Shrubs – hardiness zones compared (USDA, RHS, Canadian & Australian)

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All 291 shrubs in the catalogue, alphabetical by common name. Each links to a full page with its ratings across the USDA, RHS, Canadian and Australian systems.

Abelia Abelia × grandiflora – Semi-evergreen arching shrub with small glossy leaves and continuous small pink-tinged white tubular flowers from early summer until autumn. USDA zones 5–9
Acerola Malpighia emarginata – Subtropical shrub or small tree (Barbados cherry) with bright red, tart fruit very high in vitamin C. USDA zones 9–11
Adam’s needle Yucca filamentosa – Cold-hardy southeastern North American native yucca with sword-shaped leaves edged in curling white threads, and tall summer panicles of cream bell flowers. Leaf fibre was a key cordage source for southeastern Indigenous peoples. USDA zones 4–10
Anise myrtle Syzygium anisatum – Subtropical Queensland native with intensely anise-scented leaves rich in anethole. Culinary and digestive medicinal use. USDA zones 9–11
Aniseed myrtle Backhousia anisata – Rare subtropical rainforest tree from northern NSW with strongly aniseed-scented, culinary leaves. USDA zones 10–11
Annatto Bixa orellana – Tropical American small tree with pink flowers and spiny red seed capsules. The orange seed coating (bixin and norbixin) is the principal natural orange food and textile colourant — the colour of cheddar cheese, Spanish chorizo, and bottled fruit-flavour drinks. USDA zones 10–12
Apothecary’s rose Rosa gallica ‘Officinalis’ – Old garden rose with semi-double rich pink flowers and powerful damask fragrance in a single concentrated flush at midsummer. One of the oldest cultivated roses in Europe. USDA zones 3–8
Arabian jasmine Jasminum sambac – Tropical evergreen scrambling shrub with intensely fragrant pure-white double or single flowers throughout the warm season. The principal fragrance jasmine of south and southeast Asia and the source of jasmine tea. USDA zones 9–12
Araza-boi Eugenia stipitata – Amazonian shrub or small tree with large, tart, aromatic yellow fruit used for juice and pulp. USDA zones 10–12
Aronia (Black chokeberry) Aronia melanocarpa – North American native shrub with white spring flowers, glossy red autumn foliage, and clusters of intensely astringent dark berries. USDA zones 3–8
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera – Indian Ayurvedic adaptogen — a small woody shrub with red berries. Roots are the medicinal part, harvested in autumn. USDA zones 8–11
Atherton raspberry Rubus probus – Vigorous native raspberry from northern Queensland with sweet red fruit. USDA zones 9–10
Australian native mulberry Pipturus argenteus – Fast, soft-wooded subtropical shrub or small tree from eastern Australia with soft white edible fruit. USDA zones 10–11
Australian native thyme Prostanthera incisa – Aromatic eastern-Australian shrub (a cut-leaf mint bush) whose leaves are used as a native culinary herb. USDA zones 9–10
Australian wild currant Antidesma erostre – Tropical northern-Australian shrub bearing small, tart, currant-like berries. USDA zones 10–12
Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata – East Asian shrub with silvery foliage and small red berries exceptionally high in lycopene. Once promoted for soil reclamation; now banned in many regions for its aggressive spread. USDA zones 3–8
Autumn sage Salvia greggii – Compact shrubby Texas and northeastern Mexican native salvia with masses of small hooded flowers in red, pink, salmon, coral, or white, blooming from late spring through autumn. USDA zones 7–10
Banana pitanga Eugenia anthropophaga – Obscure Brazilian cherry relative with elongated yellow-orange fruit. USDA zones 10–11
Bayberry (Northern) Myrica pensylvanica – Eastern North American native shrub of coastal dunes and acidic heath. Waxy berries are the source of traditional bayberry candle wax. USDA zones 3–7
Bitter dream herb Calea zacatechichi – Frost-tender Central American shrub taken traditionally as a bitter tea and "dream herb". USDA zones 9–11
Black goji berry Lycium ruthenicum – Tough, spiny Central Asian desert shrub with anthocyanin-rich black berries. USDA zones 5–9
Black she-oak Allocasuarina littoralis – Eastern Australian coastal native casuarina. Critical food plant for the glossy black cockatoo, which feeds almost exclusively on its seeds. USDA zones 8–11
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus – Vigorous cane fruit with sprawling, often thorny growth. Modern thornless cultivars (Loch Ness, Triple Crown) make cultivation far easier. USDA zones 5–10
Blackberry jam fruit Rosenbergiodendron formosum – Compact tropical American shrub whose seedy fruit pulp tastes remarkably like blackberry jam. USDA zones 10–11
Blackcurrant Ribes nigrum – Deciduous shrub bearing intensely flavoured black berries packed with vitamin C. Cool-summer plant — declines quickly in hot dry climates. USDA zones 3–7
Bladder senna Colutea arborescens – Mediterranean shrub with yellow pea-flowers followed by inflated, papery, parchment-like seed pods that pop when squeezed. Tolerates poor and alkaline soils. USDA zones 5–8
Blue lilly pilly Syzygium oleosum – Glossy-leaved eastern-Australian rainforest tree or shrub with powdery blue-purple edible berries. USDA zones 9–10
Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum – Compact deciduous shrub with edible berries and good autumn colour. Needs strongly acidic soil. USDA zones 4–7
Blueberry — Rabbiteye Vaccinium virgatum – Southeastern US native blueberry — taller, more heat-tolerant, and lower-chill than highbush types. USDA zones 7–9
Blueberry — Southern Highbush Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid – Modern hybrid blueberries bred to fruit reliably in low-chill climates. The mainstay of commercial blueberry production in southern Australia. USDA zones 7–10
Bog myrtle (Sweet gale) Myrica gale – Aromatic wetland shrub of UK and northern European bogs. Used to flavour beer (gruit) before hops became standard, and a traditional Scottish midge repellent. USDA zones 1–6
Bolwarra Eupomatia laurina – Rainforest-understorey shrub or small tree from eastern Australia with fragrant, edible fruit. USDA zones 9–10
Boobialla Myoporum insulare – Fast, dense coastal shrub or small tree from southern Australia, widely used for screening and windbreaks. USDA zones 9–10
Boysenberry Rubus ursinus × idaeus – Raspberry-loganberry-blackberry hybrid developed in California and refined commercially in New Zealand. Large, deep purple, intensely flavoured fruit. USDA zones 5–9
Bristly locust Robinia hispida – Suckering eastern North American shrub or small tree with bristly stems and rosy-pink racemes of pea flowers in early summer. Useful for stabilising poor soils. USDA zones 5–8
Brown boronia Boronia megastigma – Western Australian shrub with fine needle-like leaves and small bell-shaped flowers, chocolate-brown on the outside and yellow within, carrying one of the most intense fragrances of any Australian native plant. USDA zones 9–10
Buckthorn — Alder Frangula alnus – Wetland-edge European shrub. Aged bark is a stimulant laxative similar to senna; only the dried-and-aged bark is safe — fresh bark causes severe vomiting. USDA zones 3–7
Buffalo berry — Silver Shepherdia argentea – Thorny silver-leaved shrub of the North American prairies and northern plains. Tart red berries are an Indigenous food source, traditionally sweetened after the first frost. USDA zones 2–7
