A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, less than 6–10 m (20–33 ft) tall.

You could see flowering shrubs but not reach them. Plant prickly shrubs or hedges to deter intruders. This can be grown into a large shrub or small tree. The foliage of this deciduous shrub blazes scarlet in the autumn.

Most shrubs grow up to about 3 metres in height, regardless of whether they are ornamental or flowering. An important feature of landscape beautification, shrubs are used for temporary decoration purposes as well on fences, screens, background plantings, hedges or formal gatherings. However, since bushes grow at a higher rate than trees usually do, they need to be tended regularly to make sure that they are in a specific shape or size so that they can contribute to colour, fragrance, or utility. A nearly arranged area of shrubs or bushes in a garden, park or amidst a natural landscape is known as shrubbery.