Who does not dream of a beautiful, well-groomed garden, where you can take a break from everyday hustle and bustle, chat with family or friends, relax and lie down in a hammock, or just wander along the shady alleys on a hot, sunny day. But this is a troublesome business and requires not only certain efforts, but also knowledge, experience and great desire. Today we will talk about ornamental shrubs and flowering shrubs for summer cottages - constant companions of any garden. And also about what they are, how best to arrange them and the basic rules of care.
Shrubs are divided into decorative and fruiting. As a rule, with good care, they have a long life expectancy (20-40 years). That is, the plants will decorate the garden for many years. The options for how to use bushes for summer cottages are varied: this is the background for plant compositions, these are green hedges, planting in groups and a single arrangement. Shrubs make the garden cozy and familiar. They smooth out flaws, close unsightly places, create color accents and, importantly, do not need constant care.
Selection and placement
The choice and composition of garden shrubs is not an easy task. It all depends on your desire. What kind of garden do you want to create: in Japanese, English, French or nature style? What to focus on - on decorativeness and color contrasts, or do you need fruit bushes for the garden? We will dwell on some points. 
Our visual perception is arranged in such a way that at first we perceive the color, and then the shape. The natural garden does not have sharp color contrasts that would catch the eye. The main color is green. Variegated colors look very gentle against the background of greenery. Therefore, we use variegated varieties, of which there are now a great many. Plants with yellow foliage “illuminate” the garden during the day, and in the evening create the illusion of sunlight. Red foliage is also good in sunny weather, but in the evening it fades. Color makes it possible to expand or narrow the space. Yellow visually makes the space wider, while red, on the contrary, narrows it. So, creating compositions, you can expand or lengthen them. If there are a lot of color accents, this can be annoying, and not cause peace and tranquility. After all, any garden is, first of all, a place to relax. The texture of the crown, the shape and size of the leaves also matter. How to place ornamental shrubs in landscape design can be seen in the photo. 
When creating compositions from ornamental shrubs and flowering shrubs, follow the basic rules:
- Don't buy a plant just because you like it. Find out how it will take root in this climate zone, about its frost resistance.
- Clarify how the plant refers to "haircut" to give it the desired shape.
- In any garden, the dominant color is green, others create splashes of color against the background of greenery.
- Consider lighting when planting variegated forms.
- Do not create sharp contrasts, play in semitones.
- Model the garden space by creating different combinations.
The place for the shrub should be sunny. Shade-tolerant plants will be planted under the crowns of larger shrubs or trees. The soil is as fertile as possible, but a significant amount of organic matter can be added to the planting hole. So, what shrubs to plant in the country?
blooming forms
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the information about what flowering shrubs are for summer cottages in the Moscow region.
Spirea
Very elegant and at the same time picky representatives of the Rosaceae family. There are spring flowering and summer flowering forms. With a combination of both, flowering in your garden will be constant. Characterized by rapid growth and frost resistance. These beautiful shrubs are good in compositions. 
Mock orange is delicious
Or garden jasmine. Different representatives are characterized by a different flower shape, aroma, bush shape and flowering time. Variegated forms are also bred. Another of the advantages: it tolerates cold and rarely suffers from pests and diseases. It is good both in single plantings and in plantings in groups. 
viburnum
It has a lot of positive features: healing, edible, beautiful. There are also decorative species with bright scarlet, unusual foliage. There are evergreen forms of the plant. It all depends on your preferences. More often in gardens they grow viburnum vulgaris, the fruits of which are medicinal raw materials. Undemanding and frost-resistant. It also grows in shady places, and looks interesting in plantings with conifers. Viburnum has only one drawback: it is easily infected by pests. 
Rose hip
Beautiful flowering shrubs for the garden. Its appearance depends on the species. Choose forms for hedges or for flowering. Terry forms look like roses. Does not get sick during transplantation and pruning, grows rapidly. The briar hedge becomes impenetrable over time. Grows in sun and shade. Good in combination with trees and shrubs. It does not require special care. 
Forsythia
It is a shrub with yellow flowers. It blooms in early spring and looks fantastic at this time. Then the flowers fall off and new leaves grow. Looks great in a single planting or surrounded by early flowering bulbs. This lover of the sun freezes through in cold winters, therefore it is not suitable for the northern regions. In the middle lane, it is thoroughly mulched, and the shoots are tilted to the ground. 
Lilac
Previously, one variety of lilac was grown - common lilac. Now varieties have been bred - from lilac to purple. It is still one of the favorite flowering shrubs for the garden. It is desirable to plant in a sunny area separately from other plants, leaving more free space around. The plant is not demanding on environmental conditions. 
Hydrangea
Good for shady, damp areas. Grows on acidic soils, but does not tolerate the windward side. Characterized by long flowering. Elegant inflorescences look great in the cut, you can create winter bouquets. There are two types of frost-resistant: paniculate and large-leaved. They hibernate under the snow, wrapped in spruce branches. Pairs well with hostas and ferns. 
Hawthorn
It is unpretentious to any conditions, grows even in tubs on terraces and in winter gardens. It is characterized by abundant flowering in spring and bright colorful foliage in autumn. The fruits are used for processing (jam and jelly) and for medicinal purposes. The sun is very important for flowering and fruit set. It is used both in hedges and in single plantings. 
Fieldfare rowanberry
A relative of spirea, another ornamental flowering shrub for summer cottages. It grows quickly and is very unpretentious. The flowering period is up to three weeks. The carved foliage is very unusual, and in autumn it also acquires rich colors. Able to grow in the shade, tolerates drought well. The disadvantage is the rapid growth of root growth, which easily captures neighboring areas. The plant successfully hides sheds, fences, unattractive buildings due to its rapid and abundant growth. 
Beautifully flowering shrubs for the Moscow region, photos and names can also be found on the Internet.
Decorative foliage forms
Flowering plants are always admired, but plants with variegated, red or yellow leaves are no less attractive. If autumn yellow leaves are familiar, then red ones evoke enthusiastic emotions. When the flowers fade, the void is filled with various shrubs with unusual, bright foliage.
