|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Acer buergerianumTrident Maple |
N |
25-35’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Good urban street tree, tolerant of drought, air pollution, and soil compaction; attractive foliage, form, fall color, and exfoliating bark |
Acer campestreHedge maple |
N
|
25-35’/30-35’ |
Sun/light shade |
Extremely adaptable; tolerates drought and soil compaction, air pollution and severe pruning; small lawn specimen or residential street tree |
Acer ginnalaAmur Maple |
N
|
15-20’/15-20 |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a wide range of soils, easy to transplant, tends toward multi-stem; not recommended for street tree; good in planters |
Acer leucodermeChalkbark maple |
Y |
25-30’/20-30’ |
Sun, light shade |
Adaptable; tolerates dry conditions; commercial availability may be problem; great whitish bark |
Amelanchier arboreaServiceberry, Sarvis |
Y |
15-25’/10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Blooms in early spring before dogwoods with white flowers; good under power lines, can be multi-trunked; use with care in urban sites, not drought or urban tolerant |
Carpinus carolinianaAmerican Hornbeam, musclewood |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/shade |
Good street tree for residential sites; great for naturalizing along woodland edges, in buffer areas or along streams; not drought or compaction tolerant |
Cercis canadensisEastern Redbud |
Y |
20-30’/25-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful pink/magenta/white flowers in spring; best for use in woodland/naturalized settings, use in buffer areas as understory or street tree under power lines |
Cotinus obovatusAmerican Smoketree |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Good small tree for street and urban plantings, tolerates dry soil conditions, magnificent fall foliage ranges from yellow/orange to red/reddish purple, attractive bark in winter |
Chionanthus virginicusWhite Fringetree |
Y |
15-20’/12-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful white fragrant flowers in spring, dark blue fruit in fall; great understory tree in woodland or buffer areas, or under power lines; moderate drought tolerance |
Chionanthus retusus
Chinese fringetree |
N |
15-25’/15-25’ |
Sun/light shade |
Excellent floral display and great fruit, only on females; heat tolerant and adaptable |
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood |
Y |
15-25’/10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fibrous spreading roots, best for naturalizing in woodland or buffer areas; spreading habit with horizontal branches creates a layered look |
Cornus
Flowering Dogwood |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good for naturalizing; needs good air circulation, not pollution or drought tolerant; not recommended for street tree planting |
Cornus kousaKousa
Dogwood
|
N |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Creamy white flowers more prolific in sun, exfoliating
bark, more disease resistant than Cornus |
Crataegus crusgalli var. inermisThornless cockspur hawthorn |
Y |
20-30’/20-35’ |
Sun |
Adaptable, prefers well-drained soil; moderately urban tolerant; use only thornless variety for street trees; great for screens and hedges |
Crataegus phaenopyrum
|
Y |
25-30’/20-25’ |
Sun |
Creamy white flowers in May; attractive in winter with persistent red fruit, good street tree; susceptible to rusts; don’t plant adjacent to junipers or quince |
Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’
Winter green green hawthorn |
Y |
20-35’/20-35’ |
Sun |
Vase-shaped, rounded habit; persistent, large red fruits, very nice |
Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel |
Y |
20-30’/20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Great for naturalizing in woodland or buffer areas; prefers moist, well-drained soils |
Koelreuteria paniculataGoldenrain Tree |
N |
30-40’/30-40’ |
Sun |
Withstands drought, heat, wind and pollution; good urban street tree, though maybe weak wooded; great yellow flowers in late spring; reseeds easily; ungainly in youth |
MalusFlowering
Crabapple
|
N |
Varies based on cultivar |
Sun |
Beautiful spring flowering tree, many colors; disease resistant varieties include: ‘Adams’, ‘Adirondack’, ‘Harvest Gold’, ‘Prairifire’, ‘Professor Sprenger’, and Sugar TymeÔ |
Lagerstroemia indicaCrape myrtle |
N |
Varies based on cultivar |
Sun |
Adaptable species; prefers hot conditions; many cultivars suited to various sites |
Ostrya virginianaAmerican Hophornbeam |
Y |
25-40’/20-40’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Useful naturalizing or as a street tree; prefers moist, well-drained soil; slow to establish |
Parrotia persicaPersian Parrotia |
N |
20-40’/15-30’ |
Sun/light shade |
Excellent small tree with exfoliating bark and crimson flowers in early spring; tolerant of drought, heat, wind and cold; use as street tree, under power lines or as an accent plant |
Pistacia chinensisChinese pistache
|
N |
30-35’/25-35’ |
Sun |
Tolerates a wide range of sites and soil conditions; tough urban tree, very drought resistant; prune to get uniform crown; use a street tree, open areas and so forth |
Prunus sargentiiSargent Cherry |
N |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Pink flowers in April/May, rich brown bark and great fall color, good street tree under power lines; ‘Columnaris’ is 20-35’/10-15’ upright form |
Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’
Flowering cherry |
N |
30-40’/30-40’ |
Sun |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils; not particularly urabn or drought tolerant; great street for wide lawns |
Viburnum prunifoliumBlackhaw Viburnum |
Y |
15-20’/8-12’ |
Sun/shade |
Adaptable to many soil types; drought tolerant; white flowers in May, good fall color; ok street tree may tend to sucker, also use in massing or naturalizing |
Large deciduous street or open space trees:
Botanical Name
Common
Name
|
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Acer x freemanii Autumn BlazeÒ
Autumn Blaze Freeman maple |
Y (CN)
|
40-50’/20-40’ |
Sun/light shade |
Excellent red fall color; adaptable to urban sites; |
Acer rubrumRed
Maple
|
Y |
40-60’/varies |
Sun/shade |
Fall leaf color varies, ‘October Glory’ and ‘Red Sunset’ cultivars provide good orange/red fall color; not drought or soil compaction tolerant |
Aesculus flavaYellow Buckeye |
Y |
60-75’/30-50’ |
Sun |
Spectacular native trouble free tree; great pumpkin fall color; use in large areas, not as street tree; prefers moist, well-drained soil |
Betula nigraRiver Birch |
Y |
40-70’/40-60’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good for areas that flood periodically; heat, but not drought tolerant; best in large areas and limited use as a street tree |
Carpinus betulusEuropean Hornbeam |
N |
40-60’/30-50’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Can prune as a hedge or screen; use in grouping around buildings or in planter boxes; not drought tolerant; ‘Fastigiata’ good columnar form |
Celtis occidentalisCommon Hackberry |
Y |
40-60’/40-60’ |
Sun |
Nice native tree, withstands adverse city conditions, yellow green fall foliage, fall fruit is a favorite for birds |
Cercidiphyllum japonicumKatsuratree
|
N |
40-60’/40-60’ |
Sun |
Elegant tree, good street tree with sufficient space and moisture; best in large spaces; requires supplemental watering during drought |
Cladrastis kentukeaAmerican
Yellowwood
|
Y |
30-50’/40-55’ |
Sun |
Spectacular cascading white flowers in spring; use as specimen or in groupings; may develop weak crotches and readily splits; great for smaller properties |
Fagus grandifoliaAmerican Beech |
Y |
50-70’/40-60’ |
Sun/shade |
Beautiful native tree for large areas and natural settings; will not tolerate heavy pruning, wet soil or heavily compacted sites |
Fraxinus
White Ash |
Y |
50-80’/50-70’ |
Sun |
Shade or street tree with good fall color ranging from reddish purple to yellow; tolerant of wide variety of conditions; susceptible to emerald ash borer |
Fraxinus pennsylvanicaGreen Ash |
Y |
50-60’/varies |
Sun |
Withstands city conditions; good street tree and for large areas; beautiful yellow fall color, some cultivars with purple fall color; susceptible to emerald ash borer |
Ginkgo bilobaGinkgo, Maidenhair |
N |
50-80’/varies |
Sun |
Ancient tree with unique fan-shaped leaf, beautiful shade tree; use male trees only as female fruit produces offensive odor; good urban tree; slow grower |
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermisThornless Honeylocust |
Y |
30-70’/30-70’ |
Sun |
Very adaptable; good salt and urban tolerance; does not perform well I heat and high humidity of south; select fruitless varieties for landscape use |
Gymnocladus dioicus |
Y |
60-75’/40-50’ |
Sun |
Adaptable to wide range of soils, drought tolerant; “ugly duckling” in youth, but becoming picturesque; good for open areas and large tree lawns; females produce large fruits, that may be considered messy by some |
Larix kaempferiJapanese
Larch
|
N |
70-90’/25-40’ |
Sun |
Deciduous conifer with elegant spring growth; prefers moist, well-drained soils, not drought tolerant; best ornamental larch for large areas; cultivars available |
