Best Flowering Shrubs to Transform Your Yard

Maybe it has been a while since you went shopping for some new flowering shrubs. Maybe the last time you looked for any new flowering shrubs was at one of the big box stores that seem to roll out the same old plants from the same old growers year after year.

Now is a great time to browse Nature Hills Nursery for some of our great, new, dwarf and reblooming shrubs from the comfort of your own home!

Perhaps it’s time to cut out those old, tired, overgrown shrubs and revive your landscape. There is no reason you must be stuck looking at old overgrown shrubs for another year when you can easily transform your landscape with some of these incredible new and reblooming plants. These new options offer color for extended periods, and many are much smaller growing - reducing the need for pruning as they age in your landscape.

Here are a few “gotta have” new shrubs that you may not have been exposed to before.

Small Re-Blooming or Extended Blooming Hydrangeas

Wee White and Limetta re-bloomers offer lime green blooms that mature to classic white before drying and remaining on the plant for winter interest. Fire Light, Little Lime, Little Quick Fire, Diamond Rouge, and Bobo are all super hardy, start out white, and age to pink flowers (some to reds) before drying and remaining on the plant for the winter.

The Cityline Hydrangea is a whole series offering dwarf selections that don’t need pruning and have pink, blue, red, fuchsia, and purple colors. The Everlasting series is also dwarf, and the blooms transform themselves through white, pinks, blues, purples, and greens.

Getting only three to five feet tall and wide, Little Hottie® Hydrangea is the new kid on the block at First Editions®. Try it out as an easy-to-grow foundation plant or the centerpiece that completes your landscape design.

There are plenty of options for those looking for something more unique. How about our favorite Cherry Explosion, which offers amazing red flowers that cover the plant?

NatureHills.com also offers Grape Explosion, a new, purple, version of Cherry Explosion. You won’t be able to find it at the box stores!

Add Excitement with Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Bloom-A-Thon® Lavender Reblooming Azalea

The new re-blooming Azaleas are absolutely incredible in the spring, summer and again in the fall. What more could you want? Check out the Bloom-A-Thon Series:

Bloom-A-Thon® Pink Double Reblooming Azalea
Bloom-A-Thon® Lavender Reblooming Azalea
Bloom-A-Thon® White Reblooming Azalea
Bloom-A-Thon® Hot Pink Reblooming Azalea
Bloom-A-Thon® Red Reblooming Azalea

And let’s not forget the new dwarf Encore Azalea Series with over 30 color options, including pinks, whites, reds, oranges, salmon, purples and various shades of these colors. Our availability of the series changes as they are hard to keep in stock.

Create Textured Color With Crape Myrtles

GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight Crape Myrtle Shrub

The Black Diamond series of Crape Myrtle offers a rainbow of colors for the more southern states. The flowers come in white, pink, purple, and red, and they have amazing deep purple-colored foliage as a backdrop. These are big shrubs for screening and massive color displays that last and last. You may not be able to grow Lilacs in the south, but you are lucky to have Crape Myrtles that offer color for a much longer period of time.

The newly introduced Greatmyrtle™ collection now lets those as far north as zone 5 grow crape myrtles! They’re great for small outdoor spaces as they’ll only grow to be two to three feet tall and wide. Hurry, these will sell out fast!

Gorgeous Butterfly Bushes

Proven Winners® Color Choice® Pugster® Amethyst Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bushes love the heat and sun, are dwarf, and have tremendous color summer into fall - and many of the new ones produce no seed. A simple no-brainer to grow for sure. Many purples, pinks and whites dominate this group and are the flowers are huge magnets for pollinators. Simply cut these down each spring and sit back and watch them pop into action for summer and fall color.

Pugster Pinker™ is a gardener's favorite flowering bush for its huge panicles of flowers while staying a compact 18-24 inches tall and wide. Use at the front of flower beds or as a focal point in pollinator gardens.

The Proven Winners series also comes in White! Pugster White® stays small as well so the only time you’ll have to worry about pruning is in the early spring before new growth starts.

Weigelas are Always Winners

Weigela shrubs have had the interest of plant breeders and the new selections bloom with a heavy bomb of flowers in June, as well as a recurrent bloom later in summer into fall. Check out our vast assortment in white, pink, purple, red, and even yellow. The new selections have deep purple foliage as a great backdrop to the flower color. New selections are much smaller.

Go with My Monet® Weigela for pink flowers and bright green variegated foliage or Tuxedo™ Weigela for white blooms against dark green leaves.

Large Shrubs Like Rose of Sharon

How about the showiest woody shrub for summer into fall? Rose of Sharon is a woody Hibiscus that has the interest of the breeders for double flowers and for being sterile plants. The flowers resemble carnations on a larger shrub. Amazing blue, purples, pinks, white, and bicolor plants are showy and hardy.

There are so many to choose from but you can’t go wrong with a Lavender Chiffon® Rose of Sharon Shrub for more petite flowers or Aphrodite Rose of Sharon for larger tropical looking flowers.

You could even try a tree form rose of sharon with Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon Tree Form!

The Crowd Favorite: Lilacs

Lilacs galore! Nature Hills has some beautiful, colorful and fragrant shrubs in many sizes for those of you who can’t plant Crape Myrtles in the north. Lilacs rock and come in blue, lavender, pink, purples of many shades, white, and even a pale yellow.

You can’t beat the Common Purple Lilac and its classic purple form and lilac fragrance but don’t be afraid to branch out. Persian, Yankee Doodle, and Scentara® are all unique and offer the same attributes.

