Shrubs

With hundreds of native shrub species throughout North America, finding the right one for your site can provide an important foundation for your landscape. Having diverse layers of plants (trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers) is extremely beneficial to local wildlife. Many shrubs work well as understory specimens or natural hedges. When combined with trees and underplanted with perennials you can create a thriving ecosystem right in your own backyard! Native shrubs offer protection, nest sites, a place to perch, and food in the form of nutrient-rich berries, seeds, or even insects/caterpillars to feed their young. They are also important host plants that butterflies and moths rely on.

These native plant guides cover general growing conditions as well as helpful tips and fun facts. All content may be downloaded for free in an effort to help spread native plant awareness. While they may be downloaded and printed for personal or educational purposes, they are not for commercial use.

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Master List

Click on the species scientific name to jump to it’s Fact Sheet below.

Click on the common name to visit a separate web page for that species (includes Fact Sheets, Quick Cards, and more info when available).

• Amorpha fruticosa – False Indigo
• Cephalanthus occidentalis – Buttonbush
• Diervilla lonicera – Bush Honeysuckle
• Hydrangea arborescens – Wild Hydrangea
• Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. John’s Wort
• Lindera benzoin – Northern Spicebush
• Myrica pensylvanica – Northern Bayberry
• Physocarpus opulifolius – Common Ninebark
• Rosa palustris – Swamp Rose
• Rubus odoratus – Purple Flowering Raspberry
• Sambucus canadensis – Elderberry
• Spiraea alba – Meadowsweet
• Spiraea tomentosa – Steeplebush
• NEW! Updated 1/10/23
  
  *Please note, as Arcadia Natives is located in Pennsylvania, most companion plants suggested on the Fact Sheets are for the Mid-Atlantic region. Always do your research first and choose plants that are native to your ecoregion.

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NEW

Updated 5/15/2023

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