See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas.
It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough” plant. To my mind, it’s a plant that will thrive on its own as long as it is planted in a place that provides its basic needs and is given suitable water. It won’t retreat if it has aggressive neighbors, complain if it doesn’t get pruned for a year or two, and necessitate special treatment in order to look good. A pretty, tough plant is one that looks more delicate than it actually is.
Read more in Tough Yet Pretty Plants.
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Midwest Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Midwest
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Mountain West Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Mountain West
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Northeast Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northeast
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Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northwest
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Southeast Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southeast
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Southwest Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southern Plains
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Southwest Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southwest