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Plant Database
Landscape Shrubs C - D by Common Name

Printer Friendly Version (PDF)Printer Friendly Version - All Shrubs (PDF 743 KB)

Common Name Scientific Name Comments 
 
Carissa Holly
Thumbnail picture of Carissa Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa') shrub row.  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'
  • Size: small (3' tall by 3' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Fruit: female clone so no red fruits
  • Culture: best in rich, moist soil. Avoid poorly drained soils.; sun or shade
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: excellent for foundation plantings or massed
Carolina Cherrylaurel
Thumbnail picture closeup of Carolina Cherrylaurel (Prunus caroliniana) white flower racemes.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Prunus caroliniana
  • Size: large (20' tall by 15' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: showy, white racemes March
  • Fruit: not overly showy, black fruit
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen; leaves a dark, glossy green
  • Culture: sun or tolerates shade; adaptable to soil type; May have some winter dieback on zone 6
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: hedge or screen; Almost a weed in some woodland areas even though a native plant
Chastetree;
Vitex

Thumbnail picture of Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) shrub with purple flowers  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Vitex agnus-castus
  • Size: large (12' tall by 12' wide) deciduous shrub or small tree
  • Flowers: showy, summer, white, purple, pink
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: sun; Very heat and drought tolerant
  • Use: large shrub or small tree
Chinese Fringeflower
Thumbnail picture of Chinese Fringeflower (Loropetalum chinense) shrub.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Loropetalum chinense
  • Size: large (15' tall by 18' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: strap-like flowers spectacular, April; L. chinense are white; most cultivars are striking pink
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen, Leaves small
  • Culture: full sun to partial shade; moist soil best (especially July/August); Reliably cold hardy in zones 7 and 8
  • Disease/insect: none
  • Use: mixed shrub border; foundation if sheared/pruned; massed
  • Cultivars: species has green leaves and white flowers Most popular cultivars for burgundy foliage/pink flowers (Plum Delight™, ‘Burgundy’); green leaves/pink flowers (‘Blush’)
Chinese Podocarpus
Thumbnail picture of Chinese Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus) showing strap-like leaves Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Podocarpus macrophyllus
  • Size: large (18' tall by 9' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: not significant
  • Fruit: not showy, but interesting to look at
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen; Strap-like leaves
  • Culture: full sun; adaptable to soil type; Reliably cold hardy in zone 8
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: Good choice for hedge/screen in south Arkansas
Common Boxwood
Thumbnail picture of Common Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) shrub. Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Buxus sempervirens
  • Size: large (12' tall by 12' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers/fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen
  • Culture: best in rich, moist soil, partial sun, but more tolerant of sun and heat than Littleleaf Boxwood (B. microphylla). Better suited to south/central Arkansas than Littleleaf Boxwood (B. micorphylla)
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: screen/hedge
Common Cherrylaurel;  English Laurel
Thumbnail picture of Common Cherrylaurel (Prunus laurocerasus) green hedge.  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Prunus laurocerasus
  • Size: large (15' tall by 20' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: white, racemes, typically not as showy as other Prunus
  • Fruit: red changing black; not dramatic
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen
  • Culture: sun to partial shade; adaptable to soil type
  • Disease/insect: ‘shotholes’ in leaves caused by fungus, aesthetic issue
  • Use: hedge or screen (but wide unless you shear/prune)
  • Cultivars: rarely see species in Arkansas. Cultivars more common in the trade are narrow leaf cultivars that are smaller in size: 'Otto Luyken', 'Schipkaensis', ‘Zabeliana'
Common Lilac
Thumbnail picture closeup of Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) purple flower clusters  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Syringa vulgaris
  • Size: large (10' tall by 8' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: hundreds of cultivars, flower colors white, pink, purple; exceptional fragrance
  • Fruit: not significant (dry capsule)
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: full sun; adaptable to most soils; Best suited to Northwest Arkansas (cooler)
  • Disease/insect: lilac borer; powdery mildew
  • Uses: deciduous hedge
  • Cultivars: hundreds
Common Smokebush
Thumbnail picture of Common Smokebush (Continus coggygria) white and red forms with flowers  Select for larger images and information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Cotinus coggygria
  • Size: large (10' tall by 8' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: actual flowers not showy, but fine colored hairs give impression of flowers Summer impact
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: generally not significant
  • Culture: full sun. Best in rich, moist soil but fairly tough
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: specimen
  • Cultivars: several, most people prefer deep purple selections ('Royal Purple', 'Velvet Cloak')
Common Sweetshrub
Thumbnail picture closeup of Common Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) red flower with green foliage.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Calycanthus floridus
  • Size: medium (6' tall by 8' wide) deciduous shrub. Irregular habit
  • Flowers: unique; May (sporadically into summer). deep red, 1 inch
  • Fruit: not showy
  • Fall color: yellowish
  • Culture: best in partial sun to shade. Best in rich, moist soil
