My lilac bush was especially beautiful this spring. It bloomed nonstop for nearly three weeks, filling the deck with its heady fragrance. After the last few storms we’ve had though, it’s beginning to look a bit bedraggled so I’m sure that its time is coming to an end. After its show-stopping performance this year, I wish that I had planted more flowering shrubs in my garden. I guess that I didn’t realize how much enjoyment flowering shrubs can bring to the landscape.
The benefits of adding flowering shrubs to your landscape go far beyond aesthetics though. Planted strategically, shrubs can contribute to significant energy savings. If deciduous varieties are planted on the east or west sides of the house, they can offer welcome shade from the harsh rays of the summer sun. Then, in the winter months, when their leaves have fallen and their branches are bare, they allow the warmth of the sun to heat your home. Planting shrubs on the north side of the house, especially those that retain their leaves during the winter, adds a layer of protection from chilling winds.
Flowering shrubs play an important role in our environment. They improve the quality of our air by helping to filter out dust and pollutants. They improve the quality of our water by reducing storm water runoff and keeping toxins out of our waterways. Their blooms provide nectar for beneficial insects and pollinators, their berries supply food for birds and other wildlife in the time of year when food becomes scarce and their leaves and branches offer shelter all year long.
From an economic viewpoint, flowering shrubs are a wise investment. Planted in the right place, meaning an appropriate climate and soil, flowering shrubs can thrive for years, showing off blooms that seem to get better every year.
With literally hundreds of species and cultivars on the market today, deciding which to include in your landscape can be difficult. To help you narrow down your options, we’ve shared six of our favorite flowering shrubs that can give you color in the garden all season long. As a side note, we haven’t included either viburnums or hydrangeas in this listing. Look for feature articles on both those beauties in the coming weeks. To view a printable list of Embassy favorites, click here.
