How to Choose the Right Shrubs for Your Yard

"How do I choose shrubs for my landscape?"

This is a great question that we get asked all the time here at Nature Hills. People want to have a beautiful yard and want to make sure that they're spending their money on the right thing.

The Right Shrub For You
Types of Shrubs For Your Needs
The Right Shrub For You!
How to Install Your Shrub
Your Landscapes Finishing Touch!

The Right Shrub For You

Do you want year-round interest or an ornamental and creative attraction? Or lots of color and texture by combining deciduous and evergreen species. Maybe you need shrubs that bloom at different seasons or bloom throughout all growing seasons! Everyone loves to add flowering shrubs to a typically green border!

Shrubs can be pretty divas or landscape workhorses. Think about what you want the shrub to do. They can define the border of your property, hide an exposed foundation on your house, or block an unwanted view! Look for shrubs with multi-seasonal interest, especially for use as accents or specimens.

Some people love Roses and their yards wouldn't be complete without them. Other people hate the upkeep and scent. Some people want one of everything they see in the garden center! Others only want a few repeating types of plants in their whole landscape for a clean, polished look.

You should start your search for the perfect shrub by finding out the details about where you are placing it. Once you find those key factors, you can now begin finding the perfect shrub for your landscape!

1. Find Your Growing Zone

Knowing your growing zone (USDA hardiness zone) is the most critical first step on your journey to finding the perfect shrub for your needs! Those high and low average temperatures your area endures year to year will determine the survivability of what you plant.

Microclimates within your landscape can determine its success. Low spots where cold settles, reflected heat and light from the street, or a light-colored fence or siding, black asphalt or dark siding that holds heat longer… all come into play.

Learn your growing zone by typing your zip code into our Growing Zone locator, or clicking the link located just above the Plant Facts on each Product Page.

2. Mind the Sun

Next, spend a lazy Sunday watching the sun in your yard, focusing on where you want to plant your shrubs. Does it get sun the entire day? Half the day? Sun in the morning and shade the rest? Or is it just dappled shade most of the day? Perhaps it’s a full dark shade all day!

If your shrubs' new home gets 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day, then you have a full sun location! If it’s 4-6 hours or broken up during the day (shaded by a house or large tree mid-day) then you have part sun or part shade. Less than 4 hours of sunlight a day, or all-day shade, means you have full shade.

Shrubs for Full Sun

Lilac Bushes
Spirea Bushes
Sumac Shrubs
Ninebark Bushes
California Lilac Bushes

Shade-Loving Shrubs

Sweetspire Bushes
Nandina Bushes
Rhododendron
Buttonbushes
Sweet Box Shrubs

3. How Much Room Do You Have?

Measure the area and then look to see if there is anything above the planting site. Any power lines? A house overhang or a large tree? Then contact your local Diggers Hotline to ensure there’s nothing below ground either. Keep all these measurements in mind when choosing your shrub.

Using the toggles on our Category Pages, find a shrub that will work for your area, keeping in mind that shrub’s mature height and width. Overcrowding and choosing a shrub that quickly outgrows its boundaries means you will have to deal with loads of pruning to keep it in check. This is a common mistake new gardeners make in their landscapes.

Keep in mind a shrub's growth rate too, which will tell you how quickly it will take to fill in. If a slower-growing shrub needs to fill a larger area quicker - opt for a larger container size from the start and get results faster!

4. How’s That Drainage?

Now, it's time to find out about drainage! Dig a test hole in your location, going about a foot deep and a foot wide, and see if it is very dry, if it is moderately moist, or if water begins to pool. Most plants will prefer a well-drained location so this is important.

If you are not able to change your soil or its drainage, you can always berm the area! Adding 18-24 inches of topsoil to the site in a large mound, and planting in that mound, will allow you to create a raised bed. This brings your shrub's roots above the soggy water table or helps eventually soften a hard-pan site.

Some plants love those boggy Rain Garden locations and others require those fast-draining xeric sites and Rock Gardens. So if you cannot change your soil, or workaround it without great expense and time, then choose plants that are better able to thrive in those situations.

Rain Gardens/Wet Soil

Brandywine Viburnum
Winterberry Holly & Inkberry Holly
Buttonbushes
Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow
Nandina Bushes

Drought-Tolerant & Xeric Shrubs

Crape Myrtle & Black Diamond® Crape Myrtle
Barberry
Potentilla
Bluebeard

Types of Shrubs For Your Needs

Specimen Shrubs

Many shrubs are the highlight of the entire landscape! Big blooms, gorgeous berries, or some incredible fall color! Some have all of the above! Add gorgeous form and unique shape, and curious features to enhance your garden and add curb appeal! Get ready to plant a diva without all the extra fuss with these shrubs.

