Shrubs: Your Garden’s Unsung Hero

Technically, shrubs are small- to medium-sized perennial woody plants with persistent woody stems above the ground. They are different from trees because of their shorter stature and multiple stems. 

Aesthetically, they are amazingly diverse. They are large enough to provide mass, structure and texture, yet can fit into places where trees cannot. They also come in endless varieties: leaves can be broad or needle-like, some have ornamental flowers and others feature colorful berries.

They also can be deciduous, losing their leaves in the fall, or evergreen. Either way, their longevity adds seasonal interest, even during dormant winter months, which makes them a great investment for your home. 

Growing shrubs in Northern Arizona has its challenges. We have cold, snowy weather in the winter, but we are also in an area that has persistent drought conditions. Spring winds, sudden last-spring frosts, and microclimates can make it hard to pick the right shrub for your property.

This means it’s important to understand the specific conditions of your property before you start planting. How much sunlight do you get? What kind of soil do you have – sandy, clay-like, loamy? Is there a lot of wind exposure? All of these will help you decide on the species of shrub that will work in your garden. 

Another factor to consider is the role your shrub will play in your landscape. Will it be purely decorative? Is its purpose to create a living “wall” that will provide privacy or mark out the boundaries of your garden? Are you looking to attract wildlife and provide a habitat for birds and insects? Will it add to the curb appeal of your home? 

Here are some of our favorite shrubs at Warner’s:

• Barberry shrubs are available as deciduous or evergreen bushes. Barberry boasts of many varieties with unique leaf colors and berry hues, particularly red and burgundy. 
• Ninebark also comes in dramatic colors – primarily green, copper and burgundy –with little pink flowers. The plant’s leathery leaves tolerate wind and cold well, and in height it ranges from 3 to 6 feet tall.
• Elderberry comes with green or burgundy foliage. There’s a lacy-leafed variety that gets very large and another one that stays upright and compact with pink clusters of flowers.
• Potentilla tends to stay compact – about 3 feet high and wide – and is great if you are looking for a deer-resistant plant. It will bloom most of the summer with lovely yellow, orange, pink or white flowers.
• “Gro-low” Sumac is a super hardy shrub that is drought tolerant and gets beautiful fall colors of orange, pink and red. True to its name, this shrub grows low to the ground.
• Yucca is another hardy shrub and, a plus for our region, highly drought-tolerant. It has very attractive foliage and lovely flower stalks in red or yellow. 
• The Butterfly Bush subshrub tends to be a late bloomer, often not pushing out new growth until very late in the spring. But once it does, its beautiful flower stalks are very popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.
• Boxwood is a shrub that I particularly love because of its formality and versatility. It is a broadleaf evergreen that can be sheared to a topiary and also makes a good hedge. This plant brings a nice order to a garden and looks great all winter long. 

Whether you’re looking to add structure, color, wildlife appeal or simply year-round interest to your garden, shrubs truly are the unsung heroes of the landscape. With thoughtful selection and placement, they can thrive even in Northern Arizona’s unique climate, offering beauty and function in equal measure. 

So, as you plan this season’s garden, don’t overlook these hardy and versatile plants. And if you need help selecting the right shrub for your landscape, don’t hesitate to stop in at Warner’s Nursery – we’d love to help.

Happy gardening! FBN

By Misti Warner-Andersen

Misti Warner-Andersen is the manager of    Warner’s Nursery & Landscape Co., located at 1101 E. Butler Ave. in Flagstaff. To contact Warner’s Nursery, call 928-774-1983.