A hedge featuring various types of flowering shrubs in bloom.

Woody Shrubs

Would you like to add a beautiful splash of color and texture to your garden? Look no further than ornamental woody shrubs! These stunning plants are incredibly easy to care for, boasting vibrant flowers during the spring months and providing gorgeous foliage throughout the rest of the year. Use our guides down below to choose the right varieties for your home garden and learn how to plant and care for them.

How to Grow and Care for Sea Buckthorn

A close up horizontal image of sea buckthorn foliage and berries growing in the garden.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is an easy-to-grow thorny shrub with willow-like foliage and nutritious sweet-tart berries. Cold-hardy and able to fix nitrogen in the soil, this versatile shrub is perfect for the home garden or acreage. Learn how to grow and care for sea buckthorn in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Holly

A close up horizontal image of the glossy green foliage and bright red berries of common or Christmas holly (Ilex aquifolium) growing in the garden.

Hollies make up a beautiful group of plants in the Ilex genus, from winterberries to the classic holly. Most species are evergreen, though some are deciduous, and they all have eye-catching berries and attractive foliage, providing year-round interest. Learn how to plant and grow holly in this guide. Read more now.

Are Spirea Shrubs Evergreen?

A horizontal close up of white flowered spirea branches on a bright spring morning.

Different species of flowering spirea are perennial in USDA Zones 4 to 8, but none of them are evergreen. Instead, these pollinator-friendly shrubs bloom profusely in spring or summer, sport vibrant, multicolor foliage in fall, and are dormant in winter. Will they work in your landscape? Our guide will help you decide.

How to Grow and Care for Bridalwreath Spirea

A close up horizontal image of bridalwreath spirea in full bloom pictured on a soft focus background.

Early flowering bridalwreath is a highly showy shrub with elegant, arching canes and masses of attractive, tiny white flowers in the spring garden.. Low maintenance and cold hardy, many varieties also provide vivid fall colors. Learn how to grow and care for bridalwreath spirea in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow Magic Carpet Spirea

A close up horizontal image of the bright pink flowers of Magic Carpet spirea pictured on a soft focus background.

Magic Carpet spiraea is a beautiful, compact, and low-maintenance ornamental flowering shrub. This early bloomer welcomes us in spring with cheerful pink flowers and vibrant foliage. Its small stature is ideal for borders, rock gardens, and foundation plantings. Learn how to add it to your landscape in this guide.

How to Prune Upright Junipers

A horizontal photo of a narrow, columnar juniper shrub growing in front of a tan building. The shrub is in a bark mulched flowerbed surrounded by yellow daffodils.

Pruning an upright juniper is about supporting the plant’s natural shape. It’s not about trying to turn a squat shrub into a tall tree, but gently highlighting what’s already there. You’ll need a few tools, the right technique, and an idea of when to start cutting. Learn how to prune an upright juniper in this guide.

Tips for Growing Japanese Yews

A horizontal image of a Japanese yew bursting with light green and dark green needles outdoors.

If you’re searching for stunning evergreen shrubs that can look great throughout the landscape, try Japanese yews! With beautiful green needles and an easily-shapeable form, Taxus cuspidata is very easy to care for. Propagation, cultivation, maintenance, health care and more are all covered in our guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Japanese Spirea

A close up horizontal image of the bright pink flowers of Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) with foliage in soft focus in the background.

Searching for a beautiful, yet low maintenance flowering shrub for your ornamental garden? With eye-catching foliage, and flowers in vibrant colors that pop, Japanese spirea shrubs will not disappoint. Learn how to plant, grow, care for, and choose the best cultivar for your garden in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Hicks Yews

A close up horizontal image of a large mature Hicks yew growing outside an imposing stone residence.

Is your garden missing an anchor to keep everything grounded? Look no further. Dependable, low-maintenance, and multipurpose ‘Hicksii,’ aka Hicks yew is your new best friend. Grow it in a variety of conditions and prune it to suit your needs. Learn about this resilient, evergreen beauty in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Birchleaf Spirea Shrubs

A top down close up of a clump of white birchleaf spirea flowers.

An exceptionally hardy ornamental shrub even in northern climates, birchleaf spirea offers three-season interest. Its spring blooms, summer greenery, and multihued autumn foliage are ideal for borders, mass plantings, and erosion control. Learn how to grow and care for this pollinator-friendly spirea species now.

How to Grow and Care for Winterhazel

A horizontal picture of a Corylopsis aka winterhazel blooming with yellow flowers outdoors.

Beautiful, hardy, and easy to care for, winterhazel shrubs will add beautiful yellow blooms to an otherwise dormant winter landscape. This guide walks you through how to propagate, cultivate, and maintain species of Corylopsis shrubs, as well as where to place them in your landscape for maximum aesthetics. Read more.

How to Grow and Care for Oregon Grape Holly

A close up horizontal image of the bright red foliage and deep purple berries of Oregon grape holly (Mahonia) pictured on a soft focus background.

