• A garden can be enhanced with a unique shrub.Dougal Waters/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  Shrubs and bushes provide a sense of structure to the garden, defining borders and acting as a backdrop to showier plants and flowers. Gardeners need not resort to basic, green bushes, however, as there are some unique shrubs that can be used to spice up the home landscape.
  
  

Smoketree

• Also known as smoke bush or Venetian sumac, smoketree, Cotinus coggygria, is a flowering member of the cashew family native to southern Europe and China. Reaching an average height of about 15 feet, smoketree is cultivated for the intense colors of its foliage and its unique flowers. Silver dollar-shaped leaves are bluish green or dark purple, depending on the cultivar, and gradually change to yellow, orange or red in the fall. The flowers of the plant produce wispy filaments, giving the tree a distinct smoky appearance. Smoketree is suitable for cultivation in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5-8. Plant in a bright, sunny location, ideally in a well draining, somewhat dry soil. Prune smoketree for the most vibrant leaf color.
  
  

Purple Sheep's Burr

• Purple sheep's burr, Acaena inermis Purpurea, is a sprawling subshrub that hails from New Zealand. Creating a unique ground cover, the plant offers scalloped purple-brown leaves and brown flowers, which appear in early summer and grow about 3 inches above the plant. Purple sheep's burr is suitable for zones 6-9, preferably in a bright, sunny location. Plant in a well-draining, sandy soil and water only during long stretches of drought. Purple sheep's burr is susceptible to problems such as powdery mildew and rust, so check foliage occasionally. Otherwise, the shrub requires very little maintenance and attention.
  
  

Coral Plant

• A native of Mexico and Central and South America, coral plant, Jatropha multifida, is a flowering member of the spurge family that usually grows to be up to 10 feet high. The unusual plant boasts huge, uniquely shaped tropical leaves, which may be up to a foot wide, as well as coral red flower clusters on long stalks. Coral plant will bloom in flushes throughout the year as long as the weather is warm. Plant coral plant in a full sun location in zones 10-12, ideally in a sandy, well-draining soil. Coral plant is poisonous and should never be ingested. Some people may experience skin irritation from contact with the plant's milky sap.