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8 Amazing Shrubs

A garden designer recommends eight plants that provide reliable good looks without a lot of work

Fine Gardening - Issue 127
easy shrubs to grow

I’ve always called any low-maintenance, high-impact plant a “plant that pays the rent.” To me, that means a plant that earns its keep in the garden by reliably contributing year-round interest. If a plant looks good for only two or three weeks, I don’t use it. As a result, I have come to rely more and more on shrubs—especially these eight—as the main players in my borders. Every gardener wants a garden that is easy to take care of, and shrubs provide long-term impact without all the work of perennials. In fact, you could use just these plants in a border and have an interesting, beautiful planting all year long.

1. An extraordinary hydrangea

‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea
‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea. Photo: Don Garren
‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’)
Photo: Daryl Beyers

I love all hydrangeas, but oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorites because its large leaves look great on their own and in combination with other plants. Large, oakleaf-shaped leaves contrast well with smaller-leaved plants, but it’s the white flowers on large panicles, which change to pink as they age, that makes ‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea a winner. Its blooms are double, hose-in-hose, which means that, as the new white petals come out of the middle of the flower, the older petals hold on and fade to pink, producing complexity and depth to the flower. The show continues through fall, as the foliage turns red, attaining deeper hues on plants located in full sun. The flowers persist through winter to complement the shrub’s exfoliating bark. ‘Snowflake’ grows up to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide—but it doesn’t get as large if grown in the shade, which it prefers in hot climates.

Name: ‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’)

Zones: 5 to 9

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: In summer, the white blooms turn to pink.

2. Stunning seasonlong color

Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’
Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’. Photo: Daryl Beyers
‘Ogon’ spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’)
Photo: Don Garren

Some shrubs that I rely on almost as much as hydrangeas are spireas. Most spireas stay relatively small, which makes them useful. They can look formal if clipped, or appear wild and rambling if allowed to grow unpruned. ‘Ogon’ spirea grows 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with a tighter form in full sun. Small white flowers open first, followed by narrow, apple green leaves that become vibrant yellow-green and light up the summer border. Its narrow leaves contrast beautifully with oakleaf hydrangea, and the golden hue complements the red foliage of shrubs like purple smoke bush.

Name: ‘Ogon’ spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’)

Zones: 5 to 8

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: In fall, the foliage turns yellow-orange with a delicate red edge on each leaf.

3. Smoldering shades of purple

Cotinus coggygria cvs.
Cotinus coggygria cvs. Photo: Jerry Pavia

Placed in spots where the sun shines through them, purple smoke bushes ignite the border. Their stems grow straight up like pipe cleaners, a habit which makes them useful additions to any border in need of diverse forms. Growing up to 15 feet tall and wide, you can keep purple smoke bushes in check by cutting them back hard each spring after the first leaves break out. They will send up all new growth, year after year. Older plants grown in full sun will “smoke” (flower) if left unpruned, and even the youngest specimens turn a striking burnished orange-purple in fall.

Name: Purple smoke bushes (Cotinus coggygria cvs.)

Zones: 5 to 9

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average soil

Seasonal bonus: The new foliage glows as it emerges and ripens into a deep burgundy.

4. The never-ending rose

Rosa Knock Out®
Rosa Knock Out®. Photo: courtesy of Lauren Byrne

I’ve never been a rose fan, but I have to admit that Knock Out® series roses are practically perfect plants. The blooms of these shrubs, which are 2 to 4 feet tall and wide, keep coming from midspring until well into fall. In Zones 6 and warmer, they can bloom well into December, which means they contribute to the garden nearly nine months of the year. Knock Out® roses require no pruning to rebloom and are disease and pest resistant, so their value is assured. The new stems and leaves are purple, especially on the red-flowered cultivar ‘Radrazz’.

Name: Knock Out® series roses (Rosa ‘Radrazz’)

Zones: 5 to 9

Conditions: Full sun to light shade; well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: The shrub keeps on blooming often throughout fall and into winter.

5. A green-and-white charmer

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’. Photo: Jerry Pavia
‘Emerald Gaiety’ wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)
Photo: W. John Hayden

When it comes to foliage, variegated plants always top my list. A great foliage plant is ‘Emerald Gaiety’ wintercreeper, a 3-foot-tall and 5-foot-wide ground cover that looks wonderful when grown in front of taller woody plants. Its green-and-white foliage lasts through the winter, when it sports an attractive pink edge. ‘Emerald Gaiety’ has a compact, bushy form that makes it especially useful as a ground cover or an accent at the front of the border.

