Common Name
Scientific Name
Hardiness Zone
Groupa
Growth Rateb
Exposure
Texture
Form
Heightb
Landscape/Remarks
Spread
Anise shrub, Hardy Illicium parviflorum 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Open; rounded 7 to 14'
8 to 10' 		Fragrant, light green foliage; small creamy yellow flowers in late spring; soil and moisture tolerant
Azalea, Plumleaf Rhododendron prunifolium 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Partial shade Medium Spreading; open 8 to 12' Scarlet flowers in late summer; native; cultivars: Cherry-Bomb, Coral Glow, Lewis Shortt, Peach Glow.
Azalea, Southern Indica hybrids Rhododendron indica 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium Spreading 6 to 12'
6 to 8'		 Many cultivars; large flowers; buds hardy to 20°F.
Banana shrub Michelia figo 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; dense 6 to 10'
6 to 8'		 Fragrant pinkish flowers in late spring; specimen plant for coastal N.C.
Boxwood, Tree Buxus sempervirens 'Arborescens' 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Fine Upright; conical 8 to 12'
8 to 10'		 Good screen for large areas.
Butterfly bush Buddleia davidii 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Open; irregular; rambling 5 to 10' 8 to 10' Excellent summer flowering shrub; flowers on new growth.
Camellia Camellia japonica 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Partial shade Medium Upright; pyramidal 8 to 12' 5 to 7' Numerous cultivars; flowers winter/spring.
Camellia, Hybrids Camellia hybrids 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Varies (upright to rounded) Varies Increased winter hardiness; cultivars
Camellia, Tea-oil Camellia oleifera 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; informal 10 to 15' Cold hardy to -10°F; white and gold flowers in fall/winter.
Chastetree Vitex agnuscastus 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Open, irregular 10 to 15'
8 to 10'		 Large shrub or small tree; flowers in summer; 'Alba' (white), 'Rosea' (pink).
Chokeberry, Red Aronia arbutifolia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Multi stemmed 6 to 10' 10' White to pink flowers in spring; scarlet and wine-red fall color; bright crimson berry in fall/winter; cultivar: Brilliantissima.
Cleyera Ternstroemia gymnanthera 7, 8 E Moderate Partial shade Medium Upright; billowing 8 to 10' 5 to 7' Excellent for coastal areas of N.C.; salt tolerant; often sold as Cleyera japonica.
Deutzia, Fuzzy Deutzia scabra 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Coarse Tall; erect 6 to 10' 4 to 8' Arching branches; pink flowers late spring; Pride of Rochester popular old cultivar.
Elaeagnus, Thorny Elaeagnus pungens 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Spreading; dense; pendulous branches 8 to 12' 6 to 10' Fragrant flowers in fall; spring fruited; attracts birds.
Enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus 6, 7 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Narrow; upright; layered branches 12 to 15' Creamy-white flowers in spring; excellent fall color; smooth bark; cultivars and varieties: Red Bells, Albiflorus, Renior, Showy Lantern.
Fringe tree Chionanthus virginicus 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Coarse Rounded; spreading top 10 to 12'
8 to 10'		 Large shrub or small tree; difficult to transplant; white fragrant flowers mid to late spring; gold fall foliage.
Holly, Chinese Ilex cornuta 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Upright; rounded; dense 8 to 15' 5 to 7' Use as small tree or hedge; Burford most popular cultivar; heavy fruit set.
Holly, English Ilex aquifolium 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Irregular; loose with age 8 to 12' 7 to 12' Need male and female for red berries; hedge material.
Holly, Japanese Ilex crenata 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Semiglobular 10 to 12' 3 to 5' Many cultivars available; screening, hedge material.
Holly, Lusterleaf Ilex latifolia 7, 8 E Moderate Partial shade Coarse Dense; rounded 8 to 12' 7 to 11' Excellent evergreen specimen or hedge; 'Mary Nell' has heavy set of red fruit.
Holly, Perny Ilex x aquipernyi 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal 9 to 12' 4 to 6' Tall, showy holly shrub; beautiful berries; 'Brilliant', 'San Jose' female clones.
Holly, Yaupon Ilex vomitoria 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Sun to shade Medium to fine Upright; semiglobular 10 to 20' 8 to 12' Use for background or naturalizing; 'Pendula' weeping form.
Honeysuckle, Winter Lonicera fragrantissima 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Globe; arching branches 6 to 12' 6 to 8' Fragrant, white, winter flowers; screening plant.
Hydrangea, Peegee Hydrangea paniculata 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Rounded; loose 8 to 20' 6 to 8' Can be grown as tree; white summer flowers fade to pinkish-rose.
Laurel, English Prunus laurocerasus 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium to coarse Upright; slightly open 10 to 12' 8 to 11' Good screen for shaded areas; dwarf cultivars available.
Lilac Syringa vulgaris 6, 7 D Rapid Sun Medium to coarse Upright; stiff ascending branches 10 to 15' 8 to 10' Good spring-flowering shrub; very fragrant; hundreds of cultivars.
Lilac, Korean Syringa oblata var. dilatata 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Upright 10 to 12' Most heat-tolerant lilac; attractive fall color.
Lilac, Persian Syringa x persica 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Global 4 to 8' 5 to 10' Spring flowering; fragrant; smaller and more heat tolerant than S. vulgaris.
