Both sandy and clay soils of average pH of slightly alkaline to acidic is acceptable. It responds very well to frequent shearing to maintain a neat hedge. Most retail cultivars are male and will not produce fruit. A hearty perennial, asters have a long life and are simple to care for. it is a clump for shrub that does best in moist, well drained soils, but will tolerate dryness. They require average water and grow fairly slowly. It prefers part shade to sun and reaches 3 feet high and 4 feet wide. Plant them in full sun and moist, fertile soil. At 4-5 feet tall, they are perfect for pots and other containers like a mail post or an old milk can. With hundreds of varieties, there’s a beautiful blooming bush for every taste! Purple coneflower boasts striking blooms with reflexed purple petals that surround a spiky orange-gold cone. ‘Gold Nugget’ has many thorns to deter pets and deer. Follow the recommended pruning advice from your plant center or you could lose the blooms during the following season. They are easy to grow and can tolerate a wide variety of soils. Alpine Currant:  (Ribes Alpinum)  Full sun to shade  Hardy in zones 2-7. Deep roots make dividing is difficult. The Novi perennial makes for an excellent border in the front yard, planted in containers, or cut for a beautiful arrangement or centerpiece. Purple and blue bell-shaped flowers perch atop light green foliage. It has striking and vivid gold blooms from summer through the first frost. You can divide the bunched blossoms in spring or fall, but it isn’t necessary. Allow for good air circulation by providing them space. Balloon flowers are a long-living perennial and will benefit from winter protection. Although there are many hardy flowering shrubs for the bloom starved northern gardens, shrubs are part of the structure of a garden or landscape. is here to make sure you have your dream lawn and landscaping including the best. ‘Sunsation’, the larger version of ‘Gold Nugget’, grows to 3’ high and 4’ wide. Oriental lilies are large overall, have slightly bigger blooms, and usually, blossom later than Asiatics. Asters make beautiful cut flowers. Native to Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. ‘Honeycomb’, hardy to zone 5, is an 8-12 foot shrub covered with 12 inch spikes of yellow blooms from late summer through fall. It has striking and vivid gold blooms from summer through the first frost. The foliage is a yellow green. If so, the stems might become spiney and have difficulty. Unknown to most gardeners, blooming mums which are planted in the fall, do not overwinter well. Full sun produces the most flowers, but will grow well in some shade. Water thoroughly until the ground freezes to allow the plant to properly acclimate to winter. Because of their small compact growing habit they work well for foundation plantings, borders and specimen plants. ‘Rosy Glow’ (Berberis thunbergii atropupurea ‘Rosy Glow’)  Full sun to part shade  Hardy in zones 4-7  ‘Rosy Glow’ is similar to the ‘Crimson Pygmy’ but is a little larger barberry with brighter burgundy foliage and pink and rosy new growth, that develops burgundy. Look for the striking arched stems. Bears showy, fragrant, white flowers in mid-summer when not many plants are in bloom. Growth habit it naturally somewhat mounded with slightly horizontal branching. Balloon flowers are a long-living perennial and will benefit from winter protection. Reaches a height of 20 feet and 5-8 feet wide. The Balloon will reseed itself, but pinching will lessen the seed production. The King of Hearts displays a pink rosy flower throughout the summer. Not all trees and shrubs should be pruned in the winter or early spring, however. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) Summit Turf’s favorite midwest flowers and plants include Black-Eyed Susan loves full sun. Hardy in zones 4-7. Midnight Wine Weigela. It produces a spectacular display of rosy red blooms 2 1/2” in diameter in early May. Barberry:  (Barberis thunbergii)  The Japanese Barberry is the most commonly known, and used, barberis. ‘Orchid Lights’ is very cold hardy. In shade, the purple cultivars will be more green. Include a good amount of peat moss when you are planting. 