LIST OF SUSTAINABLE TREES AND SHRUBS

Abies cilicica ............................. Cilician Fir .............. zone 5-7 ........ 60-70 ft x 20-30 ft
Tolerates heavy clay soils, cold temperatures.

Abies concolor .......................... White Fir ................. zone 4-7 ........ 30-50 ft x 15-30 ft

Moist, well drained, sandy-gravelly loams, tolerates heat, drought, cold, intolerant of wet soils. Full sun preferred. Blue-gray needle color, gray to purple upright cones. photo

Abies homolepis ........................ Nikko Fir ................ zone 5-6 ........ 30-50 ft x 20-30 ft

Moist, well drained soil, pH adaptable, little maintenance required.

Acanthopanax sieboldianus ......... Fiveleaf Aralia .......... zone 4-8 ......... 8-10 ft x 8-10 ft

Easily transplanted, withstands adverse conditions, tolerates dry soils, urban tolerant, tolerates clay-sand-acid soils, sun - shade. Suckers readily: may be maintenance problem if not sited correctly and allowed ample room; thorny.

Acer buergerianum .................... Trident Maple ........... zone 6-8 ........ 20-25 ft x equal spread

Well drained, acid soil; good drought resistance, full sun. Good under utility lines. Attractive bark on mature specimens.

Acer campestre .......................... Hedge Maple ........... zone 5-8 ........ 25-35 ft x equal spread
Adaptable species, prefers average garden soils but tolerates dry conditions and compaction, acid-alkaline, sun-light shade, withstands shearing. Good under utility lines. photo

Acer ginnala .............................. Amur Maple ............. zone 2-8 ..... 15 - 25 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soils but adaptable to wide range of conditions, sun-shade, tolerates shearing. Usually multi-stemmed but can be purchased as a single stemmed specimen; can also be grown as a container specimen. Good under utility lines. Photo.

Acer griseum ............................. Paperbark Maple ....... zone 5-8 ..... 20-30 ft x equal spread
Full sun-partial shade, moist well drained soils. Relatively maintenance free. Outstanding cinnamon colored exfoliating bark and red-scarlet fall foliage offer year round interest in the landscape. Slow growing.

Acer palmatum .......................... Japanese Maple ......... zone 5-8b ... 15-25 ft x variable
Moist, well drained soils high in organic matter, full sun to dappled shade, dissectum types scorch in full sun if drought stressed. Sited properly, this is an excellent low maintenance plant. Red leaf forms seem to be somewhat more hardy and stress tolerant than the green leaf forms.

Acer pseudoplatanus .................. Sycamore Maple ....... zone 4-7 ..... 40-60 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to soil types, very salt and wind tolerant, excellent for coastal areas, full sun-light shade. Coarse textured dark green leaves with no fall color. Several improved cultivars available. Potentially invasive.

Acer rubrum ............................. Swamp Red Maple ..... zone 3-9 .....40-60 ft x equal spread
Tolerates most soils but prefers moist, acid conditions, excellent for wet conditions. An important tree for urban landscapes; in full sun it will develop clear red fall foliage; many excellent cultivars available, e.g. 'October Glory', 'Red Sunset'.

Acer tataricum .......................... Tatarian Maple zone 3-8 20 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to a wide range of conditions, drought tolerant once established, sun-light shade. Similar to A. ginnala in attributes.

Acer triflorum ........................... Three-flowered Maple zone 5-7 20-30 ft x equal spread
Moist, acid soils, full sun-partial shade. A good small tree with exfoliating bark, the trifoliate leaves develop a warm yellow to red color in the fall. Good for many different landscape uses.

Aesculus parviflora .................... Bottlebrush Buckeye zone 4-8 8-12 ft x 8-15 ft
Moist, well drained soil with high organic matter, drought intolerant, pH adaptable, prefers acid, sun-shade. Large white flowers are formed in July, overall growth habit is clumping, as it suckers readily from the base. Good yellow fall color.

Aesculus pavia ........................... Red Buckeye zone 5-8 20/25 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soils, full sun/light shade, red flowers in 4"- 8" panicles in mid spring. Dark green leaves with no appreciable fall color; early fall abscission. Less prone to leaf scorch than A. hippocastanum but subject to blotch. Variability in flower color in the species, 'Atrosanguinea' has consistent deep red flowers.

Alnus incana .............................. White Alder zone 3-6 40/60 ft x 20/40 ft
A. glutinosa ............................... Common or Black Alder
Moist to wet soils, full sun/light shade, pH tolerant, does well on infertile sites as it fixes nitrogen. Several cultivars available, including 'Aurea' with yellow leaves and 'Laciniata', a bright green cut-leaf form. Especially useful for wet or naturalized areas. Alnus rugosa (Speckled Alder) is a native shrub that reaches 15/20' and is useful for wetland plantings. Somewhat invasive in the northeast.

Amelanchier arborea ................... Shadbush, Serviceberry zone 4-9 variable
A. canadensis, A. laevis
Moist, acid soils, good for wet and-or naturalized areas, sun-shade. Newer cultivars are reported to be less subject to pest and disease pressure. Generally multi-stemmed with white flowers in early spring followed by purple-black berries in summer. Good fall foliage.

Aralia spinosa ............................ Hercules Club zone 4-9 10/20 ft x wide
Tolerant of adverse soil conditions, full sun/light shade, pH tolerant. Spiny stems and pinnately compound leaves that reach 64" in length. Careful siting required due to a proliferation of shoots from the base; can become an impenetrable thicket. Potentially invasive.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ............... Bearberry zone 2-5 6-12 in x 2-4 ft
Does best in poor, dry, sandy soils, difficult to transplant, full sun, acidic conditions. Should be grown as container plants. Native.

