Flowering shrubs serve a multitude of purposes. Incorporating them into your landscape design enhances your property’s curb appeal but also attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Some can even help ward off unwanted wildlife. And of course, they can add a splash of color amid a sea of greenery. Here’s a look at eight flowering shrubs that will make your garden pop.
Lilac
Lilacs can be a great addition to your landscaping because of their beauty and soft, iconic fragrance. The shrubs’ fragrant flowers are heart-shaped and stand out against their dark green leaves. Because a tree can grow between 8 and 15 feet tall, lilacs can also be used for screening or hedges for privacy or to help keep unwanted wildlife out of your yard.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Color: Purple, lavender, magenta, pink or white flowers
Sun tolerance: Full sun
Drought tolerance: High
Soil type: Slightly acidic
Prune: Immediately after flowering
Water: Once every 10 to 14 days from spring until blooming ends
When to plant: Late fall
Bloom time: Two weeks from mid- to late spring. However, when grown together, early-, mid- and late-season lilacs bloom for at least six weeks.
Daphne
Like the lilac, Daphne is known for its ethereal fragrance and bright flowers. Daphne needs to be planted in well-drained soil to survive, so you may have greater success planting it in a raised bed. It grows to be 2 to 3 feet by 3 to 5 feet. It’s also deer resistant.
USDA hardiness zone: 6-10
Color: Lavender, pink or white flowers
Sun tolerance: Full sun with afternoon shade in warmer climates
Drought tolerance: Once established, high
Soil type: Slightly acidic
Prune: Lightly, if needed after blooming
Water: In cool weather, water once a month. As the weather warms up, water your Daphne every two to three weeks.
When to plant: Spring to early fall
Bloom time: Spring through fall
Rhododendron or azaleas
Rhododendrons are prized for their spring blooms, and many varieties are evergreen, so they can be enjoyed all year round. The genus includes 1,024 species of woody plants. They come in all shapes and sizes and can grow to between 5 and 20 feet tall.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Color: Shades of pink, purple, crimson, yellow and white flowers
Sun tolerance: Partial to full sun
Drought tolerance: High once established
Soil type: Acidic
Prune: Lightly after flowering or to remove dead wood at any time.
Water: Twice a week during its first growing season. Once they’re established, water them during dry periods.
When to plant: Fall or early spring
Bloom time: Spring to mid-summer
Hydrangeas
No matter where you live, there’s a hydrangea shrub that will grow in your environment and in nearly any color. Plus, these perennials are versatile – because they can grow up to 15 feet, hydrangeas can be planted as hedges, accents or even in containers. But watering is key here: Hydrangeas are thirsty. The bushy blooms also make excellent dried flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Color: Pink, blue, shades of purple, green and white flowers
Sun tolerance: Partial to full sun
Drought tolerance: Poor
Soil type: Acidic
Prune: Immediate after flowering stops in the summer
Water: Three times a week
When to plant: Fall, early spring.
Bloom time: Mid-spring to early fall
Spirea
Looking for something hardy with prolific blooms? Spirea may be your answer. This multi-season shrub doesn’t take much maintenance to keep them happy once it’s established and its blooms range in color. They can grow from 1.5 to 8 feet tall.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Color: Pink, purple, red or white flowers with gold, chartreuse or deep green foliage
Sun tolerance: Full sun
Drought tolerance: High
Soil type: Slightly acidic
Prune: After the first flowering
Water: Once a week
When to plant: Fall
Bloom time: Late spring to summer
Caryopteris
For a pop of blue, try Caryopteris. This woody flowering plant can be planted in a line for a shrub border, or potted in containers as they grow between 2 and four feet tall. Pollinators love them, too. They’re a top choice for butterfly gardens.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-10
Color: Deep blue flowers
Sun tolerance: Full sun
Drought tolerance: High
Soil type: Neutral Ph
Prune: Early spring
Water: If the ground is dry. In other cases, Caryopteris rarely needs water.
When to plant: Fall or spring
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Camellia
Camellias look a lot like shrub roses, but they’re known for being low maintenance. The flowering shrubs can survive in temperatures as low as 10°F and as high as 90°F. And they can get big. Camellias can grow up to 25 feet, but most stay between 6 and 12 feet.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10
Color: Shades of pink and red, white flowers
Sun tolerance: Full sun to part shade
Drought tolerance: Mostly, however, they will need ample water during their first year.
Soil type: Somewhat acidic
Prune: After they flower each year
Water: Deeply, twice a week
When to plant: Fall or early spring
Bloom time: December to January, sometimes as early as October.
Forsythia
Even with a short bloom time, consider Forsythia shrubs for an intense pop of color. Bright yellow flowers adorn their branches and stun like rays of sunshine when in full bloom. It’s a fast-growing shrub, too, growing between 1 and 20 feet tall and between 3 and 10 feet wide, depending on the variety.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Color: Yellow flowers
Sun tolerance: Full sun to partial shade
Drought tolerance: High
Soil type: Neutral to slightly acidic
Prune: After the blooms fade
Water: Once a week
When to plant: Late fall or early spring
Bloom time: Late March to mid-April
FAQ
A. Camellia and rhododendron are up there, due to their hardiness and flexibility in many zones. Others include Golden Bell Forsythia, lilacs and butterfly bush.
A. Hydrangeas can be grown in nearly any zone and they bloom for nearly three seasons – mid-spring to early fall. Other long-blooming shrubs include boomerang lilacs and rhododendron.
The final word
The final word while choosing shrubs for your yard is easy, planting them can be a bit more challenging. If you’d prefer to leave the dirty work to someone else, contact our Lawn Love landscaping professionals.
Main photo credit: Peter H | Pixabay
