Medium Sun Shrubs Continued

Ranging from 4 to 6 feet, medium shrubs can be used as hedges, screens, noise barriers, in mass plantings, or as focal points. They can be as tall as they are wide. Several provide flower color and attractive fruit, while others provide colorful fall foliage.

Quince

Crimson & Gold Quince

Chaenomeles x superba ‘Crimson and Gold’

Height: 5′ Spread: 5′

Cup-shaped bright crimson red blooms with a cluster of conspicuous gold stamen in the the center. Blooms are followed by shiny dark green leaves. With a low spreading habit, this compact form is great for the smaller garden and is one of the signs that spring is finally arrived!

Double Take Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa

The Double Take quinces are more than just pretty spring flowers: thornless and deer-resistant, they do not produce fruit, and once established, are drought-tolerant survivalists.

  • Double Take ‘Orange Storm’ Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3-4′
  • Double Take ‘Peach Storm’ Height: 4-5′ Spread: 4-5′
  • Double Take ‘Pink Storm’ Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3-4′
  • Double Take ‘Scarlet Storm’ Height: 6′ Spread: 6′

Rose of Sharon

Lil’ Kim Rose of Sharon series

 Dwarf habit takes up much less space than other varieties. Showy flowers appear all summer. Refined habit lends grace to any landscape application.

  • Lil’ Kim
  • Lil’ Kim Red
  • Lil’ Kim Violet

Summer Ruffle Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Aarticus’

Height: 4′ Spread: 4′

This variegated hibiscus has blue green foliage with creamy white margins. Dark pink to lavender flowers add to the show in summer. This is a great feature plant for smaller gardens or in patio containers.

Rose

At Last Rose

Rosa x ‘HORCOGJIL’

Height: 3′

Spread: 3′

A landscape rose with large, sweetly perfumed sunset-orange blossoms from late spring through frost. Handsome, glossy foliage and a vigorous, rounded habit .

Meidiland Roses series

Morden Roses series

Oso Easy Roses series

Ringo Rose

Rosa x ‘ChewBullseye’

Height: 3-4′

Spread: 3-4′

Big, single, bright yellow flowers each have a bold red ring in the center for a dazzling visual effect in the landscape or garden. Disease resistant and robust. Deadheading not required for continuous blooms.

Rugosa Roses

Hansa Rose

Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’

Height: 4-5′

Spread: 3-4′

Vigorous and resilient rose hardy shrub rose. The large blooms of vibrant reddish-violet release an intense clove fragrance. With the approach of fall, the leaves take on an orange hue and a profusion of large, meaty red fruits.

Therese Bugnet Rose

Rose rugosa ‘Thérèse Bugnet’

Height: 5′

Spread: 4′

A hybrid rugosa rose, vigorous, dense, upright, rounded shrub. Old fashioned form which somewhat more resembles a damask rose than a rugosa. Features fragrant, ruffled, pink, double blooms.

Wood’s Rose

Rosa woodsii

Height: 5′

Spread: 4′

A prolific cold-hardy deciduous spreading shrub,  native to the Rocky Mountains up to 11,000 ft. elevation. Often seen along streams but actually is very drought tolerant. Dark green leaves with profuse pink flowers through the summer followed by bright orange/red rose hips in fall that stay on branches through the winter. Deer resistant, easy to grow and low water requirements make this a notable addition to any garden!

Regent Serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Regent’

Height: 3-6′ Spread: 3-6′

Selected for its high quality, extra sweet red to black fruit clusters in June. A spreading, somewhat open vase-shaped shrub that suckers nicely. Very adaptable to dry or wet soils, and tolerates heavy clay in full sun or part shade. The foliage is oval and turns from yellow to red in fall. 

Scotch Broom

Allgold Scotch broom

Cytisus x praecox (C. multiflorus x C. purgans) ‘Allgold’

Height: 5-6′ Spread: 5-6′

Long sprays of pea-like flowers make this an excellent choice for mass plantings. Rounded habit of dense, green branches with tiny green leaves. A great plant for sunny, dry hillside plantings.

Burkwood Scotch broom

Cytisus scoparius ‘Burkwoodii’

Height: 6′ Spread: 6′

Garnet red flowers with brownish wing petals narrowly margined in gold. A vigorous grower. Good for difficult sites.

