Will Corley, Jim Midcap (ret.), Mel Garber and Gary Wade
As lifestyles change and budgets for landscape maintenance shrink, low-maintenance landscape plants are becoming more popular with professional horticulturists and home gardeners. Since all plants require care to fertilize, prune, irrigate, or control pests, the literature was surveyed to determine which plants possess durability, adaptability, and resistance to urban stress and pests (AHS 1972; Barrick 1979; Dirr 1990; Flint 1985; Halfacre and Shawcroft 1979; Whitcomb 1984; Wigginton 1963).
Plants that require minimal amount of care are categorized in the following pages according to mature plant size and landscape uses. Their main attributes for adaptability and performance are presented. In addition to minimal care requirements, the various taxa are classified according to tolerance of poor, infertile soils; wet, poorly drained sites; dry, well-drained sites; urban stress; salts; and shade. Where shade tolerance is indicated, plants grow best in some degree of shade. The references cited were not in complete agreement regarding the stress tolerance of the various taxa, and where disagreement occurred, majority concensus was used in table listings. Notations are made for leaf persistence -- evergreen or deciduous. Hardiness, or climatic zone adaptation, is indicated in the taxa column.
Revised 8/99
Vines
Ground Covers
Shrubs 1-4 Feet
Shrubs 4-6 Feet
Shrubs 6-12 Feet
Small Trees 15-40 Feet
Large Trees 40+ Feet
Summary
Literature Cited
Vines |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone* | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Akebia quinata/ 6b-8b; Fiveleaf Akebia | - | X | X | X | - | X | Semi EV |
| Anisostichus capreolatus/6b-8b; Cross Vine (Bignonia) | X | X | - | - | - | X | Semi EV |
| Aristolochia durior 6b-8b Dutchman's Pipe | X | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Campsis radicans/ 6b-8b Trumpet Vine | X | X | X | X | - | X | D |
| Clematis hybrida/ 6b-8b Large-Flowered Clematis | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| X Fatchedera lizei/ 8a-8b Bush Ivy | X | - | X | - | - | X | EV |
| Ficus pumila/ 8a-8b Climbing Fig | X | - | X | - | X | X | EV |
| Gelsemium sempervirens/ 6b-8b; Carolina Jessamine | X | X | X | - | - | X | EV |
| Hedera canariensis/ 6b-8b Algerian Ivy | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Hedera colchica/ 6b-8b Colchis Ivy | X | - | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Hydrangea anomala/ 6b-8b; Climbing Hydrangea | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Jasminum officinale/ 6b-8b; Common Jasmine | X | X | X | - | - | X | Semi EV |
| Lonicera x heckrottii/ 6b-8b; Everblooming Honeysuckle | X | X | X | X | - | X | Semi EV |
| Lonicera sempervirens/ 6b-8b; Honeysuckle | X | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Menispermum canadense/ 6b-8b; Common Moonseed | X | - | X | X | - | X | D |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia/ 6b-8b; Virginia Creeper | X | X | X | X | X | X | D |
| Rosa banksiae/ 6b-8b; Banks Rose | X | - | - | - | - | - | EV-D |
| Rosa laevigata/ 6b-8b; Cherokee Rose | X | - | - | - | - | - | Semi-EV |
| Smilax lanceolata/ 6b-8b; Smilax | X | - | - | - | X | X | EV |
| * 6b-8b = entire state/Piedmont; 8a-8b = Coastal Plain | |||||||
Ground Covers |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Aspidistra elatior/ 8a-8b; Cast-Iron Plant | X | - | X | - | X | X | EV |
| Cyrtomium falcatum/ 8a-8b; Holly Fern | - | X | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Helleborus orientalis/ 6b-8b; Lenten Rose | X | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Hemerocallis spp./ 6b-8b; Daylily | X | X | X | X | X | X | D |
| Hosta spp./6b-8b; Plantain Lily | - | X | - | X | - | X | D |
| Hypericum calycinum/ 6b-8b; Aaronsbeard (St. Johnsort) | X | - | X | X | - | - | EV-D |
| Iberis sempervirens/ 6b-8b; Candytuft | X | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
| Juniperus conferta/ 6b-8b; Shore Juniper | X | - | X | X | X | EV | |
| Ophiopogon jaburan/ 6b-8b; Snakesbeard | X | - | X | - | X | X | EV |
| Ophiopogon japonicus/ 6b-8b; Mondo Grass | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Pachysandra procumbens/ 6b-8b; Alleghany Pachysandra | - | - | - | X | - | X | Semi EV |
