If you love citrus but don't have space for a large citrus tree, try finger limes (Citrus australasica), also known as citrus caviar. They produce finger-shaped round, tart fruit. "Finger limes are one of my favorite citrus varieties to grow in temperate climates," says Taylor. Grow in a south-facing sunny area with minimal exposure to wind or frost.

With beautiful flowers in the summer and peeling bark in the winter, the seven-son tree (Heptacodium miconioides) is striking year-round. "It produces clusters of fragrant, white flowers in late summer and fall on a birch-like shaped tree," says Eaton. "It's a favorite of butterflies."

The cultivar Thuja Fluffy is a North American native tree and is resistant to windburn, making it an excellent choice for borders, says Kelly Funk, president of  Jackson & Perkins, a full-service nursery. Grow in moist, well-drained soil and choose an area that has full sun to partial shade.

Weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis)  produces tiny pink-hued blooms in the spring, and 'Pink Heartbreaker' is a dwarf cultivar of this favorite tree. "Bower & Branch introduced 'Pink Heartbreaker' about 15 years ago, and the original discovered plant is still only 7 feet tall and about 15 feet wide," says Eaton. "These trees are more hardy than regular redbuds [and] are a great focal point, patio tree, or window tree!"

A slow-growing deciduous shrub, dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia) has a compact, mounded habit. Terminal bottlebrush-like spikes produce white flowers and yellow anthers that fill gardens with interest in April and May. "This plant has suckers. They need to be removed if you do not want colonies of these shrubs," says Langelo.

Dwarf chenille (Acalypha reptans) is a heat-loving, trailing evergreen shrub with crimson flower spikes above ovate dark green leaves. Langelo recommends deadheading the flower buds immediately after the blooms die to stimulate re-bloom.

Dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) is a showy evergreen shrub with elongated flower spikes and long bristle-like stamens—hence the name says Langelo. This beautiful, low-growing shrub provides nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Dwarf crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a deciduous shrub with terminal, crepe-papery inflorescences of showy flowers with crimped petals, says Langelo. The leaves emerge as green with a tinge of red and fade to yellow-orange-red by fall. "Be sure to water at ground level as watering the foliage can scorch it," says Langelo.

Garland flower (Daphne cneorum) is a beautiful shrub with spoon-shaped leaves and fragrant pink flowers that put on a show until fall. "Deadhead spent blossoms after flowering to encourage reblooming," says Langelo.

A multi-stemmed evergreen shrub, minuet mountain laurel (Lalmia latifolia  'Minuet') has a rounded habit with cup-shaped flowers that bloom from May through June. This plant can tolerate a broad range of light conditions, so you can plant it just about anywhere in your garden.