Conservation Plant Identification: Shrubs

Updated 12/10/2008

Shrubs

* indicates the plant may be considered weedy or invasive in some parts of the US and may not be appropriate for conservation uses in certain areas. Check with your local Conservation District or state department of natural resources for more information on weediness and recommendations for use. This guide in primarily intended as an identification tool. Persons intending to use these plants for conservation or landscape should consult additional sources of information for use, establishment, and management of the species.

	Silver Buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by chipmunk and brown thrasher Grows well on dry, well drained, or moist sites; will tolerate alkaline soils Grows 10 feet tall; 8 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Cultivars: Saka Kawae Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; entire leaf silver on both surfaces Fruit: Fleshy with an inner seed (peach); yellowish-red Twig: Branches may have thorny projections
	Nanking Cherry Prunus tomentosa About this shrub: Fruit eaten by woodpecker, bluejay, catbird, brown thrasher, robin, cedar waxwing and cardinal Grows 8 feet tall; 8 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; simple; elliptical; 2 to 3 inches long; dark green edges; toothed; densely hairy beneath Fruit: Red berry, 1/2 inch in diameter Stem: Slender; hairy
	Common Chokecherry Prunus virginiana (native) * About this shrub: Fruit eaten by many birds and mammals such as raccoon Prefers moderately well to well drained sites Grows 30 feet tall; 20 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; simple with 2 glands at base of petriole Fruit: Fleshy with an inner seed (peach); reddish-black Twig: Twigs have bitter almond fragrance when crushed
	Hedge Cotoneaster Cotoneaster lucida About this shrub: Good density; provides cover to several species of birds and mammals Tolerates poor soils; prefers cool, moist site Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Hairy; shiny; approximately 2 inches long Fruit: Large black berry 1/3 inch in diameter Twig: Includes buds; covered by 2-bud scales Bark: Often peeling in strips; buff to light brown
	Highbush Cranberry Viburnum trilobum (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by birds Grows on well drained, moist soils Grows 6 to 15 feet tall Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; simple; 3-lobed; bright green; 2 to 5 inches long Fruit: Berry, 1/4 to 3/8 inch diameter; scarlet-red; drooping clusters Twig: Gray-brown, hairless, red-brown buds Bark: Dark gray; corky appearance
	Golden Currant Ribes aureum About this shrub: Edible fruit Excellent ornamental Tolerates wide range of soil conditions Grows up to 10 feet tall Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate or clustered, 3/4 to 2 inches wide; usually deeply 3-lobed; bright green; 1/2 to 4 inches long Fruit: Currants ripen to black color in summer; 1/4 inch across Flower: Fragrant; golden yellow; bell-like Twig: Hairy, thornless
	Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by ringnecked pheasant, ruffed grouse and sharptail grouse Grows well in poor soil conditions Grows 8 feet tall; 5 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; smooth edges; 3 to 5 veins that tend to follow leaf edges towards tip Fruit: White berry on reddish stem Twig: Light brown with brownish pith
	Redosier Dogwood Curnus stolonifera (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by cardinal, ruffed and sharptail grouse Prefers sandy to clay soils; does well on moderately wet soils Grows 7 to 10 feet tall; 6 to 8 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Cultivars: Mason, Ruby Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite with venation parallel to edge Fruit: White berry Twig: Red in winter; white pith
	Elderberry Sambucus canadensis (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by birds, squirrels and other rodents Prefers rich, moist lowlands Grows 6 to 8 feet tall Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; pinnately compound; 5 to 7 leaflets; sharply toothed margins Fruit: Large clusters; deep purple; berry-like; 2/10 inch in diameter Twig: Stout; light brown to gray; conspicuous shield-shaped leaf scars Bark: Thick, roughened and furrowed with age; yellowish-brown to brown
	Hazelnut Corylus sp. About this shrub: Readily eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, jays, deer, grouse, quail and pheasant Grows 10 to 20 feet tall Hardiness zone 5 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; simple; somewhat heart-shaped; edges coarse, doubly toothed Fruit: Edible nuts enclosed in thin, flattened, hairy ragged-edged papery husks; commercially called 'filberts' Twig: Slender; tan; covered with stiff hairs Bark: Strongly multistemmed
	Deciduous Holly Ilex decidua (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by opossums, raccoons, other mammals, songbirds and gamebirds Grows 10 to 20 feet tall; has a spreading crown Hardiness zone 5 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; simple; elliptical to spoon-shaped; clustered on short spur twigs; loses leaves each fall Fruit: Red-orange, berry-like; persisting over winter Twig: Light gray, slender with numerous short spur shoots
	Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii * About this shrub: Fruit eaten by many birds; dense foliage used as cover by animals Grows well on many soils Moderately resistant to honeysuckle aphid Hardiness zone 2 Cultivars: Rem Red, Cling-red Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; simple; 2 to 3 inches long Fruit: Red berry Twig: Older stems hollow, no pith
	Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris About this shrub: Good density provides cover for many birds and mammals Best on moist to dry soils; needs full sunlight Grows 20 feet tall; 15 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite arrangement; dark, blue-green in color Fruit: Capsule Twig: No pith Flower: Extremely fragrant
	Bristly Locust Robinia hispida (native) About this shrub: Fair wildlife value Excellent drought tolerance; prefers well drained soil; needs full sun Grows up to 10 feet tall; matures in 3 to 5 years Hardiness zones 4 to 8 Cultivars: Arnot Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; compound; bright green on bristle-covered branches Fruit: Seed pods covered with red-brown bristles Flower: Large; attractive; rose-purple color
	Amur Maple Acer ginnala * About this shrub: Prefers moist, well drained sites; tolerates wide variety of sites Grows 20 feet tall; 20 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Cultivars: Flame Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; 3 lobed; 1 1/2 to 3 inches long Fruit: Pair of wide, curved single winged seeds joint at base to form a 'V' Twig: Hairless; slender; gray Bark: Smooth; gray
	Common Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius (native) About this shrub: Provides good cover for wildlife Prefers well drained to moist site; sun to partial shade Grows 8 feet tall; 8 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: 3-lobed; round-toothed; hairless Fruit: Small, hollow covering over seed Twig: Older bark papery, appears to be shredded
	Oleander Nerium oleander About this shrub: Requires little care Tolerates wide range of soil conditions Thrives in heat and sun All parts of plant are poisonous Moderate to fast growth rate up to 15 feet tall Hardiness zone 7 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite and evergreen; linear to elliptic and narrow; margin entire; dark green above, paler beneath; 4 to 12 inches long at end Fruit: Two ovaries forming nearly erect follicles, 4 to 8 inches long; seeds twisted Flower: Various colors; often double forms; 5 stamens; 5 sepals; odorless
	Autumn-Olive Elaeagnus umbellata * About this shrub: Fruit eaten by catbird, brown thrasher, robin, and cedar waxwing Prefers moist to dry soils; sun to partial shade Grows 20 feet tall Hardiness zone 4 Cultivars: Cardinal, Elsberry, Redwing, Ellagood Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate arrangement on stem; dark green top; light silver-green bottom Fruit: Red berry Twig: Occasional thorn-like projections along branches
	Dwarf Willow Salix cottetii About this shrub: Poor to fair wildlife value Poor drought tolerance; moderate shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soils Grows 6 feet tall; 6 feet wide; matures in 3 to 4 years Cultivars: Bankers Identification Tips: Leaves: Light green Twig: Semi-prostrate stems that rarely exceed 1/2 inch in diameter
	Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis (native) About this shrub: Adapted to desert washes and streambeds Propagates easily from cuttings Grows to 20 feet tall Hardiness zone 7 Identification Tips: Leaves: Simple; opposite or scattered; 5 to 12 inches long, 1/3 inch wide; margins entire; light green; thin Fruit: Slender capsule, 7 to 12 inches long and 1/4 inch thick; numerous seeds; persists through winter Flower: Showy and trumpet-shaped; appear in spring and often through fall Twig: Slender; light brown
	Nannyberry Viburnum lentago (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit and gray squirrel Grows in dry, well drained or moist sites Grows 20 feet tall; 10 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; 2 to 5 inches long; fine toothed edges; long-pointed tip; winged leaf stalk Fruit: Blue-black, berry-like
	Skunkbush Sumac Rhus trilobata (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by many birds Prefers well drained to dry soils; tolerates alkaline and drought conditions Grows 6 feet tall; 5 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Cultivars: Bighorn Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; compound; 3 leaflets Fruit: Red; berry-like; covered with soft, dense hair
	Flame Leaf Sumac Rhus copallina (native) About this shrub: Used for landscaping and wildlife habitat Prefers moderately well to drained soils Hardiness zone 4 Identification Tips: Leaves: Pinnately compound, alternate with 9 to 21 lanceolate leaflets; smooth shiny dark green above, hairy and pale below; leaves turn crimson in fall Fruit: Small globular bright red berry in dense erect spikes 4 to 8 inches tall Twig: Red; stout with very large leaf scars Bark: Silvery-gray smooth with raised distinct lenticels; becomes scaly on older shrubs
	Four-Winged Saltbush Atriplex canescens (native) About this shrub: Used for wildlife habitat, windbreaks and landscape plantings Prefers high pH soils, tolerates heavy white or black alkali; tolerates clayey to sandy soils Hardiness zone 4 Cultivars: Marana, Rincon, Santa Rita Identification Tips: Leaves: Gray-green; alternate; linear-spatulate to narrowly oblong; 1/2 to 2 inches long with margins somewhat enrolled; evergreen in the southern range; deciduous in the northern range Fruit: A dry seed with 4 distinct, broadly dilated but variable wings Twig: Slender; gray-scurfy; rigid; slightly spinescent; not angled at the nodes
	Rose, Bush-type Rosa sp. * About this shrub: Fruit eaten by many wild animals and birds Use bush type forms Adapted to wide variety of soils Grows up to 10 feet tall Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate and compound, 5 to 11 parted; toothed; 3 to 7 leaflets per leaf Fruit: Red; fleshy; covering numerous small seeds; usually remain on plants all winter Flower: Usually large and showy; pink to deep rose in color Twig: Mostly green or reds, usually prickly
	Amur Privet Ligustrum amurense * About this shrub: Density provides cover for wildlife Prefers moist soils Grows 12 feet tall; 6 feet wide Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Opposite; non-toothed; hairy beneath along midrib; 1 to 2 inches long Fruit: Small black berry; dull color Twig: Densely hairy
	Rainbow Plum Prunus sp. About this shrub: Excellent cover for small animals and game birds as well as nesting sites for song birds Adapted to wide range of soil types; prefers moderately well drained soils Hardiness zone 3 Identification Tips: Leaves: Simple, deciduous, 1 to 2 inches long; alternate; lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate; sharply serrated small glandular teeth Fruit: 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter; varicolored fruit, deep yellow to bright red Twig: Reddish-brown; lustrous; hair at first, glabrous later; slender; zigzag often with spinescent spurlike lateral divisions; lenticels horizontal and orange colored
	American Plum Prunus americana (native) About this shrub: Fruit eaten by catbird, brown thrasher, robin and cardinal Grows 18 feet tall; 15 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: Simple; alternate; sharply toothed Fruit: Fleshy with an inner seed; about 1 inch in diameter; light purple color Twig: Armed with short, stiff spur branches Bark: Brown or dark gray; scaly
	Siberian Peashrub Caragana arborescens About this shrub: Provides good cover for wildlife Prefers well drained site; full sunlight; tolerates poor, dry soil Cut back first year or two to create shrub form Grows 20 feet tall; 15 feet wide Hardiness zone 2 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; compound with 8 to 12 leaflets Fruit: Pod approximately 1 to 2 inches long Twig: Angled at the nodes
	Hardy Orange Poncirus trifoliata About this shrub: Used as an ornamental and for hedges; also used as a stock for citrus to make them more hardy and as a parents in hybridization Hardiness zone 6 Identification Tips: Leaves: Alternate; compound of three leaflets; elliptical to obovate; 1 1/2 inches long Fruit: Like a small orange; yellow; densely pubescent; 6 to 8 celled Twig: Contains many angled spines

* indicates the plant may be considered weedy or invasive in some parts of the US and may not be appropriate for conservation uses in certain areas. Check with your local Conservation District or state department of natural resources for more information on weediness and recommendations for use. This guide in primarily intended as an identification tool. Persons intending to use these plants for conservation or landscape should consult additional sources of information for use, establishment, and management of the species.

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