On Page 1 we considered some of our shorter options for green foliage. Now it's time to look at some options with a bit more height, including small shrubs and not-so-small shrubs.
Green Foliage at an Intermediate Size
Although they do bloom, hostas are most often grown as foliage plants. Classified as perennials, many hostas are nonetheless used in the landscape as if they were small shrubs (note, however, that hostas vary greatly in size, depending on the type). For instance, these shade-loving foliage plants are sometimes used in border plantings as "leafy edging" for a planting bed.
Read article: Hosta Plants
Want green foliage with a tropical feel? Many Northern homeowners include elephant ear plants in their landscapes, treating them as annual plants. I think they look especially nice near water features (see picture).
Read article: Elephant Ear Plants
Small Shrubs: Green Foliage With Greater Height
Boxwood shrubs are broadleaf evergreens: they don't bear needles. Prized for their densely packed light-green leaves and rounded, compact growth habit, English boxwoods are small shrubs, reaching a height of 3 feet, at most. There are other boxwoods from which to choose, some of which attain to greater heights. These elegant foliage plants have traditionally been used for formal garden hedges in areas with full sun to partial shade.
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Like boxwoods, yews are evergreen shrubs. But unlike boxwoods, yews are needle-bearing shrubs. English yews grow to about 4 feet tall, but they are "small shrubs" in terms of height, only. For their spread is much greater (12-15 feet): they are hardly compact plants! There are other yews from which to choose, some of which attain to greater heights. Yew shrubs are often used as hedges or foundation plants, especially in shaded areas (where many other shrubs wouldn't perform well).
Read article: English Yews
