22 Small Flowering Shrubs for Your Garden

PERFECTO MUNDO® REBLOOMING AZALEA

Perfecto Mundo® reblooming azaleas — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Rhododendron hybrid)

Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Bushy spreading habit
Height/Spread: 30 inches tall, 36 to 48 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring through frost

Clusters of brilliant flowers appear in spring. After a brief respite, plants bloom again from mid-summer until fall. This short evergreen shrub is useful as low hedging, in foundation plantings, or massed in a bed or border. Learn more about growing azaleas.

SUNSHINE BLUE® II BLUEBEARD

Sunshine Blue® II bluebeard — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Caryopteris incana)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Upright compact habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late summer to fall

For late season color, bluebeard is an easy-care shrub with vibrant blue-purple flowers that appear in late summer. This variety is hardier than most, with bright gold foliage that lends multi-seasonal color. Plant this deciduous shrub in a mixed border, as hedging, in mass plantings or a container. Learn more about growing bluebeard plants.

‘LITTLE JOHN’ DWARF BOTTLEBRUSH

(Callistemon hybrid)

Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Bushy spreading habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer, nearly year-round in temperate climates

‘Little John’ bottlebrush is grown for the narrow blue-green foliage and bright red bottlebrush flowers that are especially attractive to hummingbirds. Use this slow growing dwarf evergreen shrub as hedging, in a foundation planting, waterwise border, or mass planting. Plants are heat and drought tolerant, and adaptable to poor soils.

LOW SCAPE MOUND® CHOKEBERRY

Low Scape Mound® chokeberry — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Aronia melanocarpa)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Low mounding habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 24 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Mid-spring

Small white flowers appear in spring against a backdrop of glossy green foliage. Brilliant red fall foliage contrasts with dark purple berries, which provide food for songbirds. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, use this easy-to-grow deciduous shrub as a ground cover, edging, in mass plantings or containers. Learn more about growing chokeberry.

LITTLE LIME® HYDRANGEA

Little Lime® panicle hydrangea — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Hydrangea paniculata)

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Part sun to sun
Growth habit: Mounding bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

A dwarf version of one of the most popular hydrangeas on the market: Limelight Hydrangea. Little Lime is a hardy and compact hydrangea that’s great in either containers or in the garden-anywhere it can show off its blooms that change colors with the season. Ideal for cut flowers—they look stunning in an arrangement, whether fresh or dried. See more dwarf hydrangeas.

‘CAROL MACKIE’ DAPHNE

(Daphne x burkwoodii)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Bushy spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Daphne is revered for the intensely fragrant star-shaped flowers that appear in spring. ‘Carol Mackie’ has soft pink flowers and slender semi-evergreen foliage with a thin creamy margin. Useful for small gardens, plant in a mixed border, woodland setting, or as a stand-alone accent.

KODIAK® FRESH™ DIERVILLA

Kodiak® Fresh™ diervilla — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Diervilla hybrid)

Zones: 3-7
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Growth habit: Mounding bushy habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer

Clusters of yellow star-shaped flowers on these deciduous shrubs bloom for weeks in summer. New foliage is orange-red, fading to chartreuse before turning vibrant orange in fall. This durable native shrub will thrive in sun or shade, is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Mass along a slope, use in a container or woodland border. Learn more about growing diervilla shrubs.

SHOW OFF® SUGAR BABY® FORSYTHIA

Show Off® Sugar Baby® forsythia — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Forsythia hybrid)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 18 to 30 inches tall, 24 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Early spring

One of the earliest shrubs to bloom, the cheerful yellow bell-shaped flowers are a welcome sight after a long cold winter. Flowers occur from the base all the way to the tips of the stems. This dwarf variety is suitable for small spaces. Plant in a container, as an entryway planting, or mass in the landscape. Learn more about growing forsythia shrubs.

LEGEND OF THE SMALL® FOTHERGILLA

Legend of the Small® fothergilla — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Fothergilla x intermedia)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 24 to 30 inches tall, 24 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring

Creamy white bottlebrush flowers appear in spring, with blue-green foliage that turns brilliant shades of magenta, yellow and purple in fall. Half the size of other fothergillas, this dwarf deciduous shrub is suitable for containers, as edging, in mass plantings or woodland borders. Learn more about growing fothergilla shrubs.

LA VIDA MAS™ INDIAN HAWTHORN

La Vida Mas™ Indian hawthorn — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Raphiolepis indica)

Zones: 8-10
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; blooms best in full sun
Growth habit: Compact spreading habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 24 inches tall, 36 to 48 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring, with rebloom summer and fall

A standard in southern gardens, this evergreen shrub has multi-seasonal interest, with pale pink star-shaped flowers that bloom from spring until fall. This dwarf shrub, suitable for small spaces, is heat tolerant and resistant to leaf spot. Use as a ground cover, in containers, mass plantings, or as border edging. Learn more about growing Indian hawthorn shrubs.