Liquidambar styracifluaSweetgum |
Y |
60-75’/40-50’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent fall color, good for planting in moist areas along streams; fruit may be a nuisance; use for streets and large areas, avoid polluted or confined sites |
Liriodendron tulipiferaTulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar |
Y |
70-90’/35-50’ |
Sun |
Large, stately tree; susceptible to drought but otherwise adaptable; beautiful yellow fall color, good for street trees and open areas |
Magnolia acuminataCucumbertree magnolia |
Y |
50-80’/50-80’ |
Sun/part-shade |
May be hard to transplant; good for large open areas; not drought or pollution tolerant; prefers moist, well-drained, loamy soils |
Metasequoia glyptostroboidesDawn Redwood |
N |
70-100’/25-30’ |
Sun |
Deciduous conifer; distinctive pyramidal habit; easy to transplant; use for screening, streets, also excellent for groves along lakes and streams |
Nyssa sylvaticaBlack
|
Y |
30-50’/20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Difficult to transplant; bright red, early fall color; street tree in residential areas or shade tree in large open areas; prefers moist soil, protect from winds |
Large deciduous street or open space trees (continued):
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
|
Platanus x acerifolia |
N |
70-100’/65-80’ |
Sun/light-shade |
Withstands severe
city conditions; good for use as street tree; easily transplanted;
susceptible to cankerstain; often overplanted |
|
Platanus occidentalis American
Sycamore |
Y |
75-100’/75-100’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Use for
naturalized settings along streams; very large tree, needs lots of space;
good downtown street tree; susceptible to anthracnose |
Prunus subhirtellaHigan Cherry |
N |
20-40’/15-20’ |
Sun |
Long lived; cold, heat and stress tolerant; ‘Pendula’ is a weeping variety |
Prunus x yedoensisYoshino Cherry |
N |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Soft pinkish white flowers in early spring make spectacular display; fast growing; fairly adaptable, but like other cherries, not necessarily drought tolerant |
Quercus acutissimaSawtooth oak |
N |
40-60’/40-60’ |
Sun |
Prefers well-drained soil; transplants readily and grows quickly; highly adaptable, does well in heat of south; great for street tree or large park tree |
Quercus albaWhite Oak |
Y |
50-80’/50-80’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Majestic large shade tree; slow growing but long lived; difficult to transplant; sensitive to root disturbance when grading and soil compaction |
Quercus bicolorSwamp White Oak |
Y |
50-60’/50-60’ |
Sun |
Good for planting in low lying areas; easier to transplant than white oak; requires acid soil; tolerates wet sites and fairly urban tolerant |
Quercus coccineaScarlet Oak |
Y |
70-75’/40-50’ |
Sun |
Long lasting bright red and scarlet leaves in fall; good for dry, sandy soils; good for street plantings and large areas |
Quercus palustrisPin Oak |
Y |
60-70’/25-40’ |
Sun/part-shade |
One of the easiest oaks to grow and transplant; good for street plantings if lower limbs are removed; prefers moist, well-drained acidic soil |
Quercus phellosWillow Oak |
Y |
40-60’/30-40’ |
Sun |
Extremely tolerant of heat and stress; excellent street tree; easily transplanted; requires maintenance to keep crown open and fee of dead limbs; great urban tree |
Quercus rubraRed Oak |
Y |
60-75’/60-75’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent shade tree and effective as a street tree; easy to transplant; rapid grower; prefers moist, sandy-loam, acidic soils |
Sophora japonicaJapanese Pagoda Tree |
N |
50-70’/50-70’ |
Sun |
Good tree for city conditions; creamy flower panicles in summer, very showy but can be messy; very pollution tolerant |
Taxodium distichumBaldcypress |
Y |
50-70’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Deciduous conifer with tall airy, columnar habit; can withstand swampy conditions, but tolerant of upland drier sites; good street tree with ample root area |
Tilia
Basswood, American |
Y |
60-80’/20-40’ |
Sun |
Fragrant yellow flowers in June; good for naturalizing or as street tree; slow grower |
Tilia cordataLittleleaf Linden |
N |
60-70’/30-45’ |
Sun |
This is one of the best city street or parking lot trees, yellowish fragrant flowers appear in June |
Tilia tomentosaSilver |
N |
50-70’/25-45’ |
Sun |
Tolerant of heat and drought, good street tree for residential areas, yellowish white fragrant flowers, in summer but later than other lindens |
Ulmus
American Elm |
Y |
50-80’/30-50’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tough and durable, good for streets and parking lots, new
varieties resistant to Dutch elm disease include ‘Valley Forge’, ‘Princeton’
and ‘ |
Ulmus parvifoliaLacebark elm |
N |
40-50’/40-50’ |
Sun/part shade |
Good for difficult urban sites; makes best growth in moist, well-drained, fertile soils; great as a street tree or fro open areas |
Zelkova serrataJapanese Zelkova |
N |
50-80’/50-80’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good shade tree for streets and parking lots, heat and drought tolerant, exfoliating bark |
Evergreens for open spaces, specimens or massing:
Botanical Name
Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Abies concolorWhite Fir |
Y |
30-50’ |
15-20’ |
Sun |
Withstands heat, drought and cold; well adapted for general landscape use |
Cedrus atlanticaAtlas Cedar |
N |
40-60’ |
30-40’ |
Sun |
Magnificent evergreen, frosty blue needles; drought tolerant, use as specimen tree |
Cedrus deodaraDeodar Cedar |
N |
40-70’ |
30-50’ |
Sun |
Fluffy dense habit, silvery foliage; adaptable to dry conditions; fast grower; use in large areas as a specimen |
Cedrus libaniCedar of Lebanon |
N |
40-60’ |
40-60’ |
Sun |
Stately tree with thick massive trunk, dark green foliage; use as a specimen in large areas |
Chamaecyparis pisifera
Falsecypress |
N |
10-40’ |
10-20’ |
Sun |
Species is large tree but most cultivars are smaller; use as accent or specimen plant, can also use as screen |
Cryptomeria japonicaJapanese
Cryptomeria
|
N |
50-60’ |
20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Graceful and stately, useful alternative to |
Cupressus arizonica |
Y |
40-50’ |
25-30’ |
Sun |
Prefers hot, dry conditions with well-drained soil; great specimen, screen or windbreak plant; intense blue foliage, so don’t use too many together |
Ilex opacaAmerican Holly |
Y |
40-50’ |
20-40’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Slow growing, plant male and female for berries, protect from winter sun and desiccating winds |
Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’Nellie
Stevens Holly
|
N |
15-25’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent as specimen, for borders and foundation plantings, fast grower, good screen background, vigorous and drought resistant, self pollinating, red berries |
Ilex x attenuata
‘Fosteri’
Foster Holly |
N |
20-30’ |
5-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent as specimen or hedge, especially in narrow spaces, tolerates city conditions, red berries in fall and winter, good in containers, self pollinating |
Magnolia grandifloraSouthern magnolia |
Y |
60-80’ |
30-50’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers moist, well-drained soil; tolerates wet soils; protect from wind; surface roots very competitive to other plants; use in open areas, as screen or in mass |
Osmanthus americanusDevilwood |
Y |
15-20’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Glossy green foliage, low maintenance shrub for urban areas, useful as hedge or screen, dark purple fruit in fall, fragrant spring flowers |
Picea abiesNorway Spruce |
N |
40-60’ |
25-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Rapid growth when young; prefers moist, sandy, well-drained soils; plant in light shade in south; use for screening or park areas |
Picea orientalisOriental Spruce |
N |
50-60’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Dense compact narrow habit; tolerant of infertile soils, protect from winds; makes a great specimen conifer; slow grower |
Picea pungensColorado Blue Spruce |
N |
30-60’ |
10-20’ |
Sun |
Best as specimen; cultivars can have intense blue foliage, tolerant of dry conditions |
Pinus bungeanaLacebark Pine |
N |
30-50’ |
20-35’ |
Sun |
Rich green foliage, exfoliating bark; slow grower; often multi-stemmed; plant in open area with moist, well-drained soil; easily transplanted |
Pinus densifloraJapanese Red Pine |
N |
40-60’ |
40-60’ |
Sun |
Picturesque interesting form, use as specimen; decorative orange exfoliating bark; prefers well-drained, moist soil |
Pinus flexilisLimber pine |
Y |
30-50’ |
15-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils; very adaptable to a variety of sites; use as specimen, hedges or in mass |
Pinus strobusWhite Pine |
Y |
50-80’ |
20-40’ |
Sun |
Good temporary screen when young; prefers moist, well-drained soils; tolerates dry or wet soil and high humidity; not pollution, salt or wind tolerant |
Taxus baccataEnglish Yew |
N |
30-60’ |
15-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Cultivated in |
Pinus taedaLoblolly pine |
Y |
40-60’ |
