9 Shrubs for an Almost Maintenance-Free Garden

After compiling a list of 10 Perennials for an Almost Maintenance-Free Garden… Now it’s shrubs’ turn.

What are the criteria for choosing a low-maintenance shrub? Of course, they have to look good, but they also have to be strong and weather-resistant, as well as hardy enough to survive Canadian winters.

The most important part of shrub maintenance is pruning. While most shrubs need a minimum of pruning, those selected here require, at most, only the removal of damaged or 5+ year-old branches. Of course, a maintenance-free shrub must be resistant to insects and disease, at least enough so that the laidback gardener doesn’t have to intervene.

Lights Azalea Hybrids

Rhododendron Lights

Height: depending on cultivar, 80 to 150 cm (32-60″)

Width: depending on cultivar, 90 to 120 cm (36-48″)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: rich, moist, well-drained, acidic

Flowering: May-June

Hardiness: depending on cultivar, 3-4 (USDA 3 or 4 to 7)

Pruning: if necessary, remove excessively long branches after flowering.

Recommended species and cultivars:

The Lights series azaleas were developed at the University of Minnesota. They are better adapted to garden conditions than most azaleas and rhododendrons, but above all, they are hardy. They can bloom yellow, orange, red, pink or white, depending on the cultivar, for up to 20 days.

Forsythia

Forsythia spp.

Height: 1.8 – 2.7 m (6-9′)

Width: 1.8 – 2 m (6-7′)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: ordinary, well drained, moist

Flowering: April-May

Hardiness: 4 (USDA 3-8), for good flowering but can survive colder winters

Pruning: remove branches 5 years and older after flowering

Recommended species and cultivars: F. ‘Meadowlark’, F. ‘Northern Sun’, F. ‘Northern Gold’, F. ‘New Hampshire Gold’, F. ‘Vermont Gold’.

Always choose a hardy forsythia like ‘Northern Gold’. The flower buds of classic varieties can freeze even if they survive the winter, and flowering will be uneven. Its small yellow flowers are among the first to bloom in spring.

Panicle hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata

Height: depending on cultivar, 2 to 5 m (3-16′)

Width: depending on cultivar, 2 to 5 m (3-16′)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: ordinary, well-drained, moist, tolerates poor, dry soil

Flowering: July-October

Hardiness: depending on cultivar, 3-4 (USDA 3-4 to 8)

Pruning: remove branches 5 years and older in spring

Recommended species and cultivars: H. paniculata ‘Bobo’, H. paniculata ‘Burgundy Lace’, H. paniculata ‘Limelight’, H. paniculata ‘Kyushu’, H. paniculata ‘Pee Wee’, H. paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’, H. paniculata ‘Unique’.

The primary interest of this shrub is its prolonged flowering, which starts in July and sometimes lasts until snowfall. Its greenish panicle of flowers turn white over time and eventually pink in autumn, depending on the cultivar. More adaptable to poor, dry soils than its cousin, the arborescent hydrangea.

Preston Lilac

Syringa × prestoniae

Height: depending on cultivar, 2.5 – 3.5 m (8-12′)

Width: depending on cultivar, 1.25 – 2.5 m (4-8′)

Exposure: sunny

Soil: ordinary, rich, well-drained, alkaline or acidic

Flowering: June

Hardiness: 2a (USDA 2 or 3)

Pruning: not necessary. After flowering for denser growth.

Recommended species and cultivars: S. × prestoniae ‘Coral’, S. × prestoniae ‘Donald Wyman’, S. × prestoniae ‘Isabella’, S. × prestoniae ‘James MacFarlane’, S. × prestoniae ‘Minuet’, S. × prestoniae ‘Miss Canada’, S. × prestoniae ‘Nocturne’, S. × prestoniae ‘Redwine’, S. × prestoniae ‘Royalty’.

The result of hybridization between S. vilosa and S. reflexa, Preston lilacs were developed in Ottawa starting in the 1920s by Isabella Preston. They are strong, hardy and, unlike their cousin the common lilac (S. vulgaris), they don’t produce suckers, which reduces maintenance. Flowers can be white, pink or purple and are fragrant, but have a different scent to the common lilac.

