10 Accent Plants Landscape Designers Love But Anyone Can Grow – Add the Wow Factor to Your Backyard This Weekend

Forget dreaming of having a designer garden someday: it’s a straightforward task to add any of these striking centerpiece plants to your backyard and they’ll instantly turn your garden style dial from drab to fab. The beauty of accent plants is that they command attention, so have a huge impact on the overall vibe of your landscape design. Choose a feature plant that’s beloved by professional landscape designers and you can be sure that backyard vibe is going to be standout chic, sleek, and seriously impressive.

So, if you’re only going to add one plant to your garden this year, make it an accent plant that’s been tried, tested and approved by the professionals.

Landscape designers know that any plant used as a garden accent must ooze with charisma, invite all eyes with dramatic foliage, flowers or form, and perform for months on end. So while these plants aren’t cheap, when it comes to bang for your buck, they offer great garden value if you're landscaping your backyard on a budget.

Another common characteristic of accent plants favored by garden professionals is that they’re easy to look after, because not all folk who have their backyard landscaped are gardeners, so care must be simple. And, as many busy clients engage their landscapers to maintain the garden, it follows that the professionals will always choose low-maintenance plants.

Professional landscapers are in the know about new, improved cultivars, too, that not only bring heightened flower power and disease resistance, but plants not often seen in gardens so everyone will want to know what they are.

So, all these plants are straightforward to grow, and all are perennials to bring the wow factor to your backyard year after year. Which will dazzle best in your garden?

1. New Cascading Hydrangea

• Zones 5–9
• Part to full sun
• Flowers from late May throughout summer
• Grows up to 4' high and wide

Yes, you read that right: not a climbing hydrangea but a cascading one! Hydrangea Fairytrail Bride is a new hydrangea form, available from Proven Winners via Amazon. It won the coveted ‘Plant of the Year’ award when it was introduced at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018, and it’s fast become a firm favorite with landscape designers. You too will doubtless love its elegant white lacecap blooms, yes, but you’ll adore that they flower along cascading stems.

Hydrangea Fairytrail Bride naturally forms a pleasing mound, as well as growing thrilling, spilling stems. And it does spill rather than trail, despite its name: its ‘Cascade Hydrangea’ classification refers to the fact that it flowers along its entire stem, rather than just at the tip as other hydrangeas do – which, of course, means lots more flowers.

This reblooming hydrangea doesn’t even need pruning! A perennial shrub, it’s best grown in a container to show off its spectacular form and flowing stems, and a large corten steel cube such as this from Amazon would make a dreamy backdrop to display its ice-white flowers to full effect. As patio ideas go, it's a showstopper!

You might also see this plant listed as Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ as it was launched in Europe under this name, though it’s branded as ‘Fairytrail Bride’ in North America.

2. Lavender-Blue Rose of Sharon

• Zones 5–9
• Full sun
• Flowers from early summer to late fall
• Grows to 8–12' high and 4–6' wide but easily kept smaller

Oh, will you just look at the colors of this gorgeous rose of Sharon flower! This standout lavender blue shade is a rare joy in the hundreds of althea cultivars available, and is accentuated by painterly splashes of magenta.

Rose of Sharon Aruzzi Blue Satin, also called Hibiscus syriacus ‘DVPazurri’, flowers from July to October so you’ll get to appreciate these beautiful 3–4-inch blooms for months on end. And hummingbirds will love them them as much as you do! The reason why it blooms for so long is because this rose of Sharon variety is sterile (doesn’t produce seeds), so it’s not in a hurry to get on with the job of reproduction. That also means you don’t have to worry about unwanted seedlings.

While this perennial is a spectacular upright shrub, landscape designers love to use it to create a hedge. It’s a practical as well as highly aesthetic option, as this rose of Sharon from Proven Winners, available from Nature Hills, is deer-resistant and tolerant of salt as well as heat. For privacy, plant three feet apart or, for a looser, more natural screen, 4–6 feet apart.

3. Snowy-Leaved Hosta

• Zones 3–9
• Shade to partial shade
• Flowers early to late summer
• Grows to 20" high and 1" wide

Proving that a stunning accent plant doesn’t need to be big to be noticed, Hosta ‘White Feather’ brings foliage into the spotlight. These ribbed, wavy leaves emerge a light, white color in spring, then gradually deepen to green with white streaks as the seasons progress. In summer, pale lavender tubular blooms rise from the foliage, attracting hummingbirds with their plentiful supply of nectar. For a plant that only grows to 20 inches high, that’s quite a show!