Aronia arbutifolia ........................ Red Chokeberry zone 4-9 6-10 ft x 3-5 ft
A. melanocarpa ...........................Black Chokeberry
Adaptable to various soils, tolerates both wet and dry soils, sun-light shade but best fruit production in full sun. Good for massing or naturalizing. White flower clusters in spring, red berries that persist into winter. Aronia melanocarpa is a smaller shrub with black fruit.

Aucuba japonica .......................... Japanese Aucuba zone 7+ 6 ft x 6 ft
Moist soils high in organic matter, must be planted in shade, will scorch in full sun; red berries on female plants, leathery green leaves will be evergreen in a mild winter. Variegated cultivars available.

Azalea ........................................ (see Rhododendron species and cultivars)

Berberis gladwyensis ................... William Penn Barberry zone 7+ 4 ft x 4 ft
Moist, acidic soils, full sun to light shade, transplants easily. Yellow flowers in April; dark evergreen leaves turn bronze in winter.

Berberis julianae .......................... Wintergreen Barberry zone 5-8 6/8 ft x 10/12 ft
Tolerant of most soil conditions except wet. Full sun/light shade. Dark green spiny evergreen leaves, may show winter damage in exposed, windy locations; considered the hardiest of the evergreen barberries. Best left unpruned; makes an effective thorny hedge.

Berberis x mentorensis ................. Mentor Barberry zone 6-8 5 ft x 5 ft
Culture similar to the above; stiff, upright growth habit, dark green leathery foliage, semi-evergreen. As above, best left unpruned; an excellent hedge material.

Berberis verriculosa ..................... Warty Barberry zone 6-8 3/6 ft x 3 ft
Culture similar to the above; leaves dark green above, whitish undersurface turning a dark purple in winter. Good compact growth, useful as hedging material, may show winter damage in exposed, windy locations.

Betula nigra ................................. River Birch zone 4-9 40-70 ft x 40 ft
Less susceptible to leaf miner, resistant to bronze birch borer; prefers moist well drained soils but tolerates dry conditions once established. 'Heritage' is a superior cultivar with exfoliating bark that is a lighter salmon color than the species. It is a rapid grower once established in the landscape.

Callicarpa dichotoma ..................... Purple Beautyberry zone 5-8 3-4 ft x 3 ft
Moist, well drained soils, full sun for best fruiting; should be pruned hard in late winter for best fruiting effects, may be considered a maintenance problem for this reason. Produces abundant purple berries on arching branches in the fall.

Calycanthus floridus ...................... Carolina Allspice zone 5-9 6-9 ft x 6-12 ft
Adaptable to many soil conditions, pH adaptable, sun-shade. Produces fragrant reddish-brown flowers in late spring; a useful shrub for the border.

Carpinus betulus ........................... European Hornbeam zone 4-7 40-60 ft x 40 ft
Tolerates wide range of soil conditions, prefers moist, well drained soils but moderately drought tolerant once established, full sun-light shade, tolerates shearing. A good landscape tree with smooth gray bark, is often used as hedging or screen; many excellent cultivars available, including fastigiate.

Carpinus caroliniana ..................... American Hornbeam zone 3-9 20-30 ft x equal spread
Moist, acid soils, tolerates drier sites, partial-deep shade. Smooth gray, beech-like bark, useful as an understory tree.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ............. Japanese Plum Yew zone 5-9 5-10 ft x spreading
Moist, well drained soil, tolerates drought once established, excellent for shade-part sun.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ............. Katsura Tree zone 4-8 40-60 ft x 20-30 ft
Moist, well drained soil preferred, will need supplemental water during establishment if dry conditions occur. Tends to develop multi-stemmed character if not trained to a single trunk. Attractive opposite, heart-shaped leaves with beautiful golden to apricot fall color.

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis .......... Alaska-cedar zone 5-7 30-45 ft x narrow
Moist, well drained soil, humid atmosphere, sun. 'Pendula' is a graceful weeping form with dark green foliage.

Chamaecyparis obtusa ................... Hinoki Falsecypress zone 5-8 varies
Moist, well drained soil, full sun, some protection from wind. Many cultivars available.

Chamaecyparis pisifera .................. Sawara Falsecypress zone 4-8 varies
Moist, well drained, acid soils, full sun, tolerates wind. One of the toughest evergreens for seaside and street side locations; tends to self shade its inner branches causing the inner needles to turn brown.

Chamaecyparis thyoides ................ Atlantic Whitecedar zone 3-8 40-50 ft x 10-20 ft
Moist soils, full sun; found in wet and boggy areas as a native plant.

Chionanthus retusus ...................... Chinese Fringetree zone 6-8 25-30 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soil, full sun-part shade, tolerates air pollution. Tree form with gray bark, white feathery flowers in May.

Chionanthus virginicus .................. White Fringetree zone 4-9 12 ft x 20 ft
Very adaptable to soil types, prefers moist, well drained, full sun. Grows very wide so careful siting of the plant is important. Fragrant creamy-white flowers in June followed by blue-black fruit in September; dioecious plants. Fruit is attractive to birds.

Cladrastis kentukea (lutea) ............. Yellowwood zone 4-8 30-50 ft x 40 ft
Well drained soils, alkaline conditions, tolerates acidic soils, full sun. Can be weak wooded due to narrow branching angles of major limbs. Can be sensitive to drought-heat, does not like compacted soils.

Clethra alnifolia ............................ Sweet Pepperbush zone 3-9 3-8 ft x 4-6ft
Dry to moist, acidic soil supplemented with organic matter, light shade-sun, salt tolerant. Generally pest free; mites may be a problem in a hot, dry location. Fragrant flowers in late summer; pink flowered cultivars are also available. Blooms best in full sun.

Clethra barbinervis ....................... Japanese Clethra zone 6-8 10-15 ft x 8-10 ft
Prefers a soil supplemented with organic matter, considered drought intolerant, full sun-part shade. Attractive bark, fragrant, white flowers in drooping panicles in late summer.

