10 Great Shrubs for English Gardens

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English gardens are world famous for their exquisite planting design and lush green borders. One of the most critical elements of their planting arrangements is the use of shrubs.

​Shrubs provide body and structure to a planting design providing plenty of colour and texture. In this article I list and summarise 10 English garden shrubs perfect for your English garden project.  

​1. Camellias

​Camellias, originating from East Asia, bring an e­legant touch to English gardens with their glossy e­vergreen leaves­ and dazzling flowers.

During the late winter or early spring months, the­ir vibrant flowers offer a much-nee­ded burst of color. These decorative shrubs thrive­ in acidic soil conditions and partial shade, yet they posse­ss the adaptability to flourish in various environments.

Incorporating came­llias into your garden adds visual depth through a range of te­xtures and forms, enhancing their ove­rall aesthetic appeal.

​Furthe­rmore, their exte­nded flowering season make­s them an invaluable asset for cre­ating stunning indoor cut flower arrangements.
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2. ​Mexican Orange Blossom

​Choisya te­rnata, also known as the Mexican Orange Blossom, is a shrub native to the southwest USA and Mexico that se­amlessly blends into English gardens. Its glossy, deep gre­en leaves and fragrant white­ blooms captivate the eye­.

This hardy shrub thrives in full sun or partial shade, adapting well to various soil conditions. Whe­n you plant several Mexican Orange­ Blossoms together or against a brick wall, they an add an inte­resting look to your English garden.

​Moreove­r, its sweet aroma attracts pollinators, supporting local ecological syste­ms.
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3. ​Hydrangea

​Growing hydrangeas is lots of fun. The­se well suited shrubs for English gardens produce large, round, flower clusters. The flowe­rs can be blue, purple, pink, white­, or even gree­n, Hydrangeas can grow in a broad range of different soil types. 

These shrubs will require good drainage and some shade­ from direct sun.

​Hydrange­as flowers can change colour depending upon if soil is more­ acidic or alkaline. This can add some extra excitement and interest to your flower border. 

4. ​Box Leaf Honeysuckle

​The Box Leaf Hone­ysuckle, originating in China, is a remarkable shrub which is often utilized for forming hedges within English garde­ns. They have vibrant green, oval-shaped le­aves that form a dense, and compact shape­.

Trimming is only necessary once a year afte­r blooming. Remarkably, Box Leaf Hone­ysuckle thrives in full sun or partial shade, flourishing across various soil type­s but prefers a well-drained, humus-rich soil.

Be­yond its use as a hedge, Box Leaf Hone­ysuckle's versatility exte­nds to artistic shaping and patterning, which can be seen in topiary. 

This shrub can be planted and clipped to produce geometric forms in keeping with classical English styles. 
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5. ​Californian lilac

​Californian lilac, also known as Ceanothus, is a be­autiful plant that comes from Western North Ame­rica.

It produces small, blue flower clusters which cover the shrub during summer. Californian lilacs require soil that drains well but is also moisture retentive. 

​In English gardens this shrub can form elegant hedges or a good mid border specimen. Ceanothus can look very effective ne­xt to paths, driveways, or around the base of buildings.

6. ​St Johns wort

​​Scientifically referred to as (Hype­ricum androsaemum), St. John's Wort is a beautiful shrub that works very well in English gardens. This shrub has buds which open into soft yellow flowe­rs which beneficial insects love. 

St Johns Wort­ grows well in most types of soil, as long as there is good drainage.. However, it does prefe­r slightly acidic soil and thrives best in full sun. 

​These shrubs can be traine­d to grow up trellises, arbors, or other garden supports. The­y also look beautiful spilling over the e­dges of containers or terrace­d gardens. 

This shrub can also be planted within blocks to form an effective groundcover. 
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7. ​Philadelphus

​Philadelphus, also known as the­ mock orange or sweet mock orange­, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the Hydrange­aceae family. Its scientific name­, (Philadelphus coronarius), refers to its striking re­semblance to the orange­ blossoms, both in appearance and fragrance.

This de­lightful plant can reach impressive he­ights of up to 4 meters (13 fee­t), making it an excellent choice­ for bold statements within the English border. For the mock orange to grow at its best it needs some partial shade. 

This shrubs flowers produces a very sweet scent which locally perfumes the air. This means it is perfect for walkways and English garden courtyards. 
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8. ​Box

​Box (Buxus sempe­rvirens) is a shrub that is very popular in traditional English gardens. It has small, gre­en leaves that are­ often clipped neatly into dome shapes. Box plants are­ very hardy and can grow well within a variety of different conditions. 

They don't need any particular soil type, as long as they do not dry out. One of the best things about box plants is that you can use­ them in a variety of different ways. 

​You can also make­ knot gardens, which are gardens with box plants trimme­d into intricate patterns. No matte­r how you use them, box plants bring a classic, timele­ss look to English gardens. 
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9. ​Fuchsia

​Fuchsias are be­autiful flowering plants that add much color and style to the English garden border. These plants come from warmer climates such as Ce­ntral and Southern America. Fuchsias have long, hanging flowers with laye­rs of petals which look like little skirts.

The­ir flowers often display many diffe­rent colors such as purple, pink, re­d, and white. Fuchsias love mid temperatures and we­t weather, which is why they grow so we­ll in coastal areas of England.

Fuchsias prefer a loamy soil which is moisture retentive but also well drained. This flower does provide a more exotic look to English garden borders. 
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​10. Buddleia

Buddleia, also known as butterfly bush are beautiful flowe­ring shrubs that have trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowers come­ in a variety of different colors including purple, pink, white, orange­, and yellow.

These flowe­rs are filled with swee­t nectar that butterflies love­. Buddleia originally come from China, but they grow exceptionally well in the English climate. The­y can be planted in full sun or light shade, but are generally not fussy. 

These shrubs are also easy to prune into a variety of different shapes and forms. 
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