Shrubs are plants that we use to divide the garden space indoors, as a background for perennial plants and to create plant compositions. Their diversity is enormous, both in terms of size and habit, site and substrate requirements, as well as maintenance requirements. But there is something for everyone. See which are the best shrubs for the garden!
When choosing shrubs for the garden, it is worth considering what we expect from them: beautiful flowers, shapes or lush green leaves. We also have to think about how much time we can dedicate to plant care: sensitive species need to be covered from severe frosts, some need frequent pruning and others need watering or fertilization. The selection of shrubs for the garden should also depend on the style of the garden, the solar exposure of the plot and the type of substrate.
The most beautiful flowering shrubs for the garden
Pink rose
The undisputed queen of shrubs in the garden. She captivates with the color of her velvety petals, and sometimes with her smell. In gardens, large-flowered (noble) roses, multi-flowered (bedding) roses, tall park roses and small ground cover roses are most often planted.
As befits a queen, the rose has quite high requirements: it needs fertile, well-drained, light soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. You should provide it with a sunny and airy position, but protected from strong winds. Rose bushes planted in the shade are too affected by fungal diseases. You can place roses in the garden alone, in groups or as a hedge, or you can plant them in flower beds and flower beds.
Japanese Azalea (Azalea japonica)
This exotic garden shrub produces flowers before leaves. They are shaped like frilly cups gathered in dense clusters and come in many colors. Azalea requires a moderately sunny or semi-shaded position, protected from dry wind, which is dangerous for the shrub, especially in winter. It grows best in humus and well-drained acidic soils. The substrate must be constantly slightly moist; On the one hand, azalea does not tolerate too wet a substrate, but it also grows poorly in dry soil.
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
A true classic among ornamental garden shrubs. It owes its popularity to the magnificent inflorescences composed of tiny trumpet-shaped flowers with a dazzling aroma. They appear in late spring and can vary in color from white to pink and purplish blue to purple. The advantage of the shrub is the lack of special growing requirements: it can cope with most soils. However, a fertile, slightly moist soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH is most advantageous.
The lilac blooms most beautifully in a sunny position. Most varieties of lilacs are frost-resistant, they also tolerate urban pollution well. The shrub should be planted away from other plants and building walls, as its roots are very expansive. Therefore, the common lilac is most often planted as a solitary or hedge.
Weigela florida (Weigela florida)
In the period from June to July, the plant literally bursts with flowers: they are large, bell-shaped and deep pink. If conditions are favorable, some varieties of the shrub may bloom a second time in the fall. For proper growth, the shrub requires fertile, moist soil with an acidic reaction, as well as a sunny or semi-shaded place. The bush is not completely frost-resistant, so it is worth providing it in winter. It can be planted alone or in groups and rows.
Garden hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
It blooms profusely, forming large spherical inflorescences of various shades of pink, red and blue. Under the influence of the chemical composition and reaction of the substrate, they often change color; Not only does the white hydrangea not change color. The shrub begins to bloom at the end of June and the dead flowers remain on the twigs until the first frost. A sunny or semi-shaded position is best for it: the more sun, the more beautiful it blooms. The hydrangea needs a soil that is permeable, humus, very humid, with an acidic reaction. It has low frost resistance. You can plant it as a single plant or in combination with other flowers and shrubs in your garden.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a shrub that grows and spreads. It produces creamy white flowers that have a beautiful yet intense fragrance. The leaves of the shrub are dark green, oval in shape and slightly rough to the touch. The plant is not demanding and can be bred by complete amateurs of agriculture. It can grow in poor soil, but not too dry. Decorative deciduous jasmine bushes are frost-resistant.
Maybe yellow
The flowering period of the shrub falls on the early spring months. The flowers it releases are yellow. The bush grows very quickly. As for reproduction, it can be done from shoots or by rooting the apical shoots. Forsythia is a tall plant with long branches. It can grow up to 5 m high, it is not demanding. The flower likes not only dry and overly moist soil. In the garden, it should be located in sunny or semi-shaded places. It is resistant to low temperatures.
Espino
This is one of the shrubs that sheds its leaves during winter. It is a small plant that takes the shape of a small tree. It blooms profusely in May and June. It produces white, pink, red or maroon flowers. Hawthorns are very durable plants. They can survive for many years in our garden, which is why many people think that they are cheap ornamental shrubs for the garden. They are characterized by high resistance to frost and the reign of unfavorable conditions.
Black elderberry
Black elderberry is often found in wild areas, but often these plants are also grown as ornamental shrubs. They reach a height of 3 to 6 m. The flowering period is in June. During this period, the flowers come out with a very intense and pleasant fragrance. The lilac flowers are small, creamy white. Shrubs with white flowers are not demanding, they grow well in the shade and in the sun. They can reproduce by self-seeders.
The most beautiful ornamental coniferous shrubs for the garden
Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata) An elegant garden ornament
A distinctive feature of this species of shrub is the bluish color of the needles. The “Blue Star” variety not only has an exceptionally intense color, but also takes on an interesting shape. Initially it is spherical, but over time it forms conical branches, which makes it look like… a star. It is a very easy shrub to grow and extremely resistant to frost.
It grows well in poorly fertile, acidic and sandy soils. It really likes the sun, which is why it is perfect for bright, warm and even hot places. Scaly juniper grows slowly and for this reason it is often used for planting rockeries, lawns on slopes and slopes. You can plant it in flower beds, it also looks great in oriental gardens.
