Below is a listing of shrubs that display outstanding foliage color during all or part of the year. Use them to add outstanding splashes of color to your garden or landscape in Zone 8.

Name: Aucuba 'Gold Dust' Botanical: Aucuba Size: 5' H x 4-5' W Exposure: Shade or afternoon shade Bloom Color: Golden speckled foliage Bloom Time: None Water: Low once established Features: Outstanding gold speckled foliage tropical in appearance. Nice contrast in shade plantings. Very hardy and can be used in shady foundation plantings. Companions: The bold foliage of this shrub contrasts well with just about any other shade plants.

Name: Barberri 'Crimson Pigmy' Botanical: Berberis atropurpureum 'Nana' Size: 2' H x 3' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Yellow - inconspicuous Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low - drought tolerant Features: Outstanding maroon-red foliage on this low, mounding shrub. Extremely drought and heat tolerant. Companions: Indian Hawthorne, Yucca, Juniper, Soft Touch Holly, Abelias, Ornamental Grasses, Stella de Oro Daylily, Sedums, Crape Myrtles and other drought tolerant plantsand trees.

Name: Barberry 'Golden' Botanical: Berberis aurea Size: 2' H X 3' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Bright Yellow Bloom Time: Spring Water: Very drought tolerant Features: Outstanding bright yellow foliage on this low, mounding shrub. Very droughtand heat tolerant. Companions: Indian Hawthorne, Yucca, Abelias, Junipers, rock garden perennials, and many other drought tolerant plants.

Name: Barberry 'Rosy Glow' Botanical: Berberis atropurpurea Size: 4' H x 3' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Yellow Bloom Time: Spring Water: Very drought tolerant Features: Outstanding maroon-red foliage with pink new growth throughout the season! Very heat and drought tolerant. Companions: India Hawthorne, Soft Touch Holly, Ornamental Grasses, Yucca, Junipers, sedums and other rock garden perennials, and other heat and drought tolerant plants.

Name: Burning Bush 'Dwarf' Botanical: Euonymus alatus 'Compacta' Size: 5-6' H x 5' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Color: Fire red Fall foliage Bloom Time: None Water: Low to moderate Features: Brilliant red fall foliage is outstanding! Handsome dark green foliage on this upright vase shape shrub. Group in islands or use as a specimen. Companions: Soft Touch Holly, low growing Junipers, Dwarf Gardenias

Name: Cleyera Botanical: Ternstroemia Size: 8-10' H x 5-6' W Exposure: Full Sun or Afternoon Shade Foliage Color: New growth is red, burgundy, or orange Growth Rate: Fast Water Needs: Low Features: Handsome glossy evergreen foliage on this upright rounded shrub. New growth is red to orange.Excellent foundation plant in or on the corners, or under high windows. Excellent as a small tree specimen. Companions: Dwarf Yaupon, Junipers, Crimson Pigmy Barberry, Soft Touch Holly, Cotoneaster,Gold Mound Spirea, and other small leaved shrubs.

Name: Eleagnus Botanical: Eleagnus 'Fruitlandi' Size: 8-10' H x 8-10' W Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade Foliage Color: Dark green dusted with silver Bloom Time: None Water Needs: Low Features: A densley branched, fast growing evergreen shrub excellent to create a quick screen, hedge, or background. Dark green foliage has attractive silver scale. Companions: Loropetalums, Junipers, Carissa Holly, Barberries, Ornamental Grasses, and many more.

Name: Euonymus 'Golden' Botanical: Euonymus japonica 'Aurea' Size: 4-5' H x 3-4' W Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade Foliage Color: Bright Yellow Bloom Time: None Water Needs: Low Features: The variegated green and yellow foliage is outstanding. Useful as a hedge or specimen. A good accent plant in foundation plantings. Very showy. Companions: The foliage of this plant contrasts well with too many plants to name. Soft Touch Holly, Barberries, Loropetalums, and Junipers to name a few.

Name: Juniper 'Blue Point' Botanical: Juniperus chinensis Size: 8-9' H x 4-5' W Exposure: Full Sun Foliage Color: Blue Bloom Time: None Water Needs: Low Features: Handsome blue evergreen foliage on this upright pyramidal Juniper. Useful as a cornerplant i foundation plantings or between two windows, or as a screen or specimen. Good shrub to decorate for Christmas. Companions: Carissa Holly, Indian Hawthorne, Barberries, Spireas, Daisy Gardenia, Abelias, Ornamental Grasses, and many more.

Name: Juniper 'Grey Owl' Botanical: Juniperus virginia Size: 2' H x 4-5' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Foliage Color: Light grey-blue Spacing: 4-5' apart Water Needs: Low Features: Outstanding silver foliage on this finely textured juniper excellent for planting on slopes, the borders of islands, or as a foundation plant. Companions: Hollies, Barberries, Loropetalums, Abelias, Ornamental Grasses, Abelias, Spireas, Japanese Maples, and many many more.