40-60’ |
Sun |
Does well in moist, even wet soils; adaptable to a variety of sites; good as specimen in large area or as screen |
Tsuga canadensisCanadian Hemlock |
Y |
40-70’ |
25-35’ |
Sun/shade |
Protect from desiccating winds, not very tolerant of urban conditions, best used for screening and buffers |
Tsuga
caroliniana
|
Y |
45-60’ |
20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
More tolerant of urban conditions than Tsuga canadensis, not tolerant of drought, protect from winds |
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Aesculus parviflora
Bottlebrush buckeye |
Y |
8-12’ |
8-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Suckering shrub, great for naturalizing or massing; prefers moist, well-drained soils, but highly adaptable; proliferates in shady spots |
Aronia spp.Chokeberry |
Y |
6-10’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/part-shade |
A. arbutifolia, red chokeberry and A. melanocarpa, black chokecherry offer great white flowers in spring and great fruit in fall; adaptable, even wet areas; use in massing |
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese Barberry |
N |
2-4’ |
2-3’ |
Sun |
Great for hedges and barriers, withstands dry conditions, yellow flowers and red berries, many cultivars available |
Berberis x mentorensis
|
N |
5-7’ |
5-7’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent hedge or barrier due to thorny stems, yellow flowers in spring, but usually does not produce fruit |
Buddleia davidii
Butterfly-bush |
N |
6-10’ |
5-10’ |
Sun |
Beautiful summer flowering shrub in a variety of colors; tolerates heat and drought, once established; attracts butterflies and bees; new cultivars of compact habit available |
Callicarpa
American Beautyberry |
Y |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good background plant for perennials or for naturalizing; striking in groups under trees, showy purple fruit, developing best in full sun; prefers moist soil |
Callicarpa dichotomaPurple
Beautyberry
|
N |
3-4’ |
4-5’ |
Sun |
Graceful and refined; prolific fruiter in late September, purple and white forms available; best used in mass |
Calycanthus floridus
Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub |
Y |
6-10’ |
6-10’ |
Shade/sun |
Dark red fragrant flowers in spring; nice for naturalizing or as a specimen; prefers moist, well-drained soil; white and yellow flowering forms available |
Caryopteris x clandonensisBlue-Mist Shrub |
N |
2-3’ |
2-3’ |
Sun |
Perennial shrub that should be cut back to ground each year; soft blue flowers in late summer |
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush |
Y |
3-6’ (15’) |
5-10’ |
Sun/light shade |
Requires moist conditions; great for naturalizing; unique flower and fruit |
Chimonanthus praecox
Wintersweet |
N |
10-15’ |
10-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fragrant, yellow flowers in winter; lustrous green foliage; use in shrub border or as specimen |
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet Clethra |
Y |
5-8’ |
5-6’ |
Sun/shade |
Fragrant white or pinkish flower in summer; very adaptable, excellent in wet sites; good for naturalizing; numerous cultivars of various mature sizes |
Cotinus coggygria
Smokebush |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun |
Showy in late spring when smoke like panicles are at peak; purple leaved cultivars available; use in border or groupings; Verticillium wilt may be a problem; adaptable |
Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom |
N |
5-6’ |
5-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Wide array of colors, good for massing and bank stabilization; adaptable, performing well on dry, poor soils |
Deutzia gracilis
Slender Deutzia |
N |
2-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun |
Low, graceful shrub with pure white flowers in May; use in borders and for mass plantings; highly adaptable; renewal pruning keep plant tidy |
Euonymus alatus
Burning Bush |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Useful in many situations for parking lot screening, foundations, and buffers; beautiful scarlet fall foliage, dwarf varieties available; overused and may be invasive |
Euonymus americanus
Strawberry Bush |
N |
7-8’ |
6-7’ |
Shade |
Interesting dark red fruit in fall; useful for massing and naturalizing |
Forsythia x intermedia
Forsythia |
N |
8-10’ |
7-10’ |
Sun |
Spectacular yellow flowers are harbinger of spring; very hardy and adaptable; useful in buffers and parking lots |
Fothergilla gardenii
Dwarf Fothergilla |
Y |
2-3’ |
2-3’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fragrant white, bottlebrush like flowers appear in mid spring; beautiful fluorescent yellow, orange and red fall foliage; prefers moist, well-drained soils with low pH |
Fothergilla major
Large Fothergilla |
Y |
6-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
White fragrant flowers in spring, fluorescent yellow-orange foliage in fall; use for buffers, foundation plantings and in mass; prefers well-drained, moist soil with low pH |
Hydrangea arborescens
Smooth Hydrangea |
Y |
3-5’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Mounded habit; creamy white flowers in early summer; yellow foliage in fall; used in mixed shrub border; not particularly drought tolerant, shade best in south |
Hydrangea macrophylla
Bigleaf Hydrangea |
N |
3-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Plant in mass, shrub borders or as accent; shade best in south, not drought tolerant, tolerates salt spray; cultivars offer color options and variations in flower form |
Hydrangea paniculata
Panicle Hydrangea |
N |
10-20’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Showy white flowers in summer; tolerant of dry city conditions; can be pruned to form a small tree; most adaptable and urban tolerant hydrangea; not drought tolerant, though |
Hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea |
Y |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Magnificent white flowers in June; exfoliating bark; use along shrub border or in mass; coarse texture so may need to use as background plant; not drought tolerant |
Ilex decidua
Possumhaw holly |
Y |
7-15’ |
7-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable; fruits orange to scarlet; need both males and females for fruit set; Ilex opaca serves as pollinator |
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry Holly |
Y |
6-12’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
A deciduous holly with bright red fruit that persists throughout the winter, male and female required for fruit set |
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Jasminum nudiflorum
Winter Jasmine |
N |
2-4’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/shade |
Low spreading plant with yellow flower in late winter, good for covering banks |
Kerria japonica
Japanese Kerria |
N |
3-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Yellow flowers may fade in full sun; tough plant; good in parking areas and shady buffers |
Lindera benzoinSpicebush |
Y |
6-12’ |
6-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Multi-stemmed shrub, greenish yellow flowers in early spring, yellow fall foliage with bright red fruit on female plants in September and October, great for naturalizing |
Lagerstroemia indicaCrape Myrtle |
N |
15-25’ |
5-15’ |
Sun |
Tree like shrub, recommend ‘ |
Physocarpus opulifoliusNinebark |
Y |
5-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils and sites; somewhat drought tolerant, many cultivars with great selection of foliage color |
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Pinxterbloom Azalea |
Y |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Part-shade |
Fragrant deciduous azalea, with white, pink or violet bloom in May, use for naturalizing in buffer areas |
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
Rhus typhina
Staghorn sumac |
Y |
15-25’ |
15-30’ |
Sun |
Prefers well-drained soils; tolerates dry, rocky, low fertility soil; tolerates city conditions; suckers profusely |
Rhus copallina
Flameleaf sumac |
Y |
20-30’ |
20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Great for dry, rocky areas, naturalizing; requires well-drained soils; needs space; excellent scarlet fall color |
Salix purpurea
Purpleosier Willow |
N |
8-10’ |
8-10’ |
Sun |
Good choice for stream banks and moist areas; must occasionally be pruned back to the ground; wet soils |
Spiraea x bumaldaBumald Spirea
|
N |
3-4’ |
5-6’ |
Sun |
‘Goldflame’ & ‘Anthony Waterer’ are popular cultivars; pink flowers, bronze red fall color; well-drained soils |
Spiraea prunifolia
Bridalwreath Spirea |
N |
4-9’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/shade |
Graceful habit with white flowers in spring before the leaves appear; best for informal planting, combines well with roses and perennials |
Spiraea thunbergiiThunberg Spirea |
N |
3-5’ |
3-5’ |
Sun |
White flowers in early spring before leaves appear; wispy affect of foliage best when planted in mass |
Spiraea x vanhouttei
Vanhoutte Spirea |
N |
6-10’ |
10-12’ |
Sun/shade |
Fountain like growth habit with white flowers in May after the leaves appear; useful as specimen or massed in buffer areas |
Viburnum dentatum
