Flowering Shrub Guide

Shrubs decorate the garden.

Flowering shrubs are the backbone of the garden. They add color and interest to the landscape. Consider these top flowering shrubs.

Azalea

Azaleas come in a variety of vibrant colors.

This colorful rhododendron relative lights up the garden each spring. Bloom colors include white, yellow, orange, pink and red. Azalea grows 2 to 15 feet high and requires full sun to partial shade.

Camellia

Camellias create a show in the winter garden.

The rose-like blooms of this popular shrub appear in the fall, winter or early spring. Flower colors are generally pink, red and white. Camellias reach 3 to 20 feet high. They require partial shade and protection from strong winds.

Forsythia

Forsythias herald the arrival of spring.

Forsythia is one of the first shrubs to flower each spring. Its bell-shaped blooms are yellow and it grows 1 to 10 feet high in full sun. After forsythias reach 3 years of age, prune out old growth to encourage blooming the following year.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas do well in shady areas of the garden.

The showy pom pom-like flowers of this shrub bloom each summer in pink, white or blue. Hydrangeas grow 6 to 22 feet high and spread 8 feet. They require partial shade.

Lilac

Lilacs scent the spring and summer air.

Lilacs perfume the garden every late spring and summer. Their flower clusters are usually lavender in color, but there are also white, pink, magenta and blue blooms. Lilacs grow in full sun and reach 4 to 30 feet high and 5 to 22 feet wide.

References

• Birds & Blooms: Top 10 Flowering Shrubs
• University of Missouri: Selecting Landscape Plants-Deciduous Shrubs

Resources

• University of Illinois: Beautiful Flowering Shrubs for Shade