Shrubs

Derek Fell
Berberis thunbergii

• Evergreen or deciduous
• Climate zones vary
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular to moderate watering

Their ability to endure extremes of soil and weather makes the barberries, especially the deciduous sorts, good choices for harsh climates. Branches are spiny — one reason barberries are favored for barrier hedges. The plants described below have small leaves and bear yellow spring flowers followed by autumn berries.

Barberries grow vigorously and need regular pruning to keep inner branches from dying. They prosper in ordinary garden soil and will tolerate heat and dryness.

Wintergreen barberry (B. julianae). Zones 4-24, 28-32. Evergreen. A dense, very thorny green shrub to 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, wintergreen barberry is often grown as a barrier hedge. Berries are blue black. This species is hardy to 0 °F/-18 °C, but there's some cold damage to leaves at low temperatures (unless they are protected by snow). A dwarf form, 'Nana', grows just 4 feet high and wide.

Japanese barberry (B. thunbergii). Zones 1-24, 28-41. Deciduous. Often grown for colorful fall foliage; used as either a specimen plant or a barrier hedge. The species grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Its dark green leaves turn yellow, orange, and red in fall; autumn berries are red and beadlike. Popular cultivars include 'Atropurpurea'(same size as the species) and 'Atropurpurea Nana' ('Crimson Pygmy'), to 1 ½ feet tall and 2 ½ feet wide; both have red foliage that turns gold in fall.

Jack McDowell
Camellia japonica

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 4-9, 12, 14-24, 26-31 and warmer parts of 32 for most; hardy types throughout 32
• Partial shade
• Regular to moderate watering

Camellias belong on the list of best-loved shrubs in North America. Rounded, shiny green leaves are 2 to 3 inches long; delicate but showy flowers in white and many shades of pink and red reach 3 to 5 inches across.

Buy and plant camellias while they're in bloom. You'll be able to choose just the flower type and color you want — and strange as it may seem, blooming plants are also at their most dormant stage, so they'll suffer minimal stress from planting.

Camellias prefer well-amended, slightly acid soil. Their roots grow near the surface, so it's better not to set out other plants beneath them or cultivate the soil near them. Apply a 2-inch-thick mulch around the plants to protect roots from extremes of heat and cold. Feed with specially formulated camellia fertilizer, following package directions for timing and amounts.

Prune camellias immediately after bloom, making thinning cuts so flowers aren't hidden and growth doesn't become too dense. You can also make heading cuts to keep shrubs from getting too lanky on top. Camellia petal blight, evidenced by brown spots on flowers, is a disease unique to these plants. Control it by picking off infected blooms and buds, clearing all infected petals from the ground, and removing and replacing mulch.

C. japonica. The most familiar camellias are cultivars of C. japonica. For almost continuous bloom, plant more than one kind. Some start blooming in November, others in early spring; still others flower from midspring until May. Flowers may be single, semidouble, or double. Although they can attain great size with age, most grow 6 to 12 feet tall and wide.

C. oleifera. In recent years, hybrids of C. oleifera have given gardeners in colder zones a wider choice of camellia flower colors and sizes: before the introduction of these plants, small-flowered species camellias were the only types able to withstand the colder temperatures. Given some shelter from winter sun and wind, C. oleifera hybrids tolerate lows of -15 °F/-26 °C.

C. sasanqua. Gardeners living in mild-winter climates can include hybrids of C. sasanqua among their camellias. Most bloom from late autumn through winter, bearing single to semidouble blossoms. They tolerate more sun than C. japonica and have more pliable stems, making them good candidates for training against a wall. They range from 1 ½ to 15 feet tall, with equal spread.

Doug Wilson
Potentilla fruticosa

• Semievergreen
• Zones 1-21, 32 (cooler parts), 34-45
• Full sun or partial shade
• Moderate watering

Its manageable size, long bloom season, and adaptability to many climates make cinquefoil one of the more popular deciduous shrubs. From summer to fall, branches are covered with 1-inch single flowers in white, yellow, or dark reddish orange. You'll find a dozen or more named cultivars with various blossom colors and heights of 1, 2, 3, or 4 feet; spread is slightly less than height in each case. Narrowly oval, green to gray-green leaves that reach less than an inch long clothe the random-growing, somewhat stiff branches.

