A misconception among gardeners is that once the spring has ended there are only a few flowering shrubs to chose from. While there are fewer shrubs in bloom during summer the ones which do flower provide stunning (hydrangea), fragrant (mockorange) flowers. The following are some popular, easy to grow choices.
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is an attractive shrubs and ideal for both specimen and mass plantings. This great shrub produces stunning white 8-12” long flowers in early July. Its foliage turns yellow and light orange in the fall. Grows well in shade and sun and prefers an organic soil.
Sweet Mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius) is quite fragrant and as the name suggests, fills the air with the sweet scent of orange blossoms in early summer. They are all sun-loving, easy to grow shrubs as they are heat tolerant and can grow in poor infertile soils. Bouquet blanc virginal mockorange (Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Bouquet Blanc’) is an excellent hardy, dense grower. It reaches 6’ in height and produces single or semi-double white flowers. The golden mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’) has lemon yellow foliage and works well adjacent to plants with green foliage.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), also known as sweet pepper bush, is wonderful, fragrant, low maintenance shrub which blooms in late summer. A native to North America, summersweet provides blooms of pink, white, or deep-rose starting in late summer. It is an easy to care for shrub as it is pest resistant and disease free. Summersweet is perfect for naturalizing the landscape. Its also wonderful in shade gardens or planted within the traditional shrub border. Summersweet can reach 6 feet and prefers slightly acid, sandy soil and full sun, but tolerates clay and dense shade.
Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) has stunning flowers and is relatively low maintenance. Two varieties, lacecap and nikkoblue hydrangeas, are both wonderful as specimen shrubs or mixed among other shrubs in the border planting. Planted in groups, however, they are perhaps most effective. Minimal pruning is recommended for profuse flowering. Flowers are easily air dried and long lasting. This easy to grow and shrub boasts large, dark foliage and ball shaped or lace-capped flowers. Hydrangeas grown in acid, moist, loamy soil will flourish and produce deep blue flowers. They are, however, tolerant of alkaline soil, in which they will produce pink flowers. Hydrangea macrophylla comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 3 feet to 6 feet for the larger garden. These shrubs prefer part shade.
Oak-Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’) has a much different appearance than the macrophylla hydrangeas. Its foliage resembles that of the oak tree. It has large stunning blooms and produces 12 to 15 inch panicles of snow-white blooms towards mid to late summer which fade to pink later in the season. In fall, foliage turns a deep rich burgundy, and in winter, the exposed bark and dried flower heads are eye-catching. Oakleaf hydrangeas grow to about 6’ and can tolerate more shade than other hydrangeas.
Kerria Japonica (Kerria japonica) is a shade tolerant, disease free evergreen shrub which produces a mass of golden blooms in early summer, continues intermittently all summer, then explodes again in fall. Some varieties have new growth which begins as a fire red. The Kerria japonica is a slow growing shrub which reaches about 5’ in height.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) is a great mid-summer bloomer which, as the name suggests, attracts butterflies (as well as hummingbirds) to the garden. Its white, pink or purple flowers are quite frangant. Butterfly bush is well suited to the informal garden as they can become a bit unruly. However, if properly placed they work well in all gardens, provided there is sun. ‘Black Knight,’ with its foot-long, blue-black, heavenly scented panicles, no garden should be without at least one Butterfly Bush. ‘Fountain’ is a hrady weeping variety which blooms as early as late spring. ‘Peacock’ is a small shrub which can be grown in containers, with heavy blooms all summer. Butterfly Bush is easy to grow and can be pruned in late winter for a flush of healthy foliage that will shoot out from the roots. Full sun.
Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris clandonensis) is a low growing, fragrant shrub which is ideal for low hedges, the sunny shrub border or for incorporating into the perennial garden. Visually stunning when planted in large groups. Varieties include ‘Summer Sorbet’ with variegated foliage and ‘Sunshine Blue’ with a deeper blue flowers and golden foliage. Blue mist shrub is heat and drought tolerant once established and it blooms from summer through fall. Tolerant of poor soil is easy to grow and maintenance free. Great for the butterfly garden.
Royal Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’) is treasured for it’s colorful foliage huge flowers. A great specimen shrub, the smokebush can also be mixed with other species within a shrub border. The purple-leaved varieties can be used to form a dramatic dark backdrop for summer’s bright flowers and bright green foliage. Then, as the flowers fade in the fall, the smokebush will take over and light up the landscape with brilliant fall color. Its cotton like flowers are unique in the garden and unlike any other flowering shrub. It’s foliage is unsurpassed for its early burgundy color that warms to a deep purple in summer and ends a blazing orange in fall.
Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) provides the garden with colorful and plentiful blooms during mid to late summer. Although wonderful in shrub border, it’s large, dramatic flowers make rose-of-sharon fully capable of holding its own as a specimen. Easily pruned and shaped during its first two seasons, this multi stemmed shrub is ideal for hedging. It can, however, also be trained and pruned to a single trunk. Rose of sharon not only blooms late, but also leafs so be patient. Rose-of-sharon prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
These easy to grow, summer blooming shrubs are perfect for the inexperienced gardener. Incorporating them into your garden design will provide your garden with splashes of color through the summer months.
Related posts:
- Hydrangeas For The Summer Garden A common concern among gardeners is that there seems to...
- Variegated Deciduous Shrubs Deciduous variegated shrubs are an effect way to brighten up...
- Easy Care Deciduous Shrubs Deciduous shrubs are an essential part of any garden design....
- 10 More Native Shrubs For The Garden Native shrubs are among some of the easiest to grow,...
- Viburnums Viburnums are a wide ranging, popular garden shrub with over...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
