If you’re looking to provide extra color in your garden and want the color that will return year after year this list of the 15 Top Flowering Shrubs and Bushes below will help you to achieve your goals. Have a look below and find the beautiful shrubs and bushes that will add wonderful scents and color to your yard.
Weigela
Weigela (Weigila florida) Zones 4 to 9. Weigela is a very beautiful flowering shrub which blooms from early spring through fall. You can plant Weigela in your borders and flower beds. For a compact shrub with bold pink flowers and burgundy fall foliage, try Fine Wine.
Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Weigela comes in a variation of colors and sizes. Some vaieties may need triming. Start in the spring by trimming back any dead wood and continue throughout the the growing season to maintain their shape. Pruning in the fall is not recommended because it may cause you to lose next spring’s flowers.
They grow anywhere from 1 to 6 feet tall. They are quick growers, reaching their full size after just a few seasons. Weigela is drought tolerant, low maintenance, attract birds to your garden and can be used in container gardening.
Planting your Flowering Shrubs
When planting weigela they like to be in full sun for greatest show of springtime flowers. The roots need room to grow, it is best to plant them about 10 feet apart from any other plant so when it is mature the flowering shrub does not get crowded out by other plantings.
French Lilac
French Lilac (Syringe vulgaris) Zones 3 to 8. Blooming lilacs are among the most anticipated sights and scents of spring. A deciduous shrub growing up to 22 feet tall and wide, it’s at its best in small groupings or as a specimen plant.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
French Lilacs can be grown closer together to form a hedge. They prefer a slightly alkaline, well-drained soil. The flowering shrub can be started from seed, but require patience when waiting on blooms.
French Lilacs prefer shady areas, needing only six hours of sunlight daily. They require only occasional watering after the first year. Fertiilize in the spring.
Viburnum
Viburnum (Viburnum spp) Zones 2 to 9. Among the most popular of ornamental flowering shrubs and small trees, viburnum is sought after for three reasons: it’s beautiful, it’s versatile and it’s easy to grow. What’s more, there are three prime features that contribute to the viburnum’s year-round beauty.: the flowers, the leaves and the colorful fruits it produces.
Viburnum are very good for attracting birds to your yard, they are great for cut flowers-providing a wonderful fragrance- and they are low maintenance.
They are deer resistant, drought tolerant, good for privacy and provide slope/erosion control.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Viburnum likes full sun best but will tolerate shade. If planted in the shade be mindful of foliar diseases like black spot.
They prefer to stay dry, not requiring to much water. If pruning do it immediately after flowering. Waiting to long can sacrifice next year’s blooms.
When planting space six to twelve feet apart, depending on the type. flowering shrub can grow to be from 3 to 20 feet high and 3 to 12 feet wide.
To plant viburnum do so in the spring or fall. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball but at least two to three times wider. Add some soil around the bulb, add water then finish filling in the hole with the remaining soil.
Forsythia
Forsythia (Forsythia) Zone 3 to 9. When this shrub blooms, you’ll be certain that warmer weather is on the way. Forsythia is one of the first plants to flower in spring, a time when its bell-shaped golden blossoms are a most welcome sight. A wonderful way to break out of the winter blues.
The beautiful spring flowering shrub also provides colorful fall foliage. The flowering shrub is great for cut flowers and is low maintenance.
This flowering shrub is also deer resistant, good for adding privacy, makes a great groundcover for your yard and helps in slope/erosion control.
The Forsythia flowering shrub grows from 3 feet up to 20 feet high and can get to a width of 4 to 12 feet.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
These flowering shrubs are easy to grow and quite adaptable. They prefer well-drained soil and moist soil although they can handle some drought conditions fairly well once established.
They prefer full sun but can handle part shade, although this will generally cause the flowering shrub to have fewer blooms in the spring.
When planting choose sunny location , then dig a planting hole that is two times wider than the root bulb and the same depth as the root ball. Fill the soil around the root bulb to ground level or slightly above. Water then fill with more soil if needed.
Pruning should be done right after the plant is done blooming. Cut old woody branches at the base of the plant. A harsh Pruning can be done if the plant in unruly by cutting back to just above ground level.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp) Zones 4 to 9. Its showy blooms-available in a wide spectrum of colors- and its preference for partial shade have made this flowering shrub one of the most popular in the country. A natural fit in many settings, the rhododendron looks great in woodland gardens or as a single bush in smaller urban landscapes.
