- Using plants with strong shapes adds interest to the garden.allium 3 image by Falkenauge from Fotolia.com
With eye-catching qualities, unusual plants add interest to the landscape whether used as specimen plants, in masses or in containers . When selecting a plant, know the soil conditions of the planned site, sun exposure and your hardiness zone. Incorporating unusual plants into the lawn and landscape is a great way to add creativity and individuality to your space. - Also known as old man's beard, fringe trees are best known for their flowers. In spring, fringe trees produce clusters of creamy white flowers that hang from the branches of the tree. Fringe trees should be planted in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. Growing to a mature size of 20 feet tall, fringe trees are a great small tree to add interest to the landscape. Fringe trees are hardy in zones 3 through 9 and begin flowering at an early age.
- Hardy in zones 4 through 8, contorted filberts grow to be 8 feet tall and are ideal for use as a specimen or accent plant in the landscape. The branches of contorted filberts twist and spiral, forming an unusually shaped shrub. Showy, hanging flowers develop in fall and persist on the twisted branches through winter, adding interest to the landscape. Contorted filberts perform best planted in full sun and dry soil.
- Planted for their dramatic, drooping form, weeping blue atlas cedars are great accent plants. Growing up to 30 feet wide and 15 feet tall, plants should be placed where their unusual growth is displayed. Hardy in zones 6 through 8, weeping blue atlas cedars prefer full sun, well-drained soils and should be located in an area protected from strong winds.
- Globemaster allium is a perennial bulb that flowers in mid-summer. Held on stems 3 feet tall, the 6 to 8 inch diameter globe shaped flowers stand out in flower gardens and landscapes. Flower globes remain intact and can be used as cut flowers. Globemaster allium is hardy in zones 6 through 10 and should be planted in full sun with well-drained soil. Adding a layer of mulch in the fall will protect the bulb during the winter.
- With peppers that are held upright on top of the plant, ornamental peppers are showier than traditional garden peppers. Medusa ornamental peppers produce long, skinny peppers that twist and curl, resembling the mythological Medusa's hair of snakes. Individual peppers on the same plant ripen at different times, changing color as they grow. One plant may have peppers that are ivory, yellow, orange, and fiery red at the same time. Plants can be used in containers, as a border or as a colorful groundcover and perform best in full sun.
