Top Rated Landscape Plants
The following recommendations are based upon over 20 years of testing many different varieties of plants at Arborcrest. While most of these varieties should do well in climates quite different from Western North Carolina, you may find other varieties of certain landscape plants more suited to your particular climate.
Best Foliage Plants For Shade
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' |
Variegated Solomon's Seal |
| Hosta (Sum and Substance, Patriot, On Stage, Stained Glass) |
Same |
| Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' |
Brilliance Autumn Fern |
| Carex 'Ice Dance' |
Ice Dance Variegated Sedge |
| Epimedium x rubrum |
Red Epimedium |
| Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride' |
Hermann's Pride False Deadnettle |
| Athyrium 'Ghost' |
Ghost Painted Fern |
Flowering Shrubs
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Buddleia davidii 'Pink Delight' |
Pink Delight Butterfly Bush |
| Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' |
Arnold Promise Witchhazel |
| Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' |
Annabelle Hydrangea |
| Hypericum frondosum 'Sunburst' |
Sunburst St. Johnswort |
| Rhodendron 'Caroline' |
Caroline Rhododendron |
| Spiraea japonica 'Shirobana' |
Shirobana Spirea |
Flowering Trees
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Chionanthus virginicus |
White Fringetree |
| Cornus kousa 'Rosabella' |
Rosabella Kousa Dogwood |
| Halesia tetraptera |
Carolina Silverbell |
| Laburnum x waterii 'Vossii' |
Vossii Goldenchain Tree |
| Malus 'Red Jewel' |
Red Jewel Crabapple |
Groundcovers
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Epimedium x perralchicum 'Frohnleiten' |
Frohnleiten Barrenwort |
| Geranium macrorrhizum 'Spessart' |
Spessart Bigroot Geranium |
| Pachysandra terminalis |
Japanese Spurge |
| Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald' |
Blue Emerald Moss Pink |
| Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut' |
Fulda Glow Stonecrop |
Perennials
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Acanthus spinosus |
Bear's Breeches |
| Achillea x 'Coronation Gold' |
Coronation Gold Yarrow |
| Arum italicum 'Pictum' |
Italian Arum |
| Chelone lyonii |
Turtle-Head |
| Chrysanthemum 'Venus' |
Venus Chrysanthemum |
| Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' |
Lemon Queen Helianthus |
| Helleborus niger |
Christmas Rose |
| Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns' |
Happy Returns Daylily |
| Hosta 'Sum and Substance' |
Sum and Substance Hosta |
| Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' |
Variegated Fragrant Solomon's Seal |
| Polygonum bistorta "Superbum' |
Superbum Smartweed |
| Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Autumn Joy Sedum |
| Tiarella cordifolia 'Spring Symphony' |
Spring Symphony Foamflower |