One of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade areas, multiple award-winner Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) is prized for its spectacular blooms of erect white flower panicles with red anthers and pinkish filaments. Blooming for weeks from early to mid-summer, the flowers are a real delight to hummingbirds and butterflies. They are held above the nicely contrasting foliage of palmate leaves which open bronze, and mature dark green before turning attractive shades of yellow in fall. The flowers are followed by tan-brown, pear-shaped fruits, 1-2 in. in length (2-5 cm) which are inedible and provide a little ornamental contribution to the plant. Winter hardy, this beautiful suckering, deciduous shrub is native to the rich woodland areas in Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida.

Noted for its attractive glossy red berries and excellent red fall foliage color, Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' (Red Chokeberry) is a deciduous shrub adding multi-season beauty to the garden. In spring, a profusion of white to light pink flower clusters appear along the branches. They are followed in late summer by abundant clusters of edible red berries that persist throughout fall and well into winter.

Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple Beautyberry) is a small, compact, rounded, deciduous shrub, primarily grown for its eye-catching display of purple berries from late summer through winter. Elegant with its long, arching branches often kissing the ground at their tips in a cascading or weeping effect, it bears clusters of small, pink to lavender flowers along the stems in summer. They are abundantly followed by clusters of luminous lilac-violet fruits in late summer, which persist after the leaves have fallen. Adding bold color to the late-season garden, they make a lovely contrast with the foliage of elliptic green leaves that turns golden-yellow in fall.

Valued for the sweet, fruity fragrance of its flowers, Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey' (Carolina Allspice) is a compact, dense, rounded, well-branched deciduous shrub that is regarded as one of the best cultivars of Carolina Allspices. Exceptionally fragrant, with scents of fruit and spice, reddish-brown flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), somewhat resembling magnolia blossoms, are produced in abundance at the ends of short branchlets in late spring - early summer before giving way to urn-shaped fruits which mature to brown in fall and persist throughout the winter. The lustrous foliage of dark green oval leaves, with gracefully and elegantly pointed tips and lighter gray-green underside, consistently turns an attractive golden-yellow in fall.

Extremely hardy, award-winning Camellia japonica 'Korean Fire' is a lovely spring-blooming Japanese camellia with masses of single, funnel-shaped, deep red flowers and a conspicuous center of golden-yellow stamens. The blooms are produced over a fairly long period in the late season (March-May in the Northern Hemisphere; August - October in the Southern Hemisphere). They contrast beautifully with the evergreen foliage of glossy dark green leaves. This glorious camellia can be successfully grown in regions as cold as USDA Zone 6B.

Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) is a gorgeous, compact, slowly spreading, deciduous shrub that features bottlebrush spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers which bloom for 4-6 weeks in mid to late summer. Opening from bottom to top, they are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. The serrated, glossy, dark green foliage turns golden-yellow in fall. One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations.

A truly beautiful shrub with distinctive, bright pink, bottlebrush-like, flower spikes, delightfully fragrant and long-lasting (up to six weeks) in mid-late summer. It also provides great fall color with its lustrous dark green leaves turning glowing yellow. More compact than the species, this hardy shrub should be planted near a patio to enjoy its extremely fragrant summer blooms. Insect and disease-resistant, its flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Noted for its colorful stems and twigs in winter, Bloodtwig Dogwood 'Midwinter Fire' (Cornus sanguinea) is a hard plant to beat for a colorful show in the winter garden. It features spectacular decorative features: golden fall foliage followed by branches and stems that start yellow at the base of the plant and gradually turn bright orange to crimson towards the tip of the plant. Fragrant tiny white flowers appear in late spring that will attract butterflies. They will give way to clusters of dark purple berries in summer that are very attractive to birds.

Ideal for small gardens, Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' is considered one of the best Deutzia cultivars thanks to its great horticultural merits. This dwarf, dense, rounded, flowering shrub features gracefully arching branches that get covered with abundant clusters of tiny brilliant white flowers in late spring to early summer for 10-14 days. Forming a ground-covering spreading mound, its fine-textured, lance-shaped, bright green leaves turn an attractive burgundy shade in the fall. No serious insect or disease problems, it is deer resistant, salt and clay soil tolerant. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

A lovely Deutzia hybrid, award-winning Deutzia x hybrida 'Magicien' is a dense, upright, bushy shrub with elegantly spreading, arching stems and particularly attractive sprays of star-shaped pink and white flowers, 1 in. wide (2.5cm) across. Abundant, they appear in late spring to early summer and cover the shrub for about two weeks. The foliage of lanceolate, bright green leaves turns somewhat burgundy in fall. 'Magicien' results from the cross of Deutzia longifolia and Deutzia discolor.

