Low Growing Flowering Shrubs

Low-growing flowering shrubs are versatile plants that may develop alone or in masses like groundcover, a border. The flowers add vibrant colors to your garden whilst filling the atmosphere with a pleasant scent. Pick low-growing flowering shrubs that best match the location in which it will develop. As an example, if the region receives 6 or more hours of sunlight, plant only complete sun shrubs.

Complete Sun

Dwarf coral hedge barberry (Berberis x stenophylla “Corallina Compacta”) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with a height of no more than one foot tall and a spread to match. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9 in full sun and produces clusters of orange or yellow flowers in the spring. Once the flowers are spent, dark blue berry-like fruit seem. “Noatraum” groundcover rose (Rosa x “Noatraum”) is a low-growing shrub that flowers for up to 10 months in warmer locations. Growing in USDA zones 4 through 10 in full sun, easy-care “Noatraum” reaches two feet tall with pink blossoms.

Complete or Partial Shade

Creeping winterberry (Gaultheria procumbens) attains 6 to 12 inches tall in partial shade, growing in USDA zones 3 through 8. This low-growing evergreen tree contains toothed glossy green foliage that when crushed or broken gives off a wintergreen aroma. In the summer, fragrant pink or white urn-shaped flowers emerge and are followed by aromatic cosmetic berries. Himalayan candy box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. Humilis) grows in USDA zones 6 through 9 in partial or full shade. This low-growing evergreen tree reaches heights of 18 to 24 inches tall and grows well as a groundcover. Fragrant white flowers appear in the spring and bluish black cosmetic berries emerge following the flowers and survive through the winter.

Deer Resistant

“Chapel Hill Yellow” lantana (Lantana “Chapel Hill Yellow”) is a tropical evergreen shrub that only grows to about 16 inches and may be utilized as a groundcover in USDA zones 8 through 11. This sun-loving plant contains clusters of bright flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. “Chapel Hill Yellow” is a fast-growing, easy-care shrub resistant to deer. Dwarf purple rhododendron (Rhododendron impeditum) is a slow-growing compact evergreen located in partially sunny locations in USDA zones 5 through 9. In late spring, clusters of vibrant purple flowers appear on this tree, attracting butterflies and mammals. Dwarf purple rhododendron grows to about 1 feet tall is resistant to deer.

Wet Sites

“Iona” creeping willow (Salix repens “Iona”) is a sandstone, low-growing tree reaching heights between 4 to 6 inches tall. It grows in USDA zones 4 through 8 in full sun to partial shade with silvery-colored catkins that mature to hues of yellow. “Iona” tolerates wet, poorly drained soils and is resistant to deer. Dwarf fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana “Nana”) has leathery green foliage that changes to bronze hues at the autumn. It grows in USDA zones 5 through 8 at partial sun and attains heights of 2-3 feet tall. Dwarf fetterbush has heaps of white urn-shaped flowers, is resistant to deer and may tolerate overly wet locations.

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