Whenever I ponder summer blooming shrubs, two have been and always will be at the front of my mind… Roses and Hydrangeas – as nothing will beat either of these for length of flowering time, all the way until frost. Most plant addicts are familiar with the hundreds of flavors of each, offering an array of options for color and habit. I have already pontificated on the merits of these two garden staples (and of Crape Myrtles recently too), but I, as many of you as well, have numerous Hydrangeas and Roses already. There is never anything wrong with more of either, but what else can I choose that will add some seasonal interest to the summer garden?
Abelia: These are some of the best late summer blooming shrubs, flowering from August into fall. Dainty little white or light pink blooms are often fragrant and always a favorite of our busy bees. Abelias love sunshine, well-drained soil and are fairly drought tolerant once established. Most are considered “evergreen” in our climate, but often in colder winters they will partially defoliate and then quickly flush fresh foliage once spring warmth returns. Coming out of winter is ideal timing for pruning them back a bit to shape and produce a nice full and bushy plant. Abelias make great foundation shrubs, or even a nice low hedge if clipped properly. There is nothing wrong with some of the old-school flavors, but I’d like to highlight some modern ones with showy variegated foliage… ‘Kaleidoscope’ has striking bright yellow and green foliage that turns an even bolder orangey-red towards fall, growing in a mounding habit of roughly 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide with white flowers summer to fall. ‘Lucky Lots’ offers more subtle variegation with bright green foliage edged in silvery white, and sports fragrant white blooms in late summer with a bushy habit of roughly 4 feet tall and wide. ‘Magic Daydream’ boasts outstanding pink/white/green variegated leaves with a mounding habit of roughly 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide and fragrant white flowers that darken to pink as they age.
Hibiscus: Sometimes called “Althea”, “Rose of Sharon”, or simply “Hardy Hibiscus”, these old-fashioned hardy, upright shrubs are in bloom now, enchanting local gardens mid to late summer with gorgeous colors. A bazillion good cultivars can be found of these, including some older classics and new flavors with often superior vigor, color, and tidier growth habits. These traditionally grow as multi-stemmed shrubs but can be found in single trunk tree form as well. Either way, you are looking at a taller plant with age, maybe in the 8 to 12 feet tall range, depending on the specific cultivar. Both single and double flowers can be found, and color options include white, shades of pink, lavender, and bright blue to violet. They all bloom on new wood and are easily pruned in spring to your desired size. Altheas turn yellow in fall with frost and have nice light-colored bark. Narrow versions like ‘Purple Pillar’, ‘White Pillar’, or ‘Red Pillar’ are great for tighter spaces. There are number of excellent cultivars from the First Editions Shrub Program at Bailey Nurseries, like ‘Tahiti’, ‘Bali’, and ‘French Cabaret’ for instance. Blue is always a popular choice as well, with varieties like ‘Versailles’, ‘Blue Chiffon’, ‘Paraplu Violet’ and others out there to choose from.
Heptacodium: These are termed “Seven-Son Flower” and offer gardeners a showy option for a small tree/large shrub focal point in the landscape. Previously known as more of a rare collector plant, Seven-Son Flower has become more available to local gardeners these days. These have lovely green veined foliage with a twisting tip and turn yellow with frost in the fall. Heptacodium is all about summer as wonderfully fragrant clusters of white flowers emerge in August and last for a month and then the show continues as they develop bright red bracts. They look like they bloom twice in all honesty, and butterflies and other pollinators love their nectar rich flowers. Peeling bark is showy through all four seasons but is very noticeable over the dormant winter months. They are plenty hardy in our area and enjoy a sun or part sun well-drained location best. Two newer hybrids of Seven-Son Flower exist, both offering tidier habits than the species, Zone 5 hardiness and a more reliable heavy bloom. ‘Temple of Bloom’ from the Proven Winners program will grow as a multi-trunked specimen roughly 18 feet tall and 12 feet wide. ‘Tianshan’ from the First Editions program at Bailey Nurseries offers a smaller growing option of roughly 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Both will develop into stunning specimens, adding four seasons of interest to any landscape.
Clethra: This shrub’s name says it all… “Summer Sweet”, yet another fragrant blooming option for the summer garden. Clethra is an East Coast and Southeast native but has adapted nicely in our area and performs well in almost any garden setting including sun, part shade, and even shade. As a bonus they can take some wet and will grow nicely in heavier soils. These are low maintenance shrubs with no major disease or insect issues at all. Clethra bloom in July and August with either white or pink spire flowers, which develop into tiny fruits once spent - attracting birds and wildlife and they’re also hummingbird, butterfly and bee magnets. Foliage turns to lovely shades of yellow to orange in the fall after frost. Summer Sweet can be manageable in size growing as a multi-stemmed shrub of roughly 6 feet tall and wide, and can be easily pruned back each spring as they bloom on new wood every summer. There are a few excellent cultivars around that I would recommend for consideration, like ‘Ruby Spice’, ‘Summer Sparkler’, ‘Vanilla Spice’, and ‘Hummingbird’ - to name just a few.
I encourage all of you to explore these great plants and visit your local garden center this summer to see them blooming. Shrubs such as these not only offer great summer bloom but also excellent foliage and permanent structure as sturdy landscape companions to be enjoyed for decades to come. Speak with a Certified Professional Horticulturist about your needs, allowing them to help you select the best plants for your specific garden and help educate you on growing any or all of these summer beauties. We Horticulturists love to be “plant enablers" and are always happy to find you the perfect plants that will bring a smile to your face. Even in the heat of August there are treasures to be both admired at local garden centers and enjoyed in your very own garden.