Arrowwood Viburnum |
Y |
6-8’ |
6-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Very durable shrub, great for screening parking lots; white flowers in late spring, bluish black fruits in fall are a favorite for birds; adpatable |
Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum
Doublefile Viburnum |
N |
8-10’ |
9-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Graceful shrub with horizontal branching, white flowers in spring; not drought tolerant; use as understory shrub or specimen |
Viburnum x burkwoodii
Burkwood Viburnum |
N |
8-10’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fragrant spring flowering shrub, red fruit in fall turns to black; use for naturalizing and shrub borders |
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light Requirements |
Comments |
Abelia grandiflora
Glossy Abelia |
N |
4-6’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good for use in masses and hedges; pinkish-white flowers in late spring through frost; adaptable to many sites and heavy pruning |
Chamaecyparis
obutsa
Hinoki falsecypress |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun/light shade |
Prefers moist, well-drained soil; protect from winter winds; specimen, rock gardens and massing; many cultivars available varying in size and color |
Elaeagnus pungensThorny elaeagnus |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/partial shade |
Adapts to varied soils; drought, salt spray and pollution tolerant; requires consistent pruning; good for bank stabilization, hedges or screens; variegated forms available |
Euonymus fortuneiWintercreeper |
N |
1-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun/shade |
Many cultivars available; good for ground cover or low hedge, best used in mass or groups; some cultivars have shown invasive tendencies; prone to scale and crown gall |
Euonymus japonicusJapanese euonymus |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun/shade |
Tolerant of many soil types and salt spray; withstands heavy pruning; prone to numerous insects such as scale |
Euonymus kiautschovicusSpreading euonymus |
N |
8-10’ |
8-10’ |
Sun/shade |
Good for hedges and screens; not as susceptible to scale as other species; avoid over-pruning |
Gardenia jasminoidesCape jasmine |
N |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/partial shade |
Requires moist, well-drained soil; protect from winds and cold; excellent fragrance, but dead flowers detract from plant; susceptible to white flies, powdery mildew, etc. |
Hypericum patulum
|
N |
3-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun |
Evergreen in warmer areas, golden yellow flower in summer, good for foundation plantings or low hedges |
Ilex cornuta
Burfurd holly |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Extremely drought and heat tolerant; tolerant of heavy pruning; can prune to tree form; use various cultivars to match height and width requirements for site |
Ilex crenata
Japanese Holly |
N |
varies |
varies |
sun |
Functional shrub for massing, screens, etc.; easy to grow; many cultivars available to fit specific needs |
Ilex glabra
Inkberry Holly |
Y |
6-8’ |
8-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wet soils; rounded habit; very trouble free and useful for naturalizing, massing and along parking lots |
Ilex latifolia
Lusterleaf holly |
N |
20-25’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/light shade |
Pyramidal habit with really lustrous leaves; great for massing, screens, hedges or accent; Prefers well-drained soil; moderately drought tolerant |
Ilex x meserveae
Blue Holly |
N |
4-15’ |
5-8’ |
Sun |
Hybrid group of hollies with dark leathery blue-green foliage; spectacular red fruit with male plants for good fruit set; easily pruned |
Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon holly |
Y |
varies |
varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a wide range of sites from very wet to very dry; salt spray tolerant; urban tolerant; many forms for many uses |
Illicium parviflorum
Small anise-tree |
Y |
8-10’ (20’) |
8-10’ |
Shade |
Prefers moist soils high in organic matter; strong anise odor of foliage; use for naturalizing or in massing or as an accent plant |
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel |
N |
6-8’ |
4-8’ |
Sun/shade |
Beautiful native shrub for foundation plantings and naturalizing in shady areas; spring flowers range in color from white to deep rose |
Lavandula angustifolia
English lavender |
N |
1-2’ |
2-4’ |
Sun |
Blue-gray foliage; prefers well-drained soil, good for droughty sites; great as border plant in herb or perennial gardens or to soften evergreen plantings; |
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Drooping Leucothoe, Doghobble |
Y |
3-4’ |
3-5’ |
Shade |
Great for naturalizing in shady locations; not drought or wind tolerant; needs moist soil with high organic matter; leaf spot is a serious disease concern |
Loropetalum chinese
Chinese fringe-flower |
N |
Varies |
Varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils with low pH and high organic matter; tough plant, but does not prefer dry soils; many cultivars from shrub to tree forms available |
Magnolia stellata
Star Magnolia |
N |
15-20’ |
10-15’ |
Sun |
Tree-like shrub with fragrant white flowers in early spring, avoid planting in a southern exposure, best used as a specimen |
Magnolia virginianaSweetbay Magnolia |
Y |
15-20’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wet, swampy conditions, handsome foliage with sweetly fragrant white flowers in spring and red fruit in fall |
Myrica ceriferaWax myrtle |
Y |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates poor soil and salt spray; responds well to water and fertilizer; great in open areas, screen, barrier or in mass |
Nandina domestica
Nandina |
N |
4-5’ |
2-3’ |
Sun/shade |
Bright red berry in fall, bronze foliage, many smaller compact cultivars also available; evergreen |
Osmanthus x fortunei
Fortune’s osmanthus |
N |
15-20’ |
15-20’ |
Sun/medium shade |
Prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils; withstands heavy pruning; fairly urban tolerant; good for hedges, screens, in mass and as a specimen |
Pieris floribunda
Mountain Pieris |
Y |
2-6’ |
4-8’ |
Part-shade/shade |
Fragrant white flowers, resistant to lacebug, underutilized native species, useful for foundation plantings |
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Pieris japonica
Japanese Andromeda |
N |
9-12’ |
6-8’ |
Part-shade/shade |
Graceful early blooming shrub with fragrant, white flowers; prefers moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter; lacebug a big problem; site in shade in south |
Pinus mugo ‘Compacta’
Mugo Pine |
N |
3-4’ |
2-4 |
sun |
Good as specimen or container plant; prefers a deep, moist soil; tolerates high pH soil and heavy pruning; sawflies can be a big problem |
Pittosporum tobiraJapanese pittosporum |
N |
10-12’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/full shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils, must be well-drained; tolerates heavy pruning and salt spray; thrives in sandy soils, hot and dry sites |
Prunus laurocerasus, ‘Otto Luyken’
Otto Luyken English Laurel |
N |
3-4’ |
5-7’ |
Part-sun/shade |
Popular plant for parking lots in the south; prefers moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter; tolerates salt spray; tolerates pruning |
Prunus laurocerasus ‘ Schipkaensis’
Schipka Laurel |
N |
4-5’ |
5-8’ |
Sun/shade |
Adapts well to city conditions; prefers moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter; tolerates salt spray; tolerates pruning |
Pyracantha spp.Firethorn |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Difficult to transplant; adaptable to most any site; shows some drought tolerance; great for espalier and heavy pruning; susceptible to fireblight and apple scab |
Rhapiolepis umbellata
Indian hawthorn |
N |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils, tolerates drought; salt tolerant and handles confined spaces; leaf spot problem in moist areas |
Rhododendron carolinianum
|
Y |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/shade |
Good for naturalizing in buffer areas or as foundation plant; requires good drainage; light pink to white flowers in late April; shade in south a must |
Rhododendron catawbiense
Catawba Rhododendron |
Y |
6-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/shade |
Lilac purple flowers late spring to early summer; use for foundation plantings or massing in buffers; requires good drainage |
Rhododendron obtusum
|
N |
2-4’ |
2-4’ |
Part-shade |
Hybrid group of evergreen azaleas; all colors available; good for foundation plantings and small scale settings; requires good drainage and shade in south |
Viburnum awabuki
Awabuki viburnum |
N |
15-20’ |
15-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Protect from wind and cold; adaptable to many sites; use as hedge, screen or accent plant |
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Abelia grandiflora
Glossy Abelia |
N |
4-6’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good for use in masses and hedges; pinkish-white flowers in late spring through frost; adaptable to many sites and heavy pruning; evergreen to semi-evergreen |
