Native Shrubs - Scroll Down

Clethra alnifolia - Sweet Pepperbush (2 available) 

Habitat

• native along the entire eastern United States
• most commonly founded in moist woodlands, especially near water
• zone 4

Habit and Form

• an upright deciduous shrub
• 5' to 8' tall and 4' to 6' wide
• multistemmed and suckering; can form colonies
• sometimes with little foliage at the base of plants in shady locations
• dense foliage in exposed locations
• rounded to oval shape

Summer Foliage

• alternate, deciduous leaves
• 1.5" to 4" long and 1" to 2" wide
• obovate shape with acute to accuminate tip
• serrate leaf margins
• green to dark green color
• late to leaf out in spring

Autumn Foliage

• yellow-green to golden brown
• can be showy at times

Flowers

• numerous, small white flowers held in racemes.
• racemes are 3" to 5" long and 0.75" wide
• nicely fragrant
• blooms in July and August
• blooms on current seasons growth
• showy

Fruit

• small capsules
• turn brown in fall and persist for a year or two

Culture

• prefers moist, acidic soil with organic matter
• transplant from container or B&B
• may be slow to establish and some twig tip dieback may occur during the first winter.
• relatively easy to grow
• full sun to partial shade
• avoid hot, dry sites

Liabilities

• relatively pest free except for spider mites
• spider mites can be severe on plants in hot, dry locations

Ilex Verticillata - Winterberry (SOLD OUT)

 Habitat

• native to the eastern and central United States; parts of Canada
• zone 3 to 4
• often found at the edge of the woods or in swamps

Habit and Form

• a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub
• generally 6' to 10' tall, but can get larger
• oval to rounded form
• upright and spreading
• tends to sucker and form large clumps

Summer Foliage

• deciduous with alternate leaf arrangement
• leaves are 1.5" to 3" long and 0.75" to 1.25" wide
• elliptical with an acute base and acute/acuminate apex
• color is green to dark green
• leaves vary from flat to shiny on the upper surface
• underside of leaf somewhat pubescent
• serrate leaf margins

Autumn Foliage

• not especially showy
• typically yellow-green with some purple tinges

Flowers

• dioecious, with male and female plants
• male flowers in clusters
• female flowers solitary or in 2's or 3's
• small white flowers in early June
• not especially showy

Fruit

• only present on female plant
• bright red and glossy, held will into winter
• held close to the stem, singly or in pairs
• green during the growing season, changing in October
• birds will eat fruit

Culture

• full sun to partial shade; more sun means more fruit on females
• easily transplanted from containers or B&B
• tolerant of poorly-drained soils
• prefers moist, acidic soils

Liabilities

• fruit set only on pollinated female plants
• need a male pollinator nearby
• chlorosis on high pH soils
• leaf spot and powdery mildew, but they are rarely disfiguring

Fothergilla gardenia - Dwarf Witch Alder (5 available)

Habitat

• the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, as well as      parts of Florida and Alabama
• zone 5, possibly 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous shrub
• 3' to 6' tall
• multi-stemmed, suckering shrub
• rounded to upright oval-shape
• dense and compact

Summer Foliage

• alternate simple leaves
• leaves are 1" to 2.5" long
• shape is somewhat rounded with rounded teeth on the margin toward the tip
• color is dark green to blue-green
• undersides are pale green

Autumn Foliage

• usually excellent, although some plants are not as good as others
• a mix of yellow-orange-red-purple

Flowers

• blooms is early to mid-May
• white, bottle brush-shaped flower clusters
• flower clusters are 1" to 2" long
• lightly fragrant

Fruit

• green capsules
• not ornamentally important

Culture

• prefers a moist, acidic, cool, well-drained soil
• partial shade to full sun
• relatively care-free

Liabilities

• relatively free form pests and problems

Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood viburnum (5 available)

 Habitat

• native to eastern North America
• cold hardy to zone 2

Habit and Form

• a dense, multistemmed shrub
• typically 5' to 9' tall and wide
• native plants can be as tall as 15'
• deciduous
• branching is upright and spreading, eventually arching over at the tips
• overall shape is rounded
• suckers profusely from the base