With gorgeous fall color, eye-catching berries, and bright yellow flowers, Oregon grapes are fantastic for landscaping. These shrubs come in various shapes and sizes, and can serve multiple purposes in your yard – plus their fruits are edible. Keep reading to learn more about growing and caring for Oregon grape.

How to Grow and Care for Smooth Hydrangea Bushes

A close up horizontal image of the white flowers of Hydrangea arborescens growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

With snow-white pom-pom inflorescence and exfoliating, textured bark, wild hydrangeas are sure to wow any garden aficionado. Hydrangea arborescens attracts pollinators, stabilizes slopes, and is a natural border plant with showy blooms that make for an elegant cut flower. Learn how to grow wild hydrangeas now.

How to Grow and Care for Cotoneaster Shrubs

Image of the glossy green foliage and bright red berries of perennial cotoneaster shrubs growing in the garden.

Cotoneaster is a showy, hardworking shrub that provides multi-season interest with deep green foliage and pretty flowers, followed by bright berries and fantastic fall colors. Attractive as groundcovers and hedges, in containers and rockeries, or against fences and walls. Learn how to grow cotoneaster in this guide.

How to Grow and Care for Bay Laurel Trees

A close up horizontal image of bay laurel foliage pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Bay laurel is a beautiful and easy-care perennial evergreen that’s a popular ornamental for containers, hedges, privacy screens, and topiary specimens. Plus, the aromatic leaves are a must-have as a kitchen seasoning and for herb blends. Find all the details on how to grow and care for bay laurel right here. Read more.

How to Shape Your Hydrangea into a Tree

A horizontal image of a hydrangea that has been shaped into a tree form.

Sure, you can buy a tree form hydrangea plant at a nursery, but this is often a pricey option. Why not create your own? All you need is a little patience, since it can take a few years to get results, plus some know-how, which we’ll provide in this guide, and a pair of pruning shears to clip your plant into shape.

How to Propagate American Beautyberries

Close up of branches of American beautyberry with ripe berries in early fall.

Now on Gardener’s Path, learn how to propagate the lovely native American shrub beautyberry. You’ll want as multitutes of these graceful plants with their large, light-green leaves, arching branches, and eye-catching purple berries, and it’s easy to get more plants from seeds or softwood cuttings. Find out more now.

How to Propagate Hydrangeas from Cuttings

A close up horizontal image of glorious hydrangea flowers in blue, red, pink, and purple growing in the summer garden surrounded by deep green foliage.

Hydrangeas are perennial flowering shrubs that make a bold statement in the summer garden. If you can’t get enough of these beauties why not try propagating them yourself, instead of buying expensive potted shrubs? Learn how easy it is to propagate hydrangea cuttings in this step-by-step guide. Read more now.

How to Grow Mellow Yellow ‘Ogon’ Spirea: a Shrub for All Seasons

Morning light shining on blooming branches of Mellow Yellow ‘Ogon’ Spirea.

Ogon spirea is a mounding woody shrub that’s easy to grow in sunny locations in zones 4 to 8. Tiny white blossoms in early spring and colorful foliage in fall make it a striking focal point in hedges, mixed borders, or as a stand-alone specimen. Learn how to grow this attractive landscape plant now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Grow Hydrangea Flowers in Containers

A close up horizontal image of a dark gray planter with bright blue and pink flowers pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

If you love the big, colorful blossoms of hydrangeas but don’t have room in your garden, why not try growing them in containers instead? You can even bring the luxurious bursts of color to your porch, patio, or deck. Learn how to grow hydrangeas in pots in this guide, plus we’ll share our top container-friendly cultivars.

How to Grow and Care for Barberry Bushes

A close up horizontal image of different colored barberry shrubs growing in the garden. The one on the left has burgundy foliage and on the right, light green.

Found in most temperate and subtropical regions of the world, barberry bushes are robust evergreen or deciduous shrubs with bright green, red, orange, or burgundy foliage. Versatile and easy to grow, these shrubs are ideal as foundation plantings or standalone specimens. Learn how to plant and grow barberry in your garden.

How to Grow and Care for Russian Sage

A close up horizontal image of the lavender colored flowers of Russian sage (Salvia yangii) growing in the garden.

Russian sage, a member of the mint family, has attractive purple-blue flowers and green-gray foliage. It looks much like lavender but has a beauty all its own, adding unique appeal to the ornamental landscape. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, Salvia yangii thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Oakleaf Hydrangea

A close up horizontal image of a white oakleaf hydrangea flower growing in the garden.

For a tough and uniquely gorgeous plant, look no further than the oakleaf hydrangea. With beautiful oak-shaped leaves and conical blooms, Hydrangea quercifolia is a low-maintenance shrub that can tolerate full sun, full shade, and anything in between. In our guide, you’ll learn how to grow oakleaf hydrangeas at home.

