Buddleja Tutti Frutti Flowers

Speaking of animal-attracting shrubs, consider adding a buddleja tutti frutti to your garden. (These colorful, flowering plants are so notorious for drawing butterflies near them that it’s literally nicknamed “butterfly bush.”) Of course, there’s more to this option than its critter-commanding capabilities. “This wonderfully well-behaved, compact 'butterfly bush' only grows to a neat and compact 24 to 28 inches tall,” says Pim Dickson, horticulturist expert at a garden retailer called Mr Fothergill’s. “Reliable and easy to grow, with its luminously bright fuchsia-pink flower spikes, this is a stunning yet exceptionally versatile little shrub, ideal for any size planting scheme, patio borders, and containers.”

Silverbush flowers

As the Silverbush (Convolvulus Cneorum) proves, you don’t need bright blooms to make a statement. This compact shrub, which can typically grow up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, offers plenty of visual intrigue with its trumpeted flowers. “The leaves provide a lovely contrast to the green shades of other garden plants, to get the very best out of both,” Dickson says.  “It shows good drought tolerance, so is perfect for patio containers or as a focal point in small borders or dots planted in larger schemes.”  The only drawback to this shrub is it’s not fully frost-hardy, so it’s best to place it in a sunny, sheltered spot so it can survive the winter.

Bearberry flowers

Anyone who is looking to keep pesky weeds at bay will find a lot to love about a bearberry shrub (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi). These low-slung perennials typically max out at 6 to 12 inches high, making them an excellent choice for ground cover. But don’t write this small shrub off as “strictly practical” just yet: This species often produces small, cherry-like berries that add to their curb appeal. (These berries are edible—and bears reportedly love them—but humans tend to find them tasteless.) Best of all? They’re relatively low-maintenance and are even salt-resistant, making them a great choice for anyone who lives near the ocean.

Deer-Resistant Shrubs That Will Protect Your Garden From Grazing

Shrubs are a beautiful addition to any yard—they fill in gaps between your plantings, offer multiple seasons of interest, and many varieties yield beautiful blooms for added color. While this all sounds great, you may be encountering one issue when it comes to your shrubs: deer. Luckily, peaceful coexistence is possible. It just takes the right type of deer-resistant shrubs.

Alpine Currant 'Green Mound'

Compact, deep green Alpine Currant "Green Mound" (Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound') is Tegland's go-to foundation plant. "This shrub does really well in the shade," she says. "It'll also stay nice and compact with a little pruning. I've almost never seen a deer eat it."

Arborvitae 'American'

Unlike many arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis doesn't appeal to most deer. A natural for backdrops and borders, it grows in a trim, vertical shape you can use to create a dense hedgerow or living fence, Coker says.

Barberry plant

A favorite with our experts, barberry (Berberis spp.) has thorns that deer tend to avoid. "It's trickier for pruning because of the thorns, but there are some really great barberries out there in a lot of different colors, so you can use them in a lot of different spots," Tegland says.

Boxwood plant

Beautiful boxwood (Buxus) contains alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. The stuff of hedges and elaborate topiaries, boxwood also makes a great foundation shrub because it stays green all year round, remains compact, and likes full shade, says Tegland. In her region, USDA Zone 4, keeping these broadleaf evergreens close to the house also helps protect them from winter sun and wind.

Butterfly Bush, Purple Beautiful Flowers

Ornamental, hardy, and self-reliant, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) brings the whole package to a landscape. Coker likes its range of bloom colors, including blues, purples, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. And while humans and pollinators love this deciduous shrub's fragrance, which ranges from honey to lilac, it's a turn-off to deer. Of note: A prolific reseeder, butterfly bush is considered a noxious weed in some regions.

Crape Myrtle Flowers

What good Southerner wouldn't give a shout-out to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)? This shrub graces parks, landscapes, and highways throughout the region with showy blooms from July to September. Coker's a fan, especially of dark-leaf cultivars like 'Delta Jazz' and 'Sequoyah.' Most varieties put on gorgeous fall color shows, too.

Russian Cypress Trees

Also known as Siberian Arborvitae, ground-hugging Microbiota decussate is a go-to for Tegland on hillsides and among boulders. An evergreen, it has soft, fine-textured, olive-green foliage that turns mahogany brown in the fall. It's wind tolerant and does well in sun or shade. Better still: "I've never seen a deer eat one," she says.

Spirea Leaf Flowers Trees

Spiraea spp. comes in a range of colors and sizes, from big, old-fashioned bridal wreath (Spiraea prunifolia), with its cascading clusters of tiny white flowers, to tiny 'Golden Elf,' at just 6 to 8 inches tall. Depending on the species, spirea makes an elegant focal point or tidy accent shrub.

Stephanandra | Tree Leaf Flowers

Known for being deer-resistant, Stephanandra incisa yields showy white flowers, which bloom on coral stems among maple-like leaves on arching branches. In fall, leaves turn yellow and orange. It's a great choice in a rocky boulder area and it'll really hold a hillside for you, says Tegland.

Weeping White Pine

If you're looking for a conversation piece, this eye-catcher is the shrub for you. And while you can prune weeping white pine (Pinus strobus 'pendula') to keep it low, it will also grow tall enough to stand out all winter long, even in deep snow. "While the deer will eat a balsam fir, they almost never eat a white pine," says Tegland.

