Low = under 3 feet, Medium = 3 feet to 6 feet, Tall = over 6 feet
Low All Year Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Bamboo, Sasa pygmea 5 30" X 10' Evergreen. Running. Plant in a big
Pygmy Bamboo Med. Sun-Part pot to form a clump.
Cryptomeria japo. 'Vilmoriniana' 5 18" X 18" Evergreen. Slow growing, dense
Vilmoriniana Cryptomeria Low Sun globe. Turns bronze in Winter.
Euonymus japonica 'Microphyllus' 6 18" X 12" Evergreen. Slow growing, compact
Box Leaf Euonymus Med. Sun shrub. Tolerates heat, poor soil.
Ilex crenata 'Helleri' 6 1' X 2' Evergreen. Small leaves. Tiny white
Heller's Japanese Holly Med. Sun-Part. flowers. Black berries.
Juniperus conferta 5 8" X 3' Evergreen. Low, spreading branches
Shore Juniper Low Sun with long needles.
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific 5 8" X 3' Evergreen. Low, spreading branches
Blue Pacific Shore Juni. Med. Sun-Part with long needles.
Juniperus horizont. 'Bar Harbor' 3 3" X 4' Evergreen. Low, spreading. Blue-
Bar Harbor Juniper Low Sun-Part green foliage. Good groundcover.
Juniperus horizont. 'Youngstown' 3 8" X 4' Evergreen. Flat top spreader. Blue
Youngstown Andorra Juni. Low Sun foliage turns purple in winter.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltoni' 3 3" X 3' Evergreen. Creeping with blue
Blue Rug Juniper Low Sun foliage. Needs good drainage.
Juniperus procumbens 4 2' X 6' Evergreen. Low, spreading, bright
Japanese Garden Juniper Low Sun green foliage.
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' 4 18" X 3' Evergreen. Low mound of dark green
Dwarf Japanese Garden J. Low Sun foliage.
Juniperus sabina 3 1' X 8' Evergreen. Low, spreading, bright
Savin Juniper Low Sun green foliage.
Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia 4 2' X 10' Evergreen. Dense symmetrically
Tam Juniper Low Sun spreading green mound.
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' 4 2' X 4' Evergreen. Silver blue foliage.
Blue Star Juniper Low Sun Rounded shape.
Paxistima myrsinites 3 3' X 3' Native evergreen. Drought tolerant.
Oregon Boxwood Low Sun-Part No watering or care.
Pinus mugo 'Pumilio' 2 30" X 3' Evergreen. Slow growing, rounded
Dwarf Mugho Pine Low Sun-Part shrub. Shear candles to shape.
Taxus baccata 'Repandens' 4 2' X 6' Evergreen. Low, spreading, dark
Spreading English Yew Low Sun-Shade green shrub. Easily sheared.
Taxus cusp. 'Emerald Spreader' 5 30" X 8' Evergreen. Low and spreading. Dark
Emerald Spreader Yew Low Sun-Part green needles. Red berries.
Tsuga canade. 'Cole's Prostrata' 4 2' X 4' Evergreen. Good for creeping over
Cole's Creeping Hemlock Med. Sun-Part walls or rocks. Can be staked.
Medium All Year Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Abies balsamea 'Nana' 3 3' X 3' Small dense evergreen. Dark green
Dwarf Balsam Fir Med. Shade-Part needles. Excellent bonsai plants.
Acer palmatum dissectum 5 6' X 8' Low, mounding shape. Red or green
Laceleaf Japanese Maple Med. Sun-Part leaves. Needs excellent drainage.
Berberis verruculosa 6 3'X 3' Purplish flower and black berry.
Warty Barberry Med. Sun Mahogany leaves in winter. Thorns
Buxus microphylla japonica 5 4' X 3' Evergreen. Excellent for hedges
Japanese Boxwood Med. Sun-Part and topiary.
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa 5 3' X 2' Evergreen. Excellent for low hedge.
Dwarf English Boxwood Med. Sun-Part Slow growing.
Cephalotaxus harringtonia 6 5' X 2' Evergreen. Lustrous green needles.
