The Dwarf Lily-of-the-Valley shrub (Pieris japonica 'Cavatine') takes up to 10 years to reach its mature height of 2 feet. The white, bell-shaped flowers bloom in the early spring, usually around mid-March. You'll typically see these flowers between 2 and 3 weeks. Japanese Andromeda plants are suitable for attracting butterflies and are good sources of nectar for bees.
Japanese spiraea is a deciduous shrub that blooms from June to July. The pink flowers produced by this plant are fragrant and can attract butterflies. The Little Princess cultivar for this plant has a mature height of 3 feet. This plant tends to spread. It can measure as wide as six feet. Japanese spiraea is easy to care for.
Rhododendron is a group of shrubs that contains around 1,000 different species of plants. One excellent choice for this plant is the Rhododendron 'Elviira'. The Elviira has red, funnel-shaped flowers. These flowers will grow in groups of 6 to 10. The Elviira rhododendron is a slow grower. This plant will reach a mature height of 2 feet in approximately 10 years. These shrubs will grow between 2 and 4 feet tall and 2 and 4 feet wide.
Pyracantha plants are semi-evergreen shrubs that are well-known for the red berries that they produce. The popular scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) is one popular type that is excellent for container planting. When grown as shrubs, many firethorns won't exceed 8 feet in height. 'Tiny Tim' and 'Low Boy' are two cultivars that won't exceed three feet in height. These plants usually spread horizontally. The low boy firethorn can spread up to 8 feet.
Shrubby cinquefoil is a deciduous shrub that is round and bushy. These plants will be between 2 and 4 feet tall and wide at maturity. The shrubby cinquefoil produces small, five-petaled flowers from June until September. You'll typically find shrubby cinquefoil with white or yellow flowers. Although, some cultivars have pink and red flowers instead.
The Japanese skimmia is a short and dense shrub that produces fragrant flowers. These plants will be between 3 and 4 feet tall at maturity. They also grow between 4 and 5 feet wide. Female plants tend to grow wider and will produce red fruit in the fall. Male plants tend to make more fragrant flowers. However, male Japanese skimmia won't have any berries. You can expect to see blooms around April.
The winter heath (Erica carnea) is an evergreen shrub that needs well-drained soils. In frequently waterlogged soil, this plant is prone to root rot. Otherwise, this plant doesn't have many plant, disease, or pest issues. This is a short shrub that is often used as a ground cover. This plant typically won't exceed a foot in height. The most common sizes range between 6 and 9 inches. You can expect the winter heath to grow more horizontally..
The bluebeard or blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis) is a hybrid of Caryopteris incana and Caryopteris mongholica. This deciduous shrub has an average height of between 2 and 3 feet tall. This plant produces blue flowers that attract butterflies and bees. You can expect to see these flowers from late summer to early fall. This can help provide a pop of color when other plants are starting to lose their vibrancy.
The Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a deciduous shrub with fragrant flowers. You can expect to see these flowers in the late summer. While the flowers are typically white, some cultivars like Clethra alnifolia 'Rosea' are pink. The plants will bloom for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. The flowers are great for attracting bees and butterflies. After the flowers, the summersweet produces fruits. Birds and small animals eat these dark brown fruits.
Dwarf fothergilla, sometimes known as witch-alder, is a deciduous shrub grown best in slightly acidic, moist soil. At maturity, this plant is between 2 and 3 feet tall and wide. In the spring, dwarf fothergilla produces honey-scented flowers. They bloom from April until May. Dwarf fothergilla flowers are typically between one and three inches long. This plant typically produces its leaves after the flowers. So, come summer, you'll have a beautiful blue-green shrub.
Common lavender has spike-shaped flowers that are typically purple. However, you can also find pink and white flowers. This plant is in season from June until August. The flowers are good for attracting butterflies and pollinators. However, they are slightly poisonous to dogs, cats, and horses. While common lavender can be hardier than other lavender, this plant still requires some attention. It's important that you plant this in well-drained soil. Root rot is a common problem for lavender.