Medium Sized (4 to 8 feet) Shrubs for North Carolina

Common Name
Hardiness Zone
Groupa
Growth Rateb
Exposure
Texture
Form
Heightb
Spread
Landscape Remarks
Scientific Name
Abelia, Edward Goucher Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' 6, 7, 8 Semi-E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Semiglobal 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Tolerant of adverse conditions; white to pink summer flowers.
Althea, Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright 8 to 12' 6 to 10' Showy summer flowers; cultivars: Aphrodite (rose), Diana (white), Helene (white/purple), Minerva (lavender).
Andromeda, Mountain Pieris floribunda 6 E Slow Partial shade to shade Medium Oval 4 to 6' 3 to 4' Very cold hardy; good specimen plant.
Andromeda, Japanese Pieris japonica 6, 7, 8 E Slow Partial shade to shade Medium Upright; tight 4 to 8' 4 to 8' Flowers early spring; cultivars: Christmas Cheer (pink flowers), Mountain Fire (red new growth).
Anise tree, Florida Illicium floridanum 7, 8 E Moderate Partial shade to shade Medium Upright; much branched 6 to 10'   Large flowers; normally smaller plant than I. parviflorum; cultivars: Alba, Halley's Comet.
Azalea, Glenn Dale Rhododendron hybrida 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Partial shade Medium Upright or spreading 4 to 6' 3 to 4' Cold tolerant; many cultivars and colors.
Azalea, Kaempferi hybrids Rhododendron kaempferi 6, 7, 8 Semi-E to D Moderate Partial shade Medium Upright; open 4 to 9' 5 to 6' Easier, less demanding than Kurume azaleas; reddish-purple foliage in winter.
Azalea, Knaphill & Exbury hybrids Rhododendron hybrida 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Partial shade Medium Upright; loose 6 to 8' 8 to 10' Excellent for naturalizing; resemble Flame azaleas.
Azalea, Flame Rhododendron calendulaceum 6, 7 D Slow Partial shade Coarse Upright 4 to 8' 8 to 10' Excellent for naturalistic setting; native to western N.C.; yellow, orange, scarlet flowers in late spring.
Azalea, Pinxterbloom Rhododendron periclymenoides 6, 7, 8 D Slow Partial shade Medium Low, spreading branches 5 to 8' 4 to 6' Size varies with habitat; native; fragrant, pale-pink flowers in late spring.
Barberry, Mentor Berberis x mentorensis 6, 7, 8 D to semi-E Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; upright 4 to 6' 5 to 7' Withstands heat and drought; thorny stems.
Barberry, Wintergreen Berberis julianae 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Rounded; dense 4 to 6' 6 to 8' Thorns; glossy green foliage turns wine-red in winter; hardiest of evergreen barberries.
Broom, Scotch Cytisus scoparius 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Fine Upright, open 5 to 6' 3 to 4' Short-lived; salt tolerant; yellow flowers in late spring.
Cape Jasmine; Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides 7B, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded, open 4 to 6' 4 to 5' Fragrant, white summer flowers; plant in protected area; cultivars: Kleims Hardy (cold tolerant), August Beauty (double).
Clethra; Pepperbush; Summersweet Clethra spp. 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to slow Sun to shade Medium Upright branches 3 to 8' 4 to 6' Fragrant flowers in mid to late summer; gold fall color; prefers moist soil.
Euonymus, Evergreen Euonymus japonica 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Medium Compact in sun 6 to 7' 10 to 15' Tolerates salt spray; susceptible to euonymus scale.
Euonymus, Spreading Euonymus kiautschovicus 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Medium to coarse Informal; open; broad spread 5 to 6' 8 to 10' Not as susceptible to scale as other euonymus species.
Euonymus, Winged Euonymus alata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; horizontal branches 5 to 8' 3 to 5' Beautiful red fall color; Compactus dwarf cultivar.
Fatsia, Japanese Fatsia japonica 7b, 8 E Moderate Partial shade to shade Coarse Globular; open 4 to 6' 4 to 6' Use in a protected site.
Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Arching branches 6 to 8' 6 to 8' Valued for early spring yellow flowers; several cultivars available.
Hawthorn, Yeddo Rhaphiolepsis umbellata 7, 8 E Slow Sun Medium to coarse Upright; open 4 to 6' 5 to 6' Good for coastal areas of N.C.; salt tolerant; white or pink flowers in mid spring.