Highly rated for its spectacular fall display, which is outstanding both in color and in its exceptional longevity, award-winning Enkianthus perulatus 'J.L. Pennock' (White Enkianthus) is ideal for use as an ornamental garden plant. In spring, clusters of daintily elegant, pure white, urn-shaped, nodding flowers appear discreetly before the leaves, but the most celebrated feature of this deciduous shrub is its distinctive fall coloration. The latter develops about two weeks before other Enkianthus perulatus plants and remains until the end of the fall season. In early fall, the bright green foliage of finely serrated leaves develops a hint of burgundy which deepens over the following couple of months to a brilliant red or a glowing yellowish orange.

Distinctive for its soft blue summer foliage, Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist' (Dwarf Fothergilla) is a deciduous, dwarf ornamental shrub that adds long-lasting beauty to the landscape during 3 seasons. In spring, this compact, slow-growing, mounded shrub gets beautifully covered with honey-scented, upright, creamy-white bottlebrush-like flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), before the leaves emerge. In summer, the foliage of oval leaves is an attractive frosty blue-green, which creates a striking contrast with the other plants. In fall, the foliage usually turns a glowing yellow, orange, and red, with all colors present in the same leaf.

The best red-flowered Witch Hazel, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' is a large deciduous shrub of open and spreading habit. Hardy, this winter-flowering shrub produces dense clusters of slightly scented, red to copper-red flowers in mid and late winter. Each flower consists of 4 ribbon-like, crinkled, strap-shaped petals with claret bases and a purple-red calyx. The broadly oval, green leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall.

Noted for its abundant flowering, the quality of its foliage, and its pleasant fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida' (Witch Hazel) is one of the most popular hybrid Witch Hazels and one of the finest winter-flowering shrubs. Hardy, this medium to large, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub features dense clusters of sweetly and strongly scented, bright sulfur-yellow flowers in late winter. Each frost-proof flower consists of 4 narrow, curled, and crinkled, strap-shaped petals with red-purple calyces. Standing out well from a distance, the ascending branches of this Witch Hazel are clothed with broad oval green leaves which turn eye-catching shades of yellow in fall.

Native to China, Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Son Flower) is a unique plant with year-round interest. This large, fountain-shaped, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub features clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers at the branch tips over a long bloom season from late summer to early fall. The blooms appear in whorls, with each whorl containing 7 small flowers (hence the common name of Seven-Son Flower). They are a great source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds in the fall and are followed by even showier crops of purplish-red fruits crowned by eye-catching rose calyces which last into late fall. The large, heart-shaped leaves are shiny green and deeply veined. Heptacodium miconioides remains attractive in winter when strips of pale bark peel away to reveal dark brown inner bark. No serious insect or disease problems

A favorite of many gardeners - and deservedly so - Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea) is an outstanding flowering shrub. In early summer, this small, bushy deciduous shrub produces huge, rounded flower clusters, up to 12 in. across (30 cm), that brighten shady areas and bring life to the garden. Blooming for up to two months, the blossoms open lime-green, mature to brilliant white, then back to pale green in late summer before switching to a tan shade in the fall. Prized for its excellent resistance to insects and diseases, Annabelle is a good choice for the mixed border. The flowers make great cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Incredibly popular, Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' is a robust, upright, and spreading deciduous shrub boasting huge, luxuriant conical flowers, up to 6-12 in. long (15-30 cm). Held upright on sturdy stems, they are well distributed, making a very attractive plant and display. As an added bonus, they change color as they mature, gradually turning from lime-green to creamy white in late summer to a rich, deep pink before finally fading to beige in fall. As the flower show fades, the oval, dark green leaves turn to lovely shades of red for a breathtaking autumn display. Persisting well into winter, the panicles provide additional winter interest.

Acclaimed for its heavy fruiting, Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' is a slow-growing, multi-stemmed shrub with an upright-rounded habit. This deciduous winterberry holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer that are followed by a profusion of large, glossy golden-peachy berries from early fall throughout winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage of dark green leaves turns golden-bronze in fall. 'Winter Gold' is a female plant and needs a male pollinator to produce attractive golden berries.

