Bushes That Keep Leaves Year-Round

Firebush

• The firebush (Hamelia patens) is classified as a long-blooming bush because the leaves bloom tubular flowers with a red-orange hue from summer until the first frost of the season. After the first frost, the flowers die off but the bush maintains its 8-inch-long leaves. During the blooming season, each flower measures 3/4 inch long and inside of the blossoms clusters of red berries begin to form. When fully grown, the firebush may be up to 3 feet tall and wide. The firebush grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 8, which features a minimum winter temperature of -7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Winterberry

• The winterberry holly shrub (Ilex verticillata) is native to the eastern United States, features oblong-shaped leaves and typically measures 5 to 15 feet tall when fully grown. From April to July, the winterberry holly shrub develops small yellowish-white flowers, which give way to bright red berries during the winter months. While the fruits created from the winterberry are eaten by more than 48 mammal and bird species, they are poisonous to humans. The winterberry holly shrub tolerates wet or dry soil and requires partial sun to thrive. You can grow this bush in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Japanese Rose

• The Japanese rose (Kerria japonica) is a low-to-the-ground multiseason shrub, which can grow up to 5 feet tall and form dense clumps of branches, leaves and flowers throughout its growth cycle. During the spring months the Japanese rose develops bright yellow flowers, but during the winter months the flowers give way to complex twigs and leaves. The Japanese rose tolerates most soils and can thrive in shade or sun. This plant grows best in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Leatherleaf Viburnum

• Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhtydophyllum) is a common residential bush because it is attractive throughout the year and is not complicated to grow and maintain. This shrub may grow up to 10 feet tall when mature and have a spread of at least 6 feet. Although the leatherleaf viburnum is a large bush, it is a slow grower, taking almost 10 years to reach full maturity. The leathery leaves of this shrub can grow up to 7 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide and feature an oblong shape. During late spring this shrub blooms tiny clusters of cream-yellow flowers, and in the fall the flowers give way to red oval-shaped berries eaten by songbirds. The leatherleaf viburnum grows best in well-drained soil in USDA zones 5 through 8.