Ornamental shrubs for summer cottages include:
Barberry
It has purple and burgundy leaves with edging. Shrubs of different species have different leaf colors, which can be combined in compositions. A hedge from this plant looks neat. And it coexists well with conifers (juniper, thuja, pine). There is a dwarf barberry, which is used for small compositions, for example, in a rocky garden. 
Skumpia
It grows in regions with a warm climate, but has already taken root in central Russia, and is an excellent ornamental plant for summer cottages. In the spring it forms inflorescences - pink fluffy panicles, and in the fall the leaves become purple, orange or burgundy (it all depends on the variety). First, the veins turn red, and then the entire leaf is painted. Likes sunny, windless places. It grows well, so it needs space. Resistant to pests and diseases, but may require shelter in winter. 
Derain white
Looks pretty all year long. A variegated plant that has a white border around the edge of the leaf. The bush looks elegant and light. It has a semicircular shape that must be maintained by removing old shoots. Unpretentious, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant. But loves fertile, well-moistened soils. It is also decorative in winter: red shoots are clearly visible against the background of snow. 
Vesicle viburnum
It is beautiful in spring, when its large foliage is painted in rich purple tones, and the inflorescences collected in corymbs are white and pink. Later, the foliage becomes darker and slightly gloomy. Now there are new varieties in which the color of the leaves does not change. The plant is frost-resistant, unpretentious to the composition and moisture of the soil. It is good in longline plantings, as an ornamental shrub for the garden. 
black elderberry
Will take a worthy place on your personal plot. You can plant a bush with golden foliage, or you can choose a more elegant one - red with carved leaves. It is better to plant it in a little shading, under the crowns of other trees, as the leaves in the bright sun can fade. And the rest - very unpretentious. It grows on any soil and does not require special care. It is also not necessary to cover for the winter: the plant is frost-resistant. In August, clusters of ripe berries (black or red) ripen, which makes the bush even more decorative. You can land separately, or you can - on the shore of the pond, as it loves moisture very much. 
Of course, far from all ornamental shrubs for the Moscow region are listed here - photos with names can be found in large numbers on the Internet. It all depends on your preference. But not all of them tolerate our climatic conditions. I would like to once again draw attention to the frost-resistant beautiful shrubs for the Moscow region, which were discussed above:
- spirea;
- mock orange;
- viburnum;
- rose hip;
- lilac;
- hawthorn;
- sod;
- vesicle;
- elder .
fruit forms
Fruit shrubs are both ornamental and produce berries, which is why they are grown most often. Consider the most popular plants.
Currant
One of the most common and beloved cultures. There are red, black and white varieties of this plant. Not afraid of frost, tolerates heat and drought. Grows up to 15 years. He loves the sun, but does not tolerate waterlogging and drafts. 
Gooseberry
No less popular culture. In another way, it is also called "northern grapes." Grows up to 24 years. Disadvantages: does not like waterlogging and frost. Needs shelter in winter. 
Raspberries
Demanding on the soil and afraid of waterlogging and drafts. The garden bushes of this plant are self-pollinating, so you should not plant different varieties next to each other. Bushes grow rapidly. The plant is demanding on moisture and soil, does not tolerate drafts. 
Honeysuckle
It translates as "youth" and "life". Slowly growing, but life expectancy is 100 years. It does not freeze even in severe frosts and looks beautiful in any corner of the garden. Disadvantage: berries in some varieties fall off when ripe, so you need to harvest on time. 
Irga
A beautiful shrub up to 3 m high, which is good both during flowering and during picking berries. High-yielding, berries are harvested from early July to mid-August. Berries are useful and medicinal. 
Caring for many shrubs, although not particularly time-consuming, requires a number of mandatory actions.
Watering should provide the root system with water. And evenly. To do this, the trunk holes are torn apart and filled with water, which is done repeatedly. After soaking, the hole is buried with earth. The irrigation area corresponds to the crown projection area. Young shrubs require more frequent watering. Loosening and mulching: important procedures. Loosening is shallow, it is better to carry it out after rain or watering. Mulching is carried out in the spring. Peat, biohumus, compost are used as mulch.
The consumption of nutrients depends on the age of the flowering or ornamental shrub. The first top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers should be done in the spring, the second - in the fall, during the leaf fall period with potash and complex fertilizers. Microelements are used as top dressings, which are sprayed on plants in the morning or in the evening in calm weather. 
One of the major activities is pruning. This is the removal of dry and diseased branches, thinning of the crown and its formation. In addition, shelter for the winter is important. Shrubs are covered with special materials (for example, roofing material). Creeping forms are covered with spruce branches. Flexible shrubs lean towards the ground. Open them after frost. It is important to check that the plants do not rot or rot. 
Now you have an idea what fruit, flowering and ornamental shrubs in the country will be good. And always the main decoration of your garden will be garden shrubs. They will help create amazing and unique compositions that will delight from spring to autumn. You can see beautiful shrubs for giving, photos and names in our article. Try, observe, plant and care - and your garden will shine with new colors.
For low borders, you can use a low and dense variety. boxwood(Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa) is a slow growing evergreen shrub with very beautiful glossy dark green leaves.
Boxwood is perfect not only for decorating an oriental-style balcony, but also for front trimmed borders. Several varieties of boxwood have been bred, which differ not only in the shape of the leaf, but also in the variegated color of the leaves.
Boxwood is shade-tolerant and drought-resistant, prefers fertile loose soils without stagnant water. For the winter, it is advisable to cover boxwood with agrospan to protect the leaves from winter and early spring sunburn.
For border plantings, it is quite possible to use some varieties. Fortune's euonymus(Euonymus fortunei) - slow-growing, very low, creeping shrub up to half a meter high with long shoots up to 3 meters, easily rooted in the internodes. These shoots are quite capable of clinging to a support, if any. Fortune's euonymus has green small leathery leaves 2-5 centimeters long.
This species, as well as its hybrid forms, such as Fortune's variegated euonymus (Euonymus fortunei Variegatus) with white-green leaves and pink veins, which can also be used as a ground cover. And ripening fruits will not only add decorativeness to the bushes, but also serve as food for birds.
Fortune's euonymus prefers a half-body, is quite drought-resistant, tolerates pruning well.
Karagan(Caragana) has long been used as an ornamental plant. Perhaps most of us know it as an acacia growing in forest belts and parks, but in fact it is a caragana. For example, types such as prickly caragana(Caragana pygmaea) and caragana orange(Caragana aurantiaca) are able to create even impenetrable thickets if they are not cut.
