What are ornamental shrubs? Pretty much any shrub that is grown for aesthetic purposes (as opposed to food or other economic use) can be called an ornamental shrub. Some people take the definition a step further and say the shrub should bloom during the year and offer multi-seasonal interest to qualify.
But the one thing everyone can agree on is that the shrub should have a beautiful feature that instantly perks up any yard and it must be perennial. Check out this list of the 21 best ornamental shrubs for Atlanta yards here!
Atlanta’s Garden Zone
First, it is important for homeowners to know the garden zone for their area. Not all perennial shrubs survive the winter everywhere. The climate in the area dictates which plants homeowners can plant in their yards and which ones should be brought in for the winter.
The Atlanta area falls in garden zones 7 and 8. Thus, homeowners should choose perennial bushes hardy to at least zone 7 to see them come back in the spring.
1. Best Full Shade Shrub: Mountain Laurel
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a large evergreen bush that grows between 10 and 30 feet tall. It produces long, thin leaves that make pretty green foliage. Hexagonal light pink or white flowers grow in thick clusters on the plant.
In the wild, mountain laurel grows in rocky, mountainous forest areas. It prefers a soil pH of about 4.5 to 5.5 and can grow so dense that the thicket it creates is nearly impossible to get through.
2. Best Full Sun Option: Crimson Bottlebrush
The crimson bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) gets its common name from its spiky red flowers that look like a bottlebrush. These flowers bloom nearly year-round when planted in ideal conditions, making them a great addition to any Atlanta yard.
The bush can grow to about 20 feet tall but usually is pruned shorter around 6 – 12 feet in Georgia. Certain birds seek out the nectar in the flowers, making these perennial bushes perfect for homeowners wishing to attract more wildlife.
3. Best Part Sun Option: French Hydrangea
The showy French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) comes from East Asia and stands about 7 feet tall making it a good option for homeowners looking for a small shrub. During the summer and autumn, these perennial shrubs boast large blue, purple, pink, or white flower heads.
Interestingly, the color is determined by the soil pH. Acidic soil influences the flowers to be blue or purple while the pinkish flowers grow in alkaline soil.
4. Best Privacy Hedge: Green Giant Arborvitaes
The green giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is perfect for homeowners looking for an impressive evergreen bush to tower over the rest of the yard. This fast-growing, pyramidal tree (3-5 feet per year!) reaches between 40-60 feet tall and measures between 12 and 18 feet wide.
5. Best Red Flowering Shrub: Victor Crapemyrtle
The Victor Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Victor’) is a deciduous tree-like perennial shrub that grows 10 – 20 feet tall in the milder climate of the South.
This plant adds different touches of multi seasonal interest. In the summer, crimped crepe-paper-like dark red flowers blossom about 6 – 9 inches long. Then, the dark green foliage turns yellow-red in the fall. Finally, the pale pinkish-gray bark is visible in winter.
6. Best Pink Flowering Bush: Japanese Camellia “Dr. Tinsley”
The Camellia japonica is a broad-leafed evergreen flowering bush that stands between 8 and 15 feet high. The dark green leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for the brilliant red, pink, or white multi-level flowers.
This bush blooms at an unusual time — from late winter to early spring. Thus, it is a good addition for homeowners looking for “out-of-season” color in their yards.
7. Best Purple Flowering Option: Common Lilac
Calling all lilac lovers! Despite its strange scientific name, Syringa vulgaris, this lovely ornamental shrub produces clusters of sweet-smelling, delicate pale purple flowers in the spring or early summer.
It grows to between 12 and 15 feet high and deadheading after the color has faded will encourage the flowers to grow more profusely the next year. Lilacs form the next year’s buds during the growing season, so prune right after bloom to prevent cutting away next year’s flowers.
8. Best Yellow Flowering Ornamental Shrub: Border Forsythia
For those who want to brighten their yard with sunny yellow flowers, there isn’t a better way to do it than with border forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia). These flowering bushes grow just 5 – 8 feet high but the bright display of yellow flowers will turn heads anyway.
This drought-tolerant variety flowers early, adding a welcome touch of color to a garden after the long winter. Plus, in the fall the leaves turn yellow or almost purplish before falling, adding multi-seasonal interest.
9. Best White Flowering Ornamental Shrub: European Snowball Viburnum
The snowball bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’) gets its common name because of the ball-shaped bunches of beautiful white flowers it produces in the early summer. The shrub grows 8 – 10 feet high and is useful for borders.
Other varieties of snowball bush produce little bunches of bright red berries. These acidic berries are considered non-toxic but cause stomach upset if eaten in significant quantity.
10. Best Early Spring Flowering Shrub: Glen Dale Hybrid Azaleas
The Glenn Dale hybrid azalea is a species of rhododendron created by crossing other plant varieties. This colorful bush grows about 3 to 8 feet tall and wide. The flowers bloom early in the season and may be white, red, orange-red, pink, or even purple.