Name: ‘Emerald Gaiety’ wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)

Zones: 5 to 9

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average, well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: Its white variegation turns to pink in winter for an attractive effect.

6. A dogwood with elegance

Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’. Photo: Stephanie Fagan

‘Elegantissima’ redtwig dogwood is also a wonderful variegated selection. The combination of its interesting red stems in winter and variegated foliage in spring, summer, and fall makes it useful and attractive all year. I wait until the shrub leafs out at the nursery in spring before I buy mine to be sure it’s the true ‘Elegantissima’ cultivar. Without its unique foliage, it’s just another dogwood. It will grow up to 10 feet tall and wide, but you can prune back the old stems in early spring to encourage more red growth for winter. ‘Elegantissima’ redtwig dogwood’s green-and-white leaves are a great foil for purple-leaved neighbors.

Name: ‘Elegantissima’ redtwig dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’)

Zones: 2 to 8

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; consistently moist soil

Seasonal bonus: The red twigs stand out in fall after the temperatures cool and the leaves drop.

7. Blooms, berries, and evergreen foliage

Skimmia japonica and cvs.
Skimmia japonica and cvs. Photo: Jerry Pavia

Japanese skimmias are another group of shrubs with attractive foliage. Their evergreen, aromatic, glossy leaves make skimmias well worth growing. The genus is dioecious, meaning the plants are either male or female. Both sport fragrant white, pink, or red blooms, but only the females produce berries. Use Japanese skimmias in threes: a male and two females; this grouping looks great and ensures pollination of the females. They typically grow 3 to 6 feet tall and wide and require little to no pruning.

Name: Japanese skimmias (Skimmia japonica and cvs.)

Zones: 7 to 9

Conditions: Partial to full shade; humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: Their berries and glossy foliage are a winter highlight.

8. A juniper worth looking at

Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’. Photo: Jerry Pavia

‘Blue Star’ juniper may cost a bit more than ordi­nary junipers, but its beautiful, consistently blue needles and refined appearance truly pay the rent. Colder temperatures bring out a silvery gray to the sleek blue hue, which holds up well into winter and looks especially lovely on frosty mornings. The spreading habit of ‘Blue Star’ is the perfect choice for the front of a border: It stays low (only 16 inches tall), grows very slowly, and stands out in a crowd. Because it takes ‘Blue Star’ a long time to reach its full spread of 3 feet, I use three or five plants together for greater immediate impact.

Name: ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Seasonal bonus: Its blue needles serve as a textural foil throughout the year.

Of course, you don’t have to use all of these shrubs, but any one of them will earn its keep with good foliage, interesting form, and low maintenance.

 

Previous: All About Growing Coleus Next: 9 Great Shrubs for Shade
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Comments

  1. user-7007197 09/11/2014

    melissaanddcruzlong

  2. susan749 10/27/2014

    The best shrubs to grow are ones native to your area; at least a few.

    1. msadesign 12/23/2014

      why?

      1. user-7007650 06/12/2015

        Because it protects natural wildlife. Invasive species push out or invade local plant life thereby depriving local birds and butterflies food and habitat.

        1. debbiensync 08/17/2015

          Lawrence is very correct! They will also grow best over other choices than plantings brought in from different regions.

          1. sarahcarterroberts 10/23/2016

            I would be cautious with such a general statement - many native species are difficult to keep alive, or quite site-specific, and others grow like weeds. Likewise with non-native species. Matching the plants requirements to the site's conditions is your best bet.

        2. sarahcarterroberts 10/23/2016

          Important distinction though - just because a plant is not NATIVE does not mean it is INVASIVE. For example, gardenias, Asian azaleas, boxwood, saucer magnolia, etc. They are a part of our horticultural heritage, having been imported from Europe and Asia to ornament our gardens long ago, and they do not displace native species. The key is in finding a balance in garden designs that utilize native species while also achieving the desired look of the client. It is usually going to be a mix of native and non-native species (but NONE that are invasive).

          1. user-7007650 10/27/2016

            Yes, very true. But native species actually feed our natural wildlife including bees and butterflies. Monarch Butterflies can only nest on Milkweed for example. More planing of foreign plants and less native plants like Milkweed would be harmful to our ecosystem.