Growing Heliotropes: Fragrant Vintage Charmers

A close up of a Heliotropium arborescens growing in the garden, with clusters of purple flowers, pictured in the sunshine on a soft focus background.

Would you like to grow a plant whose scent was a source of perfume for Victorian ladies? Whose purple clusters have graced gardens from Peru to Europe? The heliotrope is a showy garden flower that may also be cultivated indoors as a miniature potted tree. Learn all about it here on Gardener’s Path.

How to Grow and Care for Chaste Trees

A close up horizontal image of the light purple flowers of a chaste (Vitex agnus-castus) tree growing outside a residence.

For a drought-resistant, pollinator-attracting, and overall gorgeous plant that can rock both a shrub and tree shape, check out the chaste tree. We’ve whipped up a guide on Vitex agnus-castus that will teach a hopeful chaste tree grower everything they need to know, from propagation to cultivation to plant health care.

How to Grow and Care for Boxwood Shrubs

Close up of the leaves of a boxwood Buxus Sempervirens shrub.

Boxwood shrubs are classics in the garden, first planted in the United States in the 1600s. They’re also easy to care for and add visual appeal to any landscaping design. Many boxwood shrubs are also disease-resistant, making them the perfect choice for gardeners interested in low-maintenance landscaping. Read more.

How to Grow and Care for Cherry Laurel Shrubs

A horizontal image of a blooming cherry laurel shrub growing outdoors.

If you’re looking for a tough evergreen shrub that can handle wind, salt spray, and a wide range of sunlight exposures, consider growing a cherry laurel! Prunus laurocerasus is gorgeous, attractive to wildlife, and very easy to care for. Check out our guide now to learn how to cultivate these fantastic shrubs.

How to Grow and Care for Salvia Flowers

Red salvia flowers with green teardrop-shaped leaves.

Looking for a durable plant that isn’t very thirsty or hungry and thrives in almost any soil? Try growing salvia. With many different varieties available, whether tall, short, annual, or perennial, you’ll get a tough plant softened by beautiful and profuse blooms in white, pink, red, coral, purple, blue, or yellow.

How to Grow and Care for Snowberry Bush

A close up horizontal image of white snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus) growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

With its bright white berries, snowberry bush will bring an element of fall and winter interest to your landscaping. And during spring and summer, this medium-sized shrub provides a showing of attractive bluish-green foliage and pinkish-white flowers. Learn how to grow and propagate snowberry bush now in our guide.

How to Grow and Care for Buttonbush

A close up horizontal image of a butterfly feeding from buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) flowers pictured on a soft focus background.

A buttonbush shrub blooms with beautifully spherical flowers and fruits, tolerates wet soil conditions, attracts a ton of wildlife, and can even control erosion. This guide will teach a buttonbush grower everything they need to know, including propagation protocols, cultivation tips, and maintenance requirements.

How to Identify and Treat 7 Common Lilac Diseases

A close up horizontal image of a deep purple lilac flower growing in the garden, with foliage in the background.

Lilacs are a garden favorite. The flowers smell lovely, and the plants are known for being tough and low-maintenance. But they aren’t totally immune to issues. When lilac diseases strike, they can spell disaster for your plants. Learn how to identify and address the seven most common lilac diseases in this guide.

How to Grow and Care for Spirea Bushes

Small clustered pink blooms of spirea flowers.

Woody shrubs give great structure to the garden, and ones that provide flowers as well as fall color are invaluable for multi-season interest. Spirea gives pretty spring flowers and bright green foliage that turns into vibrant fall color, and it’s fast and easy to grow! Get the full details here on Gardeners Path.

How to Grow and Care for Shrimp Plants

A close up horizontal image of a shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

For an evergreen and everblooming tropical shrub with stunning white flowers and bracts that resemble shrimp, the shrimp plant is the obvious choice. With a plethora of planting options, this beautiful specimen is easy to grow. After reading our guide on how to cultivate it, doing so will be even easier!

How to Grow and Care for Mexican Honeysuckle

A close up horizontal image of the bright red flowers of a Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

If you garden in a warm climate, you’ll find Mexican honeysuckle is quite easy to cultivate and maintain. The vibrant orange-red flowered shrub has been used traditionally in herbalism and natural dyeing for generations in Mexico. Grow your own to experience all the benefits this pollinator-friendly plant has to offer.

Learn Three Ways to Propagate Spirea Bushes

A big, white-flowered spirea bush growing in a backyard setting.

Spirea is a flowering shrub that gives three season of reliable color to the garden. A low-maintenance plant that’s easy to grow, propagation is simple as well. Join us now for a look at the three easiest ways to multiply these landscape stalwarts, right here on Gardeners Path.

