Plants in this category are not only used for their functional value but also for their aesthetic features. Mass plantings, where shrubs are planted on 4-5 foot centers, are implemented on larger projects. Properly selected cultivars of Japanese and Chinese hollies, cotoneaster, hypericum, and several of the junipers will give this "groundcover" effect.
Another popular use of small shrubs is in planters, especially in combination with street trees. These compact growing species are often used in formal designs to edge planters and walks.
Many folks will want a "foundation" plant for their residence. The following list offers several choices for this particular situation. Several of the plants in this group, if completely forgotten, will grow higher than 4 feet and broader than the typical 3-4 feet. They are listed here because they can easily be kept in the smaller size range.
BOTANICAL NAME: Abelia grandiflora
COMMON NAME: GLOSSY ABELIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: semi-evergreen
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: irregular to oval
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'ProstrataÕ, 'Sherwood'
BOTANICAL NAME: Aucuba japonica ÔnanaÕ
COMMON NAME: DWARF AUCUBA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: upright rounded
HEIGHT: 2-3'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent shade-loving dwarf plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis thunbergii var. 'Atropurpurea'
COMMON NAME: RED JAPANESE BARBERRY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: medium
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 3-6'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Crimson Pygmy'
BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus microphylla
COMMON NAME: LITTLELEAF BOXWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: compact rounded
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Compacta', useful for low hedges
BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus sempervirens
COMMON NAME: TRUE DWARF BOXWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: very slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 4-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: True dwarf English Boxwood, requires excellent
drainage
BOTANICAL NAME: Chaenomeles japonica
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE FLOWERING QUINCE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: medium
EXPOSURE: sun-part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Low growing, densely branched
BOTANICAL NAME: Cotoneaster dammeri
COMMON NAME: BEARBERRY COTONEASTER
HARDINESS ZONE:6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: medium
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: White flowers/red fruit. Good for groundcover
effect as branches take root.
BOTANICAL NAME:Cotoneaster horizontalis
COMMON NAME: ROCKSPRAY COTONEASTER
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 2-3'
SPREAD: 4-7'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good rock garden plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Daphne odora
COMMON NAME: WINTER DAPHNE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE : semi-shade
TEXTURE: fine-medium
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 2-3'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Flowers in winter. Very aromatic.
'Alba'-white flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Deutzia gracilis
COMMON NAME: SLENDER DEUTZIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 2-3Õ
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Very adaptable to adverse conditions
BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymus japonicus
COMMON NAME: DWARF JAPANESE EUONYMUS
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: fast
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: fine-medium
FORM: oval
HEIGHT: 1-3'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Small-leaved form, dwarf sized
BOTANICAL NAME: Gardenia radicans
COMMON NAME: CREEPING GARDENIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: White, fragrant flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Hypericum patulum
COMMON NAME: ST. JOHN'S WORT
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 3'
SPREAD: 3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Many varieties available
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cornuta
COMMON NAME: (DWARF) CHINESE HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: rounded and spreading
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS:'Burfordi nana', 'Rotunda', 'Carissa'-medium
texture
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex crenata
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: mediume-fine
FORM: dense rounded
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS:'Compacta', 'Helleri'
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex vomitora 'Nana'
COMMON NAME: DWARF YAUPON HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 4-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent for eastern N.C.
BOTANICAL NAME: Jasminium floridum
COMMON NAME: SHOWY JASMINE
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: semi-evergreen
GROWTH RATE: slow-medium
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: weeping
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Yellow flowers in spring, deep green foliage
BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus conferta
COMMON NAME: SHORE JUNIPER
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 4-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Emerald Sea', 'Blue PacificÕ
BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus horizontalis
COMMON NAME: CREEPING JUNIPER
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: medium-rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: upright spreading
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Plumosa Compacta', 'P.C. Youngstown'
BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus procumbens
COMMON NAME: JAPGARDEN JUNIPER
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: very slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Nana', 'Varigata'
BOTANICAL NAME: Leucothoe fontanesiana
COMMON NAME: DROOPING LEUCOTHOE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Graceful drooping branches, 'Nana'-very dwarf
form
BOTANICAL NAME: Ligustrum japonicum 'Rotundifolium'
COMMON NAME: CURLYLEAF LIGUSTRUM
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright columnar
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Lustrous dark green foliage
BOTANICAL NAME: Mahonia aquifolium
COMMON NAME: OREGON GRAPE HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: part shade, shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: upright stems, broadly clumped
HEIGHT: 2-3'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Mayhan Strain', 'Compactum'
BOTANICAL NAME: Nandina domestica*
COMMON NAME: DWARF NANDINA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 1-2'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Atropurpea', 'Nana', 'Harbour Dwarf'
BOTANICAL NAME: Pinus mugo 'Compacta'
COMMON NAME: DWARF MUGO PINE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: globe-shaped
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Use grafted plants for truedwarf form
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus laurocerasus
COMMON NAME: DWARF ENGLISH LAUREL
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: medium-fine
FORM: upright spreading
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Otto Luyken', 'Zabeliana'
BOTANICAL NAME: Raphiolepis indica
COMMON NAME: INDIA HAWTHORN
HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: coarse-medium
FORM: open spreading
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent coastal landscape plant. Several
varieties available.
BOTANICAL NAME: Rhododendron eriocarpum
COMMON NAME: DWARF INDICA AZALEAS
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow-moderate
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 1-2'
SPREAD: 1-2'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Gumpo'
BOTANICAL NAME: Spirea thunbergii
COMMON NAME: THUNBERG SPIREA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Very early blooming spirea. Requires pruning
to maintain neat appearance.
BOTANICAL NAME: Viburnum davidii
COMMON NAME: DAVID VIBURNUM
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun or part shade
TEXTURE: coarse, medium
FORM: rounded, compact
HEIGHT: 3-4'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good dwarf viburnum used in eastern N.C.
BOTANICAL NAME: Yucca filamentosa
COMMON NAME: ADAM'S NEEDLE YUCCA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun or part shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: open, erect, stiff
HEIGHT: 1-4'
SPREAD: 2-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Sword-like foliage. Very limited landscape
uses.