Common nameScientific name Zones Habit Exposure Size Comments
Barberry, JapaneseBerberis thunbergii 4-8DSun to partial shade3 to 6'Yellow flowers; small red fruit; thorns; orange, scarlet, reddish purple fall color
Barberry, WintergreenBerberis julianae 6-9ESun to partial shade6 to 8'Yellow flowers in spring; bluish black fruit; thorns
Bayberry, NorthernMyrica pennsylvanica 3-6ESun to partial shade6 to 9'Small, gray, waxy coated fruit that persists into winter
BeautyberryCallicarpa americana 7-10DSun to partial shade4 to 6'Small white to pink flowers in summer; clusters of glossy pink-purple to red-violet berries in fall
Burning bushEuonymus alatus 4-8DSun to partial shade15 to 20'Small red fruit in fall
Butterfly bushBuddleja davidii 6-8DSun5 to 10'Excellent summer flowering shrub; flowers on new growth
Cotoneaster, CranberryCotoneaster apiculatus 4-7ESun3'Pinkish flowers in spring; cranberry red fruit late summer to fall; drought tolerant
Cotoneaster, BearberryCotoneaster dammeri 5-8ESun12 to 18"White flowers in spring; bright red fruit in late summer
Cotoneaster, RocksprayCotoneaster horizontalis 4-7ESun2 to 3'Small pink flowers; bright red fruit late summer to fall
Devils' walking stickAralia spinosa 4-9DSun to partial shade 10 to 20'White flowers in summer
Dogwood, SilkyCornus amonum 5-8DSun to partial shade6 to 10'Yellowish white flowers in summer; bluish fruit in late summer; prefers moist soil
Dogwood, RedosierCornus sericea 2-8DSun to partial shade7 to 9'Dull white flowers; white fruit late summer; red stems
ElderberrySambucus canadensis 3-9DSun8 to 12'Flat cluster of creamy white flower in summer; edible purplish black fruit
FetterbushLyonia lucida 6-8EPartial shade2 to 25'White flowers in spring on previous season's growth
FothergillaForthergilla major 4-8DPartial shade6 to 12'1 to 3" spike white flowers in spring; fragrance varies from
none to honey-like
Hydrangea, OakleafHydrangea quercifolia 5-9DSun to partial shade6 to 8'White flowers fade to pink then tan; good for drying
InkberryIlex glabra 4-9ESun to partial shade6 to 9'Native; dark green foliage; black berries
IteaItea virginica 5-9D to semi ESun to partial shade 3 to 5'Fragrant white flowers in summer
Juniper, CommonJuniperous communsis 2-7ESun5 to 10'Bluish black to black fruit
Juniper, CreepingJuniperous horizontalis 3-9ESun1 to 2'Small blue fruit
Juniper, ChineseJuniperous chinensis 3-9ESun2 to 25'Numerous cultivars; bluish black to black fruit
MahoniaMahonia spp.4-8EPartial shade3 to 6'Bright yellow flowers in early spring; blue-black fruit
NandinaNandina domestica 6-9ESun to shade6 to 8'White flowers; bright red fruit
NannyberryViburnum lentago 2-8DSun to partial shade15 to 18'White flowers in spring; bluish black fruit in fall
New Jersey teaCeanothus americanus 4-8DSun to partial shade3 to 4'Long lasting creamy white to light pink flowers in summer; drought tolerant
PrivetLigustrum spp.6-9ESun to partial shade20 to 25'White flowers in spring; blue black fruit
PyrancanthaPyrancatha spp.6-9ESun2 to 18'White flowers; red, orange, yellow fruit fall to winter
Rosa, RugosaRosa rugosa 2-8DSun4 to 6'Rose-purple to white flowers in summer; bright red hips
Russian oliveEleagnus angustifolia 2-7DSun 12 to 15'Drought and salt tolerant
Scotch broomCytisus scoparius 5-8DSun5 to 6'Yellow flowers; short lived; tolerates poor soil
Southern arrowwoodViburnum dentatum 3-8DSun to partial shade6 to 8'White flowers in early summer; blue to blue-black fruit in fall
SpicebushLindera benzoin 5-9DSun to partial shade6 to 12'Greenish yellow fragrant flowers; scarlet red fruit in fall; brilliant yellow fall foliage
Sumac, SmoothRhus glabra 3-9DSun to partial shade9 to 15'Greenish white flowers; velvety red fruit in late summer on female plants
Sumac, StaghornRhus typhina 4-8DSun to partial shade15 to 25'4 to 8" panicles of greenish white flowers in summer;
velvety red fruit in late summer on female plants lasting into spring
Sumac, ShinningRhus chinensis 5-7DSun 15 to 24'Yellowish white in summer
Sumac, WingedRhus copallia 4-9DSun 20 to 30'Greenish yellow flowers in summer
Sweet pepperbushClethra alnifolia 4-9DSun to partial shade4 to 8'White flowers in summer; moist soil
Viburnum, MaplewoodViburnum acerifolium 4-8DSun to shade4 to 6'Yellowish white flowers in spring
Viburnum, Walter'sViburnum obovatum 6-9DSun to partial shade 10 to 12'White flowers in spring
Viburnum, SielboldViburnum sieboldi 4-7DSun to partial shade15 to 20'White flowers in May; red fruit that turns black
Viburnum, BlackhawViburnum prunifolium 3-9DSun to shade12 to 15'Native

Prepared by: Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturist

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Images © by Erv Evans