Keeping your home looking beautiful can sometimes be a chore. Not only do you have to contend with making your house shine both inside and out, but you need to pay attention to how your yard is doing. A home isn’t complete without landscaping to set off and accentuate the house, and small flowering shrubs are a large part of creating the perfect look in your yard.
In this guide, we are happy to help you choose the perfect dwarf flowering shrubs. We will also give you the information you need to ensure that your new leafy friends survive and thrive.
We provide examples of unusual shrubs that stay small, including those that prefer full sun, those that have year-round green foliage, and those that burst into fall color. With our help and a little effort on your part, your foundation planting of small, compact, flowering shrubs will highlight your home and make your life more beautiful.

- When Should I Plant Small Flowering Shrubs?
- How Do I Plant Shrubs that Stay Small?
- How Do I Care for Dwarf Flowering Shrubs?
- Bella Bellissima Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa) – Gorgeous Dwarf Shrub
- Flare Hydrangea (Hydrangea Paniculata)
- Rainbow Fizz Spirea (Spiraea Japonica) – Spectacular Small Flowers
- Peach Lemonade Rose (Rosa Radpastel)
- Lo & Behold Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
- Scent & Sensibility Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris) – Fragrant Small Shrub
- Burning Bush (Euonymus alata)
- Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens)
- Bloom-a-Thon Pink Double (Rhododendron) – Re-blooming Dwarf Shrub
- Tuff Stuff Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea Serrata)
- Bobo Hydrangea (Hydrangea Paniculata) – Sturdy Shrubs that Stay Small
- Cityline Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
- Little Henry (Itea Virginica)
- Haaga Rhododendron (Rhododendron x ‘Haaga’) – Flowering Small Shrub
- Seaside Serenade Bar Harbor Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens)
- Crimson Kisses Weigela (Weigela ‘Slingco 1’)
- Petite Pinkie Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) – Incredible Flowering
When Should I Plant Small Flowering Shrubs?
If your goal is for growing bushes fast, plant them as early as you can and purchase a fairly mature specimen. Aim to get your shrubs in the ground in the early spring to the early summer, depending on the shrub’s needs.
Plan on planting most shrubs as soon as the last frost of the season passes, though, to give the plant its best chance at thriving.
Check your local conditions to determine when it’s safe to plant – consult with your county’s agriculture agency to get an expert opinion on the matter. Safe is better than sorry, so if you have concerns about possible late freezes, hold off on planting until you have peace of mind.
After planting, watch over the shrubs to ensure that they get enough water and sunlight. Get rid of invasive weeds that may threaten to take over if left unchecked and add mulch when appropriate. Your flowering bushes will flourish.
How Do I Plant Shrubs that Stay Small?
If you want beautiful shrubs, you have to treat them right during planting. Poor planning before planting your miniature shrubs can cause years of regret if your dwarf shrubs don’t dig in and flourish.
To give your small shrubs their best chance at a long and happy life around your home, make sure the small flowering bushes you select will do well in the spot in which you intend to plant them. Place the potted shrubs in their permanent location for a while to ensure that they look good there and that they have enough sun or shade.
Water the shrub before planting, and dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide. After you place the bush in the hole, use your hands to fill in the soil around the dwarf shrubs. Water the area and wait.
How Do I Care for Dwarf Flowering Shrubs?
To get the most out of your flowering shrubs for landscaping, you need to keep them happy. Keep them watered and weed them regularly. It’s essential to make your garden and ground cover cat- and deer resistant. Small perennial flowers like lavender and Russian sage are fantastic for repelling furry creatures large and small.
Keep your small flowering bushes and small shrubs for borders looking and feeling their best by pruning them regularly. Early spring, before the dwarf shrubs fill out with green leaves, is often the best time to trim away errant branches.
Beautiful Easy-to-Grow Small Flowering Shrubs
Some of these plants can also be grown as container flowers. Be sure to pick the appropriate pot and fertilize and water regularly to ensure that the shrub will thrive.
Bella Bellissima Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa) – Gorgeous Dwarf Shrub

The Bella Bellissima Potentilla is one of the prettiest pink flowering trees around. It loves the sun and does best in full sunlight for at least six hours a day. This low maintenance plant works well by itself as a statement piece in the yard or planted with a few others to draw attention to a particular corner of the property.
It is a gorgeous shrub that produces beautiful pink flowers spread across the bright green plant and lasts all spring and summer. The Bella Bellissima is the perfect plant for those in harsh winter climates.
This hardy little bush with a compact habit can survive blizzards and come out on the other side smiling. It’s an ideal plant for those who live in the extreme North or South and still want a small garden.
Flare Hydrangea (Hydrangea Paniculata)

