Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Native plants and compatible edible plants border the Rain Garden pathways.

A low growing spreading cotoneaster is in full berry next to a purple flowered spotted dead nettle ground cover.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary full sun front yard landscaping in Chicago for spring.

This front landscape also lacked color. Besides the Hydrangea and Magnolia, Cotoneaster was added along the pathway. The Japanese Lilac tree was also trimmed that is growing too large for it's location.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. The Yucca restored nicely, and cotoneaster Bearberry was added in front.

Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Columbus.

This client asked Firefly Garden Design, LLC to create deep perennial borders. The Hedge Cotoneaster creates a deep green foil for the bright colors in this large River Hills garden

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Rosemary, perennials, and Bearberry cotoneaster groundcover, by a Rain garden walkway.

The bluestone chip path, leading to the rear of the residence, is bordered by lush perennials and shrubbery. Perennials & shrubs include lady's mantle, catmint and cotoneaster.

John Jacobs, photographer.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Columbus.

Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Columbus.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Closeup of Bearberry, a cotoneaster groundcover that grew and filled in rapidly. Tolerates preemergent herbicides to control weeds.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2016 Houzz
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Toronto.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Closeup of eclectic Rain Garden plantings in and nearby paths. Rosemary, Bearberry cotoneaster groundcover and perennials here.

This highly stylized Japanese-inspired creek bed was built last year (2018). This photograph is taken 14 months later when the plants have really filled in.

For walled gardens and courtyards, soften masonry walls with espaliered plants such as Flowering Pear or Crabapple for fragrant spring bloom, or try Burning Bush or Cotoneaster for beautiful fall color.

Photo of a large traditional partial sun front yard stone garden path in Boston.

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder gray dogwood / Cornus racemosa

If you like your outdoor decor to be classic and elegant, but also unexpected, try this understated but lovely combo. Sheared boxwood cones (try Wee Willie) are surrounded by Japanese skimmia, a pretty, evergreen shrub (zones 7 -9) that flowers in early spring. You’ll get the wintery contrast of leaves and cones now, with the promise of blooms to follow.