5 Best Shrubs For Landscaping

The Importance of Shrubs in Your Home Landscaping

Like trees, shrubs are often considered to be the "bones" of the landscape since they offer more structure. They are also more flexible than trees and can be planted in more prominent places. They are less complicated to relocate if you have to make a change in the layout of your garden.

The issue is that with the abundance of available options, novices often need some help in choosing between the wide varieties of shrubs. You can reduce your choices by selecting easy-to-manage shrubs that can thrive in your particular climate:

Lilac Shrub

The hardy lilac bush (scientifically known as syringa vulgaris) is a sturdy shrub popular among landscapers because it's easy to cultivate and grows fairly fast. The lilac shrubs work great for the borders of your home. They offer privacy and early spring blooms. Lilacs are a great addition to your garden if you live in a colder climate.

The lilac's bark is greyish-brown, smooth, and has long-length furrows. Lilac leaves are oval and light green and are placed in opposite groups or clusters of three. Each flower has an oval base and an open and four-lobed top. Lilacs typically come in the color purple to mauve. The lilac plant can grow to approximately 20 feet tall when not pruned.

One tiny lilac bush grows significantly more prominent over time due to the growth of suckers and secondary growth. Lilacs can grow to their full size and height or be pruned for an intended landscaping goal. Lilac offers many benefits, including a sweet scent and beautiful blooms which attract butterflies and pollinators.

Red Hibiscus

The Red Hibiscus is a well-known garden plant with a height of 8-12 feet and is a gorgeous woody shrub. It will add a splash of color to any sunny spot in your yard.

This species of Hibiscus Syriacus is native to Asia. It is, however, well-adapted to the middle of the USDA zone of cultivation in the United States. It can tolerate different soil types, such as clay, sand, or rocky soil. It prefers an area that drains quickly.

Red Hibiscus Syriacus is somewhat drought-tolerant. In dry periods, this plant only needs minimal watering, but it's capable of enduring and recovering from stress easily.

The flowers are big and intense red, can reach up to 4 inches tall, and are dazzling. They feature a stunning twin layer with five silky petals. The flower's center is either golden or orange, giving an incredible, warm tone effect when contrasted against the red flowers. The blossoms are typically only for one day, and a new flowering plant emerges right after.

The leaves of this plant are gorgeous. It has dark green shiny leaves that have coarse teeth on the edges. Leaves alternate across the stem.

Arrowwood Viburnum

This species is classified as a deciduous plant. It originated from Eastern North America and it grows in the hardy, cold Zone 2. When mature, the shrub can grow up to ten feet in height. If the conditions are perfect, this plant can reach over fifteen feet. The Arrowwood Viburnum can be grown in loamy, clay, or sandy soil. The Arrowwood prefers loamy, well-drained soil and does best in an acidic pH.

It can thrive in full shade to semi-shade. The rate of growth of this plant is quick. It produces stunning white flowers during the springtime, which are dazzling and are arranged in three-inch flat clusters of three inches.

The Arrowood Viburnum plant has green foliage and white flowers that bloom in the springtime. The plant also grows blue blackberries in the fall months, making it an excellent food source for certain animals. 

It's an excellent source of food and a nesting spot for birds. The plant can last 50 years or more and typically reach total growth within five years. Its moderate size means it can grow anywhere from 6 to 15 feet in height. Because of its size and beauty, the tree is perfect for any landscape.

One of the most appealing aspects of this shrub is that it can be grown in various situations. Due to the variety of soil types and climate zones, it can be planted among the native plants to develop. It can grow in full sun with a bit of shade. It is recommended to plant it in large areas and gardens. 

Black Haw Viburnum

The tree's spread uneven shape, irregular form, and crooked tree trunk add a unique look to hedges and other borders and provide a solid barrier. As a stand-alone tree or as part of the form of a fence, the Black Haw needs very little care except when drought conditions.

It can reach approximately 15 feet tall when fully developed. Black Haw Viburnum is an excellent plant for growing in full sun, in partial shade, or shaded areas. Viburnum is a perfect plant because it can also adapt to different soil conditions. It can give your lawn an explosion of color in autumn with its red and orange leaves. It'll also look stunning with the white flowers throughout the summer and spring.