While the Bella Bellissima is an excellent choice for the more frigid temperatures, the Flare hydrangea isn’t far behind. It can tolerate some pretty lousy weather in its own right: temperatures down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit won’t faze the Flare hydrangea one bit.
What makes this shrub stand out, though, is its flowers, which arrive in the early summer. The Flare produces spectacular panicles that range from a pinkish-white to a coral color along with its distinctive lava-lamp shape.
The Flare’s flowers draw cats, so plant a perennial nearby known for keeping cats out of garden beds, such as chrysanthemums or daylilies.
Rainbow Fizz Spirea (Spiraea Japonica) – Spectacular Small Flowers

As one of the more popular small shrubs and bushes, the Rainbow Fizz Spirea is a small flowering shrub that produces a beautiful, multicolored display of small flowers streaked with colors of flame, rust, and red wine.
It is quite hardy and can survive a rough winter season of snow and ice with ease. The Spirea is a deceptively delicate-looking plant, though – you’d never guess how tough it is by looking at its bright red and yellow flowers.
Because the Rainbow Fizz gets a bit larger than some other dwarf flowering shrubs, it does well when you need small shrubs for borders. These low growing shrubs require little maintenance.
The small compact flowering shrubs are proven winners and add some nice color and texture to any spot you place it in the yard.
Peach Lemonade Rose (Rosa Radpastel)

Rose bushes are lovely and fragrant additions to any yard, but their size can be an obstacle when you have a small garden or space, as many of the varieties spread out and need more room than you may have. That’s where the Peach Lemonade rose bush comes in.
Once you see these flowering perennials‘ compact habit and gorgeous blooms, you’ll wonder why you haven’t planted Peach Lemonade roses before.
As far as roses go, these bushes are easy to care for and you can clip the beautiful blooms to add a splash of color to your dining room table or kitchen counter. As its name suggests, the drought-tolerant Peach Lemonade rose is best known for its floral display.
When this bush starts to bloom, it produces a profusion of pink flowers along with a flood of yellow flowers that brighten your garden and attract beneficial insects. Give it a try!
Lo & Behold Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)

Perhaps you live in a more temperate zone and are more concerned about whether your dwarf shrubs are heat tolerant. If so, take a look at the Lo & Behold butterfly bush. Available in lilac, dark purple, blue, and other varieties, these low-slung plants are great for small areas or as ground cover.
Butterfly bushes re-bloom or produce continuous blooms throughout the growing season, so they’re a perfect choice for those who want the works: spring color, summer color, and fall color. They thrive in hot weather and are drought tolerant, too, so they are a proven winner for warm climates.
Scent & Sensibility Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris) – Fragrant Small Shrub

Do you like your garden to be full of beautiful scents and riotous colors? Then, get ready to fall in love with the Scent & Sensibility lilac bush. You’ll be amazed at how much sensory stimulation can come from such a small package; this is an easy-care re-blooming plant that packs a fragrant punch.
The Scent & Sensibility lilac prefers full sun, but it is tolerant of partial shade, too. With its dark green leaves and pink flowers, this small flowering shrub holds its own in the looks department and produces a sweet scent for added pleasure. It’ll make your garden sing!
Burning Bush (Euonymus alata)

For those of us to whom color is everything, the Burning Bush shrub seems to be a gift from the heavens. The Burning Bush is nondescript through the spring and summer, but in autumn, its leaves turn a bright red, and the plant lives up to its name by appearing to be on fire.
Despite its gorgeous fall color, though, you should be cautious and make local inquiries before deciding to plant Burning Bush shrubs. They are hardy and adapt quickly to new climates, and as a result, they are considered an invasive species in some regions.
For even more variety, add some grasses that stay small around your Burning Bush. The bright green color of Mondo grass will set off the red in this brilliant shrub.
Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens)

It’s nice to have a little green in your garden year round, but it’s difficult to fit most evergreens into small spaces. That’s why the Dwarf Globe blue spruce is such an ideal fit for those of us who don’t have enough yard space.
These chubby little shrubs add a touch of life to your lawn even in the dead of winter, and they don’t require much maintenance or care. Like all evergreen shrubs, the Dwarf Globe blue spruce produces year-round green foliage. While it prefers full sun, the blue spruce can also do well in areas that are part shade.
Bloom-a-Thon Pink Double (Rhododendron) – Re-blooming Dwarf Shrub

Azaleas’ beauty and what makes them so often used in Japanese gardens is their re-blooming nature. They produce lovely flowers continuously throughout the spring, the late spring, the early summer, the late summer, and the early fall.
The Bloom-a-Thon Pink Double varietal takes this fantastic quality and adds a compact nature and small height to make it a versatile and desirable plant for your garden. You’ll be astounded at how colorful your garden will become after planting just one of these appealing bushes.
On top of that, the Bloom-a-Thon Pink Double is a tough customer. These summer blooming azaleas‘ hardy nature makes them heat and drought tolerant and protects them from insects and disease.
Tuff Stuff Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea Serrata)

