If you want color, fragrance and pollinators in your garden you should plant some spring flowering shrubs. The nine shrubs on this list are low maintenance and range in size from low-growing ground covers to tall bushes. These spring flowering shrubs are the top picks of Lauren Dunec Hoang which she describes in her article which comes from the Houzz website.
Flowering shrubs offer the full package: garden structure, attractive foliage, beautiful blooms and often sweet fragrances, without needing a lot of maintenance in return. There?s a flowering shrub for every spot in the garden, from low-growing ground covers to tall hedge plants and stand-alone specimens. Here are nine choices with outstanding spring and summer blooms.1. Ceanothus
(Ceanothus spp.)If you?ve seen swaths of cobalt blue blanketing the hillsides of coastal California, you?ve most likely seen ceanothus. These drought-tolerant North American natives make great additions to low-water and seaside gardens, thriving in quick-draining soil and with little summer water. The honey-scented flowers range in color from deep blue to lavender and white, and they attract bees and butterflies.
Plants range from upright shrub-trees to low-growing ground covers. Hybrids of West Coast native Ceanothus are the most commonly available in nurseries; ?Dark Star?, with small leaves and deep violet flowers, and ?Celestial Blue?, with blooms in a medium blue, are particular standouts. Hybrids of less commonly available East Coast native New Jersey tea (C. americanus) are well-adapted to climates in the Northeast.
Bloom season: Early spring to midspring
Where it will grow: Varies by species, with most are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 8 to 10)
Origin: Native to North America, with most species hailing from California
Water requirement: Moderate, low once established; light summer water
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 25 feet tall and wide, depending on species2. Common Lilac
(Syringa vulgaris)With a delicious, heady fragrance that attracts birds and butterflies, and abundant panicles of white or purple flowers, lilacs are one of the most popular flowering shrubs for good reason. Size varies by variety, but most are upright-growing to at least 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide.
Plant as a fragrant screen along a driveway or at the back of the garden. Choosing a mix of early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties will give you flowers from late April through early June.
Bloom season: Intense, if short, in May; early- and late-blooming species can extend it
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 8)
Origin: Native to Eastern Europe; most were first imported to North America from France
Water requirement: Moderate to high in extreme heat
Light requirement: Full sun but will tolerate partial shade
Mature size: 5 to 20 feet tall and wide
See more at Houzz
Kinda late to plant now as spring is here