Pink Weigela

These shrubs are part of the family known as roses. They are primarily deciduous plants that shed their leaves during the autumn. The leaves are tiny and sharply serrated.

The Pink Weigela plant is among the most well-known shrubs that can be planted in any garden. It is best suited to zones 4-8 of hardiness; however, some cultivars can thrive in either of these areas. The advantages of this plant's use in landscapes depend on the nature of its cultivation and how high it can grow depending on the variety, which can grow up to 8 feet tall and have a width of about 6 to 8 feet. Smaller types that are small and grow in mounds can be planted in small spaces near the edges of walkways.

They can also be used to create the form of a hedge, be planted near maple trees, be part of a bulb or perennial garden, or even be used in their own space as a stand-out specimen plant.

The Pink Weigela is simple to cultivate, tolerates almost any type of soil and isn't susceptible to pests, and is deer-resistant. It thrives in places with more shade than sun and USDA zones 4-8.

The only thing a gardener needs to do is some pruning in order to maintain this attractive accent to the garden.

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Red Hibiscus - TN Nursery

Red Swamp Rose Mallow

Red Swamp Rose Mallow - Hibiscus moscheutos Red Swamp Rose Mallow has deep scarlet flowers that serve as eye-catching focal points, adding a splash of vibrant color that instantly draws attention and adds vibrancy to any garden or landscape design. The lush, evergreen foliage provides a lush backdrop that enhances the contrast and highlights the beauty of the flowers. Their beauty can be enjoyed throughout much of the year, making them a lovely option to incorporate into your landscape design. This plant, which is also known as the rose of Sharon, is native to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates. Because of this, it is well-suited for your yard's warmer and moister areas. What are some top reasons to update your landscaping with this flowering plant? It blooms in the latter half of the summer, while many other flowering plants bloom in the spring and early summer. Because of its late blooming period, the plant is the perfect way to enjoy color in your yard for a more extended period each year. The rose petals are dainty and well-defined, with a beautiful yellow stamen. The distinctive look makes them a gorgeous focal point of your space. Red Swamp Rose Mallow Has Stunning Fall Foliage After the crimson blooms fade at the end of the summer season, the green leaves turn stunning shades of yellow and orange. While many flowering plants turn brown when cold weather arrives, this plant continues to dress up your space through autumn. The foliage will fall to the ground and return in early spring to provide your landscape a fresh, green color. Red Swamp Rose Mallow Will Help You Attract Pollinators  The flowers draw hummingbirds and pollinating insects to your yard, benefiting other plants. In addition, these insects are natural predators of some damaging and unwanted pests that otherwise would thrive in the yard, providing you with natural insect control. They Get Fairly Large Red Swamp Rose Mallow is a large plant that can grow seven feet or more in height and four feet wide. From a small plant, the rose of Sharon can reach full maturity in only two to three years with minimal care. It does best in damp soil and direct sunlight. The distinctive look of them makes them a gorgeous focal point of your space.

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Black Haw Viburnum - TN Nursery

