Small Shrubs (1 to 4 feet) for North Carolina
|
Common
Name
|
Scientific
Name
|
Hardiness
Zone
|
Groupa
|
Growth
Rateb
|
Exposure
|
Texture
|
Form
|
Height
|
Spread
|
Landscape
Remarks
|
| Abelia, Prostrate & Sherwood | Abelia x grandiflora cvs. | 6, 7, 8 |
Semi-E
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Irregular to oval | 3 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Dwarf forms of Abelia x grandiflora. |
| Aucuba, Dwarf | Aucuba japonica 'Nana' | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Shade | Coarse | Upright; rounded | 2 to 3' | 3 to 4' | Excellent, shade-loving dwarf plant. |
| Azalea, Dwarf Indica (Gumpo) | Rhododendron eriocarpum | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow to moderate | Partial shade | Fine | Rounded | 1 to 2' | 1 to 2' | Late flowering; can be used as ground cover. |
| Azalea, Kurume | Rhododendron obtusum | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Partial shade | Medium | Dense; twiggy | 2 to 4' | 2 to 5' | Early blooming; dependable. |
| Azalea, Satsuki | Rhododendron hybrida | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Partial shade | Medium to fine | Compact; rounded | 2 to 4' | 2 to 4' | Late blooming; large flowers; can be used as a ground cover. |
| Barberry, Red Japanese | Berberis thunbergii var. 'atropurpurea' | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Moderate | Sun | Medium to fine | Rounded | 3 to 6' | 4 to 6' | 'Crimson Pygmy'; dependable. |
| Barberry, Warty | Berberis verruculosa | 6, 7 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Compact; rounded | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Spreading branches; bronze winter color. |
| Beautyberry | Callicarpa dichotoma | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Rapid | Sun to partial shade | Medium | Arching branches | 3 to 4' | 4 to 6' | Violet-pink berries; C. albifructus has white berries. |
| Boxwood, English | Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Very slow | Partial shade | Fine | Rounded | 2 to 4' | 2 to 4' | True dwarf English boxwood; requires excellent drainage. |
| Bowood, Korean | Buxus microphylla var. 'koreana' | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to shade | Fine | Open, rounded mound | 3 to 4' | 4 to 6' | Most hardy of boxwoods; bronze colored foliage in winter. |
| Boxwood, Littleleaf | Buxus microphylla | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Partial shade | Medium to fine | Compact; rounded | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | 'Compacta' useful for low hedge. |
| Cotoneaster, Bearberry | Cotoneaster dammeri | 6, 7, 8 |
E to semi-E
|
Moderate | Sun | Fine | Spreading | 1 to 2' | 3 to 5' | White flowers; red fruit; good for groundcover. |
| Cotoneaster, Rockspray | Cotoneaster horizontalis | 6, 7, 8 |
Semi-E to
D
|
Slow | Sun | Fine | Spreading | 2 to 3' | 4 to 8' | Good rock garden plant. |
| Daphne, Winter | Daphne odora | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow to moderate | Sun to shade | Medium | Rounded | 3 to 4' | 2 to 3' | Flowers in late winter; very aromatic; needs good drainage. |
| Deutzia, Slender | Deutzia gracilis | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Medium to fine | Compact; Rounded | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Very adaptable to adverse conditions. |
| English laurel, Dwarf | Prunus laurocerasus cvs. | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Sun to shade | Medium | Compact; spreading | 3 to 4' | 5 to 6' | 'Otto Luyken' and 'Zabeliana' are dwarf forms of English laurel. |
| Euonymus, Dwarf Japanese | Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' | 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Sun to shade | Medium to fine | Upright; rounded | 2 to 3' | 1 to 3' | Used for edging, border; very susceptible to scale insects. |
| Fothergilla, Dwarf | Fothergilla gardenii | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Coarse | Rounded; informal | 2 to 3' | 3 to 4' | Requires good drainage; white, spring flowers; excellent fall color. |
| Gardenia, Creeping | Gardenia jasminoides ''Radicans' | 8 |
E
|
Slow | Partial shade | Medium to fine | Spreading | 1 to 2' | 2 to 3' | White, fragrant flowers; can be used as a ground cover. |
| Hawthorn, Indian | Rhaphiolepsis x Delacourii | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to shade | Medium to coarse | Open; spreading; irregular | 3 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Excellent coastal landscape plant; several cultivars available; white pink spring flowers. |
| Holly, Carissa | Ilex cornuta 'Carissa' | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Coarse | Compact; rounded | 3 to 4' | 4 to 6' | Excellent formal shrub for grouping, accent. |
| Holly, Dwarf Chinese | Ilex cornuta ''Rotunda' | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Coarse | Rounded; spreading | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Requires little care; very spiney foliage. |