Comptonia peregrina ..................... Sweet Fern zone 2-7 2 ft x 4-6 ft
Well adapted to poor, dry infertile soils, full sun-light shade. Difficult to transplant, best when container grown. Somewhat invasive although slow growing. Good for naturalizing or on embankments.

Cornus kousa ............................... Kousa Dogwood zone 5-8 20-30 ft x equal spread
Performs well in moist, well drained soils, does well in sandy soils supplied with organic matter, prefers sun, more drought tolerant and cold hardy than flowering dogwood, resistant to dogwood anthracnose (resistant to gypsy moth). Blooms after the foliage has emerged in June, creamy white bracts persist for several weeks; large red-orange fruit effective in the fall. Exfoliating bark on mature specimens.

Cornus mas .................................. Cornelian-Cherry zone 4-8 20-25 ft x 25-30 ft
C. officinalis ................................ Japanese Cornel
Adaptable as to soil types, good drought tolerance once established, sun-light shade. One of the earliest spring flowering shrubs with yellow flowers in April, attractive bright red fruit in late summer. C. officinalis has reddish-brown exfoliating bark. May be sheared into hedges. Fruit of C. mas can be messy and attract bees.

Cornus racemosa .......................... Gray Dogwood zone 4-8 10-15 ft x very wide
Adaptable to wet or dry soils, full sun -light shade. Spreads rapidly by root suckers; siting important to avoid maintenance problems. Best for naturalized areas. Most drought tolerant of the native shrub dogwoods.

Cornus x Stellar' series ................. Hybrid Dogwoods zone 5-8 20-25 ft x equal spread
Interspecific hybrids developed at Rutgers University, show typical hybrid vigor, appear to be resistant to dogwood borer and dogwood anthracnose. Blooms between C. florida and C. kousa. Of the six cultivars, one is pink and the rest are creamy white.

Corylus colurna ............................ Turkish Hazelnut zone 4-7 40-50 ft x 12-15 ft
Adaptable to adverse conditions, adaptable to pH, very drought tolerant once established. Broadly pyramidal in habit, useful as a street tree as well as landscape specimens.

Cotinus coggygria ......................... Common Smoketree zone 4-8 10-15 ft x 10-15 ft
Prefers well drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of conditions, sun-light shade. Small five-petaled flowers are surrounded by 6"-8" pinkish hairs which impart a "smokey" appearance from late June-August. Several forms are available with differing foliage colors.

Cotinus obovatus .......................... American Smoketree zone 4-8 20-30 ft x 15 ft
Adaptable to a wide range of soils, tolerates drought and alkaline soils, sun. Best growth is made in full sun. A small tree with outstanding fall foliage.

Cotoneaster adpressus ................... Creeping Cotoneaster zone 5-8 1/1.5 ft x 4/6 ft
Moist, well drained soils, full sun, drought tolerant once established, pH tolerant and adaptable to seaside conditions. Compact ground cover with glossy green leaves, white blossoms in May, red fruits effective in fall and winter. Subject to mites under hot dry conditions; also subject to Hawthorn lace bug.

Cotoneaster divaricatus ................... Spreading Cotoneaster zone 4-7 5/6 ft x equal spread
Culture similar to the above; multi-stemmed shrub with arching branches, dark green foliage with yellow to red fall color; white flowers in May with red, egg shaped fruit effective in the fall and winter. Less subject to problems than others in this genus.

Cotoneaster salicifolius .................. Willowleaf Cotoneaster zone 6-8 10/15 ft x 10 ft
Culture similar to the above; large evergreen shrub with arching branches, dark green foliage turns purple in winter; bright red persistent fruit effective fall through winter. Usually available as low growing cultivars such as 'Emerald Carpet', 'Repens' and 'Scarlet Leader'.

Cratageus viridis 'Winter King' ....... Green Hawthorn .............. zone 4-7 ..... 20-25 ft x equal spread
Tolerates poor soil conditions and windy sites. Less susceptible to disease-insect pressure than other hawthorns. Attractive bark and showy red fruit are good winter characteristics.

x Cupressocyparis leylandii ............ Leyland Cypress zone 7-10 60-70 ft x 10-15 ft
Adaptable to soil conditions, full sun required, tolerates salt spray. A vigorous grower.

Deutzia gracilis .............................. Slender Deutzia zone 4-8 2-6 ft x 3-4 ft
Tolerates most soil conditions as long as well drained, full sun-light shade. May require pruning of dead wood in spring. White flowers in late May; 'Nikko' is a good, compact cultivar that is useful as a groundcover.

Deutzia scabra Fuzzy Deutzia zone 5-7 6/10 ft x 8 ft
Average garden soil, full sun, pH tolerant. White flowers in late May, somewhat arching growth habit. Requires annual pruning to remove dead wood. Several cultivars available.

Diervilla sessilifolia Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle zone 4-8 3/5 ft x 3/5 ft
Vary adaptable to soil conditions, drought and wind tolerant once established, full sun/light shade. Spreads by underground stems, will form a large mass, useful as a ground cover in rough areas.

Enkianthus campanulatus Redvein Enkianthus zone 4-7 12-15 ft x 5-6 ft
Requires acid soil supplemented with organic matter, culture similar to Rhododendron, sun-light shade. Bright green, whorled leaves with variable fall color; bell-shaped creamy flowers in late May-early June. Bright scarlet fall foliage.

Eucommia ulmoides Hardy Rubber Tree zone 4-7 40-60 ft x equal spread
Adaptable, drought tolerant, full sun, pH adaptable.

Evodia daniellii Korean Evodia zone 6-8 25-30 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soils but is adaptable, tolerates drought once established, full sun. Small white flowers in flat topped clusters in mid summer; attractive to bees.

Exochorda racemosa Pearlbush zone 4-8 9-15 ft x equal spread
Well drained, acid soils, full sun to light shade, drought and heat tolerant once established. Flower buds arranged like pearls along the stem, opening into five petaled, white flowers in April. Eriophyid mite damage to foliage requires occasional treatment.

