Native Trees & Shrubs

SHRUBS

Latin Name   |   Common Name

• Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi  |  Bearberry
• Alnus rugosa | Speckled Alder | Large shrub, nitrogen fixer. Wetland and riparian soils. Mountain zone
• Alnus serrulata | Smooth Alder | Large shrub, nitrogen fixer. Wetland and riparian soils. Piedmont and coastal plain
• Aronia arbutifolia | Red Chokeberry | Medium shrub, red berries. Varied soils. Mountain zone.
• Aronia melanocarpa | Black Chokeberry | Medium shrub, black berries. Moist to wet soils. Mountain zone.   
• Baccharis halmifolia  | Groundsel Bush | Medium shrub, salt tolerant. All soils. Coastal plain. 
• Ceanothus americana | New Jersey Tea | Small shrub ground cover, rhizomatous, white flowers June to August.  Dry soils. All zones. 
• Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush | Large shrub, white ball flowers July, butterflies. Wet soils. All zones. 

•  Clethra alnifolia | Sweet Pepperbush | Medium shrub, understory.  Moist soils. Coastal plain.

• Cornus amomum | Silky Dogwood | Large shrub, young stems red. Wet soils. All zones. 
• Cornus florida | Flowering Dogwood | Understory tree. Dry to moist soils. All zones. 

• Cornus racemosa | Gray Dogwood | Medium shrub, white berries on red pedicels. Dry to moist soils. Mountain zone. 

• Cornus sericea/stolonifera | Red Osier Dogwood | Medium shrub, bright red stems. Wet soils. Mountain zone

• Corylus americana  | Hazelnut | Medium to large shrub. Streambanks, moist soils. All zones 

• Gaylussacia baccata  |  Black Huckleberry

• Gaylussacia frondosa | Huckleberry) | Forest floor shrub, black berries. Dry soils. All zones. 

• Hamamelis virginiana | Witch Hazel | Medium shrub to small tree, understory; yellow flowers in fall. Moist to dry soils.  All zones. 

• Hibiscus moscheutos | Marsh Mallow | Medium shrub, large flowers, white, pink, red July and August. Wet soils. Salt tolerant. Coastal plain.

• Ilex decidua | Possum Haw | Medium shrub, orange berries. Wet soils. Coastal plain. 

• Ilex glabra | Inkberry | Broadleaf evergreen shrub. Wet soils. Coastal plain.

• Ilex verticillata | Winterberry | Medium shrub, understory. Red berries all winter. All soils. All zones. 

• Itea virginica | Virginia Sweet Spire |Medium shrub. Pinkish fall color, white racemes in July. Wet soils. Coastal plain. 

• Kalmia angustifolia  | Sheeps Laurel | Small ground cover broadleaf evergreen shrub. Pink flowers mid summer. Dry soils. Coastal plain. Uncommon in Piedmont. 

• Kalmia latifolia | Mountain Laurel | Broadleaf evergreen, understory shrub. Pink flowers mid-summer. Dry soils. All zones. 

• Lindera benzoin | Spicebush | Medium shrub. Yellow star burst flowers, red fruit. Moist to wet soils. All zones.

• Myrica pennsylvanica | Northern Bayberry | Large evergreen shrub, nitrogen fixer. Sandy soils. Salt tolerant. Coastal plain.

• Rhododendron arborescens (Smooth Azalea)  | White flowers June to July. Moist to dry soils. Mountain zone. 

• Rhododendron maximum (Rosebay Rhododendron) | 
  Medium to large evergreen shrub, flat leaves. Dry to moist soils. Mountain zone. Uncommon in Piedmont.

• Rhododendron nudiflorum (Pinxter Bloom)  |  Medium understory shrub, deciduous azalea. Pink flowers. Dry soils. All zones. 

• Rhododendron vaseyii (Roseshell Azalea) 
  Medium shrub, deciduous azalea, pink flowers. Moist soil.

• Rhododendron viscosum (Swamp Azalea) |  
  Small shrub, deciduous azalea, fragrant white flowers. Wet soils. All zones. 

• Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)  | Medium shrub. Dry rocky soils. Mountain zone. 

• Rhus copallina (Winged Sumac)  | Small shrub, crimson fall color. Dry soils. All zones. 

• Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac)  | Medium tree, bluish waxy stems, red fruit spikes. Dry soils. All zones. 

• Rosa palustris (Swamp Rose) | Medium shrub, white – pink – red flowers. Wet soils, All zones

• Rosa Carolina  |  Carolina Rose
• Rosa Virginiana  |  Virginia Rose

• Salix purpurea (Banker’s Dwarf Willow) | *non-native* Medium shrub. Riverbanks.

• Salix cottetii (Streamco Willow) | Large shrub. Riverbanks.

• Salix discolor (Pussy Willow) | Large shrub, velvety flowers. Wet soils. All zones.

• Salix longifolia (Sandbar Willow) | Medium tree, yellow stems. Gravel bars and flood plains. Mountain zone.

• Salix sericea candida  |  Sage Willow
• Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry) | Medium shrub, white flowers, black berry clusters. Moist to wet soils. All zones.
• Spirea latifolia/alba (Hardhack) | Medium shrub, white spike flowers. Wet soils. Mountain zone.
• Vaccinium vacillans  |  Blue Ridge Blueberry
• Vaccinium angustifolium  |  Lowbush Blueberry
• Vaccinium corymbosum  |  Highbush Blueberry
• Vaccinium macrocarpon  |  Wild Cranberry
• Vaccinium stamineum  |  Deerberry
• Viburnum acerifolium (Maple Leaved Viburnum) | Medium understory shrub, pink fall color, black berries. Dry soils. All zones.

• Viburnum cassinoides (Witherrod) | Medium shrub, sun tolerant, pink fall color, black fruit. Wet to dry soils. Mountain zone.

• Viburnum dentatum (Southern Arrowwood) | Medium shrub, yellow fall color, blue black fruit. All soils. All zones.

• Viburnum lentago (Nanny Berry) | Medium shrub, red fall color. Moist soils. Coastal plain & piedmont flood plain.

• Viburnum nudum (Wild Raisin) | Medium shrub, coral fall color, blue black fruit. Moist to wet soils. Coastal plain.

• Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw) | Medium shrub, red fall color. Dry soils. All zones.

• Viburnum recognitum (Northern Arrowwood) | Medium shrub, yellow to red fall color. Dry soils. Mountain and north piedmont zones.

• Viburnum trilobum (Highbush Cranberry) | Medium shrub, yellow to red fall color, red berries. Moist soils. Mountain zone.