Japanese Plum Yew Med. Sun_Shade Females have red berries.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compacta' 4 6' X 3' Evergreen. Dark green foliage.
Compact Hinoki Cypress Med. Sun-Part Grows open.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana' 4 3' X 3' Evergreen. Slow growing. Dark green
Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Med. Sun-Part Shrub.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Torulosa' 4 6' X 6' Evergreen. Irregular globe with
Contorted Hinoki Cypress Med. Sun-Part twisted branches.
Chamaecyparis pis. 'Fili. Aurea' 4 5' X 5' Evergreen. Golden, drooping
Goldthread Cypress Med. Sun-Part foliage.
Coprosma repens 8 5' X 5' Evergreen. Glossy green leaves turn
Mirror Plant High Sun red-orange in fall.
Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata' 2 6' X 8' Deciduous. White and green leaves.
Varie. Tartarian Dogwood Med. Sun-Shade Red twigs. Tolerates soggy soil.
Cornus stolonifera 2 6' X 8' Deciduous native. White flowers in
Redtwig Dogwood Med. Sun-Part winter. Red twigs in winter.
Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' 2 5' X 6' Deciduous. White flowers & berries.
Yellow Twig Dogwood Med. Sun-Part Red fall leaves and yellow twigs.
Drimys lanceolata 8 6' X 6' Evergreen. Coppery red new leaves
Tasmanian Pepper Bush Med. Shade-Part complement red stems.
Euonymus japonicus 6 6' X 4' Evergreen. Foliage in many colors.
Japanese Euonymus Med. Sun Orange berries in Fall.
Feijoa sellowianna 7 6' X 6' Evergreen. Leaves silvery white un-
Pineapple Guava Low Sun derneath. Edible flowers & fruit.
Ilex cornuta 'Carissa' 6 3' X 3' Evergreen. Glossy green leaves all
Carissa Holly Med. Sun year on dense, compact plant.
Ilex crenata 'Convexa' 6 4' X 4' Evergreen. Looks like a boxwood but
Convex Leaf Japan. Holly Med. Sun-Shade hardier. Black berries.
Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' 6 6' X 1' Evergreen. Tall and very narrow.
Sky Pencil Holly Med. Sun-Part Small white flowers, black fruit.
Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Coast' 4 3' X 4' Evergreen. Golden foliage. Very
Gold Coast Juniper Low Sun drought tolerant.
Juniperus chinensis 'Mint Julep' 3 5' X 7' Evergreen. Mint green foliage.
Mint Julep Juniper Low Sun
Juniperus chinensis 'San Jose' 4 3' X 4' Evergreen. Green foliage with
San Jose Juniper Low Sun splotches of yellow.
Picea abies 'Nidiformis' 2 3' X 4' Evergreen. Dense blue-green shrub.
Bird's Nest Spruce Low Sun Easy to shape.
Picea glauca 'Conica' 2 6' X 3' Evergreen. Dense, pyramidal, slow
Dwarf Alberta Spruce Low Sun-Part growing.
Pinus mugo mughus 2 6' X 8' Evergreen. Slow growing, rounded
Mugho Pine Low Sun shrub. Shear candles to shape.
Pinus strobus 'Nana' 3 6' X 8' Evergreen. Slow growing. Rounded
Dwarf White Pine Low Sun shape. Soft bluish needles.
Platycladus orient. 'Aurea Nana' 5 4' X 2' Evergreen. Golden foliage. Very
Golden Berkman Arborvit. Med. Sun-Part slow growing.
Punica granatum 7 10' X 10' Evergreen. Fine foliage with red
Pomegranate Med. Sun flowers, orange fruit.
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata' 5 6' X 3' Evergreen. Column of dark green
Pyramidal Japanese Yew Med. Sun-Shade needles. Red berries in Fall.
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' 4 3' X 2' Evergreen. Slow growing, dense cone
Rheingold Arborvitae Any Sun-Part shape. Golden foliage.
Thuja occidentalis 'Woodwardii' 4 5' X 5' Evergreen. Slow growing. Globe
Woodward Globe Arborvit. Any Sun-Part shaped.
Tall All Year Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Aucuba japonica 6 8' X 6' Evergreen. Large leaves with gold
Japanese Laurel Any Shade-Part spots. Red berries on females.
