Chardonnay Pearls is a small deutzia grown as much for its foliage as its flowers: bright chartreuse-gold leaves that light up a border all season. In spring, pearl-like buds line the stems and pop open into small white starry flowers against that gold backdrop. It stays a tidy 2 to 3 feet.

The foliage color is strongest with morning sun; hot afternoon sun can bleach it, so part sun is the sweet spot here. It is not picky about soil as long as it drains, and deer usually pass it by. Prune right after flowering if it needs shaping.