Some overgrown shrubs can be cut to the ground and they’ll grow right back (this is sometimes called rejuvenation pruning). Typically, these are fairly vigorous shrubs that produce flowers on new wood.
But be careful – even some of the shrubs on this list may never recover if they’re not in very good health before you whack them back. And don’t forget to mulch the shrub after you’re done pruning; a nice thick layer of compost will do the trick.
The following shrubs generally respond well to rejuvenation pruning when done correctly and at the right time of year.
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
| Abelia | Abelia |
| Aucuba japonica | Spotted Laurel |
| Berberis spp. | Barberry |
| Buddleia davidii | Butterfly Bush (after danger of hard frost) |
| Callicarpa | Beautyberry (prune down to 12 inches) |
| Caragana spp. | Peashrub |
| Caryopteris | Blue Mist Spirea (although best flowering is achieved through annual renewal pruning) |
| Chaenomelea spp. | Flowering Quince |
| Cornus spp. | Tartarian, Yellow-Twig and Red-Twig Dogwood |
| Corylus avellana | Hazel (shrubs only) |
| Crataegus spp. | Hawthorn |
| Deutzia spp. | Deutzia |
| Forsythia spp. | Forsythia |
| Hebe cultivars | Hebe |
| Hibiscus syriacus | Rose of Sharon, Shrub Althea |
| Hypericum | St. John’s Wort |
| Hydrangea arborescens ‘Grandiflora’ | Smooth Hydrangea, Hills-of-Snow |
| Hydrangea quercifolia | Oakleaf hydrangea |
| Kolkwitzia amabilis | Beautybush |
| Ligustrum spp. | Privet |
| Lonicera spp. | Honeysuckle |
| Olearia x haastii | Daisy Bush |
| Philadelphus spp. | Mockorange |
| Potentilla | Cinquefoil |
| Prunus laurocerasus | Cherry Laurel |
| Prunus lusitanica | Portugal or Portuguese Laurel |
| Prunus tomentosa | Nanking Cherry |
| Rhus spp. | Sumac |
| Salix spp. | Willow (shrubs only) |
| Sambucus spp. | Elderberry |
| Spirea prunifolia, S. plenaflora ‘Plena’ and S. x vanhouttei | Bridalwreath and Vanhoutte spireas |
| Syringa spp. | Lilac |
| Viburnum spp. | Viburnum |
| Vitex | Chastetree (after danger of hard frost) |
| Weigela spp. | Weigela |