Summer Foliage

• oppositely arranged leaves
• simple leaves
• leaf margins coarsely toothed
• leaves are 2" to 4.5" long
• leaves are 1" to 4" wide
• leaf bases are shallowly heart-shaped
• veins are prominent, with the leaf puckering between veins
• either a shiny or flat dark green

Autumn Foliage

• color development is highly dependent on the individual plant
• some plants turn yellow
• some plants turn red to reddish purple
• selections have been made for those with the red fall color
• color development occurs relatively late in the fall

Flowers

• small creamy white flowers held in flattened clusters
• flower clusters are around 3" across
• bloom time is late May to early June
• flower cluster can be numerous
• moderately showy in bloom

Fruit

• blue-black color
• some plants have more intense blue fruit color
• held in flattened clusters
• each fruit is about 0.25" in diameter
• modest ornamental interest from the fruit
• fruit is enjoyed by birds

Culture

• very easy to grow
• full sun to partial shade
• soil adaptable from dry to fairly wet
• easily transplanted

Liabilities

• free from serious problems
• may need occasional rejuvenation pruning

Azalea viscosum – Swamp azalea (4 available)

Description

The swamp azalea is a woody, broadleaf evergreen or deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family and is native to the southern and eastern United states. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.

Its common name rightfully infers a tolerance for damp, moist environments but it requires enough drainage to avoid roots in constant standing water. 

The swamp azalea likes part shade and can tolerate some sun. Avoid afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves.

This shrub has very fragrant, sticky, white flowers that bloom from May to July and attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators.

It can be planted in naturalized landscapes with careful attention paid to its growing requirements. It grows 2 feet to 8 feet tall and about as wide. It is a spreading shrub.  Use it as a specimen in a native garden or an understory shrub in woodland planting.

Vaccinium corymbosum Berkley - Highbush Blueberry (3 available)

Habitat

• native to the eastern Unites States
• zone 3
• often found growing in or near swampy areas

Habit and Form

• a deciduous, twiggy shrub
• shape is rounded to irregular
• branching is upright-spreading
• multistemmed
• typically has dense foliage
• 6' to 12' tall with equal width

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple, elliptical shape
• 1" to 305" long and half as wide
• dark green leaf color above, lighter underneath

Autumn Foliage

• excellent for fall color
• a mix of red, orange, purple, and yellow

Flowers

• 0.33" long urn-shaped white to very light pink flowers
• borne in groups in axillary
• blooms are typically numerous and somewhat showy
• bloom time is May

Fruit

• 0.25" to 0.5" diameter blue-black berry
• eaten readily by wildlife and humans
• ripen July through August

Culture

• ideal soil is moist, high in organic matter and well-drained
• pH must be very acidic (4.5 to 5.5)
• mulch around the roots
• sandy soils with adequate moisture support good growth
• full sun to partial shade
• more sun translates into more into more blooms, more fruit and enhanced fall foliage color

Liabilities

• iron chlorosis on high pH soils 

Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush (SOLD OUT)

 Habitat

• hardy to zone 5
• native throughout the eastern half of North America. It is also found from Texas through parts of New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Habit and Form

• a deciduous shrub
• 3' to 6' tall in the northern part of its range, but to 10' to 12' tall in the southern part of its range
• shape is rounded and spreading
• loose and somewhat open
• multistemmed

Summer Foliage

• deciduous simple leaves
• very late to leaf out in the spring
• opposite or whorled leaf arrangement
• ovate leaves with acute bases and tips
• 2" to 6" long and 1" to 3" wide
• medium to dark green color
• glossy

Autumn Foliage

• usually greenish-yellow to yellow

Flowers

• in globular heads about 1" across
• creamy white, somewhat fragrant
• bloom time is June, July, August
• moderately ornamental, but not exceptional

Fruit

• small nutlets are held in 1" diameter globular balls
• before drying, color is green with red hilights
• the fruits persist into the winter

Culture

• likes moisture
• full sun to light shade
• easily grown as long as the site is not dry
• requires periodic rejuventation pruning
• relatively pest free

Liabilities

• can be short-lived
• can become coarse, sprawling and ungainly
• needs periodic rejuvenation pruning to maintain form and vigor