Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs keep their leaves year round and give a yard consistent structure, while flowering shrubs are chosen mainly for a bloom period and may lose their leaves outside the growing season. Some shrubs, such as several camellia varieties, do both, holding leaves through winter while also flowering. A hedge or a foundation planting usually leans on evergreen shrubs, with flowering shrubs added for seasonal color rather than year round structure. Check the evergreen rating and the bloom season on each product page before mixing the two.

Space hedge shrubs at roughly the mature width shown on the product page, not the width the plant has in its container, since crowding shows up within a few seasons as competition for light and root space. A denser, more formal shrub such as boxwood tolerates closer spacing than a looser, informal grower. Planting slightly wider than mature width leaves a thinner hedge for a season or two but avoids the long term crowding that comes from planting too tight.

Manzanita, ceanothus and rockrose are among the more drought tolerant shrubs on this page, and once established they generally do well on occasional deep watering rather than a regular irrigation schedule. Establishment still takes regular water for the first one to two seasons while roots grow deep enough to survive on rainfall and infrequent watering. Check the water rating on each product page, since drought tolerant covers a range, and keep low water shrubs on their own line rather than mixing them with thirstier plants.

Both generally prefer part shade or filtered light rather than full, harsh afternoon sun, along with steadier moisture than most other shrubs on this page. A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled light under a taller tree, usually suits them well in the Central Valley and high desert. Coastal gardens with milder afternoons can often give azalea and camellia more direct light without leaf burn. Check the sun and water rating on the specific variety before you plant, since some cultivars tolerate more sun than others.

A number of shrubs on this page carry a deer resistant rating, including several manzanita, ceanothus and boxwood varieties, though deer resistant means less likely to be browsed rather than guaranteed safe from a hungry deer in a dry year. Texture, scent and taste all play a role, and deer behavior varies by area, so a rating that holds in one neighborhood is not a promise everywhere. Check the feature list on each product page and expect some trial and error near open land.

Yes, a number of drought tolerant shrubs on this page, including manzanita, ceanothus and rockrose, are suited to rock garden plantings, where fast drainage around the crown actually helps them more than a rich, moisture holding soil bed would. Decomposed granite or landscape rock around the base keeps the crown dry and cuts down on weeding between plants. Amend the actual planting hole with soil even in a rock garden, since the rock is a mulch layer, not a growing medium.