Ideas
Shrubs & Perennials
What to Do
With Them
Use shrubs and perennials (up
to two feet high), and trailing
varieties, as groundcover.
Use tall varieties (over five feet
high) as natural fences or screens
to hide whatever you don't want
to see.
Choose shrubs and perennials
native to California to
attract birds and butterflies
to your garden.
Place a potted shrub or perennial
on each side of a door or gate.
Line your front entry
with perennials.
Salvia leucantha 'Midnight,'
Mexican bush sage
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What's a Perennial?
A perennial is a plant that lasts at least
three years, and often much longer. If
your usual gardening routine is buying
and planting annuals in the spring and
pulling them out in the fall, you'll like
that perennials take care of themselves
and end up saving you money over
the years.
Shrubs vs. Perennials
In colder climates, shrubs survive
winters. However, only the roots of
perennials survive, and send up sprouts
in the spring. In Southern California's
mild climate, however, there is no
difference – both shrubs and perennials
keep their foliage year-round and
continue growing year after year.