Burning bush (Winged spindle) Euonymus alatus – East Asian deciduous shrub with distinctive corky-winged stems and foliage that turns the most intense fluorescent pink-red of any autumn shrub. The colour is so vivid the common name describes it as on fire. USDA zones 4–8
Bush tomato (Akudjura) Solanum centrale – Low desert-adapted Australian native solanum producing yellow-brown sun-dried fruit traditionally harvested by central desert Aboriginal communities. USDA zones 9–12
Calamondin × Citrofortunella microcarpa – Mandarin × kumquat hybrid producing prolific clusters of small acidic orange fruit. Excellent ornamental container plant; popular across Southeast Asia for cooking. USDA zones 8–11
Calamondin Citrus madurensis – Compact, ornamental citrus with small, very sour orange fruit used for marmalade and cooking. USDA zones 9–11
Camellia Camellia japonica – Glossy-leaved evergreen shrub with winter and early-spring flowers. Needs acidic soil. USDA zones 7–10
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis – Hardy North American shadbush tolerant of damp ground, with sweet dark pomes. USDA zones 4–8
Cape leadwort Plumbago auriculata – Scrambling South African shrub or climber with light-blue (or white) phlox-like flowers through warm months. One of the most reliable mass-flowering shrubs of warm-temperate and subtropical gardens. USDA zones 9–11
Caper bush Capparis spinosa – Sprawling, spiny Mediterranean shrub whose flower buds are pickled as capers. USDA zones 8–11
Carolina allspice (Sweetshrub) Calycanthus floridus – Southeastern North American native deciduous shrub with broad green leaves and unusual fragrant maroon-brown strap-petalled flowers in late spring. Flower fragrance ranges from fruity to spicy depending on the seedling. USDA zones 4–9
Caryopteris (Blue mist shrub) Caryopteris × clandonensis – Compact deciduous shrub with grey-green aromatic foliage and clouds of bright blue flowers from late summer into autumn. USDA zones 5–9
Catarina cherry Eugenia catharinensis – Little-known Brazilian Eugenia with small, sweet edible fruit. USDA zones 10–11
Ceanothus Ceanothus spp. – Californian native evergreen shrub with masses of blue flowers in spring. USDA zones 7–10
Cedar Bay cherry Eugenia reinwardtiana – Compact coastal shrub or small tree from tropical Queensland with sweet, small red cherries. USDA zones 10–12
Chatham Islands tree daisy Olearia traversiorum – New Zealand daisy-family tree from the wind-blasted Chatham Islands, with glossy leathery dark green leaves and exceptional tolerance of salt wind. Among the most effective coastal windbreaks available for mild maritime climates. USDA zones 8–10
Cherry of the Rio Grande Eugenia involucrata – Subtropical Brazilian tree with dark red-purple, sweet cherry-like fruit. USDA zones 9–11
Chilean firebush Embothrium coccineum – Slender evergreen or semi-deciduous tree of Patagonian Andean forest reaching 10 m, with leathery dark leaves and spectacular fiery scarlet-orange tubular flowers in spring. Among the great Southern Hemisphere ornamental trees. USDA zones 7–9
Chinese fringe flower Loropetalum chinense – Evergreen Chinese shrub with small leaves (often purple in modern cultivars) and clusters of strap-petalled tassel flowers in pink or white through spring. Related to witch hazel and similarly fragrant in flower. USDA zones 7–10
Chinese hibiscus (Hawaiian hibiscus) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis – Tropical shrub with large open trumpet flowers in red, pink, yellow, orange, or white, each lasting a single day. Among the most widely grown tropical garden shrubs and the floral emblem of several tropical nations. USDA zones 9–12
Cigar plant Cuphea ignea – Mexican and Central American compact subshrub with small dark green leaves and continuous bright orange tubular flowers with black-and-white tips that look like miniature lit cigars. USDA zones 9–11
Cinnamon myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia – Hardy eastern-Australian rainforest tree or large shrub with spicy, cinnamon-scented foliage. USDA zones 9–10
Coastal rosemary (Westringia) Westringia fruticosa – Compact rounded evergreen Australian native shrub with grey-green rosemary-like leaves and small white or pale lilac flowers throughout the year. The most widely planted Australian native hedge plant. USDA zones 9–11
Coffee (Red Catuai) Coffea arabica – Glossy evergreen shrub grown for its beans, the roasted seeds of the red coffee "cherries". USDA zones 10–11
Common box Buxus sempervirens – Slow-growing evergreen native shrub with small dark glossy leaves, exceptional density, and unmatched fineness of clipping detail. The classic European formal-garden topiary, parterre, and low-hedge species. USDA zones 5–8
Common conebush Leucadendron salignum – Compact spreading Cape conebush with narrow grey-green leaves often flushed red or yellow in autumn and winter, and small cone-like flower clusters surrounded by colourful bracts. USDA zones 8–10
Common dogwood Cornus sanguinea – Native hedgerow shrub with white flat-topped flower clusters in summer, black berries in autumn and rich red young stems that glow through winter. USDA zones 4–8
Common gardenia (Cape jasmine) Gardenia jasminoides – Evergreen East Asian shrub with glossy dark green leaves and intensely fragrant pure-white waxy flowers in early summer (and often again in autumn). Among the most powerfully fragrant flowers in cultivation. USDA zones 8–11
Common lilac Syringa vulgaris – Vigorous southeast European deciduous shrub with dense conical panicles of small intensely fragrant lilac, purple, white, or pink flowers in late spring. The signature fragrance of cottage gardens worldwide. USDA zones 3–7
Common sugarbush Protea repens – Cape fynbos shrub of South Africa with grey-green narrow leaves and large cup-shaped flower heads in white, pink, or deep red, dripping sugary nectar — the original "sugarbush" of early Cape settlers. USDA zones 9–11
Cornelian cherry Cornus mas – Very hardy small tree or large shrub with late-winter yellow flowers and tart red fruit. USDA zones 4–8
Cotton rose (Confederate rose) Hibiscus mutabilis – Tall Chinese deciduous shrub or small tree with large maple-like leaves and rosette-double flowers that open white in the morning, age through pink during the day, and close deep red at dusk. USDA zones 7–11
Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon – Low-growing North American native producing red autumn berries on damp acidic ground. Outside its native bog habitat, a difficult plant. USDA zones 2–6
Creeping raspberry Rubus rolfei – Low, creeping evergreen groundcover with crinkled leaves and occasional golden-amber fruit. USDA zones 6–9
Crepe jasmine Tabernaemontana divaricata – Evergreen tropical Asian shrub with glossy bright green leaves and pinwheel-shaped white pinwheel flowers throughout the warm season. Flowers fragrant especially in the evening. USDA zones 9–12
Cretan rock rose Cistus creticus – Aromatic Mediterranean shrub with crinkled pink flowers; the sticky leaves yield labdanum resin. USDA zones 8–10
Crimson bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus – Medium shrub or small tree with narrow lemon-scented leaves and iconic bright red bottlebrush flower spikes that draw honeyeaters and lorikeets in numbers. USDA zones 8–11
Culinary myrtle Myrtus communis – Aromatic Mediterranean evergreen with white summer flowers and dark, flavouring berries. USDA zones 8–11
Damask rose Rosa × damascena – Old garden rose with loose semi-double pale pink flowers and supremely intense fragrance, in a single midsummer flush. The source of most commercially distilled rose oil. USDA zones 4–9
