Best summer-flowering shrubs: 16 beautiful varieties to grow
Fall in love with these gorgeous summer-flowering shrubs and enjoy months of scent and color in your plot
There are many characterful summer-flowering shrubs of all shapes and sizes ready to improve the outline and performance of your garden.
Smaller and bushier than trees, shrubs have a permanent structure of woody stems and form the mainstay of most gardens. Whether deciduous or evergreen their twiggy structures add height and dimensions, shade out weeds and enclose gardens to make them feel secluded.
Landscaping with shrubs has other benefits too. Their leafy stems and nectar-rich flowers are great for wildlife, providing roosting and nesting sites for birds and attracting pollinating insects.
Don’t be scared to plant large summer-flowering shrubs either, as by pruning out a few lower branches they make useful alternatives to small trees with space for planting underneath.
At the other end of the scale, plant breeders have been busy producing low, compact versions of familiar favorites, for example pink-flowered Deutzia x rosea Yuki Cherry Blossom at only 2ft (60cm) and a good range of dwarf buddlejas.
Top of my own list of summer-flowering shrubs is Dipelta floribunda, which looks rather like a large, dainty weigela, and I’m pleased to have young plants rooted from cuttings taken from a friend’s plant.
BY ANNE SWITHINBANK
1. Abelia x grandiflora Sunny Charms
Hardiness: USDA 8b/9a
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
This relatively new abelia is rounded in shape, with arching branches bearing spicily-scented pink and yellow blooms against neat evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage over a long period from mid summer into fall.
Even after the flowers have faded, reddish purple sepals persist. For best results, choose a sheltered, sunny position of well-drained but good, moist soil or grow in a container.
2. Buddleja x weyeriana ‘Sungold’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 6b/7a
Height: 10ft (3m)
Spread: 10ft (3m)
Buddleja is one of the best fast-growing shrub for your garden, but if you can’t choose between a cultivar of butterfly bush (B.davidii) or orange-flowered B.globosa whose blooms are held in balls, B.x weyeriana is a hybrid between the two.
Expect a tall, sun-loving deciduous shrub opening clusters of sweetly scented golden yellow flowers from summer to autumn. Pruning buddleja hard in early spring will maintain structure and improve flowering.
3. Ceanothus ‘Burkwoodii’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 8b/9a
Height: 6ft (1.8m)
Spread: 6ft (1.8m)
Although many Californian lilacs open their showy blue flowers in spring, this compact evergreen waits until late summer and early fall before revealing clusters of fuzzy, rich blue flowers against shiny foliage.
It's a fantastic plant for pollinators as the flowers are much-loved by bees, so much so that the whole plant is often a-buzz with them.
It prefers a sunny spot with well-drained soil and a sheltered position, perhaps by a garden wall will suit.
4. Clerodendrum trichotomum var.fargesii AGM
Hardiness: USDA 6
Height: 15ft (5m)
Spread: 15ft (5m)
Easily trained to make a tree-like shape, this large deciduous sun-loving Chinese shrub has much to give.
In late summer to fall panicles of fragrant white flowers emerge from pink-tinged calyces that turn into fleshy crimson stars each with a turquoise berry at its centre.
These plants are not particularly fussy, but they will typically prefer a humus-rich soil in sun or light shade.
5. Deutzia scabra ‘Codsall Pink’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 10ft (3m)
Spread: 6ft (1.8m)
This tall, upright deciduous shrub is a festive sight in early to mid summer when large clusters of honey-scented double white flowers open, flushed delicately with pink on the backs of outer petals.
Grow in sun or partial shade in good, well-drained soil types and cut down some older, taller stems immediately after flowering.
6. Heptacodium mikonioides AGM
Hardiness: USDA 6a-1
Height: 12ft (4m)
Spread: 8ft (2.5m)
The seven son flower of Zhejiang is a relatively new introduction but well worth considering growing as a tree for small gardens.
It has handsome foliage, small but fragrant white flowers from late summer into fall, shrimp-colored sepals and attractive bark.
These summer-flowering shrubs respond well to pruning and thrive in well-drained soil in sun or light shade.
7. Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 4ft (1.2m)
Easy and cheerful, this evergreen or semi-evergreen St John’s wort is due a revival.
