Best Shrubs for Landscaping
40 top landscape shrubs for privacy, foundation planting, flowering borders, shade, and full sun — with zone and deer resistance info.
See Shrubs in Your Yard →🏠 Foundation Shrubs (House Perimeter)
Boxwood (Buxus)
The classic foundation shrub. Dense, evergreen, easy to shear into any shape. 'Green Velvet' and 'Green Mountain' are most disease-resistant. Zones 5–9. $20–$60 each.
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
Native, deer-resistant, evergreen shrub. 'Shamrock' and 'Compacta' stay under 4 feet. Black berries attract birds. Zero maintenance once established. Zones 4–9.
Nandina / Heavenly Bamboo
Compact varieties (Firepower, Gulfstream) stay under 2 feet — perfect for small foundation beds. Evergreen foliage turns red in winter. Very drought-tolerant. Zones 6–10.
Spirea (Anthony Waterer)
Dense mounding shrub, 2–3 feet, blooms pink in June. Nearly indestructible. Cut back hard after bloom for compact shape. Zones 3–9. $20–$40 each.
Compact Holly (Ilex crenata)
Japanese holly is the more refined boxwood alternative. 'Sky Pencil' for tight spaces, 'Green Lustre' for mounding. Evergreen, pest-free. Zones 5–9.
Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'
Compact evergreen (2 ft), golden-yellow new growth, lavender flowers summer–fall. Highly deer-resistant. Looks good 12 months. Zones 6–9.
Weigela 'My Monet'
Dwarf (18"), pink-cream-green variegated foliage, tubular pink flowers loved by hummingbirds. Stays small — great for tight spots. Zones 4–8.
Dwarf Blue Spruce
Globe-shaped (2–4 ft) or conical spruce with intense blue-silver needles. Year-round structure. Extremely cold-hardy (zones 2–7). Rock garden or accent foundation.
🌲 Privacy & Hedge Shrubs
Green Giant Arborvitae
The gold standard fast privacy screen. Grows 3–5 ft/yr when young, reaching 30–40 ft eventually. Plant 5 ft apart for solid screen. Zones 5–8. $40–$80 each.
Emerald Arborvitae
Slower than Green Giant (6–9 ft mature), but stays narrower — ideal for tight spaces. Bright emerald green year-round. Zones 4–8. $30–$60 each.
Clumping Bamboo (Fargesia)
Non-invasive clumping bamboo, 8–15 ft tall. Dense, tropical look without the spreading problem of running bamboo. 'Rufa' and 'Scabrida' are popular. Zones 5–9.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Native evergreen tree/large shrub. Red berries December–March (birds love them). Can be maintained as a 6–10 ft hedge. Zones 5–9.
Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Fast-growing, broadleaf evergreen for zones 6–9. Reaches 10–15 ft, can hedge at any height. Better than Leyland cypress for deer country. $30–$60 each.
Viburnum (Alleghany)
Native shrub, 8–10 ft. White spring flowers, red-black fall berries, deer-resistant. Dense enough for screen. Extremely tough. Zones 4–8.
Yew (Taxus)
Evergreen, dense, tolerates deep shade, can be sheared into formal hedges. Very long-lived (100+ years). TOXIC berries — avoid near children/pets. Zones 4–7.
Forsythia Hedge
Fastest spring show — bright yellow blooms in March before leaves appear. 6–10 ft shrub. Not for formal hedging (looks ragged when sheared), best left natural. Zones 4–9.
🌺 Flowering Shrubs
Knock Out Rose (Drift Rose)
The easiest flowering shrubs ever bred. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, blooms May–frost. Knock Out = 4 ft; Drift = 2 ft. Full sun. Zones 4–10. $25–$40 each.
Annabelle Hydrangea
Native smooth hydrangea. Enormous white snowball blooms in June. Cut to ground each spring — blooms on new wood so no pruning mistakes. Zones 3–9. $30–$50.
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Bigleaf hydrangea that blooms on old and new wood — no more skipped bloom years. Blue in acidic soil, pink in alkaline. 3–4 ft. Zones 4–9.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Native! Peeling cinnamon bark, huge white flowers, exfoliating fall foliage. 6–8 ft. Very drought-tolerant once established. Zones 5–9.
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Incredibly fragrant purple/white bloom in May. Grows 8–15 ft. Very cold-hardy (zones 3–7). Needs cold winters to bloom well. Deer-resistant.
Spirea Goldflame
Compact 2–3 ft, bronze-gold new growth, pink flowers in June, orange fall color. Year-round interest. Nearly indestructible. Zones 4–9.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Blooms July–September when almost nothing else is flowering. 8–12 ft upright shrub. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Heat and drought tolerant. Zones 5–9.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Native multi-season shrub/small tree. White flowers March–April, edible blue berries June (birds race you for them), brilliant red-orange fall color. Zones 3–8.
🌿 Shade-Tolerant Shrubs
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia)
Native broadleaf evergreen. Stunning white-pink blooms in May. Prefers acidic soil. Deer-resistant (toxic). Perfect under high canopy trees. Zones 4–9.
Rhododendron (native azalea)
Native azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum, R. arborescens) are deer-resistant, fragrant, and adapted to shade. Bloom April–June. Zones 4–8. Far more deer-resistant than Asian hybrids.
Leucothoe 'Rainbow'
Arching evergreen shrub 3–5 ft. Multi-colored foliage (green, cream, pink). Tolerates dense shade. Looks great in shaded foundation beds. Zones 4–6.
