California’s climate allows for some amazing year-round garden opportunities, and certain shrubs take full advantage. These resilient beauties keep your garden colorful through every season.
They bring texture, scent, and life no matter the month. California gardeners will adore adding these 15 shrubs for endless blooms.
1. Lantana
These colorful clusters brighten up any California yard with minimal fuss. Hardy in drought conditions, lantana attracts butterflies while repelling deer with its distinctive scent.
Many Southern California gardeners love how lantana’s sunset-hued blooms keep going strong even during the hottest months when other plants struggle.
2. Bougainvillea
Stunning paper-like bracts in hot pink, purple, or orange make this a showstopper in coastal areas. Drought-tolerant once established, bougainvillea thrives in full sun and sandy soil.
Along California highways and home gardens alike, these climbing shrubs create dramatic cascades of color that persist through mild winters in the southern parts of the state.
3. Hibiscus
Tropical flair comes to California gardens with these dinner-plate sized blooms. Available in countless colors, hibiscus flowers last just a day but are quickly replaced by new ones.
Northern California gardeners often choose hardy varieties that withstand cooler temperatures while still providing the same exotic beauty throughout most of the year.
4. Lavender
Silver-gray foliage and purple spikes make lavender a garden favorite with amazing fragrance. Bees buzz happily around these drought-resistant plants that thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate.
Central California’s wine country features countless lavender farms where visitors can enjoy the calming scent and vibrant color nearly year-round in properly maintained plantings.
5. Princess Flower
Royal purple blooms with striking yellow stamens make this shrub truly majestic. Growing up to 10 feet tall, princess flower (Tibouchina) creates a dramatic backdrop in frost-free areas.
Many California coastal gardens showcase these Brazilian natives where mild temperatures allow them to flower almost continuously, adding rich color that contrasts beautifully with the state’s golden hillsides.
6. Cape Honeysuckle
Trumpet-shaped orange blossoms attract hummingbirds all year in warmer regions. Fast-growing and versatile, cape honeysuckle can be trained as a vine or maintained as a shrub.
Throughout Southern California’s coastal communities, these bright flowers provide reliable color and wildlife habitat when many other plants take a winter rest.
7. Bush Daisy
Cheerful yellow flowers cover this compact shrub almost non-stop throughout the year. Perfect for borders or containers, bush daisies need minimal maintenance beyond occasional trimming.
In California’s inland valleys, gardeners appreciate how these sunny blooms keep going through heat waves and mild winters, creating spots of brightness even during the state’s occasional gloomy days.
8. Breath of Heaven
Tiny star-shaped flowers appear above feathery foliage that releases a sweet scent when touched. This dainty shrub adds both texture and fragrance to California gardens year-round.
Bay Area gardeners particularly love how breath of heaven thrives in the region’s foggy conditions while still producing its delicate pink or white blooms through most seasons.
9. Mexican Sage
Velvety purple spikes stand tall above silvery foliage even during winter months. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, Mexican sage attracts pollinators while requiring minimal water once established.
Throughout California’s desert regions, these hardy plants provide reliable color when temperatures fluctuate dramatically between seasons, making them favorites for water-wise landscape designs.
10. Oleander
Clusters of pink, white, or red flowers bloom continuously on these tough shrubs. Highly adaptable to different soil types, oleanders line California highways for their resilience and constant color.
Central Valley gardeners rely on oleander’s heat tolerance during scorching summers, though all parts of this easy-care plant are toxic – something to consider when planning family-friendly California landscapes.
11. Indian Hawthorn
Clusters of pink or white star-shaped flowers appear above glossy evergreen leaves. Compact and neat, Indian hawthorn makes an excellent foundation planting or low hedge in coastal gardens.
Southern California landscapes often feature these reliable bloomers where their subtle beauty and blue berries provide multi-season interest without overwhelming more dramatic garden elements.
12. Bottlebrush
Distinctive red brush-like flowers cover these Australian natives through most of the year. Hummingbirds flock to the nectar-rich blooms while the unusual texture adds interest to California landscapes.
Coastal communities throughout the state showcase bottlebrush as street trees or large shrubs where their salt tolerance and reliable flowering make them ideal choices for public and private gardens alike.
13. Rockrose
Paper-thin petals in white, pink, or purple cover these Mediterranean shrubs each morning. Though individual flowers last just one day, new buds open daily for months of continuous color.
Throughout California’s coastal regions, rockrose thrives in poor soil and withstands salt spray, making it perfect for beach-adjacent gardens where few other flowering plants perform as reliably.
14. Escallonia
Clusters of tiny pink or white flowers appear against glossy leaves almost year-round. Often used as screening hedges, escallonia thrives in coastal fog while providing consistent color and structure.
Northern California gardeners appreciate this versatile shrub’s tolerance of cool temperatures and ability to block wind while still flowering through most seasons in the state’s varied climate zones.
15. Abutilon
Delicate bell-shaped flowers hang from maple-like leaves in shades from yellow to deep red. Often called flowering maple, abutilon blooms continuously in mild climates with bright, indirect light.
Throughout California’s sheltered garden spots, these charming shrubs provide reliable color even during winter months when placed in protected locations away from harsh sun and frost.