Beautiful Flowering Shrubs

Rose Bushes
Hydrangea Bushes
Butterfly Bushes
Early Blooming Forsythia

Need an Eye-Catching Specimen?

First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
Ruby Slippers Hydrangea
Grafted Dwarf Evergreens

Double Duty Shrubs

Many shrubs aren’t just a pretty face! Lots of plants look great year-round with something new to see each season. Some have berries after the flowers. There is a world of choices that help you shelter and feed wildlife, attract and support pollinators, and many that even put food on your table - all while looking great as functional landscape shrubbery!

Feed the Birds

American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Chokeberry Bushes
Beautyberry Bushes
Saskatoon (Juneberry)
Toyon Bushes

Feed the Pollinators

Bush Honeysuckle
Summersweet
Butterfly Bushes
Viburnum Bushes
Weigela

Edible Landscaping

Blueberry Bushes - Flowers, fruit & fall color!
Chokeberry (Aronia) - Flowers, fruit & fall color!
Gold Raspberry Bushes
Guava Trees in Shrub form
Serviceberry Bushes

Hedge It In!

Foundation, property division, backdrops, and outdoor rooms - oh my! There’s a shrub for all your needs when you need some green borders and garden definition! These are also fantastic screening and privacy shrubs, simply plant in a row evenly spaced or in a zig-zag pattern for coverage and fast fill-in!

Year-Round Evergreen

Frost Proof Gardenia
Gold Lace Juniper
Euonymus
Gardenia Bushes
Sky Pencil Holly

For the Want of Privacy

Privet
Oakleaf Hollies
Red Tip Photinia Shrubs
Boxwood
Arborvitae Shrubs

The Right Shrub For You!

The next part is easy! Call our knowledgeable customer service representatives or head over to the Nature Hills Nursery website to place your order! Then, our expert growers will ship out your quality plants to you safely and mindful of temperatures and growing zone requirements to ensure they arrive at the proper planting time for your area!

Then simply track your NatureHills.com package right to your doorstep!

How to Install Your Shrub

Plant in fall and or early spring (even winter in the warmer zones) to allow your plant the chance to develop a well-established root system that it will need before the stresses of the summer come around. Take advantage of Mother Nature’s generosity by planting in the fall or spring, when there is plenty of free rain and snow in fall and winter. But ideally, you can plant any time! Plant in the fall and winter to enjoy a healthy, vigorous plant going into the spring and summer months.

Give your new plant a nice, long drink before planting. Soak bareroot plants for a few hours or overnight; dunk potted plants in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop.
Dig a planting hole at least twice as wide as the root ball or container size.
Add symbiotic Nature Hills Root Booster during planting for support that grows with your plant and doesn't wear out.
Place your shrub in the soil and press the backfill soil around it to eliminate air pockets and ensure good soil contact with the roots..
Soak your new planting well after planting
Add a three-inch layer of mulch over the root zone to protect your new landscape asset. Please pull the mulch back away from directly touching the stems.

Your Landscapes Finishing Touch!

Look to place your order as soon as possible to ensure availability. Many new fresh bare root plants are available in the first part of the winter often ready for order as early as October with delivery beginning in spring for most areas. Often fruit and shade trees are overwintered in containers for fall and winter planting. Check to see if your favorite variety is currently available for planting.

Once you have these few ideas thought through, then spend some time researching plants that fit the bill. You'll have an outstanding yard in no time with the help of NatureHills.com!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right shrub for my climate and USDA hardiness zone?

Finding your USDA hardiness zone is the single most important step in choosing a shrub that will survive and thrive in your landscape. Your zone is determined by the average high and low temperatures in your area, and it tells you which plants can withstand your local winter conditions. Keep in mind that microclimates in your own yard, such as low frost pockets, heat reflected off light-colored siding, or warmth retained by dark asphalt, can shift conditions up or down from your official zone. Enter your zip code into the Nature Hills Growing Zone locator to find your zone instantly, then filter your shrub search to only consider plants rated for your zone or hardier.

How do I match shrubs to the sun, shade, and soil conditions in my yard?

Start by spending a full day observing how sunlight moves across your planting area, noting whether it receives full sun (6 or more hours), partial sun or shade (3 to 6 hours), or full shade (fewer than 3 hours). Test your soil pH and drainage before selecting any shrub, since a plant placed in the wrong conditions will struggle no matter how well you care for it. Every shrub listing at Nature Hills includes specific sun, soil, and zone requirements, so use those details to match plants to your actual conditions rather than guessing. Filter your search by your USDA hardiness zone and sun exposure at naturehills.com to build a shortlist of shrubs that are set up to thrive from day one.