When and How to Prune Heavenly Bamboo

A close up horizontal image of the branches and foliage of a heavenly bamboo shrub growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

When they’re pruned the right way, heavenly bamboo shrubs can look absolutely fantastic in the landscape. In this guide to properly pruning Nandina domestica, you’ll learn why, when, and how to prune, and what you’ll need to get the job done. Read more now and you’ll be on your way to pruning mastery.

How to Grow and Care for Chinese Fringe Flower Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of bright pink Chinese fringe flowers (Loropetalum chinense) growing in front of a wooden fence.

Highly ornamental as a container plant, ground cover, hedge, screen, or specimen, low-care Chinese fringe flower features spidery pink flowers in early spring with beautiful burgundy/plum foliage all year long. A striking addition to mild-winter gardens, learn how to grow and care for Chinese fringe flower right here.

25 of the Best Hydrangea Varieties for Home Landscaping

Close up of clusters of blue hydrangea blossoms.

Hydrangeas are available in an exciting palette of colors. Some vary by soil acidity, and others change color as they mature. Whether you have patio pots or estate acreage, you can enjoy their cottage charm in your outdoor living space. From dwarf to tree-sized, here are our 25 favorite varieties. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Lilac Bushes

A close up horizontal image of deep pink lilacs growing in the garden pictured on a blue sky background.

With gorgeous purple flowers and a sweet perfume, lilacs are a classic in the spring garden and easily cultivated throughout the landscape. New cultivars make it possible to enjoy these beautiful woody shrubs even in areas with mild winters! Read our guide now for all the details on how to grow lilacs.

How to Use Elderflowers for Food and Medicine

Harvested elderflowers in a wooden bowl and a wooden mortar and pestle.

Did you know that like the berries, elderflowers are both edible and medicinal? These tiny aromatic blossoms have a myriad of interesting uses. Head to Gardener’s Path for harvesting tips, as well as suggestions on ways to prepare and use elderflowers. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Texas Mountain Laurel

A close up of a Texas mountain laurel shrub with purple flowers and developing seed pods in light sunshine, fading to soft focus in the background.

Perfume your garden, and your neighbors’ gardens, with the glorious scent of Texas mountain laurel. Come springtime, this evergreen shrub displays numerous spectacular clusters of aromatic purple flowers. The lovely plant is drought tolerant, deer resistant, and easy to grow. Get expert tips and advice now.

Azalea Bloom Times and Flowering Groups

A close up horizontal image of a variety of different colored azalea flowers growing in the garden.

Azaleas are a mainstay of the spring garden, but the show doesn’t have to end just because the season does. With several summer and fall flowering specimens, you can enjoy their gorgeous floral display right until frosty temperatures arrive. Read all about azalea bloom times and flowering groups for months of flowers.

How to Grow and Care for Japanese Tree Lilacs

A close up horizontal image of the flowers of a Japanese tree lilac.

If you love lilac shrubs but haven’t tried growing a lilac tree before, now’s the time to plant a Japanese tree lilac in your yard. These lovely trees grow tall and produce cream-white flowers every spring. In this guide, you’ll learn how to grow and care for these elegant specimens. Read more now.

21 of the Best Azaleas for Your Garden and Yard

A horizontal image of large azalea bushes in full bloom in a botanical garden with trees and shrubs in the background.

Bright and beautiful, azaleas add gorgeous colors in spring, summer, and fall. Tidy, low maintenance shrubs, they’re suitable for light shade to full sun and sparkle in borders, containers, foundations, flowering hedges, woodland edges, and more. Discover 21 of the best azaleas for your garden and yard in this guide.

How to Grow and Care for Camellia Flowers

A close up horizontal image of pink flowers growing in the garden surrounded by foliage.

Camellia has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years for uses ranging from privacy hedges and winter beauty to oil and tea. These plants can thrive for more than one hundred years with proper care in shrub, hedge, or tree form, bringing beauty to your garden when other plants are dormant, year after year. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Oleander Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of bright pink Nerium oleander flowers pictured growing in the garden on a soft focus background.

Evergreen oleander shrubs add tropical flair to the garden, blooming for months in vibrant shades of pink and red or delicate white. These low maintenance beauties thrive in poor soil, drought, high heat, and salt air and are suitable for cultivation in Zones 8-10. Learn how to plant and grow oleander in this guide.

How Many Types of Roses Are There? A Guide to Rose Classification

A horizontal image of different colors and types of roses growing in a large swath in the garden, pictured in bright spring sunshine.

Tea, damask, polyantha, oh my! There are so many kinds of roses that it can all get a bit confusing. If you’re wondering what a shrub rose or a tea rose is, or what separates modern roses from old garden roses, this is the guide for you. We’ll help you sort out all the details and choose the best varieties for your garden.

How to Grow and Care for Mock Orange Shrubs

A close up of white flowers with yellow stamen growing on a mock orange bush.

