• Pruned shrubs add whimsy to a garden.spiral bush in rose garden image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
  
  The framework of any landscape, shrubs and bushes anchor a yard. Smaller plants become visually lost without the backdrop of well-chosen shrubs, and the yard appears unfinished. Bushes can also soften house foundations, screen unwanted views, or provide seasonal interest. With a little research, the right shrub or bush can provide beauty and utility for years to come.
  
  

Lavender

• Lavender in bloomlavender image by Alistair Dick from Fotolia.com
  
  For no-fuss fragrance, choose a lavender. This bush needs average, fast-draining soil and sun, but is drought-tolerant once established, evergreen and handles both the heat and the cold. Because of the lavender's low-maintenance nature, it has become a popular landscape shrub. The hardy lavender blooms from late spring to late summer. Many varieties are easily available, from 1-foot-tall dwarf varieties to classic 4-foot-tall English lavender (Lavendula officianalis). The strongly-scented flowers grow on 3- to 4-inch whorls held high above narrow, gray-green leaves. Cut lavender flowers can stripped from the stem, dried, and used in sachets or other crafts.
  
  

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick

• The dark green, rounded leaves of the Harry Lauder's walking stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta' ) are attractive, but the hardy plant is at its best during winter, when the fascinating corkscrew branches are on display. Although sometimes hard to find, this variety of filbert is commercially propagated and usually available through local nurseries. This curious shrub will eventually reach 8 to 10 feet tall and is often sold as "Contorted Filbert."
  
  

Mugo Pine

• A well-mannered conifer, the mugo (or mugho) pine (Pinus mugo mugo) will never reach the large size of its relatives. This little evergreen will always be an even-shaped shrub and may even be used in containers. Like most pines, the mugo is very cold-hardy; however, this shrub struggles in hot, dry conditions. Because it grows slowly to 5 feet, mature shrubs are often expensive. Younger mugo pines are much more affordable, but may take a number of years to reach the desired size.
  
  

Forsythia

• The forsythia (Oleaceae intermedia) is among the first plants to bloom, with bare, upright branches covered in yellow blossoms. The blooms often begin in February, even in cold climates, and last into April. Varieties of forsythia bushes can be just 3 feet tall, but most grow 7 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide. Forsythia is a multi-stemmed shrub, sending branches arching up like a fountain, and can be used effectively as a screen. During the warmer months, a well-feed forsythia is a thick green backdrop for later-blooming plants.
  
  

Yucca

• A yucca variety in bloomyucca image by photlook from Fotolia.com
  
  Widely used in drought-tolerant landscapes, the compact yucca is also striking among tropical foliage. Many varieties are variegated, and the sword-like leaves contrast well against combined background plantings. Alternatively, a large yucca can be effective as a solitary focal point. The 3- to 12-foot solitary flower spikes are eye-catching; however, a yucca may not bloom every year. Some varieties are winter-hardy, and the average yucca asks only for well-drained soil and full sun. Choose varieties according to hardiness and mature size, and plant where the sharp, pointed leaves will not prick an unwary guest. Use caution when gardening around a yucca; the leaf tips can be needle-sharp.