Large Sunny Shrubs

For Flowers

• Sun-loving shrubs that flower add fragrance and color to the landscape. Tall varieties include the mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), a North American native that reaches heights to 15 feet. This evergreen has glossy, dark leaves and blooms in spring with clusters of showy pink flowers. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9. For aromatic blooms that last through the summer, plant a butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii). This deciduous shrub grows to 10 feet tall with an 8-foot spread and blooms with 10-inch-long panicles of purple, pink, yellow and white flowers that attract pollinators. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, this fast-growing shrub thrives in sunny, moist sites.

For Fruits

• Some full-sun shrubs produce edible fruits that attract wildlife or make a tasty treat for humans. The pomegranate (Punica granatum) grows to 15 feet tall with a 12-foot spread and has glossy foliage. This deciduous shrub blooms in spring with bright orange, pink, red and white blossoms, followed by edible red fruits in the autumn. It's hardy in USDA zones 7b to 10. The American cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus) reaches heights to 12 feet with a 15-foot spread. This North American native produces long-lasting red berries that make a tart jam. The American cranberry has dark, deciduous leaves that turn purple, red and yellow in fall. It's hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.

For Foliage

• Some shrubs are prized for their colorful foliage, such as the purple leaf sand cherry (Prunus x cistena). This deciduous shrub grows to 10 feet tall with a 7-foot spread. It's hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7 and has deep, red-purple foliage offset by white spring flowers and dark berries. The Chinese or redleaf photinia (Photinia glabra) has copper-red new growth that matures to a lustrous, deep green. This 12-foot-tall evergreen grows quickly and thrives in well-draining soil. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10.

For Screening

• For screening, choose an evergreen that'll keep its foliage year-round, such as the Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7, this evergreen grows quickly to 15 feet tall with an equal spread and prefers sandy, well-draining soil. It has dense, silver-green foliage and tolerates drought, salt spray and heavy pruning. The shrubby podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki) grows up to 35 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. This shrub's dark, needle-like foliage contrasts with its red-purple fruits. The shrubby podocarpus is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11 and thrives in a range of site conditions, including drought.