Darwin’s barberry Berberis darwinii – Evergreen Chilean shrub with small holly-like glossy leaves and pendant clusters of bright orange spring flowers followed by blue-black berries. USDA zones 7–9
Desert lime Citrus glauca – Thorny native Australian citrus of arid inland regions. Small green fruit has exceptionally high vitamin C and a sharp distinctive flavour. USDA zones 8–12
Desmodium (Tick trefoil) Desmodium spp. – Tropical and subtropical legume genus widely used in cover-crop systems. Best known as the "push" companion in African push-pull pest management for maize. USDA zones 7–11
Disanthus Disanthus cercidifolius – Choice Japanese deciduous shrub with rounded heart-shaped leaves like a redbud, turning spectacular crimson, claret and orange in autumn. A connoisseur’s autumn-colour shrub. USDA zones 6–8
Dwarf grumichama (black) Eugenia itaguahiensis – Compact grumichama relative with dark, sweet cherry-like fruit, well suited to containers. USDA zones 10–11
Dwarf jaboticaba (Costada) Plinia phitrantha – A more compact jaboticaba with ribbed dark fruit, well suited to containers. USDA zones 9–11
Dwarf plum pine Podocarpus spinulosus – Low, spreading native conifer from eastern Australia with a sweet, edible fleshy fruit-stalk. USDA zones 8–10
Dwarf serviceberry Amelanchier spicata – Low, suckering, very cold-hardy North American shrub with sweet dark pomes. USDA zones 3–7
Dwarf sweet box Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis – Low spreading evergreen sweet box reaching only 50–60 cm tall, with the same intensely fragrant winter flowers as taller forms. Spreads slowly by suckers to form a low evergreen mat. USDA zones 6–9
Dwarf witch alder Fothergilla gardenii – Compact eastern North American shrub reaching only 1 m, with white bottlebrush spring flowers and outstanding autumn colour in glowing yellow, orange and red on a small frame. USDA zones 5–8
Dyer’s broom (Dyer’s greenweed) Genista tinctoria – Low spreading British native broom relative with bright yellow pea-flowers in summer. Whole flowering shoots produce a clear yellow dye, the traditional partner to woad for medieval green cloth. USDA zones 2–8
Elderberry Sambucus nigra – Vigorous deciduous shrub or small tree. Creamy summer flower heads (cordials, wine) followed by clusters of dark berries (syrups, traditional medicine). USDA zones 3–9
Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) Eleutherococcus senticosus – Cold-hardy Siberian shrub with thorny stems. An adaptogen with similar effects to true ginseng — but in a different genus and far easier to grow. USDA zones 3–8
English holly Ilex aquifolium – Evergreen tree or shrub with glossy spiny leaves and bright red winter berries. The traditional Christmas holly of the British Isles. USDA zones 5–9
English lavender Lavandula angustifolia – Compact aromatic Mediterranean shrub. Thrives in poor, well-drained soil and full sun. USDA zones 5–9
English yew Taxus baccata – Long-lived native evergreen with very dark needle-like foliage and bright red fleshy arils in autumn. Some specimens are among the oldest living things in Britain. USDA zones 6–9
False indigo (Wild blue indigo) Baptisia australis – North American prairie native with deep blue lupine-like flower spikes in late spring. Long-lived and architectural — a permanent garden feature once established. USDA zones 3–9
February daphne Daphne mezereum – Small deciduous shrub with intensely fragrant rose-pink flowers wreathing the bare upright stems in late winter. The species epithet (mezereum) and common name both reference its February flowering. USDA zones 4–7
Feijoa (Pineapple guava) Acca sellowiana – Evergreen shrub bearing late-autumn fruit with aromatic, granular flesh. Exceptionally popular as a backyard fruit in New Zealand and parts of southern Australia. USDA zones 8–11
Finger lime Citrus australasica – Australian rainforest native producing finger-shaped fruit filled with caviar-like vesicles that pop when bitten. Cherished by chefs worldwide. USDA zones 9–12
Fire heath Erica cerinthoides – Cape fynbos and grassland heath with narrow needle-like grey-green leaves and clusters of slender tubular bright red flowers. One of the more widespread South African Erica species. USDA zones 9–11
Firewood banksia Banksia menziesii – Western Australian small tree to 10 m with rough corky bark, blue-grey toothed leaves, and large acorn-shaped flower spikes in red, orange, pink, or yellow through autumn and winter. USDA zones 9–10
Flapilla Disterigma alaternoides – Small Andean evergreen shrub bearing tiny, sweet edible berries. USDA zones 9–11
Forsythia Forsythia suspensa – Familiar yellow spring-flowering shrub with a less-known second life as a TCM antiviral ("lianqiao") harvested from the fruit. USDA zones 5–8
Fragrant saltbush Rhagodia parabolica – Hardy, scrambling arid-zone saltbush from southern Australia with grey foliage and small red berries. USDA zones 8–10
French lavender Lavandula dentata – Aromatic Mediterranean lavender with toothed grey foliage, often blooming nearly year-round in mild climates. USDA zones 8–10
Fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica – Shrubby perennial with pendant bell-shaped flowers in pink, red and purple. USDA zones 7–10
Full moon maple ‘Aconitifolium’ Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ – Japanese maple cultivar with deeply cut nine- to eleven-lobed leaves like aconite foliage, turning spectacular ruby-red and scarlet in autumn. Distinct from the more widely grown Acer palmatum cultivars. USDA zones 5–8
Geraldton wax Chamelaucium uncinatum – Slender Western Australian native shrub with fine needle-like aromatic leaves and clusters of waxy pink, white, or purple five-petalled flowers in winter and spring. The major Australian cut-flower export crop. USDA zones 9–10
Gippsland waratah Telopea oreades – Tall Gippsland and eastern Victorian endemic waratah forming a slender tree to 10 m, with leathery narrow leaves and dome-shaped scarlet flower heads in spring. Distinct from the Sydney waratah in the database. USDA zones 9–10
Glory bush (Princess flower) Tibouchina urvilleana – Brazilian evergreen shrub with velvety dark green leaves and large brilliant royal-purple five-petalled flowers continuously from late summer into winter in mild climates. USDA zones 9–11
Goat's rue Galega officinalis – European perennial herb that yielded the chemistry behind metformin — the most-prescribed type-2 diabetes drug in the world. Pale lilac pea flowers attract bees. USDA zones 4–8
Goji berry (Wolfberry) Lycium barbarum – Cold-hardy Chinese shrub of the nightshade family producing small bright orange-red berries used dried in traditional Chinese medicine. USDA zones 3–10
Golden wattle Acacia pycnantha – Australia's national floral emblem — a small tree producing dense balls of brilliant yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. USDA zones 8–11
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa – Compact thorny European shrub with translucent green or red dessert fruit. Once a major British garden crop, now uncommon. USDA zones 3–8
Gorse Ulex europaeus – Spiny European shrub flowering nearly year-round in mild climates. A working European hedge plant — and one of the most aggressive invasive weeds outside Europe. USDA zones 7–9
Goumi Elaeagnus multiflora – East Asian shrub bearing tart bright-red speckled berries. Used in Japanese culinary traditions; significantly better-behaved than its invasive cousin autumn olive. USDA zones 4–9
Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ – Compact mounding hybrid grevillea with finely divided foliage and continuous deep-red brush-like flowers throughout the year. USDA zones 9–11
Guelder rose Viburnum opulus – European hedgerow shrub with white lace-cap flowers in spring and clusters of bright red translucent berries in autumn. Bark ("crampbark") is a traditional antispasmodic. USDA zones 3–8
Hairpin banksia Banksia spinulosa – Compact eastern Australian banksia with narrow spiny leaves and golden cylindrical flower spikes through autumn and winter. USDA zones 8–11
Hazelnut (Cobnut, Filbert) Corylus avellana – Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree, native to Europe and historically coppiced for poles, hurdles, and nuts. Excellent wildlife habitat. USDA zones 3–9
Heath banksia Banksia ericifolia – Eastern Australian native banksia with fine needle-like heath-like leaves and tall cylindrical orange-red flower spikes in autumn through winter. One of the most widely planted banksias in cultivation. USDA zones 8–11
Heather Calluna vulgaris – Low evergreen shrub of acid moorland across northern Europe, with masses of small mauve, pink, or white bell flowers in late summer. Aerial parts produce yellow to greenish-yellow textile dye. USDA zones 4–7
Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica – East Asian evergreen shrub with finely divided compound leaves resembling bamboo foliage (despite no botanical relation), white flower panicles in summer, and abundant bright red berries through autumn and winter. USDA zones 6–11
Hebe Veronica (Hebe) spp. – Compact New Zealand evergreen shrub with small flower spikes through summer and autumn. USDA zones 7–10
Heliotrope (Cherry pie) Heliotropium arborescens – Peruvian native short-lived shrub or container plant with dense rounded heads of small deep purple or white flowers carrying a distinct vanilla-cherry fragrance — the source of the alternative common name "cherry pie". USDA zones 9–11
Henna Lawsonia inermis – Tropical and subtropical shrub of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, with small fragrant white flowers and oval leaves. The leaves are the principal source of orange-red body and hair dye. USDA zones 9–12
Honey thyme myrtle Melaleuca thymifolia – Compact eastern-Australian shrub with fine foliage and frilled, claw-like purple flowers. USDA zones 9–10
Honeyberry (Haskap) Lonicera caerulea – Cold-climate bush honeysuckle producing oblong dark-blue berries with blueberry-like flavour. The first ripe fruit of the season in cold climates. USDA zones 2–6
Hydrangea (mophead) Hydrangea macrophylla – Deciduous shrub with large rounded flower heads. Pink in alkaline soil, blue in acidic. USDA zones 5–9
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis – Compact woody Mediterranean herb with deep blue flower spikes and pungent leaves. Underused in modern gardens. USDA zones 3–9
Irish strawberry tree Arbutus unedo – Hardy Mediterranean evergreen with red, strawberry-textured fruit and white autumn flowers. USDA zones 7–10
Jaboticaba Plinia aureana – Classic Brazilian jaboticaba bearing grape-like fruit directly on the trunk and branches. USDA zones 9–11
Jaboticaba (Coronata) Plinia coronata – A jaboticaba species grown for sweet, dark, grape-like fruit borne on the branches. USDA zones 9–11
Jaboticaba (ESALQ Red) Plinia cauliflora – One of the most widely grown jaboticaba species, with large dark-purple fruit on the trunk. USDA zones 9–11
Jaboticaba (Restinga) Plinia restinga – A jaboticaba from Brazilian coastal restinga habitat, with dark grape-like fruit on the branches. USDA zones 9–11
Jaboticaba (Z4 / Rondonia) Plinia sp. – Collector jaboticaba selections not yet formally identified to species, with trunk-borne grape-like fruit. USDA zones 9–11
Japanese aralia Fatsia japonica – Bold evergreen Japanese shrub with very large glossy palmate leaves and unusual rounded umbel flower clusters in late autumn followed by black berries. The premier large-leaved foliage shrub for shade. USDA zones 8–10
Japanese maple ‘Osakazuki’ Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ – Acer palmatum cultivar consistently rated by horticulturists as the single most reliable Japanese maple for brilliant scarlet autumn colour. Larger and more vigorous than most palmatum cultivars. USDA zones 5–8
Jostaberry Ribes × nidigrolaria – Thornless gooseberry × blackcurrant hybrid bred for disease resistance. Larger fruit than gooseberry, milder than blackcurrant. USDA zones 3–8
Jungle flame (Ixora) Ixora coccinea – Tropical Asian evergreen shrub with leathery dark green leaves and dense rounded flat-topped clusters of small brilliant scarlet (or pink, yellow, orange) tubular flowers throughout the warm season. USDA zones 10–12
Juniper Juniperus communis – Variable evergreen conifer ranging from prostrate ground cover to small upright tree. Berry-like cones are the signature flavour of gin and a traditional digestive and urinary herb. USDA zones 2–7
Kakabeak Clianthus puniceus – New Zealand native scrambling shrub with elegant pinnate leaves and pendant clusters of large brilliant scarlet beak-shaped flowers in spring. Among the most striking of all native New Zealand plants. USDA zones 8–10
Kangaroo apple Solanum laciniatum – Soft-wooded Australian native shrub with deeply lobed leaves and orange-yellow fruit. A commercial source of solasodine — a steroid alkaloid used in pharmaceutical cortisone production. USDA zones 8–11
Kawakawa Piper excelsum – Heart-leaved New Zealand native shrub of the pepper family. Leaves are a major Māori medicinal plant, used both topically and as a tea. USDA zones 9–11
Keriberry Rubus rugosus – Vigorous scrambling bramble with sweet, blackberry-like fruit. USDA zones 9–11
Kohuhu (Black matipo) Pittosporum tenuifolium – Evergreen New Zealand native tree with small wavy-edged pale green leaves on contrasting black twigs, and small chocolate-scented dark flowers. The standard New Zealand garden hedging plant and a major cut-foliage export crop. USDA zones 8–10
Korean spice viburnum Viburnum carlesii – Compact Korean deciduous viburnum with rounded heads of pink-budded white flowers carrying a powerful spicy-sweet fragrance in mid-spring. The most fragrant of the deciduous viburnums. USDA zones 4–7
Krantz aloe (Candelabra aloe) Aloe arborescens – Multi-stemmed branching South African aloe forming a 2–3 m shrub with rosettes of toothed grey-green leaves at the branch tips and abundant orange-red conical flower spikes in winter. USDA zones 9–11
Kumquat Fortunella spp. – The most cold-tolerant edible citrus. Small evergreen shrub with thumb-sized fruit eaten whole, peel and all. USDA zones 8–11
Lantana Lantana camara – Tough sprawling shrub with cluster heads of bright multi-coloured flowers. USDA zones 8–11
Laurustinus Viburnum tinus – Dense evergreen Mediterranean shrub with pink-budded white flower clusters from late autumn through to spring, followed by metallic blue-black berries. USDA zones 7–10
Lavandin Lavandula × intermedia – Vigorous hybrid lavender (English lavender × spike lavender) with longer flower spikes, taller habit and later flowering than English lavender. The lavender of the great Provence fields. USDA zones 5–9
Leadplant Amorpha canescens – Low silvery-grey prairie shrub with deep purple flower spikes contrasting against the foliage. A cornerstone plant of North American prairie restoration. USDA zones 2–9
Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora – Subtropical Queensland native with the highest natural citral content of any plant. Leaves are both culinary (intensely lemon-scented) and medicinal (antimicrobial). USDA zones 9–11