| Holly, Dwarf yaupon | Ilex vomitora 'Nana' | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow to moderate | Sun to shade | Fine | Dense; symmetrical | 3 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Excellent for eastern N.C. |
| Holly, Japanese cultivars | Ilex crenata cvs. | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to shade | Medium to fine | Dense; rounded | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Cultivars: Stokes, Helleri, Tiny Tim, Repandens, Carefree. |
| Hydrangea, Annabelle | Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Coarse | Upright; loose; open mounds | 3 to 6' | 3 to 5' | Large, white summer flowers; very hardy. |
| Hydrangea, Pia | Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pia' | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Moderate | Partial shade to shade | Coarse | Rounded | 2 to 3' | Deep pink 4 to 5" flowers most of the summer; dried bloom heads are attractive; a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection. | |
| Jasmine, Showy | Jasminum floridum | 7b, 8 |
Semi-E
|
Slow to moderate | Sun | Fine | Weeping | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Yellow flowers in winter. |
| Jasmine, Winter | Jasminum nudiflorum | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Moderate | Sun to shade | Medium | Low; spreading | 2 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Yellow flowers in winter. |
| Juniper, Creeping | Juniperus horizontalis cvs. | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate to rapid | Sun | Fine | Low; spreading | 1 to 2' | 3 to 4' | Cultivars: Plumosa, Compacta, P.C. Youngstown. |
| Juniper, Parsons | Juniperus davurica 'Expansa' | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Dense; low | 2 to 3' | 4 to 7' | Long slender branches; good for coastal areas. |
| Juniper, Prostrate | Juniperus communis 'Depressa' | 6, 7 |
E
|
Moderate to rapid | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Dwarf; spreading | 2 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Withstands drought and poor soil. |
| Juniper, Shore | Juniperus conferta | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Sun | Fine | Spreading | 1 to 2' | 4 to 5' | Emerald Sea, Blue Pacific are improved cultivars. |
| Laurel, Alexandrian | Danae racemosa | 7b, 8 |
E
|
Slow to moderate | Shade | Fine | Arching stems | 3' | 2 to 3' | Elegant evergreen shrub with showy, orange-red berries. |
| Leucothoe, Coastal | Leucothoe axillaris | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Shade | Medium | Arching stems | 3 to 4' | 4 to 5' | Needs high moisture. |
| Leucothoe, Drooping | Leucothoe fontanesiana | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Shade | Medium to coarse | Arching stems | 3 to 4' | 4 to 6' | Cultivars: Nana, dwarf form; Girard's Rainbow, new growth is pink and white. |
| Ligustrum, Curlyleaf | Ligustrum japonicum 'Rotundifolium' | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Sun to partial shade | Medium | Upright; columnar | 3 to 4' | 3' | Lustrous dark green foliage. |
| Mahonia, Oregon holly-grape | Mahonia aquifolium | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Partial shade to shade | Coarse to medium | Informal; irregular | 3 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Upright stems; broadly clumped; yellow flowers in early spring. |
| Mugo pine, Dwarf | Pinus mugo 'Compacta' | 6, 7 |
E
|
Slow | Sun | Fine | Compact; globe shaped | 3 to 4' | 2 to 4' | Use grafted plants for true dwarf form. |
| Nandina, Dwarf | Nandina domestica cvs. | 6, 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow to moderate | Sun to partial shade | Medium to fine | Upright | 1 to 2' | 1 to 2' | Cultivars: Atropurpea, Nana, Harbour Dwarf, Harbor Dwarf, Fire Power. |
| Skimmia, Japanese | Skimmia japonica | 7, 8 |
E
|
Slow | Partial shade to shade | Medium | Dense; rounded; mound | 4' | 3' | Excellent foliage; showy red fruit on female plants. |
| Spirea, Snowmound | Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound' | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Rapid | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Mounded | 3 to 5' | 4 to 5' | White flowers in early spring; bluish-green foliage. |
| Spirea, Thunberg | Spirea thunbergii | 7, 8 |
D
|
Moderate | Sun to partial shade | Fine | Spreading | 3 to 4' | 3 to 5' | Very early blooming spirea; requires pruning to maintain neat appearance. |
| Quince, Japanese Flowering | Chaenomeles japonica | 6, 7, 8 |
D
|
Rapid | Sun to partial shade | Medium | Open; spreading | 3 to 4' | 3 to 4' | Flowers in early spring. |
| Viburnum, David | Viburnum davidii | 8 |
E
|
Moderate | Sun to partial shade | Coarse to medium | Compact; rounded | 3 to 5' | 3 to 5' | Good dwarf viburnum; blue fruit on female plants. |
a E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous
b Growth rate will vary with cultivar, weather, and site conditions.
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Consumer Horticulture | Quick Reference © Erv Evans, Consumer
Horticulturalist |