When planting a well-rounded landscape, you’ll want to add shrubs to fill in the vertical space between perennials and trees. Not only will this build visual interest, but shrubs also create privacy screens, block noise from streets, give the garden a focal point, and provide wildlife habitat. With so many shrubs to choose from, it was hard to narrow them down to our 10 favorites!
BARBERRY
Botanical name: Berberis
Use: Hedges, border edging, mass plantings, formal gardens.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone: 4-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 2-4 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant! Attracts pollinators and provides habitat for small birds.
Use: Hedges, border edging, mass plantings, formal gardens.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone: 4-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 2-4 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant! Attracts pollinators and provides habitat for small birds.
FINE LINE BUCKTHORN
Botanical name: Rhamnus frangula
Use: Narrow hedge, accent specimen.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone: 2-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 5-7 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant, bird friendly, prized for foliage.
Use: Narrow hedge, accent specimen.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone: 2-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 5-7 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant, bird friendly, prized for foliage.
MANHATTAN EUONYMUS
Botanical name: Euonymus kiautschovicus
Use: Semi-evergreen shrub, informal screen, espalier.
Sun exposure: Part Sun/ Part Shade
Zone: 5-8
Foliage type: Semi-evergreen broadleaf
Average size: 6-8 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Special features: Bird friendly, easy care, attracts pollinators.
Use: Semi-evergreen shrub, informal screen, espalier.
Sun exposure: Part Sun/ Part Shade
Zone: 5-8
Foliage type: Semi-evergreen broadleaf
Average size: 6-8 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Special features: Bird friendly, easy care, attracts pollinators.
MOCK ORANGE
Botanical name: Philadelphus
Use: Mixed border, informal screen
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 4-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 6-8 ft tall, 6 ft wide
Special features: Fragrant showy flowers, easy care.
Use: Mixed border, informal screen
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 4-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 6-8 ft tall, 6 ft wide
Special features: Fragrant showy flowers, easy care.
MUGO PINE
Botanical name: Pinus mugo
Use: Rock gardens, mass plantings, mixed groupings with broadleaf shrubs.
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 2-8
Foliage type: Evergreen
Average size: 3-5 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide
Special features: Bird friendly, showy cones, easy care, year-round interest
Use: Rock gardens, mass plantings, mixed groupings with broadleaf shrubs.
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 2-8
Foliage type: Evergreen
Average size: 3-5 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide
Special features: Bird friendly, showy cones, easy care, year-round interest
NINEBARK
Botanical name: Physocarpus opulifolius
Use: Border, hedge, specimen planting.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone:3-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 4-8 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide
Special features: Prized for dramatic foliage colors, easy care, waterwise.
Use: Border, hedge, specimen planting.
Sun exposure: Full sun/ part shade
Zone:3-7
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 4-8 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide
Special features: Prized for dramatic foliage colors, easy care, waterwise.
SMOKEBUSH
Botanical name: Cotinus coggygria
Use: Single specimen, shrub borders, informal screen.
Sun exposure: Part sun/ part shade
Zone: 5-9
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 10-15 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant, purple smoky plumes, strong fall color
Use: Single specimen, shrub borders, informal screen.
Sun exposure: Part sun/ part shade
Zone: 5-9
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 10-15 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide
Special features: Deer resistant, purple smoky plumes, strong fall color
SNOWMOUND SPIREA
Botanical name: Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’
Use: Back of border, casual hedge, cutting garden, single specimen.
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 4-9
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-5 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide
Special features: Attracts pollinators, easy care, fall color.
Use: Back of border, casual hedge, cutting garden, single specimen.
Sun exposure: Full sun
Zone: 4-9
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-5 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide
Special features: Attracts pollinators, easy care, fall color.
ST. JOHN’S WORT ‘SUNBURST’
Botanical name: Hypericum frondosum ‘Sunburst’
Use: Foundation plant, mass plantings, informal hedges.
Sun exposure: Full sun / part shade
Zone: 5-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-4 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide
Special features: Noted for large yellow flowers and blue foliage, ornamental berries, easy care, attracts pollinators
Use: Foundation plant, mass plantings, informal hedges.
Sun exposure: Full sun / part shade
Zone: 5-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-4 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide
Special features: Noted for large yellow flowers and blue foliage, ornamental berries, easy care, attracts pollinators
WEIGELA
Botanical name: Weigela
Use: Shrub border, single specimen
Sun exposure: Part sun / part shade
Zone:4-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-6 ft tall, 3-6 ft wide
Special features: Bee and hummingbird magnet!
Use: Shrub border, single specimen
Sun exposure: Part sun / part shade
Zone:4-8
Foliage type: Deciduous
Average size: 3-6 ft tall, 3-6 ft wide
Special features: Bee and hummingbird magnet!