Some can grow 15-20 feet tall. Seasonal interest is provided by flowers, fruit and fall color. Can be used for wildlife cover, hedges, screening, wind and sun barriers, in mass plantings and as a specimen plant.
On this Page: Forsythia, Shrub Honeysuckle, Lilac, Amur Maple, Mockorange, Nanking Cherry, Ninebark, Plum, Privet and Quince
Forsythia
Lynwood Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood Gold’
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 10-12′
Large bright yellow flowers cover this harbinger of Spring with bloom before the foliage emerges in late winter to early spring. Season-long dark green turn yellow with purple tinges in fall.
Magical Gold Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Kolgold’
Height: 5′
Spread: 4′
Extra large, rich golden-yellow flowers completely shroud the bare stems. Becomes the focal point of the landscape when in full bloom and blends well with other plants when the rich green foliage emerges after the flowers.
Honeysuckle
Arnolds Red Honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica ‘Arnold Red’
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 6-10′
Fragrant, dark red flowers in May followed by large bright red berries through June-July. A tall growing shrub good for windbreaks and able to withstand drought and temperature extremes. Fruit is very attractive to birds.
Honeyrose Honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica ‘Honeyrose’
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 8-10′
Tall, upright and bushy shrub with green oval foliage. Attractive rose pink flowers in late spring followed by magnificent bright red berries in mid to late summer.
Lilac
Angel White Lilac
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Angel White’ (Descanso Hybrid)
Height: 12′
Spread: 10′
Spectacular clusters of fragrant pure white flowers. This midseason bloomer typically flowers in mid-May. The open-branched, upright form makes a great hedge, screen or accent.
Betsy Ross Lilac
Syringa x oblata ‘Betsy Ross’
Height: 8-10′
Spread: 10′
Noted for abundant large clusters of very fragrant pristine-white flowers that glow in the garden both day and night.
Charles Joly Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘Charles Joly’
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 6′
Upright, open-branched habit and bright green foliage. Deep wine red, double flower clusters are highly fragrant. Blooms mid-season, typically in mid-May. Spring accent, screen or border specimen.
Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Height: 12′ Spread: 10′
Upright to irregular, multi-stemmed shrub. Old-fashioned, long-lived, lilac best known for its fragrant flowers. It is an extremely hardy shrub for a specimen planting, in masses, screens, hedges, or mixed in shrub borders. The May blooming flowers are typically purple to lilac.
Declaration Lilac
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Declaration’
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 5-6′
Large, dramatic clusters of deep reddish purple, fragrant flowers blooms 7 to 10 days earlier than common lilacs. Useful as a flowering informal screen, background shrub or specimen. A nice cut flower for a fragrant bouquet.
Lavender Lady Lilac
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Lavender Lady’
Height: 12′ Spread: 6′
Produces spectacular clusters of fragrant lavender flowers. Blooms mid-season, typically in mid-May. Open branched, upright form is useful as a hedge, screen or accent.
Ludwig Spaeth Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘Ludwig Spaeth’
Height: 6-10′ Spread: 6-8′
Heavily fragrant, dark purple, single blooms come late in spring.
Miss Canada Lilac
Syringa x prestoniae ‘Miss Canada
Height: 6-12′ Spread: 6-12′
Extremely hardy, late blooming variety. Reddish buds and rosy-pink flowers appear on new spring growth after common lilac varieties.
Old Glory Lilac
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Old Glory’
Height: 8-11′
Spread: 10-12′
Abundant, fragrant, purple-blue flowers are displayed on a rounded form, with tough, disease tolerant foliage specifically bred to resist mildew.
President Lincoln Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘President Lincoln’
Height: 10′ Spread: 6′
Noted for its large trusses of single Wedgewood blue flowers. Captivating fragrance is a bonus. Mid-season bloomer typically flowers in mid-May. Branches are erect and open with rich green foliage.
