Looking for inspiration for summer flowering shrubs

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Sienna's Blossom, Jun 26, 2018.

  1. Sienna's Blossom

    Sienna's Blossom Super Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2018
    Messages:
    437
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Bristol
    Ratings:
    +1,875
    Hello all,
    Having been looking at your photos and seeing them looking so gorgeous, you've made me realise that our garden is very much in its element in Spring, with lots of blossom, and various other things flowering March-May time.
    But compared to some of your lovely gardens, ours is now looking rather less colourful. Very green, but not much other colour.

    Our roses have mostly finished, though may well have a second flush.

    Looking good at the moment are calendula, hebe, hydrangea, Erysimum, lavender, which I'm very thankful for. Our honeysuckle hedge is flowering and the scent is gorgeous.

    Still to come are the buddleia and the Japanese anemones. So spring and late summer are well covered I think but I think I need something else that will bring colour for early summer time.

    I have been looking at deutzia strawberry fields I think which looks nice...

    What other shrubby type plants look great early summer time?
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Irmemac

      Irmemac Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 11, 2017
      Messages:
      1,027
      Location:
      West of Scotland
      Ratings:
      +1,686
      Your garden sounds lovely. I've tended to go down the evergreen route, but that means my shrubs are not overly exciting in summer! I've recently been admiring beautiful philadelphus in blossom in gardens, and I have a small sambucus nigra which needs planted out of its pot soon. These two shrubs are colourful and striking.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Friendly Friendly x 1
      • Sienna's Blossom

        Sienna's Blossom Super Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 4, 2018
        Messages:
        437
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Bristol
        Ratings:
        +1,875
        Thank you, philadelphus is a great idea actually, I will look into that.

        We do have a sambucus Nigra actually that we planted out earlier this year, but is still quite small so not really making much of an impact just yet, (I'm being a bit impatient here!)

        We also went the evergreen route for lots of the garden, which we love in many ways, but are now realising we may be missing out on some beautiful flowering plants, and now the problem is, it's all so well established that anything new in the garden needs to either be big already, or grow quite big in order to stand out amongst the trees and huge evergreens we already have. We call it our mini woodland ;)
        So no little bedding plants for us! Although we have some nice patio pots that give a pop of colour.
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • martin-f

          martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

          Joined:
          Mar 15, 2015
          Messages:
          3,372
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Sheffield
          Ratings:
          +10,302
          Hi Sienna, i have a few shrubs just starting to flower unfortunately i don't know the name of any, i will post a few pictures up if one takes your fancy someone will be able to identify it.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

            Joined:
            Oct 16, 2012
            Messages:
            7,475
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            West Cornwall
            Ratings:
            +17,486
            Hypericum Hidcote, ceratostigma wilmottianum, Cotinus Grace, not for its flowers but for its glorious purple foliage, caryopteris (lots of varieties but 2 stand out, viz., Sterling Silver with its silver grey foliage, and Summer Sorbet with dejghtful cut yellow foliage, Abelia Confettii, small beautifully marked foliage with white flowers approaching late summer into autumn, Fuchsia Genii, lovely golden foliage and red flowers, and check out the paniculata Hydrangeas for huge flowers from July through into autumn.
            Sienna, dont overlook perennials....I once got so hooked on shrubs that suddenly I realised I had a "woody" static garden. Huge range of summer perennials that add glorious colour for weeks even months like heleniums, sanguisorbas, persicarias, the long flowering dwarf kniphofias, aster F. Monch, etc. etc. Perennials can break up the dreaded static look shrubs can bring. Add a few grasses for movement and you have an animated garden:)
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • Informative Informative x 1
            • martin-f

              martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

              Joined:
              Mar 15, 2015
              Messages:
              3,372
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Sheffield
              Ratings:
              +10,302
              DSC_0116.JPG DSC_0118.JPG DSC_0119.JPG DSC_0120.JPG
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Sienna's Blossom

                Sienna's Blossom Super Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 4, 2018
                Messages:
                437
                Gender:
                Female
                Location:
                Bristol
                Ratings:
                +1,875
                Some great ideas here, I'll be looking into all of these suggestions :)
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Jack Sparrow

                  Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Jul 24, 2017
                  Messages:
                  2,604
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Peterborough
                  Ratings:
                  +5,414
                  Most of the plants I have inherited tend to be evergreen shrubs. I am trying to replace some of them with more interesting plants. I believe the bits I have done already are looking better.

                  G.
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

                    Joined:
                    Oct 16, 2012
                    Messages:
                    7,475
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    West Cornwall
                    Ratings:
                    +17,486
                    Definitely Gary :)
                     
                    • Friendly Friendly x 2
                    • Agree Agree x 1
                    Loading...

                    Share This Page

                    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                      Dismiss Notice