Fifteen shrubs for summer colour

Arepertoire for reliable and easy shrubs to grow for their flowers or coloured foliage. Some of these should be in every shrub or mixed border.

• Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) Bushy semi-evergreen which produces its tubular pink and white flowers from mid-summer to mid-autumn. 1.5-1.8m/5-6ft, soon attained. Needs a warm, sunny sheltered spot and well-drained soil.

• Barberry(Berberis x ottawensis Purpurea’) Vigorous shrub grown for its large oval, rich red-purple foliage. Quickly attains 2.4-3.6m/8-12ft. Grows on any soil, particularly good on chalk, and best in full sun.

• Butterfly bush(Buddleia davidii varieties) Highly popular deciduous shrub, producing long, thick spikes of flowers in late summer and autumn, which attract butterflies. Colours include shades of red, purple, blue, pink and white. Best to cut hard back in early spring each year, when new shoots can reach a height of 1.8-2.4m/6-8ft. Lovely honey-like scent. Any soil, good on chalk, full sun.

• Deutzia(Deutzia hybrids) Bushy deciduous shrubs with masses of starry flowers over a long period. Varieties come in pink, purple or white shades. 1.2-1.8m/4-6ft, quickly achieved. Any well-drained soil in a sunny spot or dappled shade. Cut out old flowered stems immediately after flowering.

• Dogwood (Cornus kousa chinensis) Bushy spreading shrub with four-petalled white flowers in early summer. Leaves turn crimson in autumn before they fall. At least 3m/10ft. Likes a fertile soil and full sun.

• Escallonia(Escallonia hybrids) Bushy evergreen shrubs, ideal for coastal gardens. Inland, they need a sheltered site. Provide full sun and well-drained soil — good on chalk. Many varieties, with masses of flowers in shades of red, pink or white. 1.5-2.4m/5-8ft, soon attained.

• Fuchsia magellanicaAnother good seaside shrub, with a long succession of crimson and purple bell-like flowers.

• Deciduous. Can quickly attain 1.2-1.8m/4-6ft. Needs well- drained but humus-rich soil and plenty of sun. In cold areas stems may be killed by frost — in which case prune hard back.

• Golden mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius `Aureus) There is no finer gold-leaved deciduous shrub. For best colour grow in partial shade. Will reach about 1.8m/8ft in a few years. Any soil, good on chalk. Prune back old flowered stems immediately after flowering.

• Hibiscus(Hibiscus syriacus) Bushy deciduous shrub producing large cup-shaped flowers in summer and autumn. Many varieties in shades of red, pink, purple, blue and white. 3m/lOft. Likes a rich, well-drained soil and a sheltered spot in full sun.

• Shrubby cinquefoil(Potentilla fruticosa varieties) These have the longest flowering period of any shrub. Flowers resemble single roses, in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, cream and white. Heights vary from 60-120cm/2-4ft quickly attained. Good for hot, dry spots. Trim over lightly after flowering.

• Shrubby veronica(Hebe x franciscana ‘Blue Gem’) Bushy evergreen shrub with a long succession of violet-blue flowers in spikes. 1.2m/4ft, quickly attained. Needs a warm sheltered spot in full sun, with well-drained soil. Good chalk. Trim off dead flowers.

• Smoke tree(Cotinus coggygria Purpureis’) One of the best deciduous shrubs for purple foliage. Leaves turn light red in autumn. About 3.6m/12ft. Any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

• Snowball tree(Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’) Large round heads of white flowers, like snowballs. A large vigorous shrub: at least 3.6m/12ft. Any soil, good on chalk, sun or partial shade. Watch out for blackfly in summer.

• Sun rose (Cistus ‘Silver Pink‘) One of the hardiest sun roses. An evergreen bush with large silvery pink flowers like single roses. Soon reaches 60-90cm/2-3ft. Ideal for a hot, dry spot.

• Weigela (Weigela hybrids) Easily grown deciduous shrubs producing masses of pink, red or white funnel-shaped flowers in early summer. Quickly grows to 1.5-1.8m15-6ft. Any soil in sun or partial shade. Cut back old flowered shoots to new ones lower down, immediately after flowering.

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