Now, for those of you looking for a show-stopping addition, Dwarf Korean Lilac Tree has your name written all over it! Just look at that Tree form!

Check out everything that we have to offer, if you’re unsure of what will work in your area, check out our Growing Zone Map. Punch in your zip code to find out which hardiness zone you are in so you know which plants will work for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I plant flowering shrubs in my landscape for maximum visual impact?

Plant flowering shrubs in groups of three or five for maximum visual impact, spacing them according to their mature width plus 2-3 feet for air circulation. Position early bloomers like forsythia and lilac near entryways or windows where you'll appreciate their spring display, while summer bloomers like hydrangeas work well as foundation plantings or property borders. Plant in spring after last frost or fall 6-8 weeks before first hard freeze in zones 4-9 for best establishment. Choose shrubs with staggered bloom times to maintain continuous color from March through October.

When is the best time to prune summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia and caryopteris?

Late winter to early spring is the optimal time to prune summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia and caryopteris, typically February through March in zones 5-9. These shrubs bloom on new wood, so pruning before the growing season begins encourages vigorous new growth and maximum flower production. Cut buddleia back to 12-18 inches from the ground and reduce caryopteris by one-third to one-half. Wait until after the last frost date in your area to avoid cold damage to new growth.

What common pests affect flowering shrubs, and how can I control them organically?

Common pests affecting flowering shrubs include aphids, spider mites, scale insects, and Japanese beetles, which typically appear during active growing seasons from late spring through early fall. Organic control methods include releasing beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, applying neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7-10 days during infestations, and using horticultural oil in early spring before bud break. For Japanese beetles, hand-picking in early morning when they're sluggish proves most effective, while introducing predatory mites controls spider mite populations naturally. Monitor your shrubs weekly during growing season and treat problems early when pest populations are small and easier to manage.

What is the correct way to prune flowering shrubs to encourage better blooming and shape?

The timing and method of pruning flowering shrubs depends on their blooming schedule. Prune spring-blooming shrubs like lilacs and forsythia immediately after they finish flowering, while summer-blooming varieties should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove dead, damaged, and crossing branches first, then selectively thin older canes by cutting them back to 6-12 inches from the ground to encourage new growth. Always use clean, sharp tools and avoid shearing into unnatural shapes, which reduces flowering potential.

Are there deer-resistant flowering shrubs that still provide vibrant blooms?

Yes, several deer-resistant flowering shrubs deliver spectacular blooms while deterring browsing wildlife. Barberry varieties like 'Orange Rocket' (zones 4-8) produce bright yellow spring flowers and grow 4-6 feet tall, while spirea cultivars such as 'Goldflame' (zones 3-8) offer pink blooms in late spring and reach 2-3 feet high. Potentilla shrubs bloom continuously from June through frost in zones 2-7, staying compact at 2-4 feet with yellow, white, or orange flowers. Plant these in sunny locations with well-draining soil for best bloom production and natural deer resistance.

What hardiness zone is suitable for this flowering shrub, and can I grow it as an annual if not?

Most of the flowering shrubs mentioned, including Fire Light, Little Lime, and Bobo Hydrangeas, are hardy in zones 3-8, while Cityline and Everlasting series typically thrive in zones 4-9. If you live outside these zones, you can grow container-planted specimens and overwinter them in a protected garage or basement. Check the specific hardiness zone for each variety on our plant pages before ordering to ensure success in your location.

Does this flowering shrub prefer full sun, partial shade, or full shade?

I need to clarify which specific flowering shrub you're asking about, as the article discusses multiple varieties with different light requirements. Most hydrangeas mentioned (like Little Lime, Fire Light, and the Cityline series) thrive in partial shade to morning sun with afternoon protection, especially in zones 7-9. Cherry Explosion and other flowering shrubs may have different light preferences depending on the specific plant and your hardiness zone. Check the individual plant details on our website for precise light requirements based on your specific selection and location.

What kind of soil and watering needs do flowering shrubs have?

Most flowering shrubs thrive in well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0 and require consistent moisture during their first growing season to establish strong root systems. Once established, most varieties need about 1 inch of water per week, though hydrangeas prefer slightly more moisture and benefit from morning watering to prevent wilting. Soil should be enriched with 2-3 inches of compost before planting and mulched annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water deeply but less frequently rather than shallow daily watering to encourage deep root development.

When and how long does this flowering shrub bloom, and how can I coordinate it with other plants?

Reblooming hydrangeas like Fire Light and Little Lime bloom from mid-summer through fall, while traditional varieties bloom once in early to mid-summer. The Everlasting and Cityline series provide extended color from June through October, transforming through multiple color phases. Most varieties reach 3-5 feet at maturity and thrive in zones 3-9. Plant early bloomers like Bobo with late-season perennials such as asters and mums to ensure continuous color throughout your growing season.

How tall and wide will this flowering shrub grow, and where should I place it in the landscape?

Most of these new flowering shrubs stay compact at 3-5 feet tall and wide, making them perfect for foundation plantings or mixed borders without overwhelming smaller spaces. The Cityline and Everlasting Hydrangea series are specifically bred to be dwarf selections that won't require pruning to maintain their size. Little Hottie® Hydrangea reaches just 3-5 feet in both directions and works beautifully as a foundation plant or landscape centerpiece. Choose a location with morning sun and afternoon shade for hydrangeas, or full sun to partial shade for other flowering shrubs depending on your specific variety.

Flowering Shrubs to Punch Up Your Landscape