I’m always on the lookout for low-maintenance shrubs that can beautify our home without demanding too much of my time.
Over the years, I’ve discovered some fantastic options that have transformed our landscape.
Today, I’m excited to share my top 34 picks for easy-to-grow shrubs that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood!
1. Hets Arbor Vitae
This little gem has become my go-to for borders and mass plantings. It’s a low grower, reaching only 2-3 feet tall, with a rounded and dense shape. What I love most about Hets Arbor Vitae is that it practically takes care of itself – no pruning required!
2. Fire Chief Arborvitae
If you’re looking for a shrub that offers year-round interest, Fire Chief Arborvitae is a winner. I planted several of these compact beauties around our house last year, and I’m in love with how they transform as the seasons change. In cooler weather, they turn a stunning red that adds a pop of color to our winter landscape.
3. Gold Mop Cypress (Gold Thread Cypress)
The Gold Mop Cypress holds a special place in my heart. Its frilly texture and bright gold color make it a standout in any garden. Ours has grown to about 4-5 feet tall, creating a beautiful backdrop for some of our smaller plants.
4. Crimson Fire Loropetalum
Talk about a showstopper! The Crimson Fire Loropetalum’s compact size (about 4×4 feet) and stunning purple foliage have made it a focal point in our front yard. I’ve paired it with some golden shrubs, and the color contrast is simply breathtaking.
5. Japanese Maple (Crimson Queen)
Our Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is like a piece of living art. Its delicate leaves change color throughout the seasons, providing an ever-changing display. I’ve found it pairs beautifully with other shrubs, creating a layered look in our garden.
6. Compact Loropetalum
This 3×3 foot shrub has been a game-changer in our landscape. Its slow-growing nature means less maintenance for me, and it looks fantastic paired with both gold and dark green shrubs. It’s become my secret weapon for adding depth to our garden design.
7. Jazz Hands Loropetalum
Jazz Hands Loropetalum is like the cool kid in our garden party. Growing to about 3-4 feet tall and wide, its variegated foliage adds a unique texture that always catches the eye. I’ve planted it near our patio, where we can enjoy its beauty up close.
8. Candy Corn Spirea
Who says you can’t have Halloween vibes year-round? The Candy Corn Spirea, standing at a petite 2 feet tall, is a deciduous shrub that brings a smile to my face every time I see it. Its foliage genuinely resembles candy corn, and the pinkish-red spring flowers are an added bonus.
9. Kaleidoscope Abelia
I call this one my “lazy gardener’s dream.” It’s evergreen, boasts tropical-looking foliage, and even flowers! In fall, it turns an intense reddish-orange that lights up our garden. The white blooms, primarily in spring, are like icing on the cake.
10. Soft Touch Holly
This adaptable little holly has been a true workhorse in our garden. At 3×3 feet, it fits perfectly in various spots around our property. I love how the new growth comes in lime green, contrasting beautifully with the darker mature foliage.
11. Blue Star Juniper
Blue Star Juniper has been a game-changer for adding year-round color to our landscape. Its mounding habit, growing just 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide, makes it perfect for filling in gaps between larger shrubs. The blue foliage provides a cool contrast to the greens and golds in our garden.
12. Green Giant Arborvitae
When we needed a privacy screen along our property line, Green Giant Arborvitae came to the rescue. Growing 20-25 feet tall and 10 feet wide, it quickly created the barrier we wanted. I love that it has fewer pest issues compared to Leyland Cypress, making it a low-maintenance option for larger spaces.
13. Gulf Stream Nandina
Gulf Stream Nandina has become my go-to for adding winter interest to our garden. This 3-4 foot tall and wide shrub turns a beautiful pinkish-red in fall and winter, bringing color to our landscape when everything else has gone dormant.
14. Obsession Nandina
For tight spaces, Obsession Nandina is my secret weapon. It’s the most compact nandina I’ve found, staying a manageable 2×2 feet. The red foliage in fall and winter is a showstopper, adding a punch of color to our winter garden.
15. Firepower Nandina
Firepower Nandina has earned its place in our landscape with its unique leaf texture and brilliant red fall color. It’s been a reliable performer, requiring minimal care while providing maximum impact.
16. Autumn Fire Encore Azalea
I’m a sucker for plants that bloom multiple times, and Autumn Fire Encore Azalea doesn’t disappoint. Its compact size (3-4 feet tall and wide) and double dark red blooms make it a standout in our garden from spring through fall.
