27 Beautiful Flowering Shrubs to Grow in Your Garden
Flowering shrubs are ideal for adding structure, color, and texture to gardens, landscaping projects, or natural areas. They can serve as standalone ornamental plants, provide privacy as hedges, attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and offer seasonal beauty with both flowers and foliage changes year-round. In this guide, explore a collection of our absolute favorite types of flowering shrubs, prized for their ornamental beauty and stunning displays each season.
If you’re new to the world of shrubs, see our comprehensive guide to the types and classifications of shrubs explained to learn about how to pick the best varieties for your outdoor spaces.
1) Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Hydrangeas are like the color-changing chameleons of the plant world. Their blooms shift hues depending on soil pH, from baby blues to sweet pinks. Popular varieties like ‘Endless Summer’ are adored for blooming all season long, making them a garden favorite that keeps on giving.
- Growing Zones: 3–9
- Flowering Season: Late spring to fall
- Colors: Blue, pink, white, purple
- Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic
- Height/Spread: 3-6 feet / 3-6 feet
- Guide: How to Grow Hydrangeas
2) Lilac (Syringa spp.)
Lilacs start showcasing their beauty in spring, filling the air with a fragrance that takes you back to a timeless cottage garden. Whether you’re partial to the classic Syringa vulgaris or the dwarf ‘Miss Kim,’ lilacs bring a nostalgic charm with their delicate, clustered flowers. Plus, they’re tough as nails when it comes to cold winters.
- Growing Zones: 3–7
- Flowering Season: Late spring
- Colors: Purple, pink, white, blue
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, neutral to alkaline
- Height/Spread: 8–15 feet / 6–12 feet
3) Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Azaleas throw one heck of a garden party in spring, lighting up with bold blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. ‘Encore’ Azaleas even offer an encore performance by blooming again in the fall. Perfect for adding a pop of color under dappled shade, they’re the life of the garden.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Flowering Season: Spring, sometimes fall
- Colors: Pink, white, purple, red
- Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-6 feet / 3-6 feet
4) Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
If you love tropical vibes but live in a temperate zone, Rose of Sharon has your back. Its hibiscus-like blooms look exotic, but it’s hardy enough to survive colder climates. Varieties like ‘Blue Chiffon’ can make your garden feel like a staycation.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Flowering Season: Late summer to fall
- Colors: Pink, blue, white, red, purple
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, moist
- Height/Spread: 8-12 feet / 6-10 feet
5) Butterfly Bush (Buddleja spp.)
This shrub practically waves a flag to pollinators, especially butterflies. The long, arching sprays of flowers come in purples, pinks, and even white. Varieties like ‘Black Knight’ are loved for their deep, almost velvety blooms, and let’s face it, who doesn’t want more butterflies in the garden?
- Growing Zones: 5-10
- Flowering Season: Summer to early fall
- Colors: Purple, pink, white, yellow
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 6-8 feet / 4-6 feet
6) Camellia (Camellia spp.)
Camellias bloom in late winter, just when you’re craving color the most. The glossy green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for the rose-like blooms of varieties like Camellia japonica. A bit finicky with soil pH, but the reward? A show-stopping, evergreen beauty.
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Flowering Season: Fall to spring
- Colors: Pink, red, white
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 6-12 feet / 5-10 feet
- Guide: How to Grow a Cammelia Hedge
7) Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)
Forsythia is the garden’s answer to a yellow highlighter. This shrub lights up the landscape with its golden flowers when nothing else is blooming in early spring. Easygoing and fast-growing, it’s the “instant gratification” flowering shrub for gardeners.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Flowering Season: Early spring
- Colors: Yellow
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 8-10 feet / 10-12 feet
- Guide: How to Grow Forsythia Lynwood Gold
8) Spirea (Spiraea spp.)
Spirea is like that reliable friend who always shows up when needed. It offers easy care with lovely white, pink, or red blooms. The ‘Goldflame’ variety brings an extra bonus of fiery orange foliage in the fall, extending its season of interest.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Flowering Season: Late spring to summer
- Colors: White, pink, red
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-3 feet / 2-3 feet
9) Weigela (Weigela spp.)
Weigela is an old-fashioned shrub that’s made a serious comeback. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are loved by hummingbirds, and popular weigela varieties like ‘Wine and Roses’ add striking dark foliage to the mix. It’s a low-maintenance, high-reward shrub that keeps humming along year after year.
