Shrubs are low-growing plants that branch in multiples. They do not have a distinct trunk but have several big and small stems with wide leaves. Shrubs can grow in most soil types and need little water. Many shrubs prefer the sun. If you’re confused about what type of shrub to buy, here are some tips to help you make a decision. A few important characteristics of a shrub to know before planting it in your garden:
Low-maintenance
There are countless varieties of low-maintenance plants for shrubs. Many of them require little to no pruning, and they have the benefit of great fall color. When choosing a shrub, consider its mature size to ensure it will not crowd your yard. Shrubs don’t need a lot of pruning, and their foliage needs little to no maintenance beyond a light top-dressing. These low-maintenance plants are a great choice for people with limited time to tend to their landscape.
Hebe cultivars provide long-lasting summer flowering displays. They are known for their resilience and can tolerate air pollution and neglect. They also tolerate a variety of soil conditions. Hydrangea paniculata is another low-maintenance shrub with a spreading, upright habit. ‘Limelight’ is a particularly attractive cultivar. A great shrub that has low maintenance needs is the hydrangea paniculata, which has yellow-green leaves.
Spiras are excellent low-maintenance plants for shrubs. They are easy to dig and transplant, and can tolerate most soil types, except for extremely wet soil. They also need little to no maintenance, and thrive in full sun to part shade. Spireas need little maintenance and provide lovely blooms in summer and fall. They grow between four and six feet tall and wide. If you want to get the most out of your plants, choose a perennial.
If you’re planning a low-maintenance garden, ferns can be a great choice. Ferns can grow to different sizes and are cold-hardy in USDA Zone 3 and 4. They have beautiful pink and light-blue foliage and stems. They also tolerate dry soil, and deer generally ignore them. Unlike roses, ferns don’t require fertilizer or weed-killing.
Another low-maintenance plant for shrubs is the summersweet clethra. It is a deciduous shrub native to the Eastern United States and can tolerate temperatures as low as -30 degrees F. It is a good choice for gardens where you want to avoid a lot of mowing, and requires only a light pruning. Besides being fragrant, summersweet clethra also attracts butterflies and white doves to the garden.
Disease resistant
For a landscape full of disease-resistant plants, there are many varieties to choose from. Phytophthora is a disease that affects more than 2,300 species of plants. Most of these plants thrive in alkaline soils with little organic matter, but there are some exceptions to the rule. Two of these shrubs are highly resistant to this disease: the Siberian pea and the Chilean wine palm. Both of these shrubs thrive in USDA zones two through eight and bear fragrant yellow flowers in spring. They are also fairly drought-resistant once established.
A disease-resistant plant doesn’t ward off all diseases, but it does resist more of them than their counterparts. These plants don’t look like superheroes, but they are more likely to survive the various plant diseases common to the area. These diseases can range from leaf spots to blights to mold, mildew, rust, and more. For instance, phlox is disease-resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal white powder that causes damage to plants.
Another type of disease-resistant plant is tolerant to a wide range of diseases. Many varieties of bald cypress trees, for example, are able to withstand both wet soils and dry conditions. It’s important to research common diseases in order to pick plants that are resistant to them. You can also look for new cultivars that have been bred to resist fire blight and apple scab. Likewise, some varieties of lilac have been bred to resist powdery mildew.
Choosing disease-resistant plants for shrubs is an excellent way to avoid many of these issues and eliminate the need for fungicides and bactericides. Most plants are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot, but some types are more disease-resistant than others. Soil moisture and temperature are also important factors in the selection process. You might want to consider a shrub that can tolerate drought and can tolerate part-shade conditions.
Disease-resistant plants also tend to grow in warmer climates than the ones that are not. In areas with mild climates, you may want to plant a scarlet firethorn. This shrub features stiff thorny branches and cheerful white flowers in spring. It bears orange-red berries in the summer. Finally, you may want to consider planting the Korean lilac, also known as the Meyer lilac. This shrub is one of the easiest to grow and is the only lilac under ten feet. It blooms on last year’s stems, and is also an excellent choice for the landscape.
Low-water
When you’re considering shrubs for your garden, it’s important to find low-water plants that will thrive in your area. There are many great low-water shrubs that can thrive in your climate, including chokeberry, smokebush, white fringetree, and clematis. Some of the easiest shrubs to grow are listed below. Choose the one that’s right for your needs! Whether you’re growing a shrub for aesthetic purposes or for drought tolerance, you’re sure to find the perfect choice.
To find the right low-water plants, consider native plants, such as purple coneflower. Native perennial flowers are great choices for low-water zones. Another low-water plant is purple coneflower, a low-maintenance perennial flower. The length of the weaning stage depends on the type of plant and how well it is rooted. In addition, low-water plants require supplemental watering until they become established.
Another low-water plant for shrubs is sea holly. This drought-tolerant plant prefers full sun and well-drained, sandy soil. This plant is a reminder of a former garden that still blooms in summer. The flowers are brightly colored and the foliage is interestingly silver-blue. This shrub is hardy in zones 4 through 9.
Yarrow, which is a heat and drought-tolerant perennial plant, grows in dry spots. Its flowers are clusters of brilliant white or reddish-orange flowers. It grows with hairy stems and roots and will continue to flower through the hot summer months. Hyssop prefers moist soil, but it will tolerate little water and still bloom. This plant has great water-saving qualities and can be used as a focal point or a visual screening.
Oleander, a native of dry tropical regions, loves the heat and drought. Oleander’s flowers are white, pink, red, or any color. They have a sweet fragrance and can survive long periods without irrigation. Oleander can tolerate a wide range of soil types, and its foliage is thick and waxy. It is drought-resistant and hardy in poor soil. Although it is toxic to humans and some animals, it is a wonderful shrub to have in your garden.
Shade loving
Native to the southeastern U.S., Summersweet Clethra is an evergreen shade loving shrub that produces masses of yellow flowers in spring and summer. They tolerate partial shade and full sun, and have attractive bark that attracts pollinators. In colder zones, Summersweet will benefit from some frost protection. It also requires moist, fertile soil, but will grow faster if it receives some light.
To plant shade-loving shrubs in your garden, first know the USDA growing zone and type of soil that you have. Then, select the right variety of shrub. You can browse the internet for the appropriate shade-tolerant varieties. Once you’ve found the one that suits your climate, make sure to consider how long you can tolerate it for its flowering time. Then, plant it, and enjoy its lovely flowers.
Mahonia species are great choices for shade-loving shrubs. Mahonia berries, which are highly nutritious, are edible. This genus was named after horticulturist Bernhard McMahon. Mahonia shrubs are also good additions to winter gardens, as their leaves turn a lovely bronze color in winter. If your winters are harsh, plant these shrubs in deep shade. A winter-green berry makes a great accent to any deciduous shade shrub.
Corydalis is another shade-loving shrub that has an early spring bloom. This plant is often called ‘Bleeding Heart’, and is a low-maintenance choice. They need well-drained soil and prefer moist conditions. The blue-purple corydalis is especially beautiful in a partially shaded area. It is an easy-care shrub and can bloom early in the season.
Azaleas are another hardy, shade-loving shrub with flowers that bloom in spring and continue to bloom throughout the fall. Azaleas are a popular choice for shady locations. Azaleas come in many species, some of which are evergreen while others are deciduous. Native azaleas are the tallest, and are excellent shade-loving shrubs.
Yew is another low-maintenance shade-loving plant. These evergreen shrubs are excellent for partial shade and can be clipped and trained into all sorts of shapes. They have small red berries in the summer, and fall foliage that turns red and blue. Viburnums can reach 10 feet tall, and spread with suckers. They require a dappled shade to thrive. In addition to arrowwood, viburnums are excellent shrubs for partial shade.
