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There are certain plants -- in this case, shrubs -- that are popular not only because they look great in just about any setting, but also because they’ve stood the test of time and proved to be tough despite extreme weather, marginal soil conditions, lack of fertilizer, and even neglect. Here are some of my favorites.

I’ve got a species Abelia -- meaning it’s the OG of Abelias -- in my backyard that is one of the toughest plants I’ve ever seen. It was here when I bought the house 15 years ago, and not once have I ever fertilized it or for that matter even watered it. I once pruned it back so severely that I was convinced it wouldn't rebound, but it bounced back beautifully and continues to bloom prolifically.
What’s sold nowadays are improved hybrids of Abelia, and they’re just as tough. Moreover, they’re (mostly) evergreen, their foliage is far more interesting and often more colorful, and they bloom from summer to fall. They need a good six hours of sun and, unlike my OG, need to be watered regularly.

It’s hard to beat boxwoods. Evergreen. Tough as nails. And they come in so many different shapes and sizes these days that you can use them pretty much anywhere in the landscape, and by that I mean they’re not just for foundation plantings. They too need at least six hours of sun and routine watering. Just don’t prune them this time of year. That can stimulate new growth that can get zapped by a freeze.

I may be going out on a limb here, but it’s even harder to beat hollies. They perform so well here, and they range in height from just a few feet to 25 feet. Most are evergreen, most produce gorgeous berries, and there are even some that don’t have prickly leaf tips. And for you fans of all plants native, there’s the super easy-to-grow Yaupon, which is available in a shrub or tree form. A sunny spot is best.

I’ll admit it -- there was a time when I wasn’t all that keen on Nandina, but that was back in the day when Nandina domestica was all you could buy, and it’s not a great plant, unless you’re a fan of gangly, invasive, shrubs. Today, however, there are fantastic varieties to choose from in a rainbow of colors -- from vivid reds to lime-greens -- all of which are evergreen. Best of all, they’re remarkably easy to grow and carefree when given at least a half day of sun.

Talk about tough. This glossy green-leaved evergreen is also undemanding and fast growing. White flowers are fragrant and attract lots of pollinators. And it adapts well to wet soils but is also extremely drought tolerant, and can be sheared to maintain desired shape. Grows to about eight-feet tall and half as wide.

Also known as southern bayberry, this native, multi-trunked, evergreen shrub is pretty amazing. Its light green foliage has a spicy fragrance and its green flowers -- which attract butterflies and moths -- smell great. It thrives in areas most other plants can’t tolerate, namely wet environments. In the landscape, it tops out at around 12 feet, and it’s great for screening, wetland gardens, and habitat restoration.

You know I love this deciduous shrub. In fact I wrote about just last week, highlighting its fall color. But it deserves mention here because it’s also extremely tough and undemanding, rather unlike most other hydrangeas. It also tolerates -- and flowers best -- with more sun, making it more versatile in the landscape. Honestly, if I could only pick one shrub, this would be it. 

This is another of my favorites. It’s deciduous, grows to about four-feet tall and wide, and does great in moist (though not wet) and organically rich soil. Honey-scented flowers appear at the tips of branches in spring, and fall color is a mix of red, orange, and yellow. It’s a fairly slow grower, but well worth the wait.

At the home where I taped “Gardening by the Yard” I planted no less than 25 Viburnums, which is to say that I love these shrubs. Most are deciduous, most produce gorgeous white flowers, some are native, and all are worth growing. They flower best in the sun, but can easily handle a few hours of afternoon shade.

There appears to be some confusion out there in the land of gardeners regarding just how late in the season you can plant. I’ll give you the lowdown next week. Hint: keep your shovel sharp.