Whether seasoned pro or complete beginner, flowering shrubs may provide a splash of colour to the landscape. They give height and structure, as well as attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, in addition to their eye-catching blossoms. A pollinator-friendly garden is as essential for aesthetics as it is for ecology. Some have fragrant blooms, while others offer added year-round attraction, such as berries or gorgeous fall leaves. Some have evergreen leaves and are attractive all year. There’s a blooming shrub for every garden, no matter what you’re searching for. If you are a beginner, perhaps check our tips for beginner gardeners.
Best Choices for Summer Flowering Shrubs for Beginners
1. Azalea
In April and May, azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in practically every colour imaginable. From whites, pinks, and purples to reds, oranges, and yellows, they are easily one of the best flowering shrubs for beginners. Rhodendrons are occasionally deciduous, but azaleas are invariably evergreen. They thrive in the shade and require ericaceous (acidic) soil.
2. Lilac
Lilac is a traditional garden shrub that blooms in late spring with fragrant pastel purple, pink, dark red, or white flowers. Lilacs may be planted as a shrub or a small tree, depending on the type, and perform well in a number of garden settings. Tiny kinds work well in pots and are ideal for smaller gardens. Lilacs grow best in a sunny spot with well-drained, fertile, humus-rich, alkaline to neutral soil. On calcareous soil, they thrive.
3. Japanese Dogwood
The Japanese dogwood is a big shrub or small tree that blooms in early summer with pure white flower-like bracts. Then there are the brilliant fall foliage colours. The tree may also develop strawberry-like pink fruits in the autumn on a good year. In full sun to light shade, grow Japanese dogwood in good soil. It looks great as a single shrub on a lawn or at the border of a wooded area.
4. Lavatera
Lavatera, sometimes known as tree mallows, produces huge blooms that resemble hollyhocks over a lengthy period of time, usually from June to September. They are particularly popular with bees and other pollinating insects in pink or white colours. Lavatera should be grown in full sun on healthy, well-drained soil. Make sure you’re in a protected area away from any cold, drying winds.
5. Hydrangea
Hydrangea flower heads occur in a variety of forms and colours, ranging from big balls to cones, and in a variety of colours, including white, lime green, pink, and blue. They bloom for weeks, generally beginning in the middle of summer and lasting far into the fall. In the autumn, the leaves on certain trees may be rather striking. Hydrangeas thrive in dappled shade and wet, well-drained soil.
6. Fuchsia
Fuchsias are known for their bell-shaped, two-coloured blooms that resemble dancing ballerinas. The flowers bloom throughout the summer and into the fall, and there are a variety of colours to choose from, including white, pink, magenta, purple, and red. Golden or variegated foliage, as well as purple or red-tinged leaves, can be seen in certain types. Fuchsia magellanica, for example, may be planted as a flowery hedge. Fuchsia bushes are often hardy. Grow in a shady, sunny location with well-drained soil.
7. Forsythia
Forsythia’s vivid yellow blossoms are like the first ray of sunshine after the long winter days, covering each arching branch in a profusion of blooms that last one to two weeks. Despite its limited bloom duration, the joyful eruption of yellow blooms makes this shrub well worth growing.
8. Cinquefoil
Cinquefoil is also one of the simplest shrubs to cultivate, with strong drought tolerance, winter hardiness, and little trimming requirements. Cinquefoil cultivars come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, and orange, in addition to yellow.
9. Abelia
Abelia is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance, shade-tolerant plant with late-season scent. It produces a profusion of rose-tinged white blooms on beautiful, arching branches from summer through fall. The jasmine-like aroma of the trumpet-shaped blossoms attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
10. Weigela
Gardeners like this popular shrub for its unflappable attitude and consistent performance, as well as its abundance of white or pink blooms on arching branches. Bees and hummingbirds love the trumpet-shaped blooms, which bloom in a sporadic pattern from mid-summer to late-summer. While last on our list of best flowering shrubs for beginners, they are by no means a lesser choice.