Lemon verbena Aloysia citrodora – South American deciduous shrub with narrow pointed leaves that release an intense pure lemon fragrance when brushed, and clusters of small white-mauve flowers in late summer. Among the most strongly lemon-scented plants in cultivation. USDA zones 8–11
Lemon-scented tea tree Leptospermum petersonii – Eastern Australian native tea tree with fine narrow leaves that release a strong lemon fragrance when brushed, and small white flowers in spring and summer. The standard commercial lemon-tea-tree-oil species. USDA zones 9–11
Lilly pilly — Riberry Syzygium luehmannii – Australian native rainforest tree with bright pink new growth and clusters of small tart-sweet pink-red berries — a popular bushfood and excellent screening hedge. USDA zones 9–11
Lime berry Micromelum minutum – Aromatic small tree or shrub from northern Australia with clusters of small orange-red edible berries. USDA zones 10–12
Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea – Low evergreen ground-cover with small tart red berries — a staple of Scandinavian, Russian, and Baltic cooking. USDA zones 2–6
Loganberry Rubus × loganobaccus – Original Californian raspberry × blackberry cross from 1881. Large dark-red, tart fruit — exceptional for cooking, jams, and country wines. USDA zones 5–9
Manuka Leptospermum scoparium – New Zealand and southeastern Australian native shrub with masses of small white or pink flowers. Source of the famous manuka honey and a strong antimicrobial essential oil. USDA zones 8–10
Maqui berry Aristotelia chilensis – Evergreen Patagonian shrub or small tree with glossy dark leaves and clusters of small deep-purple-black berries in late summer. Sacred plant of the Mapuche and a modern "superfruit" exported from Chile. USDA zones 8–10
Marionberry Rubus × "Marion" – Oregon State University cross widely considered the finest-flavoured blackberry. Glossy, juicy, complex flavour balancing sweet and tart. USDA zones 6–9
Meiwa kumquat Fortunella crassifolia – Compact, hardy citrus with round kumquats eaten whole, skin and all. USDA zones 8–11
Midgen berry Austromyrtus dulcis – Compact coastal-heath shrub from eastern Australia with sweet, speckled white-and-purple berries. USDA zones 9–10
Midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata – Native small tree of ancient woodland and old hedgerows, very similar to common hawthorn but more shade-tolerant and slightly earlier flowering. USDA zones 4–8
Millaa millaa Elaeagnus latifolia – Vigorous scrambling subtropical shrub with tart-sweet red fruit; fixes nitrogen. USDA zones 9–11
Mock orange Philadelphus coronarius – Deciduous shrub with single white four-petalled cup flowers carrying intense citrus-blossom fragrance through early summer. The most fragrant common garden shrub for cool temperate climates. USDA zones 4–8
Mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus – Drought-adapted shrub or small tree of the western North American mountains and high deserts. Distinctive feathery seed plumes in autumn are an unusual ornamental feature. USDA zones 4–9
Mountain witch alder Fothergilla major – Compact eastern North American native shrub with fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in spring before the leaves, and spectacular autumn colour in shades of yellow, orange and scarlet on a single bush. USDA zones 4–8
Muntries (Emu apple) Kunzea pomifera – Low spreading South Australian native producing small green-purple berries with a sweet-spicy apple-cinnamon flavour. Forms an excellent edible groundcover. USDA zones 8–10
Nangapire Eugenia repanda – Obscure South American Eugenia with sweet, cherry-like fruit. USDA zones 10–11
Native fuchsia Correa reflexa – Small Australian shrub with rough hairy leaves and pendant tubular red, cream or green flowers through autumn and winter. USDA zones 8–10
Native Gympie lime Citrus australis – Australian native round lime with juicy, acidic pulp used like a lime. USDA zones 9–11
Native hemp (Gynatrix) Gynatrix pulchella – Soft-leaved Australian native shrub of cool-temperate riparian forests. Inner bark traditionally used for fibre cordage; medicinal use also recorded. USDA zones 8–10
Native pepperberry Tasmannia insipida – Rainforest pepperberry from eastern Australia with mildly peppery fruit and leaves used as a spice. USDA zones 9–10
Ngaio Myoporum laetum – New Zealand native evergreen coastal tree with thick glossy bright green leaves and small white-and-purple star flowers throughout the warm months. The classic NZ coastal hedge and shelter species. USDA zones 9–10
Night-blooming jasmine Cestrum nocturnum – Tropical American shrub with insignificant pale green-yellow tubular flowers that release one of the most powerful evening fragrances of any garden plant. The flowers close during daylight and open at dusk. USDA zones 9–11
Oleander-leaf protea Protea neriifolia – Upright Cape fynbos shrub with narrow oleander-like leaves and distinctive goblet-shaped flower heads ringed by furry dark-tipped bracts. Among the most reliable proteas for warm-temperate gardens. USDA zones 9–11
Orange jessamine Murraya paniculata – Tropical Asian evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy compound leaves and clusters of intensely orange-blossom-fragrant small white flowers in repeated flushes throughout the warm season. USDA zones 9–12
Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium – Evergreen shrub with glossy holly-like leaves, fragrant yellow winter flower clusters and clusters of grape-like blue-black berries in summer. USDA zones 5–8
Oval-leaved privet Ligustrum ovalifolium – Japanese semi-evergreen shrub with broad oval leaves and a vigorous upright habit. The standard garden privet hedge of late 19th and 20th century British and North American suburbia. USDA zones 5–8
Paperbush Edgeworthia chrysantha – Architectural deciduous shrub with three-branched stems carrying pendant clusters of fragrant silky yellow flowers on bare wood in late winter. Native to the Himalayan region. USDA zones 7–10
Patchouli Pogostemon cablin – Tropical Asian mint relative with broad furry leaves that yield, on drying and ageing, the deep musky patchouli oil that is one of the most enduring fixatives in perfumery. USDA zones 10–11
Pepino (Melon pear) Solanum muricatum – Sprawling Andean perennial shrub producing pale-skinned, purple-streaked fruit with mild, melon-like flavour. USDA zones 8–11
Peppermint pelargonium Pelargonium tomentosum – South African pelargonium with very large velvety silver-grey leaves that release a strong cool peppermint fragrance when brushed, and small white flowers through summer. USDA zones 9–11
Persian lilac Syringa × persica – Compact hybrid lilac with smaller leaves and lighter open flower panicles than common lilac. The right lilac for small gardens and for milder climates where common lilac flowers poorly. USDA zones 5–8
Pigeon pea Cajanus cajan – Short-lived shrubby legume — perennial in subtropical climates, grown as an annual elsewhere. Seeds are the basis of Indian dal; deep taproot breaks compacted soil. USDA zones 3–12
Pincushion Leucospermum cordifolium – Rounded Cape fynbos shrub of South Africa with grey-green leathery leaves and brilliant orange-red pincushion-like flower heads with long protruding styles in spring. The most widely grown pincushion in cultivation. USDA zones 9–11