Bright yellow flowers over 2in (5cm) across brighten borders from mid summer to autumn and are worth inspection, to enjoy the showy boss of stamens.
This must be one of the best low-maintenance shrubs, thriving in a wide range of soils in sun or light shade.
8. Lupinus arboreus AGM
Hardiness: USDA 8b/9a
Height: 6ft (1.8m)
Spread: 6ft (1.8m)
The evergreen Californian tree lupin grows rapidly into a rounded bush, producing yellow flower spikes smaller than herbaceous lupins but still up to 12in (30cm) long.
Like most lupins, these are fragrant and at their best in early to mid summer. Plants must have sun and well-drained soil and are relatively short lived, though easily propagated by seed or cuttings.
9. Spartium junceum AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 8ft (2.5m)
Spread: 6ft (1.8m)
Spanish broom is a magnificent specimen for Mediterranean gardens where it can revel in sunshine and well-drained soil.
It's a good drought tolerant plant, bears few deciduous leaves and instead, a mass of green stems. These are garlanded from mid to late summer by many yellow, fragrant, pea-like flowers. Prune in spring to improve shape.
10. Buddleja davidii Butterfly Candy Series Little Lila
Hardiness: USDA 6b/7a
Height: 31in (80cm)
Spread: 31in (80cm)
Little Lila delivers the familiar tapering panicles of fragrant lilac-purple flowers usually associated with buddlejas but on a miniature plant easily accommodated in a container or courtyard garden and just as irresistible to butterflies.
Mix a peat-free compost 50:50 with John Innes no 2 plus 20 per cent grit for good drainage and position in a sunny spot.
11. Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Summer Sorbet’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 8b/9a
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Although the usual plain-leaved versions of deciduous Caryopteris x clandonensis make handsome low shrubs flowering in late summer and autumn, this variegated cultivar will stand out in your container gardening.
Gold-edged leaves contrast well with pale blue flowers and plants remain compact after being pruned hard back in early spring. Make sure compost is well-drained and stand the container in sun.
12. Deutzia x rosea Yuki Cherry Blossom
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 2ft (60cm)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
This compact, deciduous rose deutzia is one of the best shrubs for small gardens. It makes a delightful show of single soft pink blooms against fresh green foliage in late spring and early summer. Later, there is a further display of purple and bronze fall tints.
Grow in sun or partial shade and avoid frost pockets as foliage can be damaged by late spring frosts.
13. Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’ AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 4ft (1.2m)
Known as white alder, summersweet or sweet pepper bush, this deciduous shrub flowers in mid to late summer and shows yellow fall tints.
As the common names suggest, the 6in (15cm) long candles of long-lasting white flowers are richly clove scented and attract many bees and butterflies.
Grow in sun or partial shade and acidic, humus-rich soil or a pot of ericaceous compost.
14. Dipelta floribunda AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 10ft (3m)
Spread: 10ft (3m)
If you're searching for more unusual summer-flowering shrubs, this is one to consider. Well-grown specimens of these large Chinese deciduous shrubs are a sight to behold, blooming in early summer.
The shapely and fragrant pale pink flowers have yellow throats and are daintier than those of weigela. Hardy and unfussy, this likes an open sunny position.
Immediately after flowering, cut flowered stems as far back as non-flowering ones.
15. Fabiana imbricata f.violacea AGM
Hardiness: USDA 8b/9a
Height: 5ft (1.5m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
The Chilean violet false heath resembles a giant heather with large tubular flowers whose white or in this case pale lavender hue shows well against the foxtails of bright green needle-like leaves. These appear in early summer.
Provide a sheltered, sunny location and well-drained soil. A neutral to acidic pH is preferred, as leaves turn pale on chalky soils.
16. Indigofera heterantha AGM
Hardiness: USDA 7b/8a
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 4ft (1.2m)
Himalayan indigo is a deciduous shrub but I have to admit it dies back like an herbaceous perennial when winters are particularly cold.
Cut out any damaged growth in mid spring and plants soon regenerate, producing stems of pinnate foliage joined from mid summer to fall by clusters of rosy-purple pea-like flowers. Plant in sun and well-drained soil.
Fall in love with these gorgeous summer-flowering shrubs and enjoy months of scent and color in your plot