Selecting Shrubs for Pennsylvania Landscapes

8/3/2019 Selecting Shrubs for Pennsylvania Landscapes

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A Guide for Selecting Shrubs forPennsylvania Landscapes

College o Agricultural SciencesAgricultural Research and Cooperative Extension

Serviceberry

Boxwood


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introduction

A well-rounded landscape design balances the use and place-

ment o evergreen and deciduous plant materials. Evergreen

shrubs add an air o permanence and continuity to the

landscape while deciduous owering shrubs impart a con-

stantly renewed and changing series o ocal points that move

throughout the landscape with the changing seasons. The

selection and placement o shrubs on your property will serve

to uniy the total landscape design while oering unique char-acteristics and eatures or each o the chosen rooms within

the landscape.

Shrubs requently act as intermediate units working in

partnership with the ornamental trees to provide scale and

structure or the larger shade trees and the people and animals

that interact with the landscape. Careully selecting shrubs

or specifc landscape unction and characteristics with an eye

toward adaptability to the site and uture maintenance require-

ments can result in a collection that is aesthetically pleasing,

unctional, and long lasting. Most shrubs can serve as border

plants, accent plants with seasonal color, or as screening or

privacy.

The deciduous and evergreen shrubs described in this

publication were selected to provide a broad perspective o the

landscape plants available or use in Pennsylvania. The plants

and cultivars listed are intended to assist landscape design-

ers and gardeners in choosing plants to meet size limitations,

aesthetic interests (e.g., ower color and period, ruit color

and period, textural characteristics, oliage color, and overall

plant orm) and to provide inormation on the environmental

requirements o the plants to ensure success in the landscape.

The list is not an exhaustive or complete list o plants useul

and adaptable to Pennsylvania conditions. The cultivars (culti-

vated varieties) and species listed represent some o the better

ornamental plants and the diversity o plants available in themarketplace.

In working with this list and urther investigating the

shrubs listed through available books and Internet resources,

it is important to careully choose plants based on their cul-

tural and environmental requirements, their ultimate size and

adaptability to the site, as well as their seasons o interest and

aesthetic value (e.g., ower, ruit, oliage color and texture,

and bark color). By careully planning and knowing the site

conditions (e.g., soil texture, pH, drainage, and compaction;

prevailing winds; sun and shade patterns throughout the day

and seasons; and average minimum and maximum tempera-

tures or the area and seasons) plant selection can be made

easier, design intentions can be met, and maintenanceproblems may be reduced or avoided.

This guide is organized in two parts by deciduous shrubs

and evergreen shrubs as well as by relative ultimate height to

be expected or the plants listed (less the 3 eet, 35 eet, 510

eet). Initial selection o a plant that best fts the size restric-

tions o the site is the correct approach rather than attempting

to control the growth o a plant with an ultimate size larger

than its position in the landscape (e.g., a 15-oot-tall shrub in

ront o the picture window). In choosing plants based on size,

Yew

Cotoneaster

Viburnum,Koreanspice

contents

Introduction ............. .............. .............. .............. ............... ...... 2

Plant Hardiness Zone Map ....................... .............. .............. .. 3

Botanical Table .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. 4

Deciduous Shrubs (less than 3 eet) .............. ............... ...... 4

Deciduous Shrubs (35 eet) .............. .............. .............. .... 5

Deciduous Shrubs (59 eet) .............. .............. .............. .. 10

Deciduous Shrubs (915 eet) .............. .............. .............. 14

Deciduous Shrubs (greater than 15 eet) .............. ............ 17

Evergreen Shrubs (less than 3 eet) ............. .............. ....... 18

Evergreen Shrubs (35 eet) ............... .............. .............. .. 22

Evergreen Shrubs (515 eet) ............. .............. .............. .. 27

Glossary ............. .............. .............. ............... .............. ......... 31

Reerences ............ ............... .............. .............. .............. ....... 31

Suggested Plant Selection Resources ....................... ............ 31


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it is also important to consider orm. Listed plants are also

described by orm (rounded, mounded, creeper, spreading,

columnar, pyramidal) to provide inormation on spread and

overall habits that are available with a given species. Choosing

plants by orm as well as height will ensure that a mounded

or broad-spreading plant is less likely to be placed in a nar-

row space or planted too closely to a sidewalk, which would

require severe pruning or removal at a later date to allow

sidewalk access and to prevent the loss o the design intent.

Plants are listed by botanical and common name with

representative cultivars and whether the plant is native to

Pennsylvania (*). In addition, each plant has a hardiness zone

designation, which indicates the coldest area in which the

plant will live. The lower the hardiness-zone number assigned

to a plant, the hardier the plant and the colder the area. Within

limits, hardy plants can be moved into warmer zones but not

colder zones. Sometimes when hardy plants are moved into

very warm zones, the plant does not receive adequate winter

cold to mature the ower buds and subsequent ruit crop.

Cold hardiness is given considerable attention, but total

hardiness or the area should not be overlooked. Total hardi-

ness is defned as a plants ability to survive and thrive undera given set o conditions. I a plant cannot do well in all

seasons, it is not totally hardy in that particular location.

Total hardiness can be aected by temperature (summer

and winter), available moisture, soil types, soil acidity, air

pollution, or available light or the oliage.

The hardiness zones within Pennsylvania are shown on

the accompanying map. Zone numbers ollowing plant names

in this publication reer to those shown on this map. Shrubs

with a zone number lower than 5 will be hardy in all areas o

Pennsylvania.

To urther assist with plant selection using this guide,

inormation on site preerences, tolerances, and ower and

oliage characteristics are provided in the ollowing tables.

Unortunately, it is not possible to discuss all the character-

istics o the plants in this publication. The topics mentioned

here are those that tend to have a major impact on the value

and useulness o the plant in a landscape design. For more

detailed inormation, consult plant books (a list o resources

is provided at the end o this publication) and trusted plant

Web sites and, most important, visit local botanic gardens,

arboreta, and nurseries to see the plants and evaluate their

characters directly.

PLAnt HArdiness Zone MAP

Zone 5: -20 to -10F Zone 6: -10 to 0F Zone 7: 0 to 10F

Potentilla


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BotAnicAL nAMe coMMon nAMe Zone ForM AdAPtAtion And reMArks

d shb (less than 3 feet)

Abelia xgrandiora

Prostrata

Prostrate glossy abelia 5 Mounded Preers acidic, moist, well-drained soils and ull

sun to partial shade. May be a winter dieback

shrub in zone 5. Funnel-shaped white to pink

owers on new growth rom MayJune through

rost.

Arctostaphylos

uva-ursi*

Bearberry 2 Creeper Preers sun to part shade, dry, acidic sites,

and sandy soils. Dark green oliage changes to

bronze red in all and winter.

Berberis thunbergii var.

atropurpurea

Crimson Pygmy

Crimson pygmy

barberry

5 Mounded Preers ull sun. Adaptable to soil conditions.

Tolerates dry and urban conditions. Intolerant o

extremely wet sites. Reddish to bronze oliage

color in early spring. Yellow owers in mid-May.

Branches are spiny. Invasive research has re-

ported this cultivar to be less seedy.

Chaenomeles japonica Japanese quince 5 Spreading Densely branched, thorny low barrier plant

adaptable to soil conditions. May become

chlorotic at high pH. Perorms well in dry soils.

Preers ull sun to partial shade. Flowers orange

red to scarlet on one-year wood mid-April to

early May. Not as ornamental as common

quince.

Cotoneaster apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster 4 Mounded Preers moist, well-drained soils, including light

sands and heavy clay soils. Adaptable to a wide

range o soil pH. Displays good drought and salt

tolerance. Dark glossy green leaves during the

season accented by pinkish owers in MayJune

and red ruit in Aug.Sept. Can be a trash and

debris collector.

Cotoneaster horizontalis Rockspraycotoneaster

5 Creeper Deciduous to semi-evergreen. Pink owers inmid-June. Red ruit in Sept.Nov. Lustrous green

oliage turns red to purple in all.

Deutzia gracilis

Nikko

Nikko slender deutzia 5 Mounded Best moved in spring. Adaptable to soil pH and

general garden soils. Preers ull sun. Will require

renewal pruning over time. White owers in late

May. Green oliage turning deep burgundy in

the all.

Diervilla rivularis Georgia bush-

honeysuckle

5 Spreading Adaptable to conditions. Trumpet owers open-

ing lemon yellow maturing yellow red in dense

panicles in JuneAugust on current seasons

growth. Dark green leaves turn yellow red in all.

Forsythia viridissima

Broxensis

Bronx greenstem

orsythia

5 Mounded Adaptable to a range o soil conditions. Preers

ull sun. Tolerates urban conditions. Sti, green

stems reach 1 inch tall. Dark green serrated

leaves and primrose yellow owers late March to

April.

