|
| Common name | Scientific name | Zones | Habit | Size | Exposure | Comments |
| Abelia, Glossy | Abelia x grandiflora | 6-9 | Semi-E | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | White to pink 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 | Semi-E | 5 to 7' | Sun to partial shade | White to pink flowers all summer |
| 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, 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, Knaphill; Exbury hybrids | Rhododendron hybrida | 5-8 | E | 6 to 8' | Partial shade | Excellent for naturalizing; resemble Flame azaleas |
| Azalea, Dwarf Indica (Gumpo) | Rhododendron eriocarpum | 6-8 | E | 2 to 3' | Partial shade | Can be used as a ground cover |
| 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, Florida | Rhododendron austrinum | 6-9 | D | 10 to 12' | Partial shade | Yellow to gold flowers in spring |
| Azalea, Pinxterbloom | Rhododendron periclymenoides | 4-8 | D | 5 to 8' | Partial shade | Size varies with habitat; native; fragrant, pale-pink flowers in late spring |
| Azaleas: Satsuki, Kurume, Glen Dale | Rhododendron hybrida | 5-9 | E | 2 to 6' | Partial shade | Numerous cultivars |
| Blue mist shrub | Caryopteris x clandonensis | 6-9 | D | 2 to 3' | Sun | Bright blue flowers in summer |
| Butterfly bush | Buddleia davidi | 6-8 | D | 5 to 10' | Sun | Excellent summer flowering shrub; flowers on new growth |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | 5-9 | D | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in summer; moist to wet soil |
| Chaste tree | Vitex agnus-castus | 6-8 | D | 10 to 15' | Sun to partial shade | Large shrub or small tree; flowers in summer |
| Cinquefoil | Potentilla spp. | 2-7 | D | 1 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Yellow flowers summer to fall; tolerates poor soil |
| Devil's walking stick; Hercules' club | Aralia spinosa | 4-9 | D | 10 to 20' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in summer |
| Indigo bush | Amorpha fruiticosa | 4-9 | D | 6 to 15' | Sun | Deep purple flowers; range of soil types |
| Itea | Itea virginica | 5-9 | D to semi-E | 3 to 5' | Sun to partial shade | Fragrant white flowers in summer |
| Jasmine, Winter | Lonicera nudiflorum | 6-9 | D | 3 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Yellow flowers winter to spring |
| Leadplant | Amorpha canescens | 2-8 | D | 1 to 3' | Sun | Violet flowers in summer; drought tolerant |
| Lilac, Common | Syringa vulgaris | 3-7 | D | 10 to 15' | Sun to partial shade | Good spring-flowering shrub; very fragrant; hundreds of cultivars |
| 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, Korean | Syringa oblata var. dilatata | 6-8 | D | 10 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | Most heat-tolerant lilac; attractive fall color |
| Loropetalum | Loropetalum chinense | 7-8 | E | 6 to 10' | Sun | White flowers in spring |
| Mockorange | Philadelphus coronarius | 4-8 | D | 10 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in May |
| Mountain laurel | Kalmia latifolia | 6-8 | E | 4 to 6' | Partial shade | Native to many areas of N.C.; good for naturalizing; white to pink spring flowers |
| New Jersey tea | Ceanothus americanus | 4-8 | D | 3 to 4' | Sun to shade | Prefers light well drained soil; drought tolerant; white flowers in summer |
| Privet | Ligustrum spp. | 6-9 | E | 12 to 25' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in spring; blue black fruit |
| Pussy willow | Salix discolor | 5-8 | D | 15 to 25' | Sun to partial shade | Silvery gray catkins in late winter to early spring |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron spp. | 4-8 | E | 6 to 10' | Partial shade | Flowers in late spring to early summer |
| Russian olive | Eleagnus angustifolia | 2-7 | D | 12 to 15' | Sun | Drought and salt tolerant |
| Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | 4-9 | D | 6 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | Moist, well drained soil; yellow flowers in spring |
| Spirea | Spirea spp. | 3-8 | D | 2 to 9' | Sun to partial shade | White or pink flowers in spring or summer (depends on species) |
| Sumac, Shinning | Rhus chinensis | 5-7 | D | 15 to 24' | Sun | Yellowish white flowers in summer |
| Sumac, Winged | Rhus copallia | 4-9 | D | 20 to 30' | Sun | Greenish yellow flowers in summer |
| Sweet pepperbush | Clethra alnifolia | 4-9 | D | 4 to 8' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in summer; moist soil |
| Viburnum, Walter's | Viburnum obovatum | 6-9 | D | 10 to 12' | Sun to partial shade | White flowers in spring |
| Viburnum, Mapleleaf | Viburnum acerifolium | 4-8 | D | 4 to 6' | Sun to shade | Yellowish white flowers in spring |
| Weigela | Weigela florida | 5-9 | D | 6 to 8' | Sun | Good border plant; flowers late spring; white, pink, red cultivars |
| Witchhazel, Vernal | Hamamelis vernalis | 4-8 | D | 6 to 10' | Sun to partial shade | Yellow to red flowers late winter to early spring |
| Yucca; Spanish Dagger | Yucca gloriosa | 7-8 | 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