Lena Scotch broom

Cytisus x ‘Lena’ (Dallimorei hybrid)

Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3-4′

Abundant sprays of fragrant lemon yellow and ruby-red blooms cover slender green stems. Tiny leaves are inconspicuous. Dense clumps make interesting hedge, divider or screen. This well-behaved hybrid tolerates poor soil and requires little care.

Moonlight Scotch broom

Cytisus scoparius ‘Moonlight’

Height: 5-6′ Spread: 5-6′

Masses of moonlight yellow to creamy white flowers amongst thin, grass-like leaves. This graceful, arching accent plant is tolerant of wind and infertile soils.

Smokebush

Winecraft Black Smokebush

Cotinus coggygria ‘NCCO1’

Height: 4-6′ Spread: 4-6′

 Rounded, dwarf habit. Leaves emerge rich purple turn a deep near-black tone and finally an array of reds and oranges in fall. In early summer, large, soft panicles of bloom appear.

Winecraft Gold Smokebush

Cotinus coggyria ‘MINCOJAU3’

Height: 4-6′ Spread: 4-6′

Round, waxy leaves emerge a sunny orange, take on a golden hue, then mature to chartreuse. Early summer, cloud-like green flower clusters turn into pink “smoke” plumes.

Snowberry

Bright Fantasy Snowberry

Symphoricarpos ‘Bokrabright’ 

Height: 4′

Spread: 4′

Light pink summer blooms followed by abundant, large, white fruit in fall, becoming especially showy on the otherwise bare stems in winter. The perfect plant for spicing up northern native plant landscapes and wild garden woodlands. Berry-filled stems are excellent in floral arrangements. 

Charming Fantasy Snowberry

Symphoricarpos ‘Kolcharm’

Height: 4′

Spread: 4′

Light pink summer blooms followed by abundant large, pink-blushed ornamental fruit in fall. A unique specimen in the winter garden when the leafless stems are blanketed by the attractive fruit. Berry-filled stems are excellent in floral arrangements

Scarlet Pearl Snowberry

Symphoricarpos ‘Scarlet Pearl’

Height: 4′

Spread: 4′

Blooms light pink in summer followed by an abundant crop of large pink fruit beginning in fall, becoming especially showy on the otherwise bare stems in winter.

White Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Height: 4′

Spread: 4′

Native, snowberries are essential to North American wild landscapes because they naturalize so well. A superbly beautiful addition to wildlife habitat gardens as a late season food source for many species. Improved color and form has boosted them into high status in traditional shrub borders for late season interest.

Spiraea

Snowmound Spirea

Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’

Height: 3-5′

Spread: 3-5′

An easy to grow shrub with graceful, spreading branches, dark green foliage, and an abundance of white flower clusters that provide a spectacular show in mid- to late spring. Use at the back of the border or as a showy spring accent. Cut stems with blossoms create stunning flower arrangement

Viburnum

All That Glitters Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum var. deamii ‘SMVDLS’

Height: 4-5′

Spread: 4-5′

Smaller than most viburnums it has glossy green foliage. Early summer brings hundreds of white flower clusters, which are followed by shiny blue fruit in fall if its pollinator, ‘All That Glows’ is planted nearby. Native to North America and deer-resistant. 

American Spice Viburnum

Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Duvone’

Height: 4′

Spread: 4′

Fragrant coral pink buds turn pure white in spring with green glossy crinkled foliage and dense branching habit on this compact rounded deciduous shrub

Brandywine Viburnum

Viburnum nudum ‘Bulk’

Height: 5-6′ Spread: 5-6′

A must have plant with multi-colored jewel like berries, glossy leaves and deep, dark, red fall color! Deer resistant, salt tolerant, seasonal interest and easy to care for.

Compact American Viburnum

Viburnum trilobum ‘Bailey Compact’

Height: 4-5′

Spread: 3-4′

An excellent compact, rounded form of American cranberry.  Beautiful green lobed foliage turns a deep red in the fall. 

Compact European Viburnum

Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’

Height: 4-5′

Spread: 5-6′

 Flat-topped flowers produced in May are followed by glistening scarlet-red fruit which persist into winter.  Fall color is red.  Along with its compact habit, it flowers and fruits reliably. 

Spice Baby Viburnum

Viburnum carlesii ‘SMVCB’

Height: 4-5′

Spread: 4-5′

A dwarf, bushy, deciduous shrub with a profusion of large flower clusters that perfume the garden with its’ sweet, spicy fragrance in spring. Ideal for smaller gardens. Dark green leaves turn red shades in fall.