Common Name Scientific Name
Hardiness Zone
Groupa
Growth Rate
Exposure
Texture
Form
Heightb Spread
Landscape Remarks
Apricot, Flowering Prunus mume 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; dense, twiggy growth 10 to 20' 10 to 20' Single or double flowers in late winter/early spring
Birch, European white Betula pendula 6, 7 D Rapid Sun Fine Slender; rounded; pendulous, graceful branches 25 to 40' 10 to 15' White bark; short-lived; difficult to transplant.
Chastetree Vitex agnus-castus 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Oval 15 to 20' 10 to 15' Can be grown as a shrub; pink, purple flowers in summer.
Cherry, Japanese Prunus serrulata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright with spreading branches 15 to 25' 15 to 20' Excellent for spring color; Kwanzan is popular cultivar.
Cherry, Okame Prunus x incamp 'Okame' 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Rounded to oval crown 20 to 30' 20 to 30' Rosey pink blooms in early spring.
Cherry, Autumn blooming Prunus subhirtella ''Autumnalis' 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded crown; upright branching 20 to 40' 15 to 20' Flowers in fall, winter, and early spring; rose buds open to soft pink single to semidouble flowers.
Cherry, Yoshino Prunus x yedoensis 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to light shade Medium Rounded habit; arching spread 20 to 40' 20 to 30' Excellent floral display; double flowers; cultivars: Afterglow, Akebono, Pink Shell.
Crabapples Malus spp. 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Round to spreading crown 15 to 25' 10 to 20' Very showy for short period in spring; some cultivars have ornamental fruit; plant only disease-resistant cultivars.
Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica and hybrids 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Multi-trunk; rounded crown; dense branching 8 to 30' 6 to 15' Showy display of flowers in summer; excellent fall color.
Crape myrtle, Japanese
Lagerstroemia fauriei 		6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Multi-trunk; rounded crown 20 to 30' 10 to 15' Small, white flowers; cold hardy; excellent bark coloration; cultivars: Fantasy (JC Raulston Arboretum introduction), Townhouse.
Cryptomeria, Lobbii Cryptomera japonica 'Lobbii' 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun Medium Pyramidal 20 to 40' 10 to 15' Needles held close to twigs; turns brown in winter; cultivars: Elegans (15 to 20'), Yoshino (30 to 50'), Compacta (40'), Elegans Aurea (15 to 20').
Cypress, Italian Cupressus sempervirens 7, 8 E Moderate Sun Medium to fine Very upright; slender 20 to 30' 3 to 5' Blue-green columar plant; use as accent.
Dogwood, Flowering Cornus florida 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Partial shade Medium Semi-rounded top; horizontal branches 15 to 30' 15 to 20' Best form and flowers in light shade; many cultivars: white (Cherokee Princess), red (Sweetwater, Cherokee Chief, Red Beauty), variegated foliage (Rainbow); dwarf (Pygmy).
Dogwood, Kousa Cornus kousa 6, 7 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Horizontal branching 10 to15' 8 to 10' Flowers appear before leaves; resistant to anthracnose; cultivars: Milky Way, Milky Way Select, Gold Star, Wolf Eyes.
Dogwood, Stellar series Cornus hybrids 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Horizontal branching 15 to 30' 15 to 20' Crosses between Corus florida and C. kousa: Stardust, Stellar Pink, Celestial, Ruth Ellen, Constellation, Aurora.
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus cinerea 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Medium Upright, horizontal branches 15 to 60' 10 to 15' Blue-green foliage; not reliably cold hardy, but often comes back from the ground.
Euscaphis Euscaphis japonica 6, 7, 8 D - Sun - - 20' 10 to 15' Cherry-red, heart-shaped fruit produced in late summer; a JC Raulston Arboretum introduction.
Franklinia Franklinia alatamaha 6, 7, 8 D Medium Sun to light shade Medium Upright; spreading branches 10 to 20' 6 to 15' White flowers in October; do not plant where cotton has been grown; difficult to transplant.
Fringe tree; Old man's beard Chionanthus virginicus 6, 7, 8 D Slow to medium Sun to partial shade Coarse Irregular; spreading, open 12 to 20' 12 to 20' Large shrub to small tree; white fragrant flowers in May.
Fringe tree, Chinese Chionanthus retusus 6, 7, 8 D Medium Sun to partial shade Coarse Rounded 15 to 25' 10 to 20' White flowers.
Golden chain tree Laburnum anagyroides 6, 7 D Slow Sun Fine Upright, sparsely branched 25 to 30' 10 to 15' Yellow flowers; short-lived.
Golden-rain tree Koelreuteria paniculata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright, irregular 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Yellow flowers; interesting seed pods.
