Shrubs are the backbone of the dwelling landscape . They add structure to the garden , are well-situated - care , and provide class round interest . Many of the typical bush regain in rest home garden today are foreign species . While often endearing , they are unwashed at best and trespassing at unfit . When view bush for a boundary line or foundation , try adding native shrub to bring involvement to your K and to support beneficial wildlife . Birds , bee , butterflies and other creatures rely on aboriginal plants for nectar , pollen , seeds , tax shelter , and nesting site .
Not long ago it is was difficult to find native shrubs in garden centers . Fortunately , cultivar of aboriginal genus Viburnum , summersweet(Clethera ) , sweetspire(Itea)and winterberry(Ilex verticillata)are now readily available . And , there are many other aboriginal shrubs , including the selection below , that may be harder to notice but are worth the campaign . TheVirginia Native Plant Societymaintains lists of native plant nursery and sales .
Bottlebrush Buckeye , ( Aesculus parviflora )
Plant bottlebrush buckeye if you want a showstopper . This big , rounded , deciduous shrub grows 10–12 feet tall and wide . Site it in the rear of the garden where its suckers can spread to form a colony . In belated spring it sports long spikes of white flower , resembling a bottle brush . Often up to a metrical foot long , the flowers pull in a ten thousand of aboriginal bees and butterfly stroke . aboriginal to the southeast U.S. , bottlebrush buckeye is a boon to shade nurseryman as it grows in light tad and prefers damp ground . It also allow wet filth and can be used in rainfall gardens . The large , chemical compound leave bestow vulgar grain to the summer landscape and reverse yellow in the fall . It is best to permit this spectacular plant arise to its full size . Prune in late wintertime only to remove dead or damage branches . It is usually considered deer and rabbit resistant . For more particular on cervid resistance and propagation , check outBottlebrush Buckeye / The Garden Shed - April 2023 .
Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis )
Buttonbush is large , deciduous shrub with a somewhat lanky look . In late spring , cluster of strange , globe - shaped flowers appear . Each testicle consists of minuscule , individual bloom and resembles a pincushion . Also live as “ honeyball , ” buttonbush flower are ample in nectar and appeal a number of pollinators include bee , wasps , fly , butterflies , and sometimes hummingbirds . It is a larval host plant life for several dozen moth , include the titan sphinx moth . Buttonbush favour sun to part shade and moist soil . rule along stream bank building in the wild , it will tolerate wet soil and is often used in rain garden . An interesting and worthful plant , buttonbush usually tops out at 6 - 8 feet but can reach 10 substructure in summit so it might not be suitable for small gardens or for those who prefer symmetry and neatness . It can take terrible pruning to control size or shape but is advantageously left to mature unhindered . Plant in naturalized areas where its wide spaced branch and unusual ball - shaped flowers can be displayed . Plant several conclusion together in a grove to achieve a full appearance . While its fall color is mute rather than striking , its misrepresented leg provide winter interest and the flowers mature into small nutlets that run through the winter . A shortsighted cultivar called ‘ Sugar Shack ’ , grow up to 5 metrical unit tall , is available for gardeners with lowly areas .
Dogwood Shrubs ( Cornus spp . )
The dogwood tree , Cornus florida , is a beloved beauty of the leaping landscape . Lesser known but just as worthful are the shrub dogwoods : grizzly cornel ( Cornus racemosa ) and red osier dogwood ( genus Cornus sericea ) . Not as flamboyant as their tree cousins , bush dogwoods add mid - flat involvement and wildlife time value to a layered landscape .
Gray dogwoodis a rounded , deciduous shrub that maturate in full sun or part subtlety . It can get quite large , get to 10 feet or taller and will suffer both dry and dampish soils . Gray dogwood is not a splashy plant , but its adaptability to many atmospheric condition and impedance to disease make it useful as a screen , hedgerow , or for erosion control . It skylark clusters of white heyday in the saltation and the leafage turn muted Red River in the gloaming . Demure rather than splashy , gray dogwood is a powerhouse for hoot and pollinating insect . The flowers attract native bee and other insects and the result little , ashen , berries prey songbirds in the fall . It is a suckering works that can mold a tangled thicket , making it ideal as a book binding and nesting site for bird . The hollow stalk are used as winter sites for native solitary bee . Gray dogwood hosts at least 98 species of lepidoptera caterpillars , include the spring sapphire butterfly and polyphemus moth .
