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Shrubs
Abelia chinensis – Chinese Abelia
- fragrant white flowers in summer; extremely attractive to butterflies; attracts hummingbirds as well; semi-evergreen to deciduous
- 5-7’ tall and wide with an informal arching habit
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil; drought tolerant
Acca sellowiana – Pineapple Guava
- dramatic and unusual late-spring flowers have pink to white petals and showy red stamens; evergreen foliage is a soothing silvery blue-green
- delicious edible fruit in late summer; multiple plants produce better fruit set
- 6’ tall and wide with a rounded habit
- full sun is best for flowers and fruit, but will tolerate part shade; tolerant of coastal conditions and sandy soil
Aralia spinosa – Devil’s Walkingstick
- Virginia native
- frothy white flower clusters in summer attract nectar seeking insects; dark purple-black fruit in fall is attractive to fruit-eating birds; attractive deciduous foliage can have nice fall color; common name comes from thorny stems
- usually grows 10-20’, but can be larger; clump-forming
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil; tolerant of less than ideal situations
Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’ – Strawberry Shrub
- evergreen with the unusual habit of fruiting and flowering at the same time, usually in December; this year’s white flowers produce next year’s red edible fruit; attractive cinnamon colored bark
- 6’ tall and wide or more with an upright habit
- full sun to fair shade in moist well drained soil; drought tolerant
Baccharis halimifolia – Saltbush
- Virginia native
- fleecy white clouds of flowers in late summer; deciduous
- 5-12’ tall and wide with a multi-stemmed irregular habit
- full to fair shade; tolerant of regular salt flooding, and marshy soils, will also grow in other poor soils
Callicarpa americana – American Beautyberry
- Virginia native
- pale lavender flowers in summer produce clusters of bright purple fruit early to mid-fall; foliage repels mosquitoes
- 3-6’ tall and wide
- full sun to moderate shade in moist soil
Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’ – Raulston’s Allspice
- showy red flowers in late spring; a cross between our native Calycanthus and a Chinese species
- 8’ tall and wide
- full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil
Ceanothus americanus – New Jersey Tea
- Virginia native
- fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer are very attractive to pollinators; turkeys and other birds enjoy the seeds; deciduous
- 3-4’ tall and wide with a rounded habit; slow to establish
- full sun to partial shade; must have well drained soil; large root system makes them drought tolerant, but difficult to transplant once established
Cephalanthus occidentalis – Buttonbush
- Virginia native
- creamy, fragrant white flowers in summer are attractive to pollinators, butterflies, and hummingbirds; birds like the seeds; deciduous foliage turns yellow in the fall
- 5-12’ tall by less in width with an open habit; multi-stemmed
- full to partial sun in moist soil; very tolerant of wet and swampy soils, but not drought tolerant
- Sugar Shack® is 3-4’ tall and wide
Cephalotaxus harringtonia – Japanese Plum Yew
- evergreen conifer; dark green foliage; excellent substitute for yews in Southern climates
- ‘Prostrata’ is a low mounding form at 2-3’ tall, and ‘Fastigiata’ is an upright narrow form at 8-10’ tall by 3-5’ wide
- partial to full shade in moist well drained soil; heat and drought tolerant
Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’ of ‘Lemon Peel’ – Hybrid Jessamine
- clusters of either orange or yellow flowers bloom from early summer through fall; attractive to hummingbirds; nocturnal fragrance; deciduous
- 5-6’ or more with an upright habit
- full to partial sun in moist well drained soil; drought tolerant; in severe winters it will die to the ground, but easily returns
Citrus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’ – Trifoliate Orange
- contorted green branches with talon-like thorns; white flowers in spring, and orange fruit in early fall
- 8-12’ tall by slightly less in width
- full sun to moderate shade in moist well drained soil; drought tolerant
Clethra alnifolia – Sweetpepper Bush, Summersweet
- Virginia native
- 3-5” long racemes of very fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer; extremely attractive to pollinators; deciduous; golden yellow fall foliage
- 3-8’ tall and wide with a suckering spreading habit
