Top 5 Medium-size Shrubs for Minnesota

#1 Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri)

• Compact shrub growing 5-6 feet tall & wide

• Fragrant, purple flowers in spring

• Other varieties include Bloomerang (re-bloomer)

#2 Weigela (Weigela)

• Shrub with wide variance in size & foliage (purplish or green)

• All varieties have trumpet flowers (pink, red) 

• Varieties include Shining Sensation, Red Prince, and Sonic Bloom

#3 Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

• Great shrub as single specimen or mass planting

• Most varieties grow between 6-8 feet tall & wide

• Wide range of sizes and types

• Most have white flowers in summer turning pink into fall

• Varieties include Limelight, Quick Fire and Vanilla Strawberry

#4 Barberry (Berberis)

• Upright shrub with long sprawling shoots of purple foliage good for natural hedges

• Foliage tends to look best when left alone (don’t over prune)

• Several varieties of smaller size with purple, yellow or orange foliage. 

#5 Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)

• Good individual specimen shrub

• Most varieties grow between 3-4 feet tall & wide

• Bottlebrush white flowers in summer

• Few smaller varieties include Ruby Spice, Sixteen Candles and Sugartina