Shrubs are key elements in many landscapes, providing structure, color, and year-round interest. These versatile plants come in various shapes, sizes, and textures, suitable for different garden styles and purposes. From flowering varieties to evergreens, shrubs can serve as foundation plantings, privacy screens, or focal points in your outdoor space.
Many shrubs are relatively low-maintenance once established and can adapt to various soil types and light conditions. Some also offer additional benefits like attracting pollinators or providing food and shelter for wildlife.
Here are 12 of the best shrubs to consider for your landscape, each chosen for its unique characteristics and garden performance.
Boxwood
Boxwood’s relatively slow growth rate makes it easy to shape and maintain as a topiary or hedge, which is one of its appealing qualities. In order to give the roots time to grow during chilly weather, planting usually takes place in the spring or fall. In addition, boxwood is more disease-resistant than other shrubs, especially when it comes to common garden diseases like blight, which makes it a dependable option for landscapers.
Hydrangea
Depending on the pH of the soil, hydrangeas exhibit a range of seasonal variations in the color of their blooms, which usually shift from blue to pink. They have a generally moderate resistance to disease, making them susceptible to common conditions including leaf spots and powdery mildew. Popular kinds are ‘Limelight,’ valued for its sturdy and upright growth habit, and ‘Endless Summer,’ recognized for its recurrent flowering.
Lavender
Planting lavender in the spring, following the last frost, gives it plenty of time to establish itself before summer arrives. It likes sandy or loamy soil that drains well and has a pH range of neutral to slightly alkaline. Lavender can take several years to reach full maturity due of its slow to moderate growth rate, but with the right care, it can live for many years.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is usually planted in the chilly months of the spring or fall. For best growth, this plant needs soil that is acidic, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. Remarkable cultivars, such ‘PJM’ and ‘Purple Passion,’ are acknowledged for their resilience to low temperatures. The ‘PJM’ variety offers lavender-pink blooms, while ‘Purple Passion’ produces large, purple flowers.
Holly
Holly is a common plant in many landscapes; it requires little pruning and constant watering to grow. The plant is a seasonal favorite for festive decorations since it displays vibrant red berries in the winter. It does not require very specific soil conditions; it can thrive in acidic, well-draining soil. Well-known cultivars, such as the English and American hollies, are frequently selected for their unique foliage and fruit yield.
Forsythia
Because forsythia grows quickly, it’s a great plant for bordering gardens or growing hedges quickly. Early spring or late autumn are the best times to plant shrubs since they will have had time to establish before harsh weather. Forsythia, which is well-known for its exceptional resilience to disease, may flourish without the frequent use of fungicides or pesticides, requiring less maintenance but still producing a dependable pop of yellow in the early spring.
Azalea
Azaleas need well-drained, moist soil to grow properly, and they prefer acidic soil that is high in organic content. Early spring or fall are the best seasons to plant because of the milder weather and the opportunity for the plant to grow roots in its new surroundings. Popular kinds include “Fashion,” which has coral flowers and evergreen foliage that give visual interest all year long, and “Girard’s Fuchsia,” which is recognized for its pinkish-purple blossoms.
Spirea
Spirea is well-known for its colorful and seasonal variations. It frequently displays brilliant autumn foliage and clusters of white or pink blooms in the spring and early summer. This shrub grows at a modest pace, taking a few years to reach full size on average. Spirea is best planted in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler and the roots have time to grow before inclement weather arrives.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bushes are renowned for growing quickly and adapting to a variety of conditions. It establishes swiftly and best when planted in the spring, when it is most noticeable for attracting butterflies. Well-known cultivars such as ‘Black Knight’ have deep purple flowers, while ‘Nanho Blue’ yields light blue flowers. While it can tolerate unfavorable conditions, it prefers fertile, loamy soil that is well-drained. These bushes have the potential to be the centerpiece of any landscape when given the proper planting circumstances.
Barberry
When the weather is mild, barberry bushes are typically planted in the spring or fall. These plants are relatively easy to maintain and are well-known for their resistance to a variety of illnesses. The ‘Rose Glow’ variety offers gardeners a new look with its pink and white variegation along with its red leaf, while the ‘Crimson Pygmy’ variation is well-known for its petite size and dark red leaves.
Juniper
Because of its remarkable resilience to disease, juniper is frequently chosen as a low-maintenance choice for a variety of garden environments. Juniper should ideally be planted in the early spring or fall to give it time to establish roots before severe weather arrives. Though well-drained soil is essential to avoid root problems, it grows well in a variety of soil types. Well-known cultivars like as ‘Blue Star’ and ‘Skyrocket’ exhibit distinct growth patterns and hues, contributing to the diversity of landscape designs.
Rosemary
When the earth is warm and pliable, spring or fall are the best seasons to plant rosemary. It requires well-drained soil with a slightly alkaline pH for optimal growth. Because of their sluggish growth rate, which can take years for them to reach full size, rosemary bushes are a favorite choice among gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, more permanent plant for their herb gardens.