Pincushion hakea Hakea laurina – Western Australian shrub or small tree to 6 m with leathery laurel-like leaves and spectacular ball-shaped flower heads of red-and-cream protruding styles, like crimson pincushions, in autumn and winter. USDA zones 9–10
Pink mussaenda Mussaenda philippica – Tropical Filipino shrub with insignificant small yellow tubular flowers surrounded by enormous showy pink or white leaf-like enlarged sepals that provide the long-lasting display. USDA zones 10–12
Pink-lime berry Glycosmis trifoliata – Coastal subtropical shrub from northern Australia with small, sweet, translucent pink berries. USDA zones 10–11
Pitangatuba Eugenia selloi – Compact Brazilian shrub with ribbed yellow fruit and a tangy, sherbet-like flavour. USDA zones 10–11
Pitanguinha Eugenia mattosii – Obscure Brazilian Eugenia with small, ribbed, pitanga-like fruit. USDA zones 10–11
Pomegranate Punica granatum – Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree with brilliant orange-red flowers and leathery-skinned fruit packed with jewelled arils. USDA zones 7–12
Pride of Madeira Echium candicans – Tender evergreen shrub from the Canary Islands with rosettes of grey-green leaves and giant blue-violet flower spikes a metre or more tall. USDA zones 9–11
Privet stopper Eugenia ligustrina – Fine-leaved Caribbean shrub with small, dark, edible berries. USDA zones 9–11
Protea Protea cynaroides – Striking South African shrub with large architectural flower heads. USDA zones 9–11
Purging buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica – Spiny native shrub of chalk and limestone hedgerows. With alder buckthorn, an essential larval host for the brimstone butterfly. USDA zones 3–7
Purple raspberry Rubus neglectus – A hardy natural hybrid of red and black raspberry with sweet, dusky purple fruit. USDA zones 4–8
Pyracantha (Firethorn) Pyracantha coccinea – Evergreen thorny shrub with white spring flowers followed by dense clusters of orange or red autumn berries that persist into winter. USDA zones 5–9
Raspberry — Autumn-fruiting (Primocane) Rubus idaeus – Cane fruit producing on the current year's growth — fruits late summer to autumn. USDA zones 3–9
Raspberry — Summer-fruiting (Floricane) Rubus idaeus – Cane fruit producing a single heavy crop in early to midsummer on the previous year's growth. USDA zones 3–9
Red berry saltbush Einadia hastata – Scrambling hardy Australian subshrub with small, sweet, edible red berries. USDA zones 8–10
Red boronia (Sydney boronia) Boronia heterophylla – Western Australian shrub with finely divided fragrant foliage and pendant cup-shaped flowers in deep cerise-pink (or white in cultivar ‘White Heart’). Major commercial cut-flower crop. USDA zones 9–10
Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea – North American native shrub with white spring flower clusters, white-blue autumn berries and brilliant scarlet young winter stems. Spreads by suckers to form thickets. USDA zones 2–7
Red robin photinia Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ – Vigorous evergreen hybrid shrub with brilliant scarlet new growth that lasts for weeks before maturing to glossy dark green. Widely planted in mild climates as a tall flowering screen and windbreak. USDA zones 7–10
Redcurrant Ribes rubrum – Small deciduous shrub producing translucent ruby strigs of tart fruit on the previous year's wood. USDA zones 3–8
Redvein enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus – Upright Japanese deciduous shrub with pendant clusters of small cream bell flowers veined in red in late spring, followed by spectacular orange and red autumn colour on tiered branches. USDA zones 4–7
Rice paper plant Tetrapanax papyrifer – Bold Taiwanese small tree with enormous palmate evergreen leaves up to 1 m across and felted brown new growth. The stems are the source of true Chinese rice paper, made from the soft pith. USDA zones 7–11
River wattle (Bower wattle) Acacia cognata – Elegant weeping eastern Australian wattle with fine narrow drooping phyllodes ("leaves") and small fluffy pale yellow ball flowers in spring. Compact cultivars (‘Cousin Itt’, ‘Limelight’) are now landscape mainstays. USDA zones 9–10
Rocket pincushion Leucospermum reflexum – Tall narrow Cape fynbos shrub with silvery foliage and pendant rocket-shaped pincushion flowers, the long styles curving backwards as if launched. Striking architectural form for warm-temperate borders. USDA zones 9–11
Rose (hybrid tea) Rosa × hybrida – Repeat-flowering shrub bred for showy single blooms. Wide range of colours and scents. USDA zones 5–9
Rose geranium (Sweet-scented pelargonium) Pelargonium graveolens – South African shrubby pelargonium with deeply cut grey-green leaves that release a strong rose fragrance when brushed. The principal commercial source of geranium essential oil. USDA zones 9–11
Rose-scented pelargonium Pelargonium capitatum – Sprawling South African coastal pelargonium with softly hairy three-lobed leaves carrying a strong rose-and-mint fragrance, and small pink flowers through the warm months. USDA zones 9–11
Rosehip (Dog rose) Rosa canina – Wild European hedgerow rose. Bright red autumn hips carry exceptionally high vitamin C and were the basis of wartime UK rosehip syrup. USDA zones 3–8
Roselle (Jamaica sorrel) Hibiscus sabdariffa – West African hibiscus relative grown as an annual or short-lived shrub, with pale yellow hibiscus flowers and — the principal feature — fleshy bright red sepals (calyces) that swell and persist after the flowers drop. USDA zones 9–11
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus – Woody Mediterranean herb with needle-like aromatic leaves. Needs full sun and excellent drainage. USDA zones 7–11
Rosemary grevillea Grevillea rosmarinifolia – Bushy upright grevillea with rosemary-like needle leaves and showy red and cream spider-like flowers from late winter through spring. USDA zones 8–10
Rosy-leaf sage Salvia involucrata – Tall Mexican sage with broad pale green leaves and spires of brilliant magenta-pink flowers protected by furry red bracts (the "involucre" of the species name) through late summer and autumn. USDA zones 8–10
Round-leaf mint bush Prostanthera rotundifolia – Southeastern Australian native shrub with small rounded aromatic leaves and abundant violet or pink-mauve cup flowers smothering the bush in spring. Strongly mint-scented foliage gives the common name. USDA zones 9–10
Roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier rotundifolia – Hardy European serviceberry (snowy mespilus) with sweet, blueberry-like pomes. USDA zones 4–8
Ruby saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa – Hardy arid-zone Australian subshrub with succulent foliage and small juicy red-to-yellow berries. USDA zones 8–10
Russian sage Salvia yangii – Tall airy subshrub from the steppe of central Asia, with silver-grey aromatic foliage and clouds of small lavender-blue flowers on white-stemmed branched spires through late summer and autumn. USDA zones 4–9
Safari Sunset conebush Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ – New Zealand-bred Leucadendron hybrid (L. salignum × L. laureolum) with upright stems carrying narrow leaves and showy wine-red bracts at the tips through autumn and winter. The world’s most planted ornamental Leucadendron. USDA zones 8–10
Sage — Common Salvia officinalis – Aromatic Mediterranean evergreen sub-shrub with grey-green felted leaves. Strong bee forage when in flower. USDA zones 4–9
Sandpaper fig Ficus coronata – Small riparian fig from eastern Australia bearing edible purple figs; leaves are rough like sandpaper. USDA zones 9–10
