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“to protect and enhance Maine's soil and water resources by providing educational programs, conservation information and technical assistance to municipalities, schools, landowners and residents of Kennebec County." |
MEDIUM
SHRUBS
6 TO 12 FEET IN HEIGHT For more information on any of these plants use this link: PLANTS DATABASEDECIDUOUS
Arrowwood
Viburnum (Viburnum
dentatum) Grows 6 to 10 feet
high with similar spread. Vigorous,
multi-stemmed shrub. White flowers
in spring, followed by blue fruit and red fall color.
Sun to shade. Adaptable to a
variety of soils. Good for birds.
Zone 3
N Bayberry
(Myrica pennsylvanica)
Grows from 5 to 10 feet high with an 8 to 12 foot spread.
A dense, rounded shrub with shiny, dark-green, leathery leaves that are
semi-deciduous. Leaves are very
aromatic when crushed. Female
plants bear small, gray, waxy fruits that are used in making Bayberry-scented
candles etc. Sun to part-sun.
Grows in poor, sandy soils. Salt
and drought tolerant. Found along
seashores. Good for birds. Zone 3
N Beach
Plum
(Prunus maritima)
Grows 6 to 8 feet high. A
rounded, dense, somewhat sprawling shrub with white flowers in spring and
edible, purple fruit in fall. Full
sun. Sandy, well-drained soil.
Salt and drought tolerant. Found
along beaches and sand dunes. Good
for birds. Zone 4
N Beaked
Hazelnut (Corylus
cornuta) Grows to 10 feet. Multi-stemmed shrub with an edible nut in a bristly covering.
Sun to shade. Moist soil.
Found in thickets along roadsides and in open woods.
Good for hedgerows. Good for
birds and wildlife. Zone
3 N Beautybush
(Kolwitzia amabilis)
Grows to 10 feet with an 8 foot spread.
Attractive, upright, arching shrub used ornamentally.
Pink flowers in spring and red fall color.
Rapid growth. May need older
stems removed occasionally to maintain vigor.
Full sun. Moist,
well-drained soil. Zone 4 Black
Chokeberry
(Aronia melanocarpa, previously,
Pyrus melanocarpa)
Grows 5 to 10 feet with a 5 foot spread.
Bushy, compact habit. Spreads
to form large colonies if left to its own.
Showy, white flowers in spring; dark-purple fruit in fall and deep-red
fall color. Sun to part-sun. Adaptable to a variety of soil conditions.
Found in dry thickets and rocky uplands where it grows only to 4 feet.
Good for birds. Zone 3 N
Buttonbush
(Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Grows 6 to 10 feet with a similar spread.
Darkish-green, glossy leaves. Large,
showy, spherical flower heads (pom-poms) in summer, followed by spherical fruits
that persist into winter. Sun to
part-sun. Wet soil.
Grows in up to 3 feet of water. Flood
tolerant. Found along lakes and
streams. Good for birds.
Zone 4
N Cranberrybush
(Viburnum trilobum)
Also called American Cranberrybush and Highbush Cranberry.
Several varieties available (some can be invasive).
Standard variety grows to 12 feet with similar spread.
A coarse, upright shrub. Clusters
of showy, white flowers in spring, followed by clusters of edible, brilliant red
berries that persist into winter. Moderate
red fall color. Full to part-sun. Moist to wet soil. Tolerates
a variety of soil types. Not
drought tolerant. Slow growth the
first two years. Makes a good open
hedge. Good for birds and
squirrels. Zone 3 N
Doublefile
Viburnum (Viburnum
tomentosum or V. plicatum var. tomentosum) At least
two varieties available. Grows to
10 feet with a similar spread. Attractive
shrub with interesting, horizontal, layered branching. Many clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by red to
black fruit. Nice fall color.
Sun to part-sun. Moist, well-drained soil.
Good for mass plantings and screens.
Good for birds. Zone
4 Elderberry
(Sambucus canadensis)
Grows to 10 feet with a similar spread.
A vase-shaped, multi-stemmed, spreading shrub with bright-green to
yellowish foliage. A
‘fern-leaf’ variety is also available.
Large clusters of tiny, white flowers in early summer are followed by red
to dark-purple fruits used in making jelly and wine.
Rapid growth. Sun to
part-sun (flowers and fruits best in full sun).
Prefers moist soil but has some drought tolerance.
Tolerates severe pruning. Found
in rich lowlands, in thickets and open places along paths, streams and roads.
Good for birds and deer. Zone
3 N False
Spirea
(Sorbaria sorbifolia)
Grows to 8 feet with a 5 to 10 foot spread.
A spreading, upright, multi-stemmed shrub with fern-like foliage and
large plumes of white flowers. Sun
to part-sun. Moist soil.
Zone 3 Flowering
Raspberry
(Rubus odoratus)
Grows from 5 to 10 feet with equal spread. An erect, branching shrub with large, deep-green,
maple-shaped leaves. Large, showy,
fragrant, pink to purple flowers in early summer followed by dry, red fruit.
