Shrubs are defined as woody, semi woody or herbaceous perennial plants for which branches arise from the base of the plants and grow up to a height of about 0.5 to 4 meters.
Shrubs are usually erect and bushy, but some are decumbent or prostrate
These are the most important garden plants because of the large number of cultivated species and variations in shape and size and colour of flowers.
Most of the shrubs are very hardy, require little attention and grow in all types of soil.
Shrubs flower regularly every year and produce flowers of almost all the important colours-white, light yellow, golden yellow, pink, scarlet, salmon, crimson, rose, violet, light blue, deep blue and some are sweet scented.
Area of the garden devoted exclusively for growing shrubs planted in a row or rectangular fashion is known as shrubbery border.
The selection of different species and varieties of shrubs best suited to a certain landscape development is an extremely important factor.
The use of hardy shrubs adapted to the region, soil, climate and situation helps to create better designs.
The selected plant material must possess the form, character and foliage to harmonise and fit into the general scheme.
In good landscape design, shrubs contribute in many ways for making a house attractive, either by emphasizing its good architectural features or by softening the effect of a poor one.
To relieve the monotony or sameness, shrubs should be chosen on the basis of size, form, structure, texture, season of flowering, colour of leaves and flowers and fragrance
In the garden, they can be grown in the form of shrubbery, as specimen plants or as a border of the garden or a wall and also in pots.
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