Shrubs are usually woody or semi-woody perennial plants; their branches arise from the base of the plants and grow up to the height of 3 to 4 meter. Many shrubs, which are more or less prostrate, make excellence ground flower. Availability of a large no of species & cultivars, a wide range of variation in shape & size of the plants, diversified types of leaves & growth habit, remarkable ranges of size, shape & color of flowers & the variety of fragrance have made the shrubs as important garden plants. Several species of shrubs have unusually attractive colors.

Most of the shrubs are hardy & grow in all types of soil with little attention. Although some plants flower almost through out the year, in most cases they are seasonal. A selection can be made in such a way that some plants in the shrubbery will be in bloom in any season of the year. Shrub flowers regularly every year in almost all the attractive colors: - white, light yellow, golden yellow, pink, scarlet, crimson, rose, violate, light blue, deep blue, red etc. Some of them are sweet-scented. Most of these plants are fairly quick growing and when vegetatively propagated, start flowering in the first year. Plants like Bauhinia Acuminata (Kanchon), Cassia Alata (Candle Bush), Vinca Rosea (Nayantara) which are usually grown from seeds also produced flowers in the first year.

Shrubs can be classified into three groups according to the requirement of the sunlight for growth & flowering: -

• Show normal growth & flowering in full sun
• Grow only in partial shade.
• Grow well in both in sun & semi-shady condition.

Most of the tropical flowering shrubs are sun loving and growth & flowering are adversely affected in shade like Coleus, Duranta Repens Variegata, Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis (Jaba), Tabernaemontana Coronaria (Tagar).

Plants like Magnolia Pumilla, Nandina Domestica, Calliandra Brevipes, Mussaenda Erythrophylla grow well in partial shade in ful sun these plants show signs of scorching during the hot weather & suffer in dry heat. Foliage shrubs like Codiaeum (Croton), Polyscias (Aralia), Eranthemum grow well in shade.

The following species grow well in full sun and also in semi shadeJatropha Panduraefolia, Ravenia Spectabilis, Brunfelsia Undulata, Crossandra (Firecracker Plant), Turnera Ulmifolia, etc.

In addition to their utility as flowering or foliage plants, shrubs are also used as hedges & for screening. Hardy dwarf shrubs like Gardenia Jasminoides, Lantana Camara Depressa, Malpighia Coccigera, Plumbago Capensis, Russelia Juncea are also grown in rockery to add color.

Before planting shrubs, think carefully about the location and size of the plants. Plants them in a place where they should not obstruct other flowerbeds, plants etc. though you can prune them but carefully think about the size when they will be fully-grown so that they should not towered over other plants.