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
- Colors: Pink, red, white
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 3-5 feet / 3-5 feet
10) Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
If you’ve ever smelled a Gardenia flower, you know why people plant them. Their white blooms pack a punch of fragrance that’s downright intoxicating. While they can be a bit particular about their conditions, the payoff is worth every bit of effort.
- Growing Zones: 8-11
- Flowering Season: Late spring to summer
- Colors: White
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 4-6 feet / 4-6 feet
11) Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
Viburnums are garden multitaskers. They not only deliver lovely blooms but also offer berries and fall color. Snowball Viburnum is a favorite with its large, spherical white flowers that resemble, well, snowballs – without the frostbite.
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Colors: White, pink
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 8-12 feet / 8-12 feet
12) Deutzia (Deutzia spp.)
Deutzia flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. Its cascading, star-shaped white and pink flowers can brighten a garden corner. Plus, it’s easygoing and grows well in a range of soils, making it an underrated gem for anyone seeking a fuss-free shrub.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Flowering Season: Spring to early summer
- Colors: White, pink
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-4 feet / 3-4 feet
13) Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape Myrtle is like the grand finale of summer with its fireworks display of blooms in pink, red, and purple. It thrives in the heat and loves basking in full sun. The smooth, peeling bark and bright fall color make it a year-round standout.
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Flowering Season: Summer to fall
- Colors: Pink, red, white, purple
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 10-30 feet / 10-20 feet
- Guide: Popular Types of Crap Myrtle
14) Mock Orange (Philadelphus spp.)
Mock Orange might not look like much most of the year, but when it blooms, it smells like a citrus grove. It’s a treat for both you and the bees. And while it’s often white, its flowers are anything but boring, especially when you catch that sweet scent.
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
- Colors: White
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 6-12 feet / 6-12 feet
- Guide: Popular Types of Mock Orange
15) Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Rhododendrons add elegance to a shady spot with their large, showy flowers. Varieties like ‘PJM’ are especially popular for their hardiness and vivid blooms. Once you see those bright blossoms, you’ll forgive them for being a bit picky about their soil.
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Colors: Pink, white, purple, red
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 3-6 feet / 3-6 feet
16) Abelia (Abelia spp.)
Abelia is the workhorse of flowering shrubs, with blooms that last well into fall. The ‘Kaleidoscope’ variety adds a mix of colorful leaves to the equation, keeping your garden lively. It’s a favorite for border planting due to its compact size and tidy growth habit.
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Flowering Season: Summer to fall
- Colors: White, pink
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-6 feet / 3-5 feet
- Guide: How to Grow Abelia Kaleidoscope
17) Daphne (Daphne spp.)
Daphne may be small, but it packs a punch with its highly fragrant blooms. With a reputation for being temperamental, it might make you work for its flowers, but once those pink or white blossoms appear, you’ll be glad you didn’t give up.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Flowering Season: Winter to spring
- Colors: Pink, white, purple
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
- Height/Spread: 3-4 feet / 3-4 feet
18) Pieris (Pieris japonica)
Pieris is like the jewelry box of the garden with its dangling clusters of bell-shaped flowers. Varieties like ‘Mountain Fire’ even offer fiery new foliage in spring. It’s a great choice for shaded areas where many other shrubs won’t thrive.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Flowering Season: Early spring
- Colors: White, pink
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 4-12 feet / 3-8 feet
19) Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)
Potentilla is the no-fuss, drought-tolerant shrub every low-maintenance gardener needs. This little guy keeps producing flowers all summer with cheerful blooms in yellow, white, or pink. You can practically ignore it, and it’ll still look good.
- Growing Zones: 2-7
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Colors: Yellow, white, pink
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-4 feet / 2-4 feet
- Guide: How to Grow Potentilla Reptans
20) Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
Bluebeard is a late-summer superstar with its cool blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies like crazy. It thrives in full sun and is a fantastic choice for those dry, hard-to-grow areas. ‘Dark Knight’ is a standout with deeper blue blooms.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Flowering Season: Late summer to early fall
- Colors: Blue
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 2-3 feet / 2-3 feet
21) Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Heavenly Bamboo isn’t bamboo at all, but it does have graceful, bamboo-like leaves. It’s evergreen with white flowers in summer and red berries in winter, making it a year-round asset. Nandina’s multi-season appeal is why you’ll see it in so many landscapes.
