Landscape Plants

A guide to species and cultivars of popular or useful plants for landscaping or use in public green spaces, with tips on how to use them.

Alnus

Tough alder trees can be economic as well as offering decorative leaves, catkins and cones, writes Miranda Kimberley.

6 December 2018 , By Miranda Kimberley

Myrtus

Myrtle is a tender shrub so it is a plant for milder gardens, but with our changing climate the limits are being pushed, says Miranda Kimberley.

Pyrus

Attractive ornamental pear trees are great for street planting as well as gardens, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Alchemilla

These tough, long-lived, ground-cover plants are great in borders, rock gardens paths and walls, says Miranda Kimberley.

Arbutus

These evergreen trees and shrubs have decorative bark and can flower and fruit simultaneously, says Miranda Kimberley.

Euonymus

These evergreen and deciduous shrubs feature bright foliage, corky bark and coloured fruit, says Miranda Kimberley.

Sophora

A graceful habit, attractive foliage and often fragrant flowers are all selling points, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Celtis

This underused species could add to the diversity of our urban tree population, Miranda Kimberley discovers.

Cotinus

These useful shrubs can fill large spaces in borders and provide colourful foliage in the autumn, says Miranda Kimberley.

Ilex

Customers do not often know about the different leaf colours and shapes offered by hollies, Miranda Kimberley reports.

Crocus

These heralds of spring are highly suited to being planted in tree circles, grass and rock gardens, says Miranda Kimberley.

Camellia

These versatile, evergreen shrubs can flower from October right through to the end of May, Miranda Kimberley finds.

Living walls

The benefits of green walls make them worth investigation by all green-space professionals, says Miranda Kimberley.

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Viburnum

If used thoughtfully, a selection of these plants can give flower from midwinter to early summer, notes Miranda Kimberley.

Cotoneaster

The fruit on these shrubs and small trees offers winter colour in the garden and food for birds, says Miranda Kimberley.

Taxus

This classic evergreen offers excellent structure and is ideal for topiary or as a specimen tree, says Miranda Kimberley.

Phygelius

Masses of colourful tubular flowers can give these plants a substantial presence in the border, says Miranda Kimberley.

Dierama

Beautiful but underused, this tall and elegant plant can persist for years, says Miranda Kimberley.

Albizia

Fluffy flowers and bipinnate foliage make these rarely seen shrubs and small trees highly prized, says Miranda Kimberley.

Cytisus

These shrubs have stunning pea-like flowers, good scent and an undeserved reputation, Miranda Kimberley explains.

Ceanothus

These shrubs or small trees produce mainly blue flowers and fantastic glossy leaves, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Loropetalum

Colourful flowers and stunning foliage are great rewards for growing this often unfamiliar plant, says Miranda Kimberley.

Pterocarya

This attractive tree is rarely planted in the UK but deserves consideration in larger gardens and estates, says Miranda Kimberley.

Ruscus

These evergreen subshrubs with glossy foliage and plump red berries are much underrated, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Picea

These tidy evergreen trees are not just for Christmas and come in a range of shapes and sizes, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Hoheria

A graceful habit, lots of fragrant flowers and attractive foliage are the key facets of this genus, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Corylus

Traditionally grown for wood and nuts, hazels are also good in woodland planting and hedgerows, says Miranda Kimberley.

Betula

Distinctive coloured barks are the outstanding merits of these attractive trees and shrubs.

Castanea

Serrated leaves, twisted bark and tasty nuts make the sweet chestnut a highly prized tree, writes Miranda Kimberley.

Solidago

These prairie plants are easy to grow in well-drained soil and will perform best in full sun, Miranda Kimberley advises.

Acanthus

The most popular species, A. Mollis and A. Spinosus need plenty of space at the back of the border, Miranda Kimberley reports.

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