Versatile, well-mannered and low maintenance are good words to describe the latest generation of dwarf shrubs. These varieties offer multiple seasons of interest, extended bloom times and they are well suited for mass plantings. These shrubs promise more beauty with less effort on your part.
Dwarf shrubs have many uses in the landscape. Small hedges and borders, whether in straight, circular, curved, or staggered rows are common. Dwarf shrubs are excellent for mass plantings in large beds. A single plant can often be used as an accent piece in a small bed.
For the purpose of this list, only shrubs with a maintained height of 4 foot or less are included. Most of the listed plants are evergreen, however deciduous plants, which lose their leaves in winter, provide flower color or texture (grasses).
- Abelia, Kaleidoscope– evergreen 30” tall with myriad colored foliage and white bell-shaped flowers.
- Abelia, Rose Creek– evergreen 2-3 ft tall with purplish-green foliage and white tubular flower clusters.
- Azalea, Bloomathon– evergreen 3-4 ft tall that requires afternoon shade. Large flowers appear in early spring, then re-bloom in summer and continue through fall. Several bloom colors are available.
- Barberry, Admiration– deciduous 1-2 ft tall with orange-red leaves edged with yellow.
- Barberry, Concorde– deciduous 18-24” tall with dark purple leaves
- Boxwood, Baby Gem– evergreen 3-4 ft tall with small dark green leaves. Great for hedges.
- Boxwood, Green Velvet– evergreen 3 ft tall globe shaped with dark green leaves. Great for hedges.
- Buddleia, Blue Chip– deciduous 2-3 ft tall with blue flowers from summer to frost.
- Buddleia, Tutti Fruiti– deciduous 2-3 ft tall with fuchsia-pink flowers from summer to frost.
- Crapemyrtle, Violet Filli– deciduous 12-18” tall with violet flowers from summer to frost.
- Crapemyrtle, Pocomoke– deciduous 2-3 ft tall with deep rose-pink flowers from summer to frost.
- Euonymus, Emerald Gaiety– evergreen 2 ft tall has deep green leaves with white margins.
- Euonymus, Moonshadow– evergreen 2-3 ft tall has wavy light yellow leaves with thin green margins.
- Euonymus, Variegated Boxleaf– evergreen 1-2 ft tall has green leaves with white margins.
- Grass, Dwarf Hameln– deciduous 2-3 ft tall with green foliage and tan-colored flower heads.
- Grass, Mexican Feather– deciduous 1-2 ft tall with delicate, graceful foliage and silvery flower heads.
- Holly, Dwarf Yaupon– evergreen 3-4 ft tall with small shiny leaves.
- Indian Hawthorn Bay Breeze– evergreen 2-3 ft tall with dark green foliage and clusters of pink flowers.
- Indian Hawthorn, Dwarf Pink– evergreen 3 ft tall has clusters of deep rosy-pink flowers in spring.
- Indian Hawthorn, Snow– evergreen 3-4 ft tall has clusters of white flowers in spring.
- Hydrangea, Bloomstruck– deciduous 3-4 ft tall requires afternoon shade. Rose-pink, violet, or blue flowers depending on soil pH in spring thru fall.
- Hydrangea, Endless Summer– deciduous 3-4 ft tall requires afternoon shade. Mophead flowers in pink or blue depending on soil pH in spring thru fall.
- Juniper, Grey Owl– evergreen 2-3 ft tall with silver-blue foliage on thread-like and open branches.
- Juniper, Saybrook– evergreen 2-3 ft tall. It is the brightest gold juniper.
- Loropetalum, Crimson Fire– evergreen 3-4 ft tall with ruby-red foliage and neon pink flowers.
- Loropetalum, Purple Pixie– evergreen 1-2 ft tall with cascading intense purple foliage.
- Nandina, Blush Pink– evergreen 2-2.5 ft tall with red colored new growth on a mounding habit.
- Nandina, Flirt– evergreen 18-24” tall holds its red foliage throughout the year.
- Nandina Gulf Stream– evergreen 3-4 ft tall forms compact mound with good red winter foliage.
- Nandina, Obsession– evergreen 4 ft tall upright growth and unique bright-red young foliage.
- Privet, Sunshine– Evergreen 3-5 ft tall with bright golden foliage turning gold to orange in winter.
- Rose, Drift– deciduous 1-2 ft tall with colorful petite blooms covering this mounding plant.
- Spiraea, Goldmound– deciduous 2-3 ft tall with bright yellow foliage and clusters of light pink flowers.
- Spiraea, Gold Thread– deciduous 3-4 ft tall with chartreuse, willow-like leaves and white flowers.
- Yew, Dense– evergreen 3-5 ft tall requires afternoon shade has dark green needles.
- Yew, Emerald Spreader– evergreen 2-3 ft tall requires afternoon shade has dark green foliage.
