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There is a time in life for big gardens, when we’re possessed with boundless energy to maintain billowing perennial gardens and a quarter-acre vegetable plot that produces enough food for the whole neighborhood. But if you are just starting out and you’re gardening on a balcony three floors up, or if you’ve downsized to a smaller home, you can still create a beautiful outdoor living space using dwarf shrubs.
SMALL DONE RIGHT When designed thoughtfully, a small-space garden can be just as visually appealing and emotionally gratifying as an expansive yard. There is no need to sacrifice your favorite shrubs, like roses and lilacs. You just need to choose the right-sized varieties to fit the scale of the space. I’ll show you 12 gorgeous dwarf shrubs that will take you all the way from spring through fall in the next few pages.
MAKE EVERY INCH COUNT A key to getting the most out of any space—but especially a small one—is to choose plants with a dual purpose. Peach Sorbet blueberries produce delicious fruit but also double as a patio plant with stunning fall color. Seaside Serenade hydrangeas are delightful garden specimens but will also provide you with long-lasting bouquets. It is perfectly fine to be selective when curating a plant palette for a small space.
If the large shrubs you’ve seen at