Orange Karagana is a loose shrub up to 1 meter tall with numerous protruding shoots.
It grows well in urban conditions, tolerates drought well, and is completely undemanding to soil fertility. It needs to be trimmed constantly to get a solid green border. Karagana prickly differs from orange only in yellow flowers.
Very beautiful in a hedge snowberry(Symphoricarpos). Snowberry is a deciduous shrub up to 1-1.5 meters tall, especially beautiful in autumn, during long-term fruiting, when the branches bend under the weight of numerous white berries, indeed resembling small snowdrifts. And, perhaps, it is called so because the berries on the bush hold for a long time, right up to the snow.
The snowberry grows very quickly, is completely unpretentious in care, prefers open sunny places, calcareous soils. It grows well in urban conditions with insufficient watering. It tolerates shearing and bush formation. Sometimes in severe snowless winters it can freeze slightly, but it recovers very quickly.
For a low hedge, you can use semi-evergreen honeysuckle glossy, or brilliant(Lonicera nitida) with many lodging shoots, abundantly dotted with shiny green oblong leaves.
Brilliant honeysuckle grows well on both sandy and clay soils, if measures are taken to improve fertility, make the earth water and breathable. It grows well in open, sunny places, and in partial shade. The brilliant honeysuckle is thermophilic, therefore in our climate it loses leaves for the winter and can freeze slightly, therefore it requires shelter for the winter.
and honeysuckle(Lonicera pileata), which differs from the first in fragrant pale yellow flowers. It bears fruit, the fruits are medium-sized, with a cherry, purple. Honeysuckle cap-shaped can grow both in the sun and in partial shade; besides, it is more hardy than glossy honeysuckle, but in cold winters it still loses leaves.
Almond low, or steppe almond(Amygdalis nana = Amygdalis tenella = Prunus tenella) - low, up to 1-1.5 meters tall, branchy deciduous shrub, especially beautiful in early spring, when it blooms with very bright, attention-grabbing, pink flowers that bloom along with the leaves. Almond is unpretentious, so it can be successfully used to create permanent garden compositions, flower beds.
Almond low prefers sunny places, tolerates drought, can grow on poor sandy soils. On clay soils, almonds will have to be drained, as they do not tolerate stagnant water in the soil at all.
Suitable for low curbs Cotoneaster Dummer(Cotoneaster dammeri), cotoneaster pressed(Cotoneaster adpressus), cotoneaster horizontal(Cotoneaster horizontalis). Dummer's cotoneaster is a ground cover evergreen shrub with long, easily rooted shoots and small, up to 4 centimeters, oval leaves. In autumn, ripening red fruits add decorativeness to the cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster appressed refers to deciduous ground cover plants. It has small, up to 1.5 centimeters, rounded leaves. Red fruits also ripen in September.
Cotoneasters are undemanding to soil fertility, can grow both in an open sunny place and in partial shade, do not tolerate strong waterlogging, but are very responsive to watering in dry times. For the winter, these types of cotoneaster need to be covered, as they freeze slightly.
Very decorative cinquefoil. Good for low hedges Potentilla Dahurian(Potentella davutica) and cinquefoil shrub(Potentella fruticosa).
Potentilla Dahurian is a low deciduous shrub up to 1 meter tall, blooms all summer with white flowers. Potentilla shrub - neat shrubs of a rounded shape, but slightly higher than the Daurian Potentilla, blooms with yellow flowers, there are varietal forms with white, pink and red flowers. Potentillas are unpretentious in care, they grow well in an open sunny area with minimal watering and top dressing. They tolerate a haircut well, do not require shelter for the winter.
For dry areas with depleted soil for hedges, you can use a steppe plant such as gorse dyeing(Genista tinctoria) - a dense shrub up to 1 meter tall with thin shoots directed upwards. The shoots are covered with narrow pale green leaves. Blooms with bright yellow flowers. The shrub is very unpretentious, although it can freeze slightly in snowless winters, but it quickly recovers.
the Rose(Rose) - in no way inferior in beauty to rhododendon, rather, equal among equals, - a worthy representative of ornamental garden shrubs. For low borders, it is quite possible to use ground cover, miniature, patio, polyanthus and even some undersized varieties of floribunda roses. Neatly trimmed, or growing freely - roses never leave indifferent.
However, in order for roses to always be in excellent condition, you need to work hard: roses are quite whimsical. The soil they need is nutritious, moderately moist. Roses need both thinning and sanitary pruning. For the winter, all roses need to be covered.
For some reason to currant(ribes) and gooseberries(Grossularia) we are accustomed to treat only as fruit bushes. However, it is worth looking at them from the other side. Any currant is decorative during the growing season: both in spring, during flowering, and in summer, during fruiting, and even without fruits.
All currants and gooseberries are very similar, but it is quite suitable for a short hedge. alpine currant(Ribes alpinum) - a compact and rather dense deciduous shrub up to 1.5 meters tall, a dioecious plant, female specimens are suitable for fruiting. True, the berries of the alpine currant are tasteless. Alpine currant is quite unpretentious, grows well in sunny areas, undemanding to soils, but when fertilizing, the shrub is much thicker, tolerates pruning well, does not need shelter.
Japanese chaenomeles hedge is very decorative. Chaenomeles japanese(Chaenomeles japonica), or japonica- dense deciduous shrub up to 1 meter tall. Chaenomeles is very beautiful during flowering, when it is covered with marvelous red flowers. When tied, small rounded fruits with a pleasant lemon taste and smell are formed, from which jams and jams are cooked.
However, the Japanese genomeles needs protection from the northern winds. It is photophilous, grows better on fertile, well-drained soils. In winter, shoots can freeze slightly, but in spring they quickly recover. With strong thickening, thinning is required.
From this list, it is quite possible to choose plants that are ideal for your site, according to the requirements for maintenance conditions, fertility, acidity and soil moisture.
It is absolutely not necessary to go against nature and plant mahonia or rhododendron on poor dry soils, or on wet wetlands - almonds, gorse or boxwood. Only plants that are ideally suited to your conditions will grow quickly, become a real highlight of the garden, and most importantly, they will not require much care.