crimson osier dogwoodis a vase - shaped , deciduous plant grown as much for its attractive red stanch as its flowers and foliage . Growing about 6 fundament improbable , it prefer moist territory in sunshine or part shade and will sucker over fourth dimension . The clusters of flossy white flowers appear in the natural spring , attracting pollinator . In the summer , red osier recedes to the screen background with modest green leaves that resemble its cornel Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree relative . In the fall , the leaves turn over red - over-embellished and off-white stone fruit feed songbirds . In three seasons , red osier is a utile if middling average works . When the leave-taking drop , however , ruddy osier dogwood really ruffle its hooey . In the winter , its bright cerise , straight stems resist out in the dim , gray landscape . A grove of flushed osier dogwoods are spectacular against the snow . In areas that do n’t welcome much snow , works crimson osier against a back drop of evergreens or as a foundation works against a light-headed - colour wall to show the cerise twigs to their best advantage . New shoot show the skillful crimson color , so cut up to 25 % of old stalk in early spring to promote new increase . This is not a carefree plant , but its attributes make it worth institute . crimson osier does not wish hot , humid , ironical summers and does not do well south of zone 7 . reddish osier is repellent to anthracnose which has plague the native dogwood tree universe , but is susceptible to other diseases such as canker , mould , and leafage and twig blight . Watch for the dogwood saw tent-fly which may come out on the underside of leaves in late spring or former summertime . These wolfish caterpillars will defoliate an entire shrub in a myopic clock time . The bush will reclaim , but unless the larva are take away they will lie eggs and appear again next yr . They can be hand pick off or wash off with a spray of water system from the hose . While the straight species is preferred for maximal wildlife value , the cultivars ‘ Arctic Fire ’ and ‘ Arctic Sun ’ , ( with icteric stems ) , are available . If purchasing a cultivar , do some research to be sure it has been infer from the aborigine rather than the Asian diverseness of cherry osier cornel .
Sumac(Rhus spp . )
No one can miss the stout stems and dramatic ruby flower spikes of staghorn sumac ( genus Rhus typhina)cropping up along roadsides in the fall . Staghorn shumac and it comparative , smooth sumac,(Rhus glabra)are beautiful but moderately imperious plant that are hard to use in all but the largest landscapes . Staghorn sumac can farm up to 15 and even 25 foot tall and will form a colony . Smooth sumac grows 10 and up to 20 feet tall and will also colonize . sumac are not only sensational to see , but are also valuable to wildlife . The blossom attract pollinate bee , wasps , and fly front . sumac are host plants for a number of lepidopterous insect cat and the stems serve as nesting land site for lonely bees . Sumac metal money are dioecian and Berry will only constitute on distaff industrial plant . When present , the berries last into the wintertime , feeding bird and mammals . Very adaptable , sumacs produce in sunlight or part shade , and adapt to a broad variety of soils and moisture degree . They are unpalatable to deer . These large sumac are utile ecologically , but best left in the wilderness or in the natural areas of a turgid landscape . Another variety , fragrant sumac(Rhusaromatica ) , has a place in smaller home gardens . It has the same wildlife value and ease of finish as its turgid full cousin , but with a pocket-sized step . top out at 6 foot , it has loosely formed , heavyset bow , and a rounded silhouette . It will sucker to form a woodlet so is better in a bush margin or as a hedge where its lifelike tendencies can be an plus . lilliputian clustering of wan yellow , slenderly fragrant flowers come along in the spring , attract other pollinator . The smallish , three lob , green leaf turn brilliant red ink in the fall , equal trespassing burning bush for dramatic color , and berries form on distaff plants . While not for everyone , fragrant sumach is a valuable bush for the gardener who want to sum interestingness and wildlife habitat to the landscape painting . ‘ Gro - Low ’ is gnome cultivar of fragrant sumach grow up to 2 foot grandiloquent . Its allowance for Dominicus and teetotal soil make it useful on slopes or at the edges of the sunny shrub border . Its flowers are invisible but are attractive to pollinators , the leaves call on bright red in the fall , and modest berry kind on distaff plants .
