8 Shrubs Pro Landscapers Recommend

Make the pollinators happy when you plant a hedge of abelia. This evergreen perennial shrub is prized for flowers that emerge in summer and keep bees and butterflies buzzing.

Abelia needs regular watering to get established, but is low maintenance once it settles in. Abelia is hardy in zones 6 to 9. Mature height is 4 to 6 feet.

Opinions vary by expert sources, but, crape myrtle is either a medium-sized shrub or a small tree. Either way, it's an adaptable, durable plant for your landscape. This deciduous shrub/tree blooms in a riot of color in mid-summer. Look for varieties like 'Midnight Magic' that feature dark pink blooms and burgundy foliage.

Do your research before planting crape myrtle: Read the plant tag and note the mature size before planting. Mature height is 6 feet. Crape myrtle is winter hardy in zones 6 to 10.

Tip: Plant crape myrtle no closer than 6 feet from structures like your home. These plants grow quickly and can overtake a space.

For Southern gardeners, distylium is the evergreen shrub of choice to replace boxwood and other shrubs that are susceptible to pests and diseases. First Editions’ 'Vintage Jade' distylium features layered branches and forms an intermediate spreading mound, making it perfect for mass plantings. Others to look for: 'Cinnamon Girl' and 'Swing Low,' all winter hardy in zones 7 to 9. Plant distylium in full sun to part shade.

Hydrangeas bring the show in summer. These beautiful shrubs are surprisingly tough, with many varieties handling zone 3 winters.

In the Garden Center, and online, look for varieties like hydrangea paniculata. Panicle hydrangeas handle summer's heat with ease and keep putting out blooms. 'Berry White' and 'Vanilla Strawberry' start out white in July and by late summer, the blooms are fully pink. Look for 'Limelight' and 'Little Lime,' as well. These shrubs make nice specimens in the garden, and excel at filling large spaces.

Panicle hydrangeas need full sun, and thrive in zones 3 to 8. Mature size is 6 to 7 feet in height and 4 to 5 feet wide. Dwarf variety 'Little Lime' grows to 3 1/2 feet in height. Other types of hydrangeas, like mopheads, thrive in part sun sites where they're protected from late afternoon sun.

This columnar ilex has dense dark green foliage and a vertical growth habit. Look for Southern Living’s 'Sky Pencil.' These shrubs grow 6 to 8 feet high and spread 2 to 3 feet. Japanese holly likes full sun to part shade. Winter hardy in zones 6 to 8.

Gardeners in zones 3 to 7 rely on ninebark to fill in the landscape and survive dry spells. This hardy deciduous shrub can grow up to 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. In the Garden Center and online, look for ninebark shrubs with dark foliage like 'Little Devil.' Plant ninebark in full sun.

If you love hydrangeas, give hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea) a try this year. They are easy to grow in sun or part shade. Oakleaf hydrangeas typically grow 5 to 8 feet tall with green, oak leaf-shaped leaves and large panicles of white flowers that begin to appear in early summer. Cooler fall temperatures draw out purple tones in the foliage and make the flowers blush.

Plant oakleaf hydrangeas as a background for your perennial border in full sun or at the edge of woods in zones 5 to 9.

Shrub roses bloom every five to six weeks, from spring to frost, creating a stunning show of beautiful flowers. Commonly called by the brand name Knockout roses, shrub roses can fit into many different landscapes in most climates.

Plant them individually as a focal point, among other shrubs or in large groups to create a colorful hedge. Shrub roses are hardy in zones 5 to 10 and, of course, plant in full sun for the most flowers.

Tip: Plant smaller shrub rose specimens in containers for summer-long blooms. In fall, plant in-ground to over-winter.