It’s time to get snug –the cozy life has never been more popular! With over 282 million TikTok views and 201,000 Instagram posts, cozy content like dreamy videos of comfy homes, warm and inviting porches, and ethereal landscapes is one of the year’s top trends. “A cozy landscape that captures the colors of the season and blurs the line between indoors and outdoors is easy to achieve with the right plant palette. The key to coziness in the garden is working with the five senses. Bright colors that draw the eye, soft textures, and rich scents work together to create a cozy space, inviting us to linger in nature a little longer,” says Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection.

Heart Throb® Hydrangea  (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Heartthrob’) has large round clusters of vibrant red to pink flowers that emanate warmth into their surroundings. This compact flowering shrub is perfect for filling a snug space in your garden. Heart Throb Hydrangea prefers part shade to shade in well-drained soil. Ideal for Zones 5 – 9. Size at maturity is 3 feet tall and wide. 

‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’) offers soft, feathery foliage with a fern-like growth habit. Leaf color varies from light green to dark blue-green, adding further interest to this adorably compact shrub. Soft Caress Mahonia prefers part sun to part shade in well-drained acidic soil. Ideal for Zones 7 – 9. Size at maturity is 3 feet tall by 3.5 feet wide. 

 

Chef’s Choice® Culinary Rosemary (Rosemarinus officianalis ‘Roman Beauty’) has a charming compact and mounding growth habit with a sweet fragrance that makes it a must for a cozy kitchen garden! This water-wise mini shrub is evergreen in Zones 8 – 10. Rosemary prefers full sun and rich, well-drained garden soil. Size at maturity is 12 – 18 inches high by 12 inches wide. 

 

Miss Lemon™ Abelia (Abelia hybrid ‘Hopleys’) will brighten your garden space with cheery, variegated emerald green and creamy white leaves. An abundance of delicate light pink blooms evoke bliss from summer until fall. Miss Lemon Abelia prefers full sun to part shade in well-drained garden soil. Ideal for Zones 6 – 9. Size at maturity is 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide. 

 

Pancake™ Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis ‘Concesarini’ PP24013) is a pint-sized shrub bursting with year-round color that ranges from sage green in warmer seasons to a crisp blue in the chill of winter. This easy-care evergreen requires no pruning to maintain its adorable compact size of 12 – 18 inches high by 2 – 3 feet wide. Pancake Arborvitae prefers full sun in well-drained soil. Ideal for Zones 4 – 8.