Forsythia x

Arnold Dwar

Arnold dwar

orsythia

6 Mounded Conditions similar to above Bronxensis and

hybrid orsythia. Sparse owers o green yellow

to pale yellow in MarchApril.

* Pennsylvania native


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d shb (35 feet)

Abelia xgrandiora Glossy abelia 6 Mounded See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Amelanchier

stoloniera*

Running serviceberry 4 Suckering,

upright

Preers ull sun to partial shade; acidic, moist,

well-drained soils; and tolerates dry conditions.

Similar characteristics to largerAmelanchier

species with white owers prior to lea out and

purplish ruit. Forms a thicket and has had limited

ornamental trade development.

Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry 5 Mounded Tolerant o shade, dry soils; yellow owers,

mid-May; thorny; red ruit (Oct.Mar.); red all

oliage color. Good hedge plant.

Aurea Vivid yellow leaves. Dense, slow growing. Turns

yellow green in shade. Invasive research has

reported this cultivar to be less seedy.

Callicarpa dichotoma

Early Amethyst

IssaiAlbiructus

Purple beautyberry 5 Mounded Preers well-drained soil and ull sun to partial

shade. Flowers are produced on new growth,

allowing or renewal pruning. Pink to lavenderowers are borne on cymes above the oliage in

JuneAug. Fruit are white to magenta in Sept.

Oct. Foliage consists o medium green leaves

borne in one plant along stems.

Callicarpa japonica Japanese beautyberry 5 Mounded Similar preerences as C. dichotoma.

Ceanothus americanus* New Jersey tea 4 Broad,

rounded

Preers ull sun, well-drained soils. Tolerates dry

sites and shade. White panicle owers at branch

tips in JuneJuly.

Chaenomeles speciosa Common owering

quince

4 Upright Adaptable to soil conditions and perorms well

in dry soils. Preers ull sun to partial shade.

Chlorotic in high pH soils. Five-petaled scarlet tored single or double-owered orms on old wood

in March and April. Pome ruit in all edible with

cooking or used or preserves. Moderately spiny.

Comptonia peregrina* Sweetern 4 Rounded Difcult to transplant. Preers organic, shady,

sterile, acid soils in ull sun or partial shade.

Inconspicuous owers. Aromatic oliage is dark

green during the season until lea drop.

Corylopsis pauciora Buttercup winterhazel 6 Spreading Requires protection rom wind and preers ull

sun and high-pH soils. Fragrant primrose owers

in late April.

Corylopsis spicata Spike winterhazel 5 Spreading Similar cultural conditions. Crooked, exible

branches. Yellow, ragrant owers in pendulous

racemes in April.

Daphne xburkwoodii

Carol Mackie

Carol Mackie

burkwood daphne

4 Mounded Early spring planting. Does not move easily.

Preers well-drained, moist, nearly neutral soils in

light shade and protected rom winter with snow

or pine bows. Cream-edged leaves and ragrant,

light pink owers in May. Short lived.



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d shb (35 feet)

Daphne mezereum February daphne 5 Upright Tolerant o shade. Rosy purple owers in early

April. Semi-evergreen. See planting conditions

above.

Deutzia gracilis Slender deutzia 5 Mounded White owers in late May. See previous

description.

Dasiphora ruticosa* Bush or shrubby

cinqueoil

4 Mounded Easy to grow. Tolerates poor sites, dry soil, and

cold. Preers sun. Yellow owers in mid-May.

Formerly listed in the genus Potentilla.

Diervilla sessiolia Southern bush-

honeysuckle

4 Spreading Adaptable to conditions. Sulur yellow trumpet

owers in JuneAugust on current seasons

growth.

Eubotrys racemosa* Sweetbells, etterbush 5 Mounded Preers moist to wet areas in partial shade to

shade. This suckering native related to leucothoe

has bright green, shallow-toothed leaves that

turn red in the all. White to pinkish cylindrical

owers on short racemes in MayJune.

Forsythia suspensa Weeping orsythia 5 Mounded Growing conditions similar to other orsythia

species (see F. xintermedia). Yellow owers in

mid-April.

Fothergilla gardenii

Eastern Form

Dwar othergilla 5 Rounded Preers acidic, organic sandy loam, well-drained

soils in partial shade to ull sun. White ragrant

owers on a squat bottlebrush spike in May prior

to lea out. Dark green to bluish green summer

oliage turns brilliant yellow to scarlet through-

out the plant in the all in Oct.Nov. Numerous

cultivars.

Hydrangea

arborescens*

Smooth hydrangea 4 Broad,

mounded

Transplants readily. Adaptable to soil pH and

conditions. Preers partial shade but with goodsoil moisture will grow well. Flowers on new

wood and can be mowed to rejuvenate.

Annabelle White, 1-inch-diameter ower clusters on erect

branches in JuneJuly.

Grandiora White 6- to 8-inch-diameter ower clusters in

mid-JuneJuly.

Ilex verticillata* Winterberry 5 Upright Dioecious. Tolerant o acid and wet soils.

Inconspicuous owers. Red ruit in Aug.Nov.

Redsprite Compact,

rounded

Larger ruit than other cultivars. Can be pollinated

by Apollo or Jim Dandy male orms.

Itea virginica* Virginia sweetspire 5 Erect Tolerates wet soils. White, lightly ragrant owers

borne on dense upright racemes in late May to

June. Fall oliage color varies rom yellow to

orange, reddish purple and scarlet. Will orm

large colonies.

Little Henry Compact



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d shb (35 feet)

Jasminum nudiorum Winter jasmine 6 Mounded Very adaptable to poor soils and dry sites.

Preers ull sun. Tip layers to spread. Nice green

bark, esp. in winter. Yellow owers in late March.

Kerria japonica Japanese kerria 6 Mounded Preers loamy, well-drained soils with moderate

ertility and light to partial shade. Stems may

suer winter injury and rabbit damage. Attractive

green bark. Yellow owers in mid-May. Yellow

and/or orange all color.

Prunus glandulosa

Sinensis

Dwar owering

Almond

5 Mounded Preers ull sun and well-drained soil. Noted

mostly or its double pink owers in early May.

No ruit. One-season ornamental value.

Rhododendron x

kosteranum

Mollis azalea 6 Rounded Preers moist, well-drained, acidic, highly organic

soils. Flowers are yellow to red and appear in late

May. Leaves have a hairy upper surace margins

and glandular tip.

Rhododendronpericlymenoides* Pinxterbloom azalea 5 Rounded Adapted to dry, sandy, rocky soils. Preers moist,acidic soils. Flowers pink in late May. Leaves are

bright green in summer and turn dull yellow in

all. Stolonierous.

Rhododendron

viscosum*

Swamp azalea 4 Rounded Preers moist, acidic soils. Found growing on

reshwater pond edges. Flowers with a clove

scent mid-MayJune. Leaves lustrous green.

Rhododendron

yedoensis var.

poukhanensis

Korean azalea 5 Rounded Preers similar conditions to azaleas described

above. Dark green oliage turns orange to red

purple in all. Purple owers in mid-May.

Rhodotypos scandens Jetbead 6 Rounded,

spreading

Very adaptable to soil conditions tolerating ull or

shade and that are crowded and polluted. Whiteowers in mid-May. Bright green oliage may be

conused with Kerria. Black ruit in clusters o

our.

Rosa blanda* Smooth rose 2 Upright Cold-hardy, native rose requiring well-drained

soils. Nearly thornless except near lea bases.

Single pink owers in MayJune. Red ruit in all.

Rosa carolina* Carolina rose 4 Suckering Common in rocky banks, dry, shale barren sites.

Upright, native rose. Solitary large pink owers in

MayJuly. Armed with straight prickles.

Rosa rugosa Rugosa rose 2 Rounded Tolerant o dry soil, salt, and ull-sun conditions.

Textured upper lea surace in dull to dark green.Deep pink owers in early June.

Rosa setigera* Prairie rose 4 Broad,

mounded

Large, spreading native rose ound in sandy

soils. Single, rose-colored owers in JuneJuly.

Bearing stout, curved prickles. Not suited to

small gardens.



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d shb (59 feet)

Berberis mentorensis Mentor barberry 6 Upright Tolerant o dry soils. Yellow owers in mid-May.

Thorny. Very dark green leaves turn red in all,

color, and drop in late winter.

Buddleia davidii

Nanho Alba

Black KnightHarlequin

Honeycomb

Pink Delight

Buttery bush 5 Upright,

arching

Preers well-drained, moist, ertile soils, and ull

sun. Tolerates urban environment. Durable. May

be weedy and should be considered a diebackshrub in zone 5. Flowers vary rom lavender,

lilac to purple, white to yellow based on cultivars

in JuneAug. Gray green to blue green oliage.

