As the Silverbush (Convolvulus Cneorum) proves, you don’t need bright blooms to make a statement. This compact shrub, which can typically grow up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, offers plenty of visual intrigue with its trumpeted flowers. “The leaves provide a lovely contrast to the green shades of other garden plants, to get the very best out of both,” Dickson says.  “It shows good drought tolerance, so is perfect for patio containers or as a focal point in small borders or dots planted in larger schemes.”  The only drawback to this shrub is it’s not fully frost-hardy, so it’s best to place it in a sunny, sheltered spot so it can survive the winter.

Anyone who is looking to keep pesky weeds at bay will find a lot to love about a bearberry shrub (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi). These low-slung perennials typically max out at 6 to 12 inches high, making them an excellent choice for ground cover. But don’t write this small shrub off as “strictly practical” just yet: This species often produces small, cherry-like berries that add to their curb appeal. (These berries are edible—and bears reportedly love them—but humans tend to find them tasteless.) Best of all? They’re relatively low-maintenance and are even salt-resistant, making them a great choice for anyone who lives near the ocean.

Shrubs are a beautiful addition to any yard—they fill in gaps between your plantings, offer multiple seasons of interest, and many varieties yield beautiful blooms for added color. While this all sounds great, you may be encountering one issue when it comes to your shrubs: deer. Luckily, peaceful coexistence is possible. It just takes the right type of deer-resistant shrubs.

Compact, deep green Alpine Currant "Green Mound" (Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound') is Tegland's go-to foundation plant. "This shrub does really well in the shade," she says. "It'll also stay nice and compact with a little pruning. I've almost never seen a deer eat it."

Unlike many arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis doesn't appeal to most deer. A natural for backdrops and borders, it grows in a trim, vertical shape you can use to create a dense hedgerow or living fence, Coker says.

A favorite with our experts, barberry (Berberis spp.) has thorns that deer tend to avoid. "It's trickier for pruning because of the thorns, but there are some really great barberries out there in a lot of different colors, so you can use them in a lot of different spots," Tegland says.

Beautiful boxwood (Buxus) contains alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. The stuff of hedges and elaborate topiaries, boxwood also makes a great foundation shrub because it stays green all year round, remains compact, and likes full shade, says Tegland. In her region, USDA Zone 4, keeping these broadleaf evergreens close to the house also helps protect them from winter sun and wind.

Ornamental, hardy, and self-reliant, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) brings the whole package to a landscape. Coker likes its range of bloom colors, including blues, purples, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. And while humans and pollinators love this deciduous shrub's fragrance, which ranges from honey to lilac, it's a turn-off to deer. Of note: A prolific reseeder, butterfly bush is considered a noxious weed in some regions.

What good Southerner wouldn't give a shout-out to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)? This shrub graces parks, landscapes, and highways throughout the region with showy blooms from July to September. Coker's a fan, especially of dark-leaf cultivars like 'Delta Jazz' and 'Sequoyah.' Most varieties put on gorgeous fall color shows, too.

Also known as Siberian Arborvitae, ground-hugging Microbiota decussate is a go-to for Tegland on hillsides and among boulders. An evergreen, it has soft, fine-textured, olive-green foliage that turns mahogany brown in the fall. It's wind tolerant and does well in sun or shade. Better still: "I've never seen a deer eat one," she says.