Part of a series of butterfly bushes with short growing habits, Purple Haze (Buddleia x 'Purple Haze') was one of the first of its kind to hit the market. "Blue-green leaves emerge from bare stems in spring giving rise to pale purple, arching flowers," says Roethling. "This one has more of a loose habit overall."

By early June, large panicles with an arching habit form all over Grand Cascade butterfly bush (Buddleia 'Grand Cascade'). Though the plant can survive with minimal watering once established, during periods of drought it should be watered as it may become prone to spider mites, says Roethling.

Weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a native tree that does very well in eastern North America. "Come early spring, tiny lavender-purple, pea-shaped flowers are borne along the stems," says Adrienne Roethling, the garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. 'Ruby Falls' and 'Lavender Twist' are two popular cultivars. This tree does not like wet feet, especially during winter, so make sure you plant it in an area with good drainage.

Weeping higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) is one of the earliest flowering cherries to bloom in spring. "They produce pale pink, rose-like flowers weeks before leaves emerge," says Roethling. "When the leaves do emerge, they are clear green and somewhat elongated and held on arching branches, offering a picturesque canopy for the summer months."

Weeping Nootka cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis 'Pendula') has beautiful arching branches with scale-like leaves that hang in graceful pendulous sprays. Although it's native to the Pacific coast, it tolerates heat and humidity very well. "The color of the sprays are green but pick up a hint of blue-grey," says Roethling. "It’s one of those plants that needs to stand alone so that one can take in the magnitude of its perfection."

Another beautiful spring bloomer that weeps is the weeping peach tree (Prunus persica ‘Pink Cascade’). "The flowers are double, rose-like blossoms that are bright pink and cover the branches like a blanket," says Roethling. "Shortly after the flowers have finished, the thin, narrow leaves emerge with a copper hue." Despite its name, this tree rarely produces peaches. "They often produce a thick skin, a seed, and nothing in between," says Roethling.

Perhaps the most popular of the weeping varieties, weeping willow (Salix babylonica) has pendulous, arching branches that produce a canopy-like effect. This quick grower is one of the first trees to leaf out in spring and the last to lose leaves come fall, giving you multiple seasons of interest. Prune heavy branches to help with breakage.

A delicate and more petite variety of maple, acer crimson queen (palmatum var. dissectum) has a cascading structure that offers spring through fall interest. "This low-maintenance tree adds vivid color and textural interest and fits nicely in mixed beds as an accent or understory plant and in containers," says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins.

This variety of Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus) has a more reliable weeping habit than most, says Funk. This cultivar also has larger, glossier leaves that are accented by dainty pink flowers that bloom from May to June and have a cotton-candy scent. Beyond how beautiful it is, Marley's Pink Japanese Snowbell has resistance to disease and pests and can live 40 years or more.

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) has weeping branches that become wide and spreading as it matures. Known as one of the most graceful conifers, this tree looks beautiful in landscape groupings or as a privacy screen. It has year-round gray-green leaves that provide interest throughout winter.

Cercis Golden Falls has lavender-pink flowers that bloom in spring, followed by large, orange-tipped leaves that age to a bright and colorfast golden yellow, says Funk. Its narrow and graceful weeping form and slow growth rate make it an ideal option for small spaces, or you can plant it in groupings.

Those seeking a super quick yard transformation may want to get their hands on green giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata). "This is one of the fastest-growing trees," says Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at Sunday. "With its tall, conical shape, it’s perfect for quickly creating a thick, green wall to keep your yard private."

If you like the Rocky Mountain juniper but want a variety that grows faster, the skyrocket cultivar (Juniperus scopulorum) is the way to go. It’s still not the fastest-growing conifer on this list, but it’s a nice alternative to the original. The Skyrocket has a slender silhouette with dense, silvery blue needles and is best suited as an accent tree.

You may recognize the majestic silhouette and piney foliage of the Norway spruce (Picea abies) because it’s the chosen Christmas tree for New York City’s Rockefeller Center every year. It’s an especially fast-growing tree (specifically when it’s young) that grows extremely wide, too. "The tree offers beautiful pendulous–or dropping–branches that further the tree’s iconic look," Frese says.

Named after its smooth, pale-colored bark, the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) grows tall and straight and showcases long and flexible needles grouped in bundles of five. It has a graceful appearance that makes it an elegant addition to any yard, particularly as an ornamental accent. The growth is slow in its first few years, but after that, it takes off.

Given its mature size—topping out at around 200 feet—this giant cedar (Thuja plicata) isn’t for every yard. However, if you have the space then it’s a striking option to incorporate onto your property. This quick-growing conifer has dense, fan-like foliage that ranges from rich green to reddish-brown, and it takes on a broad pyramid shape.

For an absolutely show-stopping conifer, look no further than the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana). "There’s no other conifer tree like this species," says Eric Preston Stout, expert gardener and landscaper at TeachMe.To. "It is a spiral arrangement, radially spreading evergreen with leaves that resemble a Fibonacci sequence." The whorled leaves also have a spiky, scale-like quality to them. It's definitely an ornamental choice versus a hedging option. Also, it’s best to plant an already established tree since it’s very slow-growing in its early years. Once mature, however, it starts taking off.

This tall tree (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has soft, needle-like leaves that develop in a beautiful spiral pattern. It’s considered one of the most popular options for Christmas trees thanks to its classic pyramid shape, fragrance, and gentle needles. This fast-growing conifer is also beautiful in yards as either an accent or privacy screen thanks to its dense, year-round foliage.

This beautiful tree is one of the few deciduous conifer trees on Earth, meaning its leaves change colors in the fall and then drop. The European larch (Larix decidua) grows in a pyramid shape and produces soft, bright green needles that turn to a striking golden-yellow hue come autumn. “[It offers] the best fall color tree out of all conifers,” says Preston Stout, expert gardener and landscaper at TeachMe.To.

Native to North America, the river birch tree (Betula nigra) puts on a beautiful show during all four seasons. "Bright green leaves on semi-arching branches appear in the spring, followed by long, dangling seed pods in early summer," says Kate Walz, a gardening expert with KW Gardens & Flowers. "In the fall, the leaves turn a striking shade of yellow, and after they drop, the unique exfoliating bark on the trunk is revealed—which provides ornamental interest during the winter."

As the name suggests, the river birch naturally grows along riverbanks and wet areas in the United States. However, this tree can tolerate a variety of soil conditions in the landscape. Often grown as a multi-stemmed tree, its spreading limbs provide an overall pyramidal to oval shape.