Evergreen, drought-tolerant yucca hangs tough all year round. While deer do savor its flowers, they avoid the sharp-tipped leaves—not a problem for most people, who value this superstar for its striking foliage, anyway.

Thyme is an easy, practical, and drought-resistant herb to grow that has an inviting scent and is delicious in recipes. English thyme grows well in southern climates and does best in full sun to partial shade conditions.

For outdoor growing, English thyme should be planted in the spring or fall, 12 to 15 inches apart, either in the ground, a raised bed, or in containers, says Amy Enfield, Ph.D., a senior scientist for Live Goods at Scotts Miracle Grow. Because it is low-growing, has thin stems, and a wiry habit, avoid crowding because vigorous neighboring plants might choke it out.

Kevin Lenhart, the designer director at Yardzen, describes this upright grass plant as a powerhouse—and for a good reason. Not only is it native to half of the United States, but it has a complex root system that buries deep into the ground to access moisture that other plants cannot reach. "Little Bluestem begins blue-green, but transforms to a bold bronze by fall that endures through the winter," he says. "It is commonly found in prairies, meadows, and open woodlands across the country."

Lenhart says Little Bluestem prefers full sun and well-drained soils. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types, from sandy to clay soils, and is also adapted to a range of soil pH levels.

A mix between Calycanthus floridus and Calycanthus chinensis, this variety is about as quick growing as they come. Hybrid spicebush easily reaches 5 feet tall in just two to three years, while some unpruned specimens can get even taller. "Large waxy green leaves adorn the plant in the growing season, taking on a yellow color in fall," says Jon Roethling. "'Hartlage Wine' and 'Aphrodite' are more easily found selections, both with maroon colored flower with a yellow center."

Holly (Ilex) is a fast-growing shrub that gives growers a wide range of choices. "Almost any evergreen selection has dark green foliage ranging from extremely spiny to some selections tending towards being spineless," says Jon Roethling. "Their fruit are a great food source to birds in winter and you can have your pick from straight native Ilex opaca (American holly) to any number of hybrids."

This deciduous shrub emerges in late spring with green leaves that give rise to white flowers in summer followed by a show of bright purple berries. Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) can grow up to 6 feet tall, but in favorable conditions the shrub can grow an extra 2 to 3 feet. Come early fall, expect to see birds visit your beautyberry shrub in droves.

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous shrub that forms spikes of lilac blue or pink flowers in late May and will continue to flower for several months. It is a great shrub to plant if your goal is to bring more pollinators to your yard. A fast-spreading plant, chaste tree can reach maturity in three years, producing 2 feet of growth annually, Adrienne Roethling says.

Ideal if you're looking for a shrub that grows to be relatively tall, Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) reaches maturity in three to five years and can grow up to 18 inches per year. "The most common form of Chinese fringe flowers has green leaves with white flowers or burgundy leaves with rich pink flowers," says Adrienne Roethling. The shrub responds well to pruning, so some may want to grow as a hedge or you can climb them up to provide a canopy of shade for other plants growing beneath it.

A fast-growing shrub that's available in a range of colors, weigela (Weigela florida) offers a showy quality of blooms. "Bare stems give rise to 3 inch long by 1 inch wide leaves in spring followed by a burst of color from the flowers," says Adrienne Roethling. "Numerous, tubular shaped flowers are born at every leaf."

Typically the flowers are pink or white, but newer varieties come in red, magenta, or white and change to pink. This plant should reach maturity in about three years, growing up to 12 inches tall in 12 months.

Izu tree (Distylium) is a fast-growing shrub that has become increasingly popular over the last decade. "Its adaptability and ease of care moved it into the spotlight as it can handle wet but not flooded soils to drier conditions and part shade to full sun," says Jon Roethling, the director of Reynolda Gardens. "Leaves can range from a blue-green to lustrous dark green and typically tend to be narrower in appearance."