Want to know the best of the best when it comes to trees, shrubs, perennials, and edible plants? Our experts weighed in on the essential plants they think deserve to be grown in EVERY garden!
At Dennis’ 7 Dees, we are lucky to have a huge range of incredibly talented plant people working together to create inspirational green spaces. We surveyed our world-class landscape designers, our savvy purchasing team, our renowned gardening gurus, and even our enthusiastic owners about the plants they think that everyone in the Pacific Northwest needs in their garden or landscape.
Here is the ultimate list of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, native plants, fragrant plants, and edible plants that you NEED to know about. If you want the very best plants for your garden, this is what you should grow!
The Best Perennials
Perennials come back year after year and help fill in the lowest layer of the landscape. Here are the best perennials to include in your garden.
WINNER: Echinacea
Echinacea is a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and very bloomy perennial that deserves a place in every garden! Echinacea comes in a huge array of fantastic flower colors and shapes that bloom all Summer long. Check out our full blog on Echinacea to discover even more reasons why this plant is a must-grow for your landscape.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Herbaceous, Low Maintenance, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Pollinators & Birds, Good for Containers, Great Cut Flowers, Many Color Options
- Plant Care: Low to Medium Water, Full Sun to Part Sun, Cut Back in Late Winter
“Echinacea is one of my FAVORITE Perennials. The blooms are so pretty and I love all the shades that you can get.” – Horticulturalist & Business Developer Paige Tisdale
RUNNER UP: Autumn Joy Sedum
Autumn Joy Sedum or Stonecrop is a reliable and easy-to-grow perennial with great looking grey-green succulent foliage throughout the growing season. It is drought tolerant, the pink flower clusters are attractive to pollinators, and the blooms make a big visual impact.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Herbaceous, Low Maintenance, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Pollinators
- Plant Care: Low Water, Full Sun to Part Sun, Cut Back Late Winter
“Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is the best—it’s drought tolerant, hardy, and one of the few bloomers in Fall.” – Sam DeFever, Landscape Designer
HONORABLE MENTION: Agastache
Agastache, featured in our 7 Underappreciated Sun Plants blog, is beloved by people and pollinators. This perennial has grey-green foliage and wands of tubular flowers that bees and hummingbirds visit regularly.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Herbaceous, Low Maintenance, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds & Pollinators, Many Color Options, Good for Containers, Edible
- Plant Care: Low to Medium Water, Full Sun to Part Sun, Cut Back in Early Spring
“Hummingbirds adore Agastache, plus it is so fragrant and has edible flowers!” – Andrea Melnychenko, Horticulturalist & Content Creator
The Best Shrubs
Shrubs act as anchors for landscapes and are a key foundational element. Here are the shrubs that offer gardeners the most.
WINNER: Fothergilla
Fothergilla is beloved by many members of the Dennis’ 7 Dees team and should need no introduction—it was a hit in our 7 Underappreciated Flowering Trees & Shrubs blog. Fothergilla is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub that is easy to grow and has interest during every season, with unique flowers, attractive foliage, and great fall color.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Fall Color, Disease Resistant, Low Maintenance, 3–5’ Mature Height
- Plant Care: Medium Water, Full Sun to Part Sun, Requires Little Pruning
“The charming and unique white bottlebrush flowers of Fothergilla are a lovely complement to the bright colors of Spring, and the Fall Color is worthy of a September traffic-jam in Vermont.” – Ken Whitten, Cedar Hills Tree & Shrub Buyer
RUNNER UP: Summer Daphne
Summer Daphne is one of our favorite plants to recommend to our customers because it has so many seasons of interest. The evergreen leaves are small and attractive, and the fragrant pale pink and white flowers bloom for many months.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Fragrant Flowers, Attracts Pollinators, Spring & Summer Blooming, 2–3’ Mature Height
- Plant Care: Medium Water, Full Sun to Part Sun, Requires Little Pruning
“Summer Daphne is a year-round beauty that repeat blooms and adds effortless evergreen charm as a foundation shrub in the landscape! Its leaves are edged with a creamy white margin which provides an elegant look and coordinates with just about any garden style. But the real magic happens when it bursts with clusters of intensely fragrant blooms.” – Kelley Kenyon, Director of Retail & Marketing
HONORABLE MENTION: Hydrangea
We love Hydrangeas because of their extreme versatility. Some varieties are perfect for dark, wet locations, while others like ‘Little Lime’ are a staff favorite because it is hardy, compact, and can tolerate sun and get by with less water. Find out everything you need to know about Hydrangeas on our blog!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Long-Blooming Period, Great Cut Flowers, Fall Color (variety dependent)
- Plant Care (variety dependent): Full Sun to Full Shade, Prune in Fall or Spring, Low to High Water
“There is a Hydrangea for every situation!” – Corey Verch, Director of Design/Build
The Best Trees
Trees help create a sense of place and are essential in making a garden feel dynamic and complete. Here are the trees we couldn’t live without.
