Add Structure, Texture, and Seasonal Interest with Proven Shrub Selections

Proven Winners® shrubs are bred for exceptional performance, featuring prolific flowering, disease resistance, compact forms, and reliable hardiness. These shrubs undergo extensive trials across multiple climates to ensure consistent quality and low-maintenance success. Whether you’re planting in sun or shade, wet or dry soil, there’s a Proven Winners shrub suited to your space and style.

Top Proven Winners Shrubs for Landscape Success

Strader’s Garden Center carries a curated selection of Proven Winners shrubs chosen for their reliability and regional adaptability. The following categories highlight some of the most dependable options for adding form, function, and flair to your landscape:

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are prized for their large, dramatic blooms and seasonal beauty. Proven Winners offers varieties suited to both sunny and partly shaded conditions, with long bloom times and exceptional cold hardiness. Some popular hydrangea varieties include:

• Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) – Known for cone-shaped flowers that transition from white to pink and red as the season progresses. These thrive in full sun and tolerate a variety of soil conditions. Varieties include ‘Limelight’, ‘Little Lime’, and ‘Fire Light’.
• Bigleaf and Reblooming Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla and serrata) – These offer mophead or lacecap blooms in shades of blue, pink, or purple, depending on soil pH. Varieties like the ‘Tuff Stuff’ series provide reblooming potential for color throughout the season.

Boxwood (Buxus)

Boxwood is a classic choice for evergreen structure and formality in the landscape. Proven Winners’ ‘Sprinter’ boxwood grows faster and is more resistant to disease than traditional varieties. It works well for:

• Hedges
• Foundation plantings
• Compact containers

It maintains its shape and color throughout the year and is tolerant of pruning.

Spirea

Spirea shrubs are known for their easy growth and colorful foliage. They are compact in form, making them ideal for:

• Mass planting
• Low-maintenance borders

Popular varieties like the Double Play® Series are known for their bright spring foliage and vibrant blooms. Varieties such as ‘Double Play Candy Corn’ offer stunning red, orange, and gold foliage, complemented by summer flowers.

Weigela

Weigela shrubs feature arching branches and tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. The ‘Sonic Bloom’ series offers long bloom periods with some reblooming potential later in the season. Dwarf varieties such as ‘My Monet’ provide:

• Colorful foliage
• Compact form
• Great fit for small spaces

Ninebark (Physocarpus)

Ninebark provides dramatic foliage color and exfoliating bark, offering multi-season interest. Once established, it’s tolerant of poor soils and drought conditions. Varieties such as:

• ‘Diabolo’ – Deep burgundy foliage
• ‘Amber Jubilee’ – Chartreuse foliage with red accents
• ‘Tiny Wine’ – A compact variety with burgundy tones

These shrubs add stunning color to the landscape year-round.

Lilac (Syringa)

Proven Winners’ ‘Bloomerang’ series offers lilacs with a nostalgic fragrance, along with the added benefit of reblooming in late summer. These compact shrubs are ideal for:

• Foundation plantings
• Mixed borders

They produce lavender to deep purple blooms in cycles throughout the season.

Aronia (Chokeberry)

Aronia shrubs offer year-round interest with:

• White spring flowers
• Glossy green summer foliage
• Brilliant red or orange fall color

The berries attract birds and provide ornamental value into the winter. Varieties like the ‘Low Scape®’ series are compact and perfect for modern landscapes.

Clethra (Summersweet)

Clethra thrives in damp or shaded areas, producing fragrant, bottlebrush-shaped flowers in white or pink during mid- to late summer. The ‘Sugartina® Crystalina’ variety is compact and well-suited for tight spaces or woodland gardens.

Taxus (Yew)

Taxus varieties are excellent for adding structure and formality. Proven Winners’ ‘Stonehenge’ series offers several options for different landscape needs:

• ‘Stonehenge’ – A classic, upright yew that provides year-round interest.
• ‘Stonehenge Dark Druid’ – A darker variant with rich green foliage, perfect for hedging or as a specimen plant.
• ‘Stonehenge Skinny’ – A narrower form, ideal for tight spaces or as a vertical accent in gardens.

Color, Texture, and Reliability

Proven Winners shrubs are a wise investment for homeowners who want long-lasting impact with minimal maintenance. These plants not only offer spectacular flowers and foliage but are bred to resist pests and disease, reducing upkeep while enhancing landscape reliability. Whether you’re planting a new garden or refreshing an existing space, shrubs anchor the design and provide beauty season after season.

Find Your Perfect Shrubs at Strader’s Garden Centers

At Strader’s, we stock a wide selection of Proven Winners shrubs, all well-suited to our region’s climate and soil conditions. Whether you need sun-loving plants, compact container options, or low-maintenance color, our experts are here to help you choose the right shrubs for your landscape. Visit one of our garden centers to explore current availability and discover why Proven Winners is the top choice for gardeners across the region.