Community Horticulture Fact Sheet #68
Trouble-free Landscape Plants
This is a brief list of trouble-free ornamental landscape plants well suited for our Western Washington
climate. Having the right plant for the right place costs you less time and money maintaining your
garden. Use this list as a starting point for selecting fabulous, trouble-free plants for your garden.
Deciduous Trees & Shrubs Size
Amelanchier grandiflora
'Autumn Brilliance'
Serviceberry
Caryopteris clandonensis
Bluebeard
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Katsura
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
Variegated red twig dogwood
Fuchsia magellanica
Magellan fuchsia
Hydrangea macrophylla
Big-leaf hydrangea
Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweet Gum
Oxydendrum arboreum
Sourwood
Ribes sanguineum
Red flowering currant
Spiraea bumalda
'Anthony Waterer'
Dwarf red spiraea
Flower
Season
To 15-20'
Spring
2'
Summer-fall
Slow to 40'
To 10'
Spring
To 4'
Summer
5 to 8'
Summer
40 to 60'
Summer
5 to 10'
Spring
3'
Summer-fall
Varies
15-50'
Styrax japonica
Japanese snowbell
To 20'
Viburnum bodnantense
Viburnum
8 to 10'
Viburnum plicata tomentosum To 15'
Doublefile viburnum
tall & wide
Characteristics
Showy flowers, fall color, edible
fruit enjoyed by birds, drought
tolerant
Extremely drought tolerant, deep
Sun
blue flowers
Tidy round leaves give neat
Sun
appearance
Green & white leaves on red
Sun, shade stems, fall color, fruit attracts
birds, tolerates wet/dry soils
Sun, part
Arching form, purple & red
shade
flowers attract hummingbirds
Sun, part
Big clusters of blue, pink or
shade
white flowers
Sun
Sun
25 to 30'
Stewartia spp.
Stewartia
Exposure
Colorful leaves in fall
White flowers in drooping
clusters, brilliant fall color,
needs ample water
Magenta flowers, edible powderSun, shade
blue berries
Sun
Sun, light
shade
Bright pink flowers in flattopped clusters, fall color
Showy white flowers, good fall
color, attractive bark, needs
summer water
Hanging, fragrant white flowers,
Sun, part
Early summer
clean foliage, graceful form,
shade
needs water
Fragrant pink flowers, foliage
Winter
Sun, shade
deeply veined
White flowers in flat clusters,
Spring
Sun, shade strong horizontal branch pattern,
fall color
Summer
Sun, part
shade
Evergreen tree & shrub selections listed on back.
Evergreen Trees & Shrubs Size
Abelia grandiflora
'Edward Goucher'
4 to 6'
Abelia
Arbutus unedo 'Compacta'
To 10'
Strawberry Tree
Berberis darwinii
5 to 10'
Darwin barberry
Cistus spp.
Rockrose
3 to 5'
(many kinds available)
Daphne odora 'Marginata'
To 4'
Winter daphne
Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'
To 15'
Hollywood juniper
Kalmia latifolia
7 to 10'
Mountain laurel
Lavandula angustifolia
1 to 3'
Lavender
Nandina domestica
To 8'
Heavenly bamboo
Osmanthus delavayii
Slow to
Osmanthus
6'
Pieris japonica
Lily-of-the-valley shrub
To 10'
(many cultivars available
with different characteristics)
Prunus lusitanica
To 20'
Portugal laurel
plus
Sarcocca hookeriana humilis
To 18'
Sweetbox
Flower
Season
Exposure
Characteristics
Spring-fall
Sun, part
shade
Lilac pink flowers, bronzy-red young
leaves, deciduous in cold winters
Sun, part
shade
Sun, part
shade
Reddish brown bark; flowers white,
attractive, 3/4" red fruit
Little holly-like leaves, orange flowers,
blue berries attract birds
Springsummer
Sun
Showy white or pink flowers, quick
growth, tolerant of drought & poor soil
Winter
Shade
Fall
Spring
Sun
Spring
Part shade,
sun
Spring-fall Sun
Summer
Sun, shade
Spring
Sun, shade
Late winter- Shade, part
spring
shade
Late spring Sun, shade
Late winter
Shade, dry
shade
Clusters of tiny pink flowers are
powerfully fragrant
Interesting twisted appearance, clear
green foliage, blue berry-like cones
Unusual pink flowers
Fragrant, drought tolerant, long
flowering season
Cane-like stems, lacy foliage, creamy
flowers
Fragrant white flowers, clean foliage,
grows in poor soil
Red new growth, drooping white flower
clusters (may have pink flowers,
variegated foliage, compact habit)
Dark green foliage on red stems, makes
dense hedge
Flowers tiny, but very fragrant, black
berries
Trouble-prone Plants
Unlike the plants above, those listed below are susceptible to one or more serious pests. Those starred (*)
have species or cultivars that are most resistant to the problem, so some research before choosing can save
you considerable trouble.
Abies - True firs (silver, noble, etc.)
Albibizia - Silk tree
Betula - Birch
Cornus - Dogwoods *
Crataegus - Hawthorns *
Juniperus - Junipers *
Malus - Crabapples *
Picea - Spruces
Populus - Cottonwoods & poplars
Prunus - Flowering cherries & plums
Rhododendron - Rhododendrons & azaleas *
Rosa - Roses *
Salix - Willows
Skimmia
Syringa - Lilac
7/12
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program * 206-685-5104 * 206-221-2649, fax
elaine.anderson@wsu.edu * kingcountyMG.org
Center for Urban Horticulture * Box 354115 * Seattle WA 98195-4115
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.