Northeast Landscaping Plants

Northern Bayberry

• Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica ) is a native shrub in the northeastern United States and far eastern Canada. It takes on an irregular shape in most instances and can grow to 10 feet high, but often is around 5 or 6 feet tall. Northern bayberry possesses leathery dark green foliage and the plant is often semi-evergreen, with the leaves remaining on the tree well into winter. Northern bayberry grows best in full sun and has multiple landscaping uses. You can plant it as a shrub border, use it along roadsides or as a foundation plant and it will grow in places many other landscaping plants will not.

Creeping Juniper

• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is suitable as a ground cover, with this low-growing shrub also able to control erosion. While a good choice for mass plantings, you can also place it in a container and move it about the landscape. Creeping juniper grows in the wild in the northern portions of North America, so it can handle conditions in the Northeast. It will grow only one or 2 feet high but can have a spread of up to 8 feet. Creeping juniper is evergreen, withstands drought and salt and comes in such cultivars as Bar Harbor, Blue Chip and Hughes.

Swamp Hibiscus

• Wet areas of your property are a perfect place to plant a swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). This herbaceous perennial grows as far north as Massachusetts, with a maximum height of around 7 feet. The swamp hibiscus produces 6-inch wide flowers of white or pink. Swamp hibiscus does well in full sunshine and you can place it in damp ground. The Floridata website notes that the plant will survive in northern climates as long as you protect the roots.

Colorado Blue Spruce

• The Colorado blue spruce (Picea poungens) is not native to the Northeast but still does well as a landscaping tree in the region. It hails from the central and southern Rocky Mountain States, growing at high elevations. Colorado blue spruce makes an excellent specimen tree due to its dense branches, conical shape and bluish-green needles. Many hybrids are available on the market, such as Hoopsii, a type with strong blue color, according to the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Colorado blue spruce can grow to heights of around 120 feet on occasion, so it does require plenty of space.