A few years back, I found myself staring at the front of our house, imagining what it could become with the right touch of flowering height. I’ve always been interested in adding a bit of privacy to my garden since we have large front room windows that look out into our beautiful yard. So the hunt began, and I went on the lookout for flowering bushes for the front of our house.
I needed something that not only looked great when in full bloom but also well into the season when all I would be left with was the foliage. A few bushes in particular caught my attention for their striking looks, low-maintenance needs, and visual compatibility.
For example, I knew the butterfly bush would offer attractively long flowers with leaves full of interest beyond the blooms but wouldn’t hold up to my Canadian winters. While my evergreen Camellias would still keep their leaves after all others have fallen. When going through my options I put together my list of the top 11 low-maintenance bushes that will flower that I’d like to share with you.
So if you want plants that promise low upkeep while still delivering that wow factor— stick around and look or the sections that I call out. These ones have made their mark for something that’s uniquely offered better than the rest.
Quickly find Flowering Bushes:
1. Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
Gardenia jasminoides, also known as Cape Jasmine, is an easy plant to care for.
It prefers full sun, however, it can tolerate (and should receive) some mild shade so the leaves don’t get too scorched. If they do, the leaves could fall off and they won’t look good during their normal blooming season.
If you’re fertilizing your plant, you should avoid using anything that contains too much nitrogen. This can affect the number of blooms it has.
Here’s a helpful guide to planting Cape Jasmine in your garden:Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides Growth Rate: Up to 6’ tall and wide Native Range: China Hardiness Zones: 8-11 Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining soil Exposure: Partial shade to full sun Blooming Period: Late spring – early summer
2. Azalea (Rhododendron)
Did you know that certain species of Azalea can grow up to 20’ tall? While most Azalea bushes stay at around 4-6’ tall, don’t be surprised to see this beautiful flower take off.
Though it is relatively easy to care for, you have to be mindful of how much sun exposure it’s getting.
Best For Spring Time Blooms🌷
Azaleas make the top of my list for springtime seasonal interest. You will be blown away by these showy flowers that start in the spring and last for several weeks. You might just have neighbors at your door asking for all your garden secrets.
Despite preferring full sun, too much sun exposure can actually burn the leaves. To offset this, it’s recommended that you add mulch to wherever you’re planting your Azalea plant.Botanical Name: Rhododendron Growth Rate: Up to 20’ tall Native Range: North America Hardiness Zones: 6-9 Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining soil Exposure: Full sun and partial shade Blooming Period: Spring – Late Summer
3. Spirea ‘Little Princess’ (Spiraea japonica)
One of the reasons why gardeners love Spirea is because it changes colors over the season, ranging in a variety of colors including pink, red, and purple flowers, and green or blue leaves. As such, Spirea is a huge show-stopper.
Keep in mind that, even though it is low maintenance, you’ll have to make sure it has the right conditions to grow in to prevent disease and pests, which Spirea is highly susceptible to.
In fact, spireas are susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew, root rot, aphids, leaf roller, and scale.”
You can combat these by making sure the plant always has well-draining soil and full sun. Here’s a helpful guide to keeping your Spirea alive and thriving:
| Botanical Name: | Spiraea japonica |
| Growth Rate: | Up to 6’ tall and up tp 7’ wide |
| Native Range: | Japan |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-8 |
| Soil Needs: | Well-draining loam |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Blooming Period: | Early – mid-summer |
4. Meyer Lilac (Syringa meyeri)
These gorgeous flowers are great for attracting pollinators to your garden, which can help everything else grow.
In addition to this, they are simply gorgeous to look at with their large pink and purple blooms. Plus, they can grow up to an impressive 8’ tall and 10’ wide, so they’re perfect to be used as garden borders or on the front/side of your house for decor.
Cold Hardy Winner❄️
The Meyer Lilac holds a special spot in my heart for being able to handle the toughest of winters all the way down to USDA Zone 3! This flowering bush also happens to be heat-tolerant, so if you live in the south Meyer Lilacs will grow well in your climate too.
Keep in mind that the Meyer Lilac can fall victim to a common fungal disease called Verticillium dahliae. Once it does, there’s no way to cure it.
However, you can combat it by regularly pruning the plant and making sure it has the right conditions to grow, including full sun and developing a root system in rich, well-draining soil.Botanical Name: Syringa meyeri Growth Rate: Up to 8’ tall and up tp 10’ wide Native Range: Europe and Asia Hardiness Zones: 3-8 Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining soil Exposure: Full sun Blooming Period: Spring – summer
5. Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)
This evergreen shrub with bright reddish-pink flowers makes the perfect centerpiece of your garden or when planted up against your fence. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to grow and will require very little upkeep from you.