Are you wondering how to grow mock orange, a shrub loaded with the sweetest white flowers you’ve ever smelled? Philadelphus plants make a beautiful, fragrant addition to any garden, and they are easy to propagate and maintain. Discover how to grow and care for mock orange shrubs in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Bottlebrush Bushes

A close up horizontal image of the delicate pink flowers of the bottlebrush shrub growing in the garden with foliage in the background.

With elegant drooping branches, appealing blue-green foliage, and spectacular fuzzy blooms that continue all summer long, bottlebrush shrubs are the perfect plants to attract pollinators while adding dazzling color to the garden landscape. Continue on to learn how to grow and care for bottlebrush shrubs.

How to Grow and Care for Panicle Hydrangea

A close up horizontal image of the bright red blossoms of Hydrangea paniculata growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Panicle hydrangeas are native to cool regions of Japan and China. These heat- and cold-tolerant shrubs produce huge, showy clusters of blooms that are white at first, blushing into pink or red as the season progresses. Learn how to grow and care for Hydrangea paniculata in your landscape with this guide. Read more now.

Learn How to Grow and Care for Viburnum Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of white viburnum flowers growing in the garden.

There are over 150 species of woody flowering viburnum shrubs with clusters of blossoms in shades of cream, pink, and white. Some are evergreen. Others are deciduous, with vibrant autumn foliage and clusters of deep blue to red fruits. Learn how to grow one or more of the many available viburnum species and cultivars.

How to Grow and Care for Rose of Sharon

A close up horizontal image of two pink and red rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

A temperate climate hibiscus that grows well in cold areas, the stunning, elegant, easy to grow, and adaptable rose of Sharon deserves a place in your garden. Ranging from three to 16 feet tall with white, purple, pink, or red flowers, there’s an ideal cultivar for every situation. Learn how to grow Hibiscus syriacus now.

How to Grow and Care for Rhododendrons

A close up horizontal image of bright pink rhododendrons growing in the garden.

Rhododendrons are one of the most stunning shrubs out there. If you’ve ever seen one absolutely covered from tip to crown in blossoms, then you know what we mean. But they need a little special care to achieve that glorious display. With the right water, exposure, soil, and care, you can have a picture-perfect rhodie.

25 of the Best Early Spring Blooming Flowers

A spring garden scene with flowering magnolia trees and daffodils pictured in bright sunshine with trees in the background.

Rejuvenate the bare gardens of winter with the fresh blossoms of spring. Discover 25 of the best early spring flowering bulbs, perennials, and shrubs. Boost your curb appeal and welcome visitors with bold, vivid colors that invigorate, or pastels that soothe. Say goodbye to winter and find your new favorites now.

How to Grow and Care for Azalea Bushes

A close up horizontal image of bright pink azalea flowers growing in the garden pictured in light sunshine.

Brightly colored with long-lasting flowers, azaleas make a striking statement in the garden. Ideal for borders, beds, and foundation plantings, these shrubs provide months of vibrant blooms, with sweet or spicy fragrance, and pretty fall foliage as well. Learn how to grow and care for azaleas in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Forsythia Bushes

A close up of the densely packed bright yellow blooms of the spring flowering forsythia, with blue sky and clouds in the background.

Forsythia is an early spring flowering woody shrub with bright yellow blossoms on gracefully arching branches. Let it take its own shape, or prune it as desired, for the perfect backdrop to colorful bulbs, or a perimeter hedge. Read on to find all you need to know to cultivate and maintain forsythia in your landscape.

How to Manage Winter Damage in Evergreen Shrubs

A horizontal image of a garden scene with a variety of different evergreen plantings.

Whether due to cold temperatures, excess snow pileup, or even misplaced sidewalk salt, an evergreen shrub can experience a plethora of wintertime injuries. In this guide, you’ll learn about the most common forms of winter damage, how to manage the injuries sustained, and how to prevent such problems in the first place.

How to Grow and Care for Witch Hazel

A horizontal image of a witch hazel (Hamamelis) growing in the winter landscape in full bloom.

The early bird catches the worm, and the early bloom gets all the attention. For an early-flowering shrub with delightful foliage and an interesting growth habit, witch hazel is the plant for you. In this growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, cultivation techniques, and plant health care tips. Read more now.

25 of the Best Viburnum Varieties

A close up horizontal image of the colorful fall foliage and red drupes of a viburnum shrub.

Viburnum is a woody flowering shrub for full sun to partial shade locations in Zones 2 to 8. Most types display fragrant blooms in the spring followed by colorful autumn foliage and drupes at season’s end. Learn more about 25 of the best native and non-native viburnum varieties and choose your favorites. Read more now.

How to Manage Winter Damage in Yews

A close up horizontal image of the foliage and bright red berries of a yew covered in a dusting of frost in winter, pictured on a soft focus background.

Winter damage can really put a dent in a yew’s evergreen status, often causing the foliage to die and turn brown. In this guide, we’ll cover the various forms winter damage can take in these plants, and provide prevention and treatment strategies for dealing with this unwanted condition. Read more now.

