For easy to grow, less work types, look at natives. They're bred to do well in our conditions. OSU has a factsheet that lists different shrubs for different purposes or conditions.

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/selecting-shrubs-for-the-landscape.html

Practically everyone in OKC seems to have rose of sharon so I'd say it does well.

Vitex does well, I had one I planted & then mostly ignored & it took off.

Oakleaf hydrangea do well here. I've seen several growing around town.

I know forsythia do well further north (formerly from Tulsa & had one).

Awesome, thank you! I don't know about vitex but ignoring plants I am all about. :)

This website is wonderful, I'd only seen the PDFs but OSU extension outdid themselves with this one. Here's the natives cut and pasted for anyone looking at the thred who doesn't click through (there is a lot more info at the link):

Native Species

Native, in this context, is defined as any plant native to somewhere in the lower 48 contiguous states, not just Oklahoma.

• Bayberry, northern (Myrica pensylvanica)
• Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• Bladdernut, American (Staphylea trifolia)
• Blueberry, highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum)
• Bush-Honeysuckle, Southern (Diervilla sessilifolia)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
• Chokeberries, Red and black (Aronia arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa, respectively)
• Currant, Clove (Ribes odoratum)
• Devil’s walkingstick (Aralia spinosa)
• Fothergilla, Dwarf (Fothergilla gardenii)
• Fothergilla, large (Fothergilla major)
• Grapeholly (Mahonia spp.)
• Holly, American (Ilex opaca)
• Holly, common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Holly, Deciduous or possumhaw (Ilex decidua)
• Holly, inkberry (Ilex glabra)
• Hydrangea, smooth (Hydrangea arborescens)
• Hydrangea, Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)
• Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
• Ninebark, purple, Diablo™ (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’)
• Palmetto (Sabal minor)
• Rhododendron and azalea (Rhododendron spp. & cultivars)
• Summersweet or sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
• Sweetspire, Virginia (Itea virginica)
• Viburnum, American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)
• Viburnum, arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
• Viburnum, blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium)
• Viburnum, Southern blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)
• Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplissima)

It is important to note that not all natives will thrive anywhere in the US. This is a very big country with very diverse geography and climates and some of the natives included on that list have rather specific growling requirements that limit their suitability in some areas.

is OKC oklahoma city? 7a:? can't be there.....where is it?

Yes, OKC is Oklahoma City, and the plants mentioned are recommended by Oklahoma State University. Oklahoma has a difficult climate with high heat and regular drought. These natives evolved to survive here. I find the hardiness zones (7a) pretty useless for determining what will live here, since it is based on average winter cold. A plant may survive the winter, but burn up in our summer heat. This was posted in both the Oklahoma gardening and Shrubs forums, hence the confusion by those of you non-Okies.

Thanks Amy! Sorry Marie for the confusion. I edited the tile to be Flowering shrubs in central Oklahoma, not Flowering shrubs in OKC. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a. Not sure if most states are like this but we've got some highly diverse biomes across Oklahoma. OKC is right in the middle.

Also the list I pasted was from the OSU Oklahoma State Extension office, so these are recommended for central Oklahoma. Eastern Red Cedar is native to US and invasive here.

My husband saw a mesquite tree in the landscape border at the OKC zoo a few years ago and has been harboring the desire to plant this small strip between our driveway & neighbor driveway with yucca and mesquite. We have peonies and roses up by the house on the south side. That's the best micro climate picture I know to paint :)

I'm trying some beautyberry. I hear they are easier to propagate too.

The friend being me, Amy? LOL It's a fairly vigorous grower. Can you believe I first intended on putting it at the school? Uhhhh, bad idea. I'm so excited about it. I also have 3 button bushes, 3 Clethra, viburnum trilobum, 3 more beautyberries. and 2 witch hazels going. Yay!

I've got the "Issai" cultivar and the americana beautyberry on its way, those are so cool i'm looking forward to comparing the growth of the native and nonnative varieties.

There sure are a lot of types of viburnum, rusty blackhaw is new to me! I think witch hazel is going to be a great alternative to forsythia for me. And by alternative I mean companion because even though they are boring the rest of the year, that February yellow is lovely!

Yes, Karoliberty! Have fun! I just got rusty blackhaw and witch hazel this year, too.

I didn't know you had rusty blackhaw, Nancy (or I did and I've slept since then) where did you get it? My "stick" did not survive.

Etsy, some outfit out of TN, I believe. It's "still to be planted." Was $25.00 but free shipping. I'm excited to get these bushes into the ground, but didn't want to plant while it's so hot, you know? BTW, I am loving the businesses on Etsy--top quality stuff!