Numerous cultivars. Has escaped cultivation and

is considered invasive in some states.

Calycanthus oridus* Sweetshrub 5 Rounded Preers deep, moist, loam soils. Adaptable to

acid or alkaline soils and sun or shade. Dark

green leaves turn dull yellow in the all. Red

brown owers in mid-May.

Cercis chinensis

Don Egol

Alba

Chinese redbud 6 Vase,

rounded

Similar conditions to eastern redbud; moist but

well-drained, acidic, deep soils; light shade; and

some protection rom winter winds. Flowersrosy purple or white depending on cultivar along

erect, numerous stems in AprilMay. Leaves are

thicker, darker green than eastern redbud.

Chaenomeles speciosa Flowering quince 5 Rounded See earlier notes on growing conditions. Tolerant

o dry soil. Thorny. Red, orange, pink, or white

owers in early May.

Clethra alniolia* Summersweet 5 Oval,

upright

Preers moist, acid, high-organic-matter soils.

Tolerant o wet soils and shade. Gray bark. Fra-

grant white or pink owers depending on cultivar

in late July. Yellow and/or orange all color.

Cornus alba Tartarian dogwood 4 Mounded Preers moist, well-drained, soils, sun or shade.Adaptable o soil conditions. Red bark. Cream

white owers in late May. White ruit. Red all color.

Argentio-marginata Leaves with narrow, white margins.

Sibirica Bright red young stems. Bluish white ruit.

Cornus amomum* Silky dogwood 4 Rounded Preers moist soils, partially shaded, woods

edge locations. Yellow-white owers in May

June. Young stems are reddish purple. Useul or

massing and background plantings.

Cornus sericea* Redosier dogwood 4 Rounded Adaptable to a wide range o soils and environ-

ments. Tolerant o wet soils. White owers in late

May. Medium green leaves turn red to purple in

all. Red stems.

Cotoneaster divaricata Spreading cotoneaster 6 Mounded Preers moist, well-drained, loose, and ertile

soils and ull sun to light shade. Tolerant o dry

sites ater establishment. Fine-textured oliage,

dark green in summer and turns various shades

o yellow, red, purple in all. Pink owers in late

May. Red ruit in Sept.Nov. May die back in

severe winters.



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d shb (59 feet)

Deutzia x lemoinei Lemoine deutzia 6 Rounded White owers in late May. See earlier notes on

culture conditions.

Euonymus alatus

cultivars

Winged euonymus 5 Spreading Preers well-drained soil. Generally adaptable to

soil conditions and environments. Corky winged

twigs. Exoliating bark. Inconspicuous owers

produce orange to red capsule ruit. Red alloliage color. Has escaped cultivation and is

considered invasive in some states.

Forsythia xintermedia

cultivars

Border orsythia 5 Arching,

mounded

Adaptable to soil conditions and pH. Tolerates

urban conditions. Full sun required to maximize

owering. Yellow owers in mid-April.

Fothergilla major

Mt. Airy

Arkansas Beauty

Blue Shadow

Large othergilla 4 Rounded Requires acid soils. Multiseason color with

ragrant, white, bottlebrush ower spikes in

AprilMay and blue green to dark green leaves

that change to a mix o yellow, orange, and

scarlet in the all.

Hamamelis vernalis Vernal witchhazel 4 Rounded Preers moist, gravely soils and ull sun to partial

shade. pH adaptable. Flowers yellow to reddish

yellow in Jan.March.

Hibiscus syriacus Rose-o-Sharon 5 Erect, oval Preers moist well-drained, organic soils; ull sun

to partial shade; and hot conditions. Adaptable

to soil pH, soil conditions except extremes o

wet or dry. Five-petaled owers o white to red

to purple to violet or combinations, single or

double owers rom July to Sept. Late to lea out.

Foliage is medium to dark green and changes

to yellow in the all. Numerous cultivars. This

standard owering shrub has remained popular.

Hydrangea querciolia Oaklea hydrangea 5 Upright,

irregular

Preers moist, well-drained, ertile soils, and sun

or parital shade. Tender in zone 5 and may need

winter protection. Deep green, hairy to glossy

leaves turn reddish to purple in the all. White

owers in mid-July.

Alice White owers age to pink in color. Older plants

may reach 12 eet tall.

Pee Wee Compact, rom 2 to 3 eet tall and wide. Good or

small yards.

Snowake Preers shade. Multiple bracts create a double

owere appearance.

Snow Queen Hardy to -22F. Deep red bronze all oliage color.

Ilex verticillata* and

related hybrids

Winterberry 5 Upright Preers acid soils and tolerates wet and heavy

soils. Dioecious. Inconspicuous owers. Red ruit

in Aug.Nov. with best ruit set in ull sun. Numer-

ous emale and male cultivars. One compatible

male can serve as pollen source or ten emales

in a mass planting.



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d shb (59 feet)

Morella pensylvanica* Northern bayberry 4 Upright,

suckering

Very adaptable to sandy and clay, ertile soils.

Preers ull sun to partial shade. Intolerant o

high-pH soils. Dioecious. Inconspicuous owers.

Lustrous green leaves (semievergreen) may turn

red to purple all color but not consistently. Gray,

ragrant ruit in Sept.March. Formerly listed in

the genus Myrica.

Paeonia suruticosa Tree peony 5 Rounded Preers moist, well-drained soils with ull sun but

late day light shade and winter protection. pH

adaptable. Numerous cultivars are available with

single or double owers in colors rom white to

yellow, bronze, or pink to red, rom 4 to 12 inches

in diameter in MayJune. Foliage is dull blue

green.

Philadelphus x

lemoinei

Lemoine mockorange 5 Arching Adaptable to soil conditions. Preers moist, well-

drained organic soils in ull sun to light shade.

Fragrant white owers in mid-June.

x virginalis Virginalis mockorange

Photinia melanocarpa* Black chokeberry 5 Rounded,

suckering

Easily transplanted. Preers good drainage and

ull sun to partial shade. Adaptable to soil types.

Tolerant o dry and wet conditions.White owers

in late May. Black ruit in Oct.Dec. Leaves are

glossy dark green and turn maroon red in the all.

Formerly listed in the genusAronia.

Photinia pyriolia* Red chokeberry 5 Erect Tolerant o shade, wet soils. White owers, late

May; leaves bright green resembling crabapple

and turning bright red in the all; red ruit

(Nov.Dec.). Formerly listed in the genusAronia.

Physocarpus

opuliolius*

Ninebark 2 Vase Adaptable to soil types and pH. Tolerant o dry

soil and semishade. Exoliating bark. Coarse,

white owers in early June. Yellow and/or orange

all color.

Monlo Dusky reddish purple summer oliage and white

to cream-colored owers.

Darts Gold Compact, yellow oliage.

Prunus x cistena Purple-leaved sand

cherry

3 Upright Adaptable to soils and pH. Preers ull sun.

Fragrant pink to white owers in AprilMay

contrast nicely against the reddish purple oliage.

Rhododendron

Northern Lights

Northern Lights azalea

series

3 Spreading Preers ull sun, moist, acidic soils. Large,

owers range in color based on cultivar (pink,

white, orange, yellow, lilac, and deep pink).

Rhododendron vaseyi* Pinkshell azalea 4 Upright Preers acidic, well-drained soils. Flowers rose to

white in mid -May. Medium green leaves change

rom light to deep red in the all.



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d shb (59 feet)

Rosa xanthina orma

hugonis

Father Hugonis rose 5 Rounded Adaptable to conditions. Single canary yellow

owers in MayJune. Canes are reddish green

with scattered thorns. An old garden rose, a bit

ragged looking when not in ower.

Salix gracilistyla Rose-gold

pussy willow

5 Rounded As with most willows, preers moist soil rom acid

to neutral in pH in ull sun. Dioecious. Long male

catkins are red to pink prior to anthers turning

yellow. Leaves are blue gray. Suited to small

landscapes.

var.melanostachys Black pussy willow Male catkins open deep purple to black with red

anthers that turn yellow with time. Winter stem

color is purple to black.

Shepherdia

canadensis*

Russett bualoberry 2 Rounded Dioecious. Tolerates alkaline, dry, poor soils in ull

sun. Small, yellowish, nonshowy owers on short

axillary spikes in AprilMay. Fruit a red drupe in

June and July. Foliage silver green to gray green

with no all color.

Sorbaria sorbiolia Ural alsespirea 3 Upright,

suckering

Preers ull sun to light shade and moist,

well-drained organic soils. pH adaptable.

White owers on terminal panicles produced

on new wood in late JuneJuly. Will spread and

may need boundaries.

