Yes, to reduce annual garden maintenance some gardeners are switching to space-saving flowering shrubs. Patio gardeners are popping compact shrubs into containers such as spireas, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, chaste tree, weigelias, and buddleias. They’re looking to add color and reduce their maintenance workload.  

Numerous new [rose] varieties have been created that are relatively resistant to the defoliating fungus disease black spot that allows them to grow and flower non-stop for several months. They’re indeed easy to care for and highly fragrant.

Roses have changed so much over the past quarter century. More buyers are opting for the easy growing species roses such as Brindabella™, Oso Easy® and Flower Carpet® series, ‘Ringo’, ‘At Last’, and lots more. Many are very fragrant.

Many panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) bloom in July and, color-wise, the blossoms age gracefully, beautiful over two plus months. Best in the group are: ‘Bobo’, ‘Little Quickfire’, and reblooming H. serrata ‘Tuff Stuff’ and hybrid ‘Arriba’.

Dwarf chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) are now available in shorter forms. Breeders are just starting to work on these plants. Blue Diddley® and Blue Puffball™ are currently available and more are coming. Both varieties grow only 3-4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, a mound-shaped plant with deep blue, fragrant flowers from June to August. Flowers form on new growth. In colder climates dwarf forms can be used as a perennial or dieback shrub and emerge with new fresh growth in the spring.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) have changed so much. I am in love with the Lo and Behold® and Pugster® series from PW and Walters Gardens’ Cascade series. The flower panicles are enormous at 12-14″ long and 4″ thick. The flower panicles continue to sprout new shoots until the cool fall weather arrives.