Best Shrubs For Edmonton’s Ever-Changing Climate

Ideal Selection of Shrubs for Edmonton (and why)

best shrubs for Edmonton, Alberta

Amidst the ever-evolving tapestry of nature, shrubs stand as silent artists, painting landscapes with their myriad hues and graceful silhouettes. Their presence transforms ordinary spaces into enchanting realms, offering a symphony of colours and textures. However, ensuring the enduring beauty of these plants requires more than mere admiration; it demands the guidance of an Edmonton tree arborist. As guardians of your greenscape, these specialists bring a wealth of expertise in nurturing and preserving the vitality of your trees and shrubs, elevating them from mere vegetation to living, breathing works of art. Not only do they understand every local native plant, but they can help pick the best shrubs for Edmonton homes and commercial spaces.

In the heart of Edmonton’s greenery, Trusty Tree Services stands as the beacon of expertise when it comes to planting everything from trees to shrubs. With a team of seasoned professionals deeply rooted in the local ecosystem, Trusty Tree Services understands the unique demands of Edmonton's climate and soil. Our dedication to the art and science of planting is unparalleled, ensuring that each plant and tree not only survives but thrives, becoming an integral part of your landscape's enduring beauty. Our certified professionals don't just plant shrubs; we craft living masterpieces, infusing every garden, whether in your home or commercial space, with a touch of magnificence and ensuring a legacy of lush, thriving greenery for years to come.

Trusty Tree Services is your ultimate partner for expert guidance and unmatched service in planting the best shrubs for Edmonton’s pivotal climate. Read on to learn how our experts at Trusty Tree Services transform your landscape into a flourishing oasis.

Green Guardians: The Best Shrubs For Edmonton That Will Transform Your Local Landscape

Edmonton, a city of changing seasons, demands resilient yet stunning plants that stand the test of time. From winter's unforgiving cold to summer's sizzling sun, finding the right one is crucial for a vibrant, year-round landscape. In the local challenging climate, finding the best shrubs for Edmonton can be challenging. But these eight options stand out for their resilience, adaptability, and visual appeal:

  • Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens): Known for its extreme cold tolerance, it can easily withstand harsh snow in winter and acts as an accent shrub. Its delicate, beautiful foliage and bright flowers that look like yellow foliage from afar add aesthetic value to any landscape.
  • Common Purple Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): Rapid growth of leaves and stunning purple blossoms make this shrub perfect for those seeking quick privacy. Its fragrance and ability to form dense hedges that can climb several feet tall add both beauty and seclusion to the landscape.
  • Wintergreen Boxwood (Buxus microphylla): Ideal for year-round greenery, this evergreen shrub maintains its lush appearance even in Edmonton's harshest winter conditions. Its versatility and ability to thrive even in the shade make it popular for border plantings.
  • Dogwood (Cornus alba): This shrub offers year-round interest with its striking red winter stem colour. Its hardiness, vibrant colour, and adaptability to different soil types make it an attractive addition to Edmonton landscapes.
  • Tatarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica): The ability to endure harsh conditions, coupled with its colourful and fragrant flowers, makes this one a great choice for almost any landscape. It attracts wildlife and adds ornamental value to gardens.
  • Canadian Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis): A native shrub, it offers drought tolerance, making it suitable for Edmonton's climate. Adorned with lush green leaves and red berries, it provides a pop of colour and attracts birds, enhancing the landscape.
  • Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo): While not a typical shrub, its compact size and evergreen nature make it an excellent choice for Edmonton's landscapes. Its tolerance to cold and adaptability to various soil types add to its appeal.
  • Common Juniper (Juniperus communis): Known for its hardiness and ability to withstand harsh conditions, the Common Juniper thrives in Edmonton. Its evergreen foliage and adaptable nature make it a valuable addition to beautiful gardens.

Each of these best shrubs for Edmonton showcases a variety of characteristics, making any of them well-suited for our local unique climate. Any of them is an excellent option for year-round greenery, privacy, visual appeal, and adaptability to challenging weather conditions.

Read on to learn more about the best flowering shrubs for Edmonton’s landscape. Whether you are looking to boost your home's curb appeal or add a level of professionalism to your commercial space, there are many options to consider.