Sasanqua camellia Camellia sasanqua – Japanese evergreen shrub with small dark glossy leaves and abundant single-to-semi-double white, pink, or red flowers from autumn through early winter. The first of the camellias to flower each year. USDA zones 7–9
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia – Extremely cold-hardy North American shrub with sweet, blueberry-like pomes (saskatoon berries). USDA zones 2–7
Savory of Crete Satureja thymbra – Pungent, thyme-scented Mediterranean subshrub used as a culinary herb and a major bee plant. USDA zones 8–10
Scarlet banksia Banksia coccinea – Western Australian shrub or small tree with broad oblong toothed leaves and brilliant short scarlet-and-grey cylindrical flower spikes through winter. Among the most spectacular of the banksias. USDA zones 9–10
Scarlet willow Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ – Selected cultivar of the white willow, with brilliant orange-red young winter stems that glow particularly intensely in low winter sun. Pollarded annually it becomes a winter exclamation point in the landscape. USDA zones 2–8
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius – European shrub with masses of bright yellow pea-flowers in late spring. Highly invasive in many regions outside its native range. USDA zones 5–8
Sea berry saltbush Rhagodia baccata – Dense coastal saltbush from southern and western Australia with small edible red berries. USDA zones 9–10
Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides – Thorny silver-leaved shrub bearing dense clusters of tart bright-orange berries. Berries have exceptional vitamin C and E content; growing commercial bushfood interest. USDA zones 3–8
Sea island cotton Gossypium barbadense – Tropical cotton species producing the longest, finest and silkiest cotton fibres in cultivation. The source of premium extra-long staple cottons including Sea Island, Pima, and Egyptian. USDA zones 9–11
Senna Senna alexandrina – Drought-tolerant North African shrub. Leaves and pods are a powerful stimulant laxative — the source of most over-the-counter laxative preparations. USDA zones 9–12
Siberian dogwood Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ – Vigorous deciduous shrub grown specifically for its brilliant sealing-wax red young winter stems. Bare scarlet bark against snow or grey winter sky is its single most important garden function. USDA zones 3–7
Siberian pea shrub Caragana arborescens – Extremely cold-hardy Mongolian and Siberian shrub. One of the toughest nitrogen-fixers for prairie shelterbelts; edible seeds and yellow pea-flowers. USDA zones 2–7
Sloe (Blackthorn) Prunus spinosa – Suckering thorny shrub of European hedgerows. White flowers smother the bare branches before leaves emerge — a reliable late-winter signal. USDA zones 4–8
Smoke bush ‘Royal Purple’ Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ – Deciduous shrub or small tree with rich purple-black foliage all summer, smoky pink panicles of tiny flowers in midsummer, and brilliant scarlet autumn colour. USDA zones 5–8
Spanish broom Spartium junceum – Tall Mediterranean shrub with rush-like green stems and intensely fragrant yellow pea flowers. Traditional source of textile fibre across southern Europe. USDA zones 7–10
Spanish lavender (French lavender) Lavandula stoechas – Compact Mediterranean lavender with stubby flower heads topped by showy purple bracts like rabbit ears. Earlier flowering, more compact, and more architectural than English lavender, but less hardy. USDA zones 7–10
Spicebush Lindera benzoin – Eastern North American understorey shrub with intensely aromatic bark, leaves, and red berries. Traditional culinary spice and medicinal substitute for tropical spices in colonial kitchens. USDA zones 4–9
Spindle tree Euonymus europaeus – Native small tree or large shrub with inconspicuous summer flowers and spectacular four-lobed pink fruits that split to reveal vivid orange seeds in autumn. USDA zones 3–7
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina – Suckering eastern North American small tree with velvety young stems suggesting deer antlers, pinnate leaves turning brilliant orange and scarlet in autumn, and persistent red fuzzy fruit clusters through winter. USDA zones 3–8
Star magnolia Magnolia stellata – Slow-growing Japanese magnolia with masses of starry many-petalled fragrant white flowers on bare branches in earliest spring, before the leaves. The compact magnolia for small gardens. USDA zones 4–8
Sticky hop bush Dodonaea viscosa – Tough sticky-leaved shrub of the Australian and global tropical and subtropical dry country, with papery winged seed capsules that look like clusters of pink, red, or purple paper lanterns. An exceptional dry-climate coastal and inland windbreak. USDA zones 8–11
Strawberry guava Psidium cattleianum – Compact Brazilian guava with small red (or yellow), sweet-tart fruit. USDA zones 9–11
Sunn hemp Crotalaria juncea – Tropical Asian legume — perennial in true tropics, grown as an annual elsewhere. Reaches 2 m in 60 days, producing extraordinary biomass for nitrogen fixation and mulch. USDA zones 3–12
Sunrise lime Citrus australasica × Citrus japonica – Compact Australian-bred citrus producing small teardrop fruit filled with tangy juice vesicles. USDA zones 9–11
Surinam cherry Eugenia uniflora – Subtropical shrub or small tree with ribbed red-to-dark fruit; also known as Brazilian or pitanga cherry. USDA zones 9–11
Sweet box Sarcococca confusa – Glossy evergreen shrub with tiny white flowers of astonishing fragrance in deepest winter, followed by glossy black berries. The fragrance carries on cold still air to surprising distances. USDA zones 6–9
Sweet osmanthus Osmanthus fragrans – Evergreen Chinese shrub or small tree with leathery dark green leaves and tiny inconspicuous cream flowers that release one of the most powerful sweet apricot fragrances of any plant in cultivation. Flowers in autumn. USDA zones 7–10
Sweet pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum – Eastern Australian native shrub or small tree with glossy wavy-edged leaves. Bark traditionally used by Aboriginal people; intensely fragrant spring flowers. USDA zones 8–11
Tagasaste (Tree lucerne) Chamaecytisus palmensis – Fast-growing Canary Islands shrub or small tree. A staple of Australian permaculture for livestock fodder and rapid nitrogen-fixing in dry regions. USDA zones 8–11
Taiwan raspberry Rubus formosensis – Subtropical Asian raspberry with red-orange fruit on vigorous, scrambling canes. USDA zones 9–11
Tamarisk Tamarix gallica – Mediterranean and western European feathery-leaved tree or large shrub with pink summer flower plumes, exceptional tolerance of salt-laden coastal wind, and a long history of seaside windbreak planting around the Mediterranean basin. USDA zones 6–9
Tanner’s sumac (Sicilian sumac) Rhus coriaria – Mediterranean shrub with pinnate leaves and dense panicles of small dull-red fruits, dried and ground to produce the lemon-tart sumac spice of Levantine cuisine. Leaves are the source of one of the highest tannin contents of any plant. USDA zones 8–10
Tasmanian pepperberry Tasmannia lanceolata – Cool-climate shrub from highland south-eastern Australia with pungent, peppery berries and leaves. USDA zones 7–9
Taupata (Mirror plant) Coprosma repens – New Zealand native coastal evergreen shrub with exceptionally glossy thick leathery leaves that mirror sunlight beautifully. Tough, salt-tolerant, wind-tolerant — among the great coastal hedge plants of the southern temperate world. USDA zones 9–11
