Woodie’s Picks: Landscape Plants That Never Go Out of Style
While we’re all about discovering new trends and adjusting to style changes over the years, there are a few landscape plants that are tried and true, and simply never go out of style.
In this week’s installment of Woodie’s Picks, we want to highlight a few plants that remain popular year after year, and bring unmatched beauty and aesthetic to any outdoor space.
Benefits Of Classic Landscaping
While bold and flashy plants that fit the current trends and style of landscaping can be fun, there is something so rewarding about sticking with the bread and butter of yard designs. Below are just a few benefits of sticking with the classics:
Less Work + Longevity
There are reasons why these plants remain popular year over year, beyond just the beauty they bring to a space. For one, these plants are often chosen for their low-maintenance nature and long-lasting form. While some landscape plants struggle to adapt to their newly planted environment, the classics have proven to be readily adaptable, resilient to the elements, and long-lasting. When you plant a classic, get ready to enjoy its magic and beauty for years to come.
Increased Property Value
Exotic, unique cultivars can likely add value to one's property as well; however, when you choose good, basic, well-loved landscaping plants, you greatly enhance your home’s curb appeal and increase its chances of a quick resale. While trendy plants come in and out of style, best sellers like Skip Laurels and Emerald Greens are evergreen (literally and figuratively speaking). These plants never go out of style. Buyers will often appreciate a sustainable, low-maintenance yard.
Peaceful and Calm Aesthetic
A final benefit to landscaping with basic landscape plants is the peaceful aesthetic and aura they bring to a space. Naturalistic and cottage gardens with a rainbow of shapes and colors can be beautiful, but when overdone, they can feel overwhelming and crowded. When you select sleek evergreens and grasses to fill your property, you avoid making the space chaotic, leaning towards the calming oasis that your yard should be.
Sticking With Landscaping Classics: Plants To Anchor Your Outdoor Space
Skip Cherry Laurel
Although this lustrous shrub wasn’t introduced to the US until the 20th century, the Schip Cherry Laurel quickly gained traction and is now well-loved for its use in landscapes across the country. Nicknamed the ‘Skip Cherry Laurel,’ these evergreen shrubs are prized for their glossy foliage, adaptability to various light and soil conditions, and resistance to deer pests and urban pollution. Skips are widely used in privacy hedges, wind screens, yard borders, and foundation plantings. This strain of Cherry Laurel typically matures to 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide, but it can also be pruned to maintain a smaller form if needed.
Dwarf English Boxwood
In the same realm of classic evergreen shrubs is a sleeker, more compact option that remains popular in yard designs year after year: the Dwarf English Boxwood. These shrubs are an ideal choice for a variety of landscape designs. Dwarf English Boxwoods are praised for their timeless appearance, slow growth, and minimal need for pruning to maintain their perfectly round form. The dense yet small landscape plants provide year-round structure and versatility in formal designs, making them perfect for low borders and lining pathways. Reaching maturity between 1-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, Dwarf English Boxwoods are small but mighty!
Emerald Green Arborvitae
If you’re searching for landscape structure on a larger level, the Emerald Green Arborvitae is the plant for you! This landscaping staple has been a popular choice for over 70 years. Emerald Greens feature a natural columnar shape and reach maturity at approximately 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide. These trees are frequently used in hedging to instill privacy around a property. They require very little pruning and are drought-tolerant once established.
Mondo Grass
Last on the list of landscaping classics to add to your yard this planting season is the tried and true Mondo Grass!
Mondo Grass is a versatile, low-maintenance, mounding ground cover that creates a lush carpet of greenery. Often used as a lawn alternative, the grass remains relatively low to the ground, reducing the need for mowing. As a bonus, Mondo grass is beneficial to the environment! Its dense roots stabilize slopes and prevent soil runoff. This shade-tolerant perennial grows best in USDA zones 6 through 11 and is suitable for subtropical climates. Mondo Grass can tolerate intense heat and drought, but it prefers well-drained soil and partial shade for optimal results.
Shop Landscaping Classics Online
When it comes to landscaping, timeless choices are often the ones that deliver the greatest return—both in beauty and ease of care. Classic plants like Skip Cherry Laurels, Boxwoods, Emerald Greens, and Mondo Grass have stood the test of time for a reason. They offer structure, durability, and a calming aesthetic that never feels dated.
Whether you’re refreshing an existing landscape or starting from scratch, anchoring your outdoor space with proven favorites ensures a yard you’ll love today, tomorrow, and for years to come.