Growth rate varies by cultivar; initial growth is often rapid, tapering off to a more moderate pace.

Cinquefoil grows best in well-drained soil. It prefers sun but needs some afternoon shade in the warmest regions. Prune each year after bloom to remove crossing, damaged, and older branches. To keep plants compact, you can cut them to the ground every few years as dormancy is ending in late winter.

Claire Curran
Pyracantha

• Semievergreen
• Zones vary
• Full sun or partial shade
• Moderate watering

Grown for its bright red, orange, or yellow fruits and its deep green foliage, fast-growing firethorn ranks high on the list of popular shrubs. All its forms have small, glossy leaves, and most have needlelike thorns; creamy white spring blossoms are followed by thick clusters of pea-size berries that provide vivid color in fall and winter and attract birds. Limber branches make firethorn a good candidate for growing against a fence, mounding over uneven terrain, or espaliering. Cold resistance varies, so purchase plants locally or ask about hardiness if you're buying by mail.

Jerry Pavia
Sheared boxwood (Buxus) makes a good low edging for beds of ornamentals.

FORMAL HEDGES

Click here for 8 shrub varieties suitable for shaping and clipping, plus growing tips and care essentials

FORSYTHIA, GOLDEN BELLS (Forsythia x intermedia)

• Deciduous
• Climate zones 2-16, 18, 19, 30-41
• Full sun
• Regular to moderate watering

Saxon Holt
Popular Forsythia x intermedia is one of the first shrubs to flower in the spring.

Forsythia thrives in less-than-ideal conditions, tolerating poor soils and cold winters. (In the coldest zones, plant 'Northern Sun' or 'Meadowlark', with flower buds hardy to -25 °F/-32 °C.) After bloom ends in spring, prune tattered shoots to ground level; you can remove up to a third of the plant's wood each year.

Claire Curran
Abelia grandiflora

• Evergreen or semievergreen
• Climate zones 4-24, 28-35
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular watering

This mounding, arching shrub grows 6 to 8 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide. Oval, glossy, ½- to 1-inch leaves often turn dark maroon in winter in milder zones; where winters are colder, some leaves drop. The main attraction appears from early summer through fall — clusters of tubular flowers in pure white or pink-tinged white.

Glossy abelia grows best in sun but tolerates some shade. It does well in regular soil. Stems freeze at 0 °F/-18 °C, but plants usually recover to bloom the same year, though they reach just 10 to 15 inches (they'll attain normal size after several seasons). Shearing and heading ruin this shrub's graceful shape; to prune, selectively cut out some branches at ground level.

Claire Curran
Nandina domestica

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 4-33
• Full sun, partial shade, or full shade
• Regular watering

Fine-textured, narrow leaflets on lightly branched, canelike stems give this shrub the look of bamboo. It grows slowly to 6 to 8 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide, with an upright habit that makes it a fine choice for narrow areas or for containers. It's also a good informal hedge. The leaves often turn from green to vivid scarlet during fall and winter. Small, creamy white spring flowers are followed by red berries that last from fall into the next spring. Because not all plants bloom and fruit equally well, buy them when either flowers or berries are present, choosing those that are heavily laden.

Heavenly bamboo does well in sun or shade, but fall color is more pronounced on plants grown in the sun. It prefers well-amended garden soil but will tolerate poorer soils. To control height, prune individual tall stems to the ground in spring; also cut any tattered stems to the ground.