Sensation Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Height: 10′ Spread: 6′
Deep purple to wine red, sweetly fragrant, single flowers with white edges are arranged in dense, pyramidal, terminal clusters which cover this shrub in late April to early May
Yankee Doodle Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘Yankee Doodle’
Height: 6′ Spread: 6′
One of the darkest purple lilacs with showy clusters of fragrant, dark purple florets that appear in mid-spring. Excellent for cut flower arrangements.
Amur Maple
Flame Amur Maple
Acer ginnala ‘Flame’
Height: 20′ Spread: 20′
Low branched or multi-stemmed tree with medium green, fine textured foliage. Brilliant orange-red to deep red fall color. One of the hardiest trees available.
Mockorange
Belle Etoile Mockorange
Philadelphus x lemoinei ‘Belle Etoile’
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 6-8′
A compact medium-sized deciduous shrub prized for its incredible fragrance. Late spring to early summer, arching branches bear a profusion of large, highly-scented, single white flowers.
Minnesota Snowflake Mockorange
Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Minnesota Snowflake’
Height: 8′ Spread: 6′
Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with upright arching branches. Profuse white flowers are double and very fragrant. Blooms begin in late spring and last up to 4 weeks. Tolerates some shade but produces more flowers in full sun.
Natchez Mockorange
Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Natchez’
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 6-8′
Highly ornamental, large, white flowers, which carry a light fragrance much like the scent of orange blossoms. Branches are covered with lush green foliage for an attractive effect even when not in flower.
Nanking Cherry
Prunus tomentosa
Height: 8′ Spread: 6′
Fragrant white spring flowers, shiny reddish-brown bark, and edible scarlet fruit make the Nanking cherry a favorite for mass plantings and borders.
Ninebark
Amber Jubilee Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’
Height: 5-6′ Spread: 5-6′
Rounded and dense in habit with a bold array of colors in glowing tones of orange, yellow and gold. Clusters of delicate white blooms in spring and fall add extra interest.
Coppertina Ninbark
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Coppertina’
Height: 6′ Spread: 8′
Copper-flushed spring foliage turns to rich burgundy red in summer. Soft pink flowers line the gently arching branches in early summer. Attractive peeling bark and bright red seed capsules in fall. An adaptable native plant that is easy-to-grow and well-suited for difficult sites.
Diabolo Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 8-10′
Stunning deep purple foliage makes it a standout in the garden. Plant en masse to create a richly colored, dense hedge or screen. Profuse creamy white flower clusters adorn the foliage in summer. Foliage can become green in high heat or partial shade.
Cistena Plum
(aka Purple Leaf Sandcherry)
Prunus cistena
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 4-6′
Oval leaves emerge red and turn purplish-red as they mature. Erect stems are sprinkled with small pale pink flowers in mid spring. Forms an upright rounded shrub. Excellent for color contrast.
Cheyenne Privet
Ligustrum vulgare ‘Cheyenne’
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 4-6′
Adaptable and low maintenance shrub once established. Can tolerate heavy pruning and shearing: ideal for a formal hedge or screen. Glossy green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Small clusters of white flowers bloom in early summer. Tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions.
Vicary Golden Privet
Ligustrum x vicaryi
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 8-10′
An excellent upright deciduous shrub best used for informal, unclipped hedges. Bright golden foliage color lasts all season long, especially when planted in full sun. Plant with green-leaved plants for a pleasant contrast. Foliage takes on a purple-red tone in fall. Often semi-evergreen in mild winter climates.
Straight Talk Privet
Ligustrum vulgare ‘Swift’
Height: 12′ Spread: 4′
Narrow and upright, used as vertical accent or grouped for hedging. Cold hardy and drought-tolerant, easy to grow in a wide range of soils and tolerates urban conditions.
Quince
Toyo-Nishiki Quince
Chaenomeles japonica ‘Toyo-Nishiki’
Height: 8′ Spread: 6-8′
Combination of reddish, pink and white blooms precede foliage. Prized for its large flowers and bonsai potential. Fruit attracts birds. Use along a walkway or as a focal point to best appreciate the unusual flower combination.