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Height: 1.5 – 3m (5-10′)

Width: 2 – 3m (7-10′)

Exposure: depending on cultivar, sun, half-shade, shade

Soil: ordinary, rich or poor, moist to dry, acid or alkaline

Flowering: June-July

Hardiness: 2b (USDA 2 to 8)

Pruning: remove branches 5 years or older after flowering.

Recommended species and cultivars: P. opulifolius, P. opulifolius ‘Nanus’, P. opulifolius ‘Snowfall’, P. opulifolius ‘Tilden Park’, P. opulifolius ‘Nanus’, P. opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’, P. opulifolius ‘Luteus’, P. opulifolius ‘Nugget’, P. opulifolius ‘Nanus’, P. opulifolius ‘Diablo’.

Ninebark is the definition of a trouble-free shrub. Although it doesn’t steal the show, it’s solid, reliable and low-maintenance, and adapts to almost any condition. It can be found with green, yellow or purple leaves. The species is native to eastern North America.

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa, Dasiphora fruticosa

Height: depending on cultivar, 30 – 150 cm (12-60″)

Width: depending on cultivar, 60 – 120 cm (24-48″)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: any well-drained soil

Flowering: June-October

Hardiness: 2a (USDA 3 to 7)

Pruning: in early spring, remove branches 5 years and older, if necessary.

Recommended species and cultivars: there are hundreds of cultivars.

Potentilla frutescens is native to the northern hemisphere, including Canada. It is appreciated for its ease of cultivation and for its prolonged flowering, which often ends in October. The species has single yellow flowers, but cultivars can be found with white, red, pink, orange and even bicolored blossoms. Generally globular in habit, but can be semi-erect or creeping.

Kashmir False Spiraea

Sorbaria tomentosa angustifolia

Height: 2 m (7′)

Width: 1.8 m (6′)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: ordinary or rich, well-drained or moist, neutral or slightly acidic.

Flowering: June-July

Hardiness: 4 (USDA 2 to 11)

Pruning: if necessary, remove excessively long branches in spring. Caution! Its cousin, the false spirea (S. sorbaria), spreads aggressively. Its foliage is reminiscent of the staghoen sumac, but in summer, magnificent feathery panicles unfurl from the tip of each branch.

Vanhoutte Spirea

Spiraea × vanhouttei

Height: 1.8 – 2.5 m (6-8′)

Width: 1.75 – 2 m (6-7′)

Exposure: sun, part shade

Soil: well drained

Flowering: June

Hardiness: 3b (USDA 3 – 8)

Pruning: remove branches 5 years or older after flowering.

Recommended species and cultivars: S. × vanhouttei, S. × vanhouttei ‘Levgold’, S. × vanhouttei ‘Gold Fountain’, S. × vanhouttei ‘Rennaissance’.

Introduced to France in 1862, Vanhoutte’s Spirea (also known as bridalwreath) is as popular as ever. Easy to grow and adaptable to varying conditions, it is best known for its abundant spring flowering. So abundant that its arching branches bend under the weight of small white umbels.

Viburnum

Viburnum

Height: depending on cultivar, 1.5 – 4 m (5-13′)

Width: depending on cultivar, 1.2 – 3 m (4-10′)

Exposure: depending on cultivar

Soil: depending on cultivar, ordinary, well-drained, moist, but tolerates dry soils

Flowering: depending on cultivar, May-June

Hardiness: depending on cultivar, 2-3-4 (USDA 2-9 )

Pruning: if necessary, remove excessively long branches.

Recommended species and cultivars: V. cassinoides, V. dentatum, V. lantana, V. lentago, V. opulus, V. prunifolium, V. sargentii ‘Onondaga’, V. trillobum.

There are several species of viburnum available on the market in varying sizes, some of which are indigenous to Canada. Despite an interesting spring bloom and a beautiful red fall color, it’s the edible fruits that are their main interest. Changing color as they ripen, they go from green to yellow, red to purple. A treat for birds.

So don’t be afraid of gardening. With maintenance-free perennials and shrubs, even novices can have a beautiful garden with little effort!