Don't overlook the value of flowering shrubs as an integral part of any landscape. With a little effort, plants can be selected which will keep the flowers coming from early spring and throughout the summer.

We all know about the common forsythia, lilacs and honeysuckles found in most yards. But, there are many more shrubs that are commonly available that will provide additional color and, often, fragrance to the home landscape (USDA Zone 5).

For mid-summer flowering, it is hard to beat the - Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora). This relative of the - Horsechestnut forms large white spikes of flowers that standout in the landscape. The large, compound leaves are also attractive throughout the summer.

The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) produces clumps of flowers ranging in color from white to dark purple. As the name implies, the shrub is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. The stems are marginally hardy for this area but, if it dies to the ground in the winter, it will produce a new shrub the following summer from the ground up.

Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus)is a trouble free plant for the back of the border. Its rust brown flowers are unusual and the sweet scent of the plant is very pleasant. Check the plant for fragrance before purchasing it since some of the newer cultivars may lack it.

An old standby is the - Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) which now has many hybrid cultivars on the market. Many are capable of a beautiful display for a couple of weeks in the spring. Their glossy green foliage provides a good background for other plants the rest of the time.

For fragrance in the later summer, it is hard to beat summer sweet or (Clethra alnifolia). This plant will take partial shade and a moist site. Its fragrant flowers will be noticed from quite a distance on a warm summer day.

Small - Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) is a nice, small specimen plant for the mixed border. In the early spring, it produces puffs of white flower spikes. This plant provides brilliant yellow, orange and scarlet fall color too.

Don't forget new cultivars of rose-of-sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) for summer color. Some of the named cultivars have huge flowers and may work as a specimen in the landscape.

The mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is free flowering and very fragrant in June. Many cultivars are now available in a number of different sizes.

For a lilac type of flower, try the Chinese lilac (Syringa chinensis) as an alternative to the - Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). The Chinese lilacs flower a little later than the - Common Lilac and their flowers are a bit more "elegant". This species is less susceptible to the powdery mildew which plagues - Common Lilac in late summer.

Every yard should have several different viburnums (
Viburnum species) as a minimum. There are several hundred different species and dozens of them are available in the nursery trade. The doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum), Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) and Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii) are 3 to consider.

The doublefile viburnum has horizontal branching and beautiful white flowers borne on top of the plant in early spring. Koreanspice viburnums are hard to beat for fragrance while their white to pink flowers are in bloom in early spring. Burkwood viburnums are also fragrant and have glossy, semi-evergreen foliage on a rounded plant.

Consider these shrubs to fill that niche in the landscape. Most of them have many different named cultivars with different flower colors. Before planting, consider the ultimate size of the plant and be sure that it will fit the site when mature. Many of these plants have dwarf types available too.