Selecting shrubs with different seasons of interest in the form of flowers and or berries creates a dynamic feel to your garden.

Below are selections for dry or moist shade, exposed positions, hedges and ground covers. It excludes conifers but many great selections of these can be found on the RHS Find a Plant.

Before choosing a shrub it is important to understand your garden. Here are a few points to consider before making your choice; 

• A suitable soil test (RHS Soil Analysis Service) will help identify the soil texture and acidity or alkalinity which will influence the range of suitable plants. Acid-loving (lime-hating) or ericaceous shrubs grow best in a pH range of 4-6, and ideally pH 5-5.5. 
• Note the number of hours of sunshine the position receives as the seasons change
• Consider the ultimate height and spread of the shrub as well as rate of growth
• Assess the microclimate of your garden and choose suitable plants

This selection consists of usually widely available, evergreen shrubs for general garden use and many of the cultivars listed have received the Award of Garden Merit. Plants are grouped by flowering time, foliage colour and for specific growing conditions.

Key

v = variegated

Shrubs with ornamental berries and fruit

Arbutus unedo – Native to Ireland
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (v) – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ AGM
Berberis × media ‘Parkjuweel'
Cotoneaster bullatus, C. microphyllus, C. × watereri ‘John Waterer’
Gaultheria mucronata ‘Bell’s Seedling’ AGM, G. procumbens AGM, G. shallon – lime hating
Ilex aquifolium AGM - Native to GB and Ireland, I. × altaclerensis (many)
Mahonia aquifolium, M. japonica AGM
Nandina domestica
Photinia davidiana (syn. Stranvaesia)
Pyracantha (many)
Ruscus aculeatus - Native to GB
Skimmia japonica, S. japonica subsp. reevesiana ‘Robert Fortune’
Viburnum davidii AGM

Flowering shrubs arranged by the season of flowering

a) Spring (March to May)
Andromeda polifolia 'Blue Ice' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Berberis darwinii AGM, B. linearifolia, B. × lologensis, B. ‘Goldilocks’
Camellia japonica, C. sasanqua, C. × williamsii – lime hating
Choisya ternata AGM
Cistus laurifolius, C. × purpureus AGM
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
Erica carnea, E. × darleyensis
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ AGM
× Halimiocistus sahucii AGM
Leptospermum scoparium – lime hating
Mahonia aquifolium, M. japonica AGM
Osmanthus × burkwoodii AGM
Pieris floribunda, P. formosa, P. japonica
Rhododendron (many) – lime hating
Rosmarinus officinalis
Skimmia japonica
Viburnum tinus
Vinca major, V. minor – Archaeophyte to GB and Ireland

b) Summer (June to August)
Berberis darwinii AGM, B. linearifolia 'Orange King', B. × lologensis 'Stapehill', B. ‘Goldilocks’ AGM
Calluna vulgaris – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Cistus × cyprius AGM, C. laurifolius, C. × purpureus AGM
Daboecia cantabrica – Native to Ireland – lime hating
Desfontainia spinosa AGM
Erica cinerea, E. vagans – Both native to GB and Ireland
Escallonia (many) 
× Halimiocistus sahucii AGM
Hypericum forrestii AGM, H. ‘Hidcote’ AGM, H. ‘Rowallane’ AGM
Kalmia latifolia – lime hating
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ AGM
Magnolia grandiflora
Olearia × haastii
Osmanthus delavayi AGM
Pyracantha (many)
Rhododendron (many) – lime hating
Santolina chamaecyparissus, S. rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia
Teucrium fruticans (wall-side)
Thymus serpyllum – Native to GB and Ireland 
Vinca major, V. minor – Archaeophyte to GB and Ireland 
Yucca flaccida ‘Ivory’ AGM

c) Autumn (September to November)
Calluna vulgaris – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Camellia sasanqua – lime hating
Daboecia cantabrica – Native to Ireland – lime hating
Desfontainia spinosa AGM
Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’ (v) AGM, E. × ebbingei AGM
Erica carnea
E. cinerea, E. vagans – Both native to GB and Ireland
Escallonia (many)
Fatsia japonica AGM
× Halimiocistus sahucii AGM
Hypericum forrestii AGM, H. ‘Hidcote’ AGM, H. ‘Rowallane’ AGM
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ AGM
Mahonia × media ‘Charity’AGM
Vinca major

d) Winter (December to February)
Camellia japonica, C. sasanqua, C. × williamsii – lime hating
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
Eleagnus × submacrophylla AGM
Erica carnea, E. × darleyensis
Fatsia japonica AGM
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ AGM
Mahonia × media ‘Charity’, M. japonica AGM
Rhododendron (many) – lime hating
Skimmia japonica
Viburnum tinus

Shrubs with ornamental foliage

a) Golden-yellow or variegated
Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ (v), A. japonica ‘Variegata’ (v)
Calluna vulgaris ‘Beoley Gold’ AGM, C. vulgaris ‘Gold Haze’, C. vulgaris ‘Multicolor – lime hating - All cultivars of Native to GB and Ireland
Choisya ternata ‘Lich’ Sundance AGM
Cotoneaster atropurpureus ‘Variegatus’ (v) AGM
Elaeagnus × ebbingei ‘Limelight’ (v) AGM, E. × ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’ (v) AGM, E. pungens ‘Maculata’ (v)
Erica carnea ‘Aurea’ – lime hating
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ (v) AGM, E. fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (v) AGM, E. fortunei ‘Silver Queen’ (v) AGM,  E. japonicus ‘Ovatus Aureus’ AGM
Griselinia littoralis ‘Variegata’
Ilex × altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ (v) AGM,  I. aquifolium ‘Silver Queen’ (v) AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland, I. crenata ‘Golden Gem’ AGM
Laurus nobilis ‘Aurea’ AGM
Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’ (v) AGM, L. lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ (v) AGM, L.‘Vicaryi’
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’ AGM
Pieris japonica ‘White Rim’ – lime hating
Prunus lusitanica ‘Variegata’
Rhamnus alaternus ‘Argenteovariegata’ AGM
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aurea' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Taxus baccata 'Standishii' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Veronica 'Silver Queen' 
Viburnum tinus ‘Variegatum’
Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ AGM, Y. filamentosa ‘Variegata’, Y. filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’ (v) AGM