As it’s a hosta, this variety loves dappled to full shade so you can turn a dark, forgotten corner into your new favorite garden feature. Hosta ‘White Feather’ is available from Jackson & Perkins and, because it’s most spectacular before many other accent plants get into their stride, it’s a great addition to any backyard design.

4. Showstopper Intersectional Peony

• Zones 3–8
• Full sun to partial shade
• Flowers May through June
• Grows to 2½ –3' high and 2–3' wide

Peony blooms are simply glorious – but they only last for a few short weeks, right? Wrong! Intersectional peonies, also known as ‘Itoh’ peonies, are a cross between herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora, she of the fabulous but short-lived flowers) and tree peonies (Paeonia x suffruticosa, which is a bigger, slow-growing plant). Itoh peonies have inherited the best from both parents, growing huge flowers up to 8 inches in diameter, that don’t need staking, over a much longer time period.

Intersectional peonies were years in the breeding – and it took a good few years more for their price to drop within reach of the average gardener – but now there’s a wonderful range to choose from. They're still considered fairly rare, prestigious garden additions however.

‘Bartzella’ is one of the most popular with landscape designers as its yellow blooms are an intense but fresh, lemony tone that’s simply sunshine on a stick in any backyard! The cupped flowers are lightly fragranced and the finely divided foliage is equally pretty, turning red before dropping in fall. This long-lived perennial is available as a mature plant in a 3 gallon pot from Fast Growing Trees, or if you’re patient enough to wait a couple of years for blooms, you can save money by buying a bare root Itoh peony ‘Bartzella’ from Burpee.

5. Incredible Flowering Japanese Dogwood Tree

• Zones 5–9
• Full sun to partial shade
• Flowers May–June
• Grows to 20–25' high and 15–20' wide

Can you imagine an ornamental tree growing in your front yard that's covered in these fabulous 5-inch fuchsia-pink jewels for nearly two months? Cornus kousa ‘Rutpink’ is genuinely traffic-stopping! Japanese dogwood trees have long been a favorite with landscape designers because of their many seasons of interest, but this new variety takes the show to a whole new level.

Those spectacular pink petal-like structures are actually bracts (the leaf-like organs that normally protect a bud), which is why they last so long in late spring. But there's more! The bracts give way to ornamental strawberry-like fruits that are a textural treat amid lush deep-green leaves tinged with purple. And just wait till you see the intense reds and oranges of this tree’s fall colors! Even in winter, the exfoliating tan and grey bark of this distinctive deciduous tree provides interest.

Although this accent tree eventually reaches a height of 20–25 feet high, it’s a slow grower, putting on 1–2 feet of growth a year. Also known as Scarlet Fire Japanese Dogwood, it’s available from Nature Hills. As well as being bred for its ornamental value, this cultivar has super resistant to common dogwood issues like powdery mildew, so it’s extremely easy to care for.

6. Stunning New Patio Clematis

• Zones 4–9
• Partial shade
• Flowers May–July, with a second flush in September
• Grows to 3–4' high

Clematis ‘Elpis’ is a new cultivar only introduced last year but it’s had a big impact on backyard design already. The reason why it’s proving so popular with garden professionals is the incredible ratio of flower power to its tiny footprint. Intentionally bred for small gardens, Clematis ‘Elpis’ only grows to 3–4 feet high but is smothered in enormous 4–5 inch flowers.

With petals in a knock-out deep red, velvety color that doesn't fade in the sun, and striking golden stamens, the blooms keep on coming from May through to July, and you’ll enjoy another flush in September, too. This amazing new cultivar, available from Jackson & Perkins, is happy in a container at least 18 inches in diameter – my pick would be this weathered concrete pot from Amazon in a tone that'll show off those ruby-red flowers a treat – so it’s perfect for a patio feature.

Perennial clematis are straightforward to grow and, however big or small your backyard, there's a clematis to suit every backyard spot. Clematis ‘Elpis’ is a particularly good choice for any garden site that enjoys a mix of sun and shade, and it's super-easy to care for: simply reduce all the stems to around 6 inches above soil level in late winter or early spring, every year.

