Shrubs in the Arboretum

Blue Boy Hybrid Holly

Ilex x meserveae

Blue Boy

"Blue Boy" holly is a hybrid male holly. Male hollies do not produce berries, only female hollies do. A dense shrubby broadleaf evergreen to 8' tall and wide. Leaves are dark glossy green and serrated. Grows best in full sun. Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil. Avoid planting in exposed windy locations.

Blue Girl Hybrid Holly

Ilex x meserveae

Blue Girl

"Blue Girl" holly is a hybrid female holly. It is the female counterpart to "Blue Boy". Produces bright red berries.

Border Forsythia

Forsythia x intermedia

Of hybrid origin. Deciduous shrub, 8' to 10' tall and 10' to 12' wide. Very vigorous grower. Flowers are a brilliant yellow in early April. Very adaptable, tolerant of urban conditions and partial shade but prefers full sun. Easily pruned or sheared. Needs occasional rejuvenation pruning...cutting entire plant back every two to three years to keep it looking neat.

Border Privet

Lugustrum obtusifolium

Border Privet is a deciduous shrub that is multistemmed from the base, with spreading, twiggy, branches that grows 10-12' tall and 8-10' wide but is usually sheared to maintain size. Summer leaf color is dark green, becoming purplish in the fall. Sprouting occurs from the roots when the tops are cut back severely.

Climbing Hydrangea

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

Native to Japan and China. Deciduous climbing shrub to 30'. Leaves are dark green. Flowers are large flat clusters, lacy in appearance and fragrant. Blooms in June. Bark in winter is very showy, exfoliating and cinnamon-tan in color. Prefers partial shade to full sun in a cool, moist, well-drained soil with a north or east exposure. Slow to establish.

Common Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa

Native to China. Deciduous multi-stemmed shrub to 10' tall and wide. Branches are very dense and spiny. Blooms in April. Normal flower color is red but comes in white, pink and salmon colored varieties. Produces an apple-like fruit. Very adaptable and tolerant.

Common Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Common Lilac is a very common ornamental plant in gardens and parks, because of the attractive, sweet smell of its flowers in late spring which can vary from white to dark lilac in color.

A multi-stemmed, suckering, tall shrub growing up to 15' in height. In late summer, lilacs are attacked by powdery mildew.

Common Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Native to eastern United States and Canada. In the wild often found at forest edges and in swamps. Deciduous multi-stemmed shrub grows to 10'. Bright red berries are only produced on female plants. Berries are held well into winter making them attractive to birds. Prefers moist, acidic soils in full sun, but is somewhat adaptable.

Cripps Golden Hinoki Falsecypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Cripsii'

A conical evergreen with spreading pendulous branches. One of the more popular yellow forms with a moderate growth rate to 20 ft. Native to Japan. Prefers an acidic, well-drained, loamy site in full sun, but will tolerate light shade.

Globe Blue Spruce

Picea pungens “Globosa”

Grows best in well drained soil in full sun. Prefers slightly-acidic soil.
Little, if any, pruning is required. Shows some salt tolerant and is deer resistant.
Dwarf blue spruce is quite versatile in the landscape and makes a great focal point in the garden. Minimal maintenance required.

Hino-Crimson Azalea

Azalea `Hino-Crimson` (Kurume hybrid)

A semi-evergreen shrub which prefers an acidic soil in full to partial sun and needs regular watering to thrive.  Keep the roots cool with a layer of mulch.  Grows 2-4' by 3-5' wide and produces vibrant red flowers in May. Very showy. 

Inkberry Holly

Ilex glabra

Compacta

Native to eastern United States. Typically found in swamps and wet areas. An evergreen shrub to 8' with glossy dark green leaves. Small black berries are borne on female plants. Prefers full sun to partial shade in acidic soil with adequate moisture. Somewhat salt tolerant.

Japanese Pieris

Pieris japonica

Native to Japan and eastern China. Broadleaf evergreen shrub to 8' tall. Slow growth rate. Leaves are glossy green. Spring growth is reddish in color. Flowers are small, white and hang in pendulous clusters to 6" long. Blooms in March/April. Prefers partial shade in a moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Avoid windy locations.

Koreanspice Viburnum

Viburnum carlesii

Native to Korea. Small deciduous shrub with a slow growth rate. Flowers are pinkish white and fragrant. Blooms in late April. Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil in full sun to partial shade. 

Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia “Olympic Fire”

A broadleaf evergreen shrub typically found at the forest edge. Grows from 5 to 12' and gets just as wide. Foliage is dark green and glossy. Showy blooms late May into June. Prefers partial shade in a cool, moist, acidic, organic soil. “Olympic Fire' is an older, very popular form with red-pink flower buds and light pink blooms.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia

Native to southeastern United States. Deciduous multi-stemmed flowering shrub to 8' by 12'. Leaf shape is oak-like. Autumn foliage is a showy reddish purple. The clusters of white flowers are held upright. Blooms in July. Prefers moist, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade.

PJM Rhododendron

Rhododendron

PJM

A hybrid Rhododendron. Small broadleaved evergreen to 6'. Leaves turn to a deep purple in winter. Blooms in late April. Flower color is lavender-pink. Very showy, reliable bloomer. Prefers a cool, moist, well-drained, acidic soil in partial shade to full sun. Avoid windy sites.

Summersweet Clethra

Clethra alnifolia

Rosea

Native to eastern United States. Deciduous upright shrub to 8'. Often multi-stemmed. Showy yellow autumn color. Fragrant pink blooms in July. Prefers moist, acidic soil in full sun to partial shade. Avoid dry sites.

Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba

Elegantissima

Native to northern Asia. A deciduous colonizing shrub to 6'. "Elegantissima" is a red-stemmed variety with light green leaves edged white.

Vanhoutte Spirea

Spiraea x vanhouttei

A hybrid Spirea. Deciduous shrub to 8' tall and 12' wide. Fast growth rate. Leaves are blue-green in color. Very showy white flowers in April/May. A very durable tolerant shrub which prefers full sun to light shade.

Winged Euonymus

Euonymus alatus

Dwarf Burning Bush

Native to northeastern Asia. Deciduous shrub to 10' tall, slow growth rate, very adaptable and tolerant, full sun to partial shade and can be sheared. Tends to be overused in the landscape.

Wintercreeper euonymus

Euonymus fortunei

Emerald Gaiety

Native to China. A semi-evergreen vining shrub with fast growth rate. Full sun to shade. Very tolerant except for wet sites. "Emerald Gaiety" is a popular form with green leaves variegated with a wide white margin.

“Mops” Japanese Falsecypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera “Mops”

An evergreen shrub growing to 6' by 4' that prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun. Bright golden thread-like foliage on dwarf mounding plants becoming pyramidal with age. The foliage tends to brown in winter.