Fagus sylvatica European Beech zone 4-7 50-60 ft x 100-120 ft
Tolerates soil conditions, likes acid, well drained conditions, full sun. Shallow rooted, big for the average residential landscape but excellent for parks, golf courses, other open spaces; needs room to develop into a mature specimen. Many fine cultivars available in green and purple leaf form, weeping, cutleaf, etc.

Forsythia x intermedia Border Forsythia zone 6-8 8/10 ft x 10/12 ft
F. suspensa Weeping Forsythia
Reasonably adapted to all soil conditions except poor drainage, full sun. Flower buds may suffer winter kill. Best grown unpruned in adequate space; may become too large for the average landscape hence annual pruning is required to maintain good shape.

Fothergilla major Large Fothergilla zone 4-8 6-10 ft x equal spread
Acid, sandy loam supplemented with organic matter, full sun-partial shade. Not particularly drought tolerant. White, bottle-brush shaped flowers appear in late April-early May, fragrant. Good dark green foliage with orange-red fall coloration.

Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo / Maidenhair Tree zone 3-8 50-80 ft x 30-40 ft
Adaptable to soil conditions and pH, full sun, tolerates air pollution, good salt tolerance, good heat tolerance. Must use male cultivars as decomposing fruit on female trees in the fall are malodorous (however,the nuts are considered a delicacy). Slow to establish.

Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffee Tree zone 3-8 60-75 ft x 40-50 ft
Adaptable to various soil conditions but prefers deep, rich loam, full sun, tolerates drought and urban conditions; a large tree for park-like surroundings. Wood may be somewhat brittle. Slow to establish.

Halesia carolina Carolina Silverbell zone 4-8 30-40 ft x 20-30 ft
Moist, acid soils, sun-light shade. White, bell-shaped flowers in early spring before foliage emerges.

Hammamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' zone 6-8 20' x 15'
H. mollis Chinese Witchhazel
H. vernalis Vernal Witchhazel
H. virginiana Common Witchhazel
Generally prefers moist, acid soils high in organic matter, sun-part shade. H. vernalis is native to neutral to slightly alkaline soils; requires good soil aeration. Flowers appear in late winter; four petaled, fragrant. H. virginiana blooms in the fall.

Hovenia dulcis Japanese Raisintree zone 6-7 30 ft x 20'
Adaptable to soils, will not tolerate wet conditions, full sun.

Hydrangea arborescens Smooth Hydrangea zone 3-9 3-5 ft x greater spread
Adaptable, prefers well drained, moist soil, partial shade. Will tolerate full sun if ample moisture is available. H. arborescens, f. grandiflora and 'Annabelle' are improved selections.

Hydrangea macrophylla Bigleaf Hydrangea zone 6-9 3-6 ft x equal spread
Prefers a moist soil supplemented with organic matter, tolerates coastal conditions, sun-light shade. Pruning is an art with this species, flower buds are less hardy than the rest of the plant, frequently winter killed. Soil pH governs color. 'Nikko Blue' is a good, older selection with dark blue color. While most cultivars bloom on the previous year's growth, 'All Summer Beauty' is reputed to flower on current season growth.

Hydrangea paniculata Panicle Hydrangea zone 3-8 6-10 ft x 6-10 ft
Prefers loamy soil but is adaptable, sun-part shade, urban tolerant. 'Grandiflora' and 'Tardiva' are improved selections. Extremely long flowering period as the dry flowers persist well into the fall.

Hydrangea quercifolia Oak leaved Hydrangea zone 5-9 4-6 ft x equal spread
Moist, fertile, well drained soils, sun-part shade, likes cool, moist root environment. Siting important to provide these conditions. 'Snow Queen' is an improved selection. Excellent fall foliage.

Ilex aquifolium English Holly zone 7+ 30 ft x 20-25 ft
Moist acidic soils well supplemented with organic matter; sun-shade; dark blue-green spiny leaves, bright red berries on female plants. Numerous cultivars available.

Ilex cornuta Chinese Holly zone 7+ 8-10 ft x 10 ft
Moist acidic soils well supplimented with organic matter; sun-shade; dark green leaves with three spines at apex, older leaves have fewer spines. More adaptable to site conditions than other hollies, tolerant of heat and drought. Many cultivars available.

Ilex crenata Japanese Holly zone 6-7 varies
Moist, well drained acid soils, full sun-part shade, fairly adaptable.

Ilex glabra Inkberry zone 5-9 6-8 ft x 8-10 ft
Moist soils to wet soils, shade tolerant but not especially drought tolerant. 'Compacta' is a better-shaped plant than the species.

Ilex latifolia Lusterleaf Holly zone 7+ 20-25 ftx ?
Moist acidic soil well supplimented with organic matter; sun-shade; dark evergreen leaves with dull red berries in clusters on female plants.

Ilex x meserveae hybrids Blue Holly zone 5-8 varies
Moist, well drained soil supplemented with organic matter, acid conditions, sun-part shade. Dark blue-green leaves, bright red berries. Well adapted to New England.

Ilex pedunculosa Long-stalk Holly zone 5 15-25 ft x 15 ft
Moist, acid soil supplemented with organic matter, sun-part shade, resistant to the holly leaf miner. Leaves resemble Mountain Laurel, bright red berries on long stalks.

Ilex verticillata Winterberry zone 3-9 6-10 ft x equal spread
Moist, acidic soils supplemented with organic matter, does well under wet conditions, also in lighter soils but is considered drought intolerant, sun-light shade. Plants are dioecious, both sexes required for pollination and berry production. Many cultivars available; fruit colors up after the first frost and is often retained through the winter. Tolerates heavy pruning; fruits on new wood. The hybrid 'Sparkleberry', a National Arboretum introduction, is noted for its persistent berries.

Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire zone 5 3-4 ft x 6 ft
Moist, fertile soils, tolerates wet conditions, full sun-part shade. Cultivar 'Henry's Garnet' sports white flowers in upright spikes in June-July; foliage has reddish-purple color in fall.

Juniperus chinensis Chinese Juniper zone 3-9 dependent on cultivar
Moist, well drained soils, pH adaptable, sun. May be used as a groundcover, shrub, screen, etc., depending on the cultivar. Many cultivars are susceptible to Phomopsis or Kabatina blights which can cause serious twig dieback. The following cultivars are reported to be resistant to one or both of the above fungi: 'Foemina' (P), 'Iowa' (P), 'Keteleeri' (P), 'Pfitzeriana-aurea' (P+K), 'Robusta Green' (P), var. sargentii 'Glauca'(P+K), 'Gold Coast' (K).

Juniperus conferta Shore Juniper zone 6-9 18 in x spreading
Adaptable to poor, dry soils, full sun, salt tolerant, good for coastal locations. Low-growing groundcover, intolerant of wet soils.

Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar zone 2-9 15-30 ft x 8-20 ft
Adaptable to poor, draughty soils, pH adaptable, full sun, salt tolerant. Alternate host for Cedar-apple rust. Tough native plant for screening, naturalizing, coastal planting.

Kalmia angustifolia Sheep Laurel zone 2-6 1-3 ft x 2 ft
Foliage may be poisonous. Tolerates poor, sterile soils. Prefers moist sites. Cultivar 'Hammondasset'.

Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel zone 5-9 7-15 ft x similar spread
Requires acid, moist soil supplemented with organic matter, good drainage, full sun-light shade. A good native plant if sited correctly. Many new cultivars available; red and pink flowered forms need full sun to develop good flower color.

Kalopanax pictus Castor-Aralia zone 4-7 40-60 ft x equal spread
Moist soils, full sun. Tolerant of alkaline soil and long lived. Coarse textured plant provides tropical effect in the landscape.

Koelreuteria paniculata Golden Rain Tree zone 5-9 30-40 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to a wide range of soils, tolerates drought, heat, wind, pH and air pollution. Yellow blossoms in mid-summer in loose, 12"-15" panicles.

Kolkwitzia amabilis Beautybush zone 4-8 6-10 ft x 8 ft
Adaptable to a variety of soil conditions; prefers moist, well drained, full sun. Usually requires annual pruning out of older canes to retain form and prevent legginess.

Ligustrum amurense Amur Privet zone 3-7 12-15 ft x 9-12'
Adaptable to soil conditions, full sun-part shade, drought and salt tolerant. Several insect and disease problems occur on Privet, but they seem to be able to withstand them without a great deal of harm. Seeds readily and may be invasive.

Maackia amurensis Amur Maackia zone 3-7 20-30 ft x equal spread
Appears to be very adaptable, full sun, pH tolerant. Summer flowering. Reputed to be extremely drought tolerant.

Magnolia acuminata Cucumbertree Magnolia zone 3-8 50-80 ft x equal spread
Prefers moist, well-drained acid soils, but performs well in calcarious soils also. Not tolerant of extreme drought or wetness, or air pollution.

Magnolia kobus Kobus Magnolia zone 4-8 30-40 ft x equal spread
Performs well on a variety of soil, including high pH.

Magnolia x loebneri Loebner Magnolia zone 5-9 15-20 ft x variable
Adaptable to soils except extremes of moist or dry, pH adaptable, sun-part shade. Vigorous growers, extremely tolerates urban conditions. Many improved cultivar selections i.e., 'Ballerina', 'Leonard Messel', 'Merrill'. April blooming.

Magnolia x soulangiana Saucer Magnolia zone 4-9 20-30 ft x var. spread
Prefers moist, deep, acidic soils and full sun. Plant to avoid late spring frosts that nip emerging flowers.

Magnolia stellata Star Magnolia zone 4-8 15-20 ft x 10-15 ft
Moist, well drained soil supplemented with organic matter. Full sun to light shade.

Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia zone 5-9 10-20 ft x equal spread
Does well in wet soils, considered drought intolerant, prefers acid soil, tolerates light shade. Semi-evergreen in protected areas.

Malus species Crabapple zone 4-7 variable
Quite adaptable as to soil type, as long as it is well drained, prefer acid conditions, full sun, salt tolerant. The best crabapples flowers annually and are disease resistant. See Appendix 1 for a listing. Crabapples are particularly attractive to Japanese beetle adults, and may need protection when beetle populations are high.

Microbiota decussata Russian Arborvitae zone 3-8 12 in x very wide
Moist soils, tolerant of shade, very cold hardy. Low evergreen shrub, bright green summer foliage turning purple-brown in winter. Graceful branchlets arranged in flat sprays.

Myrica pensylvanica Bayberry zone 3-6 5-12 ft x variable
Does extremely well in poor sandy soils, may be adaptable to heavy soils, full sun-light shade.

Nyssa sylvatica Tupelo zone 3-9 30-50 ft x 20-30 ft
Moist, well drained soils, tolerates wet soils, will also grow on upland areas. Full sun-light shade. Difficult to transplant, should be grown as a container plant. Excellent fall foliage.

Ostrya virginiana Ironwood / Hop Hornbeam zone 3-9 25-40 ft x 20-30 ft
Moist, well drained soils, slightly acid, tolerates dry conditions once established, full sun-part shade. One of the most drought tolerant and salt resistant small trees.

Oxydendrum arboreum Sourwood / Sorrel Tree zone 6-9 25-30 ft x 20 ft
Moist, well drained soils, slightly acid, tolerates dry conditions, full sun-part shade. Drooping flower clusters in mid-summer; excellent burgundy fall foliage.

Parrotia persica Persian Parrotia zone 5-8 20-40 ft x 15-30 ft
Extremely tolerant once established, sun-part shade. Exfoliating bark on older branches, yellow-orange fall foliage.