How to Control Invasive Mistletoe

A close up horizontal image of a large clump of parasitic mistletoe growing on a tree branch.

You may not mind mistletoe hanging overhead at a Christmas party, but you’re likely to be peeved if the invasive kind is hanging on your plants in the landscape. In our guide to managing invasive mistletoe we’ll provide a brief primer on these plants and tips to identify, treat, and prevent an infestation. Read more.

How to Grow Mistletoe

A close up horizontal image of a large clump of mistletoe with bright green foliage and white berries.

Ready for something different? How about gardening in the sky on the branches of trees? Mistletoe is a holiday favorite when we use it to decorate our homes – and maybe get a kiss. But it’s an important plant for wildlife, too. Some butterflies can’t live without it and it provides important winter food for bees.

Tips for Growing Spartan Juniper

A close up horizontal image of the foliage of a 'Spartan' Chinese juniper growing in the garden pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

For a plant as tough as the strongest warrior, check out ‘Spartan,’ a Chinese juniper cultivar with a columnar growth habit. It’s perfect as a windbreak, specimen, or living fence. We’ll explain how to plant, grow, and care for this stately shrub, from finding the right place in the garden to caring for it as it grows.

How to Plant and Grow Chinese Junipers

A horizontal image of a large Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) pictured on a blue sky background.

Chinese junipers come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, which means they can easily suit many different situations. You can grow these classic shrubs as gorgeous bonsai trees, stately garden specimens, maintenance-free hedges, dense privacy screens, container topiaries, and more. Read our growing guide now.

How to Grow and Care for Rocky Mountain Juniper

A close up horizontal image of the foliage and blue berries of Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) pictured on a soft focus background.

Rocky Mountain junipers are adapted to the harsh, changing, and rough conditions of the Rockies. They can cling to rocky cliffs, hunker down in sand dunes, or survive a long freeze. That adaptability translates to tough, hardy, versatile shrubs for the home garden. This guide helps you make them thrive in your space.

How to Grow and Care for Yew Trees and Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of a yew shrub pictured in light sunshine on a blue sky background.

Yews are gorgeous, versatile, and have a fascinating history of usage in religion, warfare, and medicine. In order to grow them as beautiful plantings in your garden, you’ll need to know the cultivation conditions that they love and loathe – which is where this guide comes in. All of the know-how you need awaits!

13 of the Best Evergreen Shrubs for Your Garden

A close up horizontal image of creeping juniper growing in a garden border flanking a pathway.

Finding the right evergreen shrub for your garden can be a headache, especially if you want something unique. We’ve taken the guesswork out of the project and compiled 13 of the best evergreen shrubs for you to consider. Read on to see our favorite picks for a variety of growing zones in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Creeping Juniper

A close up horizontal image of a creeping juniper growing in a garden border.

For a truly carefree, evergreen ground cover, check out creeping juniper. These plants are perfect for rock gardens or xeriscaping and they come in a wide range of options, including dwarf or full-size with green, yellow, gold, or blue foliage. Learn how to choose, plant, and care for these elegant little creepers.

How to Grow and Care for Winter Daphne

A close up horizontal image of a light pink winter daphne (D. odora) pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Winter daphne might be around for a short time compared to other shrubs, but its stunning, fragrant contribution in late winter and early spring means you’ll forgive, forget, and plant more. Learn how to grow and care for this little woody shrub that will permeate your home and garden with its alluring perfume in this guide.

How to Protect Rhododendrons in Winter

A close up horizontal image of rhododendron plants covered in a light dusting of frost.

For the fullest display, you must give your rhododendrons the support they need to survive the winter and come fully alive in the spring. This guide shows you how to prepare and protect your rhodies and azaleas for the cold months ahead, whether that’s mulching, pruning, or protecting your plants from heavy snow.

How to Care for Spirea Shrubs in Winter

A close up horizontal image of the white flowers of spirea pictured on a soft focus background.

Spirea are deciduous ornamental shrubs loaded with beautiful, showy flower clusters in either spring or summer, depending on the variety. These tough, durable, deciduous plants are cold-hardy and able to withstand a variety of harsh seasonal weather conditions. Learn how to care for spirea shrubs in winter in this guide.

15 of the Best Woody Shrubs for Fall Color

A Japanese style garden in the autumn showing off bright orange, red, and yellow fall colors.

While many plants, with their beautifully colored flowers, shine brightly in spring and summer, others really come alive in autumn. We put together a list of our favorite woody shrubs that add spectacular fall color to the landscape with their leaves, stems, or flowers. Discover 15 of our favorites in this guide.

How to Overwinter Oleander Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of white oleander flowers growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine on a blue sky background.

Oleander shrubs withstand heat, drought, and extreme humidity, but they can’t handle harsh winters. These perennial shrubs thrive in Zones 8 to 11 but must come indoors to survive colder winters. In this guide, we’ll cover how to prepare oleander plants for winter, and cold-weather care tips. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Yaupon Holly

A close up horizontal image of the branches, foliage, and berries of yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) growing in the garden.

