| Landscaping shrubs and bushes have a number of | | | | consumed by annual flowers. In some cases as |
| functions in the garden. In the abstract, landscape | | | | with Plumbago auriculata, established plants bloom |
| architects and designers see them as the "walls" | | | | for extensive periods without needing irrigation at |
| of the garden, whereas trees and prostrate | | | | all. |
| plants are viewed respectively, as its "ceiling" and | | | | In the same vein, color is provided by landscape |
| the "floor". Shrubs and bushes, by virtue of their | | | | bushes that have colored foliage. Purple-leaved |
| dimensions, are the one group of landscape plants | | | | plants create the most striking contrasts, although |
| that relate to human beings in terms of scale - | | | | they are often over-used, indeed miss-used by |
| both trees and low-growing plants being either | | | | the inexperienced or naïve gardener. |
| beyond or beneath the size that relate to people. | | | | Silver-leaved shrubs are a safer bet, because |
| As the usual height of garden shrubs is between 1 | | | | silver and grey, as with white or black, are not |
| to 3 meters (3-9ft) it follows that people eye | | | | colors, but differing intensities of light. Nonetheless, |
| them without either having to look upwards in the | | | | good taste demands they be used sparingly and |
| case of trees, or downwards with flowers or | | | | judiciously. Leocophyllum frutescens from Texas is |
| ground covers. The psychological significance of | | | | an example of a water-conserving bush that not |
| this "humanizing" function of shrubs and bushes, is | | | | only has attractive, silvery-grey leaves, but lovely |
| usually missed by the average home gardener, | | | | purple flowers as well. Plants with gold-colored |
| On a more prosaic level, the two most important | | | | leaves make for a more subtle, gentle contrast |
| design roles of landscape bushes, is to act as a | | | | with the mass of green-foliaged shrubs. The fruit, |
| visual barrier to screen out unwanted views and | | | | edible or otherwise, of many shrub species, also |
| as a background to focal points such as a statue, | | | | adds color to the garden especially at the end of |
| a water feature, or a mass of flowers. A | | | | the summer, when it is often in short supply. |
| background element is crucial in any design, | | | | There is another important, but much overlooked |
| because something only becomes "special" in | | | | function provided by some landscape bushes. It is |
| relation to a mass of things that are "ordinary". | | | | that many produce edible and tasty fruit. The |
| For this reason, bushes that are grown in a | | | | great advantage of fruiting shrubs over fruit |
| background role should neither be garish in color | | | | trees, is that they are often far less vulnerable to |
| nor showy in form, but rather, green, quiet, and | | | | pests and disease. While plum, apricot, cherry, and |
| fine to medium in leaf texture. | | | | apple trees are liable to be subject to the |
| On the other hand, many shrubs are a valuable | | | | depredations of bark insects, and citrus trees |
| source of garden color. This is a vital asset in dry | | | | attacked by leaf miners, shrubs such as Carissa |
| climate gardens, where water use may be | | | | macrocarpa, Feijoa sellowiana, and Eugenia uniflora |
| severely restricted, because on average, shrubs | | | | (delicious sour/sweet berries) remain virtually |
| require at least a quarter of the amount of water | | | | untouched. |