References: Konovalova T.Yu., Shevyreva N.A. Ornamental shrubs, 2004
Image source flickr.com: Leonora Enking (5), John Hickey, Ron Gay, Deborah Cowder, www.jardinerosenaccion.es, Janette Dollamore, Tracey Stout, Jodi, Stefano, peganum, Josef Lex (mission accomplished!), Matt Lavin, Mountain Partnership at FAO, per.aasen, Cheryl Moorehead, Andreas Balzer, Dietmut Teijgeman-Hansen, flemertown, dangle earrings, Maja Dumat (2), Daniela Ionesco, Diddlecome Dawcock, Paul Simpson, Eirien, Yasuki Fujinuma, Ron Wolf, Nobuhiro Suhara (2), Steve Garvie, Jens Schmidt, David Trevan, Ben Rushbrooke, Jan Sølve Borlaug, Marcel, stanze, jacqueline (Jackie) ramsey, naturgucker.de / enjoynature.net, Wulf Forrester-Barker, Nacho, Mark Watts, gartenknorze, Helge Vindenes. Ruschi. Carl Lewis, Martha B. Moss, L "herbier en photos, Stephanie, jlcummins - Washington State, matt hirt, Andrew Caird, photopoésie, Betsy, tesselaarusa (2), -eney- (3), Marc Kummel, Sirpa Tähkämö, Dan Davis, Kirill Ignatyev, FarOutFlora, Rainer Fritz
For the improvement of land, gardens, parks, squares, not only flowers, but also various ornamental shrubs are used. It is enough to plant winter-hardy perennial flowering shrubs once, so that for many years the planting will delight the eye with beautiful flowers and pleasant green foliage.
Hydrangea is a perennial flowering shrub, very popular due to the diverse shape and color of large flowers, and elegant figured foliage. The color palette is quite extensive: white, pink, red, blue, green. The plant blooms very profusely, flowers cover almost the entire bush. Spherical or paniculate inflorescences are able to change their color over a fairly long flowering period, which occurs from July to September. The hydrangea looks very impressive both as a separate bush and in a massive planting.
Hydrangea is winter-hardy (some varieties are able to tolerate frosts down to -40 ° C) and can be grown even in Siberia, but young plants should be covered. A sunny or semi-shady area with moist, fertile soil with high acidity is ideal for placing hydrangeas. The plant needs regular feeding and spring pruning. White hydrangea flowers can be turned into multi-colored ones by adding various special chemicals designed to color hydrangea flowers to the water for irrigation.
In the photo, a hydrangea variety: Vanilla Fraze.
The shrub grows to a height of 1.5 meters, is a wonderful decoration of lawns, suitable for decorating arbors, houses or fences. The drooping shoots of some species give the plant an openwork and airy appearance. For good growth, the shrub needs a sunny site with neutral or limestone breathable soil. The plant tolerates severe frosts well, but the bush should be planted in the spring, for a good rooting of the planting. In the first years of life, the plant is recommended to cover in the winter. There are 15 varieties of weigela with fragrant colors from white to red and green or variegated leaves. The first flowering of the plant occurs in May-June, the second is possible at the end of summer.
In the photo weigela blooming Sunny Princesses.
A perennial shrub, up to two meters high and wide, so with proper care, a ball can be formed from the plant. For colquitsia, you need to take a slightly shaded area, protected from cold winds. The soil should be fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline. Young shoots first grow upwards, then begin to bend in an arcuate manner and tend to the ground. Flowering reaches a maximum by the age of 7-8 years, when the leaves are almost invisible due to the number of fragrant flowers and buds. The plant is frost-resistant and requires only mulching of the root system, complete shelter of the shrub is necessary only in frosty snowless winters.
In the photo, the colquitia is lovely Rosea.
Ornamental perennial slow growing plant with showy flowers and filigree carved foliage. During flowering forms bright curtains. Potentilla serves as an excellent addition to compositions of decorative leafy and flower crops; it blooms for a long time all summer. There are varieties with yellow, white, pink or red flowers. Almost all cinquefoils are undemanding to growing conditions. The soil should be slightly acidic and nutritious, with good permeability, and the planting site should be in partial shade, without stagnant moisture. Potentilla belongs to moderately frost-resistant plants, if winter temperatures drop below -28 ° C and there is little snow, then she needs shelter. The plant will not tolerate a dry summer; regular watering and periodic spraying of foliage will be required.
In the photo, Potentilla shrub Lovely Pink or Pink Beauty.
Dwarf Persian lilac is an ornamental perennial shrub, which has a height of no more than 1.5 m. Lilac blooms profusely, therefore, during the period of blooming petals, the bush will be effectively visible on the site. This variety of lilac blooms in late May or early June, the duration of flowering is about 3-4 weeks, in the absence of severe drought, a second lilac bloom can be expected at the end of summer. The flowers of the plant are strongly fragrant and range in color from dark purple to light lilac and white. The plant begins to bloom in the fifth year after planting. The best place for lilacs will be a sunny area without stagnant moisture with loose fertile soil. Simple care of the plant consists in the removal of faded inflorescences, formative pruning and periodic top dressing.
Winter hardy perennial shrub. Keria blooms every year in spring or summer with yellow fragrant flowers resembling buttercups in shape. There is a variety with double flowers. Often in the autumn, the bush blooms again. You need to plant a plant in a shaded area, it needs moist soil with the presence of humus and nutrients. Watering is required only when the topsoil dries up and during flowering. It is necessary to systematically weed and loosen the surface of the near-stem circle, as well as systematically feed the plant. Keria tolerates winter frosts well and, in case of damage from low temperatures, is fully restored in the spring.
Euonymus is a picturesque perennial plant. It is unpretentious, perfectly tolerates a haircut, decorative throughout the season, and by autumn its attractiveness only increases. Forms of decorative euonymus are very diverse - from undersized shrubs to trees, shoots can have a round or tetrahedral section with various growths in the form of warts, ridges or additional ribs. The leaves can be green or have a bright variegated color, in autumn the foliage blooms in yellow, scarlet, purple or burgundy hues. Euonymus fruits are so bizarre, showy and brightly colored that it is easy to confuse them with flowers. For euonymus, you need to choose a sunny or semi-shady area with loose fertile soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction without stagnant moisture. Euonymus has a high winter hardiness; only young plants may need shelter for the winter.
