5 Old Fashioned Flowering Shrubs for the Michigan Landscape that Never Go Out of Style

Landscape Design in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, MI

       Every year there's a slew of new landscape plants in magazines and nurseries. Trends come and go but these 5 flowering shrubs are as great now as when your grandparents planted them. 

1. Vanhoutte Spiraea 
     One of the well known varieties is "Bridal Veil". These were once planted everywhere but have been passed up for the more popular Japanese Spiraeas such as "Little Princess". Vanhoutte Spiraea are much larger and will either need lots of space or an annual pruning. Both are great shrubs but spring flowering of "Bridal Veil" is something to behold. The shrub will be completely covered with white flowers that appear to be cascading down to the ground. 

2. Common Lilac
     Common Lilac works well as a back drop. They grow tall if left unpruned and are a great way to take up empty space along the side of the house or as a green wall at the back of the yard. Lilacs have large purple or white flowers in May that have a pleasant and distinct fragrance. 

3. Forsythia 
     You know that spring has arrived when the forsythia blooms. It's often the first shrub to bloom and looks like an explosion of yellow that can't be missed. It's foliage is not especially interesting but the blooms make forsythia well deserving of a spot in the garden. Forsythia grows fast and can be used as a screen. It can also be used as an accent plant if pruned annually and kept small. 

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4. Roses
     One of the best things about roses is the never ending variety that is available. In the last few decades, rose breeders seem to have focused on making roses that bloom for the entirety of the growing season. Many old fashioned roses bloom less often but have larger and more interesting flowers. Climbing roses were also very popular in the past. They can be a great way to add a vertical element to the flower garden. 

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5. Annabelle Hydrangea 
     These easily recognizable flowers are as versatile as they are impressive. They can be placed singularly among other plants in an eclectic garden. They also look great when placed behind a short boxwood hedge in a formal setting. They can be kept short by cutting them to the ground in the fall or spring or left unpruned to reach their mature size. Annabelle flowers are know for being large and pure white.  

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