At the most basic level, a shrub is a small-to-medium-sized plant with several woody stems. Generally, they also have a rounded form (as opposed to a tree, which has a tall single trunk). As the name suggests, flowering shrubs are shrubs that bloom, like rose bushes, lilac shrubs, and azalea shrubs.
Part of flowering shrubs’ appeal is in their versatility. They make fantastic statement plants and accents, and excel as hedges and borders when planted en masse.