Chinese flame tree; Chinese golden-rain tree Koelreuteria bipinnata 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Irregular, spreading crown 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Yellow flowers; rose-pink seed pods.
Hawthorn, Washington Crataegus phaenopyrum 6, 7, 8 D Rapid when young Sun Medium to fine Dense; compact; upright, rounded crown 25 to 30' 20 to 25' Berries persist through winter; orange to scarlet fall color; disease prone.
Holly, American Ilex opaca 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; conical 15 to 30' 10 to 20' Must have both sexes for berry production; native; 'Howard' has few spines; 'Croonenburg' is more upright, narrower.
Holly, Carolina Sentinel Ilex x 'Carolina Sentinel' 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium Upright; dense 20 to 25' More narrow and dense than Nellie R. Stevens; excellent for a hedge; good crop of red berries; moisture tolerant; a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection.
Holly, Dahoon Ilex cassine 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Fine Dense branches 20 to 30' 10 to15' Somewhat shrubby; red berries; gray bark; 'Angustifolia' has narrower leaves.
Holly, Foster's Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri' 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Upright; pyramidal; compact 20 to 30' 7 to 10' Heavy berry production; cultivars: 'Savannah' (fast grower, good berry production), Foster No. 2 (darker green, narrow leaves), East Palatka (spines on end of leaf) Hume No. 2 (smaller leaves).
Holly, Lusterleaf Ilex latifolia 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal 20 to 25' Shiny leaves; requires male plant to produce berries; cultivar: Mary Nell.
Holly, Nellie R. Stevens Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens' 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Dense; upright; pyramidal 15 to 25' 10 to 15' Vigorous; drought tolerant; pollination by I. cornuta.
Holly, Decidious hybrids Ilex hybrids 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Varies with cultivar 6 to 12'
4 to 6'		 Cultivars from crosses between I. verticillata and Ilex serrata.
(Holly), Possumhaw Ilex decidua 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Loose; rounded 20 to 30' 7 to 15' Native; usually pollinated by I. opaca; cultivars: Warren Red (20', heavy berry set), Sundance (7', orange-red berries), Sentry (20'), Byer's Golden.
Holly, Winterberry Ilex verticillata 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Oval-rounded Varies with cultivar Prefers moist, organic soil; produces small berries on female plants; cultivars: Sunset (8'), Winter Red (9'), Nana (5'), Winter Gold.
Ironwood; Musclewood Carpinus caroliniana 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Loose, rounded; horizontal branches 20 to 30' 20 to 30' Native; good street tree; sculptural appearance of trunk.
Laurel, Carolina cherry Prunus caroliniana 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Medium Dense, rounded head 20 to 40' 15 to 20' Excellent green foliage; black fruit attracts birds; cultivar: Bright 'N Tight.
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica 7b, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Short, slender trunk; dense head 10 to 20' 8 to 10' Accent plant; cold sensitive.
Magnolia, Little Gem Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' 7, 8 E Slow Sun Coarse Upright; dense 15 to 20' 8 to 10' Dwarf cultivar of southern magnolia.
Magnolia, Saucer Magnolia x soulangiana 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Upright; irregular 15 to 25' 15 to 25' Plant late-flowering cultivars to avoid frost damage; cultivars: Ann Betty, Ballerina.
Magnolia, Star Magnolia stella 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun Medium Dense oval to rounded 15 to 20' 10 to 15' Cultivars: Royal Star, Rubra.
Maple, Japanese Acer palmatum 6, 7, 8 D Slow Partial shade Medium to fine Low; dense rounded top; spreading branches 15 to 25' 10 to 15' Numerous cultivars.
Maple, Japanese lanceleaf Acer palmatum var. dissectum 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Fine Varies with cultivar; most are rounded; spreading Varies with cultivar; most are 6 to 8' Numerous cultivars.
Maple, Trident Acer buergeranum 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Upright rounded crown 25 to 35' 20 to 30' Tolerant of wind, salt, drought, air pollution, and soil compaction.
Mimosa Albizia julibrissin 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Fine Spreading; low; fairly open 20 to 30' 25 to 30' Short-lived; good summer color; attracts hummingbirds; 'Charlotte' and 'Tryon' are disease resistant.
Mountain ash, European Sorbus aucuparia 6, 7 D Rapid Sun Fine Slender trunk; branches curve up 25 to 30' 20 to 25' Showy red-orange fruit in late summer; short-lived; not heat tolerant.
Mountain ash, Korean Sorbus alnifolia 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Pyramidal 30 to 40' 20' Bright orange fall color; cherry-red to vermillion berries; less susceptibility to pest and disease than other Sorbus; cultivar: Redbird, Skyline.
