Flowering Shrubs: A Guide to Low-Maintenance Beauties
Introduction
Flowering shrubs add color, fragrance, and texture to your landscape, but they can also be a lot of work to maintain. If you’re looking for shrubs that are easy to care for and will still give you beautiful blooms, read on for our top picks.
Choosing Low-Maintenance Flowering Shrubs
When choosing flowering shrubs, it’s important to consider your hardiness zone and the size of your site. You’ll also want to pick shrubs that are tolerant of your local climate and soil conditions.
Easy-Care Flowering Shrubs Under 6 Feet
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Fragrant Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima): This short honeysuckle bush produces sweetly scented white flowers in the spring. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade and most soil types.
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Hills of Snow Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens grandiflora): Known for its large white flower clusters, this hydrangea grows in mounds and prefers full sun for best blooming.
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Persian Lilac (Syringa x persica): A popular choice for its fragrant spring flowers, Persian lilac is a small shrub that overflows with blooms in late spring.
Tall Easy-Care Shrubs
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Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.): This tall shrub can reach up to 12 feet tall and produces long-lasting blooms in shades of purple, pink, or red. It thrives in full sun and attracts butterflies.
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Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica): Looking for a flowering shrub for shady areas? Japanese kerria charms with unique foliage and large, yellow flowers in April. It grows up to 10 feet tall and wide and is very low-maintenance.
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Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria purpureus): This unusual shrub produces plume-like purple flowers and eye-catching purple-green foliage that turns fiery red in the fall. It’s very adaptable and will thrive in any soil conditions.
Tips for Growing and Caring for Flowering Shrubs
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Choose the right location: Make sure your shrubs are planted in a spot that receives the right amount of sunlight and has well-drained soil.
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Water regularly: Especially during the hot summer months, your shrubs will need regular watering.
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Fertilize: Fertilize your shrubs according to the manufacturer’s instructions to help them produce healthy blooms.
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Prune: Pruning helps to shape your shrubs and encourage new growth. Prune your shrubs after they have finished blooming.
Conclusion
With a little care and attention, flowering shrubs can provide years of beauty and enjoyment in your landscape. By choosing low-maintenance varieties and following these simple care tips, you can have a thriving garden without all the hassle.
