Choosing Plants For Your Garden

When choosing plants for a garden, most people tend to base their selections on particular wants or needs. These might include plants that provide color, privacy, fragrance, shade, edible fruits, herbs and vegetables for cooking, improvements to landscaping or simply those that are low maintenance.

In addition to your favorites, be sure to choose plants that not only fill a need in your garden, but also complement other plants and create interest over a longer period of time. Being more selective in choosing your flower bulbs, vegetable and herb seeds and other plants, and learning how to use them in combinations, will result in a unique and rewarding garden.

Once you have determined what you are looking for in your garden it is time to get down to the actual planning. Selecting the right vegetable, flower and herb seeds and other plants for your garden is just one of the most important steps in the planning process. There are seven essential elements requiring consideration if you want to have a successful garden.

• Space and Design
• Soil, Nutrition and Supplements
• Climate / Temperature
• Sunlight and Shade
• Water and Frequency
• Fresh, Clean Air
• Weed Control

For more detailed information on the seven essential elements in garden planning, please review Basics of A Successful Garden.

Perennial Flowers

Year-round Perennials - Coral Flower, Lamb's Ears, Bugle, Elephant's Ears, Liriope (Big Blue Lily), Stinking Gladwyn, Dead Nettle, Silver Grass, Spurge, Foam Flower, Stipa and Black Lilyturf

Fast Growing Perennials -Cranesbill, Montbretia, Foxglove, Lady's Mantle, Bronze Fennel, Periwinkle, Acanthus (Bear's Breeches), Catmint, Japanese Anemone, Avens, Bugle

Architectural Perennials - Acanthus, Greater Sea Kale, Spurge, Hosta (Plantain Lily), Cardoon, Chile Rhubarb, Rodgersia, Stipa, Plume Poppy, Honey Bush, Silver Grass, Elephant's Ears

Hardy Perennials - Foxglove, Lamb's Ears, Bugle, Lady's Mantle, Acanthus, Stinking Gladwyn, Dalmation Bellflower, Elephant's Ears, Cranesbill, Liriope, Periwinkle, Coral Flower

Spring Flowering Perennials - Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat, Common Solomon's Seal, Bleeding Heart, Lungwort, Spurge, Elephant's Ears, Sweet Violet, Comfrey, Siberian Bugloss

Herbs

Culinary Herbs for Cooking - Basil, Bay, Chives, Dill, Tarragon, Margoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Parsley, Bergamot, Borage, Coriander, Lemon Balm, Mint, Purple Sage

Aromatic Herbs for Fragrance - Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Mint

Ornamental Herbs - Bergamot, Chives, Curry Plant, Feverfew, Lavender

Herbs for Teas and other Drinks - Borage, Camomile, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Mint, Sage

Vegetables

Vegetables from Seeds or Plants - Asparagus, Beets, Corn, Beans, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Peas, Carrots, Lettuce, Pumpkin, Squash, Spinach, Radish, Tomatoes, Collards, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens

Container Vegetables - Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green Beans, Green Onions, Leaf Lettuce, Peppers, Radish, Squash, Tomatoes

Groundcover

Evergreen Groundcover - Periwinkle, Boxberry, Japanese Spurge, Bugle, Liriope, Elephant's Ears

Deciduous Groundcover - Cranesbill, Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat, Lady's Mantle, Coral Flower, Mexican Fleabane, Sow Bread

Flowering Groundcover - Lady's Mantle, Foam Flower, Hellebore, Dalmation Bellflower, Cranesbill, Mexican Fleabane

Under-planting Groundcover - Elephant's Ears, Dead Nettle, Japanese Spurge, Liriope, Periwinkle, Bugle

Easy Care Groundcover - Buble, Cotoneaster, Winter Heath, Common Ivy, Lesser Periwinkle, Lady's Mantle, Elephant's Ears, Heather, Barrenwort, Cranesbill, Shrubby Veronica, Lungwort, Creeping Blueblossom, Rock Rose, Evergreen Bittersweet, Coral Flower, Catmint

Climbers

Evergreen Climbers - Clematis, Fern-leaved Clematis, Star Jasmine, Persian Ivy, Common Ivy, Flannel Bush,

Vigorous Climbers - Russian Vine, Clematis, Boston Ivy, Common Ivy, Grape Vine

Scented Climbers - Climbing Tea Rose "Rosa Gloire de Dijon", Common White Jasmine, Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Star Jasmine, Clematis, Chinese WIsteria

Climbers for Shade - Robusta, Silk Tassel Bush, Climbing Hydrangea, Clematis "Nelly Moser", Firethorn (Pyracantha)

Autumn Climbers - Chinese Virginia Creeper, Boston Ivy, Crimson Glory Vine, Virginia Creeper, Purple-leaved Vine, Grape Vine

Quick Climbers - Chocolate Vine, Californian Lilac, Clematis, Golden Clematis, Everlasting Sweet Pea, Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Grape Vine

Container Plants

Flowering Container Plants - Mexican Orange Blossom, Laurustinus, Rock Rose, Camellia, Shrubby Veronica, Lavender

