- Animal Crossing New Leaf bushes are plantable shrubs that flower in different seasons.
- Buy bush starts at Tortimer Island for medals or the garden shop (after T.I.Y. opens) for Bells.
- Bushes take two days to mature and bloom only during specific seasonal windows.
- Plant up to 15 trees and bushes combined in any 7x7 area, or saplings will die.
- Varieties include holly, azalea, hydrangea, hibiscus, and olive.
Bush Basics in Animal Crossing New Leaf
Animal Crossing New Leaf bushes are a landscaping feature introduced in New Leaf that lets players shape their town with flowering shrubs. Unlike flowers, bushes grow from starts that you bury in the ground, and each variety blooms only during a specific window of the year. Because they can be planted adjacent to each other, bushes are the best tool for building hedges, mazes, and garden borders.
Holly
- Winter flowering
- Festive red berries
- Great for holiday theming
Azalea
- Spring bloomer
- Pink and white variants
- Garden shop purchase
Hydrangea
- Summer color
- Lush full hedges
- Ideal for rainy-season scenes
The plantable bushes in New Leaf are different from the permanent decorative vegetation found in the first-generation games (Animal Forest, Animal Crossing, Wild World, City Folk). In New Leaf, you control where every bush grows.
Where to Buy Bush Starts
There are two main sources for bush starts in New Leaf, and each suits a different stage of the game:
| Source | Unlock Requirement | Currency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tortimer Island | Island unlocked | Medals | Early game, rare varieties |
| Garden shop | T.I.Y. established in town | Bells | Stocking up in bulk |
| Bush Variety | Buy Price | Sell Price | Flowering Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azalea (pink/white) | 120 Bells | 30 Bells | April 11 - June 15 |
| Hydrangea | ~120 Bells | ~30 Bells | June - July |
| Hibiscus | ~120 Bells | ~30 Bells | July - September |
| Holly | ~120 Bells | ~30 Bells | November - December |
| Olive | ~120 Bells | ~30 Bells | September - October |
Bush starts at the garden shop rotate with the season. If a variety you want is missing, time-travel forward or wait for its blooming window to approach, since buds appear roughly a week before full bloom.
Planting Rules and Layout Restrictions
Bushes are forgiving compared to trees, but New Leaf enforces strict placement rules. Learning these restrictions early saves you from dead starts and wasted Bells.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Growth time | 2 days from planting to maturity |
| Adjacent planting | Bushes can touch each other |
| Blocked placements | Cannot touch buildings, rivers, rocks, or PWPs |
| Density cap | Max 15 trees + bushes per 7x7 area |
| Overflow penalty | Extra saplings/starts die immediately |
Choose Your Source
Travel to Tortimer Island and exchange medals, or visit the garden shop after T.I.Y. opens to buy starts with Bells.
Find Valid Ground
Pick an open dirt or grass tile that is not adjacent to buildings, rivers, rocks, or public works projects.
Bury the Start
Open your inventory, select the bush start, and plant it like a flower sapling. Bushes may sit directly next to each other for hedge rows.
Wait Two Days
The bush reaches full size after two in-game days. Watering is not required for bushes.
Remove If Needed
Dig up unwanted bushes with a shovel. Unlike flowers, dug-up bushes do not return to your inventory as a replantable item in New Leaf.
Before planting a hedge maze, count existing trees in the area. Exceeding 15 combined trees and bushes in a 7x7 zone kills the newly planted starts instantly.
Seasonal Bloom Calendar
Because each variety flowers in a different season, a well-planned town keeps color on display year-round. Buds appear about one week before the full flowering period begins.
| Season | Blooming Bushes | Design Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (mid-April to mid-June) | Azalea | Cherry blossom season companion |
| Summer (June to September) | Hydrangea, Hibiscus | Peak hedge color months |
| Autumn (September to October) | Olive | Subtle yellow-white tones |
| Winter (November to December) | Holly | Red berries for holiday decorating |
Plant one mixed hedge row containing azalea, hydrangea, and hibiscus side by side. As each variety fades, the next takes over, so your border stays in bloom from spring through early autumn.
Bush Landscaping Milestones:
- Buy one start of every variety
- Build a continuous hedge row of 5+ bushes
- Design a bush maze on an open field
- Keep color alive across all four seasons
- Stay under the 15-per-7x7 density cap
Bushes in New Leaf vs. New Horizons
Players who also own New Horizons will notice several quality-of-life differences between the two systems:
| Feature | New Leaf | New Horizons |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced via | Base game | April free update |
| Varieties | Holly, azalea, hydrangea, hibiscus, olive | Adds camellia, tea-olive, plumeria (2.0) |
| Digging up | Bush is destroyed | Pick up and relocate with shovel |
| Planting near buildings | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Buying source | Tortimer Island / garden shop | Leif / boat tours |
New Horizons offers more varieties and painless relocation, but New Leaf's bush system rewards careful planning. The density cap and placement limits make a finished New Leaf hedge maze feel like a genuine town-planning achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do bushes take to grow in Animal Crossing New Leaf?
Bushes take two days to grow to maturity after planting the start. Flower buds appear about one week before the variety's blooming period begins.
Q: Where can I buy bushes in Animal Crossing New Leaf?
Bush starts can be purchased at Tortimer Island using medals, or at the garden shop in your town for Bells once the T.I.Y. store is established. Azalea starts, for example, cost 120 Bells.
Q: Can bushes be planted next to each other in New Leaf?
Yes. Unlike trees, bushes can be planted directly adjacent to each other, making them perfect for hedges and mazes. However, they cannot be placed next to buildings, rivers, or rocks.
Q: Can I move a bush after planting it in New Leaf?
No. Digging up a bush with a shovel removes it permanently in New Leaf. Relocating bushes intact is only possible in New Horizons.
Pick up a few azalea or hydrangea starts, plan a border along your main path, and check out the Bush page on Nookipedia for reference images of every variety.