Spiraea pruniolia Bridalwreath spirea 5 Upright Old garden avorite. White owers, mid-May prior

to lea out. Orange to red all color.

Spiraea x vanhouttei Vanhoutte spirea 5 Vase Preers sun. White owers in late May. Arching

branches.

Spirea billiardii Billiard spirea 4 Upright Sun. Rose owers in late June.

Syringa meyeri

Palabin

Meyer lilac 3 Broadly

rounded

Adaptable to soil conditions. Preers sun.

Requires little maintenance and owers at an

early age. Mildew resistant and heat tolerant.

Violet purple owers on densely packed panicles

in May. Flowers beore leaves are ully open.

Syringa microphylla Littlelea lilac 6 Rounded Adaptable, heat tolerant, and mildew resistant.

Pink owers in late May.

Syringa patula

Miss Kim

Miss Kim lilac 4 Rounded Preers ull sun. More vigorous than S. meyeri.

Purple buds open to ragrant bluish owers oten

two panicles per branch in MayJune. Dense and

fne textured. Reddish purple all color.

Syringa villosa Late lilac 3 Rounded Preers ull sun. Rosy lilac owers in early June.

Viburnum xburkwoodii Burkwood viburnum 5 Open,

upright

Preers well-drained, slightly acid soils but gener-

ally adaptable to soil pH and urban settings. Pink

owers in mid-May. Leaves drop in late winter.



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14


d shb (59 feet)

Viburnum x

carlcephalum

Carlcephalum

viburnum

5 Open,

rounded

A V. carlesii hybrid with similar summer lea

eatures and site preerences. Flowers pink in

bud opening. Fragrant and white in May.

Viburnum dilatatum Linden viburnum 5 Upright Cream-white owers in early June. Red to purple

all color. Red ruit in Aug.March.

Viburnum nudum var.

cassinoides*

Witherod viburnum 5 Rounded Dark green oliage turns orange red to dull crim-

son in the all. Creamy white owers in JuneJuly

on at-topped cymes. Fruit changes rom green

to pink, red, blue to black in September. Good or

mass plantings and naturalizing backdrops.

var.nudum*

Bulk

Winterthur

Smooth witherod 5 Rounded Lustrous green leaves. Very orierous with white,

musky-scented owers on at-topped cymes.

Fall oliage color can be outstanding, varying

rom muted orange to wine red. To ensure a good

ruit set and display, intermix within a planting o

Winterthur with Bulk (aka Brandywine) or the

species. Plants tend to be sel-sterile.

Viburnum plicatum var.

tomentosum

Doublefle viburnum 5 Broad,

rounded*

Numerous cultivars. Will not tolerate poorly

drained and heavy clay soils. White owers in

late May. Red ruit in JulyAug. Red all color.

Distinct horizontal branching habit.

Vitex agnus-castus

Shoal Creek

Chastetree 6 Upright,

rounded

Tolerant o dry soil. Pale violet owers in mid-

Aug. Gray oliage color. Winter dieback shrub.

Weigela orida spp. Weigela 5 Spreading Well-drained soil. White to pink, unnel-shaped

owers in mid-May.

d shb (915 feet)

Aesculus parviora Bottlebrush buckeye 4 Mounded Preers acidic, well-drained, organic soil and

ull sun to partial shade. White owers on

12-inch-long panicles in JuneJuly. A wide-

spreading suckering shrub, good or massing.

Cephalanthus

occidentalis*

Buttonbush 5 Rounded Preers moist to wet soils; intolerant to dry soils.

Creamy white owers on a globular head in late

July. Persistent round nutlet. Glossy green to

dark green oliage appears late spring.

Cornus racemosa* Gray dogwood 5 Erect Tolerant o shade and dry soils. Gray bark.

Cream white owers in mid-June. White ruit in

Aug. Medium to dark green oliage turns red to

purple in the all.

Corylus americana* American flbert 4 Rounded,

leggy

Preers ull sun to light shade. pH adaptable.

Showy, yellow brown male catkins in March.

Produces a nut in Sept.October. Not appropri-

ate or small yards. Squirrels love the nuts.



15/32


16/32

16


d shb (915 feet)

Sambucus nigra

subsp.nigra

European black

elderberry

5 Rounded,

arching

Larger than native shrub reaching 2030 eet.

Leaves are darker green and many new cultivars

released with yellow or purple oliage.

Staphylea triolia* American bladdernut 4 Upright,

suckering

Preers moist, well-drained soils, and shaded

sites. Greenish white owers in AprilMay give

rise to three-lobed balloon-like green ruit in

Sept. Foliage changes rom bright green to dark

green and fnishes o dull yellow in all.

Syringa x chinensis Chinese lilac 6 Vase Preers moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates alka-

line soil. Purple lilac owers in late May. Fine-

textured oliage similar to common lilac. Subject

to mildew. Good screening plant.

Syringa vulgaris

cultivars

Common lilac 5 Upright,

leggy

Preers well-drained soil and ull sun. Pink purple

owers in mid-May. Elongated, heart-shaped,

dark green to bluish green oliage subject to

mildew.

Viburnum lantanoides* Hobblebush 5 Mounded,

leggy

Preers partial to ull shade and moist sites.

Medium to dark green, coarse-textured leaves

turn red to deep red in the all. White owers in

early May.

Viburnum dentatum*

Christom

Emerald Lustre

Morton

Ralph Senior

Arrowwood viburnum 5 Vase, suck-

ering

Preers moist, well-drained soils, ull sun to

parital shade; adaptable to soil texture and pH;

tolerant o wet soils, shade; cream-white owers,

early June; blue ruit; dark green leaves turning

yellow to maroon in the all. Very susceptible to

viburnum lea beetle.

Viburnum lantana Wayaring Tree 5 Upright Preers loamy, moist soils. Tolerates dry, calcar-

eous soils. White owers in mid-May. Red toblack ruits. Red all color. To ensure a good ruit

display, plant more than one in a bed.

Viburnum opulus var.

americanum*

American

cranberrybush

2 Upright,

rounded

Growing conditions similar to variety opulus.

Tolerant o wet soils. Gray bark. Lacy white ow-

ers in early May. Red ruit in Aug.Dec. Red all

oliage.

var.sargentii Sargent viburnum 4 Upright Lacy white owers. Persistent red ruit. Rough

bark. New spring growth is bronze and changes

to dark green. Coarse appearance.

Viburnum pruniolium* Blackhaw 3 Spreading Tolerant o shade. Adaptable to soil types. Single

or multitrunked. White owers in mid-May. Blackruit. Dark green lustrous leaves turn maroon in

the all. Powdery mildew susceptibility makes the

leaves less attractive.



17/32

17


d shb (915 feet)

Viburnum rufdulum Rusty blackhaw 5 Spreading Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant. Lus-

trous dark green leaves with rusty pubescence

undersides turn burgundy in the all. Creamy

white owers in AprilMay and dark blue drupe

ruit. Less susceptible to powdery mildew.

Viburnum setigerum Tea viburnum 5 Upright,

leggy

Cultural conditions similar to other viburnums

listed. Cream white owers, early June. Egg-

shaped, bright red to orange drupe ruit. Heavy

ruit set can cause arching habit.

d shb (greater than 15 feet)

Cornus mas Corneliancherry

dogwood

4 Oval,

rounded

Adaptable to soils and pH. Preers rich, well-

drained soils and ull sun to partial shade. Yellow

owers in umbels beore lea out in March.

Flower buds may be injured or killed during

some winters. Bright red drupe ruit in July. Dark,

glossy green leaves change to purplish red in the

all.

Cotinus coggygria Smokebush 5 Rounded Preers well-drained, loam soil, and sunny expo-

sures. Adaptable to a wide range o soil textures

and pH and dry and rocky sites. Purple oliage

color. Dioecious. Greenish owers in early June

turn smoky red in late summer and all. Gray ruit

in JuneAug. Subject to verticillium wilt.

Enkianthus

campanulatus

Redvein enkianthus 5 Upright,

narrow

Preers acid, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates

ull sun to partial shade. Yellowish owers in mid-

May. Bright to medium green summer oliage

turns brilliant yellow to red in all.

Halesia tetraptera Mountain/Carolina

silverbell

5 Broad,

rounded

Transplant as container-grown plant. Preers

high-organic, well-drained, moist, acidic soils

and sun to semishade. White owers beore

leaves in mid-May. Ornamental dry ruit. Dark

yellowish green lea in summer turns yellow and/

or orange in all and drops early.

Hamamelis x

intermedia

Arnolds Promise

Hybrid witchhazel 5 Upright,

spreading

Preers moist, well-drained soils and ull sun to

partial shade. Numerous cultivars produce ra-

grant owers ranging in color rom golden yellow

to orange red to deep red in Feb.March. Foliage

similar to other witchhazels.