- ‘Crystallina’ 5-3’ tall by 3-4’ wide
- Einstein™ 3-4’ tall and wide with 12” curly flower spikes
- ‘Hummingbird’ 3-4’ tall and wide
- ‘Ruby Spice’ 3-6’ tall and wide, the best pink cultivar
- ‘Sixteen Candles’ 3-6’ tall and wide, larger flowers
- ‘Vanilla Spice’ 3-6’ tall and wide, larger flowers
- full sun to partial shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet soils
Corylopsis spicata – Spike Winterhazel
- chains of small yellow flowers bloom in late winter; deciduous; attractive winter silhouette
- 6-8’ tall and wide
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil
- other Corylopsis species are available, but this is my favorite
Cyrilla racemiflora – Swamp Titi, Leatherwood
- Virginia native (into the Caribbean and northern South America)
- slender white, fragrant flower clusters bloom in summer; attractive to butterflies and pollinators; foliage turns orange and red in fall; deciduous to semi-evergreen
- 10-30’ tall by half as wide; can be a large shrub or small tree;
- full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soil; not drought tolerant; very salt tolerant
Edgeworthia chrysantha – Paperbush
- beautiful silvery buds open to golden yellow flowers in winter; very fragrant; foliage may appear tropical
- 6’ tall and wide with a rounded habit, often grown as a standard
- partial shade is best, but tolerant; moist well drained soil
Euonymus americanus – Hearts-a-Bustin’
- Virginia native
- insignificant small, pale green flowers in late spring; showy orange and red fruits in autumn; green stems year-round; sparse foliage can have nice fall color
- 4-6’ tall and wide with a wispy suckering habit
- partial shade in moist well drained soil; tolerant of drought and wet soils
Euonymus phellomanus – Chinese Winged Euonymus
- insignificant spring flowers produce showy pink fruit in fall; attractive corky bark ridges stand out in winter; may have red fall foliage
- 12-15’ tall by half as wide with an upright habit
- sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soil; site where winter sun is caught behind to highlight bark
Fatsia japonica (variegated forms) – Fatsia, Japanese Aralia
- evergreen foliage; white flowers in early winter
- up to 6’ tall by slightly less in width
- full to partial shade in moist well drained soil; drought tolerant
- ‘Murakumo Nishiki’ – yellow and green variegation
- ‘Variegata’ – white and green
- ‘Spider Web’ – delicate white and green
Hamamelis hybrids – Witchhazel
- colorful, fragrant, winter flowers can be yellow, orange, or red; fantastic fall foliage
- can get 15-20’ tall and wide, but usually less
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil
- native Hamamelis are garden-worthy, but the hybrids offer the best flower color
Ilex verticillata – Winterberry
- Virginia native
- small white flowers in spring; copious red fruits on female plants in fall and winter; deciduous; dioecious and must have compatible males and females
- 6-15’ tall by slightly less wide; size varies by cultivar, dwarf forms available
- full sun to partial shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet and heavy soils
Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’ – Pink Anisetree
- hybrid with pinky red “starfish” flowers spring to mid-summer
- 8-10’ tall by 6-8’ wide with an upright habit
- full to partial shade in moist soil
Magnolia figo ‘Port Wine’ – Banana Shrub
- intensely fragrant ivory-pink flowers in early summer; evergreen
- 8-10’ tall and wide; rounded habit
- full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil
Osmanthus fragrans – Fragrant Sweet Olive
- extremely fragrant white flower clusters in fall; evergreen
- 10-15’ tall by 8-10’ wide, maybe larger with age
- full sun to moderate shade in moist well drained soil
- aurantiacus – orange flowers
- ‘Fodingzhu’ – larger flowers
Rhododendron species – Native Azaleas
- atlanticum – Coastal Azalea
- Virginia native
- fragrant white flowers blushed with pink in April; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- 3-6’ tall and wide
- partial shade in consistently moist but well drained soil
- austrinum and hybrids – Florida Flame Azalea
- Southeast native
- flower color varies between pale yellow, gold, bright yellow, orange to red depending on selection; many cultivars and hybrids available; fragrant; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- 8-10’ tall and wide
- partial shade in moist well drained soil
- canescens – Piedmont Azalea
- Southeast native