| Pachysandra terminalis/ 6b-8b; Japanese Spurge | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Paxistima canbyi/ 6b-8b; Rat-stripper | X | - | - | - | - | - | EV |
| Phlox subulata/ 6b-8b; Thrift | X | - | X | X | - | - | EV |
| Rosa wichuraiana/ 6b-8b; Memorial Rose | X | - | - | X | - | - | Semi EV |
| Rosmarinus officinalis/ 6b-8b; Rosemary | X | - | X | - | - | - | EV |
| Santolina chamaecyparissus/ 6b-8b; Lavender Cotton | X | - | X | - | X | - | EV |
| Santolina virens/ 6b-8b; Green Santolina | X | - | X | - | X | - | EV |
| Sarcocca hookerana humilis/ 6b-8b; Small Himalyan Sarcocca | - | - | X | - | - | X | EV |
| Sedum acre/6b-8b; Gold Moss Stonecrop | X | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
| Sedum spectabile/ 6b-8b; Gold Moss Stonecrop | X | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
Shrubs 1-4 Feet |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Abelia x grandiflora/ 6b-8b; Dwarf Abelia | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
| Berberis candidula/ 6b-8b; Paleleaf Barberry | X | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
| Berberis verruculosa/ 6b-8b; Warty Barberry | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Ceanothus americanus/ 6b-8b; Wild Snowball (New Jersey Tea) | X | - | X | - | - | X | D |
| Danae racemosa/ 6b-8b; Alexandrian Laurel | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Deutzia gracilis/ 6b-8b; Slender Deutzia | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' / 6b-8b; Dwarf Japanese Euonymus | - | X | - | - | X | X | EV |
| Hesperaloe parviflora/ 6b-8b; Red Yucca | X | - | X | - | - | - | EV |
| Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora'/ 6b-8b; Snowhill Hydrangea | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Hypericum kalmianum/ 6b-8b; Kalm St. John's-Wort | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Hypericum patulum/ 6b-8b; St. John's-Wort | X | - | X | X | - | - | Semi EV |
| Hypericum prolificum/ 6b-8b; Shrubby St. John's-Wort | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda'/ 6b-8b; Dwarf Chinese Holly | X | - | - | - | X | X | EV |
| Ilex crenata radicans/ 6b-8b; Japanese Holly | X | - | X | X | - | - | EV |
| Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'/ 6b-8b; Dwarf Yaupon | - | - | X | - | X | X | EV |
| Jasminum nudiflorum/ 6b-8b | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Juniperus davurica 'Parsoni'/ 6b-8b; Parsons Juniper | X | - | X | X | - | - | EV |
| Lavandula officinalis/ 6b-8b; English Lavender | - | - | X | - | - | - | EV |
| Leucothoe axillaris/ 6b-8b; Coastal Leucothoe | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Leucothoe fontanesiana/ 6b-8b; Drooping Leucothoe | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Lonicera pileata/ 6b-8b; Privet Honeysuckle | X | - | X | - | - | - | Semi EV |
| Potentilla fruticosa/ 6b-8b; Bush Cinquefoil | X | - | -- | X | - | - | D |
| Ruscus aculeatus/ 6b-8b; Butcher's Broom | X | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
| Skimmia reevesiana/ 6b-8b; Reeves Skimmia | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Spiraea x bumalda; Bumald Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound' / 6b-8b; Snowmound Nippon Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Xanthorhiza simplicissima/ 6b-8b; Yellowroot | X | X | X | X | - | X | Semi EV |
| Yucca filamentosa/ 6b-8b; Adams Needle Yucca | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
Shrubs 4-6 Feet |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Abelia x grandiflora/ 6b-8b; Glossy Abelia | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
| Berberis julianae/ 6b-8b; Wintergreen Barberry | X | - | X | X | X | X | EV |
| Berberis x mentorensis/ 6b-8b; Mentor Barberry | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Berberis thunbergii/ 6b-8b; Japanese Barberry | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis/ 6b-8b; Buttonbush | - | X | - | - | - | - | D |
| Chaenomeles speciosa/ 6b-8b; Flowering Quince | X | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Clethra alnifolia/ 6b-8b; Summersweet Clethra | - | X | - | - | X | X | D |