|
Buxus microphylla Littleleaf boxwood |
N |
3-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Requires well-drained soil; responds well to pruning; protect from drying winter winds and sever low temperatures; evergreen |
|
Buxus microphylla var. koreana
x B. sempervirens Boxwood |
N |
2-5’ |
3-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Requires well-drained soil; responds well to pruning; protect from drying winter winds and sever low temperatures; evergreen |
Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon holly |
Y |
varies |
varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a wide range of sites from very wet to very dry; salt spray tolerant; urban tolerant; many forms for many uses; evergreen |
Jasminum nudiflorum
Winter Jasmine |
N |
2-4’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/shade |
Low spreading plant with yellow flower in late winter; good for covering banks; evergreen |
Mahonia aquifolium
|
N |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Shade |
Golden yellow flowers and blue fruit; makes a good foundation or specimen plant; prefers moist, well-drained soil; avoid dry, hot windy sites as foliage will brown |
Nandina domestica
Nandina |
N |
4-5’ |
2-3’ |
Sun/shade |
Bright red berry in fall, bronze foliage, many smaller compact cultivars also available; evergreen |
Prunus laurocerasus, ‘Otto Luyken’
Otto Luyken Laurel |
N |
3-4’ |
5-7’ |
Sun/ shade |
Popular plant for parking lots in the south, large lustrous dark green foliage; evergreen |
Rhapiolepis umbellata
Indian hawthorn |
N |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils, tolerates drought; salt tolerant and handles confined spaces; leaf spot problem in moist areas |
Rhododendron obtusum
|
N |
2-4’ |
2-4’ |
Part-shade |
Hybrid group of evergreen azaleas, all colors available, good for foundation plantings and small scale settings; evergreen |
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
Taxus x mediaEnglish-Japanese Yew
|
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun/shade |
Size depends on cultivar, excellent shrub for hedges, screens or foundation plantings, tolerant of city conditions; evergreen |
Plants for tall hedges (over 6’) or screens:
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Acer campestreHedge maple |
N
|
25-35’ |
30-35’ |
Sun/light shade |
Extremely adaptable; tolerates drought and soil compaction, air pollution and severe pruning; small lawn specimen or residential street tree; deciduous |
Aucuba japonica
Japanese aucuba |
N |
6-10’ |
4-8’ |
Shade |
Moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter; pollution tolerant variegated and straight green forms available; evergreen |
Berberis julianae
Wintergreen Barberry |
N |
6-8’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Makes a great barrier hedge, but avoid pruning; golden yellow flowers in April followed by bluish black fruits; thorny, evergreen |
Buxus sempervirens
Common boxwood |
N |
15-20’ |
15-20’ |
Sun/shade |
Very functional plant, adapts well to pruning; often gets psyllid, not a threat, rather an aesthetic problem; evergreen |
Camellia japonica
Japanese camellia |
N |
10-15’ (20’) |
6-10’ |
Partial shade |
Prefers well-drained soil; high organic matter; properly site in zone 7 to protect against winter injury; evergreen |
Camellia sasanqua
Sasanqua camellia |
N |
6-10’ (15’) |
6-10’ |
Partial shade |
Prefers well-drained soil; high organic matter; properly site in zone 7 to protect against winter injury; more refined than C. japonica; evergreen |
|
Chaenomeles speciosa Common floweringquince |
N |
6-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun to partial shade |
Great flower color selections; highly adaptable to wide range of sites; leaf spot may be a problem; fruit used for preserves and jelly; deciduous |
Crataegus crusgalli var. inermisThornless cockspur hawthorn |
Y |
20-30’ |
20-35’ |
Sun |
Adaptable, prefers well-drained soil; moderately urban tolerant; use only thornless variety for street trees; great for screens and hedges; deciduous |
X Cupressocyparis leylandiiLeyland |
N |
60-70’ |
10-15’ |
Sun |
Forms excellent upright hedge or windscreen, fast growing, best if left unpruned and used in a mixed border; evergreen |
Cupressus arizonica |
Y |
40-50’ |
25-30’ |
Sun |
Prefers hot, dry conditions with well-drained soil; great specimen, screen or windbreak plant; intense blue foliage, so don’t use too many together; evergreen |
Hibiscus syriacus
Shrub althea or Rose-of-Sharon |
N |
8-12’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Highly adaptable; flowers can be messy; great for shrub border, in mass or as hedge or screen; use single stem cultivars only as specimens; deciduous |
Ilex x attenuata
‘Fosteri’
Foster Holly |
N |
20-30’ |
5-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent as specimen or hedge, especially in narrow spaces, tolerates city conditions, red berries in fall and winter, good in containers, self pollinating; evergreen |
Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’
Burfurd holly |
N |
8-10’ (25’) |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Extremely drought and heat tolerant; tolerant of heavy pruning; can prune to tree form; evergreen |
Ilex glabra
Inkberry Holly |
Y |
6-8’ |
8-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wet soils; rounded habit; very trouble free and useful for naturalizing in buffers and in parking lots; evergreen |
Ilex latifolia
Lusterleaf holly |
N |
20-25’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/light shade |
Pyramidal habit with really lustrous leaves; great for massing, screens, hedges or accent; Prefers well-drained soil; moderately drought tolerant; evergreen |
Ilex x meserveae
Blue Holly |
N |
4-15’ |
5-8’ |
Sun |
Hybrid group of hollies with dark leathery blue-green foliage; spectacular red fruit with male plants for good fruit set; easily pruned; evergreen |
Ilex opacaAmerican Holly |
Y |
40-50’ |
20-40’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Slow growing, plant male and female for berries, protect from winter sun and desiccating winds; evergreen |
Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’Nellie
Stevens Holly
|
N |
15-25’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Excellent as specimen, for borders and foundation plantings, fast grower, good screen background, vigorous and drought resistant, self pollinating, red berries; evergreen |
Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon holly |
Y |
varies |
varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a wide range of sites from very wet to very dry; salt spray tolerant; urban tolerant; many forms for many uses; evergreen |
Plants for tall hedges (over 6’) or screens
(continued):
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Species varies from ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils; evergreen |
Juniperus scopulorumRocky
Mountain Juniper
|
N
|
30-40’
|
3-15’
|
Sun
|
Valued
for screens and hedges; blue cast to the foliage; very drought tolerant, may
not perform well in high heat and humidity of south; evergreen
|
Juniperus virginiana
|
Y |
40-50’ |
10-20’ |
Sun |
Useful for windbreaks and shelter belts; sage green foliage becomes bronze in winter; great for naturalizing for open areas; evergreen |
Ligustrum japonicumJapanese privet |
N |
6-12’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/shade |
Adaptable; tolerates salt and heavy pruning; soil must be well-drained; numerous cultivars available; evergreen |
Lonicera fragrantissimaWinter honeysuckle |
N |
6-10’ (15’) |
6-10’ (15’) |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers well-drained soils; adaptable to a variety of sites; great, lemony fragrance of early flowers; use as hedge, screen or in shrub border; not invasive as other Lonicera |
Mahonia bealei
Leatherleaf mahonia |
N |
6-10’ |
3-6’ |
Shade/part sun |
Prefers well-drained, moist soils; avoid windy, hot sites ad leaves will brown; good for informal hedge or in mass |
Myrica ceriferaWax myrtle |
Y |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates poor soil and salt spray; responds well to water and fertilizer; great in open areas, screen, barrier or in mass |
Nerium oleanderOleander |
N |
6-12’ |
6-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Well-adapted for coastal areas; highly tolerant of windy sites, pollution, salt, heat and drought; responds to f |
Osmanthus x fortunei
Fortune’s osmanthus |
N |
15-20’ |
15-20’ |
Sun/medium shade |
Prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils; withstands heavy pruning; fairly urban tolerant; good for hedges, screens, in mass and as a specimen |
Physocarpus opulifoliusNinebark |
Y |
5-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils and sites; somewhat drought tolerant, many cultivars with great selection of foliage color |
Pittosporum tobiraJapanese pittosporum |
N |
10-12’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/full shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils, must be well-drained; tolerates heavy pruning and salt spray; thrives in sandy soils, hot and dry sites |
Poncirus trifoliataHardy-orange |