17. Autumn Empress Encore Azalea
Another multi-season bloomer, Autumn Empress Encore Azalea brings waves of color to our garden in spring, summer, and fall. It’s been a joy to watch it flourish with minimal care on my part.
18. Banana Peel Aucuba
Banana Peel Aucuba has been a lifesaver in our shady spots. This 3×3 foot evergreen shrub brightens up dark corners with its year-round bright yellow foliage. It’s become my go-to for adding color to areas where other plants struggle.
19. Florida Sunshine Aucuba
Similar to its Banana Peel cousin, Florida Sunshine Aucuba has been a cheerful addition to our shadier garden areas. At 4-5 feet tall, it provides a larger splash of golden color that lights up even the darkest corners of our yard.
20. Emerald Green Arborvitae
When we needed a taller privacy screen that wouldn’t spread too wide, Emerald Green Arborvitae fit the bill perfectly. Growing 8-12 feet tall but only 4 feet wide, it created the perfect natural fence along one side of our property.
21. Forever Goldie Arborvitae
I’m in love with the year-round golden color of Forever Goldie Arborvitae. This slow-growing beauty reaches 5-6 feet tall and turns a stunning orange in fall. It’s become a focal point in our front yard, drawing compliments from neighbors and passersby.
22. Sky Pencil Holly
For narrow spaces that need height, Sky Pencil Holly has been a godsend. We’ve used these 6-foot-tall, 2-foot-wide shrubs beside our front steps and as corner plantings. Their naturally columnar shape requires almost no pruning.
23. Duke Gardens Yew
Duke Gardens Yew has earned its place in our part-sun and shaded areas. This 4×4 foot evergreen shrub provides reliable greenery year-round, filling in spaces where other plants might struggle.
24. Upright Yew
Similar to Sky Pencil Holly but more shade-tolerant, Upright Yew has been perfect for adding vertical interest to our shadier corners. It’s become a go-to for areas that need height but don’t get much sun.
25. Grand Cascade Butterfly Bush
The Grand Cascade Butterfly Bush has been a showstopper in our garden. Standing 4 feet tall with enormous blooms, it’s not only a visual treat but also a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long.
26. Pugster Series Butterfly Bushes
Pugster Amethyst
Pugster Blue
For those who love butterfly bushes but need something more compact, the Pugster series has been a game-changer. Both Pugster Amethyst and Pugster Blue stay a manageable 2-3 feet tall, perfect for smaller spaces or container gardens.
27. Miss Molly Butterfly Bush
Miss Molly Butterfly Bush has added a vibrant splash of fuchsia-purple to our garden. Growing 3-4 feet tall with an upright habit, it’s been a magnet for pollinators and a joy to behold all summer long.
28. Blue Jangles Hydrangea (Let’s Dance Series)
As a hydrangea lover, I couldn’t resist adding Blue Jangles to our garden. This compact rebloomer, standing 2-3 feet tall, has given us waves of beautiful blue flowers throughout the growing season.
29. Little Lime Hydrangea
Little Lime Hydrangea has been a delightful addition to our landscape. This dwarf version of the popular Limelight variety offers the same stunning color changes – from lime to white to pink – but in a more manageable size.
30. Little Lime Punch Hydrangea
For a bolder statement, Little Lime Punch Hydrangea has been a knockout. Growing 3-5 feet tall, its panicle-type blooms provide a vibrant show from summer through fall.
31. Fire Light Tidbit Hydrangea
Fire Light Tidbit Hydrangea has quickly become a favorite in our garden. This dwarf version of Fire Light, reaching only 2-3 feet tall, packs a big punch with its color-changing blooms.
32. Bloomerang Lilac
I never thought I could grow lilacs in our climate, but Bloomerang Lilac proved me wrong. Heat and humidity tolerant, this 3-4 foot tall shrub fills our garden with its sweet fragrance, making every spring and summer evening a delight.
33. Sunshine Ligustrum
Sunshine Ligustrum has been like a ray of sunshine in our landscape. Growing 4-5 feet tall, its bright yellow foliage provides year-round color and a cheerful backdrop for other plants.
34. Fireball Dwarf Burning Bush
Last but not least, Fireball Dwarf Burning Bush has been a fall showstopper in our garden. Reaching 4-5 feet tall, its fiery red autumn foliage is truly spectacular, living up to its name and providing a grand finale to our gardening year.