Long Flowering Shrubs

Glossy Abelia

• From May into September, the glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) blossoms, putting out flowers that look like bells. The blossoms are pink but have a white tinge to them, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. Glossy abelia, part of the honeysuckle group, has multiple stems and grows to heights between 3 and 6 feet. The shrub still has color in autumn as its foliage changes to shades of purple. Glossy abelia flowers best when you plant it in full sunshine.

Rose of Sharon

• Although the rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) flowers best during July, August and September, it sometimes begins to blossom in June and continues through October. Many hybrids of this Asian native shrub exist, such as Diana and Pink Giant, notes the University of Connecticut Plant Database. The shrub has a vase-like shape, and grows to between 8 and 12 feet tall. Rose of Sharon flowers possess five distinct petals and come in many colors, including pink, red, yellow and white.

Smooth Hydrangea

• An entire summer of flowers is what you can expect from the smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), a native of much of the eastern United States. In wild settings, it grows to 10 feet, but by cutting it back to between 1 and 2 feet high in winter, you can keep it manageable. The shrub will still grow as tall as 6 feet by the end of the growing season. The flowers are white and emerge in clusters from 4 to 6 inches across in June. The smooth hydrangea blossoms through September and grows best in somewhat shady areas.

Butterfly Bush Honeycomb

• Most butterfly bush types have extended blooming periods and the Honeycomb cultivar (Buddleja x weyeriana) is no exception, flowering from June through October. Keep it pruned down, since it grows as much as 7 feet in a single year. Maximum heights of 12 feet are possible with this shrub, which attracts many kinds of butterflies with its aromatic orange-yellow flowers. Honeycomb prefers full sun and well-drained sites. Remove the wilted, dead flowers to encourage more blooming.