WINTER HEATH

(Erica carnea)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: December to May, depending on the variety

Winter heath is a low growing evergreen shrub valued for its off-season color in winter and early spring when little else is blooming. Clusters of small bell-shaped flowers occur in shades of pink, purple, and white, with needle-like green or gold foliage. Use as a ground cover, in rock gardens, mass plantings, or underneath other winter bloomers such as witch hazel (Hamamelis) or winter hazel (Corylopsis).

JAPANESE SKIMMIA

(Skimmia japonica)

Zones: 6-8
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Growth habit: Bushy spreading habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring

This broadleaf evergreen shrub produces rounded clusters of pink-red buds that open to white star-shaped flowers which are fragrant. Glossy green oval leaves and red berries that occur on female plants lend year-round appeal. Use as a foundation plant, as hedging, or in a woodland border.

BABY KIM® DWARF LILAC

Baby Kim® dwarf lilac — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Syringa hybrid)

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 24 to 36 inches tall, 30 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

This classic garden shrub is revered for its clusters of fragrant flowers that appear in spring. Baby Kim® is dwarf variety with purple fade-resistant flowers. It grows much smaller than most other lilac shrubs, making it suitable for small spaces. Use in containers, beds, as hedging, or in mass plantings. Learn more about growing lilac bushes.

‘CAVATINE’ DWARF LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY SHRUB

(Pieris japonica)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring

Also known as Japanese andromeda, ‘Cavatine’ is one of the best dwarf varieties. Prolific chain-like clusters of creamy white bell-shaped flowers appear in spring, with oval glossy dark green leaves lending year-round appeal. Tolerant of sun or shade, use this broadleaf evergreen in a woodland border, foundation planting, or container. Learn more about growing Japanese pieris.

HAPPY FACE® YELLOW CINQUEFOIL

Happy Face® Yellow cinquefoil — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Potentilla fruticosa)

Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

Large bright-yellow flowers bloom nonstop over an exceptionally long time, from spring to fall. This deciduous shrub is reliably hardy in colder regions, is virtually carefree and deer-resistant. Use as a ground cover, in mass plantings, or as a foundation plant. Learn more about growing cinquefoil shrubs.

FLOWER CARPET® SHRUB ROSE

(Rosa spp.)

Zones: 4-11
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Growth habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Flower Carpet® roses bloom over an exceptionally long time, from late spring until frost. Flowers occur in shades of red, pink, coral, orange, yellow, or white. Plants are highly disease resistant and virtually carefree. Use as a ground cover along a slope for erosion control, as hedging, or in mass plantings. Learn more about growing roses.

LIL’ KIM® ROSE OF SHARON

Lil’ Kim® rose of Sharon — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Hibiscus syriacus)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer

Large showy flowers are white with striking burgundy-red markings. This dwarf variety, which is half the size of other hardy hibiscus, is suitable for small urban yards. Plant in containers, mixed borders, as hedging or a stand-alone specimen. Also available in violet and red. Learn more about growing rose of Sharon shrubs.

DOUBLE PLAY® CANDY CORN® SPIREA

Double Play® Candy Corn® spirea — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Spirea japonica)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 18 to 24 inches tall, 18 to 30 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Light up the landscape with this showy deciduous shrub. New spring foliage growth is apple red, turning golden yellow, with new burnt orange leaves for the rest of the growing season. Clusters of dark purple flowers complement the bright foliage. Use this virtually carefree shrub in a woodland border, mass planting, or as a stand-alone accent. Learn more about growing spirea shrubs.

SUGARTINA® ‘CRYSTALINA’ SUMMERSWEET

Sugartina® ‘Crystalina’ summersweet — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Clethra alnifolia)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 30 to 36 inches tall, 28 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Mid-summer

Add color and fragrance to the summer border with the dramatic white flower spikes of summersweet. The beautiful blooms of this low-maintenance deciduous shrub are deeply scented, attracting butterflies and other insect pollinators. Use this compact variety in a woodland border, wildlife-friendly garden, or foundation planting. Learn more about growing summersweet shrubs.

LITTLE HENRY® SWEETSPIRE

Little Henry® sweetspire — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Itea virginica)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Growth habit: Mounding arching habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Early summer

This native deciduous shrub produces fragrant white flower spikes on graceful arching stems. Oval green foliage turns brilliant orange-red in fall. Plant this low-maintenance shrub in a woodland border, native garden, or mass in the landscape. Learn more about growing sweetspire shrubs.

LIL’ DITTY® WITHEROD VIBURNUM

Lil’ Ditty® witherod viburnum — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Viburnum cassinoides)

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring

One of the smallest viburnums, this compact deciduous shrub produces dense clusters of fuzzy white flowers in spring. Glossy green oblong foliage turns shades of red, purple, and orange in fall. Use this water lover along a stream or pond, as a ground cover, edging or in a foundation planting. Learn more about growing viburnum shrubs.

MY MONET® WEIGELA

My Monet® weigela — Buy now from Proven Winners

(Weigela florida)

Zones: 4-6
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring

Tubular pink flowers appear in spring against a backdrop of stunning green, white, and pink variegated foliage. This dwarf deciduous shrub is slow growing, needing little or no pruning. Use in a mixed border, foundation planting, container, or as a stand-alone accent. Learn more about growing weigela shrubs.