthers. In winter, the fruit matures into black berries. While songbirds prefer other native fruits, they also eat the berries. In addition, the shrub has attractive peeling bark. It also has papery fruit capsules that persist throughout the winter.
For shade, a large native shrub is the gray dogwood. This species grows in a variety of site conditions and has gray-green leaves that turn purple-maroon in fall. This shrub is a great choice because it requires little maintenance and will adjust to pruning. A good plant for partial shade or full sun, the dog hobble is a low-maintenance choice. But if you have little space, you can grow its twigs and branches and enjoy the benefits of its flowers and fruit.
Another native shrub that grows in moist, open sites is the redbud. This medium-sized shrub grows in a variety of sites. Its foliage emerges in green-gray and changes to a deep red color in the spring. In the fall, older stems should be pruned to keep the red color. Its summer foliage is dark green and turns red. This shrub is good for foundation plantings. But if you are planting in an area with heavy soil, consider choosing a shaded site.
Several types of native shrubs can provide a small space with color and beauty. Some are used as accent plants or as specimen trees in landscaped areas. The red buckeye is a medium-sized shrub native to the eastern and central U.S. It can grow to 15 feet in height and requires moist, well-draining soil. It also has attractive foliage and produces red hips. If you have a small space in your yard, this shrub is an excellent choice.
Alder is another native shrub for small spaces. The leaves of the large witch-alder are fragrant, and it attracts many pollinators. This species grows in sunny or partly shaded areas and is highly resistant to drought. Elderberry also prefers moist soil with good drainage and can tolerate both dry and soggy soil. But be sure to check the conditions before planting. This tree has a dense habit and is also a wonderful addition to your small space.
