The woody plants, smaller in size than trees, with low branches close to ground level, have traditionally been known as shrubs. They usually have more than one stem and these stems together are called canes, often touching the ground from all sides, forming a notable foliage. Shrubs are found in a variety of colors and with varied leaf designs. Bush, an often used word, is a synonym of shrub.



Shrubs carry not only good leafage but some of them support the same amount of flowers as well. Such shrubs are called flowering shrubs. These shrubs are aromatic enough to attract butterflies and are considered apt for household gardening. Examples of flowering shrubs are: hydrangea, honeysuckle, heptacodium, hibiscus, forsythia, fothergilla, dogwood, crape myrtle, clethra, buddleia, barberry etc.

Shrubs generally, are found to be 6 meters tall but they could differ in size. 10 to 20 cm small shrubs are known as sub-shrubs. These miniature shrubs can sometimes have non-seasional growth and can manage to survive in winter too, something that normal shrubs usually cannot do. Lhyme, cranberries, ericaceae, lavender, lerivinkle etc. are grouped under sub-shrubs.

Shrubs grow by themselves on some types of land. These lands are dry barrens but not exactly deserts. They are not good enough for the growth of green plants and trees, but intermediate shrubs can easily flourish here. Such regions of shrub-friendly lands are called shrub-lands in the technical language of Botany.

Mostly found near deserts and grasslands, they get more rain than the absolute deserts but lesser than green forests. Development of shrub-lands, to some extent, is also dependent on outer forces applied to the lands. For example, productive lands could get destroyed by natural calamities, by floods, fires etc. and can turn into shrub-lands, fertile enough only to promote shrubs.

So shrub-lands are the habitats of shrubs. Even so, shrubs do not grown on their own all the time! Shrubs can be cultivated too for mainly for decorative gardening. Such shrubs that are artificially grown by humans rather than by natural means collectively form a shrub-berry. According to novelists, shrub-berries are among the most romantic places.

Rationales Behind Giving Shrubs Some Space In Your Garden

- Do you feel you are all occupied with your business or profession and are short of time? At the same time, are you too fond of gardening to give it up completely? Well, given such a situation, shrubs are your best bet, as they are quite hassle-free and do not need much nurturing. No excessive attention is required, yet you will own a garden that is as beautiful as a carefully nurtured one.

- Some shrubs are as fragrant as flowers and help attract birds and butterflies, converting your garden into a more cheerful and colorful place.

- Your garden may look populated with the planted shrubs. As shrubs are bigger than plants and have a good foliage, they act as good padding material for parks and gardens.

- Shrubs could be put to good use inside the house to conceal unsightly corners.