7 shrubs to plant in April to transform beds and borders – including native plants and bushes suitable for dry or wet spots

Planting shrubs can transform a garden as they add color, texture, and interest to a space year after year. If you strive to breathe new life into beds and borders, April is an ideal time to plant a wide range of shrubs.

When you look for shrubs to plant in April, garden centers and nurseries will be full of container shrubs primed to be planted. After the frosts have ended, shrubs can be added to your beds as the soil is warm and moist - the perfect conditions for putting down roots.

This selected list of shrubs to plant in April contains popular favorites and native plants that can add beautiful blooms and long seasonal interest to any flower beds.

7 shrubs to plant in April

The following shrubs are all ideal for planting this month, and container-grown plants are commonly available to take home and add to your backyard.

1. Arrowwood Viburnum

An arrowwood viburnum, or southern arrowwood, is a native North American viburnum species with white flowers in spring and bluish-black fruits. It makes a great small flowering shrub for a wildlife garden as the flowers and fruit attract bees, butterflies, and birds.

Plant an arrowwood viburnum in early spring after the final frosts to give it time to put down roots before the temperatures rise in summer. It wants a spot with full sun and well-draining, slightly acidic soil.

2. Azalea

Azaleas are popular shrubs for filling flower beds or containers with a bounty of color in spring. They are best planted in fall or early spring during their dormant period. April can be ideal for planting azaleas as the soil is warm and moist, allowing the shrub to establish strong roots.

Success with growing azaleas starts with planting them in the right location - azaleas have specific likes and dislikes. They prefer growing in acidic soil and partial shade or dappled sun. Don’t plant them too deep as they are shallow-rooting. The root ball wants to sit just beneath the soil surface.

3. Buttonbush

Buttonbush is a native plant in North America suitable for wetter areas of your backyard.

This fast-growing and low-maintenance shrub is adored by bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds who flock to its unique white and spiky flowers. It is suitable for planting in US hardiness zones 4-9 and can grow between six and 12 feet tall.

Plant a buttonbush in a sunny spot and somewhere moist. It prefers wetter conditions, such as in a rain garden or at the edge of a garden pond, and can even thrive in shallow standing water. When planted somewhere too dry, it will require regular watering.

4. Highbush cranberry

A highbush cranberry, also known as the American cranberry, isn’t a type of cranberry but a viburnum. Despite not being a cranberry, it produces edible red fruits that are best cooked rather than eaten raw. Highbush cranberry shrubs also have showy white flowers in spring.

Plant a highbush cranberry in a full sun spot; it can grow in part shade, but more sun means a better crop of berries. They like rich, well-draining soil and are drought-tolerant shrubs once established, but will benefit from deep watering during dry periods.

5. Roses

Roses are adored as glamorous and long-flowering shrubs to add to flower beds or containers. When choosing what rose varieties to plant, there is a gloriously diverse range of colors, sizes, textures, and scents to choose from.

The window to plant bare-root roses ends in March, however, you can plant container-grown plants in early spring. Plant your roses in a sunny and sheltered spot in the backyard. Some varieties tolerate shade, but it is best to check any particular type. Adding compost to the site before planting will boost fertility and soil structure to help it establish in its new home.

When planting, the graft of the rose wants to be slightly below the soil level to prevent suckers.

See the range of roses at Nature Hills

6. Russian sage

Russian sage is a great choice for low-maintenance and drought-tolerant planting. The versatile shrub can thrive in many environments and soil types, ranging from flower beds to rock gardens.

Spring is an ideal time to plant Russian sage somewhere it can get at least six hours of daily sunlight. It may be an adaptable shrub, but it will thrive in drier, rockier, well-draining soils rather than waterlogged conditions.

7. Witch hazel

Witch hazels make fantastic shrubs for color in winter and early spring, where little else is out in the garden, and you can plant them in April to enjoy their glorious displays next winter.

Container-grown witch hazel varieties can be added to your backyard ideas in early spring after the last frost. It gives them many months to get established before getting the winter chill they need for flowering.

Grow witch hazel in a sunny or dappled shade spot where they are protected from harsh winter winds. The soil must be well-draining to avoid shrubs struggling in waterlogged soil during winter.

It is not just flowering shrubs that can be planted this month to spruce up a yard. There are also lots of options for fruits to plant in April, as a range of fruit trees and bushes will all establish quickly when planted this month to provide you a glorious haul of homegrown fruit for years to come.

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