N |
8-20’ |
3-12’ |
Sun |
Tolerates wide range of soils and sites; extremely thorny! Use as hedge or barrier |
Prunus carolinianaCherrylaurel |
Y |
20-30’ |
15-25’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils; withstands heavy pruning; great for screens, hedges; vigorous growers |
Pyracantha spp.Firethorn |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Difficult to transplant; adaptable to most any site; shows some drought tolerance; great for espalier and heavy pruning; susceptible to fireblight and apple scab |
Viburnum awabuki
Awabuki viburnum |
N |
15-20’ |
15-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Protect from wind and cold; adaptable to many sites; use as hedge, screen or accent plant |
Taxus x mediaEnglish-Japanese Yew
|
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun/shade |
Size depends on cultivar; excellent shrub for hedges, screens or foundation plantings; tolerant of city conditions; must be well-drained soil; evergreen |
Thuja occidentalis
American Arborvitae |
Y |
15-25’ |
10-15’ |
Sun |
Attractive as background plant; many cultivars available that are smaller and more compact; evergreen |
Thuja orientalisOriental Arborvitae |
N |
15-25’ |
10-15’ |
sun |
Good for a wide range of landscape needs, very tolerant of heat, cold and poor soils; evergreen |
Tsuga canadensisCanadian Hemlock |
Y |
40-70’ |
25-35’ |
sun or shade |
Protect from desiccating winds, not very tolerant of urban conditions, best used for screening and buffers; evergreen |
Tsuga
caroliniana
|
Y |
45-60’ |
20-25’ |
sun or shade |
More tolerant of urban conditions than Tsuga canadensis, not tolerant of drought, protect from winds; evergreen |
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Leatherleaf Viburnum |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Shade |
Yellowish white flowers in mid spring; shelter from winter wind and sun; use for screening or as a background shrub; evergreen to semi-evergreen |
Groundcovers:
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
|
Ajuga reptans
Bugleflower |
N |
<1’ |
no limit |
Part-shade |
Excellent ground cover for moist locations; good for rock gardens, blue spiked flowers in mid-spring; drought tolerant |
|
Aspidistra elatior
Cast-iron plant |
N |
1-2’ |
2-3’ |
Shade/partial shade |
Great for textural contrast in mass; drought tolerant |
|
Cotoneaster dammeri
Beautyberry cotoneaster |
N |
1-1½’ |
4-6’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable; prefers well-drained soil; great for rock gardens or on rock walls |
|
Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Scarlet
Leader’
Willowleaf Cotoneaster |
N |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun |
Low growing cultivar with glossy green foliage and red berries; purplish-red winter leaf color; good for steep banks |
|
Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom |
N |
5-6’ |
5-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Wide array of colors, good for massing and bank stabilization; adaptable, performing well on dry, poor soils |
|
Euonymus fortuneiWintercreeper |
N |
1-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun/ shade |
Many cultivars available; good for ground cover or low hedge, best used in mass or groups; some cultivars have shown invasive tendencies |
|
Elaeagnus pungensThorny elaeagnus |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/partial shade |
Adapts to varied soils; drought, salt spray and pollution tolerant; requires consistent pruning; good for bank stabilization, hedges or screens; variegated forms available |
|
Gardenia jasminoides’Radicans’
|
N |
2-3’ |
4-5’ |
Sun/partial shade |
Requires moist, well-drained soil; protect from winds and cold; excellent flower fragrance; graceful, flowing habit |
|
Hedera helix
English Ivy |
N |
<1 |
varies |
Shade |
Adaptable groundcover can also be used as a vine to cover structures; has shown invasive tendencies |
|
Hypericum patulum
|
N |
3-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun |
Evergreen in warmer areas; golden yellow flower in summer; good for foundation plantings or low hedges |
|
Jasminum nudiflorum
Winter Jasmine |
N |
2-4’ |
3-5’ |
Sun/shade |
Low spreading plant with yellow flower in late winter; good for covering banks |
|
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils |
|
Juniperus confertaShore
Juniper
|
N |
1-2’ |
6-9’ |
Sun |
Low groundcover with bluish green foliage; tolerant of poor, dry soils and drought; requires well-drained soils |
|
Juniperus horizontalisCreeping
Juniper
|
N |
1-4’ |
varies |
Sun |
Lacy foliage; makes good groundcover for hot, dry sites; good for foundation plantings on slopes and in containers |
|
Juniperus procumbens
|
N |
1-2’ |
10-12’ |
Sun |
One of the best ground cover junipers for terraces and hillsides; requires well-drained soil; plant in open areas |
|
Liriope muscari
Lilyturf |
N |
1-2’ |
1-2’ |
Sun/shade |
Effective in mass as ground cover under trees, lavender flowers in fall followed by black fruit |
|
Liriope spicata
Creeping lilyturf |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pachysandra procumbens
Pachysandra |
Y |
1’ |
varies |
Shade |
Low growing native ground cover with mottled foliage, leaves larger than Pachysandra terminalis; deciduous |
|
Pachysandra terminalis
Pachysandra |
N |
1’ |
varies |
Shade |
Great low growing groundcover of uniform height for shady areas where grass does not grow |
|
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
|
Salix purpurea
Purpleosier Willow |
N |
8-10’ |
8-10’ |
Sun |
Good choice for stream banks and moist areas; must occasionally be pruned back to the ground; wet soils |
|
Plants for planters (or small spaces):
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Acer ginnalaAmur Maple |
N
|
15-20’/15-20 |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a wide range of soils, easy to transplant, tends toward multi-stem, not recommended for street tree, good for corners or blank walls of buildings |
Amelanchier arboreaServiceberry, Sarvis |
Y |
15-25’/10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Blooms in early spring before dogwoods with pink/white flowers, recommended for planting under power lines, can be multi-trunked |
Cercis canadensisEastern Redbud |
Y |
20-30’/25-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful magenta flowers in spring, best for use in woodland/naturalized settings, use in buffer areas as understory or street tree under power lines, difficult to transplant |
Cotinus obovatusAmerican Smoketree |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun |
Good small tree for street and urban plantings, tolerates dry soil conditions, magnificent fall foliage ranges from yellow/orange, to red/reddish purple, attractive bark in winter |
Chionanthus virginicusWhite Fringetree |
Y |
15-20’/12-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful white fragrant flowers in spring, dark blue fruit in fall, makes a great understory tree in buffer areas, or street tree under power lines |
Crataegus phaenopurum
|
Y |
25-30’/20-25’ |
Sun |
Creamy white flowers in May, attractive in winter with persistent red fruit, good street tree |
Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’
Winter green green hawthorn |
Y |
20-35’/20-35’ |
Sun |
Vase-shaped, rounded habit; persistent, large red fruits, very nice |
Hamamelis x intermedia
Hybrid witchhazel |
N |
Varies/varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Many unique cultivars with a variety of flower colors; prefers moist, well-drained soils with high organic matter |
Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel |
Y |
20-30’/20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Great for naturalizing, massing, as a specimen or under power lines |
Heptacodium miconioidesSeven-son flower |
N |
10-20’/7-10’ |
Sun/light-shade |
Prefers moist soil high in organic matter; not overly drought tolerant; in south best in light shade; great in shrub borders or as accent |
Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’Weeping Yaupon holly |
Y |
20-25’/10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable to a variety of soils from dry to very wet; tolerates salt spray; great as accent plant |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
Varies/varies |
Sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils |
Juniperus confertaShore
Juniper
|
N |
1-2’/6-9’ |
Sun |
Low groundcover with bluish green foliage; tolerant of poor, dry soils and drought; requires well-drained soils |
Juniperus horizontalisCreeping
Juniper
|
N |
1-4’/varies |
Sun |
Lacy foliage; makes good groundcover for hot, dry sites; good for foundation plantings on slopes and in containers |
Juniperus procumbens
|
N |
1-2’/10-12’ |
Sun |
One of the best ground cover junipers for terraces and hillsides; requires well-drained soil; plant in open areas |
Koelreuteria paniculataGoldenrain Tree |
N |
30-40’/30-40’ |
Sun |
Withstands drought, heat, wind and pollution, good urban street tree, yellow summer flowers, reseeds easily |
Lagerstroemia indicaCrape myrtle |
N |
Varies based on cultivar |
Sun |
Adaptable species; prefers hot conditions; many cultivars suited to various sites |
