Everyone loves a blooming summer garden, but not everyone has a green thumb. However, it is possible to get beautiful flowering shrubs in your garden this summer, without a lot of maintenance. In fact, there’s no green thumb required!
Read on to see some of the best, easy-growing, summer-blooming shrubs.
In late summer, this shrub gets plenty of beautiful blue blooms. But its best feature is how easy it is to grow. The bluebeard shrub is able to withstand periods of heat and drought. Plus, the birds and butterflies love it. Plant this shrub in full sun and well-drained soil.
Summer Sweet is perfect for planning in shady spots, like along the side of your house, or in an area that doesn’t get too much sun. In fact, it loves moist soil. We love that it’s pink and white flowers give off a wonderful fragrance – and in the fall, it’s leaves turn a beautiful shade of gold. Cultivars, like ‘Ruby Spice’ offer an extra-long bloom season.
The Rock Rose is among the easiest shrubs to grow because it’s able to tolerate long periods of drought. But a little lack of water doesn’t affect their beautiful, colorful flowers. From pink to purple, and lavender to white, the rock rose’s blooms will look great in almost any garden. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil.
Similar to the popular lilac, the Butterfly Bush offers a longer period of blooming – from summer to fall. Just remember to pinch off the old flower clusters as they begin to fade in order to encourage new growth. With a pleasing fragrance, and similar color options – the butterfly bush is a great alternative to the lilac, provided it’s planted in full sun, and in well-drained soil.
This hearty plant requires minimal care, but still produces some beautiful deep-red flowers in summer. With a powerful, spicy fragrance you can enjoy throughout the yard, the Carolina Allspice is a nice addition to a low-maintenance garden. Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil.
Rose of Sharon adds a tropical-looking touch to your garden, with blooms in shades of pinks, lavender, and white that last from midsummer through early fall. They’re a sure bet to give you some pops of color through the hottest summer months. Just be sure to look for sterile varieties of this shrub, like ‘Minerva,’ to avoid filling your garden with a lot of weedy seedlings. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil.
Potentilla is one of the more common shrubs, so you’ve probably already seen its beautiful colored flowers around your neighbourhood. With blooms in yellow, orange, red, or white, it’s flowers come in a variety of pretty colors that are easy to coordinate with the rest of your garden. These shrubs attract butterflies, which you’ll be able to see from late spring through autumn, while the potentilla is in bloom. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil.
Think all roses are high maintenance? Think again! If you love the rose’s beautiful bloom, but don’t want all of the hard work, a shrub rose is a great alternative. These modern blooms will provide color all summer and fall, with pinks, reds, and yellows being the most common shades. Like roses, modern shrub roses have thorns, so plant them away from sidewalks and pathways, in full sun and well-drained soil.
With blooms like these in your garden, you’ll be able to spend your time outdoors simply enjoying the view – rather than fussing over your plants. Low maintenance flowering shrubs are a great way to ensure your garden has plenty of color all season long, without committing to a lot of extra yard work.
Happy Planting!