Phellodendron amurense Amur Corktree zone 3-7 30-45 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to a wide range of soils, tolerates pH, drought, air pollution and full sun. Gets large, siting important; fruit can be messy.

Picea omorika Serbian Spruce zone 4-7 50/60 ft x 25 ft
P. orientalis Oriental Spruce
Moist, well drained soils, light shade, pH tolerant, would benefit from shelter against winter winds. Considered urban tolerant. Tall, narrow profile may lend it to being planted as an evergreen street tree. Picea orientalis prefers clay-loam soils but is tolerant of poor soil conditions, pH adaptable, benefits from shelter against winter winds.

Pieris floribunda Mountain Pieris zone 4-8 2-6 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soil, more tolerant of high pH than P. japonica and also apparently resistant to the lacebug. The flower structure is upright panicles; an interspecific hybrid, 'Brouwer's Beauty', has flower clusters that are more horizontal and arching as well as having a more compact growth habit, and it is less susceptible to lacebug although it can become infested if planted in full sun. (Lacebug problems on P. japonica are also greatly reduced in the shade.) The species is susceptible to Phytophthora root rot if not sited in a well drained location.

Pinus cembra Swiss Stone Pine zone 5-7 30-40 ft x 15-20 ft
Well drained, acidic soil, good air circulation, full sun. Very slow growing. Subject to white pine weevil damage to terminal.

Pinus koraiensis Korean Pine zone 5-7 30-40 ft x 20-30 ft
Adaptable as to soil types, full sun-light shade, very hardy.

Pinus parviflora Japanese White Pine zone 5-7 25-50 ft x similar spread
Requires good drainage but tolerates most soil conditions including soil compaction, salt tolerant, drought tolerant once established.

Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine zone 3-8 50-80 ft x 20-40 ft
Moist, well drained soils but tolerates dry conditions, full sun-light shade, rapid growing when young. Subject to white pine weevil damage to terminal, intolerant of salt. An excellent native evergreen.

Potentilla fruticosa Bush Cinquefoil zone 2-7 1-4 ft x 2-4 ft
Moist, well drained soils but is very adaptable, will do well under dry conditions, full sun-light shade, likes neutral to alkaline conditions. Extremely cold hardy. Long bloom period. Many improved cultivars available.

Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry zone 2-6 35 ft x 20 ft
Well drained soil preferred, pH tolerant, sun-shade. Considered weak wooded and short lived.

Prunus maritima Beach Plum zone 3-6 6 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to most soil conditions except wet, drought tolerant once established, full sun, salt tolerant. White flowers in May followed by purple fruit in late summer. Relatively pest free but subject to tent caterpillar, brown tail knot, plum pockets, and eriophyid mites. Good for naturalizing in coastal plantings.

Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry zone 5-9 40/50 ft x 20/30 ft
Moist, well drained soils, full sun/light shade. Single pink blossoms borne in spring before the foliage, fall colors of yellow to red. Considered short lived, relatively free of problems in a trouble prone genus.

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' Higan Cherry zone 4-8 20/40 ft x 15/30 ft
Culture similar to the above; semi-double pink flowers in spring, occasionally reblooming in fall. Considered short lived, relatively pest free.

Pseudolarix kaempferi Golden-larch zone 4-7 30-50 ft x 20-40 ft
Light, well drained soil in full sun, tolerates air pollution, intolerant of alkaline conditions.

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir zone 4-6 40-80 ft x 12-20 ft
Moist well drained soils, neutral to slightly acid conditions, not particularly drought tolerant. Do not plant near spruce (alternate host for Cooley spruce gall adelgid).

Ptelea trifoliata Hoptree zone 3-9 15-20 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soils but very adaptable, sun-light shade. An interesting native tree with trifoliate leaves and fragrant flowers in June..

Pterostyrax hispida Epaulette Tree zone 4-8 20-30 ft x equal spread
Prefers moist, acid, well drained soils, sun-light shade.

Pyrus calleryana cultivars Callery Pear zone 5-8 30-50 ft x 20 ft
Adaptable to varying soils, air pollution, etc. Narrow branch crotches are prone to breaking. Fire blight is a serious problem in warmer areas. 'Aristocrat' has more horizontal branching and is less prone to breakage than 'Bradford'; 'Chanticleer' is more narrowly upright and shows better fire blight resistance. White flowers in clusters in spring, good fall foliage.

Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak zone 6-8 35/45 ft x var. spread
Prefers acid, well drained soils but adaptable to varying conditions, may develop chlorosis on high pH soils, full sun. Simple foliage with serrate edges, develops yellow fall color.

Quercus alba White Oak zone 3-9 50-80 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to soil types, prefers moist, acid conditions, full sun. Dark blue-green lobed leaves, fall color not dependable; burgundy in good years. White oaks are more likely to die from gypsy moth attack than other oak species.

Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak zone 3-8 50-60 ft x equal spread
Moist, acid soils but very drought tolerant once established, broadly lobed, leathery leaf, good dark green color, yellow fall foliage. Several pests and diseases attack this plant but cause no significant damage.

Quercus palustris Pin Oak zone 4-8 50-60 ft x 25-30 ft
Moist, acid soils, intolerant of high pH, full sun, tolerates wet soils and urban conditions. Deeply lobed leaves with pyramidal growth habit; lower branches droop.

Quercus phellos Willow Oak zone 5-9 40-60 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to soil conditions, full sun, fibrous root system allows for ease of transplanting; narrow, simple leaves.

Quercus rubra Red Oak zone 4-8 60-75 ft x 75 ft
Moist, acid soils, full sun. Intolerant of high pH, tolerates urban conditions. Easily transplanted.

