04 Sep

Best Flowering Shrub to Grow in Your Garden

Flowering shrubs make excellent ornaments in a garden or landscape design. They come in all sizes and shapes and offer a wide variety of foliage, flowers, colors, texture and structure. Besides their ornamental value, flowering shrubs are utility plants that can be used to make hedges, privacy screens, wind breakers, and interesting espalier or topiary designs.

Most flowering shrubs require little maintenance and make excellent choice for designing low-maintenance landscapes.

Following is a list of best flowering shrubs you can grow in your garden or landscape.

Best Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Tibouchina urvilleana

Tibouchina is a genus of excellent bloomers from tropical and sub-tropical climates, majorly from Brazil and Mexico. Most species are evergreen and produce attractive flowers of pink and purple colors. Tibouchina urvilleana is a nice evergreen flowering shrub that can grow up to 10 feet in its native climate. It is known for its silvery-green foliage and beautiful purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies.

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Purple (summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 12 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Princess Flower, Glory Flower

Tibouchina urvilleana makes an excellent evergreen flowering shrub. It does not require much maintenance and blooms profusely in mid-summer. If you are looking for other options, I would recommend the following evergreen flowering shrubs:

Polygala myrtifolia 

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Purple (all year)
  • Water: Drought tolerant; water when the soil is dry
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Do not over water
  • Other Names: September Bush

Loropetalum chinense (Buy online)

  • Foliage: Evergreen; Colorful in winter
  • Flowers: Pink (early spring)
  • Water: Regular
  • Light: Full to partial sun; also grows in shaded spots
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 7 to 10
  • Special Care: Do not over water
  • Other Names: Chinese fringe-flower

Streptosolen jamesonii (Buy online)

  • Foliage: Evergreen; Colorful in winter
  • Flowers: Orange (spring/summer)
  • Water: Regular
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Do not over water
  • Other Names: Marmalade Bush

Best Flowering Shrub for Colorful Foliage

Breynia disticha (Buy online)

Breynia disticha is a nice flowering shrub better known for its colorful foliage. Originally from the tropical climates, Breynia disticha can be grown in colder climates when protected from frost and freeze. This attractive flowering shrub is characterized by wavy, red stem and variegated foliage of white and pink hues. Breynia disticha makes an excellent plant for containers, garden borders as well as a ground cover in landscape designs.

Best flowering shrub for colorful foliage: Breynia disticha

Breynia disticha/ Image by Forest & Kim Starr

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly alkaline
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Snow Bush

Other flowering shrubs for colorful foliage include:

Coprosma repens

Coprosma 'Tequila Sunburst'

Coprosma ‘Tequila Sunburst’/ Image by Leonora Enking

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 5 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 10b
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Mirror Bush

Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’

Aucuba Japonica, The Gold Dust Plant

Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’, Image by Kaustav Bhattacharya

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous late winter flowers
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 10 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 6a to 10b
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Gold Dust

Iresine herbstii

Iresine Herbstii, The Bloodleaf Plant

Iresine Herbstii, The Bloodleaf Plant, Image by Leonora Enking (flickr)

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly alkaline
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Snow Bush

Euonymus japonica

Euonymus Japonica, Evergreen Shrub

Euonymus Japonica, Spindle Tree, Image by John (Puzzler4879@flickr)

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly alkaline
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Snow Bush

Dodonaea Viscosa ‘Purpurea’

Dodonaea Viscosa Purpurea

Dodonaea Viscosa ‘Purpurea’, Image by Suzette Hosken

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Inconspicuous
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly alkaline
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11
  • Special Care: Protect from frost and extreme cold
  • Other Names: Snow Bush

Best Low-maintenance Flowering Shrub

Bougainvillea

Bougainville is a widely grown flowering shrub in many parts of the world. It is known for its attractive and colorful bracts. It is a hardy shrub that survives a range of climatic conditions and growing environment. A large number of varieties of Bougainville are commercially offered and are liked because of their colorful bracts and variegated foliage. Most varieties originate from four major species. Bougainville spectabilis (purple or rose-purple bracts), Bougainville glabra (magenta bracts and oblong, bright green leaves), Bougainville peruviana (smaller, mauve-pink bracts, yellowish flowers and large, smooth leaves), and Bougainville formosa (large clusters of pale magenta-pink flowers, usually bears variegated leaves).

Best low maintenance flowering shrub, Bougainvillea

Image by Tushar Pokle

  • Foliage: Evergreen colorful foliage
  • Flowers: Bracts of Red, Orange, Purple, Pink, Magenta, Apricot (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 6 feet
  • Propagation: Hardwood cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Other low-maintenance flowering shrubs you should consider include:

Weigela florida

Weigela florida

Weigela florida

  • Foliage: Deciduous
  • Flowers:  Pink, Mauve (Spring / Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Size: Up to 12 feet
  • Propagation: Hardwood cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 5a to 8b

Pimelea ferruginea

Pimelea Ferruginea, Flowering Shrub

Pimelea Ferruginea, Image by Barry Michael

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: White (Spring / Early Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 15 cm
  • Propagation: Hardwood cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Tecoma capensis

Tecomaria capensis

Tecomaria capensis/ Image by James Gaither

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Red, Orange (Late Summer / Early Fall)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 8 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings, Layering
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Lagerstroemia indica

Lagerstroemia Speciosa

  • Foliage: Deciduous
  • Flowers: Pink, Magenta, Purple (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 12 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Best Shrubs for Attractive Flowers

Chaenomeles speciosa

Chaenomeles speciosa

Chaenomeles speciosa/ Image by Etringita (flickr)

  • Foliage: Deciduous
  • Flowers: Pink, Red, White (Winter/ Early Spring)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 10 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings, layering
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 5a to 8b

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis/ Image via flickr by Dinesh Valke

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: White (Summer / Fragrant flowers)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 12 feet
  • Propagation: Cuttings
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Melaleuca

Melaleuca

Melaleuca tree/ Image by Tatiana Gerus

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Cream (Fragrant flowers)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun
  • Size: Up to 40 feet
  • Propagation: Seeds
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Holmskioldia sanguinea

Holmskioldia sanguinea

Holmskioldia sanguinea, Image by Douglas Sprott

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Red, orange, yellow (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 10 feet
  • Propagation: Cutting, layering
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Best Flowering Shrub for Unusual Flowers

Clianthus puniceus

Clianthus puniceus

Clianthus puniceus/ Image by Tony Rodd

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Red, pink (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 10 feet
  • Propagation: Cutting, seeds
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Leonotis leonurus

Leonotis leonurus

Leonotis leonurus, the Lion’s tail/ Image by Andy Carvin

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Red, pink (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun to partial Sun
  • Size: Up to 10 feet
  • Propagation: Cutting, seeds
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 9a to 11

Crotalaria agatiflora

Crotalaria agatiflora

Crotalaria agatiflora/ Bird Bush/ Image by Erick Lux

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Yellow (Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun
  • Size: Up to 4 feet
  • Propagation: Seeds
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 8a to 11

Justicia brandegeana

Justicia brandegeana, The Shrimp Plant

Justicia brandegeana, The Shrimp Plant

  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Flowers: Pink(Spring/ Summer)
  • Water: Regular; do not over water
  • Light: Full Sun
  • Size: Up to 5 feet
  • Propagation: Cutting
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • USDA Zone: 8a to 11

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