15 Dwarf Shrubs For Full Sun

Dwarf shrubs make curbs and garden spaces look more welcoming and refreshing. Since they don't take up too much space, you can plant them anywhere you think needs a splash of color. These shrubs thrive under full sunlight--which will make them produce blooms more quickly and make your space more visually pleasing. We have gathered 15 dwarf shrubs that can beautify your garden space.

Here are flowering dwarf shrubs that you can plant in your space.

• Dwarf Japanese Pieris
• Small hydrangea shrubs
• Small Cotoneaster
• Flowering Potentilla
• Dwarf Spirea Shrubs
• Dwarf Azalea Shrubs
• Winter Heath Shrub
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly Bush
• Dwarf Blue Honeysuckle Shrubs

If you want leafy shrubs, here are ones you can go for:

• Blue Star
• Gold Cone
• Wintercreeper shrubs
• Dwarf Japanese Spindle Shrubs
• Hummingbird Summersweet

Before deciding on the shrubs you'd like to plant in your space, you'll need to weigh whether you can maintain them and make them thrive. Having dying plants in your house is not visually pleasing, not to mention it can attract various pests. You'll need to know what these shrubs require so they can make your garden thrive. Keep reading below to learn more about how to care for these dwarf shrubs.

15 Dwarf Shrubs For Full Sun

Dwarf shrubs require full sunlight in order to flourish, whether they are flowering or not. Of course, some can be hardy and more resilient to unpredictable weather patterns in particular USDA zones, but plants generally love being under the morning sun.

These shrubs will be able to spruce up your garden and make it feel more vibrant and welcoming. Not only they can enhance curb appeal, but they can also improve your garden's ecosystem.

Here are dwarf shrubs that may be for you.

1. Dwarf Japanese Pieris

This dwarf shrub has white, bell-shaped chains that hang over the evergreen foliage. They are multi-stemmed, so they tend to have a bushy form that can be used as an accent in a landscape. They will need to be pruned after the flowers have bloomed to avoid cutting off the blooming buds.

2. Small hydrangea shrubs

Hydrangeas are popular for their blue and purple blooms that can inject vibrance into your landscape. Small species of hydrangea shrubs include Hydrangea Panuculata, "Wedding Gown" Hydrangeas, and "Everlasting Revolution" hydrangeas.

These plants are compact and visually appealing, so you can easily put them into pots and place them in a small green area in your home.

3. Small Cotoneaster

Small cotoneasters are evergreen plants whose peak growth can only reach 18 inches. They are ideal as groundcovers too because they can spread up to four feet, but if you want to make them compact, you can trim and prune them.

Their blooms grow during the summer when they can have access to full sunlight during the morning, and they can grow into red berries. However, these berries shouldn't be eaten since they can be mildly toxic to humans.

4. Flowering Potentilla

Flowering potentillas are one of the hardiest shrubs that can thrive under unpredictable weather conditions. They grow beautiful yellow blooms that can make your garden look refreshing, and they are good for the garden's ecosystem since they attract butterflies and other pollinators.

These shrubs are not only visually pleasing; they are also useful in treating stomach inflammation. They are also not toxic to pets, so it's safe for them if they accidentally munch on these shrubs.

Make sure to plant these shrubs in fertile soil, and somewhere that has access to the morning sunlight.

You can prune them immediately after flowering to get rid of dead leaves and branches and to make sure their structure is retained.

5. Dwarf Spirea Shrubs

These shrubs will look great in your garden space because of their flower clusters which can vary in color depending on the type of spirea shrubs. Dwarf spireas grow up to 36 inches tall, so they can be planted in a small garden without taking up too much space.

Dwarf Spireas either have pink or white blooms. Little Bonnie species have bright pink and lavender blooms, while bridal wreath spireas have white hanging blooms.

6. Dwarf Azalea Shrubs

Dwarf azaleas are low-maintenance shrubs, so they are ideal if you want a vibrant-looking shrub that won't be able to take too much of your time. They are perfect for small gardens, and their flowers are more prominent, especially during the spring and summer.

7. Winter Heath Shrub

Winter heath, or Erica Carnea, is a beautiful addition to small garden spaces because of its vibrant blooms and evergreen leaves. The winter heath shrub has a peak growth of 11 inches, so they are perfect for small spaces that need a pop of color.

These shrubs are not only visually pleasing, but they are also healthy for your garden's ecosystem since they attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees after the winter.

8. Bluebeard

True to its name, the Bluebeard or blue mist shrub has vibrant and genuine blue flowers that can add vibrance to your garden space. They are perennial plants that bloom during the middle of summer to early fall.

Bluebeard shrubs are generally low maintenance, and they are hardy, especially in USDA Zones 6-9. They can survive drought and unpredictable weather patterns, and they don't need to be fertilized as much as other shrubs.

Make sure to plant them in an area with access to full sunlight so you can enjoy their beautiful blue flowers during the summer.

9. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bushes have attractive purple flowers that attract pollinators and spruce up your garden. They have evergreen foliage, and they are hardy plants that can withstand different weather conditions.

If you don't want these plants to be too high maintenance, make sure to plant them in an ideal location where they can have access to full sunlight and good-quality, well-drained and healthy soil.

10. Dwarf Blue Honeysuckle Shrubs

Dwarf Blue Honeysuckles have eye-catching yellow blooms. They attract butterflies and bees which are good for your small garden, and they have green foliage that changes to burgundy in the fall. They are hardy and tolerant of extreme weather conditions.

11. Blue Star

Blue Star Junipers bloom under full sunlight, and their mature height reaches only up to 12-14 inches so they would be perfect for small gardens. Note that they have a slow growth rate, but when they do, you'll get to enjoy silver foliage that can make your garden space look dreamy.

12. Gold Cone

Gold Cone Juniper, true to its name, grows in an upright manner so that it is shaped like a cone. They have bright and golden yellow foliage, making them vibrant even though they are non-flowering shrubs.

Make sure they are under full sunlight for 6 hours a day, and that the soil is well-drained.

13. Wintercreeper shrubs

Dwarf wintercreeper shrubs are low-growing, so they can act as groundcover for your small garden. They have evergreen leaves, and you can convert them into climbing plants if you stake them or put them on a trellis.

They thrive under full sun, but the soil will need moisture especially if you live in a sunny area.

14. Dwarf Japanese Spindle Shrubs

If you want something more compact, go for Japanese spindle shrubs. they have small evergreen leaves, and they grow upright. You can plant them in a pot, or have them as a border in your garden and put them in an area with full sunlight.

These shrubs need to be trimmed and pruned so they can have a bushier structure.

15. Hummingbird Summersweet

These deciduous shrubs are compact and low-growing, so they are perfect for small spaces. They also have beautiful white and spikey blooms that can make your garden more attractive, and they attract pollinators which can be good for your garden's ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

No matter how small your space is, you can still beautiful it with small and compact shrubs. Most of them are generally low-maintenance, so they can spruce up your landscape without taking too much of your time.

If you enjoyed this article, check out "How Long To Run Sprinkler For 1-Inch Of Water" or "What Ground Cover For Shade Under Rhododendrons?"