| Dirca palustris/ 6b-8b; Leatherwood | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Euonymus kiautschovicus/ 6b-8b; Spreading Euonymus | X | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Fatsia japonica/ 8a-8b; Japanese Fatsia | X | X | - | - | X | X | EV |
| Hamamelis vernalis/ 6b-8b; Vernal Witch-Hazel | X | X | X | X | - | - | D |
| Hydrangea macrophylla/6b-8b; Bigleaf Hydrangea | - | - | - | - | X | X | D |
| Hydrangea quercifolia/ 6b-8b; Oakleaf Hydrangea | X | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Ilex crenata 'Compacta'/ 6b-8b; Compacta Japanese Holly | - | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Jasminum floridum/ 8a-8b; Flowering Jasmine | X | - | X | - | X | - | EV |
| Juniperus squamata 'Meyeri' / 6b-8b; Singleseed Juniper | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
| Opuntia spp./ 6b-8b; Prickly Pear | X | - | X | X | EV | ||
| Pieris floribunda/ 6b-8b; Mountain Andromeda | - | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Pieris japonica/ 6b-8b; Japanese Andromeda | - | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Raphiolepis umbellata/8a-8b; Yedda Hawthorn | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
| Rhododendron carolinianum / 6b-8b; Carolina Rhododendron | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Rhodotypos scandens/ 6b-8b; Black Jetbead | X | - | X | X | - | X | D |
| Rhus aromatica/ 6b-8b; Fragrant Sumac | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Rosa rugosa/ 6b-8b; Rugose Rose | X | - | X | X | X | - | D |
| Spiraea cantoniensis/ 6b-8b; Reeves Spirea | X | - | - | X | - | - | D |
| Spiraea thunbergii/ 6b-8b; Thunberg Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Spiraea x vanhouttei/ 6b-8b; Vanhoutte Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Taxus cuspidata/ 6b-8b; Japanese Yew | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Viburnum acerifolium/ 6b-8b; Mapleleaf Viburnum | - | - | X | X | - | X | D |
| Viburnum carlesii/ 6b-8b; Koreanspice Viburnum | - | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Viburnum suspensum/ 8a-8b; Sandankwa Viburnum | X | - | - | - | X | X | EV |
| Yucca gloriosa/ 6b-8b; Mound Lily Yucca | X | - | X | X | - | - | EV |
Shrubs 6-12 Feet |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Aesculus parviflora/ 6b-8b; Bottlebrush Buckeye | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Aronia arbutifolia/ 6b-8b; Red Chokeberry | X | X | X | - | - | - | D |
| Buddleia davidii/ 6b-8b; Butterfly Bush | - | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Calycanthus floridus/ 6b-8b; Sweetshrub | X | - | X | X | - | X | D |
| Chimonanthus praecox/ 6b-8b; Wintersweet | X | - | X | X | - | - | Semi EV |
| Chionanthus virginicus/ 6b-8b; Fringetree | - | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Cleyera japonica/ 6b-8b; Cleyera (Ternstroemia) | - | - | X | - | - | X | EV |
| Cornus amomum/ 6b-8b; Silky Dogwood | - | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Cornus racemosa/ 6b-8b; Gray Dogwood | - | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Cornus sericea/ 6b-8b; Red-osier Dogwood | X | X | - | X | - | X | D |
| Cotinus obovatus/ 6b-8b; American Smoketree | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Cyrilla racemiflora/ 6b-8b; Leatherwood | - | X | - | - | - | - | EV |
| Cytisus scoparius/ 6b-8b; Scotch Broom | X | - | X | X | X | - | D |
| Deutzia scabra/ 6b-8b; Fuzzy Deutzia | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Exochorda racemosa/ 6b-8b; Pearlbush | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Feijoa sellowiana/ 8a-8b; Pineapple Guava | - | - | X | - | X | - | Semi EV |
| Forsythia x intermedia/ 6b-8b; Border Forsythia | X | - | X | X | X | - | D |
| Hamamelis virginiana/ 6b-8b; Common Witch Hazel | - | X | X | X | - | X | D |
| Hibiscus syriacus/ 6b-8b; Rose of Sharon | X | X | X | X | X | - | D |
| Ilex glabra/ 6b-8b; Inkberry Holly | - | X | - | - | X | - | EV |
| Ilex latifolia/ 6b-8b; Lusterleaf Holly | X | - | X | - | - | - | EV |
| Ilex pernyi/ 6b-8b; Perny Holly | X | - | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Ilex vomitoria/6b-8b; Yaupon Holly | X | X | X | - | X | X | EV |