In the photo is Fortune Blondy's euonymus.
Elegant garden shrub, perennial for growing in well-lit areas of the garden. The plant blooms in clusters of fragrant small white-pink, blue or lilac flowers from July to September, but only if planted in a warm sunny place. Long flowering allows the plant to be used for solitary plantings. For ceanotus, it is necessary to choose a sunny area, protected from winds and stagnant moisture. The soil should be loose and fertile with neutral acidity. Watering is necessary 2-3 times a week, once a month the ceanotus should be watered with acidified water. The plant tolerates frosts down to -23 ° C, but it is recommended to mulch the root system for the winter.
In the photo ceanotus Marie Simon.
Low dense bushes of Japanese azalea (up to 50 cm) during flowering resemble picturesque colorful balls. Different varieties of Japanese azalea begin to bloom from April to July, depending on the variety. Flowering continues for 1.5-2 months. Bright funnel-shaped flowers densely cover the shoots with leathery foliage of a dark green hue. A charming plant used to decorate shady places in the garden - the azalea grows beautifully and blooms in the shade. To plant this plant, you need to choose a non-sunny, shady place, the soil should be peaty, acidic, well-drained. After planting, the topsoil should be mulched with needles or crushed pine bark. Top dressing for a plant has its own characteristics - ash and compounds containing chlorine and lime are not recommended for fertilizing. The plant is winter hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to -27 °C.
In the photo, the Japanese azalea "Marushka".
Andromeda is an evergreen undersized dense shrub, no more than 50 cm in height. It has narrow, bluish-green leaves with curled-in edges that turn dark green in winter. The plant blooms with small white or pink flowers-balls, collected in a brush, from April to June. Re-flowering is possible in autumn. For planting andromeda, you need to choose a sunny or semi-shady area; the plant develops well in wetlands with acidic soil. If the soil at the planting site is neutral or slightly alkaline, it is necessary to add peat, coniferous needles to it and carry out artificial acidification. To prevent the soil from drying out in summer, it is required to mulch the soil. The frost resistance of the plant is very high, the bushes can withstand temperatures as low as -45 ° C.
Pictured is Andromeda Blue Ice.
A perennial plant that has a huge number of forms and varieties that differ in the size of the bush and the size, color and shape of the flowers. The bush can be upright or spreading, from 0.4 to 4 m high. The action blooms in June-July for 15-35 days with many small, odorless flowers collected in umbellate or racemose inflorescences. Flowers can be simple or double, white, pink, lilac. It is recommended to plant the action in the spring, the site should be selected with shading in the afternoon from the hot sun and protected from cold winds. The soil needs loose, nutritious, well-drained, slightly alkaline. The trunk circle after planting should be mulched with a five-centimeter layer of peat. Watering is necessary only in hot weather without rain. In autumn, the color of the leaves changes from dark green to burgundy. For the winter, the action is covered with little snow or frosty winter.
In the photo, the action is a hybrid Strawberry Fields.
Decorative viburnum attracts with magnificent flowering, unpretentious care, elegant appearance. There are many types and forms of this ornamental shrub, with flowers of various shapes, different heights and shapes of the bush, fruit-bearing and barren, with red or blue-black berries. Viburnum blooms in spring or early summer with fragrant flowers of white or slightly pink color. Depending on the variety, flowering lasts from 20 days to two months.
The plant has a high resistance to severe frosts, tolerates temperatures as low as -34 ° C, and is able to grow well in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia. Viburnum copes well with the lack of sunlight or moisture. For planting viburnum choose a lighted or semi-shady place with moist soil. In hot, dry weather, the plant needs abundant watering.
The photo shows a decorative viburnum Roseum.
Dwarf birch - an original miniature plant with a height of 0.5 to 1.0 m, is a highly branched shrub, a bush can reach 2-2.5 m wide. Dwarf birch is used for rock gardens, terraces, and creating hedges. The leaves of the tree are similar to the leaves of a real birch, but their color is lighter, when blooming it is reddish-pink, then from light green to yellow-green. Flowers - earrings of a chestnut shade. In autumn, dwarf birch turns red and orange. The tree grows 10 cm a year, tolerates shearing well, it can be grown in wet and swampy areas, but in such conditions birch grows more slowly than in areas with moderately moist, fertile soil. In hot and dry weather, young plants need watering, adults can withstand a short drought. The winter hardiness of the plant is very high.
The photo shows a dwarf birch Golden Treasure.
A shrub that blooms with bright yellow flowers in early spring, there is a variety with pink flowers. Moreover, the leaves on the shrub bloom only after the end of flowering, which will last about 20 days. This light-loving plant with high decorative properties is very unpretentious and requires a minimum of care. Forsythia grows well in a sunny location, but it can also grow in shade. The quality of the soil does not really matter, but the plant feels better in loose, air- and water-permeable soil with an alkaline reaction. If it rains in summer, the plant does not require additional watering. Forsythia needs to be fed three times per season. Forsythia should be covered for the winter, the root system is mulched with a thick layer of fallen leaves, young plants are completely covered.
Pictured is Forsythia Goldzauber.
One of the most interesting garden shrubs. The height of the plant varies from 0.2 to 3 m. Spectacular, catchy - it does not lose its decorative effect all year round. During flowering, the plant is strewn with small crimson and pink flowers in racemose inflorescences. But its main feature is berries! Pink or white pearls of berries hide flexible drooping shoots underneath. Berry brushes remain on the branches of the bush until spring and decorate the winter landscape. The berries are inedible. For planting a snowberry, it is advisable to choose a drained area with fertile soil, then the shrub will bear fruit more abundantly and look brighter, although it adapts to any growing conditions and will grow well in areas with ordinary soil, sunny or shaded. An unpretentious plant practically does not need care. Even during dry periods, it does not require watering. The snowberry is easy to cut - the crown quickly takes the desired shape.
The photo shows the Dorenboz Mather of Pearl snowberry.