Sun to shade. Moist soil. Found
in rocky woods and moist ravines. Best
used in the back of a shrub border. Zone
5 N Forsythia
(Forsythia sp.)
Many varieites available. Check
on local hardiness. Grows 6 to 10
feet with a similar spread. Upright
to arching varieites as well as ones developed for pruning.
Full shrub with light-green leaves and varying shades of yellow flowers
in spring. Flowers profusely in
good conditions. Sun to part-sun
(flowers best in full sun). Moist,
rich soil. Zones 3 to 5 Fothergilla
(Fothergilla major)
Grows 6 to 10 feet with a similar spread.
Dense, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub with deep-green leaves.
Early, fragrant, white, ‘bottle-brush’ flowers.
Excellent yellow to red fall color.
Slow growth. Sun to part-sun. Moist,
well-drained, acid soil. Zone
4 Gray
Dogwood
(Cornus racemosa)
Grows 10 to 12 feet with similar spread.
A multi-stemmed, spreading shrub with white flowers in spring and white
berries in summer. Interesting,
reddish bark turns gray with age. Sun
to shade. Tolerates a variety of
soils. Some drought tolerance.
Found along roadsides, in open thickets and swamp edges.
Good for birds and wildlife. Zone 3 N Hazelnut
(Corylus americana)
Also called Filbert. Grows 8
to 10 feet with a 4 to 6 foot spread. A
strong, multi-stemmed shrub often forming thickets.
Round edible nuts in fall. Nice,
orange fall color. Sun to part-sun.
Dry soil. Found on edges of
woods and along open stone walls. Good
for birds and wildlife. Zone
3 N Highbush
Blueberry (Vaccinium
corymbosum) Several varieties
available; some naturally-occurring. Grows
from 6 to 10 feet in an oval, upright form.
Attractive, twisted branches, white flowers in spring; bright red fall
color; red stems in winter and large edible blue fruits.
Sun to shade (best fruit and shrub shape in full sun).
Acid, sandy, peaty soil. Wet
to dry. Found in acidic lowlands,
along lakes and in rocky woods. Good
for birds and wildlife. Zone
4 N Hobblebush
(Viburnum alnifolium)
Grows to 10 feet. A
graceful, erect, somewhat straggling shrub that spreads to form dense thickets.
Large, heart-shaped leaves and large, showy clusters of white flowers,
followed by purple fruits. Red fall
color. Sun to shade.
Moist soil. Found along
lakes and streams and in cool, moist woods.
Good for birds and deer. Zone
4 N Korean
Spice Viburnum (Viburnum
carlesii) An ornamental
viburnum. Grows 4 to 8 feet high
with similar spread. A dense,
rounded shrub with fragrant, white flowers in spring and small, red fruit.
Red fall color. Sun to part-sun. Moist
soil. Good for birds.
Zones 4 to 5 Mock
Orange
(Philadelphus sp.)
Several species and varieties are available in standard and dwarf forms.
Grow from 2 to 10 feet with corresponding spread.
Most are upright with attractive green foliage.
Fragrant, showy, white flowers in early summer.
Rapid growth. Full sun.
Moist soil. Zone 4 Nanking
Cherry
(Prunus tomentosa)
Grows 8 to 10 feet with similar spread.
A dense, rounded shrub with fragrant, pink flowers in spring and edible,
red cherries. Used in mass
plantings. Full sun. Moist soil.
Good for birds. Zone
3 Pee
Gee Hydrangea (Hydrangea
paniculata) Grows to 10 feet
with equal spread. A large, upright
shrub with large, showy clusters of flowers in summer that turn from white to
pink to brown and persist through winter. Used
in dried flower arranging. Rapid
growth. Sun to part-sun. Moist soil. Zone
4 Purpleleaf
Sandcherry (Prunus
X Cistena) Grows to 8 feet with
a 6 foot spread. Has purple leaves,
pink flowers in spring and blue fruit in fall.
Found on beaches. Full sun.
Sandy, well-drained soil. Tolerates
harsh conditions. Good for birds. Zone 3 Red
Chokeberry
(Aronia arbutifolia, previously,
Pyrus arbutifolia) Grows 6 to
10 feet with a 3 to 5 foot spread. A
slender, upright, multi-stemmed
shrub with glossy, dark, blue-green leaves. Long-blooming, white spring flowers
and persistent red fruit. Nice pink
to red fall color. Will spread if
allowed. Sun to part-sun.
Adaptable to many soils. Found
in bogs, wet thickets and shaded swamps. Check
hardiness of cultvated varieties. Zone 3 N
Red-Osier
Dogwood
(Cornus stolonifera or sericea)
Grows 8 to 10 feet with similar spread.
Spreads rapidly by underground shoots. Clusters of white flowers in
spring and white to bluish berries. Naturally-
occurring plants have red twigs. Cultivated
varieties have brilliant red or yellow twigs, providing winter interest.
