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.

A compact serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia 'Regent' (Serviceberry) is an ornamental shrub that provides multi-season interest. In mid-spring, before the leaves appear, it produces masses of showy and slightly fragrant white flowers held in upright clusters. Attractive to pollinators, they are followed by abundant, edible, dark purple berries in summer. Resembling blueberries, they make great jellies or jams and are appreciated by both birds and humans. The foliage of toothed, rounded, bluish leaves with gray-green undersides, turns to glowing shades of yellow and burgundy in the fall. The plant remains attractive even after the leaves drop, thanks to its elegant growth habit and its light gray bark adorned with charcoal-gray striations.

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.

Noted for its very ornamental red berries and attractive fall color, Euonymus atropurpureus (Eastern Wahoo) is a very adaptable, upright, spreading, deciduous shrub or small tree. In late spring to early summer, a profusion of tiny, maroon purple flowers are borne in small forking cymes of 7-20 flowers and last about a month. The flowers are replaced by light pink to pale purple, 4-lobed seed capsules that mature during the fall and become crimson. At this time, each seed capsule splits open to reveal scarlet-coated seeds which hang on far into winter. They are a preferred bird food during winter months. The foliage of elliptic, lime-green leaves turns bright red in fall. Adding a bold splash of color in the fall and winter, Eastern Wahoo is an excellent North American native and a lovely substitute for the flamboyant burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) in parts of the USA where the latter is invasive.

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

Compact and easy to grow, Hypericum kalmianum (Kalm St. John's Wort) is a small semi-evergreen shrub with showy, golden yellow flowers blooming for about 6 weeks in mid to late summer. They are borne in flat clusters of 3-7 flowers, at the tips of upright branching stems. Each cup-shaped flower presents 5 petals surrounding a prominent tuft of golden stamens. Rich in nectar, they are a favorite of butterflies, bumblebees, or other pollinators and are excellent for cutting. The foliage of linear dark blue-green leaves provides a lovely backdrop for the bright golden blossoms.

Forming an attractive and tight ground cover, Mahonia repens (Creeping Mahonia) is a low-growing, evergreen shrub with multi-season interest. In spring, racemes of cheerful, bright golden-yellow flowers appear just above the leaves. Fragrant, they attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of dark blue-purple, edible berries in late summer. Resembling small grapes, they attract birds and wildlife. The lustrous foliage of holly-like, glossy, leathery, blue-green leaves, turns mauve, rose, and rust-colored in winter.

Noted for its fragrant flowers, edible fruits and summer foliage, Ribes aureum (Clove Currant) provides great ornamental value over a long season of interest. An excellent choice for early spring color, this deciduous shrub produces abundant, strongly clove-scented, trumpet-shaped golden yellow flowers on its upright but arching branches. They are followed by drooping clusters of large, edible, shiny black currants in summer. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make juices, jams, jellies, tarts and pies. The attractive foliage of ovate, 3-5 lobed, bluish-green leaves turns yellow in fall.

One of the most cold hardy roses, Rosa glauca is a fabulous medium-sized shrub rose that can be relied on to provide interest and color. The foliage of this shrub rose is quite exceptional, a mix of blue gray shades with delicate overtones of burgundy and purple when in full sun, turning to silvery gray-green in part shade. The upright and gracefully arching reddish stems, almost thornless, are another ornamental feature of this vigorous and healthy rose shrub. In late spring to early summer, slightly fragrant, single, pale-centered, deep rose-pink blossoms, with prominent yellow stamens, are held in small flat clusters along the plant's arching frame. As an extra bonus, they are followed in late summer by crops of orange-red hips that persist well into winter, adding interest and color to the winter garden.

Noted for its excellent ability to cover ground and smother weeds, Symphoricarpos x chenaultii 'Hancock' (Snowberry) is a low, spreading, deciduous shrub with arching, rooting branches that is amazingly adaptable and undemanding. In late summer, a profusion of small, bell-shaped, pink flowers are borne at the tips of the branches. Inconspicuous, they are of great interest to butterflies, bees, and pollinators. The flowers are followed by abundant and attractive clusters of white fruits speckled with rosy red that persist well into winter. Birds do enjoy them in the winter months. The dense foliage of small, ovate bluish green leaves remains attractive from spring to frost.

An incredible beauty for most seasons, Viburnum carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum) is a bushy, medium-sized, deciduous shrub noted for its heady fragrance, stunning snowball blooms and attractive fall color. In spring, red flower buds open to very fragrant, blushing pink flowers arranged in snowball clusters, 3 in. wide (7 cm). Elegantly held above the foliage, they gradually fade to brilliant white. They give way to oval, bright red fruits, borne in dense upward clusters, that ripen to black in late summer. The foliage of broadly ovate leaves emerges copper-colored, matures to dull dark green before turning either glorious wine-red or dull burgundy shades in fall.

Very ornamental, Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw) is a large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or small tree noted for its eye-catching flower clusters, colorful berries, and attractive fall color. In spring, masses of flat-topped creamy-white flower clusters, 4.5 in. wide (11 cm), are elegantly held above the foliage. Rich in nectar, they are loved by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The blooms give way to pink-rose berries, borne in dense clusters, that ripen to blue-black in the fall. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make jams and preserves. Resembling plum leaves, the handsome foliage of ovate, glossy dark green leaves turns rich bronze to vibrant red in fall. A very rewarding shrub that is not only good-looking but also durable and pest free.

With four seasons of interest, Viburnum trilobum 'Redwing' (American Cranberrybush) is a lovely addition to the landscape. In spring, this densely branched, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by an outer ring of larger sterile florets. They are elegantly held above the red-blushed leaves. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to drooping clusters of ornamental bright red berries that persist from fall through early winter. In the fall, the handsome foliage of three-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns a brilliant red.

Native to the United States, Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak Leaf Hydrangea) is a very handsome and versatile deciduous shrub that provides a spectacular show all year round. Named after the shape of its beautiful leaves, it produces a profusion of magnificent grapes of creamy-white flowers, up to 12 in. (30 cm), in late spring and early summer. Lasting about 3-4 weeks, the elongated flower clusters gradually turn pink as fall approaches. In fall, the foliage of deeply lobed, oak-like leaves steals the show by turning bronze, crimson, or burgundy, making this flowering shrub one of the most attractive shrubs for the fall garden. As the leaves fall, they expose the rich brown exfoliating bark. Best in partial shade in hot summer areas but they tolerate full sun in cooler, moist climates. It is a great candidate for mass plantings, hedges, and mixed shrub borders, as a backdrop or accent plant. USDA 5-9