How To Use Accent Plants In A Landscape Plan

Whitney Laritson | February 14, 2026

When it comes to curb and garden appeal, you can’t go wrong with an accent plant. These stand-alone or small grouping of plants are meant to draw the eye and provide a focal point in your garden. Adding accent plants to your yard is a great way to enhance visual appeal and make a lasting impression.

What is an Accent Plant?

As the name indicates, an accent plant is a shrub or tree with interesting characteristics that is placed to highlight your yard or garden. These are showstopper plants that offer some serious “wow” factor, from showy flowers, to bright fall foliage and unique form.

Benefits of Accent Plants

There are many reasons to incorporate accent plants into your landscape. Consider this:

Visual impact. Accent plants help break up areas of repetitive texture, such as open lawns, fences or walkways, to make your yard truly memorable.
Draw the eye. Much like a painter uses colors to draw the eyes to the important parts of his work, accent plants use color, texture, and shape to draw the eyes to the most beautiful parts of your landscape.
Provide a focal point. Accent plants are meant to be the focal point of the yard, and because of this can help you coordinate the rest of your garden for a stunning effect.

Accent Plant Tips & Ideas

Make it Pop

In order for an accent plant to really “pop” and catch the eye, it needs to stand out from its surroundings, without clashing. When choosing an accent plant to place in your yard, consider your garden’s overall theme and style. What is the texture like? What are the dominant colors, and when do they stand out most? Your goal is to draw attention, so it’s important to keep in mind which accent plant characteristics will help you achieve that goal.

Choose Wisely

As with any plant, be sure that you select an accent shrub or tree that will truly thrive in your yard. Planting in an unsuitable location, no matter how beautiful the plant can be, will result in poorer health for the accent plant, more work for you, and worse results. Accent plants especially are meant to stand out, so you want to make sure to set them up for success.

Consider All Four Seasons

The best accent plants will draw the eye all year long. When selecting your accent plant, or accent planting, take all four seasons into account. If your choice accent tree is spring-blooming, extend its impact with some summer-blooming bulbs, or choose a plant that has that coveted four season appeal: spring color, bright summer and fall foliage, and pretty winter bark.

Our Favorite Accent Plants

There are many shrubs and trees that make fabulous accent plants. These are some of our - and our customers’ - favorites:

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea, Tree Form

The tree form of the Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea is one of the most striking and eye catching options to add to your landscape plan. This hydrangea is trained to grow like a small “tree,” adding its unique shape to its already beautiful display. With bright flowering cones that reach seven inches long in summer, and blossoms that change gradually from white to a soft reddish pink, this accent plant is a breathtaking centerpiece in any garden. Relatively easy to maintain and hardy in most of the US, the Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea is a sure bet for a beautiful accent plant in a variety of settings.

Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree

Boasting one of the most stunning flower displays anywhere, the Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree is a beautiful and elegant addition to your landscape. Growing up to 15 feet tall and displaying bright blue blossoms that appear before soft green leaves in late spring, this tree form of the traditionally vining wisteria is sure to stand out. In addition to their stunning beauty, the blossoms have a sweet fragrance that both you and your neighbors will appreciate! No wonder this is our best-seller, year after year.

Betty Magnolia

The Betty Magnolia is a compact version of its larger magnolia counterparts, growing to between 12-15 feet tall, but still packs the same impressive flowery punch! Magnolias have always been known for their fragrant and robust blossoms, and this small-garden friendly magnolia delivers on that promise without taking up too much space. With lush summer foliage and a cold-hardy constitution, the Betty Magnolia is a great option to add a stunning display to your garden or landscape.

Japanese Maple

For major four season appeal, the unique coral bark japanese maple is a fabulous choice. Featuring coral-pink bark and light green leaves that turn gold in autumn, this accent tree is a real showstopper. Like all Japanese maples, it is an easy keeper that will turn heads all year long. In fact, one of its best seasons is in winter when the bright bark stands out against the snow.

A thoughtfully planted accent plant can set the atmosphere and improve the visual dynamic of any garden or landscape design. With careful planning, and a little adventurous spirit, you can use accent plants to make your landscape truly captivating.

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Browse the features and specs side-by-side to find the best fit for your garden.

A table comparing the facets of 2 products
Facet	Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree View details	Japanese Red Maple Tree View details
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Rating	(304)	(13)
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Type	Tree	Tree
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By	Nature Hills Nursery	Nature Hills Nursery
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Flower Color	Blue Purple Lavender Violet	Red
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Growing Zone Range	5-9	5-8
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Mature Height	10-15 ft	15-25 ft
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Width	10-15 ft	15-20 ft
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Price	Sale price From $107⁹⁹ Regular price $119⁹⁹	Sale price From $44⁴⁴ Regular price $68³⁷

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose accent plants that work in my specific sun, shade, or partial shade conditions?

Choosing accent plants that thrive in your specific light conditions is essential, since even the most stunning specimen will underperform if planted in the wrong spot. Full sun locations (6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily) open the door to bold choices like ornamental grasses, flowering shrubs, and colorful Japanese maples, while shaded areas call for plants like hostas, astilbes, or shade-tolerant evergreens that offer interesting texture and form without needing intense light. Before purchasing, check the plant's tag or product description for its light requirements and cross-reference with your USDA Hardiness Zone to ensure long-term success. Visit naturehills.com and use the site's filtering tools to search accent plants by sun exposure, so you can find the perfect showstopper for your exact conditions.