Richard Shiell
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis'

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 4-6, 15-17, 32-34, 36-41
• Full sun or partial shade
• Moderate watering

Of the many available Hinoki cypress cultivars, 'Gracilis' and 'Nana Gracilis' are the favorites of many gardeners. Both are deep green, with flat, feathery-looking foliage sprays. Thanks to their narrow habit, they provide a contrast in form to many other shrubs — and they add year-round greenery to the garden without taking up much space. 'Gracilis' can reach 20 feet high, 5 feet wide. 'Nana Gracilis' grows to 5 feet tall and just 1 ½ feet wide; it's good in rock gardens, containers, or wherever a low-growing conifer is useful. Similar to 'Nana Gracilis' in size and shape is 'Nana Aurea', with brilliant yellow foliage.

These plants grow slowly, so purchase them in 15- or 5-gallon containers. They prefer sun but will take partial shade. Well-amended, well-drained soil is best, but ordinary garden soil will do. In the first year or two after planting, you may need to make some thinning cuts to direct growth; otherwise, leave plants unpruned.

Jerry Pavia
Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 4-24, 28-33
• Partial to full shade
• Moderate watering

Valued for its ability to thrive in deep shade, Japanese aucuba reaches 6 to 10 feet tall, 5 to 8 feet wide; tooth-edged leaves are 3 to 8 inches long. The solid green form is attractive, but many prefer the yellow-and-green cultivars. Among these, the widely planted 'Variegata', commonly called gold dust plant, has green leaves speckled in yellow. All forms can be grown in containers to decorate a shady patio or deck. If both male and female plants are present, small maroon flowers in spring will be followed by red berries in fall and winter.

While it prefers a shady location, Japanese aucuba will tolerate some morning or filtered sun. It has no special soil requirements. Prune in late winter or early spring; make heading cuts to control form, thinning cuts back to a main branch to lessen density.

Saxon Holt
Syringa vulgaris

• Deciduous
• Climate zones vary
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular watering

These multistemmed shrubs are cherished for the showy, usually fragrant flowers that cluster at their stem tips. While their foliage and overall appearance are somewhat less than striking, many gardeners consider the bland out-of-bloom looks a small price to pay for the blossoms. Be patient when you buy a lilac: plants usually don't bloom until they reach 2 to 5 years old.

Lilacs do best in climates with winter chill, since they need cold to set blossoms. They prefer sun but need some shade where summers are hot. Give them regular water and well-drained, well-amended, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. If soil is acid, adjust the pH before planting.

Rejuvenate old, overgrown plants by cutting a few of the oldest stems to the ground each year. Prune to shape during bloom, cutting currently flowering or spent stems back to a main branch.

S. patula 'Miss Kim'. Zones 1-9, 14-16, 32-43. Several smaller species lilacs are gaining popularity; S. patula 'Miss Kim' is one of the most widely grown. It stays at about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide for many years. Flowers are pale lavender blue and very fragrant; dark green leaves turn purple in fall.

S. vulgaris. Zones 1-11, 14, 32-45. This species and its hybrids are among the most fragrant of all lilacs. The species eventually reaches a height of 20 feet, with nearly equal spread. Flowers are pinkish lavender, bluish lavender, or white. Over the years, many hundreds of varieties (often called French hybrids) have been developed from S. vulgaris; they vary in form and size and bear flowers in pink, lavender, purple, wine red, or white.

Note: If you live in a warm-winter climate and can't get lilacs to bloom, choose one of the Descanso Hybrids of S. vulgaris. Developed in Southern California, these are especially well suited to winters with little or no frost.

Claire Curran
Philadelphus coronarius

• Deciduous
• Climate zones 2-17, 30-41
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular to moderate watering

Like sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans), mock orange is a favorite of many gardeners for its sweet-scented blossoms. A fast-growing shrub with arching, fountainlike form, it reaches 10 feet tall and wide and fits especially well in corners. Oval, pale green, 1 ½- to 4-inch-long leaves emerge in early spring; showy white, 1- to 4-inch, single or double blooms follow in early summer. 'Minnesota Snowflake' is a 6- to 8-footer that survives colder winters (reported hardiness to -30 °F/-34 °C); a smaller cultivar of this hybrid is 'Miniature Snowflake', to 3 feet tall and broad.