Bamboo, Fargesia nitida 5 12' X 5' Evergreen. Hardy clumping bamboo
Fountain Bamboo Med. Shade-Part with black stems.
Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea 7 10' X 10' Evergreen. Running. Golden stems.
Golden Bamboo Med. Sun-Part Plant in big pot to form a clump.
Bamboo, Phyllostachys bambusoid. 7 30' X 15' Runs to form big grove. Plant in a
Timber Bamboo Med. Sun-Part big pot to form clump.
Bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra 5 7' X 10' Evergreen. Runs. Stems turn black.
Black Bamboo Med. Sun-Part Plant in a big pot to form clump.
Buxus sempervirens 5 10' X 4' Evergreen. Excellent for tall
English Boxwood Med. Sun-Part hedges or topiary.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 4 12' X 6' Evergreen. Dark green foliage.
Hinoki Cypress d. Sun-Part Open growth.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' 4 12' X 6' Evergreen. Golden needles. Open
Golden Hinoki Cypress Med. Sun-Part growth.
Cordyline indivisa 9 10' X 4'- Evergreen. Long, arching strap-like
Dracaena Palm Med. Full-Part leaves.
Fatsia japonica 8 8' X 5' Evergreen. Large tropical leaves.
Japanese Aralia Med. Shade-Part Tolerates all soils but soggy.
Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point' 4 8' X 3' Pyramidal evergreen. Blue green
Blue Point Juniper Low Sun foliage.
Juniperus chinensis 'Spearmint' 5 12' X 4' Pyramidal evergreen. Fine, green
Spearmint Juniper Low Sun foliage. Very drought tolerant.
Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa' 5 10' X 8' Evergreen. Irregular upright growth
Hollywood Juniper Low Sun with dark green foliage.
Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' 3 8' X 3' Evergreen. Bright gold, slow grow-
Gold Cone Juniper Low Sun ing. Very drought tolerant.
Juniperus sco. 'Tolleson's Blue' 3 15' X 8' Evergreen. Wispy, blue-green,
Tolleson's Blue Wpg. Jun Low Sun drooping branches.
Juniperus scopulorum 3 15' X 8' Pyramidal evergreen. Silvery blue
Rocky Mountain Juniper Low Sun foliage. Very drought tolerant.
Juniperus virginiana 4 10' X 6' Evergreen. Green to silvery blue
Eastern Red Cedar Low Sun foliage. Very drought tolerant.
Juniperus virginiana 'Skyrocket' 4 15' X 3' Evergreen. Tall, narrow spire with
Skyrocket Juniper Low Sun blue gray foliage.
Laurus nobilis 8 20' X 10' Evergreen. Dark green leaves are
Sweet Bay Low Sun-Part very aromatic. Used in cooking.
Myrica californica 7 10' X 8' Native evergreen. Excellent hedge
California Wax Myrtle Low Sun-Shade or screen.
Photinia fraseri 7 15' X 12' Evergreen. Fast growing shrub for
Red Tip Photinia Med. Sun tall hedge or screen.
Photinia glabra 7 8' X 8' Evergreen. Fast growing shrub for
Photinia Glabra Med. Sun tall hedge or screen.
Podocarpus macrophyllus 7 15' X 6' Evergreen. Pyramidal shape. Makes
Yew Pine Med. Sun-Part a good screen.
Prunus laurocerasus 6 15' X 10' Evergreen. Excellent for tall hedge
English Laurel Med. Sun-Shade or screen.
Rhamnus frangula 'Columnaris' 2 12' X 8' Deciduous. Narrow column of fine
Tallhedge Med. Sun-Part leaves.
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' 4 15' X 6' Evergreen. Dark Green needles. Red
Irish Yew Med. Sun-Shade berries. Easily sheared.
Taxus cuspidata 4 8' X 8' Evergreen. Dark green needles.
Spreading Japanese Yew Low Sun-Shade Easily sheared.
Taxus x media 'Hicksii' 4 8' X 3' Evergreen. Narrow column of dark
Hick's Columnar Yew Low Sun-Shade green needles. Easily sheared.
