Flowering shrubs add structure, color, and fragrance to any garden. Whether you’re looking for evergreen varieties that provide year-round greenery or deciduous shrubs that bring seasonal bursts of color, there’s a perfect option for every space.
This guide starts with evergreen flowering shrubs, which keep their foliage all year, followed by deciduous flowering shrubs, which shed their leaves in winter but put on a spectacular floral display.
Evergreen Flowering Shrubs (Year-Round Foliage)
1. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Height: 2-6 feet
Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per 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 per year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; requires consistently moist, well-drained soil
Camellias bloom from late fall to early spring, producing rose-like flowers in shades of 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 per year)
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: High; requires moist, well-drained soil
Gardenias are known for their highly fragrant white flowers, making them a favorite for scented gardens. They require humidity and regular watering to thrive.
4. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Height: 3-20 feet (varies by variety)
Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil
Rhododendrons offer large clusters of vibrant flowers in late spring. They are great for woodland gardens and shaded areas.
5. Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata)
Height: 4-8 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per 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 per 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 per year)
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; requires well-drained soil
Daphne is prized for its highly fragrant flowers, blooming in late winter to early spring. It prefers sheltered conditions.
8. Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa)
Height: 3-5 feet
Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial to full shade
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
This shade-loving shrub produces tiny, fragrant white flowers in late winter.
9. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)
Height: 4-10 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per 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 per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant
Rock roses bloom profusely in summer, producing delicate white or pink flowers in dry conditions.
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs (Lose Leaves in Winter)
11. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Height: 8-15 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
Lilacs produce highly fragrant purple, pink, or white flowers in spring.
12. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Height: 6-10 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established
Forsythia is an early-spring bloomer that bursts into bright yellow flowers.
13. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Height: 3-6 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: High; requires consistently moist soil
Hydrangeas are known for their large, showy blooms, which change color based on soil pH.
14. Weigela (Weigela florida)
Height: 4-6 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Weigela is beloved by hummingbirds for its pink or red trumpet-shaped flowers in late spring.
15. Spirea (Spiraea japonica)
Height: 2-4 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Spirea is a low-maintenance shrub that produces pink or white blooms in summer.
16. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Height: 6-12 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
The butterfly bush is famous for its long, cone-shaped flower spikes that bloom in purple, pink, white, or yellow during summer. It attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
17. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Height: 6-10 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
Mock orange gets its name from its intensely fragrant white blooms, which resemble orange blossoms. It blooms in late spring to early summer and works well in hedges or borders.
18. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Height: 8-12 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
A late bloomer, Rose of Sharon produces tropical-looking flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, and blue from mid to late summer. It thrives in hot, sunny conditions and is often used as a privacy hedge.
19. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Height: 5-10 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established
Ninebark is a tough, adaptable shrub with clusters of white or pink flowers in spring. Its peeling bark adds winter interest, and some varieties have striking purple or gold foliage.
20. Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Height: 6-10 feet
Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
Beauty bush is a showy spring bloomer with arching branches covered in pink, bell-shaped flowers. It’s low-maintenance and thrives in sunny, well-drained locations.
21. Kerria (Kerria japonica)
Height: 3-6 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Kerria produces bright yellow, rose-like flowers in spring, with occasional reblooms in summer. It’s a great choice for shady gardens, as it tolerates low light better than most flowering shrubs.
22. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Height: 3-8 feet
Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water Needs: High; prefers moist soil
Summersweet is an excellent shrub for wet areas, as it thrives in damp conditions. It blooms in mid-to-late summer, producing fragrant white or pink flower spikes that attract pollinators.
23. Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’)
Height: 4-7 feet
Growth Rate: 12 inches per year
Sunlight: Partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate
This variety of Kerria has double-petaled, golden-yellow flowers that bloom in spring and sporadically throughout summer. Its green stems remain colorful in winter, adding off-season interest.
24. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Height: 1-3 feet
Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established
St. John’s Wort is a low-growing shrub that produces cheerful yellow flowers in mid-summer. It’s known for its medicinal properties and ability to thrive in poor soils.
25. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Height: 8-12 feet
Growth Rate: 24 inches per year
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate to high; prefers moist, well-drained soil
Elderberry shrubs produce clusters of white flowers in early summer, followed by dark purple berries in late summer, which are edible when cooked. They attract wildlife and make excellent additions to naturalized gardens.
Choosing the Right Flowering Shrub
When selecting flowering shrubs for your garden, consider:
- Bloom time – Select a mix of early, mid, and late-season bloomers to keep your garden colorful throughout the year.
- Sun vs. shade – Some shrubs thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial or full shade.
- Size – Be mindful of the mature height and width to ensure proper spacing.
- Maintenance – Choose shrubs that match your desired level of care, from low-maintenance options like Butterfly Bush to more delicate plants like Gardenia.
By combining evergreen and deciduous shrubs, you can create a garden that blooms in every season!
