Guide

Find shrubs that grow in shade and poor soil, from dry-shade sweet box to wet-site summersweet, with zone-by-zone picks and planting tips.

Identify shrubs with red berries by checking thorns, leaves, berry clusters, and season. A practical guide to the most common species.

Identify the shrub with burgundy leaves and pink flowers — loropetalum or ninebark — by zone, size, and bloom time.

Wondering when spring-blooming shrubs bloom? Bloom times range from February to June depending on species, climate, and cultivar. See the full seasonal guide.

Discover the best flowering shrubs for full sun, from spirea to butterfly bush, with planting tips for heavy blooms in sunny spots.

Plant shade shrubs by matching light intensity, soil acidity, and hardiness to the species — hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and kerria lead the pack.

Why do evergreens stay green all winter? The waxy needles, chlorophyll retention, and cold-acclimation science explained simply — with no fluff.

Discover shrubs with blue flowers that hold true color: hydrangea, bluebeard, butterfly bush, ceanothus, and more, with growing tips for your zone.

Find the best summer flowering shrubs for full sun, from easy spirea to bold hibiscus, with zone and care tips for nonstop warm-weather blooms.

Plant a mix of native flowering shrubs with staggered bloom times to keep butterflies visiting your garden from spring through fall.