Photinia villosa Oriental photinia 4 Vase, broad Preers well-drained acid soil and ull sun to light

shade. White owers in late May. Red ruit in

Sept.Nov. Dark green oliage turns orange to

orange red in all. Fireblight suscepetible.

Poncirus trioliata Hardy orange 6 Oval Preers well-drained, acidic soils and ull sun.

Fragrant white owers on previous years growth

in May. Edible, sour, yellow modifed berry in

Sept.Oct. Very good barrier plant.



18/32

18


d shb (greater than 15 feet)

Rhus copallinum* Winged/shining sumac 4 Broad,

suckering

Colonizer useul on dry, rocky sites, banks.

Lustrous dark green oliage in summer changes

to rich crimson scarlet in all. Flowers JulyAug.

Green-yellow in long and weid panicles. Fruit a

crimson drupe, uzzy in Sept.Oct. Requires a

large area or control o spread.

Rhus typhina* Staghorn sumac 5 suckering Preers moist, well-drained soils in ull sun.

Intolerant o poorly drained soils. Tolerant o dry,

sterile soils and urban conditions. Dioecious

owers o greenish yellow with emale owers

in dense panicles in late June, crimson in late

Aug., and persist through winter. Felty stems

and bright green oliage turn yellow, orange, and

scarlet in the all.

Stewartia ovata Mountain stewartia 5 Spreading Difcult to transplant. Best to transplant early

spring. Preers highly organic, moist, acidic soil

with sun most o the day except during hot pe-

riods. Perect white owers with crimped petals

and white, orange to purple anthers in JulyAug.

Viburnum lentago* Nannyberry 3 Arching,

suckering

Adaptable to moist or dry soil and sun or shade

(mildews in shade). White owers in mid-May

and orm oval, bluish black drupe Sept.Oct.

Good or naturalizing and winter bird ood.

Xanthocera sorbiolium Yellowroot 4 Upright Preers ull sun and loam soil. Adaptable.

evg shb (less than 3 feet)

Buxus microphylla Littlelea boxwood 56 Rounded Tolerant o light shade. Requires warm, moist,

well-drained, slightly acid soils. Light glossy to

dull green leaves during the growing season

depending on species. Yellow or brown winter

color. Needs winter wind protection. Useul in

ormal gardens, as topiary, and small hedge, or

wherever a well-clipped broadlea evergreen is

needed

var.japonica Japanese boxwood 56

Buxus sinica var.

insularis and hybrids

Korean boxwood 46

Buxus sempervirens Common boxwood 6 Several cultivars and hybrids are usable in Penn-

sylvania. For details see Penn State Extension

publication Boxwoods or Pennsylvania Land-scapes.

Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather 4 Upright Plant in spring. Preers sandy, organic, moist,

well-drained, acidic soils (pH 6) in protected sites

with ull sun to partial shade. Urn-shaped rosy to

purple pink owers JulySept.



19/32

19



Chamaecyparis obtusa

Nana

Hinoki alsecypress 5 Spreading Preers moist well-drained soil, moderate humid-

ity, sun, and wind protection; Adaptable to soil

pH. Nana is slow growing with shining, dark

green oliage.

Chamaecyparis

thyoidesCompacta

Conica

Atlantic whitecedar 4 Conical Preers moist, sandy soil, and ull sun. Foliage o

dwar cultivars is green to blue green.

Cotoneaster dammeri Bearberry cotoneaster 5 Creeper Semi-evergreen. Adaptable to conditions. Preers

well-drained soils. Lustrous, dark green leaves in

summerall turn dull green to reddish purple in

winter.

Erica carnea Spring/winter heath 5 Mounded Requires acid, moist, well-drained, organic, low

ertility soils. Preers ull sun to partial shade.

Flowers white to red on one-sided racemes in

winterspring.

Euonymus ortunei Wintercreepereuonymus

5 Mounded,creeping

Easy to grow. Tolerates most soils, ull sun, andheavy shade. Adaptable to soil pH. Intolerant o

swampy, wet sites. Numerous cultivars, with oli-

age varying rom blue green to green to variagat-

ed white or yellow; some cultivars turn plum red

in winter. Groundcovers, vines, and small shrubs.

Ilex crenata

Geisha

Hoogendorn

Kingville Green

Cushion

Midas Touch

Prides Tiny

RepandensWayne

Japanese holly 6 Mounded,

spreading

Preers light, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic

soil, ull sun or light shade, protection rom winter

winds. Dioecious. Inconspicuous owers. Black

ruit in Sept.Dec. Foliage lustrous dark green to

at green to yellow based on cultivar. Will tolerate

severe pruning to maintain a dense orm.

Ilex glabra*

Georgia Wine

Green Billow

Inkberry 4 Upright,

mounded

Preers moist, acid soils, ull sun. Tolerates wet

soils and shade. Intolerant o heavy clay soils.

Gray-green bark. Foliage lustrous dark or light

green. Dioecious. Inconspicuous owers.

Females produce black ruit in Sept.Feb.

Juniperus chinensis

Arctic

Daubs Frosted

Gold Sovereign

Holbert

Kallays CompactPftzeriana Moraine

Prostrata Variagata

Saybrook Gold

Sea Spray

Chinese juniper 5 Creeping,

mounded

Preers moist, well-drained soils and ull sun.

Adaptable to soil pH. Tolerates calcareous and

dry soils once established. Needles consist o

both adult scale-like and juvenile awl-like pointy

needles. Foliage color o cultivars can vary rom

blue green to gray green to yellow.

var. procumbens

Nana

Japanese garden

juniper

var.sargentii



20/32

20



Juniperus communis*

Berkshire

Compressa

Gold Beach

Green Carpet

Hibernica

Repanda

Common juniper 2 Creeping,

mounded

Adaptable to soil and temperatures. Commonly

ound on dry, sterile, calcareous, wide-ranging-

pH soils under windy conditions in ull sun. Not

as heat tolerant as some junipers. Foliage color

varies rom blue green to bright green depending

on cultivar.

Juniperus conerta

Blue Lagoon

Blue Mist

Blue Pacifc

Emerald Sea

Silver Mist

Shore juniper 6 Creeping,

mounded

Tolerant o poor soils. Adapted to sandy and

salty soils o seashore zone. Preers ull sun.

Intolerant o wet sites. Foliage varies rom blue

green to green based on cultivar.

Juniperus horizontalis

Adpressa

Bar Harbor

Emerson

Wiltoni

Wisconsin

Creeping juniper 4 Creeping Adaptable to soil and temperature conditions,

including hot, dry and slightly alkaline sites.

Tolerant o heavy clay soils. Dioecious, with in-

conspicuous emale owers producing blue ruit

in Sept.Nov. During summer months oliage is

deep blue green or steel blue and in winter turns

purple on most cultivars. Useul on slopes in ull

sun. Numerous cultivars ranging in height rom 6

inches to 1 oot.

Juniperus sabina

Arcadia

Broadmoor

Bualo

Calgary Carpet

Skandia

Savin juniper 3 Mounded Preers well-drained, dry, limestone soils, ull sun.

Withstands urban conditions. Better in colder

end o range. Mostly scale-like needles. Foliage

color varies rom green to blue green to gray

green based on cultivars.

Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountainjuniper

4 Mounded Tolerates drought ater establishment. Intoleranto high humidity and high night temperatures.

Few low-growing cultivars. Blue Creeper with

bright blue oliage.

Juniperus squamata

Blue Carpet

Blue Star

Holger

Prostrata

Singleseed juniper 4 Mounded Adaptable to conditions. Tolerates dry soils. Pre-

ers cooler climates, low humidity, low-moisture

soils. Low-growing cultivars carry bright blue to

gray blue to green and vary in needle rom scale

to awl.

Kalmia angustiolia* Sheep laurel 3 Rounded/

spreading

Native in rocky barrens to wet soils in semishade

sites. Preers acidic, cool, readily drained soils in

ull sun. Leaves are medium green to blue green

above and light green below. Small cluster o

purple or crimson owers develop in mid-June or

early July.



21/32

21



Kalmia latiolia*

El

Emerald Sheen

Keepsake

Little Linda

Minuet

Royal DwarTiddlywinks

Tinkerbell

Willowood

Mountain laurel 4 Rounded,

open

Preers acidic, cool, moist, well-drained soil;

ull sun to partial shade. Flower color variable

rom white to pink rose to deep rose with pink to

purple lines in paper campanula like petals late

Maymid-June. Lea color ranges rom light

yellow green to bronze early and changes to

glossy green to dark green during growingseason.