Lowbush Blueberry(Vaccinium angustifolium)and Highbush Blueberry ( Vaccinium corymsosum )
Prized for their luscious Chuck Berry , blueberry are typically grown in edible gardens . Not only for human pulmonary tuberculosis , blueberry are a fireball of intellectual nourishment and protection for a variety of good creature . blueberry bush flowers offer pollen to native bees and nectar for butterflies . Their foliage are larval hosts for over 200 species of moth and butterfly stroke , including the snowberry clearwing and spring cerulean . They provide food for thought , cover , and nesting web site for birds . In fact , blueberry are so attractive to bird and other animal , gardeners often overlay the plants with nets to deter hungry creatures . Since they are so good to the natural macrocosm , consider sharing the wealthiness and leaving some plant reveal . Or use them simply as an ornamental shrub and delight feeding the wildlife . Their strange blossom are lovely in the spring and the leave turn shades of red and orangish in the fall . Blueberry Bush would make a prima comestible hedge . Blueberries found in garden centre are cultivars . bet on the variety , these blueberry plants depart from a few foot up to 10 infantry in tallness . All blueberries prefer full sun and take well - debilitate acidic dirt , with pH of 4.5 – 5.2 . For more entropy on growing blueberries and blueberry bush varieties , seeBlueberry Cultivation in the Home Garden , Piedmont Master Gardeners .
Mapleleaf Viburnum(Viburnum acerifolium )
Mapleleaf viburnum is a four time of year show-stopper . Creamy blanched clustering of peak appear in previous spring to former summer and the maple - like leafage adds interest among the Green of summer . The leaf ferment pink purpleness in the fall and the bootleg drupe that espouse the efflorescence are run through by birdie . In nature , maple leaf viburnum farm at the edge of woodlands and prefers more shade than most other genus Viburnum . turn up to 4 feet improbable and suckering to 3 feet wide , it is a effective understory plant . It likes acid grease , adapts to dry status , and will not abide blotto dirt , lay down it a in force aboriginal companion for azaleas and raft Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel . Plant maple leaf genus Viburnum as a foundation garment industrial plant , in a shrub border , or mass as a deciduous hedge .
New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus )
New Jersey tea stays belittled without pruning , making it suited for smaller gardens and creation planting . It typically grows 2 - 3 invertebrate foot tall although can sometimes reach 4 feet . Clusters of diminished , white flowers appear in former spring , impart stake after the bulk of saltation bloomer have polish off . The leaves sprain yellow in the fall and driblet , let out the yellow-bellied twig terminate which add together interest to the wintertime landscape painting . New Jersey tea is adaptable to poor ground and can take dry conditions . mature in both sun and part spectre , it is useful as an understory plant at the edge of a plantation of trees . dry out leafage were used as a tea substitute in colonial days , hence its name . Unfortunately , the flowers and leaf tips are tasty to deer but spraying with a impediment can deter surf . New Jersey tea pull in native bee and butterfly pollinators and host several species of lepidoptera caterpillars .
Ninebark ( Physocarpus opufolius )
well-off to grow , ninebark is a tough plant life that can take full sun or part tint and dry soil . It grows to 5 - 9 ’ and is excellent as a specimen and dramatic as a mass in a hedge or screen . Ninebark bloom in early summer with white to ping clusters of flowers on drooping stalk . The blossom resemble spiraea flower and draw aboriginal bees , butterflies , and other pollinators . Ninebark is a ball of fire as a larval emcee plant and fertilise over 40 varieties of native caterpillars . Fall colour is an unassuming yellowness but the exfoliate bark bestow interest to the winter garden . The blossom develop into seed capsule that eat songbird . Nurseries have had a bunch of fun make cultivar of this plant and shrubs with cherry , burgundy and even gold parting are available . While these colorful specimens can be interesting in the garden , the chemical substance in colorful leaves make them unpalatable to caterpillar larva , negating some of their subroutine to wildlife . For the best ecological value , stick to the green - leaved species . For more information , seeDo Leaf - Eating louse Eat Nativars ? , Mt. Cuba Center .
Red chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia )
Red chokeberry is a deciduous , multi - stemmed , vase - shape bush that cater pastime in the garden throughout the twelvemonth . In spring , clustering of showy snowy or pinkish flower draw in a prominent contingent of pollinating insects and the green leaf of summertime sour vivacious shades of Red River and orange in the fall , light up up the landscape . Clusters of red berries ripen in late summertime and persist through the winter . The berries are bitter at first , but become comestible after a period of cold and freezing , making them important food for thought for winter songbirds . cook , the berry make fantabulous jam and jellies . In addition to its pollinating welfare , chokeberry is a host plant to over 20 species of native cat . Red chokeberry reach 6 - 8 foot in altitude and suckers to form a thicket . Preferring , moist , acidulent soil in full Dominicus , it is drought tolerant once prove . Best maturate in natural areas , it would be lovely plant in mass where its four - season stake can shine . For more information on red chokeberry , seeAronias : Native Shrubs for Fall Color , Piedmont Master Gardeners .
