For a low-maintenance border, plant a backbone of easy-to-grow shrubs that can be relied on to give a good display every year without much attention.
Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' (pictured above)
Young red tips turn a brassy color, then green. The foliage is best if hard-pruned each spring. Grows to 90 cm x 90 cm. A sun lover.
Camellia japonica
Large evergreen with pink, white or red winter flowers. Can grow to 4 m x 3 m over time but there are smaller types. Grow in well-drained soil in part shade.
Dwarf crepe myrtle
Deciduous shrub with summer flowers in white or shades of pink, red or lilac. The smallest type grows to only 1 meter tall.
Baeckea virgata
Evergreen shrub with long, weeping branches covered at Christmas with tiny white flowers. Will grow fast to about 2m x 2m, in full sun or part shade.
Pachystachys lutea
Erect evergreen shrub topped with spikes of yellow-and-white flowers from spring to autumn. Grows to 1.8m x 90cm, in part shade. Does not tolerate frost.
Viburnum tinus (pictured above)
A dense evergreen shrub with dark green leaves liberally dotted with small, white flowers from autumn to spring. Grows about 3 meters tall and wide. Sun or part shade.
Acalypha wilkesiana
Grown for its big evergreen leaves, splashed in various shades of red. Flowers occur in summer but the catkin-like bloom is not significant. Grows up to 3 meters tall.
Calliandra tweedii
Spreading evergreen with arching, horizontal branches and fine, ferny foliage. Crimson, puffball flowers most of the year. Grows to 3m x 5m. Full sun, frost sensitive.
Abelia floribunda
Arching evergreen with small, dark green leaves and tubular, rose-pink flowers late spring through to autumn. Grows to 2m x 2m. Prefers sun, tolerates part shade.
Hebe 'Autumn Glory'
Squat, globular evergreen with rounded leaves. Purple-blue flowers from early summer until late autumn. Grows to 75cm x 90cm. It likes a sunny position.
Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' (pictured above)
Young red tips turn a brassy color, then green. The foliage is best if hard-pruned each spring. Grows to 90 cm x 90 cm. A sun lover.
Camellia japonica
Large evergreen with pink, white or red winter flowers. Can grow to 4 m x 3 m over time but there are smaller types. Grow in well-drained soil in part shade.
Dwarf crepe myrtle
Deciduous shrub with summer flowers in white or shades of pink, red or lilac. The smallest type grows to only 1 meter tall.
Baeckea virgata
Evergreen shrub with long, weeping branches covered at Christmas with tiny white flowers. Will grow fast to about 2m x 2m, in full sun or part shade.
Pachystachys lutea
Erect evergreen shrub topped with spikes of yellow-and-white flowers from spring to autumn. Grows to 1.8m x 90cm, in part shade. Does not tolerate frost.
Viburnum tinus (pictured above)
A dense evergreen shrub with dark green leaves liberally dotted with small, white flowers from autumn to spring. Grows about 3 meters tall and wide. Sun or part shade.
Acalypha wilkesiana
Grown for its big evergreen leaves, splashed in various shades of red. Flowers occur in summer but the catkin-like bloom is not significant. Grows up to 3 meters tall.
Calliandra tweedii
Spreading evergreen with arching, horizontal branches and fine, ferny foliage. Crimson, puffball flowers most of the year. Grows to 3m x 5m. Full sun, frost sensitive.
Abelia floribunda
Arching evergreen with small, dark green leaves and tubular, rose-pink flowers late spring through to autumn. Grows to 2m x 2m. Prefers sun, tolerates part shade.
Hebe 'Autumn Glory'
Squat, globular evergreen with rounded leaves. Purple-blue flowers from early summer until late autumn. Grows to 75cm x 90cm. It likes a sunny position.
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