Let's give shrubs the appreciation they deserve!
I've noticed something funny over the years when meeting with clients. I'll be discussing their landscape design, suggesting different plants, and the moment I mention adding shrubs, I sometimes get a look of complete horror.
“Shrubs? Oh, I don't want shrubs!”
It's almost as if I've suggested something terrible. And I get it. When many people hear the word shrub, they immediately picture those perfectly trimmed green squares, rectangles, or round blobs lined up against the foundation of a house. The kind that require constant pruning just to maintain their shape.
But here's what I wish more homeowners understood: Shrub is not a bad word!
In fact, shrubs are some of my absolute favorite plants to use in landscape design. And once you understand what a shrub actually is, you might start loving them as much as I do.
First, What Exactly Is a Shrub?
A shrub isn't a particular type of landscaping style. It's simply a category of plant.
Just as we have trees, grasses, perennials, annuals, vines, and groundcovers, we also have shrubs. Generally speaking, shrubs are woody plants that tend to have multiple stems growing from the base and are typically smaller than trees.
That's it. The word shrub doesn't mean boring, green, boxy, or something that needs to be trimmed into a ball.
Shrubs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Some have beautiful flowers, others have colorful foliage, and some have gorgeous natural forms that need very little pruning. They can be tall and airy, compact and mounded, or loose and arching.
And many of them are absolutely stunning when allowed to grow naturally.
Shrubs Are the Backbone of a Beautiful Landscape
One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is focusing almost entirely on flowers when planning their landscape.
Don't get me wrong, I love flowers! But flowers alone don't create a well-designed landscape. You need something that provides structure, balance, and interest even when nothing is blooming.
That's where shrubs come in.
Think of shrubs as the backbone of your landscape. They help define garden beds, create layers, soften the edges of your home, provide privacy, and give your design a sense of permanence.
They also help connect your larger trees to your smaller perennials and groundcovers. Without that middle layer, a landscape can feel disconnected or unfinished.
And here in Florida, where we're fortunate to have so many evergreen options, shrubs can provide beautiful structure and interest throughout the entire year.
Not All Shrubs Are Green Blobs!
This is probably the biggest misconception I'd love to change.
A shrub doesn't have to be a perfectly shaped circle, square, or rectangle. In fact, I generally prefer shrubs that are allowed to maintain their natural growth habits.
Some have delicate, airy foliage. Others have large, glossy leaves. Some produce beautiful flowers, colorful berries, or interesting new growth. And many have naturally attractive shapes without needing to be constantly sheared.
When you choose the right shrub for the right location and allow enough room for its mature size, you shouldn't have to fight it with pruning every few weeks.
If you're constantly cutting a shrub back to keep it from covering a window or growing into a walkway, there's a good chance it was the wrong plant for that space to begin with.
Good landscape design works with a plant's natural form, not against it.
Some of My Favorite Shrubs for Florida Landscapes
Here are just a few examples of shrubs that offer beautiful foliage, flowers, texture, and structure:
Simpson's Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) – A Florida native with glossy foliage, fragrant white flowers, and berries that attract wildlife.
Firebush (Hamelia patens) – A beautiful flowering shrub that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Silver Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus) – Gorgeous silvery foliage that adds texture and contrast to the landscape.
Walter's Viburnum ‘Mrs. Schiller's Delight’ (Viburnum obovatum) – A compact native shrub with attractive foliage and delicate white flowers.
Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) – A sprawling flowering shrub with beautiful blue blooms that attract butterflies.
These are just a handful of the many native and Florida-Friendly shrubs available to us. Whether you're looking for flowers, colorful foliage, privacy, or wildlife benefits, there's likely a shrub that will fit your landscape beautifully.
Shrubs Can Make Your Landscape Easier to Maintain
Here's another reason I love shrubs: when they're properly selected and placed, they can help create a much more manageable landscape.
Instead of filling every available space with seasonal flowers that need replacing, deadheading, and extra attention, a thoughtfully designed landscape uses shrubs to provide lasting structure.
That doesn't mean shrubs are maintenance-free. Nothing in a landscape truly is. But choosing plants that naturally fit the space can greatly reduce the need for constant pruning and replacement.
I would much rather see a beautiful shrub growing into its natural shape than one being cut into a tight little ball every month simply because it was planted in the wrong location.
Let's Change the Way We Think About Shrubs
The next time someone suggests adding shrubs to your landscape, don't immediately picture a row of green meatballs lined up against your house.
Think about flowering shrubs covered in butterflies, silvery foliage catching the sunlight, beautiful natural shapes, and layers of greenery that make a landscape feel complete.
A well-designed landscape needs variety. Trees provide height, shrubs create structure, grasses add movement, and perennials and groundcovers fill in the layers. Flowers bring those wonderful pops of color, but they shouldn't have to do all the work.
Shrubs aren't the boring part of a landscape. They're often the very thing that makes the rest of it look beautiful.
So yes, I'm going to keep recommending shrubs. They're some of my favorite plants, and I think they deserve a whole lot more love!