Sun to part-sun. Moist to wet soil. Tolerates
poor drainage. Found along lake and
stream edges and in wet ditches. Good for birds. Zone
3 N Red-Twig
Dogwood
(Cornus baileyi)
Cultivated variety very similar to Red-Osier Dogwood (above) but does not
spread. Zone
3 Redvein
Enkianthus (Enkianthus
campanulatus) Grows 6 to 8
feet. A narrow, upright shrub with pink, bell-shaped flowers with
red veins in spring. Gold to red
fall color. Used ornamentally.
Care is similar to rhododendrons. Sun
to part-sun. Moist soil. Zone
5 Silky
Dogwood
(Cornus amomum)
Very similar to Gray Dogwood. Grows
6 to 10 feet with similar spread. A
loose, multi-stemmed shrub with clusters of white flowers in spring and blue
berries into fall. Rapid growth. Used in streambank protection.
Sun to part-sun. Moist to
wet soil. Tolerates poorly- drained
soil. Some drought tolerance.
Found along lakes and streams and in moist thickets.
Good for birds and wildlife. Zone 3 N Snowball
Bush
(Viburnum opulus)
Also called European Cranberrybush.
Naturally-occurring as well as cultivated varieties are available, both
standard and dwarf. Grows 10 to 12
feet high with a 6 to 10 foot spread. Large,
rounded clusters of double, white flowers cover the plant in late spring. Cultivated varieties usually do not have fruit.
Yellow fall color. Easy to grow. Often
grown in masses and large areas. Sun
to part-sun. Moist soil.
Dwarf form is a mounded, dense shrub with no flowers,
2-3 feet high with a similar spread and maroon fall color.
Dwarf form tolerates some shade. Zone
3 N Spicebush
(Lindera benzoin)
Grows 3 to 12 feet high. An
upright, spreading shrub. Deep-green
leaves with pale undersides. Insignificant
yellow flowers before leaves appear in spring.
Shiny, red fruit close to the stem through summer and fall.
Fruit, leaves and twigs have a spicy smell when crushed.
Part-sun to shade. Moist to wet soil. Found along streams and in damp
woods. Good for birds. Zone 5 N Spirea
(Spirea sp.)
Naturally-occurring and many cultivated varieties and forms also
available. Grow 1 to 8 feet with a
2 to 12 foot spread. Attractive, many-branched shrubs occurring in various forms
and sizes from mounded to arching. Small
leaves and numerous flower clusters in different sizes and colors in late spring
to summer. Some varieties can be
used as groundcovers. Generally hardy and easy to care for. Full sun. Moist to
dry soil. Native species can be found in open, wet meadows and along lakes and
ditches. Zones 3 to 4 N Tatarian
Dogwood
(Cornus alba)
Several varieties ranging from 5 to 10 feet high and with spreads of 4
to 8 feet. Vigorous, upright
shrubs that may sucker to form thickets. Stems
range from bright-red to yellow and are attractive in winter.
Leaves vary from simple green to variegated green with white, cream,
yellow and rose. Sun to part-sun.
Tolerate heavy and damp soil. Zones 3 to 4 Vernal
Witchhazel (Hamamelis
vernalis) Grows 6 to 10 feet
with similar spread. A dense,
multi-stemmed shrub with dangling, fragrant, yellow flowers in spring.
Excellent yellow fall color. Good
for unpruned hedges, screens and groupings. Sun to part-sun. Does best in moist,
well-drained soil. Zone
4 Wayfaring
Tree
(Viburnum lantana)
Naturally-occurring and cultivated.
Grows from 6 to 13 feet high with a somewhat greater spread.
Upright and rounded with compact growth habit. Large, fuzzy, dark-green leaves and many round clusters of
white flowers in spring. Red fruit
in summer turns black in fall. Sun
to part-sun. Tolerates some shade.
Moist soil. Good for birds.
Zones 3 to 4 N Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata)
Naturally grows 6 to 10 feet with similar spread.
Cultivated varieties are somewhat smaller.
Multi-stemmed shrub with slightly glossy leaves.
Small yellow flowers followed
by red berries that persist into winter. Need
both male and female plants for fruit. Yellow
fall color. Sun to part-sun. Moist to wet soil. Tolerates
a variety of soil types. Found in
swampy areas and along ditches but grows equally well in lighter, drier soils.
Winter stems with berries used decoratively.
Good for birds. Zones 3 to 4 N Witherod
(Viburnum cassinoides)
Also called Wild Raisin. Grows
6 to 10 feet with a lesser spread.
A slender, upright shrub with glossy, green leaves.
Round clusters of feathery, white flowers in late spring and whitish
fruit turning blue-black in fall. Red
fall color. Sun to shade. Moist
to wet soil but tolerates drier conditions.
Found in damp clearings, swamps and moist thickets.
Good for birds. Zone 4
N
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