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| Common name | Scientific name | Zones | Habit | Size | Exposure | Comments |
| Abelia | Abelia x grandiflora | 6-9 | Semi-E | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers all summer; cultivars: Edward Goucher (4-6'), Frances Mason (6-8'), Confetti (2-4'), Compacta (3-4'), Sunrise (3'), Sherwoodii (3-4') |
| Abelia, Chinese | Abelia chinensis | 6-9 | D | 5 to 7' | Sun to partial shade | Fragrant white flowers summer to fall |
| Azaleas, Satsuki, Kurume, Glen Dale | Rhododendron hybrida | 5-9 | E | 2 to 6' | Partial shade | Numerous cultivars |
| Azalea, Kaempferi hybrids | Rhododendron kaempferi | 5-7 | Semi-E to D | 4 to 9' | Partial shade | Easier, less demanding than Kurume azaleas; reddish-purple foliage in winter |
| Azalea, Knaphill & Exbury hybrids | Rhododendron hybrida | 5-8 | E | 6 to 8' | Partial shade | Excellent for naturalizing; resemble Flame azaleas |
| Azalea, Florida | Rhododendron austrinum | 6-9 | D | 10 to 12' | Partial shade | Yellow to gold flowers in spring |
| Azalea, Flame | Rhododendron calendulaceum | 5-7 | D | 4 to 8' | Partial shade | Excellent for naturalistic setting; native to western N.C.; yellow, orange, scarlet flowers in late spring |
| Azalea, Plumleaf | Rhododendron prunifolium | 5-8 | D | 8 to 12' | Partial shade | Scarlet flowers in late summer; native; cultivars: Cherry-Bomb, Coral Glow, Lewis Shortt, Peach Glow |
| Azalea, Southern Indica hybrids | Rhododendron indica | 7-8 | E | 6 to 12' | Sun to shade | Many cultivars; large flowers; buds hardy to 20°F |
| Azalea, Pinxterbloom | Rhododendron periclymenoides | 4-8 | D | 5 to 8' | Partial shade | Size varies with habitat; native; fragrant, pale-pink flowers in late spring |
| Azalea, Dwarf Indica (Gumpo) | Rhododendron eriocarpum | 6-8 | E | 2 to 3' | Partial shade | Can be used as a ground cover |
| Beautybush | Kolkwitzia amabilis | 4-8 | D | 6 to 10' | Sun | Pink flowers in summer |
| Buckeye, Bottlebrush | Aesculus parviflora | 4-8 | D | 8 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in summer; golden yellow fall foliage |
| Butterfly bush | Buddlei davidii | 6-8 | D | 5 to 10' | Sun | Excellent summer flowering shrub; flowers on new growth |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | 5-10 | D | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in summer; moist to wet soil; yellow fall foliage |
| Chastetree | Vitex agnus-cactus | 6-9 | D | 10 to 15' | Sun to partial shade | Large shrub or small tree; flowers in summer; 'Alba' (white), 'Rosea' (pink) |
| Lilac, Korean | Syringa oblata var. dilatata | 6-8 | D | 10 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | Most heat-tolerant lilac; attractive fall color |
| Lilac, Persian | Syringa x persica | 3-7 | D | 4 to 8' | Sun to partial shade | Spring flowering; fragrant; smaller and more heat tolerant than S. vulgaris |
| Lilac, Common | Syringa vulgaris | 3-7 | D | 10 to 15' | Sun to partial shade | Good spring-flowering shrub; very fragrant; hundreds of cultivars |
| New Jersey tea | Ceanothus americanus | 4-8 | D | 3 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Long lasting creamy white to light pink flowers in summer; drought tolerant |
| Mountain pepperbush | Clethra acuminata | 5-8 | D | 15 to 20' | Sun to partial shade | Fragrant white flowers in early summer; golden fall foliage |
| Quince, Flowering | Chaenomeles speciosa | 4-8 | D | 6 to 10' | Sun to partial shade | Scarlet, red, pink, white flowers in early spring |
| Quince, Japanese flowering | Chaenomeles japonica | 5-8 | D | 2 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Orange-red, red, scarlet flowers in early spring |
| Rhododendron, Carolina | Rhododendron carolinianum | 6-7 | E | 6 to 8' | Partial shade | Good for mass planting; 'Album' white flowers |
| Rhododendron, Catawba | Rhododendron catawbiense | 4-8 | E | 6 to 10' | Partial shade | Often becomes leggy when grown in unfavorable locations; many cultivars available; rose-lilac flowers in midspring |
| Rose-of-Sharon | Hibiscus syriacus | 5-8 | D | 8 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | Showy summer flowers; cultivars: Aphrodite (rose), Diana (white), Helene (white/purple), Minerva (lavender) |
| Strawberry bush | Euonymus americanus | 6-9 | D | 4 to 6' | Partial shade | Raspberry-orange berries in fall; lime green fall foliage |
| Sweet pepperbush; Clethra | Clethra alnifolia | 3-9 | D | 3 to 10' | Partial shade | Fragrant flowers mid to late summer; gold fall color; prefers moist to damp soil |
| Weigela | Weigela florida | 5-9 | D | 6 to 9' | Sun | Flowers late spring; white, pink, red cultivars |
| Yucca; Spanish Dagger | Yucca gloriosa | 6-9 | E | 6 to 8' | Sun | Gray-green foliage; spine-tipped leaves; large white flowers in summer |
Prepared by: Erv Evans,
Consumer Horticulturist
© 2002-2005 NC State University
Images © by Erv Evans
