The Best Plants for Low-Maintenance Strata Landscaping in Vancouver’s Climate

Strata landscapes across Metro Vancouver need to stay attractive year-round without endless pruning, heavy watering, or expensive upkeep. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by selecting plants that naturally thrive in our coastal climate wet, mild winters and increasingly dry summer without demanding constant attention.

After maintaining hundreds of strata properties across Greater Vancouver, the Urban Forest Landscaping team has identified the most reliable, low maintenance plants for strata gardens. These plants help strata councils and property managers reduce maintenance costs while keeping curb appeal high.

Top Low Maintenance Plants for Vancouver Strata Properties

1. Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Mountain’ or ‘Green Velvet’)

What it’s good for:

Perfect for clean, formal structure borders along walkways, defining entrances, or anchoring garden beds. Works exceptionally well in strata properties that want a tidy, manicured look without frequent shearing.

Why it thrives here:

Boxwood handles Vancouver’s winters easily and tolerates partial shade, which is common in townhouse complexes. It grows slowly and holds its shape naturally.

Low maintenance benefits:

• Evergreen year round

• Minimal pruning (once a year, if that)

• Drought-tolerant once established

2. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla & H. paniculata)

What they’re good for:

Hydrangeas deliver huge blooms with almost no effort, making them ideal focal points in front entrances, shared courtyards, and foundation plantings.

Why they thrive here:

Vancouver’s mild winters and moist soil suit hydrangeas perfectly. They love filtered light abundant throughout strata complexes due to surrounding buildings and trees.

Low maintenance benefits:

• Only require one prune per year

• Very few pests in our region

• Consistent summer blooms that improve property value

3. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)

What it’s good for:

Adds elegant movement and texture to shaded areas along pathways, under trees, beside buildings, or in modern landscape designs.

Why it thrives here:

Hakonechloa prefers cool, moist shade exactly what Vancouver’s climate provides for much of the year.

Low maintenance benefits:

• Naturally forms neat mounds

• No pruning except cutting back in early spring

• Highly resistant to pests and diseases

4. Lavender (Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Munstead’)

What it’s good for:

Ideal for sunny strips along driveways, boulevards, or any strata bed that tends to dry out. Brings fragrance, colour, and pollinators with almost no water.

Why it thrives here:

Lavender loves the increasingly hot, dry summers common across the Lower Mainland it prefers neglect to over-care.

Low maintenance benefits:

Drought-tolerant

Only needs a single annual trim

Stays tidy and compact

5. Ornamental Grasses (Carex, Miscanthus, Pennisetum)

What they’re good for:

Great for modern, architectural looking complexes or to soften large areas with natural texture. Works beautifully in parking lot islands and large beds.

Why they thrive here:

Most ornamental grasses are extremely hardy and tolerate wet winters and dry summers equally well.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Cut back once per year

• No pest problems

• Handles poor soil and irregular watering

6. Rhododendrons & Azaleas

What they’re good for:

Classic Pacific Northwest shrubs ideal for entrances, shady courtyards, or beneath tall conifers. Provide lush evergreen structure and spring flowers.

Why they thrive here:

Rhododendrons evolved in climates very similar to coastal BC cool, wet, and sheltered.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Evergreen with little shaping required

• Long lifespan

• Bloom reliably without special care

7. Skimmia Japonica

What it’s good for:

Perfect for shady entrances, under stairwells, or anywhere that needs a plant that looks tidy all year. Offers fragrance, berries, and evergreen colour.

Why it thrives here:

Skimmia prefers the cool, moist shade that many strata properties naturally provide. It’s slow-growing and incredibly resilient.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Rarely needs pruning

• Resistant to pests

• Holds its shape throughout the year

8. Viburnum Davidii or Viburnum Tinus

What they’re good for:

Excellent backbone shrubs for strata plantings they fill space, stay neat, and look good year-round. Great for privacy screening or perimeter planting.

Why they thrive here:

Viburnums tolerate a wide range of soils, including compacted urban soils, and handle both sun and shade.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Very low pruning requirements

• Evergreen and reliable

• Few issues with insects or disease

9. Heather (Calluna & Erica varieties)

What it’s good for:

Perfect for rockeries, slopes, or exposed areas where other shrubs struggle. Adds colour through fall and winter.

Why it thrives here:

Heathers are built for coastal climates wind, rain, and poor soils don’t bother them.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Drought-tolerant once established

• Evergreen

• Only needs light shearing after flowering

10. Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

What it’s good for:

A BC native shrub ideal for naturalized areas, woodland edges, or difficult spots where you need something that will simply survive and thrive.

Why it thrives here:

Salal is adapted to our coastal forests. It handles deep shade, wet winters, and drought once established.

Low-maintenance benefits:

• Incredibly hardy

• Very few pest issues

• Spreads slowly, filling space without becoming invasive

Need help selecting the right plants for your strata?

Urban Forest Landscaping specializes in low-maintenance, high-impact landscape design and strata garden upgrades across Vancouver.

👉 Contact us for a complimentary site walk-through and planting plan.