Yaupon hollies should be more popular than they are. You can make caffeinated tea from the leaves, grow them in a range of environments, and they need little maintenance. The red berries attract wildlife and the evergreen leaves offer year-round interest. Learn how to plant and raise these versatile, hardy shrubs.

19 of the Best Fragrant Flowers and Shrubs to Grow in the Garden

A close up horizontal image of a vase filled with fragrant sweet william flowers set on a concrete surface.

Are you looking for scented flowers to grow in your garden or liven up your patio containers? Heady, intoxicating, sweet, fruity, and spicy, the scent of a flower is incomparable! In this guide, we roundup 19 of the best annuals, perennials, and shrubs that provide incomparable scent when they are in bloom. Read more now.

11 Types of Euonymus: Choosing the Best Plants for Your Garden

A close up horizontal image of green and white variegated foliage of Euonymus growing in the garden.

Struggling to pick out a Euonymus for your landscape? No worries, we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll go over some of the top species and what they have to offer gardeners. From USDA Hardiness Zone recommendations to ornamental descriptions, you’ll learn about 11 of the best picks for the garden. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Euonymus Shrubs

A horizontal image of two bright red burning bushes (Euonymus) growing in a park like setting.

Euonymus plants are versatile, gorgeous specimens that only require a moderate amount of work to keep them looking sharp. Specimens, accents, hedges, vines… these guys can meet many different landscape needs. In this guide, we’ll go over just how to properly care for Euonymus plants, from propagation to cultivation.

How to Grow and Care for Firebush

A close up horizontal image of the flowers and foliage of a firebush (Hamelia patens) shrub growing in the garden.

Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a drought-tolerant, disease-resistant shrub with flame-colored flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. It’s a tropical beauty and very easy to care for. In this guide, you’ll learn the basics of firebush planting and cultivation, along with how to keep it healthy. Read more now.

How and When to Prune Spirea Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of pink Japanese spirea growing in the garden pictured in light evening sunshine.

Ornamental spring- or summer-flowering shrubs, spirea need an annual pruning to look their best with full foliage and abundant flowers. But with different flowering times, the two types have different maintenance regimes. To keep your shrubs in top form, here are the details on how to prune spirea. Read more.

How and When to Prune Boxwood Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of a boxwood shrub growing in a park pruned into a round shape.

Proper pruning is essential for a beautiful-looking boxwood shrub, and helps to keep it free of diseases. In our guide, you’ll learn about the necessary pruning tools along with the why, when, and how of pruning. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped with the necessary know-how and ready to prune a boxwood yourself.

How to Grow and Care for Heavenly Bamboo

A close up horizontal image of the bright red foliage of a heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) plant growing in the garden.

With a fascinating history of cultivation in China and Japan, heavenly bamboo is a tough-as-nails, yet gorgeous plant that can be grown for year-round visual interest. It’s adaptable to a wide range of exposure conditions and soil types, and possesses significant resistance to pests and pathogens. Read more.

How to Grow California Coffeeberry

A close up horizontal image of little orange berries of the California coffeeberry (Frangula californica) pictured in bright sunshine.

California coffeeberry is the ideal species for wildlife gardens! Birds will appreciate your consideration when you grow this beauty in your landscape, and you’ll be able to watch them from your yard. This fast-growing perennial shrub is a drought-tolerant flowering native plant that’s perfect for spaces big and small.

9 of the Best Types of Spirea Shrubs for Your Garden

A close up horizontal image of a large 'Bridal Wreath' spirea shrub covered in white flowers.

Spirea are flowering woody shrubs in a variety of shapes and sizes, offering multi-season interest for gardens and landscapes. The pretty pink, red, or white flowers appear in summer or fall, and many have color-changing foliage with fantastic fall hues. Read about 9 different types of spirea shrubs for your garden.

How to Grow and Care for Weeping Forsythia Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of two large weeping forsythia (F. suspensa) shrubs in full bloom growing by a pathway with trees in soft focus in the background.

Weeping forsythia is a late winter to early spring sensation with its gracefully arching branches covered in little yellow flowers. It’s easy to grow in full sun and well-draining soil in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8. Read on for pro tips to guide you in cultivating healthy, show-stopping shrubs in your landscape.

How to Collect and Plant Hydrangea Seeds

A close up horizontal image of a hydrangea with fading blooms.

Hydrangeas are low maintenance flowering shrubs popular for their dramatic colorful blooms and bold green foliage. But can you grow them from seed? Depending on the variety, it may be possible. In this guide, we cover how to collect and save the seeds of your favorite hydrangeas for planting. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Lacecap Hydrangea Bushes

A close up horizontal image of blue lacecap hydrangea flowers.

