Which flowering shrubs need the least care?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Flowering shrubs requiring little care mingle beauty and function, providing flowering months at a time without frequent watering or pruning. Abelia, spirea, and butterfly bush are perfect for novices and on-the-go gardeners. These flowering shrubs can survive in poor soils, thrive when neglected, and often outlive fussy ornamentals.
Long Bloomers
- Abelia (Zones 6-9): Fragrant pink-white flowers from May until frost
- Butterfly Bush (Zones 5-9): Self-seeding spikes in purple/white attract pollinators
- Potentilla (Zones 2-7): Yellow blooms June-October with zero deadheading
Drought-Tolerant
- Spirea (Zones 4-8): Cascading pink/white clusters survive on 15" annual rain
- Loropetalum (Zones 7-10): Spider-like red blooms + purple foliage; no watering after Year 2
- Rockrose (Zones 8-11): Crinkled pink flowers thrive in arid coastal zones
Year-Round Interest
- Camellia (Zones 7-10): Winter blooms in red/white; evergeen leaves
- Hydrangea paniculata (Zones 3-8): Summer flowers fade to pink-tan dried blooms
- Fothergilla (Zones 5-8): Spring blooms + fiery fall foliage
For a client who is frequently away from home, I designed a slope with spirea and potentilla. Three years later, it still blooms through sporadic watering. The trick: I chose the shrubs for their USDA zone (6b) and used gravel mulch to prevent weeds and hold moisture.
Pruning blunders undermine low-maintenance objectives. Abelia only needs one winter cleanup to remove deadwood. If you over-prune, you lose next year's flowers. A neighbor was shearing his shrubs into balls every week, and he died in two short seasons. If you leave your shrubs alone for optimal results, they will look unmaintained at least for the spring of their flowering time.
Soil is less important than you think. If the soil drains well, butterfly bush does great in sandy soil or clay soil. I've planted them in lots that were abandoned lots and they bloomed profusely even without fertilizer. With heavy clay soil, when you plant your butterfly bush, mix in compost when you plant it, and then don't worry about it anymore.
Read the full article: 10 Low Maintenance Shrubs for Effortless Landscapes