- sweetly fragrant pink flowers in spring; deciduous; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- 6-15’ tall by slightly less wide
- partial shade in consistently moist but well drained soil
- periclymenoides – Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Virginia native
- soft pink, slightly fragrant flowers in April, sometimes white; deciduous; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- variable 4-10’ tall by less in width
- partial shade in consistently moist but well drained soil
- prunifolium – Plumleaf Azalea
- Southeast Native
- orange-red to red flowers in summer, other colors also; deciduous; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- 8-12’ tall by 6-8’ wide
- partial shade in consistently moist but well drained soil
- viscosum – Swamp Azalea
- Virginia native
- fragrant white flowers in late spring/early summer; deciduous; attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators
- variable 2-8’ tall by less in width
- partial shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet soils and occasional droughts
Sabal minor – Dwarf Palmetto
- Southeast native
- large blue-green fronds can be up to 3’ across; black fruits in fall attract a variety of wildlife; evergreen
- 6×6’ typically, though can get up to 10’
- full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil; drought, wet, and salt tolerant
Spiraea thunbergii – Bridal-wreath
- delicate white February blooms
- 3-5’ tall and wide
- full sun in moist well drained soil
- ‘Fujino Pink’ – pink buds opening to blush to white flowers; fantastic late season fall foliage color
- ‘Ogon’ – bright gold foliage in spring, chartreuse in summer, then back to gold in fall
Stachyurus praecox
- showy butter yellow blooms hang from bare branches in late winter
- up to 10’ tall and wide
- full to partial sun in moist well drained soil
Vaccinium ashei – Rabbiteye Blueberry
- Southeast native
- blush pink and white flowers late winter – early spring; edible blue fruit in early summer; fantastic fall foliage
- 6’ tall by slightly less in width
- full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil
Viburnum obovatum – Walter’s Viburnum
- Southeast native
- clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers appear in spring; red fruit in late summer matures to black; evergreen in mild winters
- up to 20’ tall, but look for dwarf selections
- ‘Densa’ 4-5’ tall and wide
- ‘Miss Schiller’s Delight’ 2-3’ tall by 3’ wide
- ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’ 10-12’ tall and wide
- Full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soil; tolerant of wet soils and slightly salt tolerant
Zenobia pulverulenta – Dusty Zenobia
- Virginia native (barely)
- evergreen to deciduous foliage is a powdery blue green in season turning red, orange to burgundy in fall often persisting through winter; clusters of fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers in spring
- 3-6’ tall and wide
- full sun to light shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet soils and dry after established
Small Trees
Aesculus pavia – Red Buckeye
- Virginia native
- showy red flowers in mid-spring; attractive to hummingbirds; handsome deciduous foliage, but usually falls by late summer
- 12-15’ tall and wide; multi-stemmed shrub, or small tree
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil
Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ – Serviceberry
- native hybrid
- showy white flowers in very early spring; very edible fruit turns from red to blue-black when ripe; great fall color
- 15-25’ tall and wide with a suckering multi-stemmed habit, but can be trained
- full to partial sun in moist well-drained soil; more disease resistant than species
Cercis canadensis – Eastern Redbud
- Virginia native
- purple-pink flowers in early spring; deciduous
- species can get 20-30’ tall by 25-35’ wide; commonly multi-stemmed, but singles too
- Carolina Sweetheart™ – pink, white and green foliage; same size as species
- Flame Thrower® – multiple foliage colors; 15-20’ tall and wide
- Golden Falls® – golden foliage with a weeping habit; 8’ tall by 3’ wide
- Lavender Twist® (‘Covey’) – contorted weeping habit; 5-6’ tall by 6-8’ wide
- ‘Merlot’ – one of the best burgundy foliage selections; more heat tolerant; 10-15’ tall and wide
- ‘Ruby Falls’ – burgundy foliage; weeping habit; 6-8’ tall by 5-6’ wide
- ‘The Rising Sun’- variegated new foliage in orange, yellow to green; decent fall color for a redbud; 8-12’ tall and wide