A very ornamental crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velour® is a multi-season beauty enjoying an extraordinarily long blooming period, exfoliating bark, and superb fall color. Regarded as one of the most colorful varieties, it bears abundant clusters of crinkly, vibrant magenta-pink flowers at its branch tips for months, from midsummer to early fall, attracting strong attention from onlookers. Flowers give way to round seed capsules which often persist well into winter. This attractive deciduous shrub or small tree also features thick and leathery leaves that emerge burgundy red in spring, mature to purplish green by summer, and finally turn orange-brown in fall. The grayish-brown bark on mature branches exfoliates with age, adding further interest to the landscape. A great specimen or foundation plant. 

A vibrant player in the landscape for the length of the growing season, award-winning Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' is a stunning purple-leaved ninebark cultivar with an exquisite fountain shape and incredibly decorative exfoliating bark. Profuse creamy-white flowers, delicately pink-tinged, appear in dense, rounded clusters in late spring before they give way to drooping clusters of red fruit in fall. They contrast beautifully with the interesting maple-like foliage of deep purple, rounded, lobed leaves which may fade to green in hot summer climates or partial shade. Hidden by the foliage during the growing season, the bark is revealed in all its splendor later in the season, peeling in multiple strips to display layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, providing winter interest.

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel) is a beautiful, large evergreen shrub or small tree with dark brown bark, glossy dark green, leathery leaves (5 in. long or 12 cm), and stems of a lovely deep rhubarb color. It is decorated in late spring or early summer with a profusion of pretty racemes of fragrant, tiny white flowers, which are followed by small red cherries that ripen to dark purple by fall. While the ripe berries should not be consumed, birds will strip them all once they are ripe. Portugal Laurel is a superb plant for hedges, screens, and windbreaks.

Award-winning Rhus Tiphina Tiger Eyes® is a real standout! Changing with every season, the cut-leaf foliage of this deciduous, suckering shrub emerges chartreuse in spring, matures to bright yellow in the summer, and eventually acquires striking orange and scarlet tones in fall. The leaves contrast extremely well with the purplish branches and stems. Cone-shaped panicles of green-yellow flowers bloom in early summer, followed on female plants by dark red fruit in fall.

An ideal Korean Lilac for small gardens, Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' is a dense, compact, low-spreading, deciduous shrub that gets covered with a profusion of sweetly-fragrant upright panicles of lilac-pink single flowers in late spring to early summer. Smaller than the species, its broadly-ovate, dark green leaves are extremely resistant to powdery mildew and remain attractive in summer. They take an attractive reddish bronze color in fall, extending the season of interest of this outstanding lilac shrub. One of the most dwarfed or slow-growing of all lilacs. Meyer Lilac is especially urban tolerant.

Released into commerce by The United States National Arboretum in 1981, Viburnum 'Eskimo' is a very handsome and compact shrub noted for its showy creamy-white flowers in mid to late spring and its semi-evergreen foliage. Opening from pink-flushed, creamy buds into dense snowballs, 3-4 in. across (7-10 cm), formed of 80 to 175 tiny white trumpets with golden stamens. The blossoms are so profuse that they cover the plant and brighten the landscape. They are followed by fruits that mature from scarlet to black in late summer. The leathery, glossy foliage of ovate leaves emerges bright green and matures to a lustrous dark green before turning attractive shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall. 'Eskimo' is a very rewarding shrub that is not only attractive but also compact and ideal for small gardens.

A multi-season beauty, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta' (Doublefile Viburnum) is a dense, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub without equal when it comes to flowering. In late spring, it is almost entirely covered with flat-topped, lacecap-like clusters, 6 in. wide (15 cm), of large, showy, snow-white flowers which extend along the branches and above the foliage in double rows. They give way to abundant, egg-shaped, bright red fruits in mid-summer which mature to black and provide a summer picnic for birds. The strongly-veined, dark green foliage turns burgundy red to purplish red in fall. Its compact habit makes 'Shasta' a great addition to small gardens. Introduced in 1979 by the U.S. National Arboretum.

Adding fresh, long-lasting color to the summer garden, Vitex agnus-castus 'Shoal Creek' (Chaste Tree) is a deciduous, vase-shaped shrub noted for its long blooming season and disease-resistant foliage. Growing with a dense, upright habit, it features sage-scented, grayish-green palmate (hand-shaped) leaves with five to seven leaflets and silvery undersides that flicker in the wind and produce a lovely effect. Highly ornamental, spectacular sprays, 12 in. long (30 cm), of small, fragrant, vibrant blue-violet flowers appear from summer to fall, attracting scores of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Fast-growing and low maintenance, 'Shoal Creek' develops a naturally well-balanced shape and doesn't require pruning. A wonderful addition to summer landscape color without the work involved with bedding plants!