Ledum groenlandicum* Labrador tea 3 Rounded Preers moist, sandy, peaty soils and ull sun to

partial shade. Dark green upper leaves and rusty

below. White owers borne in broad clusters

MayJune. Rare in Pennsylvania. Found mostly

in the northeastern corner o the state in cooler

climates.

Nandina domestica

Atropurpurea nana

Compacta

Firepower

Gul Stream

Harbour Dwar

Heavenly bamboo 6 Upright,

spreading

Preers moist, ertile soils and ull sun to partial

shade. Adaptable to soils and exposed sites.

Flowers pink in bud and turns white with promi-

nent yellow anthers borne on erect, long panicles

in MayJune. Appreciated or its distinctive oli-

age, opening copper red and turning blue green

in summer and red in the all.

Paxistima canbyi Canby paxistima 4 Spreading Preers moist, well-drained, highly organic soils;

calcareous, rocky soil; and ull sun. Tolerates

partial shade and high-pH soils. Inconspicuous

greenish owers. Lustrous, dark green leaves

turn bronze red to purple in all. Rarely requires

ertilizers or pruning.

Picea glaucaCecilia

Little Globe

White spruce 2 Globe Preers moist loam soils and ull sun. Tolerateswind, heat, cold, drought, crowding, and some

shade ater establishment. Green to blue green

and gray green needles depending on cultivar.

Picea mariana

Nana

Ericoides

Black spruce 3 Rounded Preers moist, well-drained, loam soils, and cold

climates. Needles are dull gray green to blue

green based on cultivar.

Pinus mugo

Gnom

Valley Cushion

Mugo pine 3 Mounded Preers deep, moist, and well-drained soil in

either ull sun or partial shade. Will do well under

most growing conditions. Dark green needles are

rather sti and pointed. Overall texture is medium

to coarse. I possible, select a cultivar that is

known to be dwar or compact because it willretain this size longer.

Platycladus orientalis

Westmont

Oriental arborvitae 6 Globe Preers well-drained, moist soils, low winter hu-

midity. Tolerant o soil pH and texture as long as

it drains. Intolerant o sweeping winds. Needles

are bright yellow green to grass green and turn

darker green with age. Monoecious solitary ow-

ers produce an egg-shaped, eshy bluish cone.



22/32

22



Taxus baccata

Nana

Pygmaea

English yew 6 Rounded,

spreading

Preers moist, well-drained, sandy loam soils.

Tolerates calcareous to acidic soils and shade.

Intolerant o heavy, wet, clay soil. Dioecious with

inconspicuous owers. Red ruit in Sept.Nov.

Seeds are hard and toxic. Used or seasonal

color and massing. Develops an inormal arching

habit.

Taxus cuspidata

Monloo

Japanese yew 4 Upright,

spreading

Preers moist, sandy to loam, well-drained soil

and ull sun to shade. Adaptable to soil pH.

Wind and ull sun may cause needle burn.

Tolerant o urban conditions. Intolerant o wet,

heavy soils. Needles have a dark lustrous green

upper surace and yellowish green lower surace.

Dioecious. Female owers produce red ruit with

poisonous seed.

Thuja occidentalis*

Aurea

Canadian Green

Danica

Ericoides

Little Gem

Umbraculiera

American arborvitae,

eastern white cedar

3 Pyramidal,

rounded

Preers deep, well-drained, moist soil, and humid

sites in ull sun. Tolerates limestone soil, heat,

and drought once established. Intolerant o

strong winds, heavy snow, or ice loads. Foliage

color varies based on cultivar but ranges rom

bright to at green to yellow and turns yellow

green in winter. Monoecious owers producing

an oblong, light brown cone.

Thuja plicata

Pumila

Pygamea

Giant arborvitae 5 Pyramidal,

rounded

Preers moist, well-drained, ertile soils; high

humidity; and ull sun to partial shade. pH

adaptable. Blue green to dark green oliage.

evg shb (35 feet)

Buxus microphylla Littlelea boxwood 56 Rounded See earlier description or boxwood culture and

attributes.

var.japonica Japanese boxwood 56

Buxus sinica var.

insularis and hybrids

Korean boxwood 46

Buxus sempervirens Common boxwood 6 Rounded,

conical

Several cultivars and hybrids are usable in

Pennsylvania. For details see the Penn State

Extension publication Boxwoods or

Pennsylvania Landscapes.

Cephalotaxus

harringtonia

Duke GardensGnome

Prostrata

Japanese plum yew 6 Spreading Preers moist, well-drained soil and shade.

Tolerates drought once established and ull sun.

Dioecious. Not grown or ower or ruit display.Lustrous, dark growth and slow growing.

Appears not to be preerred by deer.

Chamaecyparis

lawsoniana

Nidiormis

Port Orord cedar 5 Spreading Preers moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic pH

soils; ull sun to partial shade; and shelter rom

wind. Foliage waxy whitish green to green-

keeled needles. Bluish green cones turn reddish

brown at maturity.



23/32

23


evg shb (35 feet)

Chamaedaphne

calyculata*

Leatherlea 3 Open Preers wet sites and partial shade. Flowers are

a white and urn shaped on terminal racemes in

AprilJune. Foliage is a brownish green.

Euonymus

kiautschovicus

Spreading euonymus 6 Spreading Semi-evergreen. Will winter burn. Cultural condi-

tions are similar to wintercreeper (E. ortunei).

Glossy green oliage. Not as susceptible to

scale. Available cultivars smaller than species.

Ilex crenata

Beehive

Green Island

Green Lustre

Helleri

Japanese holly 6 Mounded,

spreading

Preers light, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic

soil, ull sun or light shade, and protection

rom winter winds. Dioecious with inconspicu-

ous owers. Black ruit in Sept.Dec. Foliage

lustrous, dark green to at green with cultivars

varying. Tolerates severe pruning to maintain a

dense orm.

Ilex glabra*

Compacta

Dodd Compact

Chamzin

Shamrock

Tin Mine

Viridis

Inkberry 4 Upright,

mounded

Preers moist, acid soils, ull sun. Tolerates wet

soils and shade. Intolerant o heavy clay soils.

Gray-green bark. Foliage lustrous, dark green.

Dioecious, with inconspicuous owers. Black

ruit in Sept.Feb. Oten used or low hedges

or in mass planting as an accent specimen

because o its lighter oliage color. Leaves are

light green and shiny.

Juniperus chinensis

Blaauw

Blue Vase

Monlep

Old Gold

Pftzeriana Compacta

Plumosa

Sea Green

Chinese juniper 5 Mounded,

spreading

Preers moist, well-drained soils and ull sun.

Adaptable to soil pH. Tolerates calcareous and

dry soils once established. Needles consist o

both adult scale-like and juvenile awl-like pointy

needles. Foliage color can be blue green to gray

green to yellow based on cultivar choice.

Juniperus communis*

Depressa

Hills Vaseyi

Pencil Point

Common juniper 2 Vase,

columnar

Adaptable to soil and temperatures. Commonly

ound on dry, sterile, calcareous, wide-ranging-

pH soils under windy conditions in ull sun. Not

as heat tolerant as some junipers. Foliage color

varies rom blue green to bright green depend-

ing on cultivar.

Juniperus sabina

Von Ehren

Savin juniper 3 Vase Preers well-drained, dry, limestone soils and

ull sun. Withstands urban conditions. Better incolder end o range. Mostly scale-like needles.

Foliage color varies rom green to blue green to

gray green based on cultivar.

Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountain

juniper

4 Mounded Tolerates drought ater establishment. Intolerant

o high humidity and high night temperatures.

Few medium-sized cultivars. Lakewood Globe

with blue green oliage.



24/32

24


evg shb (35 feet)

Juniperus squamata

Blue Swede

Chinese Silver

Loderi

Pygmaea

Singleseed juniper 4 Mounded,

upright

Adaptable to conditions. Tolerates dry soils.

Preers cooler climates, low humidity, and

low-moisture soils.

Juniperus virginiana

var. virginiana*

Blue Cloud

Silver Spreader

Triparita

Eastern red cedar 4 Mounded,

pyramidal

Preers ull sun, open locations in deep, moist,

well-drained loam soils. Tolerant o adverse

conditions, poor gravel soils, acid, and high-pH

soils. Foliage medium green to sage green and

blue during the season to bronze and yellow

brown during winter. Dioecious, with emale

owers producing blue, waxy cones.

Kalmia latiolia* Mountain laurel 4 Rounded,

open

See earlier description or cultural conditions and

ower and oliage characteristics.

Leucothoe

ontanesiana

Drooping leucothoe 5 Spreading Transplant in the spring. Preers acid, moist, well-

drained, organic soils, and partial to ull shade.

