Shrubs for summer flowers

SMALLER and bushier than trees, shrubs have a permanent structure of woody stems and form the mainstay of most gardens. Whether deciduous or evergreen, their twiggy structures add height and dimensions, shade out weeds and enclose gardens to make them feel secluded.

Their leafy stems and nectar-rich flowers are great for wildlife, too, providing roosting and nesting sites for birds and attracting pollinating insects. There are many characterful summer-flowering shrubs of all shapes and sizes ready to improve the outline and performance of your garden. They’ll take well planted now into warm soil as long as they can be watered during dry spells.

Summer-flowering favourite

Choosing from many lovely plants is a challenge, so I asked renowned plantsman Roy Lancaster to nominate a favourite summer-flowering shrub. “It has to be ‘Belle Étoile’ which I wouldn’t be without” he said. “I value