Native Shrubs
Shrubs
The Wabanaki-Acadian forest has a large variety of native shrubs, all adapted for different roles and habitats within our ecosystem. They have adapted to our climate for thousands of years, and have co-evolved with our other native flora and fauna. Shrubs are low, woody plants usually under 25 feet (7.6 m). They are usually multi-stemmed.
Viburnum trilobum
Rarity: S3 (vulnerable)
Description: A large shrub found in early successional forests and wetlands. Simple, opposite, lobed, toothed leaves. Produces clusters of white flowers in late June. Fruits are cranberry-size and bright red, often hanging on through the winter. Suffers from infestations of the viburnum beetle.
Habitat: Grows along streams, in swamps, and in low, open woods.
Planting conditions: This is excellent for restoration plantings and can adapt to a wide variety of conditions. Good for landscaping in a variety of areas, but are sensitive to salt. Unfortunately, the viburnum beetle means it is not viable for plantings at this point.
Viburnum lantanoides
Rarity: S1/S2 (critically imperilled/imperilled)
Description: A small to medium sized shrub found in mid- to late successional forests. Simple, opposite, oval leaves. Its velvety buds develop into large, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers form large, flat clusters and are very white. The berries turn red in late August and purple-black when white.
Habitat: Favours the conditions of mixed wood old-growth forests, with shade and rich soil.
Planting conditions: Excellent for woodland plantings, such as in patches or as an underplanting.
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Viburnum cassinoides
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, opposite, oval, smooth leaves, sometimes with small teeth. A large shrub found in mid-successional forests, but can appear on other sites. Has leathery leaves. Has umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers. Light brown buds are very distinctive, lance-shaped and 1/3-1/2 inches long. Bark is grey or brown with white spots. In early September each cluster will have green, white, pink and dark purple fruit present, as ripening is independent.
Habitat: grows as an understory plant in mixed forests, but is common in a wide variety of habitats. Prefers moist, shady sites but can tolerate almost any condition (clearings, swamps, roadsides).
Planting conditions: Often used in forest restoration plantings, such as in patches. Can be a beautiful for landscaping, but suffers from the presence of the invasive viburnum beetle.
Lonicera canadensis
Other names: Canada fly honeysuckle
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, opposite, oval, smooth leaves. A small shrub. Has sparse, thin branches. Produces tubular flowers in late spring that hang downward, often in pairs. Its fruit are oval, bright red berries. A small shrub.
Habitat: Found in forests with rich, moderately wet soil.
Planting conditions: Great for restoration plantings in partial shade in sheltered areas, can also be used in landscaping with the same conditions.
Diervilla lonicera
Rarity: S4 (apparently secure)
Description: Simple, opposite, oval, slightly toothed leaves. This small shrub branches low to the ground and spreads through its roots. Has small yellow flowers and woody fruit.
Habitat: Thrives in fairly dry, partially shaded in wooded areas.
Planting conditions: Can be used in restoration planting in wooded areas, can also be a good choice for landscaping, although it spreads easily. Can thrive even in poor soil.
Sambucus canadensis
Rarity: S4/S5 (apparently secure/secure)
Description: Compound, opposite, toothed leaves. This is a small to medium shrub that has many stems rising from its base. Has flat clusters of creamy white flowers and dark purple, almost black fruit that ripens in August-September. Leaves exude an unpleasant odour when crushed. Bark is pale green, turning to light brown as it ages.
Habitat: grows in moist soil and can withstand flood conditions. Often found in damp areas along roadsides, fence-lines and stream-banks. Prefers full sun but will tolerate shade.
Planting conditions: Can be used in restoration plantings as well as landscaping. Can tolerate windier sites and poor soil.
Sambucus racemosa
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Compound, opposite, toothed leaves. Can reach a height of 12 feet. Much larger buds and stouter twigs than the common elder. Small, creamy flowers give way to cone-shaped clusters of small scarlet berries in June and July. Fruit is thought to be poisonous. Bark is light brown and covered with bumps.
Habitat: grows in fairly dry sites and is intolerant of flooding. Is common along the edges of newly bulldozed forest roads and the sunnier edges of woodlands. Tolerates some shade.
Planting conditions: Can be used in both restoration plantings and landscaping work, as long as the soil is not too wet.
Crataegus spp.
Rarity: S1-S5?
Description: Simple, opposite, toothed, often lobed leaves. This is a medium shrub. Has clusters of orange-red fruits and long, hard thorns that can be over 2 inches long. Has showy clusters of white flowers and buds that are small, brown and rounded.
Habitat: commonly found on abandoned fields, forest edges and around older homesteads, it is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Hawthorn prefers rich, moist well-drained soil but will tolerate some flooding. Grows best in full sun and makes poor growth in shade.
Planting conditions: Good for restoration plantings in sunny areas, as well as for landscaping work in yards with sufficient sun.
Rosa spp.
Rarity: rosa carolina – S2/S3 (imperilled/vulnerable); rosa virginiana – S5 (secure)
Description: Compound, alternate, toothed leaves with 5-7 leaflets. A small to medium sized shrub. Twigs have distinctive, very sharp thorns and pink flowers from May until August. From July onwards they produce scarlet “hips” or fruits that often hang on through the winter. Bark is green on new growth and turns red-to-brown as the plant gets older.
Habitat: grows in un-farmed pastureland, and in meadows, hedgerows and windbreaks. Of the two main native species, Carolina grows on drier sites, while Virginia rose tolerates wetter conditions. Both species grow in full sun.
Planting conditions: Great for coastal restoration plantings and coastal landscaping work, tolerates salt and windy conditions and creates dense root growth to prevent erosion.
Alnus rugosa and alnus crispa
Rarity: alnus rugosa – S5 (secure); alnus crispa – S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. A large shrub that forms dense clumps. Bark is brown to blackish-gray with white speckling. Flowers are nondescript. Male and Female flowers appear on seperate catkins which form the previous fall.
Habitat: an early-successional planting that invades abandoned fields, especially those that are poorly drained. Appears along stream banks and in roadside ditches. Grows best in full sun, but will tolerate shade.
Planting conditions: Good for wetland restoration plantings.
Corylus cornuta
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. Male flowers appear as catkins in fall, pollinating tiny red female flowers in the spring. Produces large round nuts covered in bright green bristly husks, often in clumps of 2-3. Buds are small and round on slender twigs, with the bark being light brown with white striping. A medium sized understory shrub.
Habitat: grows in the forest understory and along the edge of forests, and tolerates fairly heavy shade from tall, old trees. It grows best and produces the best fruit in full sun. Prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate the edges of wet sites.
Planting conditions: Great for restoration plantings in wooded areas, such as in patch cuts or underplantings. Beautiful when used in landscaping as well, in sheltered areas.
Betulus pumila
Rarity: S3 (vulnerable)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. A medium sized shrub, generally with multiple stems. Has reddish-brown bark with small white spots. It’s leaves are small and leathery. Has delicate cylindrical flower clusters in May or June which are reddish and 1-2 inches long.
Habitat: grows in acidic, boggy areas in full sun. Usually grows alongside plants like willow, rose, Labrador tea, eastern larch and black spruce.
Planting conditions: Great for use in wetland restoration plantings. A good choice for landscaping in wetter areas.
Amelanchier spp.
Rarity: S1-S5 (critically imperilled to secure, depending on species)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. A large shrub that can reach the forest understory. Can be multi-stemmed or single-stemmed, and ranges greatly in size and shape. Bark is light grey with darker vertical lines, flaking with age. Slender twigs have long, pointed buds. Has striking white flowers in May before the leaves have fully developed, and edible dark purple berries in July and August. There are many varieties, which can be difficult to tell apart.
Habitat: grows in most conditions, except extremely wet or deep shade. Grows best in full sun and on moist, well-drained soil. Can be found along roadsides, in abandoned fields, and in windbreaks and woodlands.
Planting conditions: A beautiful shrub for woodland restoration plantings, but can also be a great choice for landscaping work because of its leaves, fruit and showy flowers.
Prunus virginiana
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, finely toothed leaves which are broader at the tip than at the base. Has grey bark marked by small pale spots. Produces clusters of sour, edible red cherries which turn dark purple in early fall. Twigs are stout and give off an unpleasant odour when scraped. A large shrub.
Habitat: Common along edges of woodlands and in existing windbreaks, choke cherry prefers rich, moist well-drained soil and will not tolerate flooding. It will grow under light shading but best fruit production occurs in full sun.
Planting conditions: Can be good for use in landscaping work, where its flowers and berries are showy and beneficial to wildlife.
Ilex verticillata
Other names: Common winterberry
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. Lance-shaped and wider toward the tip. A medium sized shrub. Produces greenish-white flowers in May and June, which become bright red berries that cluster close to the twigs and remain throughout the winter.
Habitat: Often found in large groupings, native hollies thrive in open, wet areas. They are very tolerant of standing water and salt, and are a common plant along the north shore roadways, pond-sides, damp thickets and wet woodlands.
Planting conditions: Wonderful for large plantings to increase biodiversity, attract wildlife, and to use as a landscape feature. Important to have a mix of male and female plants to produce berries.
Rhus typhina
Rarity: S3 (vulnerable)
Description: Compound, alternate leaves with oval, toothed leaflets. There is a distinctive fuzziness to the twigs. Large, tree-like shrub. Small flowers in spring are replacing by large cones of crimson berries. Leaves turn bright crimson in the fall. Grows prolifically from root suckers.
Habitat: Sumac is commonly found on abandoned farmland, near old homesteads or along fence-rows. It prefers full sun but will grow under light shading. Sumac does best on well-drained sites and will not tolerate flooding. Even in poor soil, it usually makes good growth and requires little care.
Planting conditions: Often used in landscaping and is good for around homes, as long as spreading from root suckers will not be a problem. Can be planted singly or in clumps.
Salix spp.
Rarity: S1-S5 (critically imperilled to secure, depending on species)
Description: Simple, alternative, oval, toothed leaves. Can be medium to large. There are many species of willow that can be very difficult to distinguish from each other, and often hybridize. Leaves are generally long and thin. Some buds are fat and pointed while others are narrow and rounded, and colours range from yellow to black. They generally sit flat to the stem like a fingernail. Flowers appear as fuzzy catkins.
Habitat: Willows thrive wherever there is an abundance of water – along streams and riverbanks, the edges of bogs and ponds, and in areas with a high water table. Can also be found in roadside ditches, abandoned fields and existing windbreaks. They achieve best growth in deep, rich soil with full sun and adequate moisture. Willows are hardy shrubs that tolerate salt spray, although they grow poorly in shaded conditions.
Planting conditions: often used in work in riparian zones or in wet areas in yards for landscaping work.
Acer spicatum
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, opposite, lobed, toothed leaves. A large, tree-like shrub. Flowers are in clusters up to 15 cm long, and pale yellow-green. Later they develop into winged fruit (samaras).
Habitat: Grows in moist areas, in thickets and open woodlands.
Planting conditions: Can be used in restoration plantings in sunnier areas with damp soil.
Aronia arbutifolia and melanocarpa
Rarity: Red chokeberry S4/S5; black chokeberry S4/S5 (apparently secure/secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. A small to medium shrub that produces clusters of berries, either red or black depending on variety. Produces sprays of white flowers in June. In the fall its leaves turn a red color.
Habitat: Often found in wet, wooded sites such as alongside streams and in wetlands, in partially shaded and sunny areas.
Planting conditions: Great for restorative wetland plantings, as well as for landscaping work in good soil with plenty of mulch.
Myrica gale
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternative, oval, slightly toothed leaves. This small shrub produces small cone-like fruit and has male catkins with reddish brown scales. The buds are sharply pointed and the bark can be shiny.
Habitat: Grows in wetland conditions, such as bogs and the edges of dreams. It is tolerant of its roots being completely flooded.
Planting conditions: Excellent for restoration plantings of wetlands, can also be good for coastal plantings. Great for landscaping work, as it is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions.
Myrica pensylvanica
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, smooth leaves. A small shrub. The leathery leaves are very strongly scented, much like commercial bay leaves (not related). On female plants the hard, grey berries have a waxy covering and remain throughout the year.
Habitat: Bayberry is tolerant of a variety of growing conditions and thrives in the harsh, salt sprayed areas along the north shore. Though it is well suited to dry areas behind dune systems or old fields, it can also be found in open, marshy areas and wet woodlands. Bayberry is generally found in large groupings which are quite difficult to make your way through.
Planting conditions: used in full sun, wet, and windy areas. Often used in our coastal plantings, or in landscaping near the coast or in wet or windy areas.
Hamamelis virginiana
Rarity: S1 (critically imperilled)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, toothed leaves. A large shrub. The leaves turn yellow in the fall and the yellow flowers bloom in September and October. The seeds are shiny and black, encase with a small brown capsule.
Habitat: grows best as an understory plant in old-growth forests in light shade and rich, well-drained soil.
Planting conditions: Often used in our coastal restoration plantings, or in landscaping near the coast or in wet or windy areas.
Cornus alternifolia
Rarity: S4 (apparently secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, smooth leaves with veins running to the tip of the leaf. A large shrub, with a tree-like shape. Bright green bark is streaked with white, or dark purple on newer wood. Has clusters of creamy white flowers that turn into dark purple berries. Its branches are long and horizontal.
Habitat: Grows as an understory plant in a variety of forest types and along the edges of woodlands. Tolerates both sun and shade and grows well in fertile, moist, well-drained sites.
Planting conditions: Good for woodland restoration work, such as in patch cuts or underplantings. Great for landscaping work in sheltered areas.
Cornus stolonifera
Rarity: S5 (secure)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, smooth leaves with veins running to the tip of the leaf. A small shrub. It has bright red bark and clusters of white flowers, producing white berries. Produces suckers and creates dense, low thickets.
Habitat: grows in wet sites and is tolerant of flooding. Commonly found in roadside ditches, damp areas of fields and on streambanks, as well as drier sites. Grows best in full sun but will grow slowly and with less fruit production in shade.
Planting conditions: Can be used in restoration plantings of sunny and wet areas, as well as coastal plantings and landscaping.
Cornus rugosa
Rarity: S2 (imperilled)
Description: Simple, alternate, oval, smooth leaves with veins running to the tip of the leaf. Leaves are very round, with small hairs. A medium sized shrub. Grows in neither the tree-like shape of alternate-leaf dogwoods or the dense low thickets of red-osier dogwood. Its flowers are creamy white and four-petaled and bloom in early July. Produces white fruit which has a blueish tinge, on red stalks.
Habitat: generally found in semi-open woodlands and forest edges. If soil moisture levels are low than it prefers light shading. It can also grow in open wet areas such as the edges of marshes.
Planting conditions: Can be used in restoration plantings of wetlands and woodlands, as well as landscaping work with moist soil and plenty of mulch.