Best Flowering Shrubs For Edmonton

In the local climate, finding native species of flowering shrubs that are renowned for their stunning blooms and adding vibrancy and brilliant colour to any of your landscapes can be challenging. From mass plantings to rock gardens or tall hedges that measure more than 6 feet in height, there are several options to consider. Some of the best shrubs for Edmonton residents that offer a bounty of colourful foliage are:

Common Purple Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): The Common Purple Lilac is a favourite for its exquisite and fragrant light and dark purple blossoms. These clusters of flowers create a captivating sight and fill the air with a delightful aroma. Known for its rapid growth, it’s not only visually stunning but also ideal for quick privacy hedges as well as becoming a butterfly magnet.

Tatarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica): Also called bush honeysuckle, this shrub dazzles with vibrant and fragrant flowers ranging from pink flowers to red-hued blossoms. Its bark is smooth and green, turning greyish-brown with age. Its colourful blooms attract pollinators, making it a visual delight and a boon for the local ecosystem.

Caragana (Caragana arborescens): The Caragana shrub, with its delicate yellow eye-catching flowers, adds a touch of elegance to gardens. While not solely a flowering shrub, its bright blossoms amid its fine green foliage create a charming visual impact.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius): This shrub adorns gardens with clusters of fragrant, white flowers resembling orange blossoms, emitting a sweet, citrusy scent. Its ornamental value and aromatic blooms make it a popular choice for Edmonton landscapes.

Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis): Alberta's floral emblem; this is a drought-tolerant small, beautiful shrub with fragrant pink flower blooms and eye-catching rosehip flower buds that persist through winter. Flowers in spring bring a visual appeal to any space from spring through summer.

These flowering shrubs bring constant blooms and a range of beautiful colours but also larger varieties of fragrances and charm to Edmonton's landscapes, making them standout alternatives for those looking to add a floral touch to their outdoor spaces. Being mindful of winter dieback and the need for extra winter protection will help these greeneries thrive for years to come.

Read on to understand how to pick the best options for your space and how our experts can help expertly plant and maintain your beautiful landscape all year long.

How To Know Which Are The Best Shrubs For Edmonton

Choosing the best shrubs for Edmonton homes or businesses involves considering several key factors to ensure their suitability and success in your local climate.

Climate Compatibility:

Edmonton's climate can be extreme, with cold winters and fluctuating temperatures. Look for shrubs known for their cold hardiness, such as Siberian Peashrub, Wintergreen Boxwood, or Tatarian Honeysuckle. These shrubs are adapted to withstand Edmonton's harsh conditions.

Space and Purpose:

Consider the space available and the intended purpose of the shrub. If you need a privacy hedge, shrubs like Common Purple Lilac or Dogwood with rapid growth and dense foliage can be suitable. For ornamental features, shrubs like Mock Orange or Caragana offer beautiful flowers or elegant foliage for more sheltered locations.

Maintenance Requirements:

Assess the level of maintenance you're willing to commit to. Some shrubs, like Common Purple Lilac, may require regular pruning to maintain their shape, while others, like Wintergreen Boxwood, are more low-maintenance and only need annual pruning. Deciding between an informal hedge and a formal hedge helps determine the amount of pruning each plant will need.

Water Requirements:

Depending on the location and requirements, some shrubs are not moisture tolerant, whereas others are more able to stand excess moisture but not standing water. Picking an option that suits your availability to water or not. Flowering shrubs tend to require more frequent watering, but year-round selections require considerably less.

Soil and Light Conditions:

Understand your soil type and the light conditions of your space. Different shrubs thrive in varying soil types, sunny site exposure, and light shade conditions. For instance, the Canadian Buffaloberry does well in dry conditions, while the Wintergreen Boxwood is versatile in terms of light requirements.

Local Expertise:

Consider consulting with our local tree specialists in Edmonton. We have expertise in the area's unique conditions and can provide recommendations tailored to your specific needs and the local environment.

Purposeful Selection:

With a wide variety of selections, choose the best shrubs for Edmonton that serve multiple purposes, such as providing privacy, attracting wildlife, adding a pop of colour, or offering year-round beauty. For instance, shrubs like Tatarian Honeysuckle serve ornamental purposes and attract pollinators.

By considering the plenty of sizes of backdrop plants, accent plants, or a bush with plenty of flower colour, your options are vast. Research specific shrub characteristics, how winter hardy they are, and how soil adaptable they are will help you make an informed choice on the one that best suits your space. Consulting with our local professional arborists and considering the specific requirements of your space will ensure a thriving and visually appealing landscape that is filled with beautiful plants and shrubs.

