Deciduous shrubs are an essential part of any garden design. They offer flowers, colorful fall foliage and fragrance. They’re also practical as they can create privacy, define the edges of a walkway or patio and act as windbreaks. The following easy to grow deciduous shrubs are ideal for those with little gardening experience.
Butterfly Bush (Buddlea davidii) is a great choice. These shrubs have huge cones of colorful flowers that bloom in high summer and are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Some varieties of butterfly bush are huge, growing up to six feet tall and five or six feet wide. If you don’t have room, smaller hybrids are now available.
Viburnum (Viburnum spp.) are gardener’s favorite They’re one the most versatile and easy care shrubs available. With over 120 varieties there’s one for any garden project. Some viburnums, such as the arrowwood or maple-leaf, are wonderful as woodland garden shrubs. Others have a more formal feel such as the Korean spice or judii varieties and are suitable for foundation plantings, shrub borders and as accent plants.
Howard Silver Spirea (spiraea nipponica ‘Halward’s Silver’) is a dense compact shrub with graceful arching branches and abundant clusters of snow-white spring flowers. It has fine textured, dark green foliage in summer, and then develops yellow fall color. Often used as hedge, accent planting, and shrub border. Plant it in full sun to light shade and in well-drained soil.
Gumball Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda ‘Gumball’) is a compact plant that displays attractive pink flowers in May-June. These flowers are complimented by the purple-tipped new foliage, which changes to a red color in fall. Growing 2′ high to 4′ wide it makes it a perfect low shrub border. It will thrive in most locations and should be pruned after flowering and in early spring. It prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. It is great in groups and borders. It is resistant to drought and urban tolerant.
Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’) is a wonderful hydrangea that produces huge white flowers which grow larger as the season progresses. A very hardy shrub, these hydrangeas blooms every year in early to late summer even after severe pruning or intensely cold winters. Perhaps one of the most popular old-fashioned shrubs, Annabelle hydrangeas are perfect for borders, hedges, foundation, or accent plantings.
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is an extremely easy to grow shrub. The hardiest of this species will even withstand the rugged winters of Zone 4 locations. It grows into a heavily branched dense plant. Privet is well-suited for hedges or foundation plantings as it can be kept trimmed to any desired height. The glossy, deep green foliage remains until late fall. Plant in full to part sun.
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a fast growing large shrub with white flowers in spring and then produces clusters of blue-white fruit in fall. Its green summer foliage turns red-purple in fall so you will enjoy its red twigs all winter. This plant is rugged, tolerating most soil conditions except for very dry soils. It will even grow in wet, swampy conditions and may thrive in sun or shade. The Dogwood is good cover for birds and wildlife. Great for a screen or windbreak.
Common Purple Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris) is prized by gardeners all over the world for its gorgeous flowers and intense fragrance. This deciduous shrub is used as a hedge or as an individual accent plant. Lilac has light purple flowers occurring in clusters amid the dark-green heart-shaped leaves. In North American gardens, this is a very hardy shrub and can withstand severely cold winters (even -35 degrees C).
Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) is an upright growing shrub that produces its showy golden yellow flowers in early spring. Its beautiful dark green summer foliage creates an outstanding plant. They can be successfully used as solitary accents, in groups of three, or massed together as a tall hedge or barrier. Place them in the landscape where they will command attention with their golden flowers. Prune after flowering to maintain a better form and shape.
Blizzard Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii ‘Blizzard’) is an outstanding, very hardy shrub that blooms profusely for up to 4 weeks in June. These profuse flower clusters are single, white, and extremely fragrant with deep green summer foliage. Will tolerate some light shade, but flowers best in full sun. Blizzard mock orange grows 4-5 feet in height with a 3′ foot spread. Mock orange is ideal in the shrub border or patio where one can enjoy its beauty and fragrance.
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