Mulberry, Contorted Morus australis 'Unryo' 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Contorted; rounded 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Long, thick, contorted branches.
Nectarine, Weeping 'White Glory' Prunus persica var. nucipersica 'White Glory' 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Weeping, arching habit 10 to 15' 15' Release from NC State; white flowers in early spring.
Palm, Cabbage Sabal palmetto 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium Palm 20 to 30' 10 to 15' Not hardy in piedmont or mountains.
Palm, Windmill Trachycarpus fortunei 8 E Rapid Partial shade Coarse Palm 15 to 35' 10 to 15' Needs wind protection.
Peach Prunus persica 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Spreading; open 10 to 20' 10 to 15' Many cultivars for excellent fruiting; ornamental cultivars with white, pink, red flowers.
Peach, Corinthian series
Prunus persica hybrids		 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Upright 20 to 25'
10'		 NC State releases; large, double flowers; produces nonedible fruit.
Pear, Callery Pyrus calleryana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright, conical shape 20 to 40' 20 to 30' White, spring flowers.
Persian parrotia Parrotia persica 6, 7, 8 D Modearte Sun Medium Upright branching; rounded to oval habit 20 to 30' 15 to 30' Bark peels to reveal silver, green and cinnamon colors; fall color is excellent (yellow-gold, pumpkin-orange, crimson).
Pine, Austrian Pinus nigra 6, 7 E Moderate Sun Medium Conical; semi round top 20 to 40' 12 to 20' Picturesque with age.
Pistache, Chinese
Pistacia chinensis		 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium to fine Oval ; rounded 25 to 40' 25 to 35' Excellent red, yellow, or orange fall color; drought tolerant.
Plum, Purple leaf Prunus cerasifera 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Vase-shape; dense foliage 15 to 25' 10 to 15' Foliage of 'Atropurpurea' is purple from spring to fall.
Pussy-willow Salix caprea 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; shrubby; multi trunk 12 to 25' 8 to 15' Tolerant of adverse conditions; short lived.
Redbud, Chinese Cercis chinensis 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Upright; shrubby 8 to 15' 6 to 8' Small, erect, multistemmed shrub/tree; recommened cultivar: Avondale.
Redbud, Eastern Cercis canadensis 6, 7, 8 D Slow to moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Dense; rounded 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Early flowers; drought tolerant.
Redbud, Oklahoma Cercis canadensis ssp. retisus 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Dense; rounded 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Glossy foliage; profusion of flowers; cultivars: Oklahoma, Texas White.
Rhamnella Rhamnella franguloides 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Rounded 20 to 25' Fruit changes color as it develops in summer; show stopping, clear gold fall color; soil tolerant.
Serviceberry Amelanchier spp. 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; irregular; graceful 10 to 20' 8 to 15' Blooms just before dogwoods; white flowers; good fall color.
Serviceberry, Apple Amelanchier x grandiflora 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; irregular; graceful 20 to 30' 15 to 20' Hybrid cultivars between A. arborea and A. laevis.
Silverbell, Carolina Halesia carolina 6, 7 D Moderate Shade Medium to coarse Rounded; open; irregular 20 to 40' 15 to 20' Multi-trunk tree; H. tetraptera var. ruba is pink; H. tetraptera var. magniflora has two wings.
Smoketree Cotinus coggygria 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Open, irregular, shrubby 10 to 15' 8 to 14' Produces smoke-like flowers; cultivars: Daydream, Royal Purple, Nordine Red, Purple Splendor, Velvet Cloak.
Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to shade Medium Slender trunk; upright branches 20 to 30' 10 to 15' Excellent native tree; white flowers in summer; red fall color.
Stewartia, Japanese Stewartia pseudocamellia 6, 7 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal to oval 20 to 40' Brilliant fall color (yellow, red, purple); white flowers in July; red bark in summer.
Stewartia, Tall Stewartia monadelpha 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal; rounded 20 to 25' Cinnamon brown, smooth trunk; heat tolerant; white flowers in June.
Styrax; Japanese snowbell Styrax japonica 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Rounded to broad crown 20 to 30' 20 to 30' White flowers in May-June.
Witchhazel, hybrid Hamamelis x intermedia, H. x media 6, 7, 8 D Slow to moderate Sun to partial shade Coarse Graceful, broadly spreading 15 to 20' 8 to 10' Late winter flowers; good fall color; cultivars: Orange Beauty, Sunburst, Arnold Promise, Ruby Glow, Primavera.
Willow, Corkscrew Salix matsudana var. tortuosa 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Contorted 20 to 40' Curled and contorted twigs and branches; short-lived.

a E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous.
b Size will vary with age, growing conditions, and cultivars.

Prepared by: Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturist, NC State University

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