How to Find a Shrub by Flower

Compare the time when the shrub blooms. Most flower in the spring, such as forsythia and spice bush. Potentilla, honeysuckle and Scotch broom produce flowers through the summer. The the other end of the extreme, witch hazel blooms in mid-to-late winter.

Narrow down the shrub by identifying which hardiness zone you live in. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a Cold Hardiness Zone to help you identify yours. This provides you with a lot of information on which shrubs will survive in your area.

Notice the bloom shape and size. Shrub flowers vary in both. Some, like rhododendron, have showy blooms and others grow small clusters such as Scotch broom and forsythia. Others, such as potentilla and spice bush have tiny, individual blooms.

Examine the shrubs to see if there are fruits present. They have many defining attributes and can point you in the right direction when identifying a plant. Observe the color and shape of the fruit and whether the skin is hard, soft, glossy or fuzzy to the touch. Also look for nuts or seeds.

Write down observations in a notebook. Focus on the features that make the shrub stand out such as color, size, form, growing habitat and texture. Sketch the flowers if possible.

Take pictures of the shrub. Zoom in to distinguishing characteristics such as the leaves and flowers. Take several shots of each shrub and put them in your notebook along with the plant description.

Compare the pictures of the flowering shrub to those in a plant identification guidebook such as Rogers Trees and Shrubs. Use a guidebook with picture to help make the process faster and easier.

Find a lilac bush by noticing its light purple, dark purple, white or red flowers in the late spring to mid-June. They grow in small clusters along a large section of the stem, creating a cone-like shape. Lilac bushes can be pruned to stay compact, or allowed to grow into trees. The scent is also a distinguishable feature. The sweet smell can be noticed from a distance away.

Look for vibrant flowers in reds, purples, pinks or whites. This may be an azalea. The flowers grow in clusters and are tube-like. They bloom in the spring, while the leaves stay green year-round. Azalea bushes grow large and can be used as a privacy border.

Notice butterflies around butterfly bushes. This plant is smaller in shape than lilacs and azaleas, but has colorful flowers in a cone-like shape. The shape actually resembles that of a butterfly in the wind. Butterflies enjoy eating the flowers' nectar.

Find oleander bushes because of their large showy blooms, with petals up to one inch in length. The flowers have a long tube and bloom in vibrant colors in the spring. Oleander can grow large and the leaves stay green, making it good to use as a privacy hedge.