Krasivoplodnik is a spectacular deciduous shrub with a height of 1.5 to 3 m. In spring and summer, the foliage is green, in autumn it turns into juicy yellow-orange tones. The plant blooms in August with delicate white-pink flowers, fruits are formed in September-October. Birds are not interested in them, thanks to which bright purple berries adorn the plant and the surrounding landscape all winter. The berries of most varieties are not poisonous, but also tasteless. It is worth considering that there are varieties with poisonous berries. To plant a beautiful fruit, you need to choose a place in the sun with well-drained neutral or slightly acidic soil. Some species are frost-resistant, but it is better to cover at least the root system for the winter.
In the photo, the Bodinera Geraldi beautiful fruit.
The original deciduous or evergreen plant may be a creeping shrub or small tree, depending on the species. It can be planted in groups, used in single plantings and borders. Cotoneaster has a positive attitude towards pruning, in this way various green figures can be created from a shrub. Deciduous forms in autumn change the color of the foliage from green to various shades of red. The plant blooms in spring, with small white or pink flowers, the fruits are small, inedible, red or black.
The shrub grows extremely slowly, in one place it can be grown up to 50 years. Almost all varieties are highly winter hardy, do not require shelter, one has only to mulch the root system for the winter. The plant is very unpretentious, with high winter hardiness. For it, you can choose a place in the sun and in the shade, the shrub does not impose special requirements on the composition of the soil, the main thing is that there is no stagnation of water. Watering the plant will be required only in the absence of rain throughout the summer period.
The photo shows cotoneaster hybrid Coral Beauty.
Spectacular shrub with notched prickly leaves. They can be green, or bordered with a creamy wide edging. The plant is ideal for creating impenetrable hedges. In spring or early summer, the holly blossoms and sets berries, which, depending on the variety, turn yellow, orange, white, red, and even black when ripe. The shrub does not drop berries, and some species and leaves in winter, so the decorative effect remains for a long time. For planting a plant, you should choose a shady place, protected from drafts. The soil needs well-drained, moist, rich in humus. For the winter, young plants should be covered.
The photo shows the holly Altaklerensis Golden King.
Beautiful ornamental evergreen plant up to 1.5 m tall. Mahonia flowers are fragrant, yellow, bloom in April-May, may re-bloom in the fall. Magonia bears what is known as an Oregon grape and can be eaten fresh and made into a fine homemade wine. Not demanding on the conditions of maintenance and composition of the soil, but the presence of humic substances has a positive effect on the appearance of the plant. It tolerates low temperatures well and retains the color of the leaves until the beginning of spring, young plants need shelter. For planting, preferably a sunny place or partial shade.
In the photo, mahonia is medium Charity.
An amazing ornamental plant for decorating the garden landscape. Perennial, fast-growing, rounded, deciduous shrub with unusually beautiful leaves, which, depending on the variety, can be either dense or pale green, with a bronze coating along the edges. Young leaves are orange-pink. Panicle-shaped inflorescences consist of many small fragrant flowers of white or cream color, bloom in early summer. The name of the plant indicates the similarity of fieldfare leaves with real mountain ash. A place for planting should be chosen in partial shade, the soil should be fertile, moist, but without stagnant water. Frost resistance and resistance to diseases of the plant is high, it tolerates dry periods well.
In the photo, fieldfare rowan leaf "Sam".
Spectacular decorative leaf and berry bush with small leaves and prickly stems. There are varieties with creeping or erect shoots, with leaves of green, purple or pink. Barberry bushes are planted as framing flowerbeds and rabatok, included in hedges, used as a tapeworm on the lawn.
In spring, clusters of bright yellow or orange-red flowers appear on the plant, they effectively contrast with the foliage. In autumn, red-coral fruits ripen on thorny branches. Barberry is undemanding to the soil and light intensity, although it develops better in a sunny area, is responsive to pruning, and is very frost-resistant.
The photo shows barberry thunberga Red Carpet.
Spectacular, slow-growing evergreen exotic shrub with oval leaves growing in bunches on the tops of the shoots with a bright changeable color of pink and red tones. It blooms magnificently in early summer with clustered bell flowers of scarlet, pink or white, depending on the plant variety. For planting pieris, you need to choose a site in the sun or in partial shade, the soil is needed with an acidic reaction. In care, regular watering is required, maintaining an acidic soil environment and top dressing once a month. The plant is winter-hardy, withstands temperatures down to -30 ° C, but the root system should be mulched for the winter. Gloves should be worn when handling the shrub, as the plant is poisonous.
The photo shows Japanese pieris "Variegata".
An unusual perennial thorny evergreen plant, the foliage changes green to crimson with the onset of cold weather. In spring, it blooms profusely with white fragrant flowers, by autumn it is covered with clusters of bright yellow or red-orange berries, similar to miniature apples, which are not poisonous, but not edible either. An ideal plant for a spectacular decoration of a personal plot. Medium-sized shrub looks charming all year round. The plant is unpretentious, resistant to diseases and pests, its frost resistance is average, shelter for the winter is required. For landing, you need to choose a semi-shady area, protected from cold winds. The soil is suitable for any, well-drained, without stagnant water.
In the photo of the pyracant "Soleil Dor".
In order to choose the right ornamental shrub for the garden, it is necessary to take into account the requirements of the plant for growth conditions, the characteristics of the soil of the site, its illumination, and the region of the country. Among the flowering plants suitable for growing in the garden, there are different varieties that differ in plant size, flower shade, care features and growing conditions. However, many flowering shrubs do not need particularly careful care, and some of them are able to grow on their own without daily watering and other types of processing.
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frost-resistant shrubs
The list of shrubs for different regions of Russia includes the names of more than one and a half thousand plants. All species differ from each other in the features of watering, planting, processing, depending on the region of growth.
Frost-resistant shrubs for summer cottages, which continue to bloom all summer, are very popular. They calmly endure the cold, for the winter they do not need to be insulated. Such frost-resistant plants are suitable for the northwest and for growing in Siberia.
Buddley
Buddleya is suitable for the Middle Strip and the Moscow Region. This is a heat-loving plant that successfully endures winter, but on condition that the buddleia is first covered and covered with spruce branches. From July to October, the plant is strewn with large lilac clusters.
The advantage of this shrub is that it can be given beautiful and unusual shapes. After flowering, all reddish shoots and branches must be removed in a timely manner. In conditions of free growth, buddleia can reach a height of more than 3 meters.
