In the 17th and 18th century, a shrub could be a beverage of rum or brandy mixed with sugar and the juice of the rind of a citrus fruit.

How times change, when a shrub is now simply a well-grounded plant that when used creatively — either as a stand-alone subject or in a mass planting — can still produce an intoxicating effect on the observer.

Shrubs are plants which have numerous stems/branches and not a single trunk as would a tree. They can be deciduous, evergreen, produce flowers in abundance and colour, fruit and seed, which make them so versatile in the landscape. There are small, medium and large shrubs. Some squat whilst others range from roundish to tall and “slim” in habit; in other words the shrub is the foundation plant in most gardens. Location is important and plays a major part in selection, as wind and salt spray can be devastating to young growth and delicate flowers.

The following is a selection of shrubs which I find create interest and beauty in the garden, and should be considered in conjunction with not only other shrubs, but with associated use of ground covers, grasses, succulents, etc:

Star lavender: a very attractive shrub with an open habit. Its purple/mauve flowers are produced from spring through summer. It is relatively drought-tolerant and attractive to bees, birds and butterflies.

Butterfly bush: light blue flowers through summer; prefers sun/partial shade and a protected area. Prune back when shows signs of being straggly.

Peregrine: a favourite of mine. Shows great potential to bloom from early spring to well into the autumn with crimson flowers; a little “leggy” in habit but pruning creates a sturdier branch system. When inter-planted with blue plumbago, the effect is stunning especially if the plumbago is allowed to ramble through the branches of the jatropha. There is also a white form.

Rubber vine: a rambling shrub is the best way to describe this plant, which is festooned with light purple-pink flowers from spring through summer and into autumn. A fairly fast grower and best planted as either a single specimen or in a group of three or five.

Chinese hat plant: as its name suggests, the flower resembles a Chinese hat. A good plant for growing against a wall and trained accordingly to spread “sideways”.

Autograph plant: an excellent plant for inland exposed areas with the fleshy leaves being quite resilient to wind; flowers are squarish in shape.

Pigeon berry: needs protection as leaves can be badly burned by strong winds and salt spray. The purple flowers, followed by a sandy coloured seed, produce an attractive specimen. Can be used against a wall and pruned accordingly to spread.

Croton: a shrub basically used for its colourful foliage which is found in many forms and colours and when planted in groups creates a bold statement of colour. Plant in a protected area.

Kopsia: an evergreen shrub with a compact habit. It is slow-growing and very hardy; an insignificant flower followed by reddish almond-shaped seed.

Variegated dwarf umbrella: a very compact shrub with green and yellow foliage. An excellent plant as a foil for neighbouring plants when used correctly. As it becomes established, it has a relatively fast growth habit.

Pomegranate: always an interesting addition. Needs protection and produces red flowers followed by the edible fruit; is often leafless in winter. There is a dwarf type which also produces fruit.

Natal plum: relatively evergreen in exposed areas producing white flowers followed by red edible fruits. Pruning is required on a regular basis to remove “wayward” growth, which is seen by the size of the thorns being much larger than the varietal type. The plant generally reverts back to its parentage thus the large thorns can become a dominant factor if the branches are not removed at the base level.

Variegated pittosporum: not as hardy as the pittosporum tobira but more than makes up for it by the green and white foliage, which when planted as an accent plant among neighbouring green foliage really stands out.

Peruvian nightshade: a straggly shrub festooned with purplish-blue flowers from spring through summer; makes a bold statement if planted in groups and adjacent to yellow or pink flowering plants.

Cloth of gold: a delightful shrub displaying masses of buttercup yellow flowers which seem to wrap themselves around the foliage creating a “globular” yellow ball.

Glossy abelia: a very glossy foliage supporting the white-tinged pink flowers which are slightly fragrant; can be planted as a single specimen and allowed to mature at the rear of the bed, or grown in groups and pruned to control growth in the middle to front of the bed.

Though not a shrub I would be remiss not to mention cycas revoluta and cycas circinalis the king and queen sago. Both are very architectural in habit and stand out in any arena with their bold evergreen foliage and male and female flower spikes adding interest.

They can be used as single specimens in a relatively small area and simply under-planted with a low ground cover or black gravel and they will make a bold statement.

Cycas revoluta is lower growing than cycas circinalis, which has a more upright habit. As they mature they produce side shoots. Do let these side shoots mature as they add so much character to the plant as it “ages”.

The above is just a list for consideration as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but one has to behold in order to admire.