13 Disease-Resistant Shrubs to Plant in February

Shrubs make excellent boundaries for your home and garden. They block the wind, provide shade, and create stunning natural boundaries. Many species are disease-resistant and help keep your garden free from harmful pathogens. 

No matter where you live, there are dozens of spectacular choices. If the weather is starting to warm up this February, it’s time to get them in the ground. 

From gorgeous foliage-producing evergreens to flowering beauties, your choices are endless. For the ultimate garden, try planting these 13 disease-resistant shrubs this February. 

Bird’s Nest Spruce 

	botanical name Pisces abies ‘Nidformis’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Bird’s nest spruces are some of my favorite hardy shrubs. In places like northern Michigan, they’re a go-to shrub because of their evergreen leaves and ability to block the wind. You can plant them in pretty much any soil type. Once they’re established, they stay short and bushy, creating the perfect natural hedging. 

Besides being incredible natural barriers, they’re resistant to diseases and pests. They have a natural defense against many critters and will very rarely succumb to diseases. 

Most plants have dense light green to almost grayish evergreen leaves. Plant them in February in large grow bags or directly into the ground in warmer regions. They will stay compact and adorable, making them perfect shrubs to decorate during the holidays. 

American Beautyberry 

	botanical name Callicarpa americana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 8’
	hardiness zones 6-10

The American beautyberry lives up to its name by producing gorgeous purple berries that last into the winter. It produces tons of flowers that attract helpful pollinators to your garden. In the spring, it puts on tons of green foliage that turns bright golden yellow in autumn. 

Besides being attractive in all seasons, American beautyberry is incredibly resistant to diseases and pests. It’s rare for infections to occur in the plant. It also needs very little maintenance. 

Plant this shrub in your garden in February and give it plenty of water. Once it is established, you’ll get a rush of majestic leaves in the spring. In summer, its purple berries will attract birds and other wildlife. 

Hibiscus ‘Cranberry Crush’

	botanical name Hibiscus ‘Cranberry Crush’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

The ‘Cranberry Crush’ hibiscus is a cold-hardy, compact, and disease-resistant hybrid from Proven Winners’ Summerific^® Collection. It creates magnificent hedges and has spectacular blooms on almost every branch. 

Plant it in February in warmer climates once the weather starts to warm, and the chances of heavy frost subside. In colder climates, you can wait until early to mid-spring. 

Once established, you won’t have to maintain your hibiscus or worry about diseases. It will survive hard freezes, intense snow, and changing weather. Feed it with organic compost throughout its blooming season. Beneficial pollinators will flock to its colorful and abundant blooms. 

Bottlebrush Buckeye

	botanical name Aesculus parviflora
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Over 8’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Bottlebrush buckeye is native to the southeastern US. It can survive long, intense periods of cold weather. It’s also incredibly disease-resistant, making it the perfect shrub to plant in gardens across the US. 

It has big dark green leaves and tall clusters of branches. In the summer, you’ll enjoy intense clusters of white flowers covering the branches. Grow it under large trees for excellent ground cover. 

Plant it in February once the weather starts to warm up. It prefers areas with full to partial shade. Once established, it will attract pollinators and keep diseases and pests away. It also makes attractive natural fencing for yards and wooded properties. 

Cinnamon Viburnum

	botanical name Viburnum cinnamomifolium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’-20’
	hardiness zones 6-8

Cinnamon viburnum takes a long time to grow—we’re talking over 10 to 20 years until it reaches its maximum height. However, once established, it can be one of the most attractive bloomers in your garden. Its leaves are dark green, thick, and evergreen. 

Besides being attractive, this species of viburnum is highly disease and pest-resistant. It will thrive in almost any soil type. 

In warmer climates, you can plant this shrub in February. Use it as a hedge or as a decorative showpiece in your yard. After a decade, it will become one of the showiest evergreens outside your home. 

Bridalwreath

	botanical name Spirea prunifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-9’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Bridalwreath spirea shrubs are fast-growing, disease-resistant, pest-resistant, and incredibly beautiful. They have small, white clusters of flowers that cover the branches in spring. In summer, you’ll get plenty of light green foliage. 

These shrubs grow to their full height in a year. They’re perfect for adding quick greenery and hedging to your garden. Few diseases target this hardy plant. 

Plant bridalwreath in any soil type in late February or when temperatures rise in your area. Give them access to full sun, and they’ll thrive anywhere in your yard. Because of their ability to grow anywhere, they make excellent disease-resistant shrubs to plant as roadside hedges. 

