Top 5 Flowering Shrubs for the Phoenix Arizona Landscape

Are you looking to add some flowering shrubs to your Phoenix landscape? There are important factors to review before making your decision on which shrubs to choose.

In the Phoenix area the summer sun is intense and plants need to be somewhat drought tolerant and low maintenance for easy care. Watering your landscape can be made simple by installing a drip watering system for your shrubs. I have a drip system set up for my yard and I love the ease in which this system provides.

You also have to consider the landscaping space that you have available. Some shrubs can grow up to 20 ft. tall.

I have very poor soil and rather than trying to improve the soil, I decided to plant some of my shrubs in containers. Yes, some shrubs do well in containers! You will need to make sure your container is large enough for the plant; I choose pots that are twice the size of the actual plant. This allows room for growth. Make sure your container has drainage holes in the bottom. Watering plants in containers has to be monitored closely because they do drain well and tend to dry out quicker than planting directly in the soil.

Here are my top 5 picks for the best flowering shrubs in the Phoenix area based upon my personal experience:

Bougainvillea

The evergreen Bougainvillea to some is considered a vine but there are species such as the Helen Johnson that grow more compact, up to 10 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide. You can find varieties that have pink, red, purple, peach colored and even white flowers. I love the Bougainvillea because when I was a child my mother had one outside the kitchen window and I remember the bright red flowers blooming so brilliantly. The Bougainvillea blooms profusely through the summer and will also bloom in winter. The Bougainvillea is a sun loving plant that needs moderate watering. Soil needs to be dry between watering and well drained. The Helen Johnson variety does well in containers. I prune my Bougainvillea in late winter to clean off any dead branches and to shape. Tip: When pruning be careful of the small thorns!

Honeysuckle

The Cape Honeysuckle is a lovely evergreen shrub that has clusters of orange flowers. It can grow up to 8 ft. tall and 20 ft. wide. The Honeysuckle usually blooms in summer but mine has bloomed in early spring as well. For best growth performance the Honeysuckle needs full sun and well drained soil. Moderate watering and low maintenance make the Honeysuckle an easy care shrub for the Phoenix landscape. Like the Bougainvillea, if not pruned and shaped to be a shrub the Honeysuckle could turn into a vine. The Honeysuckle is also a beautiful plant that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to the yard.

Oleander

The Oleander is another evergreen shrub that needs full sun and well drained, moist soil, with medium watering. Oleanders are a low maintenance planting for the landscape and provide flowers in the spring and summer. Color varieties include pink, red and white. The Oleander can grow up to 20 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide. They may be trimmed back and mine is even trimmed up at the bottom to expose the trunk to look more like a tree. The Oleander is a fast grower so if you are looking for a quick privacy shrub the Oleander is a great choice for your Phoenix landscape. Tip: All parts of the Oleander are poisonous if ingested.

Hibiscus

The Hibiscus has many different varieties and colors to choose from, but my favorite is The White Queen. It is funny because the name implies the flowers would be white but they are not, they are bright red and bloom in the summer and fall. The Hibiscus is an evergreen shrub that can grow to 8 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide. Hibiscus love full sun and medium watering in a well drained and moist soil. A low maintenance shrub with a moderate growth rate makes this another great planting choice for the Phoenix landscape. Plant a Hibiscus if you want to bring a tropical feel to your yard!

Peacock Flower

This is an evergreen shrub that loves the Phoenix area because it loves full sun. It can grow as tall and wide as 20 ft. The beautiful red and orange flowers present themselves spring through fall. It is a fast growing shrub and needs well drained and moist soil. This shrub does well on a drip system. Another awesome feature of the Peacock Flower is that it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The Peacock flower is used all over the Phoenix area, along streets, businesses and private landscaping.

Source: http://www.onlineplantguide.com