- light shade to full sun in moist well drained soil
Chionanthus virginicus – Fringetree
- Virginia native
- white lacy flowers in May to early June; males slightly showier; females have blue-black fruit in late summer, attractive to wildlife
- 25-30’ tall and wide
- full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil; adaptable and easy to grow
Cornus elliptica (C. angustata) – Evergreen Dogwood
- showy white flower bracts in late spring-early summer; showy red fruits in late summer; blue-green evergreen foliage
- 15-20’ tall by slightly less in width
- partial shade in moist well drained soil
- ‘Elsbry’ Empress of China® is a commonly available improved cultivar
Diospyros kaki – Japanese Persimmon
- delicious and showy orange fruits in fall; can be astringent or non-astringent depending on variety; colorful fall foliage; yellow-green flowers are interesting but not terribly showy
- most named cultivars will stay under 30’, but the straight species can get larger; dwarf selections available
- full sun in moist well drained soil
Euonymus carnosus – Spindle Tree
- fragrant clusters of showy white flowers late spring to summer; coral red fruits in autumn; spectacular burgundy red fall foliage late in the season; deciduous
- 12-16’ tall by 8-10’ wide; larger with age
- full to partial sun in moist well drained soil
Euscaphis japonica – Korean Sweetheart Tree
- insignificant flowers produce showy, red, heart-shaped fruit capsules that split open revealing blue-black seeds; deciduous, colorful fall foliage
- 12-20’ tall by 8-10’ wide
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil
Heptacodium miconioides – Seven Son Flower
- fragrant white flower clusters in late summer are followed by dusky pink calyx; attractive, multi-colored exfoliating bark; deciduous
- 10-20’ tall by half as wide
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil; tolerant of less than ideal conditions
Lithocarpus edulis ‘Variegata’ – Tanbark Oak
- large shrub/small tree noted for its variegated evergreen foliage
- 20- 30′ tall by 15-25′ wide
- full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil
Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei – Ashe Magnolia
- rare Southeastern native
- very large, fragrant flowers in spring, large foliage as well
- dwarf variety only getting 10-15’ tall by 8-10’ wide
- partial shade is best, but can take full sun with adequate moisture
Magnolia virginiana – Sweetbay Magnolia
- Virginia native
- sweetly fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer; cone-like fruit with bright red seeds; attracts birds; host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail; evergreen to deciduous depending on weather and specimen
- 10-30’ tall by less in width; larger with age
- ‘Mattie Mae Smith’ – has variegated yellow and green foliage
- Magnolia virginiana australis – reliably evergreen
- full sun to partial shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet soils and salt
Styrax japonica – Japanese Snowbell
- beautiful white bell-shaped flowers in late spring; pink flowered and weeping forms available; no appreciable fall color
- 20-30’ tall and wide, graceful wide-spreading tree with horizontal branches,
- full sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soil high in organic matter
- ‘Carillon’ is a weeping form
- ‘Pink Chimes’ is a pink flowered form
- obassia – Fragrant Snowbell has leaves and flowers larger than S. japonicus, very fragrant, attractive curving branches
- S. americanus – American Snowbell is a Virginia native wetland species
Taxodium distichum – Bald Cypress (Dwarf Selections)
- Virginia native cultivars
- ‘Peve Minaret’ 6-10’ tall by 3-5’ wide; dense foliage an pyramidal habit
- ‘Cascade Falls’ 8-20’ tall by 5-8’ wide with a crazy weeping habit; may benefit from staking
- like all Taxodium, bright green fern like foliage matures to darker green; beautiful russet orange fall foliage
- full sun to light shade in moist soil; tolerant of wet feet and brackish water
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis – Hercules’ Club, Southern Prickly Ash
- Virginia native
- greenish white flower clusters in spring; attractive red fruit; mostly known for its thorny trunk; host plant for the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
- 15-30’ tall by 10-25’ wide
- full to partial sun in moist well drained soil; tolerant of poor sandy soils, drought, and salt
Les Parks
Norfolk Botanical Garden
6700 Azalea Garden Rd.
Norfolk, VA 23518
les.parks@nbgs.org
757-441-5830 ext. 452
