BROADCASTS.com

If you\u2019re looking to add some heft to the spring garden, but don\u2019t want to overwhelm genteel bulbs or ephemeral perennials then dwarf, spring-flowering shrubs are the answer. These little powerhouses are quick to put on new growth in the early part of the season and often sport blossoms in soft hues which will compliment the pastel colors that dominate May and June. Today\u2019s requirements are simple: the shrubs mentioned must stay under 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and they must flower before the summer solstice. You might think this is a tall order for any plant to fill (Peter certainly thinks so) but there are a surprising number of candidates that are up to challenge. \xa0\xa0

Expert guest: Julie Lane Gay is a garden designer and horticultural writer in British Columbia, Canada.

\xa0

Danielle\u2019s Plants

Yuki Cherry Blossom \xae deutzia (Deutzia 'NCDX2', Zones 5-8)

Baby Kim\xae lilac (Syringa 'SMNSDTP', Zones 3-8)

\u2018Cora Louise\u2019 Itoh peony (Paeonia 'Cora Louise', Zones 4-9)

\u2018Jim\u2019s Pride\u2019 daphne (Daphne \xd7 transatlantica \u2018Jim's Pride\u2019, Zones 5-9)

\xa0

Carol\u2019s Plants

Perpetua\xae blueberry (Vaccinium 'ORUS-61-1', Zones 4-8)

Dwarf red-leaved sand cherry (Prunus x cistena, Zones 2-8)

Sugar Baby\xae forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'NIMBUS', Zones 5-8)

Double Play\xae Candy Corn\xae Spirea (Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1\u2019, Zones 4-8)

\xa0

Expert\u2019s Plants

Dwarf sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, Zones 6-9)

Eternal Fragrance \xae daphne (Daphne \xd7 transatlantica 'Blafra', Zones 5-9)

\u2018Wabi-Sabi' dwarf viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Wabi-Sabi', Zones 5-8)

\xa0

A link to expert Julie Lane Gay\u2019s article on dwarf shrubs:

https://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/gardening-basics/surprising-shrubs-for-small-spaces