Hydrangea
This is a tree-like plant whose flowers are white, pink or red. Hydrangea without any consequences can endure even the most severe winter.
Twice a year, pruning of shoots and branches should be carried out. The first should be carried out in the fall, after all the shoots that have not had time to acquire a tree form have been removed. The second time pruning is carried out in the spring. At the same time, the tops of the branches are cut off, to the very top of the unblown bud. The plant needs to be fed regularly. The composition of the fertilizer should include a lot of iron and magnesium.
Canadian roses
The shrub was bred by breeders in Canada. Plants are suitable for growing in northern latitudes. Canadian roses can withstand temperatures down to -45 degrees. Even if the leaves are a little frozen, they quickly restore their shape.
There are many varieties of Canadian roses. The shape of the flower can be either semi-double (5-6 petals) or densely double (from 30 petals). Canadian rose inflorescences come in a variety of colors. The plant is not afraid of shade and disease.
shade plants
Shade-loving shrubs are very popular among summer residents, as these plants often help cover up the unpresentable appearance of outbuildings. They can land along the country house, creating a special comfort, beauty and shade in hot weather.
A characteristic feature of shade-loving plants is that they can grow in those parts of the garden where the sun's rays practically do not fall. The leaves of most of them have a rich green color.
Wisteria
Also called wisteria. The plant can reach about 18 meters in height. Wisteria flowers are small with a pronounced smell. The flowering period lasts from May to September.
There are nine types of plants, but only two are grown in landscape design - Chinese wisteria and Japanese wisteria (abundantly flowering). This plant is mainly used to decorate arches or buildings.
Weigela
In most cases, the height of the bush is 80 cm. Weigela flowers are pink or purple. The shrub begins to bloom in April. If the plant is properly cared for, it will continue to bloom until late autumn.
The ideal conditions for the normal growth of weigela are the shading of the site and warm weather. With the arrival of the first night frosts, the bush will shed all its flowers.
action
This is a small shrub that begins to bloom at the end of May. Small flowers are pink or white.
hedge plants
To ennoble the extreme territory of your site, you can use plants to form a hedge. They protect the site from wind, dust, give it a beautiful look.
Given the climatic conditions of Russia, you should choose unpretentious and cold-resistant species. The most popular flowering subspecies of shrubs.
Mock orange crown
This plant has another more well-known name - jasmine. This is one of the most popular flowering shrubs. Mock orange has many different varieties, which can differ in height, size and color of flowers, shade of foliage.
One of the most common is the Pearl variety. The height of the bush is no more than 1.5 m. It has large double flowers. Another popular subspecies is the Blizzard. The bush can grow up to 2 m in height. The flowers of the plant are smaller, but their number is much greater. The bush blooms up to 20 days, in June-July, depending on the variety. To ensure care, it is necessary to regularly remove shoots older than 2 years. You also need to get rid of damaged shoots. Every month, the plant must be fertilized using humus or mineral top dressing.
Spirea
This is another ornamental shrub. Due to the severity of the inflorescences, the plant takes on a cascade shape. Spirea has many subspecies. Blooms in spring or summer. In species that bloom in spring, the flowers are white in color, in summer-flowering species they are painted pink.
If you plant two bushes side by side with different flowering periods, they will bloom from May to October. Spiraea can reach 2.5 m in height. To prevent this, it is necessary to cut the shoots immediately after flowering. Among the most beautiful, it is customary to single out such Japanese varieties as Golden Princess and Shirobana. These varieties are quite small compared to others. Their height is only 70 cm.
Lilac
Lilac is a well-known flowering shrub that grows up to 3 meters in height, sometimes resembling garden trees. In most cases, this height of the plant is not needed: being too high, it will contribute to the shading of the crop in the beds. Therefore, lilac bushes must be cut regularly.
If there is any doubt that the lilac will be able to withstand severe frosts, in the fall you can cover the shrubs for the winter. It is also recommended to choose lilac subspecies specially bred for growing in harsh climates: Alice Harding and Paul Tirion.
fruit bushes
To date, fruit bushes are planted in summer cottages most often. The most popular are currants, raspberries, plums, cherries. These plants will not only bear sweet fruits, but will also bloom beautifully in the spring.
Growing fruit shrubs does not require special skills, many of them endure winter. It is important to choose the right place for planting: lighted places or small slopes with moderately moist fertile soil are suitable for fruit bushes.
Evergreens for the garden
evergreens bushes are used for zoning the territory of a summer cottage, decorative framing, creating borders, sculptures. They "enliven" the garden, especially in winter, because even during this period they remain in bloom.
Shrubs should be planted in spring or autumn. It depends on the characteristics of the variety. Therefore, before buying a plant, you should study the conditions for planting it.
Rhododendron
There are about 3,000 species and varieties of garden rhododendron. It is represented by shrubs with leaves of various shapes and sizes. The plant can keep leaves up to 7 years. Flowers collected in racemes or corymbs can be pink, white, red, purple.
Bushes grow low, do not need abundant watering, tolerate shading well. For the winter they can not be covered.
Magnolia
Magnolia is an evergreen shrub with large, elliptical leaves. The height of the bush is not more than 1 meter. Leaves on branches can last up to several years. In summer they have a rich green color, and in winter they acquire a copper hue.
This is a moisture-loving plant, which is important to protect from strong winds. Sometimes the tops of its shoots freeze slightly. In this case, they must be cut, and the affected branches can recover on their own.
Calmia
The height of the shrub is 1.5 m. The green leaves are oblong in shape. The underside of the leaf has a bluish tint. The flowering period of the bush lasts from May to June. The shape of the flowers resembles Chinese lanterns with corrugated petals at the tips. Inflorescences are white, pink or red.
Calmia does not require special care. It can grow in shady places and on acidic soil.
perennial shrubs
Mixed flower beds, which are based on unpretentious perennials that do not require special care, have become very popular among flower growers. Most of them have a bright color and calmly tolerate low temperatures.
Perennial bushes are able to multiply rapidly, take cuttings well, do not need annual planting.
Some plants bloom all summer and retain decorative foliage throughout the season. When choosing a perennial shrub for a garden, one should pay attention to the conditions necessary for its normal growth, shape, size, and ability to tolerate pruning.
