Flowering Shrubs

Large, deeply lobed leaves shaped like those of an oak give this four-season native shrub its name: Oakleaf Hydrangea. Hydrangea quercifolia produces long, cone-shaped clusters of white flowers in early summer that slowly age to pink and tan. In fall, the foliage turns rich shades of burgundy, red and bronze, and in winter its peeling cinnamon bark adds texture. It is a superb choice for shade gardens, woodland edges and informal hedges.

Vivid yellow, orange and scarlet flower clusters burst open in late spring on Flame Azalea, one of the most spectacular native shrubs of the Appalachian Mountains. Rhododendron calendulaceum is a deciduous azalea with an open, layered habit that looks right at home in woodland gardens and along shady edges. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers, and every seedling offers its own shade of flame.

Sweetly fragrant purple flower clusters fill the garden each spring when Early Lilac, one of the first lilacs to bloom, comes into flower. Syringa oblata grows into a large, rounded shrub with broad, heart-shaped leaves that often take on reddish-purple tones in fall, a trait common lilacs rarely show. It is hardy, long-lived and excellent as a screen, hedge or fragrant focal point near patios and walkways.

Huge, silky blooms in late spring are the reward of Tree Peony, a long-lived woody shrub. Paeonia suffruticosa forms a rounded framework of stems with handsome, deeply cut foliage, and its dinner-plate flowers often arrive in soft pinks and whites. Seedlings are a patient gardener's project, typically taking several years to bloom, but each plant is unique and can grace the garden for decades, making the wait well worth it.

Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies flock to the bright red, cylindrical flower spikes of Bottlebrush, a cheerful evergreen shrub named for blooms that look just like a brush for cleaning bottles. Callistemon citrinus, also listed as C. lanceolatus, blooms heavily in late spring and on and off through warm months. Its narrow leaves release a light lemony scent when crushed. It handles heat and dry spells once established and works beautifully as a hedge, screen, patio container or flowering specimen in mild climates.

Look closely at each cup-shaped bloom and you'll find a charming star-like pattern, one reason Mountain Laurel ranks among the most beautiful native evergreen shrubs of eastern North America. Kalmia latifolia forms a rounded mound of glossy, leathery leaves topped in late spring with clusters of pink to white flowers. It thrives in dappled shade and acidic soil, making it a natural partner for woodland gardens, foundation plantings and naturalized slopes. Slow and steady, it rewards patient growers with decades of reliable bloom.

Bare branches burst into clusters of bright red, orange-red and pink blossoms on Flowering Quince, one of the first shrubs to bloom in spring. Chaenomeles speciosa forms a dense, twiggy, spreading shrub with thorny stems that make an excellent barrier hedge. Fragrant, greenish-yellow fruit follows in fall and can be cooked into jellies and preserves. Tough, cold hardy and adaptable to many soils, it brings a cheerful burst of color to borders, hedgerows and cottage gardens.

Deep in shady mountain forests, dense thickets of long, leathery evergreen leaves mark Rosebay Rhododendron, the hardiest and largest of the native eastern rhododendrons. Rhododendron maximum blooms in early summer, later than most rhododendrons, with rounded trusses of pale pink to white flowers often freckled with green or gold. It is a superb choice for screening and naturalizing in deep shade, along streams and under tall trees.

While almost nothing else is blooming in late winter, this compact native shrub brings color to the garden. Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) covers its bare stems with small, spidery flowers in shades of yellow to coppery red, and their spicy fragrance carries on mild days. This multi-stemmed shrub is easy to tuck into borders, woodland edges or streambank plantings, and its leaves turn a clear butter yellow in fall.

Lush, fragrant blooms that fill late spring borders and bouquets come from Garden Peony, a beloved, long-lived perennial. Paeonia lactiflora produces large, cup-shaped flowers, usually white but sometimes blushed pink, over handsome dark green foliage that stays attractive all season. Grown from seed, each plant is unique, and while it takes a few years to bloom, a peony can thrive in the same spot for decades.

Hot, sunny, dry spots suit this heat-loving shrub or small tree perfectly. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) brings a long summer show of fragrant lavender-blue flower spikes, often compared to butterfly bush, over aromatic, finely divided gray-green leaves on a loose, multi-stemmed shape. It is a favorite of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and its peppery seeds have a long history in herbal traditions.

A haze of fluffy, smoke-like plumes seems to float over this showy shrub or small tree each summer. Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) produces billowy pink-tan flower stalks that last for weeks over rounded, blue-green leaves, which turn glowing orange, red and purple in fall. It is tough, drought tolerant once established and happy in lean soil, making it a great choice for borders, hedges and dry, sunny spots.