Whatever the conditions or planting area, flowering bushes or shrubs with waxy leaves provide interesting textures and height to your garden. Flowers of various colors break up the surface of the bushes, in some cases adding fragrance during the blooming season. Flowering bushes with waxy leaves may be evergreen or deciduous. Whichever type of bush you decide to plant, match the plant's requirements to the available soil type, drainage and light conditions.
A well-draining planting site is one that does not hold excess water. Blooming waxy-leaved bushes that flourish in well-drained soil include Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. This hibiscus requires full sun, and blooms with red, yellow, pink or white flowers and has waxy foliage that can grow to 6 inches long; this deciduous shrub can grow to 8 feet tall. Winterthur smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum "Winterthur") also flourishes in well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, the deciduous Winterthur does best in partial shade or sun. The shrub grows between 6 and 8 feet tall in favorable conditions, and blooms with white flowers.
Many shade-loving plants do not flower. However, a few waxy-leaved shrubs and bushes will flourish in shade. Blue hollies (Ilex x meserveae), also known as merserve, have spiky, evergreen leaves throughout the year. These hollies bloom in the spring and -- to a lesser degree -- in the fall with white flowers. This evergreen shrub typically grows up to 8 feet high. Blue hollies are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. Daphne bholua (Thymelaeaceae) flourishes in light shade, and features pink-white flowers over waxy, dark green leaves. This evergreen shrub is hardy up to USDA plant hardiness zone 8 inclusive. The calico bush (Kalmia latifolia) produces pink, bowl-shaped blooms over dark green, glossy leaves. This evergreen shrub is hardy in zones 5 through 9.
The pH level of your soil affects the range of bushes and shrubs that can flourish if planted. If the pH is below a value of 7.0, the soil is considered acidic. Some of the bushes that will flourish and bloom in acid soil include dusty zenobia (Zenobia pulverulenta) and cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Dusty zenobia has white flowers in the spring, over grayish green waxy leaves. It can tolerate conditions ranging from light shade to full sun, as long as the soil is both moist and acidic. Dusty zenobia is a deciduous shrub hardy in zones 5 through 9. It typically grows to between 3 and 6 feet high. Cherry laurel has large, white blossoms over broad and waxy leaves. It flourishes in acidic soil anywhere from full sun to partial shade. This evergreen shrub grows to 20 feet and is hardy in zones 6 through 9.
Certain flowering bushes can grow in a wide variety of conditions. If you want a flowering bush with the potential to grow really tall, consider shrubby podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki). This evergreen bush offers white flowers and can grow 20 to 35 feet tall. It has waxy, needle-shaped leaves and is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. Although shrubby podocarpus grows best in sun, it can also tolerate shade as long as the soil is well draining. The evergreen shrub Japanese euonymus (Euonymus japonicus) can grow to 15 feet and blooms with green or white flowers over waxy leaves. Japanese euonymus flourishes, and blooms, in a variety of soil types and can tolerate anything from full sun to shade in zones 7 through 9.
Your Planting Articles
- NC State University: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- NC State University: Viburnum nudum
- Ohio State University: Ilex x meserveae
- NC State University: Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki
- NC State University: Euonymus japonicus
- NC State University: Zenobia pulverulenta
- Washington State University: Cherry Laurel
- Gardening in the Shade; Alan Titchmarsh
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