When you choose ornamental plants for your landscape, you should consider three things. First, you should know something about the physical and ornamental traits of the plants, such as their size, shape, type and color. Second, you need to know if the plant is hardy in your area. And third, you should consider how you want to use these plants.
Ornamental plants grow to different sizes.
You may choose from ground cover plants as small as 6 inches, shrubs of many sizes, and large trees to over 85 feet tall. It is very important to know what size plant you want for the landscape planting. Then choose that size plant. Some trees grow quickly and become large in just a few years, while others grow more slowly and take many years to reach maturity. Remember, however, that growth rate is influenced by many variables, such as soil, drainage, water, fertility and light.