Holly, Japanese cultivars Ilex crenata cvs. 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to shade Medium to fine Rounded 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Cultivars: Hetzii, Rotundifolia, Convexa, Microphylla.
Holly, Dwarf Burford Ilex cornuta ''Burfordii Nana' 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Oval; upright 4 to 6' 4 to 6' Dense branches; dark green, glossy foliage; red berries.
Honeysuckle, Box Lonicera nitida 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Fine Oval; rounded 5 to 6' 3 to 4' Beautiful foliage; white flowers in spring.
Inkberry Ilex glabra 6, 7, 8 E Moderate Sun Medium Rounded 6 to 8' 6 to 8' Excellent for foundation or naturalistic planting; black berries.
Juniper, Pfitzer Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana' 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Fine Loose; medium density 5 to 7' 8 to 10' Can grow to 10' with age.
Hydrangea, Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Partial shade to shade Coarse Compact; rounded 3 to 6' 4 to 6' pH of 5.0 to 5.5 for blue flowers; pH of 6.0 to 6.5 for pink flowers.
Laurstinus Viburnum tinus 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright 6 to 8' 4 to 6' Pink buds, white flowers in late winter; metallic blue fruit; tolerates coastal conditions.
Hydrangea, Oakleaf Hydrangea quercifolia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Partial shade to shade Coarse Spreading; irregular 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Excellent white flowers in summer; red to purple fall color.
Mahonia, Leatherleaf Mahonia bealei 7, 8 E Moderate Partial shade to shade Coarse Upright; open 5 to 6' 3 to 4' Good when used in contemporary designs; yellow flowers in winter; blue fruit in late spring.
Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia 6, 7, 8 E Slow Partial shade Medium Symmetrical; dense 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Native to many areas of N.C.; good for naturalizing; white to pink spring flowers; cultivars: Pink Charm, Elf, Minuet, Carousel, Yankee Doodle, Sarah, Pristine.
Nandina Nandina domestica 6, 7, 8 E Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Upright; many canes 4 to 6' 2 to 3' Clusters of red berries in winter.
Pyracantha, Lowdense Pyracantha koidzumii 'Low-Dense' 7, 8 E to semi-E Rapid Sun Fine Dense; mounded; twiggy 4 to 6' 4 to 6' Good for hot dry areas; orange-red berries in fall and winter.
Rhododendron, Carolina Rhododendron carolinianum 6, 7 E Moderate Partial shade Coarse Compact; global 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Good for mass planting; 'Album' white flowers.
Rhododendron, Catawba Rhododendron catawbiense 6, 7, 8 E Slow Partial shade Medium to coarse Upright; branching 6 to 8' 4 to 6' Often becomes leggy when grown in unfavorable locations; many cultivars available; rose-lilac flowers in mid spring.
Spirea, Reeves Spiraea cantoniensis 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Upright branches 4 to 6' 3 to 5' Heat tolerant; arching branches; 'Lanceata' has double, white flowers in spring.
Spirea, Vanhoutte Spiraea x vanhouttei 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded 5 to 8' 10 to 12' Very hardy; profuse white flowers in mid-spring.
Viburnum, Burkwood Viburnum x burkwoodii 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun to shade Medium Open; irregular to round 6 to 8' 6 to 8' Fragrant flowers pink in bud, opening white in early spring; 'Mohawk' is disease resistant.
Viburnum, Sandankwa Viburnum suspensum 8b E Moderate Sun to shade Coarse Erect arching limbs 4 to 6' 6 to 10' Pinkish-white fragrant flowers late winter to early spring; red fruit.
Weigela Weigela florida 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Coarse Erect; spreading branches 6 to 8' 8 to 10' Good border plant; flowers late spring; white, pink, red cultivars.
Yew, Japanese Taxus cuspidata 6, 7 E Slow Partial shade to shade Fine Vase-shaped; compact 4 to 6' 5 to 7' Tolerant of urban conditions; very cold hardy.
Yucca, Spanish Dagger Yucca gloriosa 7, 8 E Slow Sun Coarse Erect 6 to 8' 6 to 8' Gray-green foliage; spine-tipped leaves; large white flowers in summer.

a E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous
b Growth rate will vary with cultivar, weather, and site conditions

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