Gardening Plants & Flowers Shrubs

18 Best Landscaping Shrubs to Grow in Your Yard

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 03/08/24
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and horticulturist with over 30 years of experience in organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
azalea shrubs

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Shrubs, also called bushes, are important in landscaping. Both flowering and non-flowering shrubs are the "bones" of the landscape because they provide structure. Shrubs are also more versatile than trees and can be planted in more areas. They are also easier to transplant if necessary in the future. Since there are many options, focus on easy-to-grow shrubs that will reliably thrive in your climate.

All of the 18 shrubs listed here are cold-hardy to at least USDA zone 5.

Tip

There are all sorts of ways to categorize the different varieties of shrubs. The most basic groupings are:

  • Deciduous shrubs are often known for their flowers.
  • Evergreen shrubs are further divided into needled evergreens and broadleaf evergreens. (Note that some evergreen shrubs bear pretty flowers, too.)
  • 01 of 18

    American Witch Hazel

    American Witch hazel tree

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Often one of the first shrubs to bloom in the late winter or early spring, witch hazel is a hardy shrub that requires cold temperatures to produce its eye-catching spidery and fragrant flowers. Bright green leaves adorn these shrubs in the summer and turn yellow or yellow-orange in the fall. You'll also find Japanese and Chinese witch hazel at nurseries, neither of which are as winter-hardy as cold- and heat-tolerant American witch hazel.

    • Name: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
    • Flower Color: Yellow
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, silt, moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 10-20 ft. tall, 10-20 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: No
  • 02 of 18

    Black Chokeberry

    Black chokeberry plant with small white five-petaled flowers closeup

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Native to the eastern part of North America, black chokeberry is also known as aronia. This small shrub has an upright and fairly rounded shape with glossy, dark green leaves. The foliage turns red to reddish-purple in the fall, providing striking color to the landscape before dropping off the plant for winter. Clusters of small five-petaled flowers appear in the spring, and purplish-black to black fruits that are around the size of blueberries appear in the late summer to fall. Black chokeberry has a slow to moderate growth rate.

    • Name: Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic
    • Mature Size: 3–6 ft. tall and wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 03 of 18

    Bottlebrush Buckeye

    The bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) blooming with white flowers arranged in erect panicles, each flower has small white petals and protruding long stamens

    Kristine Radkovska / Getty Images

    Part of the appeal of bottlebrush buckeye is its adaptability and shade tolerance. It does best in full sun but still does well in partial or even full shade spots, although form and bloom tend to be a bit more sporadic. It has a long bloom time, so you'll get to enjoy the showy, white, feathery panicles for weeks, and the foliage adds fall interest. Bottlebrush buckeye attracts pollinators. The shrub is toxic to humans and pets.

    • Name: Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    • Mature Size: 8-12 ft. tall, 8-15 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 04 of 18

    Common Lilac

    lilacs

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Some shrubs may not give you multi-season interest, but their bloom or fragrance makes them must-haves. One such plant is the common lilac bush. The fragrance of its blooms is the closest thing to a superpower that you will find in the plant world. If fragrant flowers are not enough to convince you to grow a bush that offers nothing outside of spring, here is another selling point: The flowers are pleasing to the eye as well. Lilac starts as a fast-growing shrub but slows down as it matures.

    • Name: Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
    • Flower Color: Purple, white, pink, magenta
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy soil
    • Mature Size: 12-16 ft. tall, 8-12 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
    Continue to 5 of 18 below
  • 05 of 18

    Doublefile Viburnum

    Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum Plicatum) flower and leaves top view
    Viktor Wallon-Hars / Getty Images

    Classifying shrubs as deciduous or evergreen is not the only way to group them. Another characterization is based on what conditions the plants need: sun or shade. A standout shrub for a sunny spot is the doublefile viburnum. Its name says it all: The flowers line up in two rows along the branches. The resulting look is not only unusual, but it's also quite showy for this moderate-growing shrub.

    • Name: Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii') 
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic soil
    • Mature Size: 8-16 ft. tall, 12-15 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 06 of 18

    Dwarf Flowering Almond

    Prunus glandulosa. Alba Plena. North Korea
    znm / Getty Images

    The dwarf flowering almond is a beautiful option, but the argument against this shrub is that it is a one-hit wonder, giving you color only in spring. Once its spring flowers drop off, the bush has little to offer. But its fundamental benefits may outweigh this drawback: It grows quickly, it holds up well during dry periods and puts on a spectacular floral display in spring. Dwarf flowering almond is toxic to humans and pets.

    • Name: Dwarf flowering almond (Prunus glandulosa)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Flower color: Light pink or white
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Mature Size: 3-4 ft. wide, 5 ft. tall
    • Deer-Resistant: Sometimes
  • 07 of 18

    Golden Mop False Cypress

    Background of a Chamaecyparis pisifera aurea falsecypress
    robcocquyt / Getty Images

    Japanese threadleaf false cypress is a favorite shrub among gardeners for its bright golden foliage during spring. Some varieties do a good job of retaining this bright color during the summer as well. The compact, slow-growing cultivar Golden Mop is one of them. It keeps its golden color provided the shrub receives enough sun. It is drought-resistant. At the lower end of its zone range, it is prone to winter burn.