Give mock orange partial shade in the warmest areas. It tolerates ordinary garden soil but must have good drainage. After bloom is over, thin and neaten plants by cutting older, tattered stems to the ground. To rejuvenate an entire plant, cut it to the ground in early spring, before leaves appear.

Saxon Holt
Kalmia latifolia

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 3-7, 16, 17, 28 (Northermost Florida), 31-41
• Partial shade; some sun where summers are cool
• Regular watering

A favorite since colonial times, this East Coast native is a slow grower (to an eventual 10 feet tall and broad) that makes a good underplanting for taller deciduous trees. Flowers, each shaped like a pendent chalice with five starlike points, come in clusters to 5 inches across. The species has medium pink blooms; cultivars offer colors ranging from pale pink to dark rose. Leathery, 2- to 4-inch, elongated oval leaves turn from deep green to greenish gold in winter.

Mountain laurel thrives in conditions suitable for rhododendrons, though it will accept more sun where summers are cool. Give it moist, acid soil well amended with organic matter; spread a 2-inch-thick organic mulch around plants each spring. To ensure a good flower show the next year, pinch off spent blossoms after the bloom season is over.

Note: Leaves and flowers of mountain laurel are toxic if ingested.

MUGHO PINE (Pinus mugo mugo)

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 1-11, 14-24, 32-45
• Full sun
• Regular to little watering

Also called dwarf mountain pine, this little conifer eventually achieves a height and width of 4 feet, with branching, upright stems evenly covered in 2-inch-long needles of a deep, dark true green. Thanks to its low growth, mugho pine can be used at the front of a border or anywhere you want year-round greenery in conifer form. Because it grows very slowly, start with a plant in a 15- or 5-gallon container.

Mugho pine does not need special soil; in nature, it often grows in slightly rocky areas with shallow topsoil. It does require good drainage, however. Roots grow near the surface; cover soil with a 2-inch-thick mulch to protect them. It performs best if left to grow naturally, so pick a plant with a pleasingly rounded form rather than trying to shape it later through pruning.

Marion Brenner
Nerium oleander

• Evergreen
• Zones 8-16, 18-31
• Full sun
• Regular to little watering

This extremely tough shrub thrives in areas with fairly mild winters (lows to 15 °F/-9 °C) and warm to hot summers. Flowers in bright shades of red, pink, and salmon, as well as in white and yellow shades, appear in clusters at stem tips and bloom throughout much of the year; some varieties bear fragrant blooms. Narrow, glossy dark green leaves grow 4 to 12 inches long. The plant grows rapidly to form a rounded mound to 6 to 12 feet tall and wide. Smaller oleanders — to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide — are also sold.

Oleander stands up to difficult growing conditions, including heat, drought, alkaline soil, and wind. It's often used for screens, windbreaks, or borders along roads or driveways. It's a good large container plant and can be pruned to grow as a single-stemmed standard, with branches emerging from the trunk about 5 feet above the ground.

Prune oleander regularly by removing older stems to the ground; if unpruned, plants become too dense, resulting in thinner foliage and fewer flowers. To reduce height, pinch out individual stem tips.

Note: All parts of oleander are toxic if ingested. Smoke from burning branches and leaves is also toxic if inhaled, so do not burn oleander prunings.

Jerry Pavia
Pieris japonica

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 3-9, 14-17, 31-35, 37
• Partial to full shade
• Regular watering

A useful shrub for shady parts of the garden, pieris is often grown under taller broad-leafed evergreen trees. Most striking when it is adorned with white, pink, or nearly red flowers in late winter to early spring, it stays attractive throughout the year thanks to its glossy dark green foliage. Since it is taller than it is wide (to an eventual 9 by 6 feet), it's a suitable choice for somewhat narrow spaces. It grows slowly, so start with plants in 15- or 5-gallon containers.

Flowers of all pieris resemble lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria), hence the common name.

Give moist, well-drained, acid soil rich in humus. Attractive shape and lush appearance make pieris a good companion for rhododendrons or azaleas, which sometimes have less desirable leaf coloration and leggy growth. Prune by pinching off dead flowers.

