Shrubs are an excellent way to form the backbone of a planting scheme; their sense of structure and solidity provide a good balance against the softness of herbaceous plants. They posses a huge diversity of colours and textures and a variety of shapes and forms. From the bead-like berries of pyracanthas to the heavily perfumed plumes of lilac, there is bound to be a shrub that will suit your planting scheme.

In this section, you'll find a guide to the how the different varieties of shrub can be used in a planting scheme, from low-growing shrubs to specimen shrubs, along with how shrubs can be used to create year-round interest in your garden.