Hydrangeas are woody shrubs or vines with showy clusters of blossoms. They grow best in full sun to part shade, where the soil is consistently moist. There are nearly 80 different species and several bloom styles. Learn more about the lacecap hydrangea, and what makes it unique in this guide. Read more now.

21 of the Best Japanese Holly Cultivars to Grow at Home

A close up horizontal image of the foliage of Japanese holly growing in the garden.

Japanese hollies are easy-care, evergreen shrubs that come in an astounding array of shapes and sizes, with leaves that range from dark green and petite to large and yellow. Some varieties have columnar growth habits and others are low-growing shrubs. Learn about 21 of the best Japanese holly cultivars in this guide.

How to Grow and Care For Japanese Holly

A close up horizontal image of Japanese holly foliage and berries growing in the garden.

Japanese hollies are essentially maintenance-free and untroubled by pests or disease. Deer and rabbits just hop on by, and your pruners will gather dust in the shed, because they maintain a tidy shape without any work from you – unless you plan to shape them into elaborate topiaries, and that’s great too! Read more.

How to Grow and Care for English Holly

A close up horizontal image of English holly with red berries growing in the garden.

English holly puts the jolly in holiday decor. The cheery red berries brighten early winter landscapes and sustain songbirds, while the evergreen foliage is a must in wreaths and cut arrangements. Read more now to learn how to grow this Christmas holly as a tree or trained shrub, from transplanting to pest control.

Juniper Herbal Uses: Put This Natural Powerhouse to Work for You

A close up horizontal image of a bowl of juniper berries and foliage set on a dark gray surface.

Juniper has been used herbally for centuries. Even King Tut had some of the berries from the trees in his tomb. Whether you want to make a wound-healing salve or some tea to ease a cold, the needles and berries have the potential to help. Not all species are useful herbally, though. This guide has what to know.

13 Juniper Berry Uses in the Kitchen and Beyond

A close up of a cluster of juniper berries set on a wooden surface.

Juniper berries are the unsung heroes of the spice world. They can flavor everything from drinks to savory dishes and even desserts. And they can also be used herbally, to make sourdough, and around the home. Whether you forage or purchase them, our guide will help you to make the most of the pungent fruits. Read more.

When and How to Harvest Juniper Berries

A close up horizontal image of a small bowl filled with juniper berries.

Juniper berries can be used herbally, in the kitchen, or around the home. But harvesting them requires knowing the right time and method for plucking the fruits. Additionally, you should know with certainty that the species you are harvesting is suitable for your purposes. Our guide provides the details. Read more.

Are All Juniper Berries Safe to Eat?

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Yes, juniper berries are edible. Well, most of them. Many species are not just safe to eat, they’re delicious. But some, on the other hand, can be toxic. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out which is which so you can harvest the good ones and leave the ones that are bad (for humans!) for the birds who love them.

Pruning Bonsai 101: How to Shape Your Plants

A close up horizontal image of a gardener pruning a bonsai tree.

Pruning a bonsai well requires equal parts technical skill and artistic vision. You need to know how to prune the plant without damaging it so you can bring the living piece of art that you dream of to life. In this guide, we’ll help you to achieve both goals with a little bit of technical and creative guidance.

How and When to Prune a Juniper Shrub

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the left of the frame pruning a juniper shrub.

Pruning junipers the right way takes a bit of finesse and know-how. If you do it wrong, you can end up with a sad-looking skeleton of a plant, rather than a robust shrub that adds to your garden. You need to know when, how, and which branches to prune if you want to keep your plant healthy and looking good. Read more.

Blue Star Juniper: How to Grow These Hardy Garden Staples

A close up horizontal image of blue star juniper growing in a garden border.

‘Blue Star’ junipers practically glow in the garden with their bright, steely blue foliage. Add to that their dense, mounding growth habit and extremely tough nature, and you have a plant that adds heaps of year-round character to your yard without much fuss. Get to know this happy accident and how to care for it.

How to Grow Lilacs in Pots and Planters

A close up horizontal image of a bouquet of purple lilacs in a vase indoors.

With generous panicles of beautiful, fragrant flowers, the allure of lilacs is powerful. If you don’t have the space for a mature, 30-foot specimen, a good option is to grow dwarf varieties in containers – a smart solution for decks, patios, and other small spaces. Learn how to grow lilacs in pots and planters here.

How to Grow and Care for American Holly Trees

A close up horizontal image of the berries and foliage of American holly.

If you’ve never tried growing American holly before, you’re in for something special. With glossy leaves and bright red berries, nothing says winter cheer quite like this plant. But is it hard to grow? How do you encourage the bushes to produce berries? Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Winter Jasmine

A horizontal image of winter jasmine growing in the garden.

Winter jasmine was cultivated in China for hundreds of years before becoming a common landscaping plant in many other parts of the world. Not only does it bloom in the winter when most other plants are dormant, it is very tolerant of neglect, so even inexperienced gardeners find it easy to grow. Read more now.