Rhododendron species and cultivars zone 2-9 ground cover/sm. tree
Over 900 species and thousands of hybrids exist, most are low maintenance plants when grown in good sites. They generally prefer moist well-drained acid soils high in organic matter and perform best in partial shade. In full sun winter injury and blossom fading is more pronounced as are problems with lace bugs. In southern New England 'Dora Amateis' and R. maximum are particularly susceptible to lacebug when grown in full sun and to our south lacebug problems are much more widespread. With the exception of some of the heavily indumented rhododendrons (R. yakushimanum, R. smirnovii, and hybrids) all are susceptible to the black vine weevil which can kill small plants. (See discussion under Taxus species and cultivars .)

Among the large leaved rhododendrons R. fortunei and its hybrids ('Scintillation') are very attractive to deer.

Small leaved rhododendrons, including 'PJM', 'Silvery Pink', 'Aglo', etc. are particularly cold tolerant as are deciduous azaleas (R. schlippenbachii, R. calendulaceum, R. viscosum, etc.). The deciduous Exbury hybrids, however, have too many insect and disease problems to be included on this list.

There are thousands of good hardy hybrid evergreen azaleas including 'Hino crimson', 'Delaware Valley White', R. poukhenensis, etc. However Belgian or florist azaleas are often mistakenly sold as hardy. As a rule of thumb if the flower looks too good to be true, it is probably not hardy.

Several species are native to southern New England, including R. maximum, R. viscosum, R. prinophyllum, R. canadense and R. periclymenoides.

Rhus aromatica Fragrant Sumac zone 3-9 2-4 ft x 6-8 ft
Adaptable to various soil conditions, full sun. Spreading habit of cultivar 'Gro-Low' makes a good choice for embankments or a ground cover.

Rhus chinensis Chinese Sumac zone 5-7 24 ft x suckering
The cultivar 'September Beauty' is in all ways superior to the species. As with most sumacs, it will sucker and form colonies. Useful only in limited areas due to its habit of forming colonies.

Rhus copallina Shining Sumac zone 4-9 20 ft x suckering
Good for dry, rocky areas, embankments, etc. Careful siting is important as it will form large colonies due to suckering.

Rosa rugosa Saltspray Rose zone 2-7 4-6 ft x equal spread
Well drained soils but is very adaptable, grows well on dry, exposed sites, salt tolerant, full sun. Generally Pink, red and white flowered forms available.

Sciadopitys verticillata Japanese Umbrella Pine zone 4-8 20-30 ft x 15-20 ft
Moist, well drained soils, full sun, some protection from wind. Drought tolerant once established. Slow growing.

Sophora japonica Japanese Scholar Tree zone 6-8 50-75 ft x variable
Well drained soil supplemented with organic matter, drought and urban tolerant. White, fragrant flowers in mid summer. 'Regent' is reputed to flower earlier than the species.

Sorbus alnifolia Korean Mountain Ash zone 4-7 40-50 ft x 20-30 ft
Adaptable to soils as long as they're well drained, pH tolerant, full sun. Resistant to borers; fire blight may be a problem in warmer areas. White flowers in flat topped clusters in May followed by orange-reddish fruit which persists into winter. Does not resemble the European Mountain Ash.

Spirea x bumalda Bumald Spirea zone 5-8 3-4 ft x 4-5 ft
Bumald spirea is a tough plant in the landscape, annual pruning required for best effect.

Spiraea x vanhouttei Vanhoutte Spirea zone 3-8 6/8 ft x 10 ft
Adaptable to various soil types, full sun. White flowers on arching stems in May. May require pruning of dead wood in spring.

Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa' Cutleaf Stephanandra zone 5-7 2-3 ft x spreading
Well drained soils supplemented with organic matter, considered drought intolerant, full sun-part shade.

Stewartia pseudocamellia Japanese Stewartia zone 6-9 20-30 ft x 10-15 ft
S. koreana Korean Stewartia
Moist, acid soil supplemented with organic matter, sun-shade. Summer flowering with camellia-like blossoms. Exquisite bark, fall color!

Styrax japonica Japanese Snowbell zone 6-8 20-30 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained, acid soil supplemented with organic matter, full sun-part shade. May be subject to winter damage in cold situations. White, bell-shaped, pendulous flowers in May.

Symphoricarpos x chenaulti Chenault Coralberry zone 4-7 2 ft x 12 ft
A cross between S. microphyllus and S. orbiculatus. 'Hancock' is a beautiful low-growing type.

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' Meyer Lilac zone 4-7 4-8 ft x equal spread
S. microphylla Littleleaf Lilac
S. patula''Miss Kim' Manchurian Lilac
Adaptable to various soil conditions, full sun, resistant to powdery mildew.

Syringa reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac zone 4-7 20-30 ft x 12-15 ft
Well drained, moist soil, pH tolerant, full sun. Salt and wind tolerant. Resistant to lilac borer and powdery mildew. Early summer flowering. 'Ivory Silk' and 'Summer Snow' are excellent cultivars.


Taxodium distichum Baldcypress zone 4-9 50/70 ft x 20/30 ft
Moist acid soils, very adaptable to wet soils, full sun. A large tree for parks, estates or wet areas.

Taxus species and cultivars Yews
Black vine weevil is a very serious pest of young yews, particularly in the nursery. Larger plants sited in the landscape are reasonably tolerates this pest, but because yews can harbor large populations of weevils, landscapers should exercise care in planting small susceptible plants (azaleas, euonymus, etc.) near infested yews. The foliage and fruit of yew are toxic to children if ingested. (Also see T. baccata 'Repandens' and T. x media cultivars, in addition to T. cuspidata for cultural considerations.)

Taxus baccatta 'Repandens' Spreading English Yew zone 5-7 2-4 ft x 12-15 ft
Hardy dwarf, spreading form has pendulous branch tips and dark green needles. (Also see T. x media cultivars, in addition to Taxus species and cultivars and T. cuspidata for cultural considerations.)

Taxus cuspidata Japanese Yew zone 4-7 10-40 ft x equal spread
Prefers a moist, sandy loan, does not tolerate wet soils for any length of time. (Also see T. baccata 'Repandens' and T. x media cultivars, as well as discussion of Taxus species and cultivars.)

