60; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20.
See Summer Shrubs for HYDRANGEA SPP., p. 143.
Red chokeberry flowers (Photinia pyrifolia) Also see p. 270
Nonnative:
ALDER SPP. See Winter Trees, p. 316.
Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Nonnative:
AUTUMN OLIVE & RUSSIAN OLIVE. See Fall Shrubs, p. 229.
Nonnative:
AZALEA. See RHODODENDRON, p. 56.
Nonnative:
BEAUTYBUSH. Family: Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae). Genus: Kolkwitzia (K. amabilis). Origin: China. Height/Spread: 6–10 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Short-lived, pink flowers in late spring are its feature of interest. Its arching, leggy, weedy-looking branches frequently die and need pruning; poor to no fall color. Cultivation: Full sun, moist well-drained soil, regular watering, high-maintenance pruning. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 5–8.
Native Alternatives:
AMERICAN BLADDERNUT, p. 41; AMERICAN SMOKETREE, p. 65; CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; ELDERBERRY SPP., p. 29; FOTHERGILLA SPP., p. 27; NINEBARK, p. 44; SCENTLESS MOCK ORANGE, p. 46.
See Spring Trees for AMERICAN PLUM and other native plums, p. 78; FRINGE TREE, p. 105; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 77.
Nonnative:
BLADDERNUT, WHITE BLADDERNUT, EUROPEAN BLADDERNUT. Family: Bladdernut (Staphyleaceae). Genus: Staphylea (S. pinnata). Origin: Europe, Asia Minor. Height/Spread: 10–15 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fragrant flowers in May to June, bladder-like seeds. Cultivation: Full to part sun, well-drained soil. Naturalizes. Zones: 6–8.
Bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata)
Native Alternatives:
AMERICAN BLADDERNUT, p. 41; FOTHERGILLA SPP., p. 27.
See Spring Trees for AMERICAN PLUM and other native plums, p. 78; FRINGE TREE, p. 105; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 77; SNOWBELL, p. 116.
Nonnative:
Flowering almond (Prunus glandulosa)
CHERRY, PLUM, ALMOND. Family: Rose (Rosaceae). Genus: Prunus. Problem Note: Compared to other ornamentals, Prunus species live short lives (15–20 years). Only members of the genus Prunus, including cherries, plums, almonds, apricots, and peaches, are afflicted by the fungus called black knot; it occurs on Japanese, European, and American species. Applications of costly fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides containing permethin aimed at the numerous insect pests, root rot, and the bacterial and fungal diseases that plague the ornamental species pose dangers to adults and children, as well as to butterflies, bees, and birds. The early blooms are susceptible to frost damage. Cultivation: Sun, regular pruning, watering, fertilizing, lack of crowding. Moist, well-drained acid to near neutral soils. Cultivar Note: Suckers from roots of purple-leaved grafted cultivars will be green, not purple; FLOWERING ALMOND, CHINESE PLUM (P. glandulosa). Origin: China, Japan. Height/Spread: 4–5 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Pink/white flowers in April, no fall color, unkempt appearance. “It has a suckering tendency and will sneak around the garden and the neighborhood, appearing in places it was never planted,” writes Michael A. Dirr.11 The life span of P. glandulosa ‘Sinensis’, the dwarf flowering almond cultivar, is less than 10 years. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states and Canada. Zones: 4–8; FLOWERING PLUM, FLOWERING ALMOND (Amygdalus triloba, syn. P. triloba). Height/Spread: 10–15 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Multistemmed shrub/tree, pink flowers. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 3–7; NANKING CHERRY, DOWNY CHERRY (Cerasus tomentosa, syn. P. tomentosa). Origin: China, Tibet. Height/Spread: 6–10 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Inconspicuous white/light pink flowers in April. Ecological Threat: Naturalized in midwestern states and Canada. Zones: 2–7; PURPLELEAF CHERRY, PURPLE-LEAF SANDCHERRY (Prunus × cistena). Hybrid of P. pumila and P. cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’. Origin: Asia and North America. Height/Spread: 8 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Pink flowers in mid- to late spring, sap-oozing stems, red-purple summer leaves. When top grafted on root stock with green leaves to form a small accent tree, suckers will produce green leaves. Life Span: 10–15 years; can die one branch at a time. Zones: 4–8.
Also see Spring Trees for CHERRY, PLUM, p. 81.
Native Alternatives:
SAND CHERRY, GREAT LAKES SANDCHERRY. Family: Rose (Rosaceae). Genus: Prunus (P.
