11 Tough Shrubs That Will Grow Anywhere

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Many gardeners want plants that look good, are tough, and are adaptable to various growing situations. For the low-maintenance garden, it is best to choose some tough shrubs you will never have to re-fuss over.

These plants can survive in various settings, from sunny prairies to the shaded corners of your backyard, making them great for gardeners who may be new to gardening or experienced alike. This guide includes eleven tough shrubs, each with unique characteristics that guarantee them a place in any garden.

Boxwood

Boxwood is infamous for its lush and dense foliage, making it an excellent structured hedge or topiary. It is very versatile and can handle full sun and deep shade. Once established, the shrub is also drought-tolerant, and many irrigated landscapes simply rely on winter rains to keep outstanding 5 to 6-foot specimens looking their best.

Juniper

Juniper is an adaptable shrub that grows best in less-than-ideal conditions like rocky soils and dry locations. Its evergreen needles, in shades of deep green to silvery blue, add year-round color. Juniper is resistant to pests and diseases, making it a good choice for novice gardeners.

Forsythia

Forsythia is a great sign of spring with its yellow blossoms. The bush grows well, and although fast-growing, it can survive in many soils – from the loamy sands to dense clay. It will last through the deep chill of winter and bounce back after a lopping, becoming a steady perennial for any garden job.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are very shade tolerant and typically have wood that can brighten up those darker parts of the garden landscape. Requiring very little maintenance, they provide plentiful blooms from season to season for those who grow them.

Spirea

In the spring and summer, abundant flowering spirea attract gardeners. This hardy, drought-tolerant shrub grows in most soils and light levels from full sun to a little shade: a garden favorite, the small size and barely any maintenance needed.

Lilac

One of the things people love about Lilac is its perfumed racemes of flowers, which bloom in late spring. The star-shaped flowers on this lovely, little evergreen shrub are a treat all summer long, but what makes it worth planting in any garden are its life-saving characteristics. Given the proper care, lilacs will be with you for decades, providing timeless beauty and fragrance.

Barberry

The colorful foliage of barberry runs from deep red to brilliant gold and bright or dusky green, providing plenty of visual interest year-round. It will stand some dry, poor soil and is excellent for a difficult garden. The shrubs’ thorny branches are another natural barrier and a good protection for visitors.

Sumac

Sumacs have some of the most spectacular hues of brilliant red and orange that will light up any landscape. They grow well in the most infertile, dry soils and can be planted almost everywhere, including forgotten areas. This, along with their colorful seasonal display, makes planting this beautiful shrub a popular choice in any garden.

Holly

Holly (Ilex) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with attractive, glossy leaves and red berries that give the garden a bold color in winter. This tree is versatile, tolerating many different soil types and environmental conditions, including the coast. The dense growth habit and year-round interest of hollies make them versatile plants.

Viburnum

Viburnums offer fragrant spring blooms in clusters followed by berries (on some varieties) and wildlife-attracting fall color. Easily one of the hardiest hedges on this list, they can grow in full sun or shade and are even tolerant of pollution.

Japanese Andromeda

Pieris, also called Japanese Andromeda, has an early bloom of small bell-shaped flowers and bright new growth. It likes acidic soil and prefers sun to partial shade. This elegant shrub looks great year-round with its evergreen, lustrous foliage and seasonal color changes.