Top 10 Flowering Shrubs

Weigela spp. • Zones 3 to 9

For a pretty shrub with interest from early spring through fall, plant weigela in your borders and flower beds. For a compact shrub with bold pink flowers and burgundy fall foliage, try Fine Wine.

Syringa vulgaris • Zones 3 to 8

Blooming lilacs are among the most anticipated sights and scents of spring. A deciduous shrub growing up to 22 feet tall and wide, it’s at its best in small groupings or as a specimen plant.

Viburnum spp. • Zones 2 to 9
Among the most popular of ornamental flowering

shrubs and small trees, viburnum is sought after for three reasons: it’s beautiful, it’s versatile and it’s easy to grow. What’s more, there are three prime features that contribute to the viburnum’s year-round beauty: the flowers, the leaves and the colorful fruits it produces.

Forsythia • Zones 3 to 9

When this shrub blooms, you’ll be certain that warmer weather is on the way. Forsythia is one of the first plants to flower in spring, a time when its bell-shaped golden blossoms are a most welcome sight.

Rhododendron spp. • Zones 4 to 9

Its showy blooms—available in a wide spectrum of colors—and its preference for partial shade have made this flowering shrub one of the most popular in the country. A natural fit in many settings, the rhododendron looks great in woodland gardens or as a single bush in smaller urban landscapes.

Hibiscus syriacus • Zones 5 to 9

It may be a late bloomer but, as many gardeners know, rose of Sharon is well worth the wait. A member of the hibiscus family, this deciduous shrub bears beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from late summer through mid-autumn. Rose of Sharon plants reach 10 feet high and thrive in moist, well-draining soil.

Prunus tomentosa • Zones 2 to 7

Hardy and fast-growing, the Nanking cherry produces fragrant white flowers in spring. A larger shrub or small ornamental tree, it grows 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. After the spring bloom, you’ll notice small fruits, a favorite of many songbirds. Use Nanking cherry in the landscape for a hedge, border or specimen planting.

Hydrangea spp. • Zones 4 to 10

The sight of one of these beauties is sure to conjure up memories of Grandma’s garden. The showy shrub has long been a favorite of gardeners looking for an easy-care plant that flowers even in partial shade. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are perfect for mild climates but usually won’t flower in regions with cold winters. In these areas, try cultivars of sevenbark hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), which produce huge spheres of densely packed white blooms.

Camellia spp. • Zones 6 to 11

When most garden plants are settling in for a well-earned rest, camellia is just warming up. In fall, this evergreen shows off pink, white, yellow, orange and red blooms that last into winter and even early spring. With varieties ranging from 3 to 20 feet high, camellia does best in a partly shady spot that’s protected from hot, dry air and cold, strong winds.

Daphne spp. • Zones 4 to 10

Here’s a flowering shrub that almost smells better than it looks—almost. Daphne is loved for the intoxicating scent of its delicate white, pink and purple blooms. Its compact habit and myriad varieties make it versatile, so try it as a ground cover, specimen or foundation planting.