Shrubs that look good in June

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 23 March 2020 at 10:29 am

We pick some of the best shrubs to grow for interest in June, including our fragranced favourites.

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Every garden should have its fair share of shrubs, so it's only right that they look the part.

If it's some everlasting structure and colour you're after, then consider an evergreen plant for shade – it's easy to propagate evergreen shrubs, too. Want maximum blooms? Here's how to prune shrubs for more flowers.

What to plant in June

Discover five gorgeous shrubs that look good in June, below.

Lavatera

Pictured is Lavatera maritima, which has white blooms flushed in the centre with a rich purple-pink. Other tree mallows will also be coming into bloom now, including 'Barnsley' and 'Rosea'.

Lavatera maritima

White and purple lavatera blooms

Deutzia

By June, deutzia should be awash with starry blooms. They flower on growth from the previous year, so be sure to prune them immediately after flowering to encourage plenty of new growth, which will produce next year's flowers. Here are seven shrubs to prune after flowering.

Pink deutzia

Starry, pink deutzias

Philadelphus

Every garden should have philadelphus, or mock orange, for their heady scent alone. Philadelphus 'Lemoinei' is said to be the most highly fragranced mock orange. As with deutzias, prune right after flowering.

Philadelphus maculatus

White-blooming mock orange

Hebe

Most hebe species and cultivars will be flowering in June. This includes the more familiar cultivars like 'Paula' and 'Nicola's Blush', as well as those more novel like Hebe cupressoides 'Boughton Dome' (pictured).

Hebe cupressoides

Small, lilac-white flowers of hebe 'Boughton Dome'

Roses

Ever reliable, most roses should flower from May and June onwards. Keep deadheading to encourage repeat flushes of the blooms.

Pink roses

Bright-pink roses

Philadelphus: nine of the best

Philadelphus 'Frosty Morn': bush and compact, intense scent, double white flowers
Philadelphus 'Virginal': very fragrant, large double white flowers, a large shrub
Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile': very hardy, arching growth habit, fragrant single flowers
Philadelphus 'Lemoinei': extremely fragrant, single white flowers with lemon-yellow stamens, very hardy
Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine': compact, intense fragrance, double creamy-white flowers
Philadelphus 'Starbright': purple tinted new growth, large single flowers, fragrant
Philadelphus 'Snowstorm': very hardy, scented white double flowers, vigorous grower
Philadelphus 'Mont Blanc': white single flowers, intense fragrance, very hardy
Philadelphus 'Mexican Jewel': white single flowers, intense fragrance, needs a sheltered spot

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