How many accent plants can I use in one area before the design starts to look crowded?

As a general rule, accent plants work best when used sparingly, with one strong focal point per distinct garden area or view. Using more than one accent plant in a single space can dilute the visual impact and create a cluttered look rather than a cohesive design. In smaller yards or tight garden beds, stick to a single specimen plant, while larger landscapes may support two or three accent plants if they are spaced far enough apart to each command their own visual territory. When in doubt, step back and evaluate whether each plant truly stands out on its own or competes with the others for attention.

Where should I place accent plants in my yard to create a strong focal point?

Place accent plants where they will naturally draw the eye, such as at the end of a walkway, near an entryway, at a corner of the home, or as a centerpiece in an open lawn area. The key is contrast: your accent plant should stand out from its surroundings in color, texture, or form without clashing with the overall style of your garden. Avoid planting in locations that do not suit the plant's sun, soil, and moisture needs, since a struggling plant will never serve as an effective focal point. Choose your location first, then select an accent plant rated for your USDA hardiness zone that thrives in those exact conditions.

Can accent plants be used in foundation plantings close to the house without outgrowing the space?

Yes, accent plants can absolutely work in foundation plantings, but selecting the right size is critical. Dwarf or slow-growing varieties are your best bet for spaces close to the house, as many compact shrubs and ornamental trees are specifically bred to stay under 4 to 6 feet, making them ideal for tight foundation beds. Always check the mature spread of any plant before purchasing, and give yourself at least 2 to 3 feet of clearance from the foundation to allow for healthy root development and air circulation. Browse Nature Hills' selection of dwarf accent shrubs filtered by mature size to find the perfect fit for your space.

How far apart should accent plants be spaced from each other and from surrounding shrubs?

Spacing for accent plants depends on the mature spread of the specific plant you choose, but as a general rule you want to allow enough room for the plant to reach its full size without crowding neighboring shrubs. Most accent trees and large shrubs should be placed at least half their mature spread away from surrounding plants, which often means 6 to 15 feet or more depending on the variety. Because accent plants are meant to stand alone as focal points, giving them generous breathing room also ensures they remain visually distinct rather than blending into the surrounding landscape. Check the mature dimensions listed for your specific plant before you dig, and always err on the side of more space rather than less.

How do I know if an accent plant will still fit my space once it reaches its mature size?

Before purchasing any accent plant, check the mature height and spread listed on the plant's tag or product page and compare those dimensions to the space you have available. Keep in mind that accent plants are meant to stand out as focal points, so overcrowding them defeats their purpose and can lead to poor health. A good rule of thumb is to plant accent shrubs and trees at least half their mature spread away from structures, walkways, and neighboring plants. Visit naturehills.com to find mature size details for every plant we carry, and always plan for the full-grown dimensions rather than the size at planting.

Should accent plants be used alone, in pairs, or in groups of three for the best visual impact?

Accent plants work well as standalone specimens, in pairs, or in small groupings depending on the scale of your landscape and the effect you want to achieve. A single bold plant works beautifully as a focal point in a smaller yard, while larger spaces may call for a trio or small cluster to create sufficient visual weight. The key is that accent plants should stand out from their surroundings without clashing, so avoid overcrowding them with competing plants that dilute their impact. Start with one strong specimen in a prominent location, assess its visual effect through all four seasons, and then decide if additional plants are needed to balance the overall composition.

How do I combine accent plants with contrasting color, texture, and form in a landscape plan?

To create effective contrast with accent plants, pair bold, coarse-textured specimens like ornamental grasses or large-leafed shrubs against fine-textured groundcovers or smooth lawn areas, letting the difference in form and texture do the visual work. Choose accent plants whose peak color season complements or contrasts the surrounding planting, such as a burgundy Japanese Maple set against a backdrop of chartreuse or silver-foliaged evergreens. Browse Nature Hills' selection of accent trees and shrubs, filter by foliage color and texture, and plan your combinations so at least one element is providing contrast in each of the four seasons.

How do I use accent plants to guide the eye through different areas of the landscape?

Place accent plants at key transition points throughout your yard, such as at the end of a walkway, the corner of a garden bed, or the entrance to a patio, to naturally pull the eye from one area to the next. Choose plants with bold color, unique texture, or striking form that contrast with their surroundings without clashing, so each accent stands out clearly against its backdrop. For best results, vary the seasonal interest of your accent plants so that something is always drawing attention, whether that means a spring-blooming tree near the front entry paired with a vibrant fall foliage shrub deeper in the yard. Map out your landscape and identify two or three focal points you want to highlight, then select accent plants suited to your hardiness zone and site conditions to anchor each one.

Can the same accent plant work in both a formal and an informal landscape style?

Yes, some accent plants are versatile enough to work in both formal and informal settings, though placement and pruning make all the difference. A Japanese Maple, for example, can be shaped into a tidy, symmetrical specimen for a formal garden or allowed to grow in its naturally graceful, layered form for a more relaxed, naturalistic design. Focus on how you frame and maintain the plant rather than the plant alone. Choose a species with strong year-round interest, then let your pruning style and surrounding plantings do the work of setting the tone for your overall landscape.