Many shrubs bloom in spring and there are lots of choices for gorgeous fall foliage but it can be harder to find the right stand-out shrub to highlight your garden in the summer months, especially if you are trying to complement colorful summer perennial or annual flowers. Here are a few of our favorites for summer flowers and interesting summer and fall foliage.
Note: availability for the plants listed may vary. Please ask us about alternatives and complementary plants!
Daphne (Daphne spp.)
With a tidy habit and both winter- and summer-blooming varieties, this evergreen shrub is a great choice for the garden. Summer-blooming Daphnes will bloom on and off throughout the summer and provide a delicious, wafting fragrance. Grows well in sunny, rocky areas with well-draining soil. Up to 3-4 ft. tall and 4-6 ft. wide, depending on the variety.
Hebe (Hebe spp.)
An amazing array of colors, sizes, and leaf shapes means there is a Hebe for every area of the garden. Perfect for pots and dry, rocky areas, hebes bloom in early summer with flower colors of white, red, pink, and purple. Their foliage is equally colorful, with leaves ranging from silvery green to burgundy, some variegated. Bigleaf varieties should be protected from the cold winter wind. Sun to part shade. 1-6 ft. tall and 4-5 ft. wide, depending on the variety.
Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
Hummingbirds adore this floriferous perennial, which blooms all summer and into fall. Many Fuchsias have lovely bi-colored blooms and there are many flower colors and sizes to choose from. Fuchsia grows well in sun or shade but more sun equals more flowers. However, avoid too much heat or hot afternoon sun. Size varies greatly depending on the variety.
Irish Heath (Daboecia spp.) & Heather (Calluna spp.)
Irish Heath blooms in early summer with large bell-shaped flowers while Heather begins blooming in late summer and into fall. Both have flowers in white, pink, or purple and some have lovely fall foliage. Plant a mixture of Daboecia, Heather, and Heath, which blooms from late winter to spring, to enjoy a multi-season show. These easy-going plants prefer full sun and grow up to 1-2 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.)
St. John’s Wort can be a groundcover or an upright shrub, depending on the species. Bright yellow flowers appear in early summer, followed by white, yellow, orange, or red fruit that has medicinal properties. The name, Saint John’s wort, comes from the day it can usually be harvested, the feast of Saint John. Sun to shade. Up to 5 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety.
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Star Jasmine isn’t technically a shrub, it’s a climbing vine, but we couldn’t resist including it on our list! Plus, you can grow it as a shrub with vigilant pruning. This fragrant evergreen blooms all summer with white, star-shaped flowers. Full sun is preferred as shade can cause soils to stay too soggy over the winter months. Up to 20 ft. with support.
Rose (Rosa spp.)
There is a rose for every full-sun garden. Yes, even if you demand low-maintenance plants! Small landscape roses are easy-care, making great loose hedges, and are stunning when planted en masse. Rugosa roses are tough, drought-tolerant shrubs; the most disease-resistant, they are also some of the most fragrant roses. Climbing roses and classics like hybrid tea and floribunda roses are a perfect way to add structure and elegance to a garden bed. Size varies depending on the variety.
Hydrangea (hydrangea spp.)
There is really nothing else to compare with the multi-season interest of a Hydrangea. Generally, Hydrangeas fall into these categories: Macrophylla (mophead or lace-cap flowers, some of whose flowers can change color depending on soil pH), Paniculata (sun-lover with flowers that change from green to white to pink to red as they age), Serrata (lace-cap flowers and nice fall color), Quercifolia (beautiful fall color on oak-shaped leaves, white conical flowers). Full to part sun. 5-15 ft., depending on the variety.
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
This is a fantastic shrub or small tree, offering dramatic plumes of flowers mid-summer through fall and spectacular fall color. Foliage ranges from green to deep burgundy and purple, with the green varieties offering the most dramatic fall color change. Very drought-tolerant and prefers full sun to part shade. 4-15 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety. Can be pruned for size.
Bluebeard (Caryopteris spp.)
Stunning blue or pink flowers in late summer and fall make this deciduous shrub a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and adds color to the garden when many flowers have stopped blooming. Some varieties have variegated or golden foliage. Very drought tolerant - great for the parking strip. Full sun. 2-5 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety.
Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Little known on the west coast, this shrub blooms in early summer with white pendulous panicles. It also has awesome fall color with leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and gold, and which holds well into winter. Plant in sun to shade; it’s very versatile! 2-5 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)
Lagerstroemia has an upright form, great fall color, and interesting peeling bark, making it a great multi-season shrub. It thrives in full sun and, with enough heat, will bloom late summer to fall. In our PNW climate, crape myrtle may not bloom every year but it is a gorgeous addition to the garden even without blooms. 4-25 ft. tall, depending on the variety.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Another little-known shrub/tree in the PNW but a staple in the mid-west and on the east coast, this deciduous shrub has aromatic grey-green foliage and, in late summer, clusters of fragrant purple flowers that bees absolutely adore. Prune lower branches to reveal its tree-like form and let the cool alligator-like bark show in all its glory. For a nonstop purple pollinator garden, plant with salvia, catmint, lavender, and caryopteris. Full sun. Grows up to 3-8 ft. tall and wide, depending on the variety.
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