Cespuglio vs. arbusto
The Italian words 'cespuglio' and 'arbusto' both refer to bushy plants, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Cespuglio
'Cespuglio' generally refers to a dense, often wild or untamed bush or shrub. It can also describe a clump or thicket of plants growing close together.
Un coniglio si è nascosto nel cespuglio.
(A rabbit hid in the bush.)
Il giardino era pieno di cespugli di rose selvatiche.
(The garden was full of wild rose bushes.)
Dobbiamo potare quel cespuglio, sta diventando troppo grande.
(We need to prune that bush, it's getting too big.)
Arbusto
'Arbusto' is often used for cultivated or ornamental shrubs. It typically refers to a woody plant that is smaller than a tree and has multiple stems.
Ho piantato un nuovo arbusto di lavanda nel mio giardino.
(I planted a new lavender shrub in my garden.)
Gli arbusti di bosso formano una bella siepe intorno alla casa.
(The boxwood shrubs form a beautiful hedge around the house.)
Questo arbusto fiorisce in primavera con bellissimi fiori rosa.
(This shrub blooms in spring with beautiful pink flowers.)
Summary
While 'cespuglio' and 'arbusto' can both be translated as 'bush' or 'shrub', 'cespuglio' is more often used for wild, untamed bushes or thickets, while 'arbusto' is typically used for cultivated or ornamental shrubs. 'Cespuglio' might be used in more natural settings, whereas 'arbusto' is more common in gardening or landscaping contexts.