Shrubs: The Framework Plants That Tie the Landscape Together

While trees set the garden's character, shrubs form the framework—creating backgrounds, directing traffic, and transitioning from canopy to ground. Distinguishing trees from shrubs isn't always easy (some shrubs tower over small trees). Keys: trees usually have a single trunk; shrubs have multiple, often equal stems. Trees carry leaves on branches high on the trunk; shrubs carry foliage to the ground.

Choosing the Right Shrubs

1. Start with climate-appropriate species.
2. Define the role: informal border, wind barrier, formal hedge (see formal hedge section), filler between trees/buildings and lawn (try large broadleaf evergreens like sweet olive Osmanthus fragrans), specimen blossoms (rhododendron, lilac Syringa), or foliage color (gold dust plant Aucuba japonica 'Variegata', variegated tobira Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata').

Our "Common Shrubs at a Glance" section includes basic evergreen/deciduous, large/small choices for roles from flowering specimens to thorny barrier hedges.