July 2025 Trends, Variety Info

Shrubs still rule By Gabrielle Rippel

When it comes to woody shrubs, hydrangeas are king, according to Alec Charais, chief marketing and product development officer at Bailey Nurseries. However, in order to prevent flooding the market, it’s important they have a marketable reason for that shrub to exist. 

“It must be producible, interesting, beautiful and offer the consumer something they will be proud of,” Charais said. 

Natalie Carmolli, public relations specialist at Spring Meadow Nurseries, agrees

that every new shrub on the market has a purpose. 

“Our goal is to deliver plants that are easier to produce, look better in the container, and make gardening and landscaping easier and more rewarding,” she said. 

Whether it’s appearance, resiliency or positive environmental and ecosystem impact, there are many exciting trends consumers can look forward to in 2025. 

“We believe the best growing techniques are constantly evolving through a practice of careful observation, following nature and committing to constant improvement,” said Brett Cromly, general manager of Monrovia Nursery in Oregon.

SHOWSTOPPING SHRUBBERY 

Whether it’s a flower or foliage, Charais believes that color always sells. “Consumers tend to gravitate toward impulse — many times even when they [already] have a project in mind,” Charais said. 

Burning bush, for example, is a shrub that many people gravitate to due to the massive amount of color it brings to fall landscapes — despite its invasive nature, Carmolli said. 

Shape and durability can directly impact a shrub’s visual appeal. A hallmark of the Monrovia hydrangea is its excellent branching for a fuller shrub. Cromly said that frequent mowing and pruning from an early stage and knowing when to stop for the season will ensure the following spring buds are ready. 

At Spring Meadow, the ‘Incrediball Storm Proof’ smooth hydrangea is the strongest and most floriferous version. Carmolli said this hydrangea produces more blooms per plant and has stems strong enough to remain unfazed by the strongest storms in the area. 

Similarly, wanting to eliminate the burden on consumers, Bailey Nurseries FlowerFull Smooth hydrangea from First Editions removes the issue of heavy flowers that fall after wind and rain events. This means a plant’s strength is also one of its greatest beauties. 

RAISING RESILIENCY 

“Hydrangeas need more attention and special treatment to get them ready for shipping in different climates,” Cromly said. 

Vastly different climates like Oregon, California, Georgia and Connecticut illustrate the need for diverse resiliency. 

“It starts with healthy roots [and] good genetics; ‘Seaside Serenade’ is naturally more compact and requires less growth regulators,” Cromly said. 

Ensuring resiliency is key to a plant’s survivability, Spring Meadow Nursery has created the ‘Let’s Dance Sky View’ continuous blooming hydrangea to perform better than other hybrid sets.

“It buds at every leaf node, so even if the ends are damaged it will still bloom,” Carmolli said. Being bred in Michigan means this hydrangea will thrive, not just survive, in Zone 4. 

“We evaluate [plants] every step of the way,” Charais said. “Our distylium was ‘the greatest shrub you never heard of,’ but now it’s widely used because of its ability to handle a wide range of soil conditions and have little to no pest issues,” he said. 

LOOKING FORWARD 

One of the most important trends in shrubs doesn’t have to do with appearance or resilience but rather ecosystem contribution. 

“Interest in natives is definitely there and trending up. Natives and eco-friendly initiatives continue to carry more and more weight with consumers, especially younger consumers who may be more socialor cause- driven,” Charais said. 

“There has always been interest in native plants, but what I’m seeing now is an uptick in people who are learning how all plants contribute to the ecosystem,” Carmolli said. 

“About a third of our plants are native cultivars, so we’re heavily interested in native species and the advantages they provide. Gardeners are also becoming more familiar with the concept of planting natives and non-natives together, which increases biodiversity,” Carmolli said. 

However, the ecosystem must have checks and balances. Carmolli said Spring Meadow Nursery has worked with breeders to produce sterile varieties of consumer favorites, like the burning bush. A new cultivar, ‘Fire Ball Seedless,’ has the durability and inferno-red color expected from the traditional and invasive burning bush but without the risk of spreading to wild areas. 

With growers evolving alongside their purposeful, resilient plants, it’s easy to see why shrubs will remain a staple in gardens for years to come. 

“I think shrubs will continue to trend upward. In an uncertain economy, shrubs offer a lasting investment,” Carmolli said. ”Shrubs provide structure, privacy and visual interest year after year, making them a low-maintenance, cost-effective choice.”