Taxus x media cultivars zone 4-7 variable
This hybrid of T. baccatta and T. cuspidata resembles T. cuspidata in many respects. Common cultivars include: 'Brownii', 'Densiformis', 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Nigra' and 'Tauntonii'. (Also see T. baccata 'Repandens', as well as discussion of Taxus species and cultivars and T. cuspidata for cultural considerations.)

Thuja plicata Giant / Western Arborvitae zone 5-7 50-70 ft x 15-25 ft
Moist, fertile soils but tolerant of dryer soils; sun-shade; pH adaptable. A fast growing narrow pyramidal tree with dark evergreen leaves and reddish-brown fibrous bark.

Tsuga species Hemlocks
Hemlock wooly adelgid is now a serious pest of both Tsuga canadensis and T. caroliniana throughout southern New England. Hence, we urge caution in the use of these important landscape species. Left untreated, this pest will rapidly kill susceptible hemlocks, but yearly applications of insecticides provide effective control in the landscape. Species resistant to the adelgid include T. diversifolia, T. heterophylla, T. chinensis, and T. mertensia. Also, T. sieboldii has apparent tolerance. While all of these species are being evaluated for regional adaptability, only T. diversifolia and T. heterophylla can be recommended with reasonable confidence at this time.

Tsuga diversifolia Northern Japanese Hemlock zone 5-7 35-60 ft x 20-30 ft
Slow growing, often multi-stemmed tree with dense, dark green foliage. Prefers moist sites in full sun, easily transplanted. At least one R.I. nursery has been growing this plant for years, and it appears to be well suited to our climate. (See discussion of Tsuga species.)

Tsuga heterophylla Western Hemlock zone 6-8 100 ft x 30 ft
Looks very much like Canadian hemlock but not quite as "soft" in appearance. Prefers a humid climate and moist soil. Cold hardiness is marginal in New England; plants from northern Idaho show very slight winter damage, coastal material is probably not hardy here. (See discussion of Tsuga species.)

Ulmus parvifolia Lacebark Elm zone 4-9 40-50 ft x 40 ft
Adaptable to soil and pH conditions, good for urban areas, resistant to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetle and Japanese beetle. Several new cultivars recently introduced; excellent bark and foliage.

Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry zone 3-8 6-12 ft x 8-12 ft
Native to swamps but does well in dry, acid, poor and sandy soils in full sun or partial shade. Mulch.

Viburnum x carlecephalum Fragrant Viburnum zone 7+ 10 ft x 10 ft
Adaptable to soil conditions, prefers moist acidic soils; sun-light shade; easily transplanted. Loose, somewhat open habit, coarse textured leaves; pink buds opening to fragrant white flowers in clusters in May. One of the latest viburnums to bloom.

Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood zone 2-8 6-8 ft x 15 ft
Adaptable to various soil conditions, sun-part shade. Forms large clumps.

Viburnum farreri Fragrant Viburnum zone 5-8 8-12 ft x 6-8 ft
Early to flower, flower buds may be damaged by late frost.

Viburnum x juddii Judd Viburnum zone 4-7 4-5 ft x 4-8 ft
Moist, well drained soil, full sun. Highly fragrant, semi-snowball type of inflorescence.

Viburnum lantana 'Mohican' Wayfaring Tree zone 4-8 10-15 ft x equal spread
Adaptable, drought tolerant, tolerates high pH.

Viburnum plicatum Doublefile Viburnum zone 6-8 8-10 ft x 9-12 ft
f. tomentosum
Moist, well drained soils, not particularly drought tolerant. Preferred cultivars include 'Mariesii' and 'Shasta'.

Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum zone 4-9 12-15 ft x 8-12 ft
Adaptable to various soil conditions, drought tolerant once established, sun-part shade. A good shrub or small tree.

Viburnum x rhytidophylloides Lantanaphyllum Viburnum zone 4-8 8/10 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to soil conditions, full sun/light shade, needs protection from winter wind. White flat topped flower clusters in April followed by black fruit effective in the fall. Dark green leathery leaves persist in the fall. 'Allegheny' and 'Willowwood' are fine selections.

Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf Viburnum zone 5-8 10-15 ft x equal spread
Well drained soils, somewhat adaptable, shade tolerant, protection from winter wind desirable.

Viburnum sargentii Sargent Viburnum zone 4-7 12-15 ft x equal spread
Adaptable to soil conditions, pH tolerant, full sun-light shade; a number of USDA introductions look promising, i.e. 'Onondaga' and 'Susquehanna'.

Viburnum sieboldii Siebold Viburnum zone 5-7 15-20 ft x 10-15 ft
Adaptable to soil conditions but prefers moist, well drained, pH adaptable, sun-part shade, not particularly drought tolerant. 'Seneca' has very persistent fruit.

Viburnum trilobum American Cranberrybush zone 3-8 8-12 ft x equal width
Adaptable to soil conditions, easy to grow, full sun-part shade. A native plant.

Viburnum wrightii Wright Viburnum zone 6-7 6-10 ft x equal spread
Similar to other viburnums in preferences. White flat topped flower clusters in May, showy red fruit in fall.

Weigela florida Weigela zone 5-8 6-9 ft x 9-12 ft
Adaptable but prefers a moist well drained soil, full sun, tolerates pollution. Requires rejuvenation pruning to maintain decent shape; many improved cultivars available. Early summer blooming.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima Yellowroot zone 3-9 2-3 ft x spreading
Moist, well drained soils, tolerates heavy soils, sun-shade, tolerates dry conditions.

Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova zone 5-8 50-80 ft x equal spread
Moist, well drained soils, tolerates drought and wind once established, pH adaptable; 'Village Green' recommended by Prof. Michael Dirr as a superior selection, more cold hardy, resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle, as well as having better fall color. Susceptible to wind damage, branch drop.



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