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A garden or yard must include shrubs. They are the heart of the garden, the foundation of garden design. Some are dazzling with flowers, colorful leaves or berries, while others fill summer evenings in a pleasant scent. There is no real way to grow shrubs. You have to choose the right ones among the hundreds of options. Our selection is the key to this success.
These 15 low-maintenance shrubs are attractive, reliable and trouble-free. They don’t have any serious pest problems and don’t need constant care or cleaning.
15 Low-maintenance Shrubs
1. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Native to Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia
Oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia, is a shrub that can be used in all seasons. It has large, cone-shaped flowers in the spring, and outstanding fall color. In winter, it bears handsome flaking bark with cinnamon-colored leaves. This versatile plant can grow upright to 4 to 6 feet tall with a spread equal or greater. This graceful shrub can be planted in groups or mixed with other shrubs in an informal environment. It should be planted in moist, well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. It can withstand temperatures up to 20 degrees.
2. Fountain Butterfly Bush
Nominee in the Rocky Mountain and Plains States
Fountain butterfly bush (Buddleia alterifolia), is a spring flowerer that produces lilac flower clusters and gracefully arching stems. The billowy plant can reach 10 feet in height and width. The shrub can be used as an accent plant, or as part of a mixed shrub border. It is tolerant to drought and prefers sunny locations in well-drained soil. In the coldest areas of its adapted zone, it will return to the ground and then resprout from the base and flower on new wood. Deciduous and hardy, from -20deg up to -30deg
3. Korean Spice Viburnum
Great Choice for the Great Plains and Northwest, as well as the Midwest
Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii), has white flowers that are intensely fragrant in spring. They open from pink buds and blue-black fruits in the early summer. This shrub can reach 4-8 feet in height and has upright, spreading branches up to 8-foot wide. This dense shrub can be used as a foundation plant, or placed near pathways and entranceways to enjoy the intoxicating scent. You should plant well-drained soil that is slightly acidic in full sun to part shade. Deciduous and hardy up to -20degdeg
4. Heavenly Bamboo
Home in California and Florida
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina Domestica) has unbranched vertical stems that reach 7 feet high. It is known for its feathery texture, cream-white summer flowers, scarlet autumn fruit, and brightly colored leaves throughout the year. The compact, dome-shaped, 1- to 2-foot tall, leafy shrub shown here, also known as Nana or Nana Purpurea is a compact leafy shrub. You can use heavenly bamboo in mixed plantings, as an accent plant, ground cover or ground cover depending on the variety. Although the shrub can adapt to many conditions, it prefers moist soil in full sunlight (afternoon shade for those in the hottest regions). It can be evergreen up to 10 °C and hardy up to -10 °C.
5. Loropetalum
Southern Gardens are the best for it
Loropetalum (Loropetalum Chinense) is a neat, tidy plant that has subtle beauty with its tiered, arching branches and pink or white spring flowers. It can grow up to 3-10 feet high and as wide depending on the variety. Shown is the variety ‘Rubrum (or ‘Razzleberri), which has bright, rosy-pink blooms and purplish leaf. Foregrounds and woodland gardens are good places to plant loropetalum. Make sure to have well-drained soil that is not alkaline and plenty of moisture. It likes full sun on foggy beaches and partial shade in the interior. It is an evergreen and hardy plant that can tolerate temperatures from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius.
6. Bottlebrush Buckeye
Best in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
The bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus perviflora), stands out because of its bright-yellow autumn color and large summer flower spikes. The deer-resistant buckeye spreads by suckers and needs lots of space to grow. It can reach approximately 12 feet in height with a spread equal or greater. This plant is a great choice for shrub borders or massing, and makes a fine specimen. You should provide moist, well-drained soil that is in full sun to moderate shade. Deciduous and hardy up to -30deg
7. Black Chokeberry
Native to Southern Canada, and the Eastern U.S.
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), is a sturdy shrub that can reach 3 to 5 feet tall. It bears small white or pinkish flowers and produces shiny black 1/2-inch fruit. The bright red-purple color of fall lasts several weeks. This shrub is a good choice for background plantings or as a filler. This plant is adaptable to extreme cold and thrives on little or no water. It is deciduous and can withstand temperatures up to 40°C.
8. Summersweet
Great for the Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest
Clethra alnifolia, also known as Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), is a shade-blooming shrub that produces fragrant pink or white flowers. The leaves are dark green and turn to golden yellow in the fall. It typically grows to 6-8 feet tall. The suckers spread slowly to make dense clumps. The dwarf, white-flowered variety of ‘Hummingbird’ is shown left with the pink-flowered Ruby Spice’. It grows between 3 and 4 feet tall with an equally wide spread. Summersweet can be planted in borders or shade gardens, or used as a groundcover by ‘Hummingbird. It is a great plant for areas with heavy shade or wet soils, and can withstand coastal spray. Deciduous, -40deg.
