Getting more compact shrubs in the garden
One of my 2024 garden goals is to include more compact shrubs in my garden.
Why? Not only are they attractive, but they’re also hands-off plants. They don’t need frequent, if any, pruning and unlike most types of perennials, shrubs don’t have to be dug up and divided every few years.
Before you buy, read the plant labels to determine the mature size of the shrub. If you only have a small area, you’ll want a plant that stays compact. Here are six small-stature shrubs ideal for garden beds, foundation plantings, low hedges, and perennial borders.
SUMMERSWEET (CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA)
Summersweet, also known as pepperbush, is a late-season bloomer that is worth the wait! Not only are the white or pink bottlebrush-shaped flowers pretty, but they’re also incredibly fragrant and beloved by bees and butterflies. The plants, which are native to the northeast, including southern Nova Scotia, grow three to five feet tall and wide. Plant it near a sitting area so you can enjoy the sweet summer scent.
HYDRANGEA ‘LITTLE LIME’ (HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ‘LITTLE LIME’)
I’m a sucker for Pee Gee hydrangeas which are reliable and hardy shrubs, but most grow 15 to 20 feet tall. That’s a lot of room in a small space garden. This is where compact varieties like ‘Little Lime’ shine. ‘Little Lime’ grows just three to five feet tall and wide and is perfect for shrub borders, low hedges, or perennial gardens. The large cone-shaped flowers bloom from mid-summer through autumn maturing from green to cream to pink.
WEIGELA (WEIGELA FLORIDA)
Thriving in full sun to part shade, weigela is a carefree shrub that lights up the late spring garden with masses of pink tubular flowers. Those blooms attract a range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Old-fashioned weigela cultivars grow around eight feet tall and across, but newer, more compact introductions grow just two to three feet tall and wide. Some, like ‘My Monet’ also boast variegated foliage for another layer of interest in the garden.
WINTERBERRY (ILEX VERTICILLATA)
In spring and summer, winterberry shrubs form a dense clump of bright green foliage, a nice foil for flowering shrubs and perennials. Come autumn, however, the tables are turned and the branches of winterberry
are covered in dense clusters of ruby berries for winter interest or seasonal decor. The species grows six to 10 feet tall and wide, but there are cultivars, like Berry Poppins, which stay three to four feet tall. Or Berry Heavy Gold which doesn’t have the classic red berries, but rather glowing gold fruits which persist for months. Keep in mind that winterberry plants are either male or female and you’ll need at least one of each for berry production.
FOTHERGILLA (FOTHERGILLA SPP.)
Also known as witch alder, Fothergilla is a native shrub with multiple seasons of interest. The show begins in May when the white bottlebrush flowers appear. The blooms have a sweet honey scent and attract bees and other pollinators. In summer, the compact form and oval-shaped leaves make a nice filler in the garden, with the foliage turning fiery red, orange, and yellow in autumn. ‘Mount Airy’ is a popular cultivar that grows up to five feet and can be planted in full sun or part shade.
SPIREA (SPIRAEA JAPONICA)
Carefree is perhaps the best way to describe spirea. They’re reliable, longflowering, drought tolerant, deer resistant, and beautiful. Many cultivars grow four to six feet tall, but there are also pint-sized introductions, like ‘Magic Carpet’ that grow just two feet tall and three feet wide. The lime green leaves of ‘Magic Carpet’ brighten up the garden and the pink, flat-topped flowers persist for months.
Other options include Japanese andromeda, potentialla, dwarf Hinoki cypress, boxwood, quince, rhododendrons, and azaleas.
Niki Jabbour is the author of four best-selling books, including her latest, Growing Under Cover. She is a twotime winner of the American Horticultural Society Book Award. Find her at Savvygardening.com and on social media.