Fothergilla (Dwarf)
Native! Witch hazel family. Fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in spring, brilliant orange-red-yellow fall color. 3–4 ft. Part shade tolerant. Zones 4–8.
Kerria japonica
Bright yellow pom-pom flowers in April–May on arching stems. Tolerates deep shade. Spreads by suckers (easy to control). Glowing yellow-green stems in winter. Zones 4–9.
Pieris japonica
Broadleaf evergreen. New growth is brilliant red in spring. White urn-shaped flowers in March. Deer-resistant. Requires acidic soil. Zones 4–8.
Aucuba japonica
Gold dust plant — dark green or gold-speckled leaves. One of the most shade-tolerant shrubs. Evergreen. Zones 7–10 (South and West Coast). Red berries on female plants.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
Native! Blooms January–February when NOTHING else is flowering. Spidery yellow or orange-red flowers on bare branches. Fall foliage is excellent. Zones 3–8.
☀️ Full Sun / Low Maintenance Shrubs
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Massive fragrant flower spikes July–October attract every butterfly in the county. 'Lo & Behold' series stays 2–3 ft. Deadhead spent blooms for continuous flowering. Zones 5–9.
Caryopteris (Blue Mist Spirea)
Blue flowers in August–September when little else is blooming. Compact 2–3 ft. Full sun, dry soil. Attracts bees and butterflies. Cut to ground each spring. Zones 5–9.
Native Blueberry (Vaccinium)
Plant 2+ varieties for cross-pollination and edible fruit. White spring flowers, edible summer berries, brilliant fall color. Part shade tolerant. Zones 3–9.
Muhlenbergia (Muhly Grass)
Technically a grass, but behaves like a shrub. 'Pink Muhly' has stunning magenta-pink cloud blooms in October. 3 ft, drought-tolerant, full sun, deer-resistant. Zones 6–10.
Cotoneaster (Horizontalis)
Low spreading shrub (2 ft tall, 6 ft wide). Red berries October–January loved by birds. Herringbone branch pattern is interesting in winter. Bank stabilizer. Zones 4–7.
Potentilla (Bush Cinquefoil)
Cheerful yellow, white, or pink flowers ALL SUMMER. Very cold-hardy (zones 2–7). 2–4 ft compact. Full sun, drought-tolerant. Deadheading not required.
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Silver-white stems + lavender-blue flower spikes from July until frost. 3–5 ft. Excellent deer resistance. Extreme drought tolerance. Smells like sage. Zones 4–9.
Bayberry (Morella caroliniensis)
Native, semi-evergreen, salt-tolerant, deer-resistant. 6–10 ft. Waxy gray berries used in bayberry candles. Excellent for coastal or sandy conditions. Zones 3–7.
Shrub Comparison Chart
Top 10 landscaping shrubs by height, sun, zones, deer resistance, and bloom time.
| Shrub | Height | Sun | Zones | Deer Resist. | Bloom | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knock Out Rose | 3–4 ft | Full | 4–10 | Moderate | May–frost | Foundation, border |
| Drift Rose | 1–2 ft | Full | 4–10 | Moderate | May–frost | Edge, groundcover |
| Boxwood 'Green Velvet' | 2–4 ft | Full–Part | 5–9 | Yes | Insignificant | Foundation, hedge, formal |
| Green Giant Arborvitae | 30–40 ft | Full | 5–8 | No | N/A | Privacy screen |
| Emerald Arborvitae | 6–9 ft | Full | 4–8 | No | N/A | Narrow privacy |
| Annabelle Hydrangea | 3–4 ft | Part | 3–9 | No | June–Aug | Mixed border, shade |
| Inkberry Holly | 3–6 ft | Full–Part | 4–9 | Yes | Berries (fall) | Native foundation |
| Butterfly Bush 'Lo & Behold' | 2–3 ft | Full | 5–9 | Yes | July–Oct | Pollinator garden, border |
| Mountain Laurel | 6–15 ft | Part–Full | 4–9 | Yes | May | Woodland, acidic shade |
| Russian Sage | 3–5 ft | Full | 4–9 | Yes | July–frost | Mass planting, border |
See These Shrubs in Your Yard
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Try It Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best low-maintenance shrubs for landscaping?
Knock Out roses, ornamental grasses, inkberry holly, potentilla, and native viburnums require almost no care once established. All are disease-resistant, require no deadheading, and are deer-resistant.
What shrubs grow the fastest for privacy?
Green Giant arborvitae (3–5 ft/year), Leyland cypress (3–5 ft/year), clumping bamboo (2–4 ft/year), and skip laurel. For a privacy screen in 3 years, plant Green Giants 5 feet apart.
What shrubs work in deep shade?
Yew, leucothoe, aucuba, mountain laurel, and kerria japonica all handle deep shade. For flowering in shade, try rhododendron, fothergilla, or native azaleas.
What shrubs are deer-resistant?
Russian sage, boxwood, inkberry holly, mountain laurel, butterfly bush, bayberry, and native viburnums are all consistently deer-resistant. Note: in areas with heavy deer pressure, deer will eat anything when hungry — planting deer-resistant species just lowers the odds.
How far apart should I plant landscape shrubs?
Plant at half their mature spread. A shrub that grows 6 feet wide should be planted 3 feet from the house or 6 feet from another shrub. Foundation plants are often planted too close — use mature size as your guide.
What are the best shrubs to plant in front of a house?
Layer sizes: tall evergreen at corners (boxwood, holly, yew), medium flowering shrubs in middle (spirea, drift rose, viburnum), low groundcover at edge (creeping juniper, dwarf nandina, liriope). This 3-layer formula works for virtually every house style.
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