The Rhododendron is deer resistant and provides good privacy. With a wonderful frgrance, this flowering shrub is good for containers as well.
The Rhododendron flowering shrub can reach a height of 10 to 20 feet and can reach a width of up to 25 feet.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
The Rhododendron thrive in moist, well-draining soil. They prefer shade or partial shade but can tolerate some sun. The deciduous varieties can hold up much better to the sun.
Plant Rhododendron in the spring or fall. Plants need acidic soil. Space plants approximately 2 to 6 feet apart. Dig a hole as deep as the root bulb and 2 to 3 times as wide. Put the bulb in the hole then back-fill half way with soil. Add water to settle soil then fill to ground level. Water throughly but do not get the plant water logged. They prefer to
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) Zones 5 to 9. It may be a late bloomer but, as many gardeners know, rose of Sharon is well worth the wait. A member of the hibiscus family, this deciduous shrub bears beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from late summer through mid-autumn.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Deer are attracted to Rose of Sharon so be sure to plant in an area where the deer cannot get to them. Care for the Rose of Sharon flowering shrub is minimal although some pruning care is required.
Rose of Sharon plants reach 10 to 15 feet high and can reach up to 10 feet in width. They thrive in moist, well-draining soil.
The Rose of Sharon flowering shrub prefers full sun to partial shade.
To plant your Rose of Sharon flowering shrub dig a hole as deep as the plant’s original container and 2 to 3 times larger. Place the plant in the hole and back-fill half way. Water the plant then add the rest of the soil. Water again until moist.
Nanking Cherry
Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa) Zones 2 to 7. Hardy and fast-growing, the Nanking cherry produces fragrant white flowers in spring. A larger shrub or small ornamental tree, it grows 6 to 10 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide. After the spring bloom, you’ll notice small fruits, a favorite of many songbirds. Use Nanking cherry in the landscape for a hedge, border or specimen planting.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
The Nanking Cherry flowering shrub prefer full sun for at least 6 hours per day. It prefers well-drained soil but will tolerate drought and can grow in semi-arid conditions.
The fruits ripen in July to August. Fruits can be used in pies and jams or eaten fresh.
Two or more flowering shrubs should be planted within 100 feet of each other for cross-pollination.
The Nanking Cherry can be planted 4 to 5 feet apart to form a hedge.
The shrub attracts birds and other wildlife.
Shrub should be planted as deep as the container it comes in. Place in ground back-fill half way, water then fill in the rest of the way with soil.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp) Zones 4 to 10. The sight of one of these beauties is sure to conjure up memories of Grandma’s garden.
The showy shrub has long been a favorite of gardeners looking for an easy-care plant that flowers even in partial shade. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are perfect for mild climates but usually won’t flower in regions with cold winters. In these areas, try cultivars of sevenbark hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), which produce huge spheres of densely packed white blooms.
Hydrangea can be grown as a tree or a climbing vine but are mostly grown as a flowering shrub. Most bloom from early spring all the way into fall.
Hydrangea make beautiful cut flowers. and can be dried if you like.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Hydrangea do well when planted where they get morning sun and afternoon shade.
The Hydrangea flowering shrub should be planted at least 4 to 6 feet apart. Plant in well-drained soil and do not over water. This can lead to root rot.
Plant your Hydrangea at the same level it was in the container. Do not plant to deeply. When transplanting wait until the plant has become dormant and has lost all of its leaves.(late fall or winter).
Camellia
Camellia (Camellia spp) Zones 6 to 11. When most garden plants are settling in for a well-earned rest, Camellia is just warming up. In fall, this evergreen shows off pink, white, yellow, orange and red blooms that last into winter and even early spring. With varieties ranging from 3 to 20 feet high, Camellia does best in a partly shady spot that’s protected from hot, dry air and cold, strong winds.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Spring planting is best to the root system has time to establish before winter. Regular watering is critical during the first year.
These flowering shrubs are deer resistant and come in a variety of colors, forms, and sizes.
When planting Camellia dig a hole as deep as the container the plant came in and twice as wide as the plant. Place plant in the ground and back-fill half way. Then water the plant before filling soil in to ground level.
When watering, thoroughly moist the entire root ball then let the top of the root ball dry slightly before watering again.
Prune Camillias right after blooming has ended. Remove dead or weak wood and thin out growth when needed.