Tayberry Rubus × "Tayberry" – Scottish-bred blackberry × raspberry cross with large, deep purple, intensely flavoured fruit. Sweeter than loganberry, larger than either parent. USDA zones 5–9
Tazziberry Ugni molinae – Compact, hardy Chilean guava shrub with small, intensely aromatic red berries. USDA zones 8–10
Tea plant Camellia sinensis – Evergreen East Asian shrub with leathery dark green leaves, small fragrant white flowers, and the leaves that produce all tea — green, oolong, black, and white. Spent leaves yield brown and tan textile dyes. USDA zones 7–10
Tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia – Narrow-leaved Australian melaleuca of coastal NSW wallum heath. Steam-distilled essential oil is a widely studied antimicrobial, dominated by terpinen-4-ol. USDA zones 8–11
Thyme — Common Thymus vulgaris – Low-growing Mediterranean sub-shrub. Powerfully aromatic — culinary, medicinal, and a strong bee plant. USDA zones 4–9
Thyme — Lemon Thymus × citriodorus – Lemon-scented thyme hybrid; smaller and slightly less hardy than common thyme. Excellent in fish dishes and roasted vegetables. USDA zones 5–9
Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) Cordyline fruticosa – Tropical Pacific shrub with broad strap-like leaves in deep green, red, pink, or variegated forms. Leaves are the traditional Polynesian hula skirt material, food wrapping, and a fibre for clothing. USDA zones 10–12
Tree mallow Lavatera × clementii – Vigorous shrubby mallow hybrid with grey-green palmate leaves and continuous large pink, white, or magenta hibiscus-like flowers from early summer well into autumn. USDA zones 6–9
True indigo Indigofera tinctoria – Tropical shrub historically the world's premier source of natural blue dye — driving global trade for centuries until synthetic indigo replaced it in the 1880s. USDA zones 9–11
Upland cotton Gossypium hirsutum – Tropical and subtropical shrub grown as an annual for the white seed-hair fibre that surrounds the seeds in mature capsules (bolls). Accounts for roughly 90% of world cotton production. USDA zones 8–11
Wall cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis – Low spreading semi-evergreen shrub with distinctive herringbone branch pattern. Pink-tinged white flowers in spring give way to bright red berries through winter. USDA zones 4–8
Waratah Telopea speciosissima – Iconic NSW shrub with leathery dark leaves and spectacular dome-shaped scarlet flower heads in spring. The floral emblem of New South Wales. USDA zones 8–10
Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry) Morella cerifera – Southeastern US evergreen shrub of coastal areas. Salt-tolerant, fast growing, and wildlife-friendly — a workhorse for southern coastal gardens. USDA zones 6–10
Wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana – Native hedgerow shrub with rounded grey-green leaves, white flat-topped flower clusters in spring and oval fruits that ripen unevenly through red to black. USDA zones 4–8
Wharangi (Lemonwood) Pittosporum eugenioides – New Zealand native pittosporum with lemon-scented foliage and pale yellow flowers. Traditional Māori medicinal use and an excellent screening or hedge plant. USDA zones 8–10
White correa Correa alba – Coastal Australian shrub with rounded grey-green leathery leaves and small star-shaped white flowers throughout the cooler months. The standard coastal correa for southern Australian gardens. USDA zones 9–10
White plumbago Plumbago zeylanica – Tropical Asian and African scrambling subshrub with thin glossy leaves and small pure-white phlox-like flowers throughout warm months. The traditional Sri Lankan and Indian medicinal "Ceylon leadwort". USDA zones 9–12
White-stemmed bramble Rubus cockburnianus – Chinese bramble with arching stems heavily dusted in chalk-white bloom, particularly striking when leafless in winter. The bloom rubs off if handled. USDA zones 5–8
Whitecurrant Ribes rubrum (white-fruited) – Mild-flavoured albino form of redcurrant. Produces translucent ivory strigs of berries; less acidic than redcurrant, exceptional for clear jellies. USDA zones 3–8
Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare – Semi-evergreen native hedgerow shrub with fragrant white flower panicles and small black berries. Far better for wildlife than the more commonly planted Japanese privet. USDA zones 4–8
Willow — Pussy (Goat willow) Salix caprea – Smaller willow with silver catkins — the "pussy willow" of late winter. Same medicinal salicin content as white willow, on a more garden-friendly plant. USDA zones 4–8
Winter daphne Daphne odora – Evergreen shrub with intensely fragrant pink-budded white flower clusters in late winter and early spring. One of the most powerfully scented winter-flowering shrubs. USDA zones 7–9
Winterberry holly Ilex verticillata – Deciduous North American holly grown specifically for the masses of brilliant scarlet berries that line the bare winter twigs after the leaves drop. Among the most striking winter berry displays of any temperate shrub. USDA zones 3–9
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens – Low evergreen North American groundcover for cool, moist, acidic shade, with red wintergreen-flavoured berries. USDA zones 3–7
Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox – Vigorous deciduous shrub with translucent pale yellow flowers carrying a powerful spicy fragrance, opening on bare branches in deepest winter. USDA zones 7–9
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana – Multi-stemmed understorey shrub or small tree. Bark and leaves are a powerful astringent — the active in commercial witch hazel toner. USDA zones 3–8
Witch hazel ‘Arnold Promise’ Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ – Hybrid witch hazel with spidery clear-yellow flowers on bare branches in late winter. One of the last late-winter cultivars to open — signals the very end of winter. USDA zones 5–8
Witch hazel ‘Diane’ Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Diane’ – Hybrid witch hazel with rich coppery-red flowers in mid-winter. The deepest-coloured of the commonly grown cultivars. USDA zones 5–8
Witch hazel ‘Jelena’ Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Jelena’ – Hybrid witch hazel with copper-orange spidery flowers in deepest winter. A classic mid-winter cultivar — one of the earliest to open. USDA zones 5–8
Witch hazel ‘Pallida’ Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Pallida’ – Hybrid witch hazel with pale sulphur-yellow spidery flowers in mid-winter. Often rated as the most fragrant and free-flowering of the cultivars. USDA zones 5–8
Yellow jaboticaba Myrciaria glazioviana – Compact Brazilian relative of jaboticaba with fuzzy, tart-sweet yellow-orange fruit. USDA zones 9–11
Yellow-twig dogwood Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ – Selected cultivar of red osier dogwood with bright lime-yellow young winter stems instead of the species’ red. Used in mixed plantings with red-stemmed forms for striking winter colour contrast. USDA zones 2–7
Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow Brunfelsia pauciflora – Brazilian evergreen shrub with flowers that open deep violet-purple ("yesterday"), age to pale lavender ("today"), and fade to white ("tomorrow") over a 3-day cycle, with all three colours visible simultaneously. USDA zones 9–11
Yunnan camellia Camellia reticulata – Tall Chinese camellia reaching 6 m or more, with leathery dark leaves and enormous flowers up to 18 cm across in rose-pink, red, or white. Among the most spectacular flowers of any camellia. USDA zones 8–10

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