British Garden Centres guide to the shrubs you should be planting in your garden

As the seasons unfold and spring takes hold, shrubs can add depth and vibrant colour to your garden. Whether you’re looking for a colourful display, evergreen interest or supporting wildlife, British Garden Centres has put together this guide on the best shrubs to plant now.

Photinia: A versatile evergreen shrub, Photinia thrives in most soil types, so it is ideal for all types of UK gardens. Also known as Red Robin, it’s fiery red leaves mature to glossy green, offering year-round colour. Photinia is ideal for hedging or privacy in front and back gardens.

Ceanothus: Also known as California Lilac, ceanothus is popular for its bright blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Compact varieties like ‘Concha’ (RHS Award of Garden Merit) excel in sunny borders, while evergreen types provide winter interest.

Cordyline: Providing height and structure to a border or container, Cordyline has sword-like leaves that create dramatic focal points in any outdoor setting. Hardy in the unpredictable UK climate, it thrives in well-drained soil and pots for a great display, and its foliage comes in many different colours to suit all settings.

Syringa (Lilac): A classic favourite, Lilac’s fragrance epitomises spring, and it brings colour to the garden in pale lavender to deep purple. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil for a nostalgic cottage-garden centrepiece.  This deciduous shrub is the perfect ornamental tree to add colour and attract wildlife into your garden.

Hydrangea: Spring is a great time to plant hydrangeas because it allows them to develop strong roots before the summer kicks in. Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea paniculata are two popular varieties, known for their long flowering periods in blues, pinks and whites.  Hydrangeas are ideal for sun-dappled borders or shady corners.

Rhododendron: For a woodland style garden, why not try the rhododendron, an acid-loving plant that provides bold clusters of flowers in spring in red, pink, or white. Rhododendrons also have year-round glossy foliage, making them a great choice for adding colour and elegance to garden beds and borders.

Azalea: A relative of the rhododendron, Azaleas deliver a similar floral display but in smaller packages, making these ideal for patio pots and containers.  A dependable plant, azaleas are drought-tolerant and incredibly easy to look after once they have become established.

Pieris: Pieris is an excellent spring shrub choice due to its early spring flowers. Planting Pieris in spring ensures it can thrive throughout the year, maintaining its evergreen foliage and benefiting from the ideal conditions for its preferred acidic soil. Plant now to enjoy a stunning floral display and colourful new shoots throughout spring and summer.

Leucothoe: This is a great shrub to put in your garden right now for spring. It has bright, colourful new leaves that come in red, bronze, or green and pretty white flowers, making it an attractive option. It is also evergreen and is a plant that looks good in lots of different garden settings. It thrives in acidic soil and will establish a strong root system in warming, moist soil before summer.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres, said: “By planting shrubs now, you not only enhance the beauty and structure of your garden, but you also create a haven for wildlife.  Shrubs provide essential shelter, food, and habitat for birds and insects, while their seasonal flowering adds colour and interest throughout the spring months.”

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 72 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by The Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.