Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees. Charlotte Adelman
56; SAND CHERRY, p. 17; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; SPICEBUSH, p. 22; SWEETSHRUB, p. 19.
See Summer Shrubs for FALSE INDIGO BUSH, p. 132; LEADPLANT, p. 133; NEW JERSEY TEA, p. 134.
See Fall Shrubs for LEATHERWOOD, p. 232.
See Spring Trees for FRINGE TREE, p. 105; SNOWBELL, p. 116.
Nonnative:
DEUTZIA. Family: Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae). Genus: Deutzia; SLENDER DEUTZIA, SLENDER PRIDE OF ROCHESTER (D. gracilis); FUZZY PRIDE-OF-ROCHESTER (D. scabra). Origin: Japan. Height/Spread: 2–5 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Short-lived stems hold white flowers in April to May. Cultivation: Sun best for flowers; rich, moist well-drained soil; naturalizes, requires annual pruning, thinning. Ecological Threat: D. scabra is invasive and naturalized in midwestern states. Zones: 5–8.
Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis)
Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Dwarf fothergilla flowers (Fothergilla gardenii)
Native Alternatives:
FOTHERGILLA, DWARF FOTHERGILLA, DWARF WITCHALDER. Family: Witch hazel (Hamamelidaceae). Genus: Fothergilla (F. gardenii). Height/Spread: 2–3 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fragrant, creamy-white tinged with green, early spring bottlebrush-like flowers. Each glaucous blue-green leaf spends a long time displaying its brilliant orange, yellow, and red fall colors. Twiggy, zigzag stems on this multistemmed shrub provide winter interest. Neat mounded appearance, praised as never needing pruning. “This is the perfect shrub for small gardens, particularly—though not exclusively—those that are naturally moist,” writes Patricia A. Taylor.18 Cultivation: Sun best for color, but tolerates light shade; moist to moderately wet, well-drained, organically rich, moist acidic soil. Avoid dry sites. Low maintenance. A southeastern native, fothergilla is recommended for the Midwest by the Morton Arboretum on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems. Note: Threatened or endangered in parts of its native range. Zones: (4) 5–9; LARGE FOTHERGILLA, MOUNTAIN WITCHALDER (F. major). Height/Spread: 6–12 feet. Showier flowers, hardier and more drought tolerant than the dwarf species. Zones: 4–8. Both Species: Tremendously disease and insect resistant. “Classic, multi-season shrubs, fothergillas are tidy, exceptionally low-maintenance plants with fragrant white spring flowers and spectacularly colored fall foliage. Gardeners who find it difficult to select just one should consider the possibility of having both these shrubs in their gardens,” writes Taylor.19 Nature Note: Rich sources of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators that nesting birds feed to baby birds. Birds and mammals eat the inconspicuous black fruits.
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
BLUEBERRY. Family: Heath (Ericaceae). Genus: Vaccinium; HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY (V. corymbosum). Height/Spread: 4–12 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Drooping clusters of white to pink-tinted bell-shaped flowers followed by edible, blue fruit. Green, or often red twigs. Reddish-green spring leaves turn blue-green in summer and fiery red, yellow, orange, and purple in fall. As it ages, this multistemmed shrub assumes an attractive gnarled shape, providing winter interest. “For pure ornamental value, the blueberry bush is hard to beat,” writes the Chicago Botanic Garden.20 “A good substitute for burning bush,” writes Penelope O’Sullivan.21 Cultivation: Full sun, moist to dry, acidic soil. Recycled Christmas tree branches make excellent acidic mulch. Note: Endangered in parts of the Midwest. Zones: 3–8; LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY (V. angustifolium). Height: 6 inches–2 feet. Note: Threatened in parts of the Midwest. Zones: 3–6; CRANBERRY (V. macrocarpon). Height: Less than 1-foot-tall mat. Ornamental Attributes: Flowers create pink hazes over bogs. Edible, red fruit. Leathery evergreen leaves turn a variety of fall colors. Use as groundcover. Cultivation: Sun best for fruit; wet to moist acidic soil. Note: Endangered in Illinois, threatened in Tennessee. Zones: 2–6; MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY, LINGONBERRY (V. vitis-idaea). Ornamental Attributes: Mat-forming groundcover. Note: Endangered in Michigan and Wisconsin. Zones: 3–6; BLACK HUCKLEBERRY, DANGLEBERRY. Genus: Gaylussacia (G. baccata). Height: 2 feet. Spread: 2–4 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Urn-shaped blueberry-like spring flowers, edible black fruit, red fall color. Cultivation: Sun, part shade, moist or dry well-drained soil. Note: Threatened in Iowa. Zones: 4–8. Heath Family Nature Note: Blueberries and cranberries (Vaccinium genus) host 294 species of butterflies and moths, including brown elfin, spring azure (p. 95), summer azure (p. 128), azalea sphinx, Edwards’ hairstreak (p. 210), and striped hairstreak (p. 18). HUCKLEBERRY (Gaylussacia genus) hosts 44 species of butterflies and moths. Including heath family plants in addition to “rosids,” a group that includes trees and shrubs like oaks, willows, beeches, maples, and elms, helps increase Lepidoptera (butterfly/moth) diversity because these plants host different insects such as the slender clearwing moth, that only lays her eggs on plants in the heath family. The plants provide shelter to many animals. Blue jay (p. 79), red-winged blackbird (p. 55), black-capped chickadee (p. 322), scarlet tanager, gray catbird (p. 79), eastern towhee (p. 235), red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers (pp. 212, 55), house wren, and warblers seek the midsummer berries and use the stems to create nests.
House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
For more heath family plants see BEARBERRY, p. 156; DEERBERRY, p. 138; SOURWOOD, p. 186.
More Native Alternatives:
CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; SAND CHERRY, p. 17; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20;