As gardeners experiment with plant combinations that offer extended seasonal interest, flowering shrubs are regaining the popularity they once held in past generations.

Innovative breeders, buoyed by increased demand for plants that look good over the long haul, are successfully developing compact cultivars with extended periods of bloom and more interesting foliage features.

This is welcome news for all gardeners. But as one who has long fought a losing battle with mature, overly-large flowering shrubs, it’s nice to know that my replacement options are increasing with every passing year.

It’s no secret that springtime is the season of plant lust. Narrowing your wish list is a daunting — if not impossible — task when there is so much to consider. But you won’t go wrong looking for cultivars with attractive foliage, multiple seasons of interest, ease of maintenance, a unique appearance and/or compact size. Here are a few options to consider:

Flowering shrubs

for NW Gardens

n “Pinky Winky” hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata DVPpinky): A terrific, drought-tolerant form that should prove ideal for our hot, dry summers. The upright flowers start out white before shading into darker shades of pink as the blooms age. Best of all, the pink coloring holds true for any soil type as it’s not dependent on pH.

Expect this hydrangea to reach a height and width of about six to eight feet. The bloom time is from midsummer until frost.

n Caryopteris incana “Jason”: The brilliant yellow foliage sets this caryopteris apart from the rest. Bright blue flowers in late summer are a marvelous contrast with the foliage, which keeps its coloring all season.

The scented blooms gradually shade into a rich amethyst hue that lasts for weeks into autumn. Plants reach about three feet tall by two feet wide. Stems may die to the ground if winters are especially cold, but this isn’t a problem for the bloom cycle as this cultivar flowers on new wood.

n Weigela florida ’Verweig’: This petite, tightly-branched weigela grows just 12 to 18 inches in height, with gorgeous variegated foliage in shades of green, pink and cream.

The bright pink flowers appear in late spring. They completely cover the plant and are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

These are ab great front-of-the-border choice in areas with partial afternoon shade and in soil that receives regular irrigation during the hottest summer months. This cultivar needs little to no pruning.

n Weigela florida “Midnight Wine”: A great alternative for those seeking the size and terrific crimson foliage of pygmy barberry, but don’t want the thorns.

This is another dwarf weigela that grows just 12 to 18 inches tall. Unlike “Verweig,” this cultivar has glorious dark burgundy leaves that can appear even darker, depending on the light. Rosy pink flowers (attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies) appear in late spring.

The distinctive foliage retains its dark coloring all season if planted in full sun, and given regular irrigation during the drought months of July and August.

n “Show Off” forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia ’Mindor’): Easy to grow, this standout offers dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers that are produced over the entire plant in early spring. Flowers appear even on young wood, and open along the entire branch stem — even out to the tip.

This cultivar is diminutive for a forsythia, growing just three to six feet tall. It sports a compact form that requires little pruning — a nice change from the older varieties of this species!