22.
See Summer Shrubs for BUTTERFLY SHRUB, p. 129; PRICKLYASH, p. 124.
See Fall Shrubs for LEATHERWOOD, p. 232; SILVERBERRY, p. 229.
Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens)
Nonnative:
SIBERIAN PEASHRUB. Family: Pea (Fabaceae). Genus: Caragana (C. arborescens). Origin: Siberia. Height: 10–15 feet. Spread: 8–12 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Thorny plant with yellow pea-like flowers in late May and alternate, compound leaves. “No beauty by most standards.”73 Cultivation: Full sun, most soils, pruning. Naturalizes by flinging seeds several feet away. Ecological Threat: Invasive in the Midwest. Zones: 2–7.
Native Alternatives:
CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; FOTHERGILLA, p. 27; GOLDEN CURRANT, p. 35; NATIVE HONEYSUCKLE ALTERNATIVES, p. 38; NINEBARK, p. 44; OZARK WITCH HAZEL, p. 75; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; SPICEBUSH (FORSYTHIA OF THE WILDS), p. 22; VIBURNUM SPP., p. 69.
See Summer Shrubs for AMERICAN BLACK CURRANT, p. 138; PRICKLYASH, p. 124; ST. JOHN’S WORT, p. 145.
See Fall Shrubs for LEATHERWOOD, p. 232; SILVER BUFFALOBERRY, p. 229.
See Spring Trees for AMERICAN PLUM and other native plums, p. 78; CAROLINA SILVERBELL, p. 80; CHOKECHERRY, p. 83; SASSAFRAS (SHRUB FORM), p. 99; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 77.
Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)
Nonnative:
SMOKETREE, EUROPEAN SMOKETREE. Family: Sumac (Anacardiaceae). Genus: Cotinus (C. coggygria). Origin: Europe, China. Height/Spread: 10–15 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Yellow flowers, pedicels with pink-purplish hairs give smoke-like appearance; highly unreliable fall color. Cultivation: Full sun, well-drained soil. Pruning prevents flowering. “Its cultivars are very common in the landscape trade. Some of them maintain a raucous purple leaf color throughout the growing season.”74 The purple-leafed cultivars are susceptible to mildew.75 Dioecious: male plant needed for females to produce fruit. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in parts of the Midwest. Zones: 5–8.
Native Alternatives:
AMERICAN SMOKETREE, SMOKETREE, SMOKE BUSH. Family: Sumac (Anacardiaceae). Genus: Cotinus (C. obovatus). Height/Spread: 10–30 feet. Large shrub or small tree. Ornamental Attributes: 6–10-inch clusters of red or purple flowers with pink-purplish hairs form ethereal clouds of pink and purple in spring, providing a smoke-like appearance. Silky pink spring leaves turn blue-green then flaming orange, red, yellow, or reddish purple in fall. Gnarled limbs and dark flaking bark provide winter interest. “This small tree has so much to offer us, it is a mystery to me why it is virtually unknown in gardens,” writes William Cullina.76 “Enough cannot be said about the fall color—it must be seen to be believed,” write Gilman and Watson.77 Cultivation: Full sun best. Wide range of soils; prefers well-drained, alkaline, rocky, and somewhat infertile loams; does well in somewhat acidic soil. Tolerates long droughts, urban conditions. Disease resistant. Rich soil and too much water create a weak plant. “Basically this tree can be planted and forgotten. Once established, it thrives on neglect.”78 Needs a male to enable females to produce flowers and fruits. Despite its rarity, the American smoketree is tough and easy to grow, writes Billy Bruce Winkles.79 Nature Note: Visited by bees and butterflies, but few other insects; usually avoided by deer. Finches eat the female tree’s small seeds. Though native to parts of the southern Midwest, it is designated a “tree for 2050” by the Chicago Botanic Garden. Zones: 4–8.
American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)
More Native Alternatives:
See Spring Trees for CAROLINA SILVERBELL, p. 80; CHOKECHERRY, p. 83.
Bridalwreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia)
Nonnative:
SPIREA, BRIDALWREATH SPIREA. Family: Rose (Rosaceae). Genus: Spiraea (S. prunifolia). Origin: Japan, China, Korea. Height: 4–9 feet. Spread: 6–8 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers in spring. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained, preferably acid soil. Zones: 4–8; SPIRAEA VANHOUTTEI, VAN HOUTTE SPIREA (Spiraea × vanhouttei). Origin: China. Height: 10 feet. Spread: 20 feet. Ornamental Attributes: White spring flowers. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in much of the Midwest. Zones: 3–9.
See Summer Shrubs for BUMALD SPIREA, p. 126; JAPANESE SPIREA, p. 126.
Native Alternatives:
CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; NINEBARK, p. 44; SCENTLESS MOCK ORANGE, p. 46; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p.