Evergreen Elegance: Let Trusty Trees Nurture Your Landscape With The Best Shrubs For Edmonton

In the vivid canvas of Edmonton's landscapes, choosing the perfect shrub is more than mere greenery—it's a commitment to enduring beauty and resilience. When you count on Trusty Tree Service and our certified arborists, your unique outdoor space will be transformed into a haven of vibrant, hardy, and visually captivating greenery with the best shrubs for Edmonton homes and businesses.

Make an informed choice that not only enhances your surroundings but also stands resilient against our city's challenging climate.

Connect today with our local experts and let your green oasis thrive, season after season. Elevate your landscape—choose wisely, plant purposefully, and create a thriving outdoor haven that mirrors the strength and beauty of our local diverse ecosystem. Contact our local expert arborists today and watch your landscape bloom and flourish with vitality.


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Monzer Jurf
February 20, 2025

Great work! and a pleasure to work with. Thank you.

Patrick Brandle
October 10, 2024

Contracted Trusty Tree Services to remove 6 tall Aspen Trees. Workmen arrived ahead of schedule and trees were taken down very quickly and site cleaned up all debris. Great job highly recommend.

Don Meier
September 5, 2024

Very efficient staff. The work was completed as expected and to our satisfaction. The clean-up was also very good.

Lessard Village
August 28, 2024

We have engaged Trusty Tree to carry out a long-term plan to rehab and maintain our extensive tree inventory on our 6 acre site. They did a great mapping of all the trees using Google Maps, and proposed priorities. The first stage was completed yesterday - Keegan and Adrian did a 30 minute Q&A with interested owners first, and did a great job of explaining and giving some hints on things we could to. The pruning was well done, and they cleaned up carefully - we are pleased with the work. They had a great idea for how we could take advantage of the resulting mulch to rehab some areas that needed amendment under conifer trees. We are looking forward to moving ahead with that. So kudos to Keegan and Adrian.

Donna Borejko
August 27, 2024

Very pleased with the service from start to finish...from talking to Sarah at the onset who was very knowledgeable and pleasant to the quick efficient pleasant service by the 2 man crew..reasonable and fair pricing..thank you..will gladly recommend

Jamie Harms
August 26, 2024

I contacted 5 different tree removal companies, 1 did not get back to me and the other 3 were almost double in price. Kolton contacted me almost immediately after inquiring online, gave me a fair and honest quote, snuck me in right away and did an unbelievable job. I would highly recommend trusty tree! Save your self time and energy and go straight to these guy.

Robert E. Hempel
August 23, 2024

Wow! Both Chelsey and Jared were very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, efficient and thorough. They were also very tolerant in answering all my questions. 🙂 All the work was completed on time and at a very reasonable price. Also, zero collateral damage from the removal of some pretty big and awkwardly located trees. Great job. I’ll be recommending you to my neighbors and colleagues 👍

KenL
August 5, 2024

Jared, Sarah, and Chelsea were extremely knowledgeable, professional, and hardworking, with an obvious love of trees, an amazing attention to detail, and an outstanding work ethic and desire to do the best job of pruning each tree, checking and double checking their work. Very friendly and personable, willing to share expertise and worked their butts off non-stop. Cleaned up thoroughly and left the yard like they’d never even been there. I highly recommend Sarah, who gave us a fair quote, and Jared and Chelsea, who thoroughly, quickly, and expertly completed the work!

Jen Iskiw
July 31, 2024

Just had Keegan and Jared take down two trees in front of our house. They were very professional and did an amazing job. 10/10 would hire again.

Colleen Donnelly
July 23, 2024

I had a huge tree that split in half. The guys worked ALL day in 33 degree weather and never complained once!! They all were really nice guys!!

Walter & Carol Verhulst
July 22, 2024

We are totally impressed with Trusty Tree from a business and professional perspective. We were in awe watching Matt and Keegan working hard and diligently (in the heat!) while keeping safe climbing in and removing our big tree! We highly recommend this company!

Janelle Price
July 20, 2024

We had Keegan & Matt from Trusty Tree come and remove a couple of dead aspens and trim a maple for us. I was very impressed with safe handling of the work, friendly manner, and great cleanup of the space afterward. They were happy to answer all of my questions, and worked really hard on a very hot day. Thank you!

Aris T
July 17, 2024

I needed their help as my tree seems to be sick and requiring some TLC. They came to check the tree and gave me suggestions on how to take care of it. Very honest business and very professinal staff. They are not only after your money. I will definitely sign up with their services in the future if my tree doesn’t get healthier. Thank you!

Jeevan Gill
July 12, 2024

Had a spruce taken down by trusty trees, they were able to get me scheduled asap and took it down within 20 mins! Cleaning it all up too. Thank you to Sarah and the team for everything!