If you love the way hydrangeas look but are worried that your climate is too harsh, consider planting Tuff Stuff mountain hydrangeas in your garden. Not only do these small compact flowering shrubs not mind the cold and snow, but they also do best in adverse conditions.
As is indicated by its name, the mountain hydrangea originated in cold and hostile mountainous regions. Because of this, it can survive the worst that nature can hurl at it and still fill your garden with incredible pink and purple flowers. And, your Tuff Stuff shrub’s compact nature means that you’ll never need to prune it.
Bobo Hydrangea (Hydrangea Paniculata) – Sturdy Shrubs that Stay Small

Like the Flare hydrangea, the Bobo hydrangea fills with a profusion of panicles every spring and summer. The Bobo hydrangea covers itself in so many white blooms that it seems like too much weight for the dwarf shrub to bear.
Thanks to its robust stem system, though, the Bobo can take it and come back for more. The Bobo has another trick up its leafy sleeve, too.
When late summer and early fall roll around, the white flowers shift in color, becoming beautiful pink blooms that make your garden even more spectacular. Give this easy-care plant a try!
Cityline Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Many hydrangeas rely on soil pH to determine their flower color, and the Cityline is no exception. If your soil is alkaline, the Cityline will bloom into astounding shades of pink. Those with acidic soil, however, will be greeted with a profusion of blue flowers that get more appealing as they age.
This hydrangea varietal does best in soil with good drainage, and it loves wet climates and ocean-side soil. While it does well in full sunlight, the Cityline will also be happy to grow in partial shade. The Cityline prefers warmer climates, so if you plant it in northern regions, you might need to protect it over the winter.
Little Henry (Itea Virginica)

The Little Henry is a smart choice for folks who want a color variety but don’t have much time for pruning or other maintenance. It is one of the shade blooming bushes that is as happy in full shade as it is in full sun. The Little Henry’s tidy nature means that you’ll rarely if ever need to touch a pair of pruning shears.
You’ll find the Little Henry shrub most at home in boggy, marshy conditions, but it will do well in drier climates, too. And, in addition to its easy-care quality, it provides a fireworks show of white, yellow, and orange flowers in the autumn.
Haaga Rhododendron (Rhododendron x ‘Haaga’) – Flowering Small Shrub

The Haaga is one of the evergreen shrubs that can make a big statement in small spaces without taking up much room. And, if you have bare sunny patches in your garden and need to find small shrubs for full sun, you can’t do better than the Haaga.
The Haaga produces big, bright pink blooms, which are offset by the dwarf shrub’s deep green leaves. It is most comfortable in moderate temperatures.
If you plant the Haaga rhododendron in a hot climate, monitor it regularly to keep it content and happy. Enjoy this appealing and attractive shrub!
Seaside Serenade Bar Harbor Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens)

The Seaside Serenade Bar Harbor hydrangea is a compact version of an old favorite, the Annabelle. The Seaside Serenade retains the beauty and elegance of the larger plant while keeping a slim shape that makes it ideal for placement in small gardens or yards.
These are perfect flowering shrubs for landscaping, thanks to their low maintenance requirements and small profile. Plant the bushes in well-drained soil, and keep them watered – they can get thirsty in hotter climates.
You’ll be able to tell when they need more water, as their foliage will recede when dry. This shrub is excellent for all of your landscaping needs!
Crimson Kisses Weigela (Weigela ‘Slingco 1’)

The Crimson Kisses Weigela is a re-blooming plant that works well as ground cover or foundation planting. The shrub’s flowers are remarkable, with red petals surrounding a white center.
Because of its low height and bright flowers, consider adding Crimson Kisses to any display with evergreen shrubs; the Weigela offsets the green foliage and creates a dazzling display.
You’ll need to prune the Crimson Kisses Weigela from time to time, but once it reaches full growth, it will require little maintenance. Plant these small shrubs in full sun, and keep them watered and weeded for maximum growth and bloom.
Petite Pinkie Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) – Incredible Flowering

When you’re searching for a small flowering shrub that you can use for a variety of purposes, you’ll discover that crape myrtle is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. Thanks to its versatile nature, you can use the crape myrtle as a border, as a secondary plant for offsetting larger displays, or as a centerpiece on its own.
The Petite Pinkie crape myrtle needs full sun and prefers a hot climate. Check your local conditions before planting crape myrtle – they aren’t the right plants for areas with cold winters. Prune this shrub during winter months, and make sure to water it regularly during extreme heat.
We hope that you enjoyed our guide to small flowering shrubs. Getting our home’s exterior as beautiful as the interior is vital for our happiness and comfort. The more we know about the types of flowering dwarf shrubs available, the better our homes will look and the happier we’ll be.

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