This species is a fan of acidic soils, preferring a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6. Pruning the branches before mid-July helps to ensure thickly blooming flowers for the next year. Late pruning reduces the number of flowers that will grow.
11. Best Late Autumn Flowers: Sasanqua Camellia
For year-round color, homeowners can’t forget about late fall! The Camellia sasanqua variety is a great choice for this. The evergreen shrub comes from Japan and grows about 8 – 10 feet tall.
The white or deep pink single flower stands out brilliantly against the glossy green foliage. The display is a nice way to say goodbye to the full colors of the garden before winter sets in.
12. Best Shrub to Attract Butterflies: Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) gets its common name from its tendency to attract butterflies. For those who enjoy watching these colorful insects, this is a good bush to add to the landscaping. The bushes are also deer resistant which is helpful in areas where deer often visit.
The shrub grows about 6 – 8 feet high. The 8-inch long flowers range in color from pale lilac to purple and give off a light honey scent.
13. Best Shrub to Attract Hummingbirds: Weigela
Homeowners that like to bird-watch will love Weigela florida. The tubular flowers on this 6 – 10 foot tall flowering bush attract hummingbirds! Colors vary from rose-colored to red, blue, purple, and — for those lucky enough to find this rare variety — yellow.
They are often used as ornamental shrubs along a border and are tolerant of clay soil. Dwarf versions are perfect for use as container plants.
14. Best Shrub to Feed the Bees: Hummingbird Summersweet
Interested in attracting hummingbirds like the one above to your yard? In midsummer, hummingbird summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’) produces beautiful sweet-smelling white or pale pink flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds. The flowers are long and thin, only about 3/4 of an inch wide but almost 6 inches long.
The diminutive bush only grows about 2 to 3 feet high and prefers wetland, boggy type soil. They are perfect for planting along a stream or pond to help slow erosion.
15. Best Boggy Soil Shrub: American Cranberry Bush
Another great water-loving plant is the American Cranberry Bush (Viburnum trilobum). This ornamental shrub grows rather quickly to heights of 8 to 12 feet. In the fall, it produces beautiful red fruits, which is where it gets its common name.
The foliage of this deciduous bush also turns bright orange and red colors, adding beautiful color to a fall garden. The shrub is a native plant to North America.
16. Best Steep Hillside Bushes: Pfitzer Juniper
This coniferous evergreen juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Pfitzeriana’) is an ornamental tree. It is sometimes used as a bonsai that grows to about 5 – 6 feet. The dense, fine foliage is highly desirable and the plant has great growing habits.
It is drought-resistant and can survive hot sun and sandy soils. Deer also tend to stay away, which is helpful for some yards.
17. Best Evergreen Shrub: Gardenia
The broad-leaved evergreen gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) grows to about 4 – 6 feet in Georgia. Its shiny green leaves and fragrant white flowers are a delightful contribution to any landscape. The large blooms can reach about 4 inches in diameter.
Plant this shrub in a sunny area with acidic soil between 5.0 and 6.5 pH for the best results.
18. Best Shrub for Cut Flowers: Hybrid Tea Roses
The Rosa floribunda, or floribunda rose, is a gorgeous ornamental shrub created by crossing hybrid tea roses with polyanthas. These stiff, bushy plants grow to only 2 – 4 feet high.
These flowers come in many colors and what makes them great for cut flowers is how they grow. Instead of a single flower, the floribunda grows in clusters so one stem adds many small roses to a bouquet.
19. Best Low-Maintenance Flowering Shrub: Flowering Quince
Homeowners who are trying to keep their landscaping low-maintenance will love these ornamental bushes. Plus, the colorful flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is perfect to add to a garden that already has plenty of green.
The bright flowers are usually red but can also be pink or white. It’s common to see these bushes planted as an informal low hedge. If allowed to grow, it can reach 5 to 8 feet in height.
The plant has a wild charm and a rustic appearance. In addition to a low maintenance landscape, it would also be a nice addition to a woodland-inspired design.
20. Best Holiday Charm: Holly Shrubs
These ornamental shrubs (Ilex x attenuata ‘Fosteri’) are delightful through the fall and winter seasons. Bright red berries and shiny deep green leaves make the holly plant a perfect holiday addition.
Some species of holly trees can be massive but Foster’s holly stays around 10 – 15 feet tall. They are great as a stand-alone bush or planted as a decorative privacy hedge.
21. Best Elegant Border: Boxwoods
Looking for elegant, deer-resistant shrubs to border the lawn? Classic boxwoods (Buxus microphylla ‘Japonica’) are a great choice.
These ornamental shrubs are slow-growing so they don’t need to be trimmed very often. They typically stand about 3 – 5 feet high, which is perfect for a tidy landscaping border without being too tall.
Get the Best Ornamental Shrubs for Your Georgia Yard!
Don’t hesitate to contact our landscaping services experts here at Atlanta Turf & Tree. Specializing in the greater Atlanta area since 2007, we know a thing or two about landscaping in Georgia. We can help you with all of your landscaping and lawn care needs, including choosing the best shrubs for your yard!
