Small Landscape Plants

Considerations

• Decide what effect you want. Choose light and airy plants for an open look or small, dense landscape plants for more grotto-like appearance. Determine the plants' height and spread before purchase. They should not create a looming presence in your garden.

Groundcovers

• Groundcovers are very short plants that fill bare patches of soil. They grow low to the ground with foliage that covers the bare ground. They take up space between larger plants, and add color and texture to your yard. The ice plant grows to be only 7 inches tall with a spread of around 2 feet. The Mexican primrose is slightly taller at 12 inches with a spread of 3 feet. Both plants produce flowers and lush foliage.

Trees

• Trees provide shade to the yard and to the house. Choosing the right tree complements your garden, giving it a tall focal point. Smaller trees provide shade and ornamentation. The Japanese maple has cultivars ranging from 15 to 20 feet tall and produces flowers in a variety of colors. Fig trees grow to a full height of 10 to 15 feet and produce edible fruit.

Shrubs

• Shrubs are small, bushy plants that provide your garden with texture and lush, green growth. Small shrubs line walkways and conceal drier portions of your property where less hardy plants do not grow. Hydrangeas of the Annabelle variety produce large clusters of flowers on a shrub that is 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall. Nana purpurea, a variety of heavenly bamboo, grows to be between 1 and 2 feet tall with a dome-shaped top.