You can add variety to your flower beds with shrubs. You can choose from Weigela, ‘Citrina’, ‘Wynyabbie Gem’, and Sevenbark hydrangea, among many others. Listed below are some of the most popular flowering shrubs for flower beds. Listed in no particular order, each one will add unique beauty to your flower bed. Read on to learn more about each of these plants.
Weigela
If you’re considering adding some weigelas to your flower bed, you can’t go wrong with this versatile plant. They thrive in moist, well-draining soil and are almost completely pest-free. However, you should be aware of the occasional pest infestation: aphids, plant bugs, and scale insects can cause weigela to die back during the winter. If this occurs, you should spray the bushes with a horticultural oil or natural insecticide to prevent any damage from pests. Don’t spray the shrubs with water to get rid of the bugs, though, as it could cause damage to newly-erected blooms.
Pruning your weigela bush can rejuvenate it by shaping it symmetrically. In winter, look for old woody branches that are an inch or two thick, then cut them away. Make sure not to cut off more than a third of the bush at one time, as this could cause serious damage. A thumb rule to follow when pruning weigelas is to prune in increments of 20%. You shouldn’t prune more than three-quarters of the bush at a time, but a couple of thinning is okay.
Choose between dwarf and upright varieties. Dwarf varieties are not likely to grow larger than a foot or two. Dwarf varieties work well as accents and edging plants. Consider cultivars with colorful leaves, such as Czechmark Trilogy or Magical Fantasy. The taller varieties provide excellent nesting sites for some species of birds. The taller varieties do well in hot climates and can be planted near the foundation of a flower bed.
Westringia ‘Citrina’
A versatile Australian native, Westringia ‘Citria’ plants grow in a wide variety of conditions and are ideal for many uses. They respond well to pruning and retain their bushy appearance for many years. They have attractive flowers and dense foliage with contrasting brown or red spots near the throat. Moreover, they bloom profusely all year round and respond well to pruning.
One of the most beautiful varieties of Westringia is the ‘Citrina’ variety, which has a small, white flower cluster that blooms from late summer to early autumn. The fragrant flowers are attracted to bees and hummingbirds. This plant also tolerates salt and is drought-tolerant, making it ideal for any climate.
This hardy shrub grows upright and produces blue flowers in autumn. The leaves are green and slightly toothed, with silver hairs on the underside. It is an excellent choice for containers and sunny borders. Bees love its fragrant flowers and prefer this plant in acid soil. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. The cultivar is a good choice for gardeners who are looking for a drought-tolerant plant that will also last a long time.
Redbud trees are a good choice for flower beds. They have a broad, rounded shape with tiered branches. In summer, they produce large flat flower clusters. They also produce red fruit in the fall. This deciduous shrub can grow up to 6 feet tall. For best results, water the plant regularly and use general purpose fertilizer. Then, prune it after it has flowered in late summer.
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’
When it comes to choosing a shrub for your flower bed, the best choice is probably the Australian variety. It is not as fragrant as rosemary and has finer leaves. However, this Australian native is more drought-tolerant than rosemary. It blooms in the middle of winter and blooms until spring. The plants are large and dense, but their stems are not woody. Because of this, they make a better choice for long-term landscaping than rosemary.
Native to Australia, Westringias can be used as a border plant, a background plant, or a slope shrub. Their foliage is small, but dense, and their flowers range in color from white to light lavender. They bloom from late winter to early summer, and they respond well to pruning. They grow rapidly and respond well to pruning. They can be a good choice for flower beds or other gardens where they will add color and variety.
This hardy evergreen shrub grows to around four feet tall and produces clusters of mauve-pink flowers throughout the growing season. Although this shrub belongs to the mint family, it is not edible. It does require some water, but they don’t require it. If you’re looking for a dense privacy screen, consider planting this shrub. Its narrow, elliptical leaves look beautiful against light green foliage.
Sevenbark hydrangea
Known as the “seven-layered hydrangea,” the Nine Bark Hydrangea is native to the eastern U.S., where they thrive in flower beds and gardens of all kinds. They thrive in consistent environments that provide a consistent amount of moisture and well-drained soil. Because they grow so thickly and can be very high in height, these shrubs make great flower bed bordering plants.
The soil in Arizona is different than the nutrient content in their native habitat. The plants need a nutrient-rich soil and good drainage. If the soil is too wet, they can suffer root rot and die off. It is important to regularly fertilize your hydrangeas to provide them with the nutrients and water they need. However, you must also keep in mind that hydrangeas are delicate plants, so water them sparingly and make sure to check the pH level of your soil.
If you haven’t yet discovered the Sevenbark Hydrangea, you should know that it grows in rock crevices in Northwest Georgia. It is native to this area, so it can thrive in most areas, but is more suitable for flower beds and gardens than other hydrangeas. While hydrangeas can be difficult to grow in the cold, they do thrive in sunny conditions.
Camellia sasanqua
The best way to plant Camellia sasanqua in your flower bed is to use a rich, moist soil. The camellias also prefer part shade, and planting them five feet apart is a good idea. They should not be planted too close to a window, or any other structure, such as the home’s foundation. Camellia sasanqua shrubs are easy to care for. Just make sure you fertilize them regularly, and cover their roots with a layer of mulch.
This low-growing camellia is perfect for partial shade or for groundcover. These shrubs will grow under a tree, in between taller Camellias, and even on a slope. Camellia sasanquas will attract deer, but they’ll usually leave the foliage alone. Regardless of your choice, you’re sure to find a place for these beauties in your flower bed.
If you’re interested in camellias for your flower bed, a great variety is Yuletide camellia. Yuletide camellias have single, semi-double flowers that are almost always cranberry red with a frilly golden center. While less commonly known, these flowers are still striking and last through the winter. A few cultivars even produce Christmas flowers!
In the winter, Camellia sasanqua blooms in late October and February. Their flowers are fragrant and small, compared to the Japanese camellias. Winter camellias are also better tolerant of winter rain than the Japanese variety. They grow in a low fountain shape and have attractive foliage. If you’re interested in planting Camellias in your flower bed, here are some tips.
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’
A sweet-scented shrub, Coronilla ‘Citrina’ produces lemon-yellow flowers from mid-winter to early spring. The perennial prefers full sun and sharp drainage. Its leaves are green and have a slight fragrance. It’s a perfect choice for any flower bed. Here are some useful tips for growing this shrub in your flower beds:
“Citrina” is an unusual name for Coronilla valentina. This Mediterranean native has umbel-shaped flowers, yellow petals, and a sweet peach fragrance. Its leaves are gray-green and pinnate, and its growth habit is bushy and spidery. The flowers bloom in the spring and are followed by a sweet peach fragrance that lingers long after the leaves have fallen off the plant.