WINNER: Little Gem Magnolia
Little Gem Magnolia was far and away the number one favorite tree when we surveyed our staff. Its mature height of under 20 feet makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, providing versatility as a year-round statement piece or a privacy screen due to its evergreen nature. One of the best features are the flowers, which are large, creamy white, and magnificently fragrant.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Low Maintenance, Small Tree, Good for Containers, Fragrant Flowers, Summer Blooming, Grows to 20–25’ Tall by 10–15′ Wide
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Medium Water, Requires Little Pruning
“Little Gem Magnolia is a well-behaved and beautiful show piece that fits almost any garden style.” – Amelia Armitage, Lake Oswego Indoor Plant Lead
RUNNER UP: Ginkgo
Gingko is easy to grow with interesting leaves that have lovely yellow Fall color, but there are also so many shapes and sizes, including huge trees, columnar options, and even dwarf varieties like ‘Jade Butterflies’ that can be grown in containers!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Low Maintenance, Fall Color, Unique Foliage, Good for Containers, 8–45’ Mature Height
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Medium Water, Requires Little Pruning
“Gingko is my favorite tree to recommend because of its classic and stunning foliage.” – Jennifer Williams, Vancouver Store Manager
HONORABLE MENTION: Milky Way Dogwood
Milky Way Dogwood is a flowering tree with thousands of white blooms and good disease resistance. This dogwood has an excellent, layered canopy that looks fantastic even when it doesn’t have leaves, especially if lit with landscape lighting.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Low Maintenance, Fall Color, Spring Flowers, Attracts Pollinators & Birds, Edible Fruit, 8–45’ Mature Height
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Medium Water, Requires Little Pruning
“Disease resistance, fall colors, edible red fruit, and profuse blooming make Milky Way Dogwood the best tree for the garden.” – Dean Snodgrass, Vice President & Owner
The Best Annuals
Even though annuals die at the end of each season, they offer gardeners SO much with their rapid growth, interesting textures, and gorgeous flowers. Here are our top annual picks for Pacific Northwest gardens.
WINNER: Zinnia
When it comes to annuals, the choice for many was clear. Zinnias are a staff favorite because they bloom for months and months all Summer long, come in a huge range of color options, attract butterflies, and are fantastic in cut flower arrangements. They are also incredibly easy to care for and require very little deadheading or maintenance to keep blooming.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Good for Containers, Long Bloom Period (Summer & Fall), Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Deadhead Infrequently to Encourage Blooming, Moderate Water
“Zinnias all the way! They are so easy to grow from seed or starts, with so many colors and sizes. Zinnias really make me nostalgic for my mom’s garden.” – Machree McKenna, Landscape Buyer
RUNNER UP: Coleus
We were a bit surprised by the number of staff that cast their vote for foliage over flowers, selecting Coleus as their Annual All-Star. From Designers to Store Managers, everyone loves Coleus because of its versatility, striking color options, and excellent performance in containers. Learn more ways to use Coleus in containers on our blog!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Low Maintenance, Good for Containers, Unique Foliage
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Full Shade, No Pruning Required, Moderate Water
“Coleus is the work horse of container plantings and can handle just about any sun exposure.” – Jennifer Williams, Vancouver Store Manager
HONORABLE MENTION: Cuphea
Anyone who has shopped at our garden centers may already grow Cuphea thanks to its glowing endorsements from our sales staff. Cuphea is a low-maintenance annual that is covered in hundreds of hummingbird and pollinator-friendly flowers and is incredibly easy to care for. Cuphea even made our list of 7 Underappreciated Plants for Sun Gardens!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Low Maintenance, Attracts Hummingbirds & Pollinators, Long Bloom Season, Good for Containers
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, No Pruning Required, Moderate Water
“Cuphea is the ultimate hummingbird plant—it blooms non-stop May-November, has no bugs, needs no deadheading, and has more blooms than you could ever count on a plant.” – Joe Kerzel, Customer Service & Plant Care Specialist
PRO TIP! Combine all three of these annuals for an easy care, smash-hit of a Summer container!
The Best Fragrant Plants
Scent connects us to the garden in a special way and has the power to transport us out of our ordinary lives. Here are the best fragrant plants for creating a memorable and enchanting garden.