Ligustrum, Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Coarse Erect; oval head 6 to 10' 5 to 6' Large evergreen; tolerant of adverse conditions; white flowers in late spring.
Ligustrum, Variegated Ligustrum sinense 'variegatum' 7, 8 Semi E Rapid Sun Fine Rounded 6 to 12' 4 to 8' Green and white leaves; more yellowish in winter.
Ligustrum, Waxleaf privet Ligustrum lucidum 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Coarse Spreading, irregular 8 to 12' 15 to 25' Excellent screening plant; tolerates severe pruning; white flowers in early summer; blackish fruit.
Loropetalum Loropetalum chinense 7b, 8 E Rapid Sun Medium to fine Irregular to rounded 6 to 10' 6 to 10' White flowers in spring; cultivars: Burgundy (magenta flowers, bronze-purple foliage), Blush (pink flowers).
Loropetalum, Pink Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Burgundy' 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Spreading; irregular; arching branches 15 to 20' 15 to 20' Medium burgundy leaves; hot-pink flowers in late spring and some during the summer; a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection.
Magnolia, Star Magnolia sellata 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun Medium Rounded mass 10 to 20' 10 to 15' Small, shrubby tree; early spring flowers; yellow fall color; cultivars: Royal Star, Waterlily, Centennial, Rosea.
Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; irregular branches 10 to 15' 8 to 10' Native coastal plant; extremely fragrant white flowers early summer; tolerates wet soil.
Oleander Nerium oleander 8 E Rapid Sun Fine to medium Rounded; upright 7 to 10' 6 to 9' Summer flowering; all plant parts are toxic; heat, drought and salt tolerant.
Osmanthus; Holly Osmanthus heterophyllus 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; irregular 6 to 12' 5 to 10' Fall flowering; very fragrant; several cultivars available.
Osmanthus, Fortune's Tea Olive Osmanthus x fortunei 7, 8 E Moderate Sun Medium Rounded; compact 9 to 12' 15 to 20' Excellent for screening.
Osmanthus, Sweet Osmanthus fragrans 7b, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; rounded 10 to 12' 10 to 14' Very fragrant, white flowers in fall.
Photinia, Chinese Photinia serrulata 7, 8 E Rapid sun Coarse Broadly oval 12 to 25' 12 to 20' Should not be used in small designs; can be a small tree; white flowers with offensive odor in mid-spring.
Photinia, Fraser Photinia x fraseri 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Medium Upright; slightly rounded 7 to 12' 5 to 8' Most popular photinia; 'Red Tip' is disease prone.
Photinia, Japanese Photinia glabra 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Medium Upright; loose 10 to 12' 4 to 5' Smallest of photinias; reddish new growth.
Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira 7b, 8 E Slow to moderate Sun to shade Medium Stiff branches; dense 8 to 10' 3 to 5' Fragrant white flowers in late spring; 'Variegata' leaf edged in white.
Podocarpus Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki 7b, 8 E Slow Sun to shade Fine Pyramidal; upright 8 to10'
3 to 5'		 Specimen, hedge, or screen.
Pomegranate Punica granatum 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Rounded 10 to 12' 10 to 12' Specimen; orange, red, yellow, or white flowers in summer.
Pyracantha, Formosa Pyracantha koidzumii 8 E to semi-E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Dense; irregular 8 to 12' 8 to 12' Orange berries in fall.
Pyracantha, Scarlet Pyracantha coccinea 6, 7 E Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Stiff, open branches 8 to 20' 8 to 20' Can become overgrown; more cold hardy than P. Koidzumii; red berries summer to fall; cultivars: Thornless, Aurea, Lalandei.
Pearlbush Exochorda racemosa 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; irregular 10 to 12' 8 to 10' White flowers in early spring; heat and drought tolerant.
Salt Cedar Tamarix ramosissima 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Fine Broad; spreading; airy 10 to 12' 9 to 11' Pink flowers; salt tolerant.
Sasanqua Camellia sasanqua 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright 7 to 12' 5 to 7' Numerous cultivars available; blooms in fall.
Tea plant Camellia sinensis 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium Rounded; open 6 to 12' 5 to 7' Good for screens, background; small white flowers; heat and drought tolerant.
Viburnum, Chindo Viburum awabuki 'Chindo' 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Medium Strong, upright branches 15' Great for hedges; moisture tolerant; white flowers; bright red fruit in fall/winter; a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection.
Viburnum, Doublefile Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Horizontal branches 8 to 10' 8 to 10' Handsome accent plant; white flowers in spring; red fruit in summer.
Viburnum, Leatherleaf Viburnum rhytidophyllum 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Shade to shade Coarse Upright 6 to 10' 5 to 7' Retains leaves in winter; excellent foliage character; protect from wind; red berries in late summer.
Viburnum, Linden Viburnum dilatatum 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; dense 6 to 9' 6 to 8' Showy red berries in fall.
Wax myrtle, Southern Myrica cerifera 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Irregular 10 to 15' 8 to 10' Excellent screening plant; aromatic foliage; native to southeastern N.C.; deer tolerant.
Witch hazel Hamamelis x intermedia 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to shade Coarse Round to vase, open 8 to 15' 7 to 14' Yellow, bronze, rose-pink flowers in late winter.

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

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