Japanese quince
The plant is common in China and Japan. Two species are popular in Russia - high and low Japanese quince. In spring, the shrub has bright red or rich pink flowers. Japanese quince is considered the most brightly flowering bush.
Quince does not require special care, as it can tolerate both drought and frosty weather. If the frosts in winter were very strong, then it can freeze to the level of snow cover. However, after that it is easy to recover. The older the shrub, the higher its frost resistance.
Hibiscus
Garden hibiscus is a perennial shrub that can grow and bloom in the conditions of the Middle Strip. It easily withstands twenty-degree frosts. This plant has a beautiful shape, so hibiscus is often planted at the entrance to the site or terrace. The shrub is suitable for creating a hedge, which in August will turn into a continuous vertical carpet.
A feature of the plant is that each flower lives only one day. Over the entire flowering period, about a thousand flowers can open on a shrub. The condition of the buds is adversely affected by rain, as they are easily damaged.
tree peony
Plant height is about 1.5-2 m. Thick stems are light brown in color. Their peculiarity is that they do not die off, like the stems of a grassy peony, but, on the contrary, grow more and more every year. The size of the flowers ranges from 12 to 20 cm. They are located at the ends of the shoots.
The color of flowers can be different - yellow, white, pink, purple, raspberry or two-tone. They have a pronounced pleasant aroma. The flowering period lasts 2-3 weeks. The plant withstands severe frosts.
undersized bushes
Most of the undersized bushes were artificially bred by breeders. They successfully grow in those places of the site where a sufficient amount of sunlight is needed. These plants can be used as a hedge, to form borders, decorate flower beds.
A characteristic feature of this subspecies of shrubs is that they are resistant to various diseases and pests. They like to grow in direct sunlight and do not require frequent watering. Light spring pruning is recommended to form a strong crown.
Bloodroot
Potentilla is the most unpretentious low-growing shrub that can withstand the cold and needs little to no maintenance.
Potentilla is a herbaceous plant that grows strongly over time. This fact must be taken into account when landing. It blooms in corymbose, umbellate or paniculate inflorescences with yellow, pink and cream flowers. The shrub is suitable for forming borders. Needs frequent pruning.
Caryopteris
Kariopteris is a fairly compact shrub that grows in the form of a hemisphere. The height of the plant sometimes reaches 1 m. The shoots of the bush are straight, even, with lanceolate leaves. Begins to bloom at the end of August. Inflorescences have blue tones. Well accepted on any soil, tolerates temperature extremes and drought.
In the spring, it is necessary to cut the bush, and for the winter cover the trunk circle with mulch. Used as a border.
cistus
Cistus is a compact plant with a rounded shape. It has the following features:
- The flowering period lasts all summer.
- Each bud blooms for only one day, but the bush always remains bright.
- Flowers are white, pink or bright orange.
- The leaves are narrow, bright green.
For planting a bush, you need to choose a well-lit place, closed from the wind. Do not plant the plant on heavy, clay soil. In the spring, sanitary and formative pruning should be carried out.
Cletra alder
The shrub does not require special care. The plant is growing rapidly. The flowering period begins in July and ends at the end of August.
The bush must be pruned every year, as flowers appear only on young shoots. The inflorescences are spike-shaped. Flowers of white or pink tones have a pronounced pleasant aroma.
Cassiopeia
The plant has thin stems, which are covered with swamp-green foliage. In July, single white bells appear.
It is better to plant a plant on loose, acidic, drained soil. It requires regular watering, weeding and fertilizing. If the winter is not snowy, then it is better to cover the bush. Cuttings are used to propagate Cassiopeia.
Heather
Heather is a low (up to 0.5 m) creeping shrub that blooms in late August or early September. It must be borne in mind that heather is a forest plant, so the key to successful cultivation is properly selected soil. It can be peat, sand, needles, sawdust. Heather flowering time is from July to October.
The plant must be watered with oxidized water once a week. In the spring, it is necessary to feed with the use of dry mineral fertilizers, regularly carry out weeding from weeds. In early spring, it is recommended to cut the shrub to give it the necessary shape. For the winter, the plant should be covered with spruce paws.
Shrubs blooming in autumn
A special place among the shrubs used by gardeners is occupied by plants that bloom in autumn. Starting from the end of August, they bloom for quite a long time, creating a special cozy atmosphere in the cold autumn season.
A distinctive feature of shrubs that bloom in autumn is that they are almost always used in flower beds of continuous flowering. For these plants there is a place on the alpine hills. Blooming autumn plants look beautiful against the background of a mixture of cereals of different types.
Name bush height flowering period Appearance of flowers Growing features Anisodontea capensis (Anisodontea capensis) up to 1 m From mid-summer to late autumn Large, pink, odorless Suitable for group plantings. The landing site should be well lit. Light shade allowed Euonymus (Euonymus) from 2 m Starts in August and continues throughout the fall Medium, pink or white, odorless It grows well in open areas with a sufficient level of lighting. The plant is poisonous Daboecia cantabrica (Daboecia cantabrica) 
up to 50 cm Small, pink or white, odorless Suitable for group plantings. Likes open, sunny areas Gerard Indigofera (Indigofera gerardiana) 
1.5–2 m August to November Medium, pink, odorless Suitable for hedges and group plantings Kelreuteria (Koelreuteria) 
from 2 m August to October small yellow flowers Prefers to grow in sunny areas Red-crowned or Ceanothus (Ceanothus) 
up to 1 m End of August to November Small, lilac, with a pleasant aroma Suitable for hedges. Used for group landings. A prerequisite for plant growth is good lighting. Lagerstroemia Indian (Lagerstroemia indica) 
from 2 m From the end of summer and throughout autumn Medium, red, pink, lilac, white, with a pleasant smell Suitable for group plantings. The optimal condition for normal growth is the presence of lighting. Bubbleweed (Colutea) 
from 2 m Midsummer to November Medium, yellow, no fragrance Suitable for group plantings as a hedge. The plant needs a sufficiently lit place. 
Up to 0.5 m Mid summer to late autumn Medium size, various colors, no pronounced odor Prefers to grow in sunny areas Ceratostigma (Ceratostigma) 
Up to 0.5 m August to November Large, bright blue, no fragrance The plant is unpretentious to lighting