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Tough-as-Nails Shrubs for Your Region

Kaitlyn Hayes By Kaitlyn Hayes Fine Gardening - Issue 166
Clockwise from left: Double Take™ ‘Pink Storm’ flowering quince, Photo: Doreen Wynja; ‘Sem’ false spirea, Photo: Michelle Gervais; Pawnee Buttes® sand cherry, Photo: courtesy of David Salman; and ‘Cheyenne’ mock orange, Photo: Alvesgaspar/courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

Who doesn’t love buying the flashy new plant that catches everyone’s eye at the nursery? Or the plant that’s just outside your hardiness zone but has always taunted you with fantastic foliage and/or out-of-this-world flowers? Gardeners aren’t ones to always play it safe, but as Richie Steffen mentions in his article on tough perennials, “Planning a garden with unproven plants is risky business and not for those unwilling to take another hit to their wallet.”

And that’s where tough-as-nails, proven performers come in. Taking a gamble on a new plant is a little less risky when it’s paired up with a cast of characters that never disappoint. In Richie’s article, Tough-as-Nails Perennials, he covers the perennial plants that power through a variety of beastly conditions, but there are also countless shrubs that also play this crucial role. Some of these shrubs have evergreen foliage, others bring the flower power, and some even manage to do both. So next time you buy another risky plant, make sure it has a reliable shrub to pair with it.

Find tough-as-nails shrubs for seven different regions of the United States below, and check out Richie’s article to discover more plants that you can rely on.

 

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

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With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger
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DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

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You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
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Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)
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