Yew (Taxus) a mystical tree
It is a long-lived shrub that will remain in your garden for years. Gardeners appreciate it for its red berries that look great against the background of deep green needles. It is not a difficult plant to grow: a moderately fertile, moderately humid and calcareous substrate is enough for its happiness. Grows well in sun, shade and partial shade. In especially cold winters, it can freeze, so it is advisable to provide it with a cover against the cold. It is very prone to cutting and shaping, and compacts beautifully, so you can use it to create hedges and garden sculptures.
Korean fir (Abies Koreana)
Korean firs are one of the most decorative conifers, usually in the form of beautiful trees. The variety is one of the dwarf variants of this plant. Like the basic species, it enjoys rigid bicolor needles, but its silhouette is much lower, very dense and wide. Magnificent blue-violet cones are a special decoration of the fir tree. Fir needs a fertile, moist and permeable soil, slightly acidic or neutral. Requires a sunny or semi-shaded position, sheltered from the wind. It grows very slowly, is resistant to frost and air pollution. It looks great when planted in rows or alone.
Dwarf pine (Pinus pumila)
It is small in size and covered with soft, bluish needles covered with white stripes. It produces small cones, at first violet-purple, then brown, which remain on the twigs for years. The dwarf pine has a wide, irregular shape and the arrangement of its needles makes it appear spongy.
It grows best in permeable, acidic and sandy soils, but also in heavier soils. Prefers lots of sunlight. It is a very durable shrub, it can withstand frost, gusty wind, heat and air pollution. It looks good when planted in flower beds and rockeries.
Japanese pine (Pinus densiflora “Oculus draconis”) native to the coastal areas of Japan
This coniferous shrub for the garden grows luxuriantly and can reach a fairly large size, a maximum of 3 m in height. It is distinguished by an irregular, loose crown and long, narrow, radially joined needles. They are of two colors: green, covered with yellow stripes. The fluffy twigs look a bit like the eyes of a Chinese dragon.
Pine grows best in sunny or semi-shaded places, protected from the wind. It shows moderate resistance to frost, so it is worth covering it in winter. It has low soil requirements, it is enough that the substrate is permeable and slightly humid. It works best as a solitaire, fitting perfectly into oriental gardens.
Mountain pine adapted to the cold and dry air of the
mountains
This shrub has dark green needles about 5 cm long. It is undemanding. It can also grow easily in infertile sandy soils. It is resistant to drought and low temperatures. The position where we want to plant the plant must be well sunny.
The most beautiful evergreen deciduous shrubs
Julianna barberry (Berberis julianae)
This decorative shrub blooms with yellow flowers from May to June, but its leaves are equally interesting, initially dark green, turning red in autumn. The fruits of the bush are also decorative: spherical berries of navy blue color. Julianna barberry feels best on fertile, moderately moist soil and in a sunny position, protected from the wind. It is a frost-resistant species, although it requires cover during the highest frosts. It looks great in arrangements with other shrubs, but is also ideal for creating hedges.
Mahonia common (Mahonia aquifolium)
In spring it delights with yellow flowers gathered in dense panicles, and in autumn it enchants with leaves that change color from green to red. In front of them, the deep blue berries of the bush look great. For mahogany, a light, sandy, but fairly fertile and moderately moist, acidic or neutral substrate should be provided. The plant feels better in shady places, it grows much less in the sun. It looks good both when planted alone or in larger groups; It looks picturesque when used for planting alleys in the garden.
Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
The shrub gets its name from the bright orange fruits that are sprayed on the branches in late summer; They remain on the twigs for several months. In the fall, the leaves of the plant change color to a brown color. The firefly is also very decorative in spring when it is covered in cream-colored flowers. It is a tolerant plant: it adapts to most soils, both in sunny and semi-shaded positions. It is often used to create shapeless lanes and hedges.
Spiked holly (Ilex Aquifolium)
The garden shrub commonly associated with Christmas decorations is also a wonderful plant for creating evergreen hedges. It is appreciated for its stiff, green, shiny leaves, with cut plates and red fruits that remain on the twigs throughout the winter.
In order for decorative fruits to appear, you need to plant two bushes next to each other: male and female. Holly is an undemanding plant that is very easy to grow: it feels good in partial shade and shade, and can grow in acidic, sandy and sandy loam soils. It tolerates both frost and heat.
Viburnum chino (Viburnum davidii)
It has lanceolate leaves decorated with light veins, and grows luxuriantly reaching a spherical shape. In spring it blooms with pink flowers that gradually turn white. However, the greatest decoration of the Davidii viburnum is the fruit: they are in the form of pink berries, which turn purple-blue as they ripen.
Since the stems of the bush have a coral color, the fruits look very good on them, creating a pleasing contrast to the eye. Kalina should be planted in well-drained, moderately fertile, slightly moist soil. The plant requires a sunny or lightly shaded location and should be covered during the winter. These garden shrubs look best in groups, so they are often used in alleys or flower beds.
Boxwood evergreen shrub, dark green
This shrub has green leaves all year round. It can be formed into various shapes by yourself. This plant reproduces very quickly, but its growth is very slow. Boxwood is not demanding. It can grow in any soil, the only exception is cold soil in moist, clayey areas. As for the site, boxwood shrubs like shade, but they also grow well in the sunnier parts of the garden.