b) Silver or grey foliage
Andromeda polifolia 'Blue Ice' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Artemisia abrotanum
Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) ‘Sunshine’ AGM 
Convolvulus cneorum AGM
Eucalyptus gunnii AGM (cut down each spring)
Santolina chamaecyparissus AGM, S. chamaecyparissus var. nana AGM
Teucrium fruticans (wall side)
Veronica albicans AGM, V. pimeleoides ‘Quicksilver’ AGM, V. ‘Pewter Dome’ AGM
Yucca gloriosa AGM,  Y. recurvifolia AGM

Shrubs for hedges and screens

Berberis darwinii AGM, B. × stenophylla AGM, B. julianae
Cotoneaster lacteus AGM
Elaeagnus × ebbingei AGM
Euonymus japonicus
Ilex aquifolium AGM – Native to GB and Ireland, I. × altaclerensis 'Camelliifolia' (f) AGM
Lonicera nitida
Olearia × haastii
Osmanthus × burkwoodii AGM
Prunus laurocerasus AGM, P. lusitanica AGM
Pyracantha rogersiana AGM
Rhododendron – lime hating
Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary)
Taxus baccata AGM – Native to GB and Ireland
Viburnum tinus, V. rhytidophyllum

Drier shade

Aucuba japonica
Berberis verruculosa AGM
Buxus sempervirens
Cotoneaster conspicuus ‘Decorus’ AGM, C. dammeri, C. salicifolius ‘Gnom’, C. × suecicus ‘Skogholm’
Euonymus fortunei
Ilex (hollies), including Ilex aquifolium AGM – Native to GB and Ireland
Lonicera pileata
Mahonia aquifolium, M. × wagneri ‘Undulata’
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Pachysandra terminalis
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ AGM
Rubus tricolor
Ruscus aculeatus – Native to GB
Skimmia japonica
Taxus baccata 'Standishii' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland

Moist shade

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating 
Aucuba japonica
Camellia japonica, C. × williamsii – lime hating
Danaë racemosa AGM
Daphne laureola – Native to GB
Elaeagnus × ebbingei AGM, E. pungens
Fatsia japonica AGM
Gaultheria mucronata (syn. Pernettya mucronata), G. procumbens AGM
Leucothoë walteri AGM (syn. L. fontanesiana )
Osmanthus decorus
Pachysandra terminalis AGM
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' AGM'
Sarcococca confusa AGM, S. hookeriana, S. hookeriana var. humilis
Skimmia japonica
Vaccinium vitis-idaea Koralle Group AGM – lime hating
Viburnum davidi AGM, V. rhytidophyllum
Vinca major, V. minor  – Archaeophyte to GB and Ireland

Dry sites in full sun

Arbutus unedo AGM – Native to Ireland 
Artemisia abrotanum
Berberis darwinii AGM, B. × stenophylla AGM, B. verruculosa AGM
Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ AGM (wall-side)
Cistus × cyprius AGM, C. × dansereaui ‘Decumbens’ AGM, C. × hybridus AGM (syn. C. × corbariensis)
Convolvulus cneorum AGM
Corokia cotoneaster
Elaeagnus × ebbingei AGM, E. pungens ‘Maculata’ (v) AGM
Euonymus japonicus, E. fortunei
Fremontodendron 'California Glory' AGM (wall-side)
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ AGM
Juniperus communis 'Hibernica' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Lavandula
Mahonia aquifolium
Nandina domestica AGM
Phlomis fruticosa AGM
Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ AGM, P. villosa AGM
Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ AGM, P. ‘Watereri’
Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata' AGM
Salvia officinalis
Salvia rosmarinus 
Santolina
Teucrium fruticans (wall side)
Yucca

Exposed coastal sites

Arbutus unedo AGM – Native to Ireland
Berberis
Calluna vulgaris – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Choisya ternata AGM
Elaeagnus
Erica vagans – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Escallonia
Euonymus fortunei, E. japonicus
Griselinia littoralis AGM
Laurus nobilis AGM
Olearia × haastii, O. macrodonta AGM
Phlomis fruticosa AGM
Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ AGM, P. rogersiana AGM, P. ‘Watereri’ AGM
Rhamnus alaternus
Salvia rosmarinus
Senecio cineraria
Thymus serpyllum – Native to GB and Ireland
Ulex europaeus  – Native to GB and Ireland
Veronica
Yucca

Note: Residents in milder coastal areas, milder counties and owners of warm, sheltered sunny walls might add considerably to these lists, e.g. Ceanothus, Myrtus, Helichrysum, Convolvulus cneorum AGM, Olearia etc.

Ground cover

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Native to GB and Ireland – lime hating
Hedera helix – Native to GB and Ireland 
Juniperus communis 'Green Carpet' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Teucrium chamaedrys – Native to GB 
Vinca minor – Archaeophyte to GB and Ireland