Note: Leaves and flowers of pieris are toxic if ingested.

Saxon Holt
Rhododendron

• Evergreen or deciduous
• Climate zones 4-6, 15-17, 34, 37 and 39 for best performance
• Light shade
• Regular watering

Both azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the same genus: Rhododendron. The group as a whole includes over 800 species, and countless cultivars have been developed from these.

These shrubs have exacting requirements. They prefer light shade or filtered sun (a good planting location is the area underneath high-branching trees). They need acid soil that's well drained but constantly moist; to meet this need, you must either add large quantities of organic matter to planting beds or — if the native soil can't be adequately amended — grow plants in containers. As a rule, they must have moist air and don't thrive in hot, dry climates, though some handle such conditions better than others. They perform most consistently in the zones listed at left, but some cultivars and species also thrive in other areas; for best success, consult local nurseries or your Cooperative Extension Office for advice on rhododendrons and azaleas that do well in your region.

Deadhead shrubs after bloom to ensure a good flower show the next year. Individual stems may be cut back to main branches in late winter if plants are becoming too dense or too tall.

Rhododendrons. The most popular rhododendrons are medium to large evergreen shrubs with rounded clusters (trusses) of blooms in white and many shades of pink, red, purple, yellow, salmon, and peach. Elliptical, leathery, deep green leaves reach 5 inches or longer. Your selection will depend on your climate (some rhododendrons are hardier to cold than others), the flower color appropriate for your garden, and the plant's ultimate size. The most widely available rhododendrons grow slowly to 6 to 8 feet high and wide, but you'll also find choices in the 3-foot range. A common mistake is to plant a rhododendron too close to a house or walkway, where it soon outgrows the space.

Azaleas. The many azaleas include both evergreen and deciduous kinds; all of them typically bear small (1- to 2-inch), pointed-oval leaves. Deciduous sorts are typically showier than evergreen types, and they're less particular about soil as well. They bear masses of blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and flame red; you'll also find some bicolors. Fall foliage is often brilliantly striking, ranging from orange red to plain red to maroon.

Norman A. Plate
'Sunset Celebration'

SHRUB ROSES

Click here to see 7 favorite varieties, plus planting and pruning instructions.

Charles Mann
Spiraea japonica

• Semievergreen
• Zones vary
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular watering

Two distinctly different sorts of these easy-to-grow shrubs are commonly planted. The bridal wreath type has long, arching branches that grow from the ground to form a vaselike shrub; in early spring, branches are covered with small white flowers. Also popular are summer-blooming spiraeas that form smaller, rounded mounds and bear white or pink blossoms, often in flat-topped clusters. Both types are unfussy about soil and moderately fast growing. In the warmest areas, they appreciate afternoon shade.

S. japonica. Zones 2-9, 14-21, 32-41. Ranging from 1 ½ to 4 ½ feet tall depending on variety, this spiraea has a naturally mounding form and a long summer bloom season. Oval, serrated leaves range from 1 ½ to 4 inches long. One widely grown form is 'Shirobana', a neat 2- to 3-foot mound with flower clusters in white, light pink, and deep rose — all on the same plant.

Prune S. japonica and its varieties by removing older branches to ground level in late winter to early spring, just before the dormant period ends.

S. vanhouttei. Zones 1-11, 14-21, 29-43. This is the classic bridal wreath spiraea. From mid- to late spring through early summer, the leafy branches are covered with circular, flattened clusters of small (½-inch) single white blossoms. Dark green, slightly oval, serrated leaves grow 1 to 1 ½ inches long. Allow plenty of room for this shrub; it can reach 6 to 8 feet tall and just as wide. To prune, cut old or oversized branches back to the ground after bloom is over.