    • Name: Golden Mop false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop')
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Leaf Color: Gold
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Clay, silty, or loamy, well-drained
    • Mature Size: 2-5 feet tall and wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 08 of 18

    Mountain Laurel

    Mountain laurel shrub with pink flowers (Kalmia latifolia 'clementine churchill').
    Paul Tomlins/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images

    Mountain laurel is shade tolerant, but what makes this shrub special are the delicate and pretty clusters of blooms that come out in late spring and early summer that almost look like little origami paper shapes. This somewhat slow-growing shrub is another of the broadleaf evergreens with continuing green foliage, like rhododendrons, and some kinds of azaleas. All parts of the mountain laurel shrub are highly toxic to humans and pets.

    • Name: Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
    • Flower Color: Rose, pink, white
    • Light: Part shade
    • Soil Needs: Cool, rich, well-drained, acidic soil
    • Mature Size: 5–15 ft. tall, 5–15 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
    Continue to 9 of 18 below
  • 09 of 18

    North Pole Arborvitae

    Emerald Green arborvitae shrubs growing in a loose hedge.

    DEA/RANDOM / De Agostini Picture Library / Getty Images

    The​ North Pole arborvitae is both drought-tolerant and fast-growing, which adds to its appeal. This is a tough, evergreen shrub that holds up well to road salt and dry conditions. It is not even especially bothered by poor soil. Plant several in a row if you desire a privacy screen.

    • Name: North Pole arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Art Boe')
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
    • Leaf Color: Green
    • Light: Full sun to part sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, regularly watered soil
    • Mature Size: 15 ft. tall
    • Deer-Resistant: No
  • 10 of 18

    Northern Bush Honeysuckle

    Northern bush honeysuckle shrub branch with tiny yellow flowers surrounded by yellow-green leaves

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Northern bush honeysuckle is a versatile and hardy deciduous shrub that is excellent for relatively dry, semi-shady conditions in regions where summers are relatively cool. It has a suckering, dense growth habit that produces trumpet-shaped yellow flowers over a long period through summer. Native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States, northern bush honeysuckle has dark-green pointed oval leaves arranged alternately on multiple stems emerging from the ground. Unlike non-native honeysuckles, this shrub is not regarded as invasive.

    • Name: Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
    • Flower Color: Yellow-orange
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral 
    • Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 11 of 18

    Oakleaf Hydrangea

    Oakleaf hydrangea

    Masahiro Nakano / a.collectionRF / amana images / Getty Images

    Oakleaf hydrangea may be the ultimate four-season shrub. It is at its peak in fall, when it gives even the best of the fall-foliage trees a run for their money. The slow-growing shrub also bears large flower heads in summer. Even during the winter and spring, it is not without interest, due to its attractive peeling bark. All hydrangeas are toxic to humans and animals.

    • Name: Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
    • Flower Color: Purple, white, pink
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
    • Mature Size: 4-8 ft. tall, 4-8 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 12 of 18

    Red-Twig Dogwood

    red twig dogwood

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Red-twig dogwood is valued for the color of its bark. As a bonus, the 'Elegantissima' cultivar sports bicolored leaves (green with white edges). This somewhat fast-growing shrub has the most to contribute to the landscape in late winter, when its bark color is at its brightest, and when most other plants in the landscape are lacking in color.

    • Name: Red-twig dogwood (Cornus servicea, Cornus alba, or Cornus sanguinea)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, fertile, moist soil
    • Mature Size: 6–9 feet tall, 8–12 feet wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
    Continue to 13 of 18 below
  • 13 of 18

    Rose Bushes

    rose bush

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Among the best deciduous shrubs are the various types of rose bushes. The fast-growing rose has been a favorite for centuries. Like lilac shrubs, rose flowers often combine good looks with a great smell. The only thing that has kept even more gardeners from growing this popular shrub is the belief that roses are hard to grow. If this has stopped you from growing rose bushes, rest assured that some types of roses that are easy to grow are now widely available at nurseries.

    • Name: Rose (Rosa spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 11, depending on type
    • Flower Color: White, red, pink, yellow, orange
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil
    • Mature Size: 6 in.-20 ft. tall and wide
    • Deer-Resistant: No
  • 14 of 18

    Rose of Sharon

    rose of sharon

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Rose of Sharon is a popular choice for a shrub that blooms in late summer after all the other flowering shrubs are done blooming. The five-petal, paper-like flowers come in an array of colors (including bi-colors) that reach 3 inches in diameter. Blooms have a prominent stamen and often a dark-colored throat. This flowering shrub only requires regular watering and feeding when it's young. As it matures, it becomes low-maintenance and it is drought and heat-tolerant.