| Illicium spp./ 6b-8b; Anise Tree | - | X | - | - | - | - | EV |
| Itea virginica/ 6b-8b; Virginia Sweetspire | - | X | X | - | - | X | Semi EV |
| Juniperus chinensis cvs./ 6b-8b; Chinese Juniper | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
| Kolkwitzia amabilis/ 6b-8b; Beautybush | X | - | - | X | - | - | D |
| Ligustrum x vicaryi/ 6b-8b; Vicary Golden Privet | X | - | X | X | X | - | D |
| Lindera benzoin/ 6b-8b; Spicebush | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Lonicera fragrantissima/ 6b-8b; Winter Honeysuckle | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Loropetalum chinense/ 6b-8b; Loropetalum | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Myrica cerifera/ 6b-8b; Wax-Myrtle | X | X | X | X | X | X | EV |
| Osmanthus x fortunei/ 6b-8b; Fortune Tea Olive | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Osmanthus heterophyllus/ 6b-8b; Holly Osmanthus | X | - | - | X | - | X | EV |
| Philadelphus x virginalis/ 6b-8b; Mock Orange | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Photinia glabra/ 6b-8b; Japanese Photinia | - | - | X | X | - | - | EV |
| Photinia serrulata/ 6b-8b; Chinese Photinia | - | - | X | X | - | X | EV |
| Podocarpus macrophyllus maki/ 8; Podocarpus | X | - | - | X | X | - | EV |
| Poncirus trifoliata/ 6b-8b; Hardy-orange | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Punica granatum/ 8a-8b; Pomegranate | X | - | - | - | - | - | D |
| Rhododendron calendulaceum/ 6b-8b; Flame Azalea | - | - | - | - | - | X | D |
| Rhododendron 'Exbury Hybrids'/ 6b-8b; Exbury Hybrid Azalea | - | - | - | - | - | X | D |
| Rhododendron periclymenoides/ 6b-8b; Pinxterbloom Azalea | X | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Rhododendron prunifolium/ 6b-8b; Plumleaf Azalea | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Rhododendron spp./6b-8b; Native Azaleas | X | - | - | - | - | X | D |
| Rhus glabra/ 6b-8b; Smooth Sumac | X | - | X | X | X | - | D |
| Spiraea prunifolia 'Plena'/ 6b-8b; Bridalwreath Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Spiraea x vanhouttei/ 6b-8b; Vanhoutte Spirea | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Staphylea trifolia/ 6b-8b; American Bladdernut | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Stewartia ovata/ 6b-8b; Mountain Stewartia | - | X | - | - | - | X | D |
| Tamarix ramosissima/ 8a-8b; Salt Cedar | - | X | - | X | X | - | D |
| Vaccinium corymbosum/ 6b-8b; Highbush Blueberry | - | X | - | - | - | - | D |
| Viburnum x burkwoodii/ 6b-8b; Burkwood Viburnum | - | - | - | - | - | X | Semi EV |
| Viburnum dilatatum/ 6b-8b; Linden Viburnum | - | - | - | - | - | X | D |
| Viburnum lentago/ 6b-8b; Sheepberry | - | X | X | - | - | X | D |
| Viburnum opulus/ 6b-8b; European Cranberry Viburnum | X | X | X | - | - | - | D |
| Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum/ 6b-8b; Doublefile Viburnum | X | X | - | - | - | - | D |
| Viburnum prunifolium/ 6b-8b; Blackhaw Viburnum | X | - | X | X | - | X | D |
| Viburnum x rhytidophylloides/ 6b-8b; Lantanaphyllum Viburnum | X | - | - | X | - | - | Semi EV |
| Viburnum rhytidophyllum/ 6b-8b; Leatherleaf Vibrunum | - | X | - | - | - | X | EV |
| Vitex agnus-castus/ 6b-8b; Chaste Tree | X | - | X | - | X | X | D |
| Weigela florida/ 6b-8b; Weigela | X | - | - | X | - | - | D |
| Yucca aloifolia/ 8a-8b; Spanish Bayonet | X | - | X | X | X | - | EV |
Small Trees 15-40 Feet |
|||||||
| Taxa/Zone | Tolerant to: | ||||||
| Poor soils |
Wet sites |
Dry sites |
Urban stress |
Salt | Shade | EV/Decid | |
| Acer buergeranum/ 6b-8b; Trident Maple | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Acer campestre/ 6b-8b; Hedge Maple | X | - | X | X | - | - | D |
| Acer floridanum/6b-8b; Florida Maple | X | - | - | - | - | X | D |
| Acer griseum/ 6b-8b; Paperbark Maple | X | - | - | - | - | - | D |
| Acer tataricum/6b-8b; Tatarian Maple | X | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Acer truncatum/ 6b-8b; Purpleblow Maple | X | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Amelanchier arborea/ 6b-8b; Downy Serviceberry | X | - | - | X | - | - | D |
| Amorpha fruticosa/ 6b-8b; Indigobush Amorpha | X | - | X | - | - | - | D |
| Asimina triloba/ 6b-8b; Common Pawpaw | - | X | - | - | X | ||