Undemanding shrubs require little care and have low requirements for location or soil. They require little maintenance, which also saves costs. The selection of uncomplicated plants is large, meaning you can find the right shrubs for every garden.
Shrubs with B
Broom(Cytisus scoparius)
The broom exudes an intense scent during flowering, which is not always perceived as pleasant. However, it is extremely heat-tolerant and does not need to be watered additionally.
- Growth: up to 1.5 m high, wide, bushy, dense
- Bloom: yellow, orange, red
- Location: sunny
- Care: no fertilization, avoid waterlogging, good pioneer trees
Bubble Shrub (Colutea arborescens)
There is hardly anything that could cause problems for the bladder bush, as it copes well with both heat and humidity. It is an ideal roadside tree as it is also insensitive to road s alt.
- Growth: up to 3.5 m high, wide, bushy
- bloom: yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: no fertilization, work some sand into the soil once a year
Note:
The shrub is slightly poisonous. The seeds in particular can have a higher content of toxins and can cause vomiting if consumed.
Bloodcurrant (Ribes sanguineum)
The bloodcurrant is often planted as an ornamental shrub because it has very beautiful flowers. Their fruits are edible, but taste rather bland.
- Growth: up to 1.5 m, upright, loose
- bloom: pink
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: remove older shoots occasionally
Easy-care shrubs from D – F
Deutzie (Deutzia)
The Deutzia is an eye-catcher and a magnet for insects when it is blooming. It smells intensely and modern varieties give off a smell that is reminiscent of strawberries.
- Growth: up to 3.5 m high, upright, slightly overhanging, dense
- Flower: white, pink
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: use fresh substrate for new plantings, occasional rejuvenation pruning required, shake off snow from the branches in winter
Rock Pear (Amelanchier laevis)
The rock pear has decorative star-shaped flowers. Their fruits are edible and can be made into jams, for example.
- Growth: up to 6 m high, upright, slightly overhanging
- flower: white
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: occasional pruning slows down height growth, lime-poor soils should be limed annually
Five finger bush (Potentilla fruticosa)
The five-finger bush is ideal for you if you don't like cutting bushes. It only forms strong shoots if it is cut regularly.
- Growth: up to 1.5 m high, upright, heavily branched
- Flower: white, yellow, orange, pink, rose red
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: occasional pruning prevents baldness, water when dry conditions persist, avoid waterlogging
Shrubs with G
Bell Hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora)
The bell hazel flowers open in March and exude a pleasant scent reminiscent of primroses. The shrub is rather inconspicuous over the summer until the leaves turn colorful in autumn before they fall off.
- Growth: up to 1.5 m high, bushy, loose
- flower: light yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: protect from late frosts
Goldbells (Forsythia)
The Goldbell is not only easy to care for, but particularly easy to cut. Despite regular pruning, it produces many flowers and is therefore popular as a flowering hedge plant.
- Growth: up to 3 m high, upright, densely branched
- bloom: yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: occasional pruning protects the bushes from baldness
Laburnum (Laburnum watereri)
The thick golden yellow clusters of laburnum give the shrub its name. However, all parts of it are poisonous.
- Growth: up to 5 m high, upright, slightly overhanging
- bloom: yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: not very compatible with cutting, requires a lot of space
Plants from M – R
Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
The mahonia flowers are popular with bees and exude an intense scent. The black berries are sought after by birds in autumn.
- Growth: up to 1.5 m high, bushy, upright
- bloom: yellow
- Location: sunny to shady
- Care: water if dry conditions persist
Mother of Pearl Shrub (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
If you are looking for an eye-catcher in the garden, then the pearl bush is a good choice. It looks elegant thanks to its slightly overhanging growth and the flowers add accents.
- Growth: up to 3 m high, overhanging, upright, loose
- bloom: pink
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: Make rejuvenation cuts every four years
Ranunculus bush (Kerria japonica)
If you are looking for an undemanding shrub that spreads quickly, you should choose Kerria, because it forms many runners. If space is limited, it should be planted with a root barrier.
- Growth: up to 1.75 m high, loose, overhanging
- bloom: yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: water if dry conditions persist
Uncomplicated shrubs from S – W
Mock Spiere (Holodiscus discolor)
Mock spars are not yet widespread, but are a flowering alternative to many hedge plants. They are easy to cut and the flowers are an important source of food for insects:
- Growth: up to 2.5 m high, growing overhanging
- Flower: white, pink
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: Pruning is recommended in autumn
Weigelia (Weigelia)
Weigela has bell-shaped flowers that hang downwards. With a light cut after the first flowering, you can encourage further flowering.
- Growth: up to 3 m high, loose, slightly overhanging
- Flower: white, pink, yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: fertilize occasionally, soil should be slightly moist
Note:
In addition to varieties with attractive flowers, there are also varieties that have variegated leaves. Once the flowering period is over, they are still decorative in the garden.
Winter scented snowball (Viburnum farreri)
The winter scented viburnum opens its flowers from November and can bloom until April if there is no frost. It also develops very well on acidic soils.
- Growth: up to 2.5 m high, upright
- Flower: white, pink, yellow
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Care: Pruning in spring is an advantage, remove any runners that have formed
Frequently asked questions
Are undemanding perennials also suitable for container cultivation?
Yes, you can also plant the undemanding shrubs in pots and place them on the balcony. However, the maintenance effort is higher because even plants that cope well with drought need to be watered regularly in the pot. In addition, the root ball needs protection in winter.
When is the best time to prune?
Many undemanding shrubs do not require annual pruning. If pruning is necessary, for example to prevent baldness, this can be done in autumn or early spring. In both cases, however, a period of frost should not immediately follow the pruning.