Derek Fell
Osmanthus fragrans

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 8, 9, 12-24, 26 (Northern part), 28-31
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular to moderate watering

Though it naturally forms a mound, this background shrub can be pruned to grow upright where space is limited. It is favored by many for the intense fragrance of its tiny white flowers; just one or two plants can scent the entire garden for months (bloom is heaviest in spring and early summer). Leaves are glossy green, pointed ovals to 4 inches long. Sweet olive grows moderately fast, reaching 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide (if not pruned) in just a few years. With age, it can reach 20 feet. Cold-winter gardeners will have best success with the hybrid O. fortunei, which has a slightly wider range than O. fragrans (Zones 5-10, 14-24, 28, 31, and warmer parts of 32).

Sweet olive is an easy-care plant that performs well in all soil types. It enjoys sun but appreciates afternoon shade in the warmest zones. Pinch out stem tips after bloom to increase bushiness. Where space is limited, stems can be cut back to main branches or to the ground.

Claire Curran
Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata'

• Evergreen
• Climate zones 8-31
• Full sun or partial shade
• Regular to moderate watering

Tobira is a dependable background or low foreground shrub that requires little attention and is widely planted in warm-winter zones. It grows at a moderate rate, attaining full size in just a few years. The species reaches 10 to 15 feet high with a spread of 8 to 10 feet; equally popular is 'Wheeler's Dwarf' (to 2 to 3 feet high, 1 ½ feet wide). Both have thick, elliptical, glossy green leaves. Another favorite is 'Variegata' (to 4 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide), with leaves marbled in pale green and white. Foliage of all tobiras grows in whorls; leaves reach 5 inches long. All bear clusters of small, intensely fragrant white spring flowers that are followed by chick pea-size green berries that ripen to brownish orange.

This tough shrub grows well in sun or partial shade and thrives in all soils, including unamended clay; it also tolerates ocean spray. It has a naturally rounded form and needs little pruning, but if growth becomes too dense, cut entire branches to the ground or take branches back to a main trunk. If you want to shape tobira as a hedge, make heading cuts with hand-held pruners rather than hedge shears (they make jagged, ugly tears in the thick leaves). Do any pruning in spring, after bloom is over.

Claire Curran
Viburnum tinus

• Evergreen or deciduous
• Zones vary
• Full sun in winter and spring, light shade in summer
• Regular watering

This is a large, diverse group, including more than 150 species and countless cultivars. Some are evergreen, others deciduous; all bear clustered, sometimes fragrant flowers followed by fruits (often brightly colored) much appreciated by birds. We describe just two popular choices below.

While they generally prefer slightly acid soil, most viburnums are very tolerant of various soil types and conditions. They do, however, need good drainage. Mulch well to keep the root area moist and cool. For best performance, give plants full sun in winter and spring, light shade in summer.

Korean spice viburnum (V. carlesii). Zones 2-11, 14-24, 31-41. Deciduous. The spice viburnums are noted for their 2- to 3-inch clusters of sweet-scented white flowers that open from pink buds. Dull green, 2- to 3-inch-long leaves turn reddish purple before dropping in autumn. Most varieties of this species reach 4 to 5 feet tall and wide; 'Compactum' is a round ball to 3 feet tall and wide. 'Cayuga' is noted for its attractive foliage as well as its dense blossom clusters.

Laurustinus (V. tinus). Zones 4-10, 12-23, 26, 28-31; 33 with some risk of frost damage. Evergreen. One of several popular evergreen viburnums, laurustinus has lightly scented white flowers opening from pink buds; the bloom period runs from late winter to early spring, when little else in the garden is in flower. Bright metallic blue fruits follow the flowers and last through summer. Leathery, dark green, oval leaves are 2 to 3 inches long. Laurustinus grows 6 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide, making it a good choice for spots where you want a tall, fairly narrow shrub. It can also be grown as an informal hedge (it has dense foliage right to the ground). The species is susceptible to mildew; a resistant variety, 'Lucidum', is available, but it's less cold hardy than the species, growing only in Zones 8, 9, 12-23, 26, 28, 29. 'Spring Bouquet' ('Compactum') is shorter than the species (to 6 feet); 'Dwarf' is shorter still, to 3 to 5 feet.