7. Tropical-Scent All-Summer Rose

• Zones 5–10
• Full sun
• Flowers continually from spring through summer and into fall
• Grows to 3–4' high and 2–3' wide

We all love a rose, but with so many options available, garden designers only love a rose that works incredibly hard for very little input! The Bolero rose certainly fulfills those criteria. For a start, its apricot flowers are ravishing ruffles of petals that are effortlessly stylish. As this shrub is part of the Bloomables range available from Fast Growing Trees, it’s a repeat bloomer, so flowers from spring, all through summer, into fall. But what professional landscapers really value about this garden beauty is its enticing tropical fragrance that elevates the outdoor living experience in any backyard.

Choosing a rose with a scent you adore is just as important as selecting a color you love. And this sweet-scented variety won't disappoint: it has a strong floral and fruity fragrance that pairs sweetness with a lemon freshness and just a hint of spice so it's never cloying.

Also called Rosa ‘Meidelweis’, the perennial shrub is compact enough to live in a patio pot yet commands enough attention to stand out in a large backyard. Heat- and drought-tolerant, disease resistant and low maintenance, you can see why landscape designers agree that Bolero is a no brainer garden accent plant. So, if you're looking for a quick way to upgrade a border this spring, here's your solution!

8. Small-Space Astilbe Fireworks

• Zones 3–8
• Partial shade
• Flowers July–August
• Grows 1' tall and wide

Choosing an accent plant for a big backyard is easy: you’ve got room for two or three so each can have a shorter span of interest, options of sun and shade, and zero restrictions on size. In a compact garden, finding an accent plant is far more difficult because it needs to perform for months, stay compact and – because small backyards often come with shade-creating boundaries – cope with less sunshine.

Which is why landscape designers adore dwarf astilbe ‘Sprite’. Only growing to a foot high and wide, perennial Astilbe ‘Sprite’ brings floral fireworks all through summer, its sprays of shell-pink flowers on arching stems lighting up a partially shady spot. But leave those spent flower spires intact, and they'll bring architectural interest all through fall and winter.

Pollinators love the nectar-rich blooms, too, adding to the show. Using light-toned blooms is a clever way to make a small garden look bigger, and the finely divided deep-green foliage is just as pretty as the flowers, naturally growing into tidy mounds of lacy leaves.

This small-space stunner, available from Nature Hills, is super-easy to look after, like most astilbe. The key to success is regular watering and an annual layer of mulch, as it likes moist conditions. Then all you need do is remove stems and old foliage in early spring for a repeat show, year after year.

9. Standout Sculptural Maiden Grass

• Zones 5–9
• Full sun to partial shade
• Flowers late summer into fall
• Grows to 4–5' high and 2–3' wide

Professionally landscaped gardens need to look good year-round so designers always use autumn and winter stunners alongside centerpiece plants that peak in summer. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ is a favorite because its soft, arching foliage quietly adds movement in spring and summer, but puts on a wonderful show and dance all through fall and winter.

And we do mean wonderful! For a start, the blades of this ornamental maiden grass turn a standout straw-yellow tone. Plus, the sculptural plumes it grows in late summer, emerging a burgundy-bronze color then bleaching to blonde, persist all through fall and winter to provide striking structure.

With an upright, clumping habit, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ is a well-behaved backyard addition, and isn’t invasive like some Miscanthus grasses. It’s available from Nature Hills and is very low-maintenance: all the care it needs is to be chopped down to 3–6 inches above the ground in spring and, as this is a perennial grass, the show will re-run for years to come.

10. Architectural Silver Stems

• Zones 3–9
• Full sun
• Flowers July–September
• Grows to 30" high and 16" wide

Russian sage brings feathery silvery-blue foliage, spires of lavender flowers beloved by pollinators, and a pleasant woody scent, all through summer – but that’s not why landscape designers choose to use it so often in their garden designs. Yes, it absolutely adds to the mix of summer blooms, but it’s in winter that Russian sage steps into its role as a striking accent plant. The silvery well-branched stems shine out as temperatures tumble, standing up to all weathers to create incredible architectural structure that lasts all through winter.

To use Russian sage for this purpose, the ‘CrazyBlue’ variety from Better Versions, available from Fast Growing Trees, is your best bet as it’s a compact cultivar that’s been bred to have stiffer stems that interlock with one another, so it won’t flop no matter what winter weather is thrown at it. Once established, Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘CrazyBlue’ is very drought-tolerant and needs minimal watering, so all this low-maintenance perennial plant needs care-wise is for old stems to be removed in early spring to make way for new growth.