When we first moved into our home, the garden felt a bit flat—green, but lacking that wow factor.
It wasn’t until we added a few flowering shrubs that everything changed. Suddenly, we had color, fragrance, and structure—and the space just came alive.
Flowering shrubs are one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in your garden. They bring bursts of seasonal color, attract pollinators, and offer structure even in the off-season. Whether you’re after evergreen varieties for year-round foliage or deciduous types that put on a show in spring or summer, there’s a shrub on this list that’ll fit right in.
This guide starts with evergreen flowering shrubs, followed by deciduous varieties—so you can mix and match for interest in every season.
Evergreen Flowering Shrubs (Year-Round Foliage)
1. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Height: 2–6 feet
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers moist, well-drained soil
Azaleas are beloved for their bright, trumpet-shaped flowers in pink, red, white, or purple during spring. They thrive in acidic soil and are best suited for partially shaded gardens.
2. Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Height: 6–12 feet
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; consistently moist, well-drained soil
Camellias bloom from late fall to early spring, producing rose-like flowers in pink, red, or white. Their glossy, evergreen leaves provide beauty year-round.
3. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Height: 3–6 feet
Growth Rate: Slow (under 6 inches/year)
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: High; moist, well-drained soil
Gardenias are known for their highly fragrant white flowers, making them a favorite for scented gardens. They need humidity and regular watering to thrive.
4. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Height: 3–20 feet (varies)
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; moist, well-drained, acidic soil
Rhododendrons offer large clusters of vibrant flowers in late spring. They’re ideal for woodland gardens and shaded areas.
5. Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata)
Height: 4–8 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
This fragrant evergreen shrub produces star-shaped white flowers in spring and summer, attracting pollinators.
6. Winter Heath (Erica carnea)
Height: 6–12 inches
Growth Rate: Slow (under 6 inches/year)
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low; prefers well-drained, sandy soil
Winter heath blooms in late winter with pink or purple bell-shaped flowers, adding early-season color.
7. Daphne (Daphne odora)
Height: 3–4 feet
Growth Rate: Slow (under 6 inches/year)
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; requires well-drained soil
Daphne is prized for its intensely fragrant flowers in late winter to early spring. It prefers a sheltered spot.
8. Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa)
Height: 3–5 feet
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial to full shade
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
This shade-loving shrub produces tiny, sweet-scented white flowers in late winter.
9. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)
Height: 4–10 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established
Escallonia is a fast-growing shrub that produces clusters of pink, white, or red flowers in summer.
10. Rock Rose (Cistus spp.)
Height: 2–6 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant
Rock roses bloom profusely in summer with delicate white or pink flowers that thrive in dry conditions.
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs (Lose Leaves in Winter)
11. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Height: 8–15 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; well-drained soil
Lilacs produce highly fragrant purple, pink, or white flowers in spring and are garden classics.
12. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Height: 6–10 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established
Forsythia is one of the earliest bloomers, bursting into bright yellow flowers that signal spring is near.
13. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Height: 3–6 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: High; moist soil
Hydrangeas are known for their large, colorful blooms that shift with soil pH.
14. Weigela (Weigela florida)
Height: 4–6 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Weigela produces trumpet-shaped pink or red flowers in late spring, attracting hummingbirds.
15. Spirea (Spiraea japonica)
Height: 2–4 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Spirea offers soft, fluffy clusters of pink or white flowers in summer and is low-maintenance.
16. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Height: 6–12 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant
This fast-growing shrub produces long flower spikes that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all summer long.
17. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Height: 6–10 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate
Mock orange offers citrus-scented white flowers in late spring, perfect for hedges or borders.
18. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Height: 8–12 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant
This late bloomer delivers tropical-looking flowers in summer and works wonderfully as a flowering privacy hedge.
19. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Height: 5–10 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant
Ninebark has beautiful peeling bark and white or pink flowers in spring. Its foliage can be purple, gold, or green.
20. Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Height: 6–10 feet
Growth Rate: 12–24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; well-drained soil
Beauty bush is low-maintenance and produces a profusion of soft pink bell-shaped flowers in spring.
21. Kerria (Kerria japonica)
Height: 3–6 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Kerria offers bright yellow flowers in spring and summer. It performs well in shaded gardens.
22. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Height: 3–8 feet
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: High; thrives in damp soil
Summersweet produces fragrant flower spikes in summer and grows well in moisture-rich spots.
23. Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’)
Height: 4–7 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches/year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate
This double-flowering variety of Kerria offers golden blooms through spring and summer, with green stems that brighten winter.
24. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Height: 1–3 feet
Growth Rate: 6–12 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant
This tough little shrub offers cheerful yellow flowers and thrives in poor soil, making it a reliable groundcover or low border.
25. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Height: 8–12 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches/year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate to high; moist, well-drained soil
Elderberries bloom in summer with creamy white flowers followed by edible dark berries. Perfect for naturalistic gardens and wildlife.
Clive’s Tips for Choosing the Right Flowering Shrubs
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Mix it up – Combine evergreens and deciduous shrubs for year-round interest.
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Think about height – Layer tall, medium, and low-growing shrubs for depth.
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Mind the maintenance – Choose low-care options like Spirea or Ninebark if you’re after simplicity.
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Plant for pollinators – Shrubs like Butterfly Bush and Lilac are brilliant for bees and butterflies.
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Use scent smartly – Plant fragrant varieties like Gardenia or Mock Orange near patios or paths.
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