Lindera benzoinSpicebush |
Y |
6-12’/6-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Multi-stemmed shrub, greenish yellow flowers in early spring, yellow fall foliage with bright red fruit on female plants in September and October, great for naturalizing |
Magnolia stellata
Star Magnolia |
N |
15-20’/10-15’ |
Sun |
Tree-like shrub with fragrant white flowers in early spring, avoid planting in a southern exposure, best used as a specimen |
Magnolia virginianaSweetbay Magnolia |
Y |
15-20’/10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wet, swampy conditions, handsome foliage with sweetly fragrant white flowers in spring and red fruit in fall |
MalusFlowering
Crabapple
|
N |
15-25’/15-25’ |
Sun |
Beautiful spring flowering tree in many colors, new cultivars are more resistant to fire blight, recommended varieties include: ‘Adams’, ‘Centurion’, ‘Prairie Fire’, ‘Harvest Gold’, ‘Autumn Glory’, ‘Red Snow’, and ‘Sugar Tyme’ |
Plants for planters (or small spaces) (continued):
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Parrotia persicaPersian Parrotia |
N |
20-40’/15-20’ |
Sun |
Excellent small tree with exfoliating bark and crimson flowers in early spring, use as street tree under power lines or as an accent plant |
Pinus densifloraJapanese Red Pine |
N |
40-60’/40-60’ |
Sun |
Picturesque interesting form, use as specimen; decorative orange exfoliating bark; prefers well-drained, moist soil |
Pyracantha spp.Firethorn |
N |
varies |
Sun |
Difficult to transplant; adaptable to most any site; shows some drought tolerance; great for espalier and heavy pruning; susceptible to fireblight and apple scab |
Rhapiolepis umbellata
Indian hawthorn |
N |
4-6’/4-6’ |
Sun |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils, tolerates drought; salt tolerant and handles confined spaces; leaf spot problem in moist areas |
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
2-3’/6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
Viburnum prunifoliumBlackhaw Viburnum |
Y |
15-20’/8-12’ |
Sun/shade |
Adaptable to many soil types, does well in dry soils, white flowers in May, good fall color, fine specimen tree |
Evergreens for Windbreaks
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light Requirements |
Comments |
Cupressus arizonica |
Y |
40-50’ |
25-30’ |
Sun |
Prefers hot, dry conditions with well-drained soil; great specimen, screen or windbreak plant; intense blue foliage, so don’t use too many together |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
varies |
varies |
sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree, check size of cultivar before planting, ‘Pfitzeriana’ and ‘Hetzii’ are common |
Thuja occidentalis
American Arborvitae |
N |
15-25’ |
10-15’ |
sun |
Attractive as background plant, many cultivars available that are smaller and more compact |
Plants for barriers:
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Aralia spinosa
Devils-walkingstick |
Y |
10-20’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Great for difficult sites; survives with neglect; thorns are seriously deadly; has tropical feel to it |
Berberis julianae
Wintergreen Barberry |
N |
6-8’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Makes a great barrier hedge, avoid pruning, golden yellow flowers in April followed by bluish black fruits |
Berberis x mentorensis
|
N |
5-7’ |
5-7’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Thorny stems; nice yellow flowers in spring, but usually does not produce fruit; requires well-drained soils and drought tolerant |
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese Barberry |
N |
2-4’ |
2-3’ |
Sun |
Requires well-drained soils and withstands dry conditions; yellow flowers and red berries can be attractive; many cultivars available |
|
Chaenomeles speciosa Common floweringquince |
N |
6-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun to partial shade |
Great flower color selections; highly adaptable to wide range of sites; leaf spot may be a problem; fruit used for preserves and jelly |
Cotoneaster salicifolius
‘Scarlet
Leader’
Willowleaf Cotoneaster |
N |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun |
Low growing cultivar with glossy green foliage and red berries, purplish-red winter leaf color, good for steep banks |
Elaeagnus pungensThorny elaeagnus |
N |
10-15’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/partial shade |
Adapts to varied soils; drought, salt spray and pollution tolerant; requires consistent pruning; good for bank stabilization, hedges or screens; variegated forms available |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils |
Poncirus trifoliataHardy-orange |
N |
8-20’ |
3-12’ |
Sun |
Tolerates wide range of soils and sites; extremely thorny! Use as hedge or barrier |
Pyracantha spp.Firethorn |
N |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Difficult to transplant; adaptable to most any site; shows some drought tolerance; great for espalier and heavy pruning; susceptible to fireblight and apple scab |
Plants for groupings or accents:
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Evergreen (E) or
deciduous (D) Semi-evergreen
(SE) |
Mature Height |
Mature Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Camellia japonica
Japanese camellia |
N |
E |
10-15’ (20’) |
6-10’ |
Partial shade |
Prefers well-drained soil; high organic matter; properly site in zone 7 to protect against winter injury |
Camellia sasanqua
Sasanqua camellia |
N |
E |
6-10’ (15’) |
6-10’ |
Partial shade |
Prefers well-drained soil; high organic matter; properly site in zone 7 to protect against winter injury; more refined than C. japonica |
|
Cephalotaxus
harringtonia Japanese plum yew |
N |
E |
varies |
varies |
Shade preferred, sun ok |
Aristocratic evergreen for groupings, massing or accent plantings; prefers well-drained soils; tolerates drought once established; deer proof |
Chamaecyparis
obutsa
Hinoki falsecypress |
N |
E |
varies |
varies |
Sun/light shade |
|
Chionanthus virginicusWhite Fringetree |
Y |
D |
15-20’ |
10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful white fragrant flowers in spring, dark blue fruit in fall; great understory tree in woodland or buffer areas, or under power lines; moderate drought tolerance |
Daphne x burkwoodiiBurkwood daphne |
N |
SE |
3-4’ |
3-4’ |
Sun/light sun |
Requires well-drained soil; “Carol Mackie’ is nice variegated cultivar; flowers fragrant; somewhat aprticular |
Daphne odoraFragrant or winter daphne |
N |
E |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Shade/light sun |
Many flower colors available through cultivars, fragrant; not as particular as other daphnes, but may be a bit temperamental |
Hamamelis x intermedia
Hybrid witchhazel |
N |
D |
Varies |
Varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Many unique cultivars with a variety of flower colors; prefers moist, well-drained soils with high organic matter |
Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel |
Y |
D |
20-30’ |
20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Great for naturalizing, massing, as a specimen or under power lines |
Ilex decidua
Possumhaw holly |
Y |
D |
7-15’ |
7-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable; fruits orange to scarlet; need both males and females for fruit set; Ilex opaca serves as pollinator |
Ilex latifolia
Lusterleaf holly |
N |
E |
20-25’ |
10-20’ |
Sun/light shade |
Pyramidal habit with really lustrous leaves; great for massing, screens, hedges or accent; Prefers well-drained soil; moderately drought tolerant |
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry Holly |
Y |
D |
6-12’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
A deciduous holly with bright red fruit that persists throughout the winter, male and female required for fruit set |
Lindera benzoinSpicebush |
Y |
D |
6-12’ |
6-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Multi-stemmed shrub; yellow fall foliage with bright red fruit on female plants in September and October; prefers well-drained, moist soils; difficult to transplant |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
E |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils |
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel |
N |
E |
6-8’ |
4-8’ |
Sun/shade |
Beautiful native shrub for foundation plantings and naturalizing in shady areas; spring flowers range in color from white to deep rose |
Lagerstroemia indicaCrape myrtle |
N |
D |
Varies |
Varies |
Sun |
Adaptable species; prefers hot conditions; many cultivars suited to various sites |
Magnolia x soulangianaSaucer Magnolia |
N |
D |
20-30’ |
20-30’ |
Sun |
Pinkish purple flowers in early spring susceptible to spring frost; good pollution tolerance; prefers moist soil with high organic matter content; needs ample rooting space |
Magnolia stellata
Star Magnolia |
N |
D |
15-20’ |
10-20’ |
Sun |
Multi-stemmed, large shrub; fragrant white flowers in early spring, susceptible to spring frost; avoid planting in a southern exposure, best used as a specimen |
Magnolia virginianaSweetbay Magnolia |
Y |
D (SE) |
15-20’(50’) |
10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wet, swampy conditions; handsome foliage and sweetly fragrant white flowers in spring; best used as specimen or small patio tree |