'Multiplex' has 1 inch pink 'pompom' blooms and grows to 8 feet. Top Flowering Shrubs for the Midwest | Better Homes & Gardens Soil Conditions: Dry. They grow 3 to 4 feet tall. Bluebeard Caryopteris is a great flowering shrub that is very easy to grow. Azaleas are rooted in shallow soil and prefer it cool and moist. One of our favorites, 'Kim's Knee-High', tops out at 16-20 inches, and doesn't flop over in the wind and rain. Plants in the Double Take™ series produce a profusion of early spring double flowers that resemble camellias. Foliage is somewhat mildew resistant. Male and female plants must be present to produce bright red, midsummer fruit. Orientals are fragrant and have a variety of tropical looking blooms. Asiatics can be found in many colors and will multiply fast. Almond will do best in moist well drained soil. Summers in the midwest can be busy, so an aster may be the perfect. Water thoroughly, but when the ground freezes, allow them to acclimate to winter. White flower clusters appear in early spring, followed by dark fruits that the birds, as well as humans, love (the fruit is sweet and delicious). Amelanchier (Serviceberry, Shadbush): (Amelanchier canadensis) Sun, part shade or shade Hardy in zones 4-8 Flowering shrub This spring blooming shrub has white flowers with a strong upright growth habit. Applications of an anti-transpirant in December and February will help prevent the foliage from drying, turning brown and dropping off. Butterfly Bush: (Buddleia) Full sun to part shade Hardy in zones 4-9. Wrap the stems/trunk with a collar or hardware cloth available at garden centers to protect them. Some of these shrubs you will also find listed as hardy perennials, primarily because their blooming qualities and smaller stature lend themselves well to the northern garden with minimal care. For best blooming, prune back to live wood in early spring, as the bush does die back at least partially in the north. And is is quite disease resistant. Currant prefers moist well drained soil, but will tolerate dryness and alkaline soil, and is very tolerant of wind. It puts up with heat and drought and attracts birds and butterflies. It grows to about 3-4 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. Azalea, deciduous (Rhododendron canescens). Orchid colored blooms are 1 1/2 “ across and are sterile, so no seed pods are produced. Barberry transplants well. Grows to about 4’ high and wide or more, with a rounded form. Adding to the winter interest is a bark of corky “wings”, that will catch and hold snow that sunlight sparkles from. to make certain your perennials survive. From classic garden staples like rhododendron to more unique options like spirea, you're sure to find the right flowering … Hardy in zones 5-8. Growth habit is dense and uniformly rounded, reaching about 3 feet. Amelanchier aninifolia is a smaller, rounded shrub form perfect for border planting or foundations. As such they are widely planted. The varieties that get a little larger work well for hedging and thorny barriers. The richer the soil, the taller the Novi. These blooms come in June and July and are fantastic flowers when cut. ‘Royal Red’ is probably the most widely grown butterfly bush in zones 5 and warmer. Amelanchier (Serviceberry, Shadbush):  (Amelanchier canadensis)  Sun, part shade or shade  Hardy in zones 4-8  Flowering shrub This spring blooming shrub has white flowers with a strong upright growth habit. May 4, 2017 - Sunny and Shady Shrubs for the #midwest. To ensure your new shrub gets a good start, choose the right plant for the right place. Azaleas are shade loving shrubs with spectacular blooms and are perfect when placed in the garden bed to begin your springtime perennial showcase. The dwarf can get 4-6 feet tall but can be trimmed. Divide in the early springtime. The bright foliage is excellent for a specimen plant, massing or as a low hedge. And although many Butterfly Bush are drought tolerant, the plant becomes significantly wilted and looks unsightly without adequate moisture. Includes shrubs that flower as early as April or as late as September. ‘Aureovariegata’ is only hardy to zone 6. It has a dense rounded form that reaches 2-4 feet high and 3-5 feet wide. ‘Green Velvet’ is also hardy in zones 4-9. Divide Orientals every 3 to 5 years. ‘Green Mound’ is somewhat smaller, reaching about 3 feet tall and wide. ‘Mary’s White’ and ‘Rice Creek’ have survived zone 4 winters with no winter mulch at all, so those are excellent selections for the coldest of regions. Photo credit: Mary A. Wilson, MSUE. The shape is natural, but may require minor shearing to maintain a ‘perfect’ form. Fall is the best time to divide Black-Eyed Susans. USDA Zone: 3-7. Grows well in sun to part shade. Height is 2-3 feet and width about 3 feet. In the Midwest, you want your flowering shrubs to create a bit of shade, survive on the sunny days, live in moist or windy areas, sustain itself with dry circumstances, and thrive with minimal attention. 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