Evergreen Container Plants - Japanese Aralia, Skimmia, Kohuhu, Umbrella Bamboo, Rosemary, Cabbage Tree

Climbing Container Plants - Blue Passion Flower, Clematis, Amethyst Passion Flower, Fern-leaved Clematis

Special Container Plants - Camellia, New Zealand Flax, Red Abyssinian / Ethiopian Banana, Black Bamboo, Spiral Boxwood, Bay Standard

Shrubs

Evergreen Shrubs - Californian Lilac, Lavender, Convolvulus, Flax, Rock Rose, Escallonia, Barberry, Oleaster, Bay, Cabbage Tree, Veronica, Laurustinus, Skimmia, Alexandrian Laurel, Camellia, Sweet Box, Japanese Spurge

Deciduous Shrubs - Bluebeard, Plumbago, Lilac, Hibiscus, Tree Hollyhock, Butterfly Bush, Bridal Wreath, Dogwood, Cotoneaster, Horned Violet, Fuchsia, Flowering Quince, Mock Orange, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Elder

Berried Shrubs - Beauty Berry, Standard Cotoneaster, Firethorn

Groundcover Shrubs - Creeping Blueblossom, Rock Rose, Evergreen Bittersweet, Coral Flower, Catmint

Fast Growing Shrubs - Butterfly Bush, Abelia, Cotoneaster

Hardy Shrubs - Oleaster, Butterfly Bush, Oval Leaf Privet, Evergreen Bittersweet, Spindle Tree, Forsythia

Roses

Climbing Roses - Hybrid Tea Roses "Rosa Compassion" and "Rosa Guinee"; Rose "Rosa New Dawn"; Bourbon Rose "Rosa Zephirine Drouhin"; Floribunda Rose "Rosa Climbing Iceberg"

Disease Resistant Roses - Hybrid Tea Rose "Rosa Blessings", "Rosa Silver Jubilee", "Rosa Alexander", "Rosa Congratulations", "Rosa Alec's Red", "Rosa Just Joey"

Ground Cover Roses - "Rosa Kent", "Rosa Gwent", "Rosa Pink Flower Carpet", "Rosa Berkshire", "Rosa Sussex", "Rosa Surrey"

Scented Roses - "Rosa Rugosa", Floribunda Rose "Rosa Margaret Merril", Rambler Rose "Rosa Rambling Rector", Climbing Hybrid Tea Rose "Rosa Compassion", Shrub Rose "Rosa William Lobb", Climbing Bourbon Rose "Rosa Zephirine Drouhin"

Hedges

Fast Growing Hedges - Flowering Currant, Oval Leaf Privet, Holly, Leyland Cypress, Western Red Cedar, Copper Beech

Evergreen Hedges - Photinia, Portuguese Laurel, Oval Leaf Privet, English Holly, Common Boxwood, English Yew

Deciduous Hedges - Flowering Currant, Rugosa Rose, Bridal Wreath, Hedgehog Rose, Copper Beech, Fuchsia

Flowering Hedges - Fuchsia, Flowering Currant, Rugosa Rose, Hedgehog Rose, Common Hawthorn, Lavender

Conifers

Rockery Conifers - Shore Juniper, Norway Spruce, Blue Star Juniper, Lawson Cypress, Gold Coast Juniper, Common Juniper

Low Growing Conifers - Common Juniper, Creeping Juniper, Blue Carpet Juniper, Savin, Flaky Juniper

Conical Conifers - Chinese Juniper, Colorado Blue Spruce, Lawson Cypress, Monterey Cypress, Yew, Italian Cypress

Hedge Conifers - English Yew, Monterey Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Western Red Cedar

Colorful Conifers - Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Golden Lawson Cypress, Blue Chip Creeping Juniper, Golden Irish Yew, Blue Carpet Juniper, Blue Star Flaky Juniper, Standish Yew, Elwood's Gold Cypress, Monterey Cypress, Golden Oriental Spruce, Bronze Cypress

Trees

Small Garden Trees - Flowering Dogwood, Cheal's Weeping Cherry, Japanese Maple, Crab Apple, Weeping Common Beech, Vilmorin Rowan

Evergreen Trees - Strawberry Tree, Cider Gum (Eucalyptus), Holm Oak, Mimosa

Flowering Trees - Japanese Flowering Cherry, Bull Bay Magnolia, Black-leaved Plum, Foxglove Tree, Pink Autumn Cherry, Dove Tree, Peach, Portuguese Laurel, Green Gage, Voss's Laburnum, Japanese Crab Apple, Star Magnolia

Trees With Beautiful Berries or Bark - Snake Bark Maple, Mountain Ash, Coral Bark Maple, Vilmorin Rowan, Whitebeam, Kashmir Rowan, Sargent Rowan, Scarlet Rowan

At Garden Supply Center, our goal is to provide useful information on what type of garden to create and how to make it successful, choosing plants for your garden, which gardening tools and equipment to use and how to care for your garden. Visit our Products page and browse the gardening tool, vegetable seeds, flower bulbs, herb seeds, garden tiller, compost bin, garden tractor, compost tumbler and other garden supply products that are available.