    • Name: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    • Flower Color: Pink, purple, lavender, red, blue, white; often with dark throats
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, rich soil
    • Mature Size: 8–12 ft. tall, 6–10 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 15 of 18

    Stewartstonian Azalea

    Azalea Stewartstonian

    Captain-tucker / Wikimedia Commons / CC By 3.0

    If you'd prefer a shrub that flowers more regularly, consider the slow-growing red azalea bush known as the 'Stewartstonian'. Because this bush is an evergreen, it has something to offer (namely, foliage) even outside of its prime-time periods. It is at its best both in spring when it flowers and in fall, when its leaves turn reddish. Azaleas are toxic to humans and pets.

    • Name: Stewartstonian azalea (Rhododendron 'Stewartstonian' Gable hybrids)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    • Flower Color: Orange-red
    • Light: Part shade
    • Soil Needs: Fertile, evenly moist, well-drained soil
    • Mature Size: 4-5 ft. tall, similar spread
    • Deer-Resistant: No
  • 16 of 18

    Summersweet

    Summersweet shrub with white raceme flowers surrounded by dark leaves

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    With its late-summer blooms, this medium-sized deciduous shrub adds color and fragrance to your landscape, The flowers are notable for their size, how late they bloom, and their ability to bloom even in the shade. The leaves appear late in spring, which makes the shrub look bare but this is easily mitigated by planting other shrubs or perennials around it. Summersweet is native to the eastern and southern United States and attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

    • Name: Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
    • Flower Color: White, whiteish-pink, pink, rose
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loam, clay, sand, acidic
    • Mature Size: 3-8 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide
    • Deer-Resistant: No
    Continue to 17 of 18 below
  • 17 of 18

    Virginia Sweetspire

    Virginia sweetspire shrub with light green leaves and small white cylindrical flowers surrounded by mulch

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, Virginia sweetspire is a good choice for woodland borders. It has arching stems and a rounded growth habit. From late spring to midsummer, it produces cylindrical drooping flowers. In the fall, the leaves change into attractive shades of red, orange, and gold. In the right conditions, the shrub spreads and fills in quickly via suckering roots, making it good for erosion control.

    • Name: Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, acidic
    • Mature Size: 4-8 ft. tall and wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes
  • 18 of 18

    Winterberry Holly

    Winterberry holly shrub with bright green leaves and bright red berries

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Appreciated for its dark green leaves and bright red berries that persist through the entire winter into spring, winterberry holly has all-season interest. It is slow-growing but readily suckers and spreads to form large thickets. Winterberry holly is native to the eastern United States and it tolerates all types of conditions except extreme dryness and grows best in wetland areas. Winterberry holly is toxic to humans and animals.

    • Name: Winterberry holly (llex verticillata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones:
    • Flower Color: Green, white
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, acidic
    • Mature Size: 3-15 ft. tall and wide
    • Deer-Resistant: Yes

Tips for Growing Shrubs

  • When selecting a shrub, consider its growth pattern. Many shrubs send out lots of suckers, which is a welcome characteristic if you need to fill a space but problematic for small spaces because it will require frequent pruning to keep the shrub's expansion under control.
  • Pruning a shrub at the right time of the year is key, especially for flowering shrubs. Some shrubs bloom on old wood (the previous year's growth) while others flower on new wood (the current year's growth). Make sure you familiarize yourself with the specifics of the shrub before pruning.
  • With few exceptions, shrubs, especially native shrubs, don’t need a lot of fertilizer. Too many nutrients, especially nitrogen, leads to excessive foliage growth and poor blooming.

Learn More

To find shrubs for specific growing conditions, also check out these plant recommendations:

FAQ
  • What is the lowest maintenance shrub?

    Generally, shrubs that require no or only minor pruning and exhibit good drought tolerance have the lowest maintenance requirements. Popular choices for the Northeast and other northern climates in the United States include the North Pole and Techny arborvitae.

  • Are bushes and shrubs the same?

    Because the words bush and shrub are often used interchangeably, and there is no botanical distinction, you might be led to believe that they are the same but they are not. One way of distinguishing between a bush and a shrub is that a bush refers to the growth habit of the plants while a shrub refers to a specific type of plant.

  • What is the best year-round shrub?

    Evergreen shrubs are excellent for year-round interest, especially if you are using them as privacy screens. But there are also deciduous shrubs that look fabulous during the winter, such as red twig dogwood.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Aesculus parviflora. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  2. Bottlebrush. ASPCA.

  3. Prunus glandulosa. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  4. Kalmia latifolia. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  5. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Laurel. ASPCA.

  6. Hydrangea arborescens. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  7. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Hydrangea. ASPCA.

  8. Azaleas and Rhododendrons. National Capital Poison Center.

  9. Azalea. ASPCA.

  10. Winterberry. ASPCA.

  11. Ilex verticilatta. North Carolina State University Extension.