Winterberry

	botanical name Ilex verticillata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 15’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Winterberries are cold-hardy members of the holly family of plants. They can grow up to 15 feet high. They’re deciduous and produce clusters of small red berries that attract birds and wildlife. 

One of the best parts about winterberries is their ability to grow anywhere. They flourish in any soil type, including soil with salt and high moisture. They are disease and pest-resistant plants and need very little upkeep. 

Plant your winterberry plants in February in warmer climates or later in the year in colder regions. Give them plenty of sun or partial shade. Once they establish themselves, they’ll produce striking green foliage and their signature red berries that last through winter. 

Euonymus

	botanical name Euonymus spp
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Euonymus is a genus of highly disease-resistant shrubs. Several varieties, including ‘Emerald Gaiety’ and ‘Golden,’ are extra hardy and low-maintenance. They also have few pests which makes them great for keeping your garden pest-free. 

These small shrubs produce small fruit that attracts animals. In the summer, they put on showy foliage that’s often multicolored in appearance. In the autumn, they can be some of the most colorful foliage producers in your garden. 

Plant these shrubs pretty much anywhere in your garden in February or late spring. They’ll grow quickly and need very little upkeep. Once they establish themselves, they can withstand almost any climate. However, all these things contribute to their tendency to become invasive, so be careful where you plant them.

Fragrant Tea Olive

	botanical name Osmanthus fragrans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’ to 20’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Fragrant tea olives are wonderful evergreen shrubs that are very resistant to diseases and pests. They have thick evergreen leaves and beautiful cream-colored flowers. The flowers are intensely aromatic and attract all kinds of beneficial pollinators to your garden. 

These evergreens have very few problems with pests and diseases. They grow tall and vertical, making them great for natural hedges. 

Plant them in February in warmer regions when the last threat of frost starts to go away. They’ll establish themselves quickly. Once planted, they won’t require much maintenance and can thrive in almost any section of your garden. 

Hinoki Cypress

	botanical name Chamaecyparis obtusa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 130’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Hinoki cypress trees are native to the rolling hills and mountains of Japan. Their native climate is humid, with many species of insects, fungi, and soil bacteria thriving. This has made these cypresses incredibly disease and pest-resistant. Root rot and juniper blight are the only diseases that could be a problem. 

Once established, this evergreen produces aromatic leaves and big, bushy growth. It’s technically a tree and can reach heights of over 100 feet. It grows slowly, and as long as you trim it annually, it will stay shrub size. 

Plant it in the ground in February if you live in warmer climates. Once established, it can handle droughts and almost any soil type. It will become waterlogged, so be mindful about planting it in low-lying areas. 

Juniper ‘Moonglow’

	botanical name Juniperus scopulorum ‘Moonglow’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Moonglow junipers are some of my favorite disease-resistant shrubs. They grow fast and provide cold-hardy evergreen foliage to some of the coldest regions in the US. They produce aromatic leaves and berries that can be dried for potpourri and infusions. 

These junipers grow relatively tall. They thrive in almost any soil type and provide excellent wall hedges. Plant them anywhere in your garden as long as they get full sun. 

In February or early spring, plant them in areas with well-drained soil. They’ll establish quickly and need very little maintenance. They are not susceptible to diseases or pests, making them great additions to a healthy garden. 

Rosemary

	botanical name Salvia rosmarinus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 6’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Rosemary is as delicious as it is disease-resistant. If you live in zones 8 to 10, you can grow this spectacular Mediterranean shrub in your garden or yard. It will grow to almost 6 feet high once it’s mature, giving you tons of edible hedge protection. 

It has fragrant dark green foliage and small purple or clue flowers that attract beneficial pollinators. All parts, other than the woody stem and roots are edible. 

Plant rosemary bushes in February in warmer climates. Once established, it doesn’t need much water and can survive long periods of drought. Harvest its leaves and flowers regularly and enjoy the herb in soups, pastas, breads, or salads. 

Ninebark

	botanical name Physocarpus opulifolius
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 8’
	hardiness zones 2-8

North American native ninebarks are highly disease-resistant evergreen shrubs that thrive in most regions of the US. They have radiant green leaves and bright white flowers that attract all kinds of helpful pollinators. In fall, their leaves turn a stunning shade of purple.

Plant these beautiful shrubs in spring in zones 2 through 8. Once established, they can grow in almost any soil type. 

These shrubs grow relatively quickly and become beautiful hedges. They bring in helpful insects and predators, creating a pest-free ecosystem for your other plants.