J G
July 11, 2024

Excellent work by Keegan and Shay - tree removal went smoothly, they cleaned up well and were very friendly along the way

Shawnna Andrews
July 11, 2024

Excellent price, excellent service. Keegan was dispatched to our condo complex to trim some trees and remove others. Keegan and his partner were very knowledgeable, kind and patient. He made sure that I was happy with the trimming that was done and provided information regarding sick trees we found (aphid infestation) and what steps to take to get the tree healthy again. It was discovered that more work was required that was not on the original contract. Keegan was very patient, contacted his office for permission to do the ad-hoc work with no complaints. Keegan is a keeper for sure!

Pam Johnson
June 27, 2024

Highly recommend. We had an excellent experience with the crew from Trusty Tree…..they were efficient, professional and friendly. They even threw the frisbee for our dog !

Bill's Journey
June 24, 2024
Cassie Janovsky
June 22, 2024

We have used Trusty Tree a few times and are always happy with the service! Sarah came by to assess and give us an estimate, all reasonably priced, and Adrian and Keegan took great care of our yard... thanks a bunch!

Blair Bishop
June 17, 2024

Very efficient, safe and effective work. Met on site for the quote, then promptly came and completed the work a few days later.

Deidre Whitworth
June 12, 2024

They were absolutely wonderful! The arborist Sarah was friendly and professional, and showed up when she said she would. The three gentleman who came to cut down the trees were so efficient and knowledgeable. They had 4 trees down and cleaned up within an hour. We would recommend Trusty Tree Service to anyone!

Trevor Withers
June 11, 2024

Highly recommend Trusty Tree Services. Outstanding service! Kolton is extremely professional, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with the advice he gave. Thank you! Will definitely use them again in the future!

Ron sailer
May 28, 2024

I was very impressed with the service provided by Trusty Tree Service. The arborist did an excellent job balancing the tree with pruning and clearing out congested areas. He provided advice about tree care and his assistant cleared and disposed of the branches cut by putting them in the chipper. I strongly recommend this company.

Jamie Lain
May 27, 2024

We have used Trusty Tree services in the past and I wouldn’t trust anyone else with our arbor needs. Sarah (one of their arborists) gave us great recommendations and a fair quote and then Keegan & Shay did a fantastic job felling our diseased columnar poplars and cleaning up after themselves. You couldn’t tell they had even been here it was left so tidy and clean. Thanks so much!

Paul Navratil
May 24, 2024

The 2 man crew was awesome, yard was cleaned up afterwards and you couldn’t tell 2 large trees were taken down, will have them back soon, highly recommend this company

Ken Craig
May 23, 2024

I have used Trust Tree Services a number of times and there work is excellent. The staff are very personable and I really appreciate how the work area is left spotless once finished. I wouldn't use anyone else!

Josie Elzinga
May 3, 2024

Sarah did an amazing job of cleaning up and pruning our chokecherry tree. She is super friendly, informative and skilled in her job. I am very happy with the appearance of our tree now. Thanks so much Sarah.

Bruce Scott
April 30, 2024

I highly recommend this company. They are very organized and experienced at what they do.

Kathy Flett
April 24, 2024

Trusty Tree came highly recommended so I took a chance and called. In no time at all I had a quote, all questions answered, and the work was done quicker than I thought it would be. Mike, Keegan, and Shay were professional, friendly, and very hard working making the whole experience 'groovy' ;)

Nathan
April 16, 2024

We needed a spruce tree trimmed back. Trusty tree was very easy to work with scheduling and planning. Jared and Keegan came and did an amazing job. Great to work with and very personable.

Preethy Thomas
October 8, 2023

What a fantastic crew!!! Sarah & Shane came and trimmed my rather large tree. Such a professional, knowledgeable, caring, capable and courteous crew. Very well done from beginning to end.They did a fabulous job!

Greg Demuynck
October 4, 2023
Brenda Moore
September 25, 2023

Trusty Trees did their magic at my Mothers house in Fort Saskatchewan. Mikex2 we’re on time, organized and knew their business. Gave the trees a good haircut as they had a lot of dead areas. Very pleased with their service, would definitely recommend them! Much thanks Mike and Mike.

