Zone 5 Bushes With Light Pink Flowers on the Stem

Spireas

• Butterflies and bees flit and buzz about the western spirea's (Spiraea douglasii) light pink flowers, which the Washington State University Clark County Extension describes as looking like "cotton candy cones." This native of Zone 5 in the far West grows to 6 feet high and forms thickets in wet areas, perfect for small animals to use as protection. Spirea japonica "Golden Princess" is a Japanese spirea cultivar with golden leaves and soft pink flowers. This compact deciduous shrub handles Zone 5 in full sun, working well along foundations. "Little Princess" is another Japanese spirea with light pink flowering effect, growing to 30 inches and blooming from May into July.

Rhododendrons

• Rock gardens or woodland gardens in Zone 5 are suitable venues for the rhododendron cultivar "Mist Maiden." Growing to 5 feet, this evergreen bush produces a light pink flower that fades to white. Zone 5 is the coldest region for planting the "Maxecat" cultivar. Its dark evergreen leaves contrast sharply with the light pink flowers that open in May. "Ken Janeck" has oversized foliage to go with its light pink flowers. This is a small rhododendron at between 2 to 3 feet high.

Beautybush

• The beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) belongs to the honeysuckle family. "Pink Cloud" grows to 10 feet in Zone 5, making it useful as a screen or hedge. Pink Cloud blooms during April and May, turning out light pink flowers shaped like bells. These flower clusters have a tint of yellow inside their "throats," notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. Light pink flowers are not the only highlight of "Dream Catcher." This bush grows between 6 and 9 feet, with leaves seemingly changing in color constantly. The foliage starts out a shade of copper, goes to yellow by May, chartreuse in summer and then turns orange and deep yellow in autumn.

Roses

• The Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) is a native plant in Zone 5 in the Pacific Northwest, growing to 8 feet tall. Its light pink roses bloom from May into July, with the fragrant, five-petaled flowers generating red rose hips. These remain on the bush in fall and into the winter months, giving the bush interest after its leaves come off. You can form attractive hedges with the "Amiga Mia" shrub rose cultivar. Its shell pink flowers bloom from May until a Zone 5 frost puts an end to the blooming period. "Baby Blanket" is a small shrub rose, used for ground cover in some landscapes. Its light pink flowers bloom from June to frost.