Daphne
Daphne (Daphne spp) Zones 4 to 10. Here’s a flowering shrub that almost smells better than it looks-almost. Daphne is loved for the intoxicating scent of its delicate white, pink and purple blooms.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Its compact habit and myriad varieties make it versatile, so try it as a ground cover, specimen or foundation planting.
All parts of Daphnes are poisonous,especially the berries.
Some species may grow up to 5 feet high. They flower in late winter or early spring.
Bluebeard Shrub
Bluebeard Shrub (Caryopteris varieties) Zones 5 to 9. This shrub is a treat in late summer when it bears its airy clusters of beautiful blue blooms. It’s extra-easy to grow, too, laughing off all but the worst heat and drought. As a bonus, birds and butterflies love it. Bluebeard Shrub makes a great cut flower, too.
Planting and Care for your Flowerig Shrubs
Bluebeard Shrub can grow up to 4 feet tall.
The Bluebeard flowering shrub is a hardy plant that is not attractive to deer or rodant.
The shrub does best if planted in slightly acidic soil that is well-drained. They prefer full sun and receive at least 6 hours of direct sun.
Bluebeard flowering shrubs should be cut back to to about 3 inches above ground level to stimulate heavy branch growth in the spring.
They are deer resistant and drought tolerant. They are also great for attracting birds and are very fragrant flowering shrubs.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) Zones 5 to 9. The butterfly bush is like a summer-flowering lilac. The blooms appear in similar colors—purple, lavender, blue, pink, and white—and are deliciously fragrant. Happily, butterfly bushes offer a longer bloom season than lilacs: from summer into autumn, especially if you pinch off the old flower clusters as they start to fade.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
The Butterfly bush can grow up to 10 feet tall or more and up to 8 feet wide.. These flowering Shrubs require full sun and well-drained soil.
They are deer resistant and drought tolerant, attracting butterflies, birds and bees to your garden. The Butterfly Bush are very low maintenance flowering shrubs.
When planting they should be as deep as the container they are in and twice as wide. Place plant in hole and back-fill half way, water then fill up the rest of the way with soil.
Carolina Allspice
Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus) Zones 5 to 9. This underused gem offers beautiful deep red flowers in summer. These flowers have a powerful, spicy fragrance you can enjoy throughout the yard. It’s also a tough, low-care plant native to areas of North America. The Carolina Allspice can grow up to 8 feet tall. They require full sun to partial shade and require well-drained soil.
The flowering shrub is deer resistant probably because of its clove-scent foliage.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Carolina Allspice make great cut flowers and can be used in container gardening. This shrub is also very low maintenance.
Carolina Allspice can be grown from seed, started indoors then transplanted outside in warmer weather.
Oleander
Oleander (Nerium oleander) Zones 10-11. The Oleander is an exceptionally easy-care subtropical shrub, oleander offers summertime flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, lilac, yellow, and white. In fact, it’s so foolproof that in many areas it’s grown along the sides of highways in warm-weather areas.
Oleander: Can it Harm You!
Note, though: Oleander is extremely poisonous. Use caution if growing around children or pets. For a list of poison plants see here at Wikipedia.com
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
It can grow up to 10 feet tall depending on the species. Oleander require full sun and well-drained soil.
Oleander are deer resistant and drought tolerant. Provide a good amount of privacy. They also help with slope/erosion control.
These flowering shrub is very fragrant and grows well in containers. They are low maintenance.
Potentilla
Potentilla (Potentilla fruticose) Zones 3 to 7. Potentilla is one of the most common, and easiest shrubs to grow.
It starts blooming in late spring and continues through autumn, bearing cheery yellow, orange, red, or white flowers that look like a single rose (which attracts butterflies). It has attractively divided foliage.
Planting and Care for your Flowering Shrubs
Potentilla can grow up to 3 feet tall and requires full sun and well-drained soil.
They are drought tolerant and great for ground cover as well as slope/erosion control. This flowering shrub is a low maintenance that can be started from a cutting.
In Conclusion
My hope is that you found this information valuable and can plant and grow the flower garden of your dreams.
If you are looking to add blooming plants that will provide color all year then please check out my post below, you will find a list of 15 flowers that bloom from early spring through late fall.
https://daisies-n-dollars.com/15-flowers-3-season-garden/
Until next time,
jackie@daisies-n-dollars.com