Shrubs & Hedges

Flowering Shrubs: Our Start-to-Spring Favorites

Blair Brown

Blair is the Content Marketing Manager at BrighterBlooms.com, and though she's not your traditional gardener, the planting world is definitely growing on her (pun intended!). She's enjoyed digging into plant care and maintenance and growing her plant collection, especially with exotic indoor varieties.

Written by

Blair Brown

March is here, which means spring is right around the corner! And what better way to start our countdown to spring than with our favorite flowering shrubs? We'll highlight our favorites, along with a few planting tips, so you'll be well on your way to springtime glory.

Check out our spring must-haves and more below!

1. Conversation Piece Azalea

Renowned for their stunning, multicolor blooms, the Conversation Piece Azalea is one of our favorite flowering shrubs. And they're broadleaf evergreens, which means you get year-round visual interest in addition to huge pink florals in spring and beyond.

Conversation Piece AzaleaPlus, this azalea superstar is a re-blooming hybrid, so you'll also get a repeat performance of pretty petals (the blooms are almost 4 inches in diameter!) as fall approaches. Even better? Hummingbirds love these flowers, so a graceful wildlife show is to be expected too.

Planting: Hardy and versatile, this flowering shrub flourishes in zones 6 to 9 outdoors but can also be planted in a container. Place your Conversation Piece almost anywhere, and watch it thrive!

2. Debutante Camellia

The Debutante's multi-layered blooms are densely packed with petals and have a strong resemblance to a rose...but with even better benefits. Especially since the Debutante Camellia also features robust evergreen foliage for breathtaking year-round vibes.

And the best part is it's easy to grow. The Debutante is drought tolerant, low-maintenance, and ignored by deer, which makes it an especially unbeatable choice for Southern gardeners.

Planting: Our 3-gallon Camellias give you an immediate impact, so you'll get instant color and voluminous blooms in your garden.

3. Nikko Blue Hydrangea

Nikko delivers a deep indigo that's rare in flowering shrubs. Plus, you can adjust their color from blue to pink and back by adjusting the pH levels in your soil. Customizable color? Check.

Nikko Blue HydrangeaAnd Nikko Blue blooms from late June through September, flaunting giant, 6-inch blossoms for a truly show-stopping look in any area.

Planting: Nikko matures quickly to 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, so it's a fast grower that's hardy in zones 6 to 9. Wherever you want a dramatic burst of color in full sun areas (areas that receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily), Nikko is there to deliver.

4. Blushing Knock Out Rose

Get all the benefits of the original Knock Out in a lighter shade of pastel pink. Boasting 3- to 3.5-inch single-petaled and semi-double blooms, our Blushing Knock Out Rose is second to none. And they have another growing habit that makes a profound impact statement: Bundled, full florals.

Even better? You get continuous blooms from spring until the first frost, making it one of our top everblooming flowering shrubs. That's right - our Blushing Knock Out Rose keeps pumping out flower after flower for a long bloom season that lasts month after month.

Planting: Though you may see waves of flowers that alternately produce heavier bloom sets followed by lighter bloom sets, your plants will still keep working all season long.

5. Dwarf Radicans Gardenia

One of the most adaptable and fragrant dwarf shrubs you can find, our Radicans Gardenia is one-of-a-kind. You get citrusy-scented blooms in a gorgeous silhouette...just on a space-saving shrub that's perfect for tighter areas.

Dwarf RadicansUse the manageable Dwarf Radicans as a border plant, in a container or even in front of larger shrubs as a fragrant groundcover. And plant these Radicans in groups of three for a dramatic effect. Personally, we recommend planting it near your patio and areas where you entertain guests for the sweet, second-to-none scents.

Planting: Once established, the hardy Dwarf Radicans is drought tolerant. Plus, it's easy to grow, thriving in full sun to partial shade (4 to 8 hours of sunlight daily) and adapting to almost any soil type.

Blair Brown

Blair is the Content Marketing Manager at BrighterBlooms.com, and though she's not your traditional gardener, the planting world is definitely growing on her (pun intended!). She's enjoyed digging into plant care and maintenance and growing her plant collection, especially with exotic indoor varieties.

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