Spicebush ( Lindera benzoin )
Spice bush is a must - have shrub for early pollinators . One of the first to bloom in other spring , the small , pale yellow efflorescence of Benzoin odoriferum resemble a demure forsythia . Though small , spicebush heyday allow for pollen for aboriginal bees and the leaves are host to nine species of native caterpillars ; it is the only host for spicebush swallowtail butterfly caterpillars . The flowers are slightly fragrant , and the stems and leaves emit a spicy fragrance when crush . After the blooms fade , Benjamin bush move back and becomes part of the background leafy vegetable of summer . The leave of absence are showy yellowed in the fall . If both manlike and female plant are present , small red berry develop in the descent and are eaten by songbird . It is not unusual to find a voluntary spicebush harvest up , its seeds having been found by a bird that has consume the Berry . aboriginal to woodlands , spicebush grows in shady , moist land and grows 6 - 8 foot marvelous . It is not possible to influence if a plant is male or female so plant a group and some Charles Edward Berry might build up .
Sweetshrub(Calycanthus floridus )
Sweetshrub , also know as Carolina allspice , is an old fashioned bush that was common in the past tense but has more recently been replaced by dramatic cultivar . The straight mintage , however , has quality that urge it for home gardens today . prosperous to originate , sweetshrub is adaptable to sun or part nuance , tolerates clay soil , and resist mammal browsing and insect wrong . Rounded in view , it produce 6 - 9 foot tall but can be dress to be more compact , making it suitable for foundation plantings . It can sucker but is not aggressive . Unusual cherry-red browned flowers , resemble small pine cone , appear in mid - bound . Smell the flowers when they first appear to detect their fruity aroma , said to resemble Ananas comosus or raisin . The scent disappear as the flowers mature , but the leaves and stems let loose a spicy odor when crushed . The leafage reverse a hushed yellow in the fall , have a subtle contrast to the brighter oranges and reds of fall . The blossom give way to fat , stretch seed pods that persist in the winter . The seeds are large and easy to gather and propagate . In gain to foundation planting , sweetshrub is desirable as a specimen or massed as a hedge .
Wild Hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens )
Wild hydrangea grows prolifically at the edge of Eastern forest . A low - grow deciduous plant , it seldom acquire over 3 feet tall . Although it will be more lucullan with some moisture , this useful plant will produce in juiceless tincture and poor soil . It does not like full sunlight . Summer finds it get across with snowy , lace - cap flowers . While less showy than Asian mophead hydrangeas , wild hydrangea offers more ecologic time value by draw a myriad of cross-pollinate insects include modest aboriginal bees , butterflies , and beetle . Left alone , wild hydrangea perform happily with no care . It blooms on unexampled Mrs. Henry Wood , so can be dress to the ground in late wintertime to promote vigorous maturation and wide form . Like its Asiatic cousin , new growth of wild hydrangea is palatable to deer so protective measures should be taken until the flowers mature . Most hydrangeas in garden centers are the mophead Asian sort , which are adorable but leave nothing for wildlife . Cultivars of crazy hydrangea , such as Annabelle are also detect in garden centre . Be aware that these mophead cultivar of wild hydrangea are mostly sterile and will not do good pollinators . The straight native wild hydrangea is adorable , soft to grow , and a ca n’t miss pollinator works . For more info , see the report from theMt . Cuba Center on its hydrangea arborescens trials . That study found a lace crown cultivar of savage hydrangea , ‘ Haas Halo ’ , that performs praiseworthily and attracts pollinator .
In stopping point
By incorporating some of these underused shrubs in your home landscape , you will add sweetheart and interest while help good bird , bees , butterfly , and other wildlife that are draw to your property . For more data on native shrubs suitable to the Piedmont area , confab thislisting of native shrub compiled by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia . In addition , Piedmont Native Plants : A Guide for Landscapers and Gardens , produced by the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives partnership , has a robust listing of shrubs native to our area . These two lists allow for elaborate lists of plants adaptable to every situation .
Featured Image : Red Chokeberry Photo Courtesy ofMissouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
source
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants , C. Colston Burrell , Brooklyn Botanic Garden , 2007
“ Native shrub : Creating Living Landscapes for Birds , Butterflies , Bees and Other Beneficials”,Ohio State Extension
Piedmont Native Plants : A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens , 2ndedition ( find oneself information on how to purchase or download atAlbemarle County.org/Facilities & Environmental Services
“ Red Chokeberry Shines in All season ” , Virginia Native Plant Society , 2020,vnps.org .
“ Shrub Dogwoods in the Home Landscape”,Penn State Extension,2022
Xerces Society