      2. jimgoyich 01/06/2016

        Because chicks dig them, and full size birds do too!

      3. tm1946 03/23/2017

        Also if they survive locally, chances are you can grow them. Look at your local vegetable gardeners.... if one has a great year of tomatoes, everyone has tomatoes.

  3. debbiensync 08/17/2015

    Hydrangeas are my favorite though deciduous shrubs; they grow to be huge if you get this one, which I have, and smaller ones are gorgeous as well; some are at our coastal home, and some inland. They both have fared extremely well. You must discover which side of the house or yard is best suited for them; I have noticed that they are great on the north side at our farm, but both most successful large ones are also on a corner of house or building, most likely as a wind/wintry weather break.

  4. janinnepaulson 03/20/2017

    Kind of a worthless article for gardeners in Zone 3. We already know about dogwoods, the only one on the list hardy past Zone 5.

    1. missdebra 06/04/2017

      You need to move! lol

  5. tm1946 03/23/2017

    Might try a crepe myrtle - old time farm plant that grows all around Ark., Mo, Kan. Full sun, dies to the ground every year and come back a flowering bush.... great for beginners.

  6. User avater
    EthelWSander 10/05/2018

    Really Attractive article for flowers growth.

  7. User avater
    ShondraLFrazier 10/10/2018

    Really Attractive flowers

  8. User avater
    PamDTodd 11/05/2018

    You need to move

  9. User avater
    BerrySVickers 11/21/2018

    Very beautiful

  10. User avater
    DavidANeal 11/21/2018

    Really very nice flower

  11. User avater
    HomerSCooper 12/06/2018

    Awesome collection of flowers.

  12. User avater
    EllaKCarter 12/11/2018

    I like it this flowers

  13. User avater
    LauraWilliams 01/15/2019

    I love flowers!!

  14. User avater
    DeweyMessier 01/16/2019

    Very attractive!!

  15. User avater
    BenjaminShaw 01/17/2019

    Good information!

  16. User avater
    DanielTaylorr 02/02/2019

    It's fantastic!

  17. TheodoreGilliam 03/12/2019

    The single best thing to do when planting - tree or shrub - is to plant the root flare slightly above the existing soil writemyessaytoday level: "Plant it high: watch it fly; plant it low: sure to go..."

  18. User avater
    CynthiaDow 05/14/2019

    fabulous

  19. Alessandra32 05/17/2019

    wow it's looking so beautiful i also love to gardening because i make essential oils of different plant and flower. by the way thank you very much

  20. Mordha 06/01/2019

    Knock Out roses should be asterisked as "Food for Young Deer". Charleston area of SC: the roses will never grow because the youngest leaves are gobbled up to leave the top half of the plant bare.

    1. bbaloha 08/23/2020

      Same with Euonymus fortunei in NE Pennsylvania (zone7). I've finally given up on that plant in my front bed. However, the juniper and Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’ have been wonderful additions which the deer avoid.

  21. User avater
    ArmandLewis 06/12/2019

    nice one

  22. User avater
    RonaldTague 07/06/2019

    marvelous

  23. User avater
    ParksWesley 09/26/2019

    Thanks For this post!

  24. user-7537887 10/04/2019

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    AshlieDPerron 10/25/2019

    Thanks for sharing the information!

  26. User avater
    GeorgeMendoza 12/13/2019

    Amazing work!

  27. User avater
    DanielTaylorr 02/22/2020

    I Really Like This Post!

  28. nobita88 02/27/2020

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  29. User avater
    David_Lomas 03/13/2020

    An amazing plant. I would very much like to grow this plant in my garden.

  30. jaimebradley 04/09/2020

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  31. User avater
    TimVaughn 05/08/2020

    I really like this post!

  32. User avater
    AnnaMartinez 05/09/2020

    It's very interesting!

  33. User avater
    AnnaMartinez 05/09/2020

    Awesome!

  34. User avater
    DarrenSharper 05/09/2020

    Fantastic!

  35. freykarts 07/08/2020

    Before letting something grow on your backyard or garden you must always ensure that this types of shrubs are safe to you and your family or pets. There are a lot of professionals you can consult to. I found out lately that the plant we have was kinda poisonous. Though not health threatening but it causes itchiness or irritation when touched.

    Regards,
    north shore gardening

  36. cynthiakane 12/22/2021

    Great Article! Using Neem oil with Peppermint Essential Oil can also greatly improve results!

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