Dapper White Butterfly Bush

Plant Dapper White butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii 'Dapconwhi') in your yard and watch as hummingbirds and butterflies flock to it. "A rounded, compact habit makes this buddleia a perfect fit for a variety of uses," says Heidi Mortensen, brand manager for Bloomables. "White flowers are formed in early summer and continue to re-bloom into the fall. Spent flowers are hidden by new blooms, reducing the need for deadheading."

CranRazz Butterfly Bush

An upright grower, CranRazz butterfly bush (Buddleia hybrid 'Boscranz') will fill your landscape with show-stopping color. "Extremely free-flowering, this plant blooms from spring until mid-fall," says Mortensen. "Panicles grow an amazing 8 inches long and attract butterflies and hummingbirds."

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush

With an ever-changing blend of red, magenta, and burgundy, Miss Molly butterfly bush (Buddleia 'Miss Molly') blooms in midsummer and continues until frost arrives. "Miss Molly grows quickly and needs very little care to continue flowering year after year," says Kelly Funk, president Jackson & Perkins. "Cut it down to about one-third of its original height in late winter and early spring to improve branching and flower production and let it go."

Ultra Violet Butterfly Bush

This heat-tolerant flowering shrub has a compact growth habit and is water-wise once established. "With Ultra Violet butterfly bush (Buddleia Hybrid 'PDSI-1'), pollinator enthusiasts can incorporate a butterfly bush into tight spaces that previously weren’t accessible," says Janet Sluis, plant expert for the Sunset Plant Collection.

Butterfly Towers Magenta Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Towers Magenta Buddleia  (Buddleia davidii ‘Tobud1305’) is a unique vertical growing butterfly bush variety with vibrant magenta flowers. "This butterfly bush is easy to care for and has an attractive vertical growth habit," says Linda Vater, plant expert for the Southern Living Plant Collection. "It's a perfect silhouette for hedges, screens, or a focal point in an area. The panicles of sweet-smelling blooms also make a lovely cut flower."

Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush

Miss Ruby butterfly bush (Buddleia x 'Miss Ruby') has blue-green leaves that give rise to ruby red flowers from the end of May to the first frost. "The ruby red flowers are held on 4- to 6-inch panicles and cover the plants from head to toe," says Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

Carolina Rose Flowers

Carolina rose (Rose carolina) is great for privacy, but it's also beautiful to look at. From late spring to summer, it produces showy, fragrant pink flowers with a yellow center. The red rosehips attract birds, and the thorny branches provide protection for shelter and nests, says Phillips. It can be planted in a row to create a living fence, creating a natural separation that still lets some light and air through.

Viburnum flowers plant

Create a fast-growing privacy screen with viburnum. “Different varieties and species offer stunning visual appeal, whether through vibrant flowers, attractive fall foliage, or the shifting colors of new foliage growth," says Jim Putnam, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection. "Viburnum is a real showstopper, especially if you plant it in a sunny spot where the new leaves can put on their best color."

Butterfly Bush Flowers

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) is a deciduous flowering shrub that produces colorful blooms and attractive foliage. "The plant features long, arching branches covered with clusters of small, fragrant flowers," says Funk. "The flowers come in various colors, including purple, pink, white, and yellow, attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators." It's a dense, fast grower that should be regularly pruned in late winter or spring to ensure it maintains its shape.

Weigela flowers plants

Weigela has arched branches that are covered in red and pink blooms from late spring to early summer. The foliage is typically deep green, burgundy, or purple and can be variegated. "Due to its dense foliage and upright growth, weigela is ideal for privacy screening," says Funk. "Pruning after flowering maintains shape and encourages future blooms."

Barberry flower plants

If you're looking for a low-maintenance shrub option, consider barberry. It's commonly grown in landscapes for its durability and adaptability to poor soils. "Varieties with reddish or golden foliage add an intriguing element to the landscape," says Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's agricultural center. While it's a great privacy shrub, keep in mind that it may be considered invasive in some zones, so do your research before planting.

Loropetalum flower plants

Loropetalum boasts red, burgundy, or green foliage and flowers in a range of colors, from pinks and reds to purples and whites, says Abdi. It's an insect- and disease-resistant plant that will beautifully accent the other plants in your yard.

Pittosporum flower plants

Pittosporum has evergreen leaves in tight whorls that form at the top of the branches, creating a pleasant texture in the garden, says Abdi. It provides white flower clusters that stand out against the shrub's foliage.

Sweet Olive Flower Plant

For a fragrant option, sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) has pleasant-smelling small flowers that bloom during fall, winter, and spring, adding subtle interest to the landscape. "The blooms are small and not super showy, but they definitely have an appealing scent," says Abdi.

Azalea flowers

Azaleas are known for their vibrant pink blooms, which add vibrant color to the garden. While not all azalea varieties are good for privacy, some can grow to be up to 10 feet tall and look beautiful as a living fence.

Camellia flower plant

Camellias have very showy, pink, yellow, red, or white flowers—with some varieties even blooming during winter. This pollinator-friendly shrub has thick foliage that can create a beautiful privacy hedge in the landscape.