How much space should I leave for a shrub's mature height and spread?

Always check the mature height and spread listed on the plant's product page before purchasing, as shrubs can vary dramatically from 2-foot dwarf varieties to 15-foot giants. Give each shrub the full space it needs at maturity, resisting the urge to crowd plants for an immediately full look, since overcrowding leads to poor air circulation, disease, and costly removal down the road. A good rule of thumb is to measure half the mature spread from the center of your planting hole to any structure, walkway, or neighboring plant. Use Nature Hills' plant details to confirm the mature dimensions, then mark out the space with stakes and string before you dig.

How do I decide between planting a shrub or a tree in my landscape?

Shrubs and trees serve different purposes in the landscape, so the choice comes down to scale, function, and how much space you are working with. Shrubs generally stay under 15 feet and work well for foundation plantings, property borders, privacy screens, and filling mid-level space in a garden bed, while trees provide overhead canopy, significant shade, and vertical structure. Consider the mature size of the plant relative to your space, your growing zone, and whether you need year-round interest or seasonal color. Start by identifying the sun exposure, soil conditions, and available square footage of your planting site, then browse the Nature Hills catalog filtered by plant type to find the right fit for your specific needs.

How can I tell whether a plant will work as a shrub in my garden setting?

To determine if a shrub will work in your garden, start by identifying your USDA hardiness zone using your zip code, since temperature extremes are the single most important factor in a plant's survival. Then assess your specific planting spot for daily sun exposure, noting whether it receives full sun all day, half a day, or shade, since matching light requirements is just as critical as zone compatibility. Also consider microclimates in your yard, such as low frost pockets, heat reflected off pavement, or shelter from structures, as these can shift conditions a full zone in either direction. Cross-reference all of these site details against the plant's listed requirements before purchasing, and you'll have a reliable foundation for making the right choice.

How do I choose shrubs that complement the other plants already in my garden?

When choosing shrubs to complement existing plants, focus on layering textures, bloom times, and foliage colors so something is always contributing to the display across all four seasons. Mix deciduous and evergreen species to maintain year-round interest, and select shrubs that bloom before, during, or after your existing perennials and trees to extend the show. Start by confirming your USDA hardiness zone and the sun exposure of your planting area, then browse Nature Hills' plant collections filtered by those criteria to find shrubs that will thrive alongside what you already have.

When is the best time of year to plant shrubs in the landscape?

The best time to plant shrubs is during spring or fall, when moderate temperatures and natural rainfall help new roots establish before the stress of summer heat or winter cold. In warmer zones (7-10), fall planting is often ideal since mild winters allow root growth to continue for months. In colder zones (3-6), spring planting gives shrubs a full growing season to establish before harsh winters arrive. Visit naturehills.com to find shrubs suited to your zone and get them in the ground at the right time for your region.

How do I choose shrubs that provide year-round interest in the garden?

To create year-round interest, combine deciduous and evergreen shrubs so you have structure in winter and color in the growing seasons. Look for specimens with multi-seasonal appeal, such as shrubs that offer spring blooms, summer foliage, fall color, and attractive winter bark or berries. Start by identifying your USDA hardiness zone using our Growing Zone locator at naturehills.com, then filter your selections by sun exposure and bloom time to ensure something is always performing in your landscape. Browse our full shrub collection and use the Plant Facts on each product page to mix and match varieties that deliver overlapping seasons of interest.

How do I select shrubs that work together to create a layered landscape design?

To create a layered landscape design, combine evergreen and deciduous shrubs of varying heights, textures, and bloom times so something is always providing visual interest across all four seasons. Start by placing taller shrubs at the back or center, mid-size shrubs in the middle ground, and low-growing varieties along the front edges to create natural depth and dimension. Choose plants suited to the same USDA hardiness zone and light conditions in that area of your yard to ensure the whole grouping thrives together. Visit naturehills.com, use our Growing Zone locator with your zip code, and filter by height, bloom season, and sun requirements to build a cohesive layered planting plan.

Should I choose native shrubs or ornamental shrubs for my landscape?

Both native and ornamental shrubs have a place in a well-designed landscape, and the best choice depends on your specific goals, site conditions, and growing zone. Native shrubs are often better adapted to your local climate, require less maintenance once established, and support pollinators and wildlife, while ornamental varieties may offer showier blooms, unique foliage, or multi-seasonal interest that natives in your area cannot match. Many gardeners find success mixing both, using natives as reliable workhorses for borders and screens while incorporating ornamentals as accent specimens. Start by identifying your USDA hardiness zone and sun exposure, then browse Nature Hills' plant listings filtered by those conditions to find shrubs, native or ornamental, that will truly thrive in your yard.

How Do I Choose Shrubs for the Landscape?