If you've ever wished your landscape could be full of color from spring all the way through fall, the secret is choosing the longest-blooming flowering shrubs. Some of these beauties start flowering in late spring and keep the show going until frost, while others pump out repeat flushes of blossoms for months on end. Long-blooming shrubs aren't just gorgeous - they attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators, and many varieties are fragrant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance.
Nature Hills Nursery carries a stunning selection of flowering bushes that outshine the rest with their extended bloom times. From classic favorites like Roses and Hydrangeas to lesser-known workhorses like Bluebeard and Abelia, these are the shrubs that will keep your yard glowing with continuous flowers.
- Top Longest Blooming Flowering Shrubs
- Care & Maintenance - How To Keep Shrubs Blooming Longer
- Bloom On and On!
Top Longest Blooming Flowering Shrubs
Here are some of the best shrubs that bloom the longest - often for months instead of just a few fleeting weeks:
Abelia Bushes: Compact blooms for months
Abelia is a graceful shrub covered in delicate, fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that open in early summer and continue until frost.
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Glossy green leaves shift to bronze or purple in fall for bonus color
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Fragrant blooms attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
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Thrives in full sun to part shade and resists deer browsing
Butterfly Bush: Pollinator magnet
Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia) bloom from summer until frost with cone-shaped blossoms in purple, pink, blue, and white.
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Highly fragrant blossoms beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds
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New compact cultivars are non-invasive and great for small gardens
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Perfect for sunny borders or patio containers
Rose Bushes: Endless elegant color
Modern Roses, like Knock Out® and Drift® varieties, bloom in waves from spring through fall! Shrub Roses even go further and won't need any deadheading to keep the blooms popping!
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Flowers that are available in nearly every color for endless design options
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Excellent cut flowers with fragrance and romance
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Reblooms with simple deadheading and fertilizer
Hydrangea Bushes: Long-lasting blossoms
Panicle and Bigleaf Hydrangeas are the longest bloomers, flowering from midsummer to frost. Even after the flowers have faded, the showy bracts on mophead and panicle Hydrangeas dry on the shrub, remaining through winter!
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Huge blossoms that shift from white to green to blush pink
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Long-lasting blooms that can be dried for winter décor
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Thrive in rich soil with steady moisture and good drainage
Bluebeard (Caryopteris): Late summer star!
Bluebeard explodes with cobalt-blue flowers from midsummer into fall! The uniquely-hued blooms flower from the bottom to the top for a long display!
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Compact, drought-tolerant, and aromatic shrub! There are even varieties with variegated foliage.
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Late-season pollinator magnet when others are fading
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Stunning paired in groupings, or with Catmint, Salvia, or ornamental grasses
Spirea Bushes: Flush after flush
Newer varieties of Spirea (unlike "Old-fashioned" Spirea, such as Bridal Wreath or Bridal Veil that only bloom once) bloom heavily in spring, last for weeks, and can rebloom when trimmed.
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Wide color range from white to vivid pink
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Easy-care, low-maintenance shrub with seasonal foliage color
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Compact size makes it perfect for borders and mass plantings
Crape Myrtle Bushes: Southern powerhouses!
Crape Myrtle shines in warm zones with flowers that last 100+ days. The papery bracts don't fade in the heat or full sun. The bold color and leather leaves hold up great in hot climates.
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Massive clusters of pink, red, lavender, or white flowers
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Attractive bark and fiery fall foliage add year-round appeal
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Great for hedges, specimens, or trained into small flowering trees
Weigela Shrubs: Long repeat performance
Weigela starts in late spring and sends out repeat flushes all summer! Plus, you will have a wide variety of foliage colors and flower hues to choose from!
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Tubular flowers with ample nectar draw hummingbirds and pollinators
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Colorful foliage and variegated options add off-season interest
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Compact modern cultivars work well in small spaces
Potentilla Bushes: Low-maintenance color
Potentilla blooms from late spring to frost, covering itself in cheerful flowers, while growing in low-growing mounds that can block weeds and fill in en masse fast.
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Comes in yellow, orange, and white varieties
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Thrives in poor soils and exposed sites, even with soil compaction
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Compact, hardy, and deer-resistant shrub that brings in the pollinators with its cheerful blossoms.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus): Midsummer until frost
Rose of Sharon delivers tropical-style flowers in midsummer through fall. Popping out on repeat without deadheading. Related to tropical Hibiscus and Mallows, these woody shrub versions are wonderfully easy to grow.
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Large satellite-like blooms in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white
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Heat-tolerant and long-lasting
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Many new seedless cultivars prevent unwanted spreading, so they won't get into trouble.
Care & Maintenance - How To Keep Shrubs Blooming Longer
Even the best long-blooming flowering shrubs benefit from a little extra love to extend their performance:
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Deadhead spent blooms - Removing old flowers encourages reblooming in Roses, Spirea, Weigela, and others.
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Light pruning between flushes - A gentle trim after the first wave of flowers stimulates more buds for a rebloom and a cleaner appearance. Remember: learn about your type of shrub, whether it blooms on new or old wood, so you don't accidentally remove next year's flowers! Read about the right time to prune your shrubs here!
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Fertilizer for flowering shrubs - Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring, and add a light boost mid-summer.
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Regular watering - Consistent moisture during bloom season helps keep flowers abundant, especially in heat. Try the simple Finger Test before watering.
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Mulch for root health - 3-4 inches of organic mulch keeps soil cooler, conserves water, and extends blooming power.
- Avoid heavy pruning at the wrong time - Some shrubs, like Hydrangeas and Roses of Sharon, set buds in advance. Prune at the wrong season and you'll cut away your flowers.
With these tips, you can keep your flowering bushes looking vibrant for months, often right until frost.
Bloom On and On!
When you plant long-blooming flowering shrubs, you're setting your garden up for season after season of rich color, fragrance, and pollinator visits. From the nonstop performance of Roses to the late-season glory of Bluebeard, these shrubs truly go the distance. With the right care, your landscape will never feel like it's in a lull again.
Happy Planting!
