Ornamental plants are often focal points in the landscape. You can find ornamental plants in a variety of cultivars, from roses to grasses and from deciduous to evergreen. Some ornamentals that bloom attract hummingbirds and butterflies, while others simply add color year round.
Roses have many different cultivars. You can plant rose bushes, tree roses, climbing roses, miniature roses and shrub roses in every color of the rainbow.
Ornamental Bulb Plants
Lilies, tulips, daffodils and onion plants are among the ornamental varieties that grow from bulbs or rhizomes. Plants grown from bulbs bloom repeatedly, but you may need to dig up the bulbs and store them over winter in colder climates. You can replant the same bulbs in the spring for seasonal blooms.
Japanese maple, along with many other varieties of maple, weeping willow and birch are among the varieties of ornamental trees that do not bloom. Ornamental trees that do bloom include magnolia, pear, cherry, apple and lilac. All of these ornamental trees are deciduous--they lose their leaves over the winter and sprout new growth in the spring.
Conifers are evergreen trees and shrubs that remain green throughout every season. They are among the most-popular ornamental plants because they add color to the landscape even during the harshest winters. Fir, cedar and juniper have several varieties within the species, all of which are considered ornamental conifers.
Weigela, barberry, camellia, lilac and heath are popular varieties of ornamental shrubs. Certain species of maple and dogwood also are considered shrubs. With the exception of low-growing conifers such as junipers, and others such as holly, most ornamental shrubs are deciduous.
Meadow foxtail, bamboo, reed grass, pampas grass, sedge, blue fescue, papyrus and fountain grass are among the ornamental grasses available to decorate your landscape. Many ornamental grasses are evergreen.
Aromatic herbs such as lavender, sage, mint and marigold are just a few of the ornamental plants that are propagated for culinary and aromatherapy uses. Thyme, basil and rosemary also are ornamental plants that add flavor to your recipes and provide a pleasing scent in your garden.