Physocarpus opulifoliusNinebark |
Y |
D |
5-10’ |
6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils and sites; somewhat drought tolerant, many cultivars with great selection of foliage color |
Rhapiolepis umbellata
Indian hawthorn |
N |
E |
4-6’ |
4-6’ |
Sun |
Prefers moist, well-drained soils, tolerates drought; salt tolerant and handles confined spaces; leaf spot problem in moist areas |
Pyracantha spp.Firethorn |
N |
E (SE) |
varies |
varies |
Sun |
Difficult to transplant; adaptable to most any site; shows some drought tolerance; great fro espalier and heavy pruning; susceptible to fireblight and apple scab |
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
D |
2-3’ |
6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
Plants for Naturalizing
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
Amelanchier arboreaServiceberry, Sarvis |
Y |
15-25’/10-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Blooms in early spring before dogwoods with pink/white flowers, recommended for planting under power lines, can be multi-trunked |
Carpinus carolinianaAmerican Hornbeam |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/shade |
Good street tree, great for naturalizing along woodland edges, in buffer areas or along streams |
Cercis canadensisEastern Redbud |
Y |
20-30’/25-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful magenta flowers in spring, best for use in woodland/naturalized settings, use in buffer areas as understory or street tree under power lines, difficult to transplant |
Chionanthus virginicusWhite Fringetree |
Y |
15-20’/12-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful white fragrant flowers in spring, dark blue fruit in fall, makes a great understory tree in buffer areas, or street tree under power lines |
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood |
Y |
15-25’/10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fibrous spreading roots, best for naturalizing in buffer areas, spreading habit with horizontal branches creates a layered look |
Cornus
Flowering Dogwood |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Good for naturalizing on edge of buffer areas, needs good air circulation, not pollution tolerant, not recommended for street tree planting |
Halesia tetraptera
|
Y |
30-40’/20-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers well-drained soils, high in organic matter; container stock preferred; use as specimen, shrub border in massing |
Hamamelis x intermedia
Hybrid witchhazel |
N |
Varies/varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Many unique cultivars with a variety of flower colors; prefers moist, well-drained soils with high organic matter |
Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel |
Y |
20-30’/20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Great for naturalizing, massing, as a specimen or under power lines |
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry Holly |
Y |
6-12’/6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
A deciduous holly with bright red fruit that persists throughout the winter, male and female required for fruit set |
Lindera benzoinSpicebush |
Y |
6-12’/6-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Multi-stemmed shrub; yellow fall foliage with bright red fruit on female plants in September and October; prefers well-drained, moist soils; difficult to transplant |
Ostrya virginianaAmerican Hophornbeam |
Y |
25-40’/20-40’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Useful as an understory tree and also as a street tree in residential areas; prefers cool, moist, well-drained soils; slow to establish |
Oxydendrum arboreumSourwood |
Y |
25-30’/15-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
White flowers in summer, excellent fall color; hard to transplant; drought tolerant in good soils; not for polluted or urban areas |
Physocarpus opulifoliusNinebark |
Y |
5-10’/6-10’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Tolerates wide variety of soils and sites; somewhat drought tolerant, many cultivars with great selection of foliage color |
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Gro-low fragrant sumac |
Y |
2-3’/6-8’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained site; does well on banks, cuts and poor soils; good for bank covers, low hedges and massing |
Rhus typhina
Staghorn sumac |
Y |
15-25’/15-30’ |
Sun |
Prefers well-drained soils; tolerates dry, rocky, low fertility soil; tolerates city conditions; suckers profusely |
Rhus copallina
Flameleaf sumac |
Y |
20-30’/20-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Great for dry, rocky areas, naturalizing; requires well-drained soils; needs space; excellent scarlet fall color |
Salix purpurea
Purpleosier Willow |
N |
8-10’/8-10’ |
Sun |
Good choice for stream banks and moist areas; must occasionally be pruned back to the ground; wet soils |
Sambucus canadensisAmerican elder |
Y |
5-12’/5-12’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers moist soil, but tolerates dry soil; thrives under alkaline or acidic soils; use for naturalizing; fruit edible for jellies, wine and so on |
Viburnum prunifoliumBlackhaw Viburnum |
Y |
15-20’/8-12’ |
Sun/shade |
Adaptable to many soil types, does well in dry soils, white flowers in May, good fall color, fine specimen tree |
Plants for specimens:
|
Botanical Name Common Name |
Native |
Mature
Height/Spread |
Light
Requirements |
Comments |
|
Acer griseum Paperbark maple |
N |
20-30’/10-30’ |
Sun/light shade |
Slow grower; needs supplemental water during drought; great multi-season appeal with fall color, exfoliating bark |
|
Aesculus Red buckeye |
Y |
10-20’/10-30’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Great red flowers attract hummingbirds; rounded, clump-forming tree; prefers moist, well-drained soil |
Cedrus atlanticaAtlas Cedar |
N |
40-60’/30-40’ |
Sun |
Magnificent evergreen, frosty blue needles; drought tolerant, use as specimen tree |
Cedrus deodaraDeodar Cedar |
N |
40-70’/30-50’ |
Sun |
Fluffy dense habit, silvery foliage; adaptable to dry conditions, protect from winds; fast grower; use in large areas as a specimen |
Cedrus libaniCedar of Lebanon |
N |
40-60’/40-60’ |
Sun |
Stately tree with thick massive trunk, dark green foliage; use as a specimen in large areas; not pollution tolerant |
|
Chamaecyparis pisifera ’Boulevard’ Boulevard false cypress |
N |
10-50’/8-10’ |
Sun |
Silvery, blue-green foliage; fairly heat tolerant; may hold brown needles in interior |
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filfera Aurea’
Goldend threadleaf false cypress |
N |
15-20’/10-15’ |
Sun |
Adaptable to heat in zone 7b; protect from winds; us sparingly |
Chionanthus virginicusWhite Fringetree |
Y |
15-20’/12-15’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Beautiful white fragrant flowers in spring, dark blue fruit in fall; great understory tree in woodland or buffer areas, or under power lines; moderate drought tolerance |
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood |
Y |
15-25’/10-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Fibrous spreading roots, best for naturalizing in buffer areas, spreading habit with horizontal branches creates a layered look |
|
Cryptomeria japonica Japanese
cryptomeria |
N |
50-60’/20-30’ |
Sun/light shade |
Protect from high winds; prefers moist, rich, deep soil; leaf blight may be a problem |
Daphne x burkwoodiiBurkwood daphne |
N |
3-4’/3-4’ |
Sun/light sun |
Requires well-drained soil; “Carol Mackie’ is nice variegated cultivar; flowers fragrant; somewhat particular |
Daphne odoraFragrant or winter daphne |
N |
4-6’/4-6’ |
Shade/light sun |
Many flower colors available through cultivars, fragrant; not as particular as other daphnes, but may be a bit temperamental |
Halesia tetraptera
|
Y |
30-40’/20-35’ |
Sun/part-shade |
Prefers well-drained soils, high in organic matter; container stock preferred; use as specimen, shrub border in massing |
Hamamelis x intermedia
Hybrid witchhazel |
N |
Varies/varies |
Sun/part-shade |
Many unique cultivars with a variety of flower colors; prefers moist, well-drained soils with high organic matter |
Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel |
Y |
20-30’/20-25’ |
Sun/shade |
Great for naturalizing, massing, as a specimen or under power lines |
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper |
N |
Varies/varies |
Sun |
Species varies considerably from low growing ground cover to large tree; check size of cultivar before planting; requires well-drained soil; once established tolerates dry soils |
Lagerstroemia indicaCrape myrtle |
N |
Varies based on cultivar |
Sun |
Adaptable species; prefers hot conditions; many cultivars suited to various sites |
Oxydendrum arboreumSourwood |
Y |
25-30’/15-20’ |
Sun/part-shade |
White flowers in summer, excellent fall color, hard to transplant, drought tolerant |
Parrotia persicaPersian Parrotia |
N |
20-40’/15-30’ |
Sun/light shade |
Excellent small tree with exfoliating bark and crimson flowers in early spring; tolerant of drought, heat, wind and cold; use as street tree, under power lines or as an accent plant |