Name: Ligustrum 'Jack Frost' Botanical: Ligustrum Height x Width: 3-4' H x 3-4' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Bloom Color: White -fragrant Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low Features: Outstanding variegated green and creamy white leaves on this attractive evergreen shrub. Useful as a foundation plant or low maintanence hedge. Also good for planting in groups on embankments. Companions: Junipers, Soft Touch Holly, Cotoneaster, Crimson Pigmy Barberry, Loropetalums, Indian Hawthorne, Hollies, and more.

Name: Variegated Privet - Ligustrum Botanical: Ligustrum sinensis Height x Width: 6-10' H x 6-8' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Bloom Color: White - fragrant Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low Features: Outstanding variegated green and white foliage on this fast growing shrub or small tree. Excellent for screening. Not a good foundation plant except on, or in, the corners. Companions: Junipers, Carissa Holly, Soft Touch Holly, Loropetalums, and other various shrubs that have dark foliage.

Name: Loropetalums Botanical: Loroptelaum Height x Width: 4-15' H x 4-8' W depending on variety Exposure: Full Sun is preferred but will tolerate some shade Bloom Color: Fuschia-Pink Bloom Time: Spring and Fall! Water: Low Features: Deep purple-red foliage contrasts wonderfully with the fringe-like fuschia-pink flowers in Spring and Fall. An excellent foundation or corner plant. Makes a nice low maintenance hedge or tree-form specimen too. 'Ruby', one of the low growing varieties makes an excellent substitute foe Azaleas in full sun areas. Companions: Soft Touch Holly, Dwarf Yaupon, Abelias, Dwarf Spirea, Junipers, Indian Hawthorne, Ornamental Grasses, Daisy Gardenia, Lantanas, and many more.

Name: Nandina 'Compacta' Botanical: Nandina domestica Height x Width: 3-4' H x 3' W Exposure: Full Sun or Shade Bloom Color: White followed by clusters of red berries Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low Features: Very adaptable low maintanence evergreen shrub similar in appearance to bamboo. Useful in foundation plantings, grouped in islands, or as a specimen in the perennial garden. Pretty white flower panicles are followed by red berries. Good screen for air conditioning units or other ultilities. Red to orange Winter foliage is outstanding. Companions: Mahonia, Azaleas, Hollies, Hydrangeas, Junipers, Daisy Gardenia, Hosta Lilies, Aucubas, Dogwoods, Red Bud Trees, and many many other plants and trees. Too many to name!

Name: Dwarf Nandina 'Firepower' Botanical: Nandina nana Height x Width: 2-3' H x 2' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Bloom Color: None - Bright red foliage in winter Bloom Time:   Water: Low Features: Global shaped dwarf form known for it's outstanding fire- red Winter foliage. Most effective when grouped in islands, foundation plantings, or on embankments. Good drainage is essential! Companions: All Junipers, Ornamental Grasses, Compacta Holly, Yucca, Rosy Glow Barberry, and others.

Name: Pittosporum 'Variegated' Botanical: Pittosporum Height x Width: 5-6' H x 6'+ W Exposure: FUll Sun or Afternoon Shade Bloom Color: None Bloom Time:   Water: Low Features: Very soft textured shrub with appealing variegated dusty grey-green and white foliage. Useful in foundation plantings under higher windows or in corners, grouped in islands, or as a low maintenance hedge. Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Abelias, Barberries, Loropetalums, Cotoneaster, Gardenias, Nandinas, Mahonia, and many more.

Name: Spirea 'Gold Mound' Botanical: Spirea Height x Width: 2-3' H x 3' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Pink Bloom Time: Summer into Fall Water: Low Features: Low, mounding shrub with outstanding bright yellow foliage. Clusters of light pink flowers are produced in abundance during Summer. Useful in foundation plantings, on the borders of islands, on embankments, and in the perennial garden. Low maintanence & drought tolerant. Companions: Other Spireas, Hollies, Junipers, Gardenias, Indian Hawthorne, Loropetalums, Barberries, Japanese Maples, Sedums, Dianthus and many other shrubs, perennials, and trees.

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Click on a category of shrubs below to view descriptive listing with photos

Flowering Shrubs	Low Maintenance Shrubs
Evergreen Shrubs	'Encore' Azaleas
Shrubs for Sun	Fragrant Shrubs
Shrubs for Shade	Foundation Shrubs
Fast Growing Shrubs	Berry Producing Shrubs
Drought Tolerant Shrubs	Hedge and Screen Shrubs
Native Shrubs	Fall Blooming Shrubs
Colorful Shrubs	All About Shrubs

 

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