Shrubs are multiple-stem plants that grow from 2 to more than 20 feet high. Use shrubs for screening, privacy, windbreaks, wildlife habitats, and landscape color and texture. Deciduous shrubs provide a seasonal change of interest in the landscape. Well-placed shrubs take into account available space, exposure and soil conditions. Table 1 lists shrubs for elevations below 6,000 feet that are widely available in Garden centers and nurseries.
Shrubs are immediately noticeable in the landscape because they are at eye level.
Flower and fruit displays, interesting foliage shapes and colors, and even bark color and texture add outdoor interest. Shrubs can visually anchor a building to a site, guide the line of sight toward or away from certain views, and bridge the space between lower-growing perennials and taller trees to give a sense of completion to a landscape design. Deciduous shrubs offer seasonal changes not found with evergreen shrubs. Because of the range of heights available, pruning, and spacing possibilities, shrubs are versatile landscape performers. Some shrubs may be pruned to a single or few stems for growth as small specimen trees.