The Low-Maintenance Garden: Easy Flowering Shrubs That Sprout in the Spring

The first brilliant blooms of spring can be a sight for sore eyes after a glacial winter. But some of the season's most stunning flowers are also the most grueling to grow. Here are six low-maintenance flowering shrubs that offer visual allure without any of the arduous labor.
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Quince

Much like forsythia, quince branches can be forced for a brilliant indoor display. In order to promote indoor growth, quince branches must be clipped on a diagonal and provided with both consistent hydration and balmy temperatures. Carr encourages gardeners to mind the large spines along the plant's stems when tending to quince. 

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Rhododendrons

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A prolific plant prone to great growth, rhododendrons can increase in height to 10 feet or more over time. Rhododendrons are evergreen spring flowering shrubs that prefer gardens in the shade, and the genus makes a particularly shrewd choice for screening due to its impressive vertical measurement. 

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Viburnum

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There are many different viburnum varieties, each offering sweet-smelling flowers and vividly colored that yield fruit for summer and lush flowers. Bodnant viburnum in particular is renowned for its blush-hued, winter-blossoming flowers that lend life to an otherwise spare, dormant landscape. 

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Lilacs

Learn More About Lilac Care

Lilacs are an extensive group of scented treelike shrubs. The flowering species is available in seemingly endless tones of blue, pink, and white; each variation of which requires little care to produce beautiful blooms. 

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Camellias

The camellia is a Southern flowering evergreen shrub known for its fragrant aroma and delicate array of aesthetically pleasing hues, which range from cream to fuchsia. However, Carr advises checking the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map before purchasing the plant, as camellias are not hardy in northern climates.

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Spirea

"Spirea makes a great foundation shrub that can be easily pruned and hedged after flowering," Carr states. Spirea also happens to be a deer-resistant species, making the species an excellent choice for gardens that attract grazing animals. 

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