Dwayne Thiessen
September 10, 2023

We had a crew from Trusty tree services to come and remove 6, 40 foot aspen trees. They did an awesome job. They were very knowledgeable and very considerate of our property and our neighbours property. They had our yard and neighbours yards totally cleaned up when they were finished. I would highly recommend Trusty Tree Services

Ron Tkachuk
August 22, 2023

We had a crew from Trusty Tree Services trim three trees on our property a few weeks ago, sorry for the late review. Couldn't be happier with the whole process. From the estimate to the final clean up, everything went very well. I contacted other companies for estimates, didn't even get a call back. Thanks again Trusty Tree for a great job!

Matt
August 4, 2023

Trusty Tree Services came out and pruned our Amur Cherry tree in Fort Saskatchewan and did a great job. The technicians were knowledgeable and gave me tips on how to better take care of our tree. The technicians were friendly and polite and cleaned up before they left. I would definitely recommend Trusty Tree Service!

Sarah Wilson
July 25, 2023

Excellent job! I highly recommend this company. I will be calling again this fall! I am very happy.

Cindy Grier
July 7, 2023

We had an amazing experience with Trusty Tree. They gave a prompt estimate for some very difficult trees in our campground. They arrived on time and began work immediately. Their expertise shone through as they brought down the trees on point! Friendly, informative, professional and outstanding workmanship. I would recommend them in a heartbeat. Shout out to Colton, Joe and Adrian - great work!

Deanna Craig
July 5, 2023

We had Trusty Tree out this year to shape and thin 4 trees and 3 Mugo Pine shrubs. I was impressed with a quick appt for the quote and then quick response for booking. Our trees were pruned earlier in the season as this was the recommended timeframe, and the Mugo Pine shrubs pruned later in the spring after the new growth appeared. I'm pleased with the crew that came out, they were polite, professional and experienced. We are happy with how our trees and shrubs look and feel the price was fair. We would definitely recommend Trusty Tree and will have them back in the future. Thanks for taking extra time with us to talk about proper pruning too!

Mark stime
June 26, 2023

Very professional and courteous crew. Difficult tree to cut down with bucket truck given clearances.

christine Maclean
June 22, 2023

I am a new widow and my yard work is so overwhelming, I called Trusty tree to come over and give me a quote. Because my husband who has slways been in love with taking great care of our home,has passed I am here to do it alone.Trusty tree are the most professional people I dealt with..And they actually had the most professional quote,they took pictures of my Tree to elaborate on what needed to be done,and explained why everything had to be done in a certain way...after 3 other companies coming out I realized that Trusty Trees quote was extremely fair. So when the Trusty Tree crew arrived to prune my beloved tree, they were ready, and really understood the sentimental value of my tree that my late husband and I used to sit under every night. The crew members Joe and Shane collaborated beautifully brought down the required amount of my tree..They had a fantastic chipper on site and they also cleaned up the yard so beautifully after the cutting was done...If anyone reads this review,please understand how much that tree meant to me and my late husband. Joe and Shane gave it a loving and caring trim, and they where not only hard working but very informative of the process,and very just great guys,they included their sense of humor to make the trimming process easier on me. THEY were so compasionate and understanding . I thank them for that..... If you are thinking of pruning your gorgeous beloved tree, Trusty Tree has got be your only choice. THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST!!! My name is Christine and if anyone wants to contact me about what a great job this crew did..please do!!!

Carla Hanak
May 26, 2023

I highly recommend Trusty Tree Services! From start to finish everything was handled promptly, professionally and courteously! They are very knowledgeable and efficient. I really liked how they explained things. We will definitely have them back for some fall work. Thanks to everyone!

Darryl Edinga
May 23, 2023
Karli Butler
May 19, 2023

We were sad to see our tree go, but it wasn’t well and bigger and bigger branches were breaking off; however our Trusty Tree Arborists did a great job. Thanks to @Sarah and @Michael and thanks for the excellent service Trusty Tree.

gary hnatko
May 17, 2023

Excellent, prompt, efficient and professional service. Team was very pleasant to work with. In and out in no time. Clean worksite. Would definitely recommend.

Linda Lankoff
May 11, 2023

The services provided were both reasonably priced and work done was excellent!

Marylyn Reed
May 5, 2023

Very fast professional and thorough work done on both my experiences with Trusty tree Service. Good cleanups and answered all questions. They made valid suggestions which I appreciated. Thank you.

Stephen Davidson
May 4, 2023

Excellent experience. Very knowledgeable experienced crew. Safety is a priority .Highly recommend . Great Job!

Darci White
May 3, 2023

Very speedy and clean-up was amazing. Thanks guys

Gordon Sandberg
April 28, 2023

Thanks to Mike and the crew for doing a great job on Grenfell Ave St Albert. Very professional service.