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: naturalizing
  • Cultivar: yellow flowering form: 'Athens' ('Katherine')
Convexa Japanese Holly
Thumbnail picture closeup of Convexa Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Convexa') foliage.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Ilex crenata 'Convexa'
  • Size: small (2' tall by 4' wide) broadleaf evergreen, leaf cupped down (convex)
  • Culture: best in rich, moist soil, sun or shade
  • Use: commonly used in foundation plantings
  • Very similar to Dwarf Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Compacta')
Cranberrybush viburnum
Thumbnail picture of a Cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Viburnum trilobum
  • Size: 9’ tall by 9’ wide
  • Flowers: White in late April/early May
  • Fruit: ¼”-diameter, lipstick red
  • Fall color: in northern climates is a deep maroon
  • Culture: fairly adaptable, moist soil best, partial sun
  • Use: massed, specimen, filler, low hedge
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Thumbnail picture closeup of Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) red berry-like fruit  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Cotoneaster apiculatus
  • Size: small (18" tall by 4' wide) deciduous shrub; low arching branches
  • Flowers: insignificant
  • Fruit: dramatic, red, cranberry sized
  • Fall color: in northern climates is a deep maroon
  • Culture: best in rich, moist, well drained soil, full sun
  • Disease/insect: fireblight
  • Use: rock gardens, ground cover in full sun, slopes
Dog-hobble
Thumbnail picture of Dog-hobble (leucothoe axillaris) shrub.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Leucothoe axillaris
  • Size: low/medium (3' tall by 5' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: not overwhelming, April
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: broadleaf evergreen; winter foliage often changes to maroon
  • Culture: best in partial sun; moist soil best
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: mass; groundcover
Doublefile Viburnum
Thumbnail picture of Doublefile Virburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum) shrub in maroon fall color  Select for larger images and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum
  • Size: large (10' tall by 10' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: very showy. Outer ring of sterile flowers with inner fertile flowers
  • Fruit: significant. Red fruit (drupe) turns black late summer
  • Fall color: maroon
  • Culture: sun to partial shade; rich, moist soil best
  • Use: massed, back of shrub bed
  • Cultivars: 'Lanarth', 'Mariesii', 'Shasta', 'Summer Snowflake'
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Thumbnail picture of several Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica') conical green forms.  Select for larger image and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun.
Picea glauca 'Conica'
  • Size: tight (appears sheared), pyramidal conifer; 7’ tall x 4’ wide
  • Culture: full sun; demands constant moisture in summer; Best in Northwest Arkansas (cooler)
Dwarf Flowering Almond
Thumbnail picture of Dwarf Flowering Almond (Prunus glandolusa) shrub covered with pink flowers  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Prunus glandulosa
  • Size: small (3' tall by 5' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: dramatic early spring (late March/early April) flowers, double, pink ('Sinensis' or 'Rosea Plena')
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: full sun; provide adequate moisture in summer
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: middle of mixed shrub border; more common in older landscapes
Dwarf Fothergilla
Thumbnail picture closeup of Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) thimble-like white flowers  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Fothergilla gardenii
  • Size: small (4' tall by 4' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: showy, early spring, white, 'thimble-like' flowers; often re-blooms in fall
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: nice flame fall color
  • Culture: best in rich, moist soil; best in partial sun. Provide adequate moisture if located in full sun
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: massed, mixed shrub border
Dwarf Japanese Holly
Thumbnail picture of Dwarf Japanese (Ilex crenata 'Compacta') shrub.  Select for larger image and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Ilex crenata 'Compacta'
  • Size: small (2' tall by 4' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Fruit: black, not showy
  • Culture: best in rich, moist soil. Avoid poorly drained soil; sun or shade
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Use: commonly used in foundation plantings
  • Other similar cultivars: ‘Helleri’, ‘Hetzii’, ‘Repandens’
Dwarf NandinaThumbnail picture of Dwarf Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Atropurpurea Nana') shrub with red winter foliage.  Select for larger image and more information.  Full sun icon - yellow sun. Nandina domestica 'Atropurpurea Nana'
  • Size: Small (18" tall by 18" wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Group of dwarf forms; most have intense reddish foliage in winter; most lack significant flowers/fruits
  • Includes selections such as Gulf Stream™, 'Harbour Dwarf', 'Moon Bay'
Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Thumbnail picture of Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Nana') as foundation planting.  Select for larger images and more information.  Partial sun icon - half yellow half black sun.
Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'
  • Size: small (3' tall by 5' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: insignificant
  • Fruit: not overwhelming on this form, red
  • Fall color: none/broadleaf evergreen
  • Culture: sun or shade; rich, moist soil best
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: common in foundation plantings
  • Many similar cultivars ('Schillings'/'Stokes Dwarf'; Bordeaux™; 'Straughan's Dwarf')

Shrubs E - I by Common Name
Back to Landscape Shrub Index


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University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture
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Last Date Modified 07/15/2008
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