Black Haw Viburnum

Black Haw - Viburnum prunifolium Black Haw Viburnum is adorned with clusters of creamy white blossoms, adding a touch of elegance and grace to the landscape. These fragrant flowers attract butterflies and bees, providing an eye-catching spectacle for humans to admire. Black Haw Viburnum Is Native to Eastern US It is considered a three-season small tree or shrub. It's native to the eastern United States and can be found from Connecticut to Kansas and as far southwest as Texas. Although it's officially known as Prunifolium, gardeners commonly call it the nannyberry and plum leaf type. It produces clusters of flowers and berries that are attractive to many types of wildlife. This hardy shrub is a medium-sized native shrub used in landscaping projects. Its creamy white flowers bloom in late spring, and the plant is laden with dark blue berries in the fall. The glossy green leaves give way to eye-popping shades of red, purple, and orange in the fall, making it a colorful attraction all year round.   In addition to its ornamental appeal, the plant is valued for its ability to grow in different soil types and resist drought when well established. The shrub has great potential as an ornamental species for single specimens, in hedgerow lines, or as an element for offsetting wild small areas. Features of Black Haw Viburnum Shrub  The Black Haw Viburnum flowers are a wonderful sight to behold, and they also help serve pollinators such as bees and butterflies.  In the fall, this plant produces dark blue berries, which, like other types, are edible and can be eaten off the bush or made into jams and preserves. It is also a larval host for the Hummingbird Clearwing moth.  Growth It is a large shrub or a small tree that can reach 12-15 feet in height and have a spreading crown; it can be used for hedges, screens, or standalone accents in any garden design. Visual Interest All Year Round  This shrub is highly adaptable and ideal for clay and sandy soil growth. It requires full sunlight and partial shade. It is also noted that it is somewhat drought-tolerant after it has been established well enough.  Size at Maturity This plant reaches a height of 12 to 15 feet and a width of 8 to 12 feet. A fully grown tree has a multi-stem, erect structure; therefore, it can be used to provide hedges or screens and as an ornamental plant.  Where do they grow best?  It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH with well-drained soil; it requires full to partial sun exposure. It grows well in all categories of soil and is heat tolerant, with some cold tolerance in USDA zones 3 to 9.  How do you prune it?  Trim the plant when new growth starts in late winter or early spring. Prune and trim the plant to remove any dead or otherwise damaged branches, keeping the plant's looks as natural as possible.  How do you maintain the shrub? It is easy to grow and does not require much attention. During dry periods, give good amounts of water, use mulch to conserve humidity, and trim at given intervals for the plant's well-being. It is a very easy-to-maintain plant that can be used effectively in landscaping natural environments.  What is the best fertilizer?  The preference is a slow-release, balanced fertilizer, preferably in a 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 ratio. During its growth season, it is best applied in early spring to improve foliage health, flowering, and fruiting.  

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pink weigela - TN Nursery

Pink Weigela

Pink Weigela - Weigela Florida Pink Weigela is a deciduous ornamental plant known for its abundant, trumpet-shaped rose flowers blooming in late spring to early summer. These flowers add vibrant color to garden landscapes. Its enchanting attributes and versatile characteristics offer a range of advantages when integrated into landscaping designs. Its unique features blend aesthetic appeal, ecological contributions, and practical benefits, making it a preferred choice among landscape designers and homeowners. Aesthetically, it brings a touch of charm to landscapes. It is lauded for its beautiful flowers. Its botanical name is the pink Weigela Florida. Of course, you may be surprised to learn that Florida means gorgeous, and the first part of this shrub's name was the discovering scientist's last name. However, this bush is often called the beauty bush or rosy poppet. It's part of the Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family. The beauty bush is native to Northern China, Korea, and Japan. However, it can be grown in many other places around the world. Characteristics of the Pink Weigela The beauty bush is known for its stunning pale red colored flowers. These blushing blooms are prevalent in the late spring and summer. However, sometimes the flowers return in the fall. The bush can grow to heights of 10 feet and widths of up to 12 feet; it has dark green leaves. It's important to note that this shrub produces blooms on last year's stems. Plant Pink Weigela Shrubs Around Your House  The beauty bush looks best around homes and buildings. It's often planted as a foundation shrub, other flowers, and ornamental grasses. This beautiful shrub can also be planted along property perimeters to create a living fence, and it can be used to generate hedge walls when combined with other bushes and shrubs. Creative gardeners can even prune and train it to look like a tree. Attract Hummingbirds With This Stunning Shub Beauty bushes attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Birds have also been known to build nests in them. What to Plant Around it Planting other bushes and flowers around the beauty bush can add color and variety. Some recommended companions include the double red knockout rose, creeping veronica, peonies, lavender, silver mist, blue stars, and dwarf catmint. Gardenias and hydrangeas also look great next to the beauty bush. All types of gardeners will love the beautiful bush. Its brightly colored flowers can make a statement in almost any yard. They do well as foundation plantings and perimeter bushes and can be trained to look like trees. The flowers can be trimmed and used as centerpieces in vases with other types of flowers.

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