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Izu Tree

Izu tree (Distylium) is a fast-growing shrub that has become increasingly popular over the last decade. "Its adaptability and ease of care moved it into the spotlight as it can handle wet but not flooded soils to drier conditions and part shade to full sun," says Jon Roethling, the director of Reynolda Gardens. "Leaves can range from a blue-green to lustrous dark green and typically tend to be narrower in appearance."

Viburnum flowers trees

A low-maintenance shrub with fragrant white flowers, viburnum blooms from spring to fall. Coppertop Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum 'BRANT01') is a fast-growing variety that's commonly grown as a privacy hedge, but can also be grown as an accent shrub. "This has quickly become one of my favorite screening plants," says Jim Putnam from Southern Living Plant Collection. "It's a very fast-growing evergreen shrub and all of the new growth is a beautiful coppery color that matures to a striking dark green. Mine have tripled in size in one year since I planted them."

Panicled Hydrangea, Flowers

Hydrangeas are widely recognized for their beautiful, showy blooms, but they're also a great plant to grow if you're looking for something that grows fast. "Panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a deciduous shrub that produces medium to large, elliptical to oval shaped, bright green leaves in mid-spring," says Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

Shortly after, panicles of flowers appear in a cone-shaped inflorescence. "Flowers last well throughout the summer months and turn a red or cinnamon color in fall," says Adrienne Roethling. Expect the shrub to reach maturity within three years, growing 12 inches or more a year if conditions are ideal.

Heucherella flowers

Play up the sense of drama in the shaded areas of your yard with Twilight' Heucherella (Heucherella hybrid 'Twilight' PP25723), which has dark foliage in shades of purple, burgundy, and silver tones. It's also a great shrub to plant if you're looking for something to complement the colors of surrounding plants. “The top of each leaf is a charcoal green that is accented by a bright purple underside," says Putnam. "With that pop of contrast, it’s an absolutely stunning plant.”

Bottlebrush Buckeye, Flowers

Although bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) produce more flowers in locations with greater sunlight, the shrub can still grow and thrive in shade. "Tubular white flowers arranged in breathtaking candlestick-like panicles make bottlebrush buckeye a great summer-flowering shrub for shady areas." The panicles, which can grow up to 1 foot in length, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Maple-Leaved Viburnum, White Flowers

Maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is more shade tolerant than most other viburnums, making it a great addition to the dimly lit patches of your yard. "Small, white lace-cap flowers in spring give way to berries loved by birds that grace the maple-like leaves of Maple-leaved Viburnum," says Young "Its bright green foliage becomes a distinctive bright red, pink, or purple in the fall."

Mahonia flowers

Mahonia is an evergreen shrub with intricate leaf texture that infuses movement into shady spaces. For a thorn-free variety, try 'Soft Caress' Mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress' PP20183). It has deep green foliage that shines year-round and bright yellow flowers that provide a pop of color in early winter. “This variety of Mahonia has a beautifully compact growing habit with foliage that mimics bamboo, without the aggressive spreading habit," says Janet Sluis of Sunset Plant Collection.

Rattlesnake Master, White Flowers

Balls of tiny flowers sit atop the tall spikes of the perennial rattlesnake master, a drought-tolerant plant with pale green summer blooms. Though it looks like a thistle, this plant is a member of the carrot family—crush the leaves to catch the familiar scent.

Mountain Mint, Flowers

Another member of the mint family that draws pollinators is mountain mint, a low-maintenance herbaceous perennial  with pink-speckled blooms that open in midsummer. "The crushed foliage has a minty aroma, different from the mint types grown as common herbs, but still minty overall," says Talabac. "It's popular with a lot of other pollinators, like native bees, solitary wasps, and honeybees, teeming with activity when a clump is in peak bloom."

Summersweet flowers

Summersweet, a deciduous shrub, gives off a sweet scent from its off-white or light pink blooms in the later part of the summer, drawing pollinators after other plants have stopped flowering. "It's later to leaf-out in spring than most flowering shrubs, so don't be alarmed if branches are still bare when other garden plants start regrowing," says Talabac.

Anise Hyssop, butterfly and flowers

Anise Hyssop, a member of the mint family, produces tall cones of small purple flowers, and exudes a minty scent from its crushed leaves. The nectar draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. "This plant has a long bloom period—at least a couple months in summer, possibly longer if deadheaded," says Talabac.

Butterfly Weed, beautiful flowers

While its cousin, common milkweed, is likely to spread through as much of your garden as it can, the "more restrained" butterfly weed will attract plenty of its namesake pollinators without the aggressive takeover. "Butterfly weed is vibrant orange or yellow-orange (or more rarely reddish-orange)," says Talabac. "They bloom around midsummer, and some species have appealing fragrances. Monarch and Queen butterflies will use many species of milkweed as host plants for their caterpillars."

Salvia flowers

Salvia is a member of the sage family (the herb you've probably consumed in a myriad of culinary dishes). As a plant, salvia has many small brightly colored flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. "Both butterflies and hummingbirds adore the nectar of these small flowers," MacLean says.

Black-Eyed Susans, flowers

Butterflies flock to this North American flowering plant—specifically to their dark center, which contains about 200-300 small tubular-shaped flowers. For these critters, this acts as a shallow cup of nectar, MacLean says. "They prefer full sun, well-drained and fertile soil, and are best used as a backdrop to any pollinator garden, as they can get up to 3 feet tall."

Zinnias beautiful flowers

This multi-colored flower, which is most often seen in shades of cream, red, and purple, attracts butterflies thanks to its bright color and alluring smell. However, Mavec warns that butterflies do not like double zinnias; this variety makes it too hard for them to get the nectar—it becomes too much work. "It is best not to crowd zinnias, as they develop powdery mildew," she adds.

Lantana beautiful flowers

Butterflies love the color and sweet nectar smell of this perennial flowering plant. "Lantana does best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and can tolerate full sun," MacLean says. "It can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers."

Echinacea | Butterfly | Flowers

Also known as the coneflower, this pinkish-purple bloom makes a beautiful addition to any garden. Both butterflies and bees love its sweet nectar and color, notes MacLean. "Be sure to leave some spent blooms on the plants in fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds," he adds.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

This beautiful green-and-white shrub attracts butterflies by the dozen in midsummer when it is in full bloom, according to Janet Mavec, owner of Birdhaven Farm in New Jersey. "It is one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade."

Dolomitic Limestone

Dolomitic limestone is a great soil amendment, helping to raise soil pH levels and neutralize acidity. It provides essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, improving soil structure and fertility. By balancing pH, dolomitic limestone enhances nutrient availability, promoting healthier plant growth and creating a more productive garden environment.

Test the Soil Before Using It

When trying to figure out how to use Epsom salt for plants, always remember that testing and retesting is key. So, before adding Epsom salt to your garden, it’s a good idea to test your soil’s magnesium levels. If your soil already contains adequate magnesium, adding more could be unnecessary and potentially harmful.