In fact, the Chinese Fringe Flower is called this because the petals are very stringy, similar to the way fringe looks.
In regards to proper care, it’s recommended that you add mulch around the plant’s roots to help combat weed growth.
Furthermore, they require little to no pruning because they naturally develop a pretty shape. However, if you want to prune your Chinese Fringe Flower, do so either in the spring or fall.Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinense Growth Rate: Up to 15’ wide Native Range: Asia Hardiness Zones: 7-9 Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining soil Exposure: Partial to full sun Blooming Period: Spring
6. Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
One of the most interesting things about the Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire is that it can actually grow really well in wet, swampy areas.
In fact, it’s not uncommon to find this plant growing in heavily forested areas or near streams. So, if you live in or near wetlands, this would be an excellent plant to add to your garden.
While this plant requires little pruning, if you do so, make sure not to remove more than 30% of the top, as this will stunt growth the following season.Botanical Name: Itea virginica Growth Rate: Up to 10’ tall Native Range: United States Hardiness Zones: 5-9 Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining soil Exposure: Full sun and part shade Blooming Period: Early spring – early summer
7. Camellia (Camellia japonica)
If you plant Camellia in your garden, the good news is that you can expect the flowers to bloom again next year. These plants typically bloom for a full four weeks anytime between March and October, depending on several factors such as location.
Evergreen Leaves🍃
Out of all the flowering bushes on my list, there is only one that can truly be considered evergreen, and that’s the delightful Camellia. As winter sets in and leaves begin to fall you will be glad you chose to plant the Camellia bush.
When in bloom, you’ll be able to enjoy small circular, red flowers that look very close to roses. These are stunning flowers that thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil conditions.Botanical Name: Camellia japonica Growth Rate: Up to 12’ tall Native Range: Japan and China Hardiness Zones: 6-10 Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic soil Exposure: A mix of full sun and partial shade Blooming Period: Early spring – fall
8. Peony (Paeonia)
Everyone loves peonies and for good reason – they are absolutely gorgeous and super easy to care for, making them the best flowers for beginning gardeners.
They do best when exposed to a minimum of six hours of sun per day, as well as being planted in very rich, well-draining soil.
| Botanical Name: | Paeonia |
| Growth Rate: | Up to 3’ tall and up to 4’ wide |
| Native Range: | North America |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-7 |
| Soil Needs: | Fertile, well-draining soil |
| Exposure: | Partial sun |
| Blooming Period: | Spring and early summer |
9. Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)
The Summersweet Clethra is a visually-stunning plant with tall cone-like flowers that bloom either pink or white.
Though it can withstand shade and full sun, it will bloom best when it gets partial sun, especially if it’s growing in a warmer climate.Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia Growth Rate: Up to 6’ tall and wide Native Range: United States Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Soil Needs: Well-draining, acidic clay Exposure: Partial sun Blooming Period: Late summer
10. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
As the name suggests, Butterfly Bushes commonly attract butterflies due to their nectar. If you’re thinking of planting this low-maintenance bush, be prepared that it can get pretty big – up to 12 feet tall!
It only really needs watering once a week while the roots are being established. This process usually takes about a year. After that, the plant requires little upkeep, as it rarely suffers disease or pest infestation.
Here’s how to take care of your newly-planted Butterfly bush:Botanical Name: Buddleja Growth Rate: Up to 12’ tall Native Range: China Hardiness Zones: 5-10 Soil Needs: Well-draining, moist soil Exposure: Full sun Ease of Care: Low-maintenance Blooming Period: Summer – early fall
11. Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae)
These low light plants have different colored flowers depending on the type of soil they’re grown in.
If you want pretty pink blossoms, be sure to plant them in soil that has a pH of 6.5 or higher. For blue blooms, plant in acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower.
Hydrangea makes gorgeous additions to any landscape, especially due to how big they get. Here’s what you need to know about caring for them:Botanical Name: Hydrangeaceae Growth Rate: Up to 12’ tall Native Range: United States Hardiness Zones: 3-7 Soil Needs: Heavy clay with organic compost added Exposure: Partial sun-shade Blooming Period: Mid-spring to early fall
Final Thoughts
All of the plants mentioned here are going to bloom all summer long, as well as the following season. Creating the garden of your dreams is possible with this list of incredibly low maintenance plants.
With this helpful guide, you’ll be on your way to manifesting the perfect garden and landscape this summer season.
