shrubs, see GOLDEN CURRANT, p. 35; NATIVE HONEYSUCKLE ALTERNATIVES, p. 38; OZARK WITCH HAZEL, p. 75; ROUGHLEAF DOGWOOD, p. 49.
See Summer Shrubs for AMERICAN BLACK CURRANT, p. 138, BUTTERFLY SHRUB, p. 129.
See Fall Shrubs for LEATHERWOOD, p. 232, SILVER BUFFALOBERRY, p. 229.
See Spring Trees for SASSAFRAS (SHRUB FORM), p. 99.
More Native Alternatives:
CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 63; DOGWOOD SPP., p. 48; FOTHERGILLA SPP., p. 27; OZARK WITCH HAZEL, p. 75; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; VIBURNUM SPP., p. 69.
See Winter Shrubs for DWARF CHINKAPIN OAK, p. 311.
See Spring Trees for AMERICAN PLUM and other native plums, p. 78; CAROLINA SILVERBELL, p. 80; CHERRY SPP., p. 82; COPENHAGEN HAWTHORN and other native hawthorns, p. 106; FLOWERING DOGWOOD, p. 94; SERVICEBERRY, p. 77.
Nonnative:
DAPHNE, MEZEREUM, SPURGE OLIVE, FEBRUARY DAPHNE. Family: Mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Genus: Daphne (D. mezereum). Origin: Europe. Height/Spread: 3–4 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Short-lived plant with fragrant pink flowers in April to May. Cultivation: Part to full sun, well-drained dry, sandy soil. Problems: All daphne species, hybrids, and cultivars are highly poisonous if eaten and are known to inexplicably die; susceptible to disease, frost, and snow damage. Salt intolerant. Ecological Threat: Invasive in midwestern states. Zones: 5–8.
Daphne (Daphne mezereum)
Native Alternatives:
BLACK HUCKLEBERRY, p. 28; BLUEBERRY SPP., p. 27; CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; CURRANT SPP., p. 35; FOTHERGILLA SPP., p. 27; RHODODENDRUM, AZALEA SPP., p. 56; SAND CHERRY, p. 17; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; SPICEBUSH, p. 22; SWEETSHRUB, p. 19.
See Summer Shrubs for FALSE INDIGO BUSH, p. 132; LEADPLANT, p. 133; NEW JERSEY TEA, p. 134.
See Fall Shrubs for LEATHERWOOD, p. 232.
See Spring Trees for FRINGE TREE, p. 105; SNOWBELL, p. 116.
Nonnative:
DEUTZIA. Family: Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae). Genus: Deutzia; SLENDER DEUTZIA, SLENDER PRIDE OF ROCHESTER (D. gracilis); FUZZY PRIDE-OF-ROCHESTER (D. scabra). Origin: Japan. Height/Spread: 2–5 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Short-lived stems hold white flowers in April to May. Cultivation: Sun best for flowers; rich, moist well-drained soil; naturalizes, requires annual pruning, thinning. Ecological Threat: D. scabra is invasive and naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 5–8.
Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis)
Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Dwarf fothergilla flowers (Fothergilla gardenii)
Native Alternatives:
FOTHERGILLA, DWARF FOTHERGILLA, DWARF WITCHALDER. Family: Witch hazel (Hamamelidaceae). Genus: Fothergilla (F. gardenii). Height/Spread: 2–3 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fragrant, creamy-white tinged with green, early spring bottlebrush-like flowers. Each glaucous blue-green leaf spends a long time displaying its brilliant orange, yellow, and red fall colors. Twiggy, zigzag stems on this multistemmed shrub provide winter interest. Neat mounded appearance, praised as never needing pruning. “This is the perfect shrub for small gardens, particularly—though not exclusively—those that are naturally moist,” writes Patricia A. Taylor.18 Cultivation: Sun best for color, but tolerates light shade; moist to moderately wet, well-drained, organically rich, moist acidic soil. Avoid dry sites. Low maintenance. A southeastern native, fothergilla is recommended for the Midwest by the Morton Arboretum on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems. Note: Threatened or endangered in parts of its native range. Zones: (4) 5–9; LARGE FOTHERGILLA, MOUNTAIN WITCHALDER (F. major). Height/Spread: 6–12 feet. Showier flowers, hardier and more drought tolerant than the dwarf species. Zones: 4–8. Both Species: Tremendously disease and insect resistant. “Classic, multi-season shrubs, fothergillas are tidy, exceptionally low-maintenance plants with fragrant white spring flowers and spectacularly colored fall foliage. Gardeners who find it difficult to select just one should consider the possibility of having both these shrubs in their gardens,” writes Taylor.19 Nature Note: Rich sources of nectar for bees, butterflies,