WINNER: Star Jasmine
Evergreen vine Star Jasmine was the overwhelming winner of our fragrant plants poll, with a scent described as “intoxicating”, “fresh and clean”, “unbeatable” and “incomparable”. Star Jasmine provides year-round privacy when grown up a trellis, but it can also be grown as a groundcover or in a pot, making it a truly versatile plant that can and should be grown in EVERY garden!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Fragrant, Vining, Good for Hummingbirds
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Full Shade, Medium Water, No Pruning Required
“Nothing compares to Star Jasmine! It can bloom well in sun or shade, works in a pot, works in a small space or as a groundcover, and looks fantastic in so many styles of landscapes!” – Andrea Melnychenko, Horticulturalist & Content Creator
RUNNER UP: Winter Daphne
When the Winter blues have us down, Daphne odora’s February and March blooms act as a lifeline to Spring. With a scent you can smell from a mile away, this evergreen shrub is a must-grow for many of our staff. Learn more about Winter Daphne varieties on our blog.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Great Cut Flowers
- Plant Care: Part Shade to Full Shade, Medium Water, No Pruning Required
“I always add a Winter Daphne to every client’s garden.” – Lars Nielson, Landscape Designer
HONORABLE MENTION: Sarcococca
Sarcococca, or Sweet Box, is another Winter bloomer chosen by our team as their favorite fragrant plant. Tiny, inconspicuous white blooms emerge in January with an incredibly strong fragrance on this evergreen shrub.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Low Maintenance
- Plant Care: Part Shade to Full Shade, Medium Water, No Pruning Required
“Sarcococca is a low-profile plant that surprises people with its fragrance. It does really well in shade and is a nice evergreen, lush shrub.” – Schuwen Bush, Commercial Estimator and Designer
The Best Edible Plants
Whether it’s a piece of fruit or an herb, the most delicious food comes straight from the garden. Here are the top three edible plants that taste fantastic and are incredibly easy to grow.
WINNER: Blueberry
Nearly half of our experts said that the number one edible plant that all gardeners MUST grow is a blueberry because it is so easy to grow and delicious! Staff favorites include ‘Peach Sorbet’ for its “tangy-sweet flavor on a compact shrub with seasonal interest” or ‘Chandler’, thanks to its extra-large fruit and heavy production. Learn more about growing backyard berries on our blog!
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen or Deciduous, Low Maintenance, Disease Resistant, Attracts Pollinators & Birds, Edible Berries
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Moderate Water, No Pruning Required
“Sunshine Blue is evergreen and bears fine-flavored fruit longer than any other variety.” – Ken Whitten, Cedar Hills Tree & Shrub Buyer
RUNNER UP: Rosemary
If your goal for growing an edible plant is versatility, then Rosemary should be on your list! Rosemary is evergreen and can be used year-round in a huge range of culinary dishes. Beyond its use in cooking, Rosemary is a fantastic landscape plant, and is key to achieving the look in our Mediterranean Landscape Design Guide!
- Plant Characteristics: Evergreen, Aromatic, Edible, Groundcover
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Shade, Low to Medium Water
“Rosemary is great because you can harvest it all year round, it easily adds flavor to a wide variety of sweet or savory dishes, and it can also be dried effectively.” – Shaila Shannon-Thorn, Bridgeport Village Store Associate
HONORABLE MENTION: Fig Tree
Fresh figs may feel like a special treat here in the Pacific Northwest, but they are surprisingly easy to grow! Not only are they drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, but the foliage and structure are unique and beautiful, and they are incredibly productive once they are established.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Unique Foliage, Edible, Low Maintenance
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Sun, Low to Moderate Water, No Pruning Required
“Fig trees are low maintenance, produce delicious fruit, and add a touch of Mediterranean charm!” – CoralSage Walker-Dale, Marketing Manager
The Best Native Plants
Native plants support local beneficial insect and bird populations, are attractive and easy to grow! Here are our favorite Pacific Northwest native plants to include in any garden.
WINNER: Red Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum is a medium-tall native shrub whose profuse pink Spring blooms are incredibly ornamental and attractive. Its cute green leaves make it a versatile backdrop to other shrubs or perennials.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Low Maintenance, Attracts Hummingbirds & Pollinators, Great Cut Flowers, Grows to 3–12′ Tall by 6–10′ Wide
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Part Shade, Medium Water, No Pruning Required
“I love that Red Flowering Currant is one of the first shrubs to bloom in late Winter or early Spring with nectar for hummingbirds and later provides small fruits for songbirds.” – Nicole Forbes, Tree & Shrub Lead
RUNNER UP: Vine Maple
Many of our team members love Vine Maples thanks to their small size, interesting habit, and low-maintenance growth. Vine Maples can act as a tall understory addition in shady landscapes, or can make a loose, informal hedge or privacy screen.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Deciduous, Low Maintenance, Good for Hedging, Grows to 10–15’ Tall by 10–15’ Wide
- Plant Care: Part Sun to Full Shade, Medium Water, No Pruning Required
“Pacific Fire Vine Maple has great fall color and bright coral stem color in Winter, and is as easy to grow as any other native tree.” – Lars Nielson, Landscape Designer
HONORABLE MENTION: Evergreen Huckleberry
Evergreen Huckleberry was on staff lists of people’s favorite shrub, favorite edible, and favorite native plant! This plant has so much to recommend it including its sweet flower, ability to grow in shade, bronzy new growth, and of course, delicious fruit.
- Benefits & Characteristics: Evergreen, Attracts Pollinators & Birds, Edible Berries, Grows to 2–8′ Tall by 15′ wide
- Plant Care: Full Sun to Full Shade, Medium Water
“The edible black berries of huckleberries are excellent for pies or jams!” – Dean Snodgrass, Owner & Vice President
How many of our favorite plants do you already grow? Book a design consultation or visit one of our garden centers and we will show you exactly why these plants are our very favorites, and maybe tempt you with a new variety to grow in your garden!