9. Witch Hazel – ‘Pallida’
Right for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northwest
Chinese witch hazel ‘Pallida’ (Hamamelis.mollis.’ ‘Pallida) is prized for its vivid fall foliage and ribbon-like, fragrant, sulfur-yellow blooms on bare stems from February to March. This shrub is broad and spreads to a maximum of 8-10 feet in width. This plant is a striking accent in a woodland setting. The bright colors of the flowers contrast well with evergreens and a solid background of brick or stone. It can be planted in partial shade in slightly acid soil with high organic content. It is deciduous and can withstand temperatures up to 20°C.
10. Smooth Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
Maine to Iowa, South Florida to Florida, and Louisiana
The ‘Annabelle” smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens “Annabelle”) produces huge, four-foot-wide clusters with white flowers from a plant that is about four feet tall and wide. The flowers can last up to 2 months in summer. If the spent flowers are removed, they often rebloom. This shrub thrives in groups and prefers moist, rich soil that is well-drained in light to moderate shade. It flowers the next summer on new wood if it is cut back to its roots in autumn. Deciduous and hardy up to -30deg
11. India Hawthorn
A favorite in the South or California
India hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis Indica) is a compact shrub with leathery, glossy leaves. It also has a profusion pink flowers that range in color from white or pink. They bloom from midwinter through late spring. It can grow up to 3-4 feet tall and slightly wider. The plant thrives in well-drained soil with full sun. However, it can tolerate drought and salt spray in coastal areas. For a low screen, informal screen, or high ground cover, group plants. You can choose from several varieties. It is evergreen and can withstand temperatures up to 10 degrees.
12. ‘Wynyabbie Gem’ Westringia
An “Emperor” for West Coast Gardeners
The ‘Wynyabbie gem’ westringia (Westringia.fruticosa “Wynyabbie Gem”) can withstand salt-laden coastal winds and drought. This bushy shrub can reach 4 feet in height and width and bears narrow, silky, gray-green leaves. It produces mauve-pink clusters throughout the year. It can be used as a feature or low-screen plant, or in mixed plantings. It likes well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade. It is evergreen and can withstand temperatures up to 25°C.
13. Burkwood Viburnum
Great Choice for the Midwest & South
Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum burkwoodii), can grow 6-12 feet high and 4-8 feet wide. From late winter through early spring, fragrant white flowers with a spicy scent emerge from clusters of pink buds that are 4 inches in diameter. In cold weather, dark-green, lustrous leaves turn to a deep reddish color. This shrub can be planted in well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Once established, it can withstand some drought. The shrub can be used as an informal screen, or it can be grouped with evergreens to form a mixed shrub border. Partially evergreen, can withstand temperatures up to 20°C.
14. Texas Ranger
Native to the Southwest, Northern Mexico
The Texas ranger (Leucophyllum fruescens), is well-suited to drought, heat and wind. It can reach heights of 5-8 feet and widths up to 3-5 feet. The shrub’s silvery green or green leaves (as in ‘Green Cloud’) are accented by purple bell-shaped blooms during hot weather. This shrub can be used in rock gardens, on slopes, or as a screen. It thrives in full sunlight and does not require any supplemental water. It can be either evergreen or partially deciduous and is hardy up to 5 degrees.
15. Japanese Barberry
Tops in the Midwest and Northeast, Great Plains, Rockies, Northeast, Northeast, Great Plains, and Rockies
Japanese barberry (Berberis Thunbergii) is a rugged, yet graceful plant with spiny, arching branches. The plants can reach up to 4 feet in height and spread equally. In fall, small, deep-green leaves become yellow, orange, and red. Winter brings out the best in your yard with bead-like red berries. There are many striking varieties, including the ‘Aurea,’ which has bright golden leaves. It can be used as an accent plant, in borders, hedges and barriers, or even individually. It can withstand extremes in climate and soil conditions. It is deciduous and can withstand temperatures up to 30°F.
How do I choose a shrub for my landscape?
Consider what’s available in your area and choose shrubs with dense foliage. Place them so that the leaves of neighboring plants overlap slightly at maturity. These plants can be used to screen out undesirable sights.
How to Plant and Grow Shrubs
Without shrubs, a yard is nothing more than a kitchen without the appliances. These hardworking plants can make your yard look great.
The space should be unified. To create a seamless transition between large elements such as the house, trees and plants, place shrubs as intermediaries.
Direct traffic. Plant shrubs in key locations, such as near property lines or pathways to define open space and direct traffic.
Use as a groundcover. To create a ground covering that is more interesting and requires less work than grass, mass low-growing shrubs like dwarf summersweet.
Space is a valuable resource. If space is limited and you don’t have the room for a tree, consider creating a focal point using a single showy shrub like a fountain butterfly bush.Provide long-lasting interest. You should choose shrubs that are attractive throughout the year, such as oakleaf Hydrangea with its beautiful fall colors and charming bark.
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