15 Colorful Flowering Shrubs to Plant in Your Garden

Glossy Abelia

Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a pollinator-friendly shrub with small leaves and clusters of pinkish white flowers, says Damon Abdi and Jeb Fields of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's agricultural center. Beyond how beautiful it is, the shrub's fragrant flowers have a long bloom time that lasts from late spring to fall.

Zone: 6 to 9
Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

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Virginia Willow

A native semi-evergreen shrub, Virginia willow (Itea virginica) has multiple seasons of interest, Abdi and Fields say. It produces fragrant spring and summer flowers that fade from red to purple during spring.

Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 4 to 8 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

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Indian Hawthorn

This dense evergreen shrub is perfect if you're looking for a beautiful but low-maintenance option. Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) has white to pink flowers that give way to darker blue berries later in the season for added interest, Abdi and Fields say.

Zone: 8 to 10
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 4 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

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Loropetalum

There are various cultivars of loropetalum, including varieties with pink, red, or white flowers, so you can find one that's well-suited to your landscape. The shrub's late winter and spring flowers add bright colors to the garden, while the dark green and burgundy foliage adds interest once the blooming season has ended.

Zone: 7 to 9
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall x 6 to 8 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

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Chaste Tree

purple chast tree shrub — Helmut Meyer zur Capellen / Getty Images

A drought- and heat-tolerant plant that performs especially well in the south, chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) can be grown as a shrub or trained to single trunks. It is a very tough plant that forms beautiful lavender flowers during summer.

Zone: 7 to 10
Size: 5 to 20 feet tall x 5 to 10 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

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Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) is a pollinator magnet that attracts—you guessed it—butterflies. “I absolutely love butterfly bushes; they are exquisite and just keep on re-blooming," says Linda Vater, garden designer and plant expert on behalf of Butterfly Candy and Southern Living Plant Collection. New foliage emerges in spring, contrasted by panicles filled with hundreds of flowers that re-bloom from spring to fall. The flower colors can range from white to fuchsia, depending on the variety.

Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 4 to 10 feet tall x 4 to 10 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

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Bottlebrush

As the name implies, bottlebrush (Callistemon spp) shrubs produce vibrant flower spikes that are shaped like a bottlebrush. The fast-growing plant produces eye-catching blooms that are beloved by pollinators—specifically hummingbirds.

Zone: 8 to 10
Size: 3 to 10 feet tall x 3 to 10 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

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Hydrangea

The star of summer, hydrangeas are beloved for their voluminous flower clusters that showcase an array of colors, including shades of pink, blue, and white. When growing hydrangeas, keep in mind that they are extremely thirsty plants that require regular watering (especially during hot and dry periods) to maintain their vibrant blooms, says Kristen Pullen, woody ornamental portfolio manager at Star Roses and Plants.

Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 2 to 7 feet tall x 2 to 7 feet wide
Growing conditions: Part shade; well-drained soil

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Gardenia

Gardenias are a very popular plant among gardeners. They can be grown outdoors as a shrub but also make for an excellent houseplant. The evergreen produces beautiful white flowers in late spring or early summer that emit a pleasant spicy, sweet scent.

Zone: 8 to 11
Size: 5 to 6 feet tall x 5 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: Part shade; moist, humus-rich soil

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Hibiscus

Hibiscus plants are known for their vibrant flowers that come in various colors and are accompanied by lush green foliage. While this shrub likes full sun, hibiscus can also thrive in partial shade, making it adaptable to different lighting conditions. "The only exception being Hibiscus rosa-sinensis which prefer a consistent full sun location," says Pullen.

Zone: 9 to 12
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 4 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil

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Rose

Rose bushes (which are technically shrubs) are showstoppers in the garden. "The rose bush is characterized by its diversity of flower sizes and forms, which are available in various shades of colors such as reds, pinks, purples, yellows, oranges, and whites," says Pullen. Highly sought after for their exquisite blooms, roses are beloved for their enchanting, heady fragrance.

Zone: 5 to 8
Size: 2 to 8 feet tall x 2 to 8 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

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Lilac

Lilac shrubs (Syringa) are renowned for their clusters of fragrant and vividly colored flowers that blossom in a range of shades including purple, pink, and white. "With their compact and bushy growth habit, along with lush green leaves, they provide a stunning backdrop to the vibrant blooms," says Pullen. "Lilacs are generally low-maintenance shrubs, but it's important to note that they benefit from annual pruning immediately after flowering to promote better air circulation and maintain their shape."

Zone: 3 to 8
Size: 4 to 15 feet tall x 3 to 12 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

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Azaleas

blooming purple azaleaa — wulingyun / Getty Images

Azaleas are one of the most versatile flowering shrubs and they’ve been a staple of southern landscapes for generations. “In a vast range of colors and sizes, azaleas provide a dazzling shower of blooms in the spring, with re-blooming varieties like Encore Azaleas blooming across three seasons," says Buddy Lee, acclaimed azalea breeder and inventor of Encore Azaleas. "Many azalea varieties are also prized for their vibrant evergreen foliage, providing color and structure in the landscape even in the winter months.”

Zones: 6 to 10
Size: Depends on variety
Growing conditions: Full sun, slightly acidic soil

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Camellia

While other plants gracefully bow out in the cooler months, camellias gear up for a stunning display that rivals the liveliness of spring landscapes, says Vater. The shrub's thick evergreen foliage is ideal for blooming barrier plantings and privacy hedges. Plus, the flowers attract pollinators during winter months when other food sources may be scarce.

Zones: 7 to 9
Mature size: 7 to 12 feet tall x 5 to 10 feet wide
Growing conditions: well-draining, slightly acidic soil

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Tea Olive

Tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) can be grown as dense, evergreen shrubs or small trees. They produce incredibly fragrant small flowers that are white or orange in color depending on the cultivar, Abdi and Fields say. Plant next to a window so you can enjoy the beauty and scent of the tea olive shrub whenever you wish.