Native Alternative:
SCENTLESS MOCK ORANGE, APPALACHIAN MOCK-ORANGE. Family: Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae). Genus: Philadelphus (P. inodorus, P. grandiflorus). Height: 6–12 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fragrant, sweet citrus blossom–scented showy clusters of large bright white flowers decorate this erroneously named shrub in May to June. Its arching branches and exfoliating orange bark provide winter interest. Cultivation: Sun, or at least part sun, and moist soils best. Drought tolerant. Note: Threatened in parts of the Midwest. Nature Note: Special value to native bees; hosts 4 species of butterflies and moths. Zones: 5–8.
More Native Alternatives:
AMERICAN BLADDERNUT, p. 41; CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; FOTHERGILLIA, p. 27; GOLDEN CURRANT, p. 35; NINEBARK, p. 44; OZARK WITCH HAZEL, p. 75; SPICEBUSH, p. 22; WAFER ASH, p. 45.
See Spring Trees for CHOKECHERRY, p. 83; FRINGE TREE, p. 105; SASSAFRAS (SHRUB FORM), p. 99; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; SNOWBELL, p. 116.
Scentless mock orange (Philadelphus inodorus)
Oriental photinia (Photinia villosa)
Nonnative:
ORIENTAL PHOTINIA. Family: Rose. Genus: Photinia (P. villosa). Origin: Japan, Korea, China. Height/Spread: 10–15 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers in May to June, red fall fruit. Cultivation: Sun or part sun; prolific seed producer, creates thickets. Zones: 4–8.
Native Alternatives:
NINEBARK, p. 44; RED CHOKEBERRY, p. 13; SCENTLESS MOCK ORANGE, p. 46; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; SPICEBUSH, p. 22.
See Spring Trees for AMERICAN PLUM and other native plums, p. 78; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 77.
Nonnative:
PRIVET, PRIVET HEDGE. Family: Olive (Oleaceae). Genus: Ligustrum. Note: Several privet species occur and they are very hard to distinguish. Cultivar Note: Ornamentally, privet cultivars (ex: variegated) often revert to their original green; AMUR PRIVET (L. obtusifolium subsp. suave, syn. L. amurense). Origin: China. Height: 12–15 feet. Spread: 8–10 feet. Ornamental Attributes: A not particularly attractive shrub used for hedges, whose insignificant white flowers are often pruned to oblivion; black berry-like fruits; some find its fragrance objectionable; produces suckers. “In the Midwest, this species is as common as grass,” writes Michael Dirr, recalling city blocks “where virtually every house had a hedge in front and in back and shared one on either side with the neighbor.”46 Cultivation: Full sun to part shade, most soil types, regular pruning. Zones: 3–7; BORDER PRIVET, REGAL PRIVET, BLUNT-LEAVED PRIVET (L. obtusifolium). Origin: Japan, Korea, China. Ornamental Attributes: Resembles Amur privet. Zones: 3–7; CALIFORNIA PRIVET (L. ovalifolium). Origin: Japan. Zones: 7–10; CHINESE PRIVET (L. sinense). Zones: 6–9; EUROPEAN PRIVET, COMMON PRIVET (L. vulgare). Origin: Europe/Africa. Zones: 4–7; JAPANESE PRIVET (L. japonica). Origin: Japan. Zones: 7–10; Privet Ecological Threat: Amur, border, European, and Japanese privet are invasive in parts of the Midwest. In Indiana, California privet is ranked a “caution” invasive species. Privets are prolific producers of seed, and birds spread them far from the original plantings. All privet species are a major threat to all natural landscapes.47 Neither the species nor their cultivars should be planted. Contrary to nursery representations, cultivars of invasive nonnative plants that are sold as not invasive and “safe to natural areas” do produce viable seeds and the seedlings—like their parents—naturalize or are invasive.48
European privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Native Alternatives:
DOGWOOD. Family: Dogwood (Cornaceae). Genus: Cornus. Cultivation Note: Can grow dogwoods as shrubs, hedges, trees, clumps, or thickets. Dogwoods commonly grow as understory shrubs or trees in naturally moist, fertile soils high in organic matter, and never in poorly drained locations or hot dry areas; however, they are adaptable to several types of soils. Their primary demands are good soil drainage and protection from drought, including deep watering during summer droughts. They do best when planted in association with larger trees that provide light or moderate shade, though some species do best in sun; ALTERNATELEAF DOGWOOD, PAGODA DOGWOOD (C. alternifolia). Height: 15–25 feet. Spread: 20–30 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fragrant, yellow- or creamy-white flowers in May to early June. Green fruits turn pink or red, then blue-black held in red pedicels in June or July, often with all the colors present at the same time. Fall leaves are deep reddish-purple. Tiers of horizontal branches tapering toward the top explain the common name, pagoda dogwood. This is “a highly prized ornamental tree,” writes C. Colston Burrell.49 “The shrub has year-round appeal. Everything about it is pretty and there is something unique for every season,” write Weeks and Weeks.50 Cultivation: For tree size, needs full or partial sun in moist soil. Remains a shrub in shade. To restrain golden canker disease, needs open sunny location, plenty of space, mulch over root system but away from the trunks, prune out affected branches, and, importantly, water deeply during summer droughts. Tolerates black walnut tree toxicity. Zones: 3–7; GRAY DOGWOOD, SWAMP DOGWOOD,