Tolerates ull sun with adequate moisture. Intoler-ant o drought and windy conditions. White,

ragrant, urn-shaped owers on axillary racemes

in AprilJune. Green to bronze to purple early lea

color changes to lustrous green and variagated

depending on cultivar. Foliage turns purple in all.

Mahonia aquiolium Oregon hollygrape 5 Upright,

rounded

Preers moist, well-drained, acidic soils, shade,

and protection rom wind. Bright yellow owers

in early May. Blue ruit in JulyAug. Foliage turns

red to purple in all.

Picea abies

Nidiormis

ProcumbensPumila

Norway spruce

Birds nest spruce

4 Conical,

rounded

Preers moderate moisture, sandy, acid, well-

drained soils; cold climate; and ull sun. Needles

bright green to purplish when young turn lus-trous, dark green during growing season.

Picea glauca

Ed Hirle

White spruce 2 Conical Preers moist loam soils and ull sun. Tolerates

wind, heat, cold, drought, crowding, and some

shade. Green to blue green and gray green

needles depending on cultivar. Ed Hirle is a nar-

row, slow-growing orm o dwar Alberta spruce

Conica.

Picea omorika

Expansa

Serbian spruce 4 Rounded,

spreading

Preers deep, rich, limestone to acidic, moist,

well-drained soils; winter protection; low humid-

ity; and semishade. Tends to be adaptable to ull

sun and city conditions. Needles have glossy,

dark green upper side with two prominent, white,stomal lines on the lower side.

Picea orientalis

Nana

Oriental spruce 4 Rounded Tolerates poor, gravel soils. Protect rom excess

cold, dry conditions, and harsh winter winds.

Needles lustrous, dark green with an overall

graceul plant orm.



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25


evg shb (35 feet)

Picea pungens

Glauca Globosa

Montgomery

Thume

Colorado spruce 3 Rounded,

conical

Preers rich, moist, well-drained soils in ull sun.

More drought tolerant than other spruce. Foliage

o the low-growing cultivars range rom blue to

silver blue.

Pieris oribunda Mountain pieris 5 Rounded Preers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils,

and partial shade. Intolerant o drought, sweep-

ing winds, and ull winter sun. Fragrant white,

urn-shaped owers in upright cluster on terminal

racemes, late April. Leaves are a dull, dark green.

Pinus mugo

Aurea

Slavinii

Mugo pine 3 Mounded See earlier cultural condition description.


Bonita

Juniperoides

Minima

Oriental arborvitae 6 Pyramidal,

rounded

See earlier description o cultural conditions.

Prunus laurocerasus

Mischeana

Mt. Vernon

Nana

Otto Luyken

Schipkaensis

Zabeliana

Common cherry laurel 6 Rounded Preers moist, well-drained, highly organic soil

and partial to heavy shade. Tolerant o salt spray.

Intolerant o excessive ertilization. Fragrant,

white owers on wide axillary racemes in April

May. Purple to black conical drupes orm in sum-

mer. Lustrous dark green leaves.

Pyracantha coccinea

Apache

Lowboy

Rutgers

Scarlet frethorn 6 Open Preers well-drained, acid to neutral pH soil, dry

summer, and ull sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Thorny stems. Malodorous cream white owers

in mid-June. Orange-red ruit. Leaves may drop

in late winter. Fireblight can be a serious prob-

lem; look or resistant cultivars.

Rhododendron

carolinianum

Carolina rhododendron 5 Rounded,

open

Preers partial shade, acidic, moist, well-drained

soil. Intolerant o wet, high-pH soils, salinity, win-

ter wind, and winter sun. Large, umbel-like ow-

ers range rom white to pale rose to rosy purple

in mid-May. Large leaves are dark green during

the summer and turn green to purple green in the

winter. Two varieties: Album (white owers) and

Luteum (yellow owers). Will survive zone 5 with

winter protection.

Rhododendron x

obtusum var.

Hiryu/kurume hybrid

azalea

7 Spreading Preers acid soils. Tolerates shade. Glossy, green

oliage turns red to purple in all. White to pink to

crimson owers in mid-May.

Rhododendron x

PJM hybrids

PJM hybrid

rhododendrons

4 Rounded Preers conditions similar to Carolina rhododen-

dron. Produces similar and varied oliage colors

and characteristics and a broad array o ower

colors due to extensive breeding.



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26


evg shb (35 feet)

Sarcococca

hookeriana

Sweetbox 6 Mounded Preers loose, acid, high-organic, moist, well-

drained soils in partial shade to shade. Tolerates

neutral soils, pollution, and drought once estab-

lished. Fragrant, o-white, inconspicuous ow-

ers. Lustrous, dark green to light green leaves.

Taxus baccata

Repandens

Spreading English yew 6 Rounded,

spreading

Preers moist, well-drained, sandy loam soils.

Tolerates calcareous to acidic soils and shade.

Intolerant o heavy, wet, clay soil. Dioecious with

inconspicuous owers produce red ruit in Sept.

Nov. Seeds are hard and toxic. Used or seasonal

color and massing. Develops an inormal arching

habit over time.

Taxus canadensis* Canadian yew 2 Pyramidal Preers moist, sandy loam soil and winter shade.

Intolerant o heat and drought. Not as desirable

as other yews. Monoecious owers. Sel-ertile,

producing a wide, red ruit. Stiy upright, strag-

gling in orm.

Taxus xmedia

Andersonii

Angelica

Chadwickii

Deniormis

Tauton

Anglo-Japanese yew 4 Pyramidal,

spreading

Preers well-drained, moist, acidic to neutral

sandy to loam soil in sun or shade. Dark green,

lustrous needles. Dioecious, with emale owers

producing red, eshy ruit with poisonous seed.

Taxus cuspidata

Cross Spreading

Dark Green Spreader

Densa

Japanese yew 4 Upright,

spreading

Preers moist, sandy to loam, well-drained soil

and ull sun to shade. Adaptable to soil pH.

Wind and ull sun may cause needle burn.

Tolerant o urban conditions. Intolerant o wet,

heavy soils. Needles have a dark, lustrous green

upper surace and yellowish green lower surace.

Dioecious, with emale owers producing red,eshy ruit and poisonous seed.

Thuja occidentalis*

Bonita

Juniperoides

Minima

Americian arborvitae,

eastern white cedar

3 Pyramidal,

rounded

Preers deep, well-drained, moist soil, and humid

sites in ull sun. Tolerates limestone soil, heat,

and drought once established. Intolerant o

strong winds, heavy snow, or ice loads. Foliage

color varies based on cultivar but ranges rom

yellow green to blue gray and dark green and

turns brownish to plum red. Monoecious owers

produce an oblong, light brown cone.

Thuja plicata

Cuprea

Rodgersii

Giant Arborvitae 5 Pyramidal,

rounded

Preers moist, well-drained, ertile soils;

high humidity; and ull sun to partial shade.

pH adaptable. Copper bronze to yellow oliage

turning green to bronze green later in year.



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27


evg shb (515 feet)

Berberis julianae Wintergreen barberry 6 Upright Preers a moist, well-drained site. Tolerates

shade and wide range o soils. Intolerant o

winter winds, which desiccates leaves and cause

bronzing to lea drop in severe years. Yellow

owers in mid-May. Dark green, leathery leaves

turn yellow/orange/red in late all. A good spiny

barrier shrub.

Buxus microphylla Littlelea boxwood 56 Rounded See earlier description o cultural conditions.

var. japonica Japanese boxwood 56

Buxus sempervirens Common boxwood 6 Several cultivars and hybrids are usable in

Pennsylvania. For details see Penn State

Extension publication Boxwoods or

Pennsylvania Landscapes.

Chamaecyparis pisiera

Boulevard

Filiera

Japanese alsecypress 4 Pyramidal Preers moist, loamy, well-drained soils, humid

climate, ull sun, open sites, and neutral to slight

acid pH. Dark green to silver blue green oliage

with pendulous habit.

Chamaecyparis

thyoides

Andelyensis

Aurea

Raraora

Variegata

Atlantic whitecedar 4 Conical Preers moist, sandy soil, and ull sun. Foliage

varies rom bright blue green to yellow based on

cultivar.

Ilex cornuta Chinese holly 7 Rounded Very adaptable to drought once established as

well as pH and extreme heat. Very susceptible

to wind damage. May be injured during cold

weather. Very dense plant. Foliage green with

rounded to spiny points on lea margins. Numer-ous cultivars, with Burordii being very common.

Heavily used in the southern U.S. but only hardy

to southeastern corner o Pennsylvania.

Ilex crenata

Convexa

Glory

Highlander

Sentinel

Sky Pencil

Japanese holly 6 Columnar See earlier description o cultural conditions.

Ilex glabra*

Cape Cod

Densa

Inkberry 4 Upright,

rounded

See earlier description o cultural conditions.

Ilex x meserveae Meserve hybrid hollies 5 Rounded,

open

Preers moist, well-drained, acidic soils, and

winter sun and wind protection. Winter desicca-

tion will aect these plants. Lustrous, green to

blue green oliage. Dioecious, requiring male and

emale or ruit set. Bright red ruit. Commonly

availabe cultivars and registered names include

Blue Boy, Blue Girl, Blue Maid, Blue Prince,

China Boy, and China Girl.



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28


evg shb (515 feet)

Juniperus chinensis

Ames

Blue Point

Globosa

Hetzii

Hooks

ManeyPftzeriana

Chinese juniper 5 Mounded,

upright

See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Juniperus communis*

Sentinel

Common juniper 2 Columnar See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Juniperus scopulorum

Gray Gleam

Monwade

Medora

Skyrocket

Witchita Blue

Rocky Mountain

juniper

4 Pyramidal,

columnar

Similar in preerred conditions to other junipers.

Tolerates drought ater establishment. Intolerant

o high humidity and high night temperatures.

Foliage color varies rom brilliant blue to silvery

gray green.

Juniperus squamata

Meyeri

Singleseed juniper 4 Mounded See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Juniperus virginiana

var. virginiana*

Emerald Sentinel

Globosa

Hillii

Idyllwild

Manhattan Blue

Nova

Eastern redcedar 4 Pyramidal,

columnar


Kalmia latiolia* Mountain laurel 4 Rounded,

open


Mahonia bealei Leatherlea mahonia 6 Upright,

open

Cultural requirements, ower characteristics,

and ruit display are very similar to Oregon

hollygrape except the ower cluster is larger.

Coarse-textured plant that will have limited use

in the average home landscape. Leaves are

semi-evergreen with a spiny edge.

Picea omorika

Nana

Serbian spruce 4 Rounded,

spreading

See earlier description or cultural conditons.

Picea orientalis

Gowdy

Gracilis

Oriental spruce 4 Rounded See earlier description or cultural conditons.

Picea pungens

Bakeri

Blue Kiss

Fat Albert

Iseli Foxtail

Colorado spruce 3 Rounded,

conical

See earlier description or cultural conditons.



29/32

29


evg shb (515 feet)

Pieris japonica Japanese pieris 5 Upright Preers moist, well-drained, organic, acidic soils;

partial shade to ull sun; and some wind protec-

tion. Flowers start red to white in bud opening

in ranges o cream white to pink in pendulous

clusters in mid-April. Foliage is oblong and

glossy. New oliage is a rich bronze and turns

dark green as the leaves mature. The oliageremains green or takes on a slightly purple tint in

the all.

Pinus mugo

Gnome

Mops

Mugo pine 3 Mounded See earlier description or cultural conditions.


Baker

Oriental arborvitae 6 Pyramidal,

rounded


Pyracantha coccinea

Bakers Red

ChadwickiiMohave

Navaho

Scarlet frethorn 6 Open See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Rhododendron

catawbiense

Catawba

rhododendron

5 Rounded,

spreading

Similar conditions as Carolina rhododendron.

Flowers are clustered and colors range rom lilac

to crimson to purple in early June. Leaves are

broad and elliptic, coarse, and leathery with dark

green upper surace and lighter lower surace.

Rhododendron

maximum*

Rosebay

rhododendron

3 Open Preers moist, well-drained, acid soil; shade pro-

tection; and cool sites. Flowers are rose, purplish

pink, to white in June. Streamside native.

Taxus cuspidataCapitata

Expansa

Nana

Thayerae

Japanese yew 4 Upright,spreading See earlier description or cultural conditions.

Taxus xmedia

Berryhillii

Brownii

Flemer

Hicksii

Sebian

Woodwardii

Anglo-Japanese yew 4 Pyramidal,

spreading


Thuja occidentalis*Elegantissima

Ellwangeriana

Emerald

Techny

Woodwardii

American arborvitae,eastern white cedar

3 Pyramidal,rounded


Thuja plicata

Green Giant

Hillier

Giant arborvitae 5 Pyramidal,

rounded




30/32

30


evg shb (515 feet)

Viburnun xpragense Prague viburnum 5 Upright,

rounded

Preers moist, well-drained, ertile soil; partial

shade; and winter protection. Lustrous, dark

green leaves. Pink ower buds open slightly

ragrant and white on terminal cymes.

Viburnum

rhytidophyllum

Leatherlea viburnum 6 Upright,

spreading

Similar cultural conditions to Prague viburnum

but not as hardy; requires more winter protection

and tolerates up to shade. Upper lea surace

is deep to dull green with wrinkled appearance.

Lower lea surace is covered with yellow

pubescence, creating a two-toned eect as

leaves move. Flowers are yellow white clusters

in mid-May. Fruit ripen in late summer and

change rom red to black beore dropping.



31/32

31

GLossAry

Cyme: a more or less at-topped determinate inorescence in

which the outer owers open last (e.g., elderberry)

Determinate: the main axis o the plant terminates with

a ower, which prevents urther growth during the present

season

Dioecious: a species with unisexual owers where each sexis confned to a separate plant (e.g., hollies)

Indeterminate: the main axis o the plant continues to grow

and where owers arise rom the axillary buds rather than

terminal buds

Inforescence: reers to a ower cluster that can be urther

described by the type o orm o the cluster such as spike,

cyme, panicle, and raceme

Monoecious: a species with unisexual owers where both

sexes are ound on the same plant (e.g., arborvitae)

Panicle: an indeterminate inorescence in which the primary

axis bears branches o pedicels leading to owers (e.g., a

branching raceme)

Pedicel: the stalk o a ower or ruit

Raceme: a simple indeterminate inorescence in which the

primary axis consists o single pedicels, each with a ower

Spike: an unbranched, elongate, simple, indeterminate

inorescence with owers attached directly to the primary

axis without a pedicel

reFerences

Conklin, J. R., and J. C. Sellmer. Flowering, ecundity,

seed germination, and seed viability oViburnum opulus L.

cultivars.J. Environmental Hort.27, no. 1 (2009): 3136.

Dirr, M. A.Manual o Woody Landscape Plants: Their Iden-

tifcation, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation,

and Uses. 5th ed. Champaign, Ill.: Stipes Publishing, 1998.

Flint, H. L.Landscape Plants or Eastern North America.2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

Lehrer, J. M., M. H. Brand, and J. D. Lubell. Four cutlivars

o japanese barberry demonstrated dierential reproductive

potential under landscape conditions.HortScience 41, no. 3

(2006): 76267.

Rhoads, A. F., and T. A. Block. The Plants o Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia: University o Pennsylvania Press, 2000.

USDA-ARS. Germplasm Resources Inormation Network,

www.ars-grin.gov. Beltsville, Md.: National Plant Germ-

plasm System, 2009.

USDA-NRCS. The PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov.Baton Rouge, La.: National Plant Data Center, 2009.

suGGested PLAnt seLection resources

Appleton, B. A., and L. T. Chaplin. The New York/Mid-

Atlantic Gardeners Book o Lists. Dallas: Taylor Publishing,

2001.

Brickell, C., and J. D. Zuk, eds.AZ Encyclopedia o Garden

Plants. New York: DK Publishing, 1996.

Dirr, M. A.Dirrs Hardy Trees and Shrubs.Portland: Timber

Press, 1997.

Poor, J. M., and N. P. Brewster. The Garden Clubs o Amer-

ica: Plants that Merit Attention. Vol. 2: Shrubs. Portland:

Timber Press, 1996.

Taylor, N., and G. P. DeWol Jr. Taylors Guide to Shrubs.

New York: Houghton Miin, 1987.

Wyman, D. Shrubs and Vines or American Gardens. 2nd ed.

New York: Macmillan, 1969.

Mountain Laurel


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Prepared by Jim Sellmer, Rick Bates, and David Sanord, associate proessors o ornamental horticulture, and J. Robert Nuss,

proessor emeritus o ornamental horticulture.

Visit Penn States College o Agricultural Sciences on the Web: agsci.psu.edu

Penn State College o Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are unded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth o Pennsyl-vania, and the U.S. Department o Agriculture.

This publication is available rom the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA16802. For inormation telephone 814-865-6713.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, acilities, admission, and employment without regardto personal characteristics not related to ability, perormance, or qualifcations as determined by University policy or by state or ederal authorities. It is the policy o theUniversity to maintain an academic and work environment ree o discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination andharassment against any person because o age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteranstatus. Discrimination or harassment against aculty, sta, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondis-crimination policy to the Afrmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801; Tel 814-865-4700/V,814-863-1150/TTY.

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Selecting Shrubs for Pennsylvania Landscapes