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Flowering Season: Late spring to summer
- Colors: White
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 4-8 feet / 2-4 feet
22) Quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
Quince throws open the doors of spring with vibrant, almost electric blooms. Whether red, pink, or white, these flowers show up early and make a splash. Bonus? The thorny branches make it a great security shrub – no one’s sneaking through those.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Flowering Season: Early spring
- Colors: Red, pink, white
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 3-10 feet / 3-10 feet
23) Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
The Smoke Bush gets its name from the smoky, fluffy plumes that cover the plant in late summer. ‘Royal Purple’ adds even more drama with its dark, almost black leaves. It’s a bold choice for a statement plant, perfect for those who like something a bit different.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Flowering Season: Late spring to summer
- Colors: Smoky pinkish-purple
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 10-15 feet / 10-15 feet
24) Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Summersweet is aptly named—it flowers in the peak of summer when other shrubs have called it quits. Its pink or white blooms smell like candy and draw in pollinators like bees and butterflies. It’s a refreshing pop of color when you need it most.
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Flowering Season: Summer to fall
- Colors: White, pink
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 3-8 feet / 4-6 feet
25) Fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.)
Fothergilla’s white bottlebrush flowers are eye-catching enough, but come fall, the leaves put on a spectacular show in shades of orange, yellow, and red. It’s the shrub that keeps on giving throughout the year, with each season bringing something new.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Colors: White
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained
- Height/Spread: 3-6 feet / 3-6 feet
26) Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Sweetshrub’s dark, red-brown flowers might not scream for attention, but their unique, spicy fragrance is unforgettable. It’s a quirky, lesser-known shrub that adds character to any garden. Plus, it’s tough as nails and doesn’t ask for much in return.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
- Colors: Red, brown
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, moist
- Height/Spread: 6-9 feet / 6-12 feet
27) Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Ninebark is known for its peeling bark, which adds winter interest even when the flowers are gone. Varieties like ‘Diabolo’ also offer striking dark foliage, making it a popular pick for those looking to add texture and contrast to their landscape.
- Growing Zones: 2-8
- Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
- Colors: White, pink clusters
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained
- Height/Spread: 5-8 feet / 4-6 feet
Resources And Further Reading
There’s a lot to learn and love about flowering shrubs. Here are some of my favorite books and resources:
Books:
- Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening – A go-to for organic gardening enthusiasts, this book covers everything from vegetables to shrubs with up-to-date advice on earth-friendly gardening practices and pest control. It’s a must-have for any serious gardener interested in flowering shubs.
- Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia – Michael Dirr is a renowned expert in woody plants, and this book offers comprehensive information on flowering shrubs and trees. The detailed descriptions and growing tips make it an invaluable resource for both beginners and experienced gardeners.
- Wyman’s Gardening Encyclopedia – This classic covers 9,500 plant species, including a wealth of information on shrubs. It’s well-organized, scientifically thorough, and includes both expert knowledge and practical observations for your garden.
- The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust – Known for its extensive coverage on pruning, deadheading, and care of perennials, this book also covers many flowering shrub species. It’s a great guide for keeping your shrubs looking their best year after year.
- Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers by the Royal Horticultural Society – An extensive plant catalog that includes detailed shrub profiles, helping you choose the right plant for your space based on climate, size, and bloom season.
Online Resources:
- The National Gardening Association – This site offers plant care guides, a comprehensive pest control library, and a wealth of information on growing shrubs in different regions of the U.S.
- A Way to Garden by Margaret Roach – Margaret Roach’s blog covers a wide range of gardening topics, with a particular focus on native plants, shrubs, and perennials. She provides both practical advice and musings on nature.
- Cornell University’s Gardening Resources – Offering a wealth of horticultural information, this resource includes extensive guides on shrub selection, planting, and care for various regions and climates.
Forums and Communities
Getting advice from fellow gardeners can be incredibly useful. Websites like GardenWeb and The National Gardening Association have forums where people share their experiences and tips for growing shrubs.
YouTube Channels
